Night Ranger "Man In Motion (1988 Japanese Edition, MCA Records, Warner-Pioneer Corp. 25P2-2139)"

Man in Motion is the fifth studio album released in 1988 by the hard rock/arena rock band Night Ranger. Original Night Ranger keyboardist Alan Fitzgerald had left the band prior to recording sessions for the album, and new keyboardist Jesse Bradman is featured as his replacement. This effort would be the last studio album released by the band until the mid-1990s.

"Man in Motion" saw a change in the musical direction of the band, focusing on a more guitar driven sound. Unfortunately the change in direction did not result in much radio play and the album became the first Night Ranger album to fail to achieve gold or platinum status.

Bassist and singer Jack Blades would leave the band in 1989 to form rock super group Damn Yankees with Tommy Shaw of Styx and Ted Nugent. Jeff Watson also left to join the band Mother's Army. Jack Blades discussed why he left Night Ranger, stating that the members of the band were going in different directions, with everyone writing separate songs and their egos clashing.

The band would not release another album until 1995's album Feeding Off the Mojo, which featured Gary Moon of Three Dog Night on bass and vocals. Jack Blades, Jeff Watson, and Alan Fitzgerald all returned to the band for 1997's album Neverland.

"Man in Motion" received mixed reviews and its singles were unable to gain much recognition. The first single off the album was "I Did It for Love", which topped out on the Billboard Top 100 at 75. The second single "Reason to Be" reached position 48 in 1989 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Airplay chart. The third single, "Don't Start Thinking (I'm Alone Tonight)", failed to chart at all.

Track listing

All credits adapted from the original release.

1. "Man in Motion" Brad Gillis, Jack Blades 4:26
2. "Reason to Be" Blades, Kelly Keagy 4:10
3. "Don't Start Thinking (I'm Alone Tonight)" Alan Fitzgerald, Blades, Keagy 4:42
4. "Love Shot Me Down" Blades 4:06
5. "Restless Kind" Blades, Keagy 4:40
6. "Halfway to the Sun" Blades 5:18
7. "Here She Comes Again" Bob Halligan Jr., Blades, Martin Briley, Michael Bolton 4:18
8. "Right on You" Blades, Keagy 4:12
9. "Kiss Me Where It Hurts" Gillis, Blades 4:33
10. "I Did It for Love" Russ Ballard 4:46
11. "Woman in Love" Blades 4:42

Keith Olsen – producer, engineer and mixing on tracks 1 to 4, 6 to 9, 11

Brian Foraker – producer, engineer and mixing on tracks 5 and 10

Jimmy Reitizel – additional arrangements on track 5

John Hanlon, Mark Segal – engineers

Ron Da Silva, Squeak Stone – assistant engineers on tracks 5 and 10

Greg Fulginiti – mastering at Artisan Sound Recorders, Hollywood, California

David Cole – executive producer on track 5 and 10

Hugh Syme – art direction, design