Great Rock Albums of 1985: Glen Frey- The Allnighter

 

When I begin a new year of my trip through the golden decade of heavy metal, I always start with albums that were made in the previous year but didn't come to my attention until the said year. Because there were so many great albums in 1984, I didn't get around to listening to a good number until 1985. One of these was "The Allnighter" from the late former Eagles guitarist/singer, Glenn Frey.

Reflecting back to early 1985, I used to wonder if I was a little unfair to both Glenn and one of his former bandmates who also released a solo album in this year. First, I was very much into all things metal and "The Allnighter" is definitely not metal. Furthermore, I was very much into the last two Eagles albums, "Hotel California" and "The Long Run" which did feature some harder rock than their early 1970s albums.

Glenn goes further away from his Eagles roots with this album as it's a more mellower and somewhat bluesier sound. There are some ballads on here like "Let's Go Home" and "Lover's Moon." Glenn's voice has always been suited to these but it is also versatile enough for the faster songs. "Sexy Girl" is kind of in the middle here and he does sing it well. I recently heard a live version of it and it sounds better than the commercial version. However, the best song and one that I've come to appreciate far more in my aging years is "Smuggler's Blues." This song is proof that Frey can sing harder stuff, not that I had any doubt he couldn't. What has really impressed me about it is the musicianship. Like his previous album, Glenn uses a ton of musicians on it, so I don't know who does the guitar solos on the song but they are ace. Full marks to whoever played them. The song did feature on the mid 1980s TV show "Miami Vice."

Track Listing:

1. The Allnighter
2. Sexy Girl
3. I Got Love
4. Somebody Else
5. Lover's Moon
6. Smuggler's Blues
7. Let's Go Home
8. Better in the USA
9. Living In Darkness
10. New Love

[caption id="attachment_2716" align="aligncenter" width="190"] Glenn Frey[/caption]

Glenn Frey- lead vocals, guitar, bass, drums, piano, synthesizer

Josh Leo, Duncan Cameron- guitar

John 'JR' Robinson, Michael Huey, Larry Londin- drums

David Hood, Bryan Garofalo- bass

Greg Smith, Willie Bergman, Al Garth- saxophone

Vince Melamed, Allen Blazek, Barry Beckett- piano

Barry Beckett, David 'Hawk' Wollinski- synthesizer

Nick DeCaro- strings

Steve Foreman- percussion

Victor Feldman, Jack Tempchin, Oren Waters, Jack Galloway, Luke Waters- backing vocals

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSXKyHM133c

I might have mellowed a bit with age and while I like some of what's on "The Allnighter," it really isn't my cup of tea. There are some good songs on it and it's a great album to mellow out to or provide suitable background settings but I won't put away my metal albums in favour of it.

Next post: I know I said at the beginning of the post that I'll be starting with albums that came out originally in 1984 but I have to make an exception. I went to the Download Festival the weekend after I posted this originally, so I need the correct inspiration.

Kreator- Endless Pain

To buy "Rock And Roll Children, email me at: tobychainsaw@hotmail.com 

Great Rock Albums of 1982: Glen Frey- No Fun Aloud

 It was often speculated back in the early 1980s if Glenn Frey and Don Henley were engaged in a rivalry after the Eagles split. Many thought the same thing a decade earlier with John Lennon and Paul McCartney after the Beatles broke up. The evidence in this case was the fact that in 1982, both Frey and Henley put out albums around the same time. Don Henley's album was visited in the last post so this time, I'll take a look at Glenn Frey's debut album, "No Fun Aloud."
One big similarity between the two albums from the former Eagles is Glenn Frey also uses a shit load of musicians to record the album. In fact, I recognised at least one name from the Don Henley album although Glenn doesn't use any members from Toto on his album. Another big similarity is the fact that while Glenn Frey does add put his own stamp on the album, there are still plenty of hints from his Eagle days on "No Fun Aloud."

Frey's stamp is immediately put on the album with the two opening tracks, both of which are introduced with horns. Both, however, do the job in hooking your attention. The opener, "I Found Somebody" is a more bouncier tune while its successor, "The One You Love" is more of a slow jazz sound. The Eagles influence comes with the next song, "Party Town." "Sea Cruise" comes from way out in left field because it wasn't something I would have expected from Glenn. The song is more of a reggae, calypso sound but fair play, he makes it work. One song that sticks out for me is "That Girl," which Glenn co wrote with Bob Seger. It is definitely Glenn's style of song but you can hear Bob's influence on it as well. It had me wondering out loud if these two did any more collaborations and saying it's a shame if they hadn't. Furthermore, I do like the lead guitar intro in "All Those Lies," a classic Eagles type jam, kind of reminiscent of "One of These Nights." The closer, "Don't Give Up," is the hardest rocker on the album. Some impressive guitar and a couple of solos make sure this album goes out on a high.

Track Listing:

1. I Found Somebody

2. The One You Love

3. Party Town

4. I Volunteer

5. I've Been Born Again

6. Sea Cruise

7. That Girl

8. All Those Lies

9. She Can't Let Go

10. Don't Give Up

[caption id="attachment_2716" align="aligncenter" width="190"] Glenn Frey[/caption]

Glenn Frey- vocals, guitar, organ, synthesizer, bass, keyboards, piano, clavinet

Wayne Perkins- acoustic guitar

Duncan Cameron- electric guitar

Danny Kootch Korchmar- lead guitar

Josh Leo- lead guitar

Roger Hawkins- bass, drums

Bryan Garofalo- bass

Bob Glaub- bass

David Hood- bass

Roberto Pinon- bass

Michael Huey- drums

John J.R. Robinson- drums

Allen Balzeck- keyboards

Clayton Ivey- piano

David Hawk Wallinsky- organ, synthesizer

Al Garth -tenor sax

Greg Smith- sax, backing vocals

William Bergman- saxophone

Harvey Thompson- saxophone

Jim Coiles- saxophone

Ronnie Eades- saxophone

Jim Horn- saxophone

Ernie Watts- saxophone

Lee Thornburg- trumpet

John Berry Jr- trumpet

Jim Ed Norman- strings

Steve Foreman- percussion

Heart Attack- horns

It's hard to say for sure if there was any sort of rivalry between Glenn Frey and Don Henley or if Glenn had the dilemma that some artists have when they are/were in a group and record a solo album. All I know is that "No Fun Aloud" is a suitable solo debut album from Glenn Frey.

Next post: Styx- Kilroy Was Here

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