Winger "Winger (Japan, Atlantic Records, 25P2-2396)"

Winger is the debut studio album by American rock band Winger. The album was released through Atlantic Records in 1988 and was produced by Beau Hill.

The music was radio-friendly, but with a progressive twist. The lyrics, however, were typical of the age and genre.

The name "Sahara" appears in the lower right hand section of the album cover. The band initially wanted to call themselves "Sahara", but that name was taken by another band at the time. Though they ultimately chose the name Winger, "Sahara" remained on the cover.

A number of radio and video hits were extracted from the album, including "Headed for a Heartbreak" and "Seventeen", peaking at No. 19 and No. 26 at the Billboard's single chart. On February 11, 1989, the album peaked at number 21 on the Billboard 200, and after that stayed on the chart for 63 weeks. It achieved platinum status in the United States and went gold in Canada and Japan.

In support of the album, Winger toured for over a year with Bad Company, Scorpions, Cinderella, Bon Jovi, Poison, Skid Row and Tesla.

Promotional videos were shot for the four singles "Madalaine", "Seventeen", "Headed for a Heartbreak" and "Hungry".

Track listing

1. "Madalaine" Kip Winger, Reb Beach 3:44
2. "Hungry" Winger, Beach 3:58
3. "Seventeen" Winger, Beach, Beau Hill 4:05
4. "Without the Night" Winger, Beach, Paul Taylor 5:04
5. "Purple Haze" Jimi Hendrix 3:39
6. "State of Emergency" Winger, Taylor 3:37
7. "Time to Surrender" Winger, Beach 4:10
8. "Poison Angel" Winger, Beach 3:24
9. "Hangin' On" Winger, Beach, Hill 3:35
10. "Headed for a Heartbreak" Winger 5:13

CD bonus track

1. "Higher and Higher" (B-side of the "Madalaine" single) Winger, Beach 3:18

Issued in a jewel case with an obi. Includes an 6-page foldout booklet of english lyrics & credits, along with an insert of Japanese commentary, English/Japanese track list & lyrics transcribed into Japanese

"Higher And Higher" is listed as a bonus track that's only available on C.D.

"Purple Haze" is a cover from The Jimi Hendrix Experience's single that was originally released in 1967.

Dweezil Zappa appears courtesy of Chrysalis Records.

Recording information:

Beau Hill – producer, engineer

Noah Baron, Jimmy Hoyson – assistant engineers

Bob Schwall, Bob Caputo – technicians

Stephen Benben – digital editing

Ted Jensen – mastering at Sterling Sound, New York

Brad Miskel, Ron Feddor – additional input

Dan Hubp – cover art and design

Steven Selikoff – photography