When in Rome is the self-titled debut album of English dance group When in Rome. It is the only studio album by the original lineup to date. Released in 1988, the album contained the song "The Promise", which was the group's biggest hit. The album peaked at #84 on the Billboard 200 and is currently the band's only album, studio or otherwise.
Background
In a 1988 interview on the Evening Times, the band spoke of the upcoming album, where the article noted they were all confident about the forthcoming album. Keyboardist Michael Floreale stated: "It will probably be June or July before it comes out. Ben Rogan was great to work with - his ideas on the backing tracks were quite to our own. The songs are the best from our first couple of years, so whenever the album comes out they should still stand up as songs. We just want to be able to sell enough copies of our first album to be offered the chance to do another one."
Track listing
All songs composed by When in Rome.
"The Promise" - 3:40
"Heaven Knows" - 3:56
"Something Going On" - 3:35
"I Can't Stop" - 3:44
"If Only" - 4:08
"Sight of Your Tears" - 3:34
"Wide, Wide Sea" - 4:05
"Child's Play" - 4:00
"Total Devotion" - 3:05
"Everything" - 4:00
The UK CD release also included "Big City" as track 6, and "Whatever the Weather" as track 11, displacing the list accordingly.
Critical reception
William Cooper of Allmusic summed the album up by stating, "Like many one-hit wonders of the '80s, When in Rome failed to maintain the momentum set by its only hit song by releasing a dud of an album. 'The Promise', the opening track on When in Rome, starts things off nicely, but the remainder of the album is embarrassingly weak. 'The Promise' is the only When in Rome track anyone really needs, and it is available on a variety of '80s hits compilations." On 22 January 1989, a review of the album was published in the daily issue of the Daily Union. The review, under the headline "When in Rome mostly empty-headed pop drivel", stated: "This self-titled debut record from a trio of Englishmen sounds like a lot of today's pop music: synthesizer-based, danceable and rather empty-headed. When in Rome is the nom de guerre of vocalist Andrew Mann, bassist-vocalist Clive Farrington and keyboardist Michael Floreale. On their album, the three are joined by a host of session musicians who chime in on percussion, guitars, keyboards and horns. The songs center around Floreale's multi-faceted keyboards and the dual vocals of Farrington and Mann. The two singers harmonize perfectly, singing lead vocals together on nearly every tune. The music is generally bright and perky, sort of what the Pet Shop Boys probably sound like when they've had too much coffee. In fact, the bubbly, bongo-based percussion often reminds the listener of one of those percolating coffee pots. 'The Promise', a hit in the United Kingdom, is typical. Starting with a piano that picks out the melody, the song throbs along electronically with clear harmonies of Mann and Farrington piercing through the catchy melody. Most of the record thumps along in this vein, although on Side 2 there is a greater reliance on real instruments that makes things more interesting." On 13 January 1989, a review of the album was published in the Kentucky New Era under the headline "Record reminds listener of 'perculating' kettle". This article used the same review as would be published in the Daily Union, by Curt Anderson, however with an extended section. This following section stated: "'Child's Play' sports a clean trumpet solo over the vocal duet, while 'Total Devotion' is a fast-paced rave-up with a real rock 'n' roll piano solo and some full-throated sax licks. All in all, When in Rome makes hip-sounding dance music that probably will blast out of speakers at college parties around the country. The group, however, has little to say - lyrically or musically - and their debut album just glides along the mainstream like driftwood."
