20th Century (John Sykes album)

20th Century is the third solo album by John Sykes, released in 1997. The record is a companion piece to Sykes' second solo album Loveland, released that same year. While Loveland was composed of all ballads, 20th Century features heavier material, more akin to Sykes' previous work with Blue Murder and Whitesnake. After releasing Loveland, Sykes felt he was perceived as having gone "soft" by audiences. As a response he decided to record 20th Century.[2] Sykes' goal with the album was to also have shorter and more "concise" songs, in a similar vain to Van Halen's first album.[3] The album's title was chosen because of the impending end of the 20th century.[4]

20th Century
Studio album by John Sykes
Released	1997
Recorded	The Bunker (Northridge) Rumba Recorders (Canoga Park)[1]
Genre	Hard rock
Length	38:10
Label	Mercury Japan
Producer	John Sykes
John Sykes chronology
Loveland (1997) 20th Century (1997) Chapter One (1998)

Track listing

All songs written and composed by John Sykes.[1]

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Look In His Eyes"	3:47
2.	"20th Century Heartache"	3:58
3.	"I Get Around"	2:56
4.	"2 Counts"	4:27
5.	"Defcon 1"	3:37
6.	"System Ain't Working"	3:27
7.	"The Way You Kiss Me"	3:17
8.	"Found What I Needed"	3:35
9.	"Cautionary Warning"	3:28
10.	"Touched by Evil"	5:38
Total length:		38:10

Personnel

Credits are adapted from the album's liner notes.[1]

Musicians John Sykes – guitars, vocals, bass (on "2 Counts") Marco Mendoza – bass Simon Phillips – drums Additional musicians Tommy O'Steen – drums (on "2 Counts") Tommy Aldridge – drums (on "Look In His Eyes") Bonnie Bonapart – drums (on "System Ain't Working" and "Found What I Needed") Mars Lasar – keyboards

Production John Sykes – production Noel Golden – mixing Jeff Robinette – additional mix engineering Orris Henry – additional engineering Eddy Schreyer – mastering Artwork William Hames – photography John Sykes and Tami Fukatami – artwork concept Masahiro Yamazaki and Ryota Mizuki – designs

References

1. 20th Century (booklet). John Sykes. Mercury Records. 1997. PHCR-1590.CS1 maint: others (link)
2. "Interview with John Sykes, July 1999". Melodicrock.com. Archived from the original on 19 April 2019. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
3. "John Sykes - Interview & We All Fall Down (Live)". Itō Seisoku no Rock City (in Japanese). 1998. Television Kanagawa. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
4. "John Sykes & Marco Mendoza Japan TV interview part 2". Bang Up Rock (in Japanese). 1997. Television Kanagawa. Retrieved 24 January 2021.