"Burnin' Sky" is the fourth studio album released by the English rock band Bad Company. The album dropped on March 3, 1977, under the Swan Song Records label. Bad Company stuck to a rigorous recording and touring schedule for their previous albums. Still, for Burnin' Sky, they took a break, providing them with the time to create an album more dramatically complex, nuanced, and diverse than their prior works.
The album record primarily took place in France, recording several tracks in barns converted into studios. The music direction, spearheaded by Paul Rodgers, showed experimentation with different styles such as country rock and even reggae-infused rock. The album was produced by Bad Company, marking it as one of their self-produced albums. However, the mixing was left to engineer Chris Kimsey.
The release of "Burnin' Sky" was met with mixed reviews from critics. The album did not bring the same commercial success as its predecessors, reaching only number 15 on the UK Album charts and only number 17 on the Billboard 200 in the U.S. Additionally, two singles were released from the album, “Burnin’ Sky” and “Everything I Need,” but neither of them charted significantly.
Unlike the band's previous three records, Burnin' Sky included a second drummer and a keyboardist. The layered production and eclectic mix of genres were a change for the band, demonstrating their willingness to experiment and grow musically.
Despite the tepid response to the album initially, "Burnin' Sky" has since gained more appreciation and is considered a classic for its experimental nature and for straying from the band's more straight-forward rock roots.
