Winger "IV (Japan, Nexus, KICP-1201)"

IV is the fourth studio album by American rock band Winger, and the first since their 1993 album Pull.

According to frontman Kip Winger, one morning he "just woke up and heard the new Winger record" in his head, knowing just what he wanted to do with it. It was released in October 2006 on Frontiers Records. The album is the most musically progressive album of Winger's career. Lyrically, much of the album is sung from the perspective of U.S. soldiers stationed overseas. Kip Winger was inspired to do this after performing solo shows at U.S. military bases, and being touched by the stories of the soldiers he met.

The album cover, showing a U.S. soldier being watched over by angels, was drawn by comic book artist Ethan Van Sciver, known for his work at DC and Marvel Comics. Kip Winger was introduced to Van Sciver by a mutual friend in Florida.

In 2009 Kip Winger was presented by U.S. General Harold Cross with an honorary plaque and U.S. flag that had flown in Iraq for the song "Blue Suede Shoes", which honors the service and sacrifice of the United States armed forces and their families.

Track listing

All tracks are written by Kip Winger and Reb Beach (except where noted)

1. "Right Up Ahead" 5:07
2. "Blue Suede Shoes" 3:46
3. "Four-Leaf Clover" 4:18
4. "M16" Kip Winger 3:57
5. "Your Great Escape" Kip Winger, Reb Beach, Paula Winger 3:55
6. "Disappear" 3:49
7. "On a Day Like Today" Kip Winger, Reb Beach, Paula Winger 6:24
8. "Livin' Just to Die" 3:40
9. "Short Flight to Mexico" Kip Winger, Reb Beach, Paula Winger 4:18
10. "Generica" 6:33
11. "Can't Take It Back" 4:05

Japanese edition bonus track

1. "Blue Suede Shoes" (Acoustic) 3:32

Recording information:

Production credits

Produced, engineered and mixed by Kip Winger

Additional engineers: Tony Green, Matt Abbott and John Roth

Pro-Tools engineers: Buckley Miller and Steve Warren

Recorded at The Funky White House, Nashville, TN and Quad Studios, Nashville, TN

Mastered by Richard Dodd

Cover art design: Ethan Van Sciver

Color artist: Moose Baumann

Layout design: Pete Cotutsca

Photos by Mark Delong