Bump Ahead
Template:Use mdy dates {{safesubst:#invoke:Unsubst-infobox||$params=italic_title,name,type,longtype,artist,cover,border,alt,caption,released,recorded,venue,studio,genre,length,language,label,director,producer,compiler,chronology,prev_title,prev_year,year,next_title,next_year,misc|$extra=italic_title,longtype,border,caption,language,director,compiler,chronology,year,misc|$aliases=italic title>italic_title,Italic title>italic_title,Name>name,Type>type,image>cover,Cover>cover,Border>border,Alt>alt,Caption>caption,Longtype>longtype,Artist>artist,Released>released,Recorded>recorded,Venue>venue,Studio>studio,Genre>genre,Length>length,Language>language,Label>label,Director>director,Producer>producer,Compiler>compiler,Chronology>chronology,Misc>misc|$flags=override|$B={{#ifeq:{{#invoke:Is infobox in lead|main|[Ii]nfobox [Aa]lbum}}|true|{{#if:Template:Has short description | |{{#if: September 21, 1993 | Template:Short description}}}}}}{{#invoke:Infobox|infobox}}Template:Template otherTemplate:Category handlerTemplate:Main other{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:Infobox album with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y|italic_title |type |name |image |cover |border |alt |caption |longtype |artist |released |recorded |venue |studio |genre |length |language |label |director |producer |compiler |prev_title|prev_year|next_title|next_year|chronology|year|misc}}{{#if:{{#invoke:String|match|error_category=Music infoboxes with Module:String errors|A|1=Lean into It1991Hey Man1996studioBump AheadMr._Big_-_Bump_Ahead.jpgMr. BigSeptember 21, 19931993*Rumbo (Los Angeles)
- Fantasy (Berkeley)Hard rock<ref name="mk" >Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>44:41AtlanticKevin Elsonx|2=</?t[drh][ >]|nomatch=}}|Template:Main other}}Template:Main other}}
Bump Ahead is the third studio album by the American rock band Mr. Big. It was released on September 21, 1993 by Atlantic Records.
Overview
Released two years and five months after their previous album Lean Into It, this work marks the band’s third studio album.
Following the huge success of the single "To Be With You", the band faced intense pressure from their record label during the production of this album. Recording was completed in April 1993, and the release was originally scheduled for June. However, after listening to the finished version, the label rejected it, saying that there was no powerful ballad comparable to "To Be With You". As a result, the band was forced to create numerous new ballad demos. Even interviews with music magazines that had already been conducted had to be replaced, which led to some discrepancies between the final album and previously published interviews or liner notes.
To address the label's concerns, several tracks were replaced or added, including a cover of Cat Stevens' "Wild World". The album was finally released in September. Despite the production difficulties, the album was highly polished, featuring songs with bold use of synthesizers and strings, showcasing a broader and more mature musical direction.
The album's title, like Lean Into It and Hey Man, was suggested by Pat Torpey. He came up with the idea after finding a unique photograph in a San Francisco library showing a man sticking his head out of a manhole. When he showed it to the other members, Billy Sheehan spontaneously remarked, "Bump ahead". The phrase carries a double meaning — both “Look out!” and “Move forward.” Interestingly, the title for their next album, "Hey Man", had already been conceived during the making of this record.
According to Paul Gilbert, demos for "What’s It Gonna Be", "Mr. Gone", and the outtake "Stand By Me" had already been recorded before their tour with Bryan Adams.
Track listing
Template:Track listing Template:Track listing Template:Track listing
Personnel
- Mr. Big
- Eric Martin – lead vocals
- Paul Gilbert – guitar, backing vocals
- Billy Sheehan – bass, backing vocals
- Pat Torpey – drums, backing vocals
- Additional musicians
- Little John Chrisley – harmonica on "Price You Gotta Pay"
- Production
- Kevin Elson – producer, engineer, mixing, mastering
- Andy Udoff, Stephen Hart, Dick Kaneshiro, Michael Semanick – assistant engineers
- Tom Size – mixing
- Bob Ludwig – mastering
- Melanie Nissen – art direction
- Reisig and Taylor – photography, images
Charts
| Chart (1993) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Albums (ARIA)<ref name="ARIA history pages">Template:Cite web N.B. The High Point number in the NAT column represents the release's peak on the national chart.</ref> | 119 |
| Finnish Albums (The Official Finnish Charts)<ref name=FINI>Template:Cite book</ref> | 30 |
| Japanese Albums (Oricon)<ref name="JPN">Template:Cite book</ref> | 4 |
Certifications
Template:Certification Table Top Template:Certification Table Entry Template:Certification Table Bottom