Great Metal Albums of 1985: Metal For Breakfast

 

Welcome to the first heavy metal compilation album I bought. It was early February 1985 when I saw "Metal For Breakfast" at my local record store. Since I often used to feel like the way the dude on the cover looks, I thought it was worth a look. When I flipped to the back cover of the album and saw who was actually on it and their songs, I knew I had to buy it straight away. Who couldn't resist an album with Ted Nugent, Saxon, Y&T, Quiet Riot, Ozzy and Judas Priest on it. Furthermore, the songs from these artists with the exception of Judas Priest's hidden gem, (I had never heard "The Ripper" until this album), was more incentive to get it. But that's only half the story!

Attic Records, being based in Toronto, seemed very eager to unveil much of its local talent and they chose a good group to do so. I had heard of Anvil but never listened to them. "Forged in Fire" changed all that. Any band called The Killer Dwarfs had to be granted a listen and "Heavy Mental Breakdown" did not disappoint. This was the first step on their way to them becoming my all time favourite Canadian band. I know Mercyful Fate are from Denmark but the fact that "Black Funeral" comes right out and sings "Hail Satan" sticks one in the ear for the American religious zealots. On the second side is the lovely Lee Aaron and "Metal Queen" is mind blowing. Of course, there's always a hidden gem and on "Metal For Breakfast" it's the track "Metalhead" by Blotto. It takes a dig at metalheads but it's done in a really funny way plus, it's a good song. So what you have is a great combination of well known metal tunes and ones that weren't so well known coming together to make a fantastic album.

Track Listing:

[caption id="attachment_2368" align="alignnone" width="226"] 1. Anvil- Forged in Fire[/caption]

2. Ted Nugent- Cat Scratch Fever

[caption id="attachment_3211" align="aligncenter" width="223"] 3. Killer Dwarfs- Heavy Mental Breakdown[/caption] [caption id="attachment_4225" align="aligncenter" width="259"] 4. Accept- Balls to the Wall[/caption] [caption id="attachment_3680" align="aligncenter" width="287"] 5. Mercyful Fate- Black Funeral[/caption] [caption id="attachment_4619" align="aligncenter" width="276"] 6. Blotto- Metalhead[/caption] [caption id="attachment_3675" align="aligncenter" width="204"] 7. Lee Aaron- Metal Queen[/caption] [caption id="attachment_1148" align="aligncenter" width="259"] 8. Saxon- Princess of the Night[/caption] [caption id="attachment_1309" align="aligncenter" width="194"] 9. Judas Priest- The Ripper[/caption] [caption id="attachment_3552" align="aligncenter" width="272"] 10. Quiet Riot- Metal Health[/caption] [caption id="attachment_2875" align="aligncenter" width="300"] 11. Y&T- Mean Streak[/caption] [caption id="attachment_2343" align="aligncenter" width="238"] 12. Ozzy Osbourne- Crazy Train[/caption]

And I think you should listen to the hidden gem:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vzu4L4ZnMvQ

Back in 1985, "Metal for Breakfast" was the classic metal combination of what was known and not so known in the heavy metal world. Nowadays, it's just a classic 80s album but it still kicks ass!

[caption id="attachment_4620" align="aligncenter" width="225"] I probably looked more like this back then.[/caption]

Next post: Dokken- Tooth 'N' Nail

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

Great Metal Albums of 1984: Ted Nugent- Penetrator

 

Guess what? For this Ted Nugent post, I'm not going to say anything about his politics. Even I know when to stop beating a dead horse. So instead, I'll focus on his 1984 album, "Penetrator," which was universally criticized by the metal world for his use of keyboards on the album. To my shame, even I was one of those critics. Thankfully, there's a much older and questionably wiser me to listen to the album with a more objective mind. My thoughts: "Penetrator" still doesn't make me want to put albums like "Cat Scratch Fever," "Weekend Warriors" and "Scream Dream" nor any of his kick ass live albums on the scrap heap but it's still a pretty good album.

The use of keyboards come through straight away on the opening song, "Tied Up In Love" but not until after a really cool guitar intro only which Terrible Ted can do. Before, I risk repeating myself over and over, the keyboards do make their presence known on many of the songs but they play a subordinate role on the album. Take the second song for example, "(Where Do You) Draw the Line." This song was written by Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance so one might be forgiven for thinking this was going to be some keyboard dominated soft rock song, it's not. Ted's guitar magic comes through very loud and abundantly clear. While still present, the keyboards take even more of a back seat on "Knocking at Your Door." There are some good guitar riffs to lead the song and Ted nails the guitar solo perfectly. Even more so on the track after "Don't You Want My Love." Here the keys are almost non existent. Almost, but there are plenty of Nugent style rocking to be heard on it.

A curious twist comes up with "Go Down Fighting." This is a song title that you would expect to be a belt it out of the park rocker but the keyboards make their presence known on it, almost making it a Journey type song. The strange thing is that the intro reminds me of Savatage, yeah really. Fortunately, Ted works his guitar magic so you know which side of the fence the song really is. Any doubts of that are dispelled with "Thunder Thighs." This is a great rocker where Ted just takes control and jams and I hear not one trace of keyboards. It's just Ted being how he always had been in albums past. However, I sometimes am reluctant to declare it my favourite song on the album because of the sexist connotations behind the title. "No Man's Land" is just as heavy, if not more than it's predecessor. Where you think there might be a keyboard at the chorus, there isn't. After a couple of decent but non descriptive tracks is the closer "Take Me Home." Again, maybe it's me but this sounds like a Southern Rock anthem. Not something I'd expect from Ted Nugent but it's the best song for the closer.

Looking at the credits and remembering recent posts, it turns out that Bobby Chouinard's drum skills were in great demand in 1984. He played on some of the tracks of both Gary Moore albums I recently posted about and he plays on this entire album. It leads me to conclude that his skills have been forgotten about in later years and this is a travesty because, he's that good.

Track Listing:

1. Tied Up In Love
2. (Where Do You) Draw the Line
3. Knockin' At Your Door
4. Don't You Want My Love
5. Go Down Fighting
6. Thunder Thighs
7. No Man's Land
8. Blame it On the Night
9. Lean Mean R&R Machine
10. Take Me Home

[caption id="attachment_1135" align="aligncenter" width="206"] Ted Nugent[/caption]

Ted Nugent_ guitars, lead vocals

Brian Howe- lead vocals

Alan St John- keyboards- vocals

Doug Lubahn-bass

Bobby Chouinard- drums

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkGtuBX5nj0

Two interesting notes regarding Ted Nugent, the first coming from this post. Two years on, I would see Ted Nugent live with Savatage in support. It was a great concert even if it was poorly attended. The other was after my last Ted Nugent post, I put him down on the Bloodstock wishlist. The only comment I got back was someone saying they would love for him to play Bloodstock but he has only come to the UK four times since 1988. Anyway, back to "Penetrator." This album was far better than I remembered it back in 1984, keyboards or not.

Next post: Great White

To get Rock and Roll Children, email me at: tobychainsaw@hotmail.com 

Great Metal Albums of 1982: Ted Nugent- Intensity in Ten Cities

 

Someone once called me "clueless" because I stated that I would still go to a Ted Nugent concert in spite of his political ramblings. What do they know? What I know is that when you see the Motor City Madman on stage, you don't care about politics, you are simply amazed by the energy Ted emits while on stage and the magic he creates with that guitar. Having seen him live twice and both accounts are recorded for posterity in "Rock and Roll Children," I can personally testify to this.

"You're Double Live Gonzo, Live at Budokan, Intensity in 10 Cities." Wayne Campbell to Casandra in Wayne's World 1

I have heard many a live album in my years and I can say that no one else brings the energy from a live show onto a record better than Ted Nugent. This is just as much true with the 1982 live album "Intensity in 10 Cities" as it was with the 1978 "Double Live Gonzo." The songs recorded on the album were a series of songs that were never recorded previously. Ted believed that since those songs had been well honed over the months of playing them on tour, they would sound better recorded live as opposed to in the studio. I have to say, I think he was right on that one.

If "Intensity in 10 Cities" had been recorded as a live concert instead of over a series of concerts, it still would have been worth the price of admission. These are 10 songs that simply sound fantastic live and the order they appear is near perfect. If it wasn't for his introduction of the song before he played, "Put Up or Shut Up" would have been a great show opening song. It's one that would have definitely gotten the crowd on their feet.

While his trademark work with the guitar is well cemented on the album, it is the third track "My Love is Like a Tire Iron" where he really goes to the ionosphere with it. The long lead solo is simply hypnotic and the same can be said for the solos on "Heads Will Roll," "Land of a Thousand Dances and of course, the instrumental "The TNT Overature." Furthermore, his between the songs banter is best on "Jailbait" which is shows his more humourous side. However, the stand out track for me is "I Am a Predator" because that song has many of the elements I have already mentioned.

This mighty combination propels things very nicely to the closer "I Take No Prisoners." It's not a bad closer, especially when he works his typical guitar magic, but if I were in the audience and heard that song before he left the stage, I would certainly expect him back to play more. Me personally, like the Mitch character in the book, I would be screaming for him to play "The Great White Buffalo." His failure to play that song either time I saw him is the only thing I can hold against his performances.

Track Listing:

1. Put Up or Shut Up
2. Spontaneous Combustion
3. My Love is Like a Tire Iron
4. Jailbait
5. I Am a Predator
6. Heads Will Roll
7. The Flying Lip Lock
8. Land of a Thousand Dances
9. The TNT Overature
10. I Take No Prisoners

[caption id="attachment_561" align="aligncenter" width="203"] Ted Nugent[/caption]

Ted Nugent- lead vocals, lead guitar

Charlie Huhn- lead and backing vocals, rhythm guitar

Dave Kiswiney- bass, backing vocals

Cliff Davies- drums, backing vocals

So there you have it, a live album that would have sounded great as a concert on its own. Ted Nugent shows why he is so awesome live and puts that down on vinyl, cassette and CD. "Intensity in 10 Cities" is a tribute to a fine musician. BTW, can any of you spot the mistake in this post?

Next post: Hanoi Rocks- Self Destruction Blues

To buy Rock and Roll Children, email me at tobychainsaw@hotmail.com

Great Metal Albums of 1982: Ted Nugent- Nugent

 

New Wave of British Heavy Metal or NWOBHM had clearly established its dominance around the world in 1982. However, thanks to bands like Riot and Y&T as well as others whose albums will be visited very soon, American metal wasn't completely silent . Of all the American bands, the one artist who draped himself (and still does) in the American flag was Ted Nugent. In this year, the Motor City Madman put out a studio album and a live one. It is the studio album, "Nugent" that is being visited today.

Another reason why I've decided to visit the studio album first was that because of my military obligations, it was another album that passed me by in that year. Yet again, it's another album I regret missing in 1982. "Nugent" has all the classic trademarks of the things that made Ted Nugent great. Most noteworthy, as is always the case with Ted, is the fact that he can wail on a guitar. His solos are present on each and every song, though the stand out for me is "Good and Ready." "No, No, No" also comes to mind in this respect.

Apart from his exemplary guitar work, he does write some good songs. It is true that "Bound and Gagged" may be the first inclination of Ted's feelings of fanatical American patriotism and right wing politics but I know I wouldn't have noticed or cared back then. It's still a cool song. That's one problem with listening to the song with, in this case, the curse of hindsight. I also found myself wanting to sing along to "Fightin' Words." "Ebony" might be classed as his attempt at a single but I never heard it on the radio, not that you ever heard much of his material there to begin with. Nevertheless, it's a decent song.

"Don't Push Me" is short and to the point and definitely one I would have used to blast out the car window while driving. Note to self, maybe I should make my own CD of driving songs. Anyway back on the subject. The way he lays down the guitar jam while the band is repeating the title works for me in so many ways. If there was one thing I would change on "Nugent" it would be the order of the last two songs. "Tailgunner" is a good song but I thought the one before it "We're Gonna Rock Tonight" would have been a better closer. It's just that the lyrics and overall vibe of the song make it a great song to end the album on but that's just me.

Track Listing:

1. No, No, No
2. Bound and Gagged
3. Habitual Offender
4. Fightin' Words
5. Good and Ready
6. Ebony
7. Don't Push Me
8. Can't Stop Me Now
9. We're Gonna Rock Tonight
10. Tailgunner

[caption id="attachment_1135" align="aligncenter" width="146"]   Ted Nugent[/caption]

Ted Nugent- lead vocals, lead guitars

Derek St. Holmes- guitar, vocals

Dave Kiswiney- bass, vocals

Carmine Appice- drums, vocals

Larry Brown- percussion

Donnie Backus- piano

Ted Nugent let the world know in 1982 that there was still plenty of good metal in America with his two albums. "Nugent" was one of those and proved that he could still rock with the best of them.

Next post: Manowar- Battle Hyms

To buy Rock and Roll Children, email me at tobychainsaw@hotmail.com

Great Metal Albums of 1980: Ted Nugent- Scream Dream

I am not one of these redneck, fanatically patriotic, my country right or wrong Americans but I am glad that with all the great British heavy metal bands that thrilled us with killer albums back in 1980, there were some great American metal albums too. Note: I have always loved the fact how the US and UK have supported each other in regards to metal and how that has grown to include Canada and eventually the rest of the world. This is why it was so important that in the pivotal year of 1980, American metal got on the scene as well. Arguably one of the best American metal albums to come out that year was "Scream Dream" by the Motor City Madman, Ted Nugent.

"Scream Dream" is yet another album that makes me proud to shout out "I am a metalhead!" Of course the brilliant opening track "Wango Tango" opens this album with style and the title track is a great one to follow and so on down the line. Every song on this album is a winner and you would have to put two guns to my head to make me choose a clear cut favourite track and then I probably still couldn't pick one. One aspect that shows up very well on this album is Ted's versatility on the guitar and how he can wail or shred depending on the dictates of the particular song. "Hard As Nails" and "Flesh And Blood" are true shredders in the classic metal sense. But he is able to go into a more blues based melodic solo on "Spit It Out" and does so like the true pro that he is. Then there's the next to last song, "Terminus Eldorado" that to me sounds like an early forerunner to his future 1986 hit, "Little Miss Dangerous." On "Scream Dream," Terrible Ted proves that you can be versatile while playing some outstanding metal.

Track Listing:

1. Wango Tango

2. Scream Dream

3. Hard As Nails

4. I Gotta Move

5. Violent Love

6. Flesh And Blood

7. Spit It Out

8. Come And Get It

9. Terminus Eldorado

10. Don't Cry (I'll Be Back Before You Know It Baby)

Ted Nugent

Ted Nugent- lead guitar, lead vocals

Charlie Huhn- rhythm guitar, backing vocals, lead vocals on tracks 4 and 10

Dave Kiswiney- bass, backing vocals

Cliff Davies- drums, lead vocal on track 8

There's not much more I can say about this album, only that it is metal as metal was intended and yet another great album that was made in a year of great metal albums.

Next Post: AC/DC- Back In Black

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Also available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Froogle and on sale at Foyles Book Shop in London

Great Metal Albums of 1979: Ted Nugent- State of Shock

This album has a bit of irony to it for me. As you have probably read many times until your sick to death of it now, I spent three months of 1979 in musical isolation. Actually it was Marine Corps boot camp at Parris Island, South Carolina, known in the film "Full Metal Jacket" as the home for the crazy brave. At the time, many of us referred to it as the land of sun and sandfleas. I digress. During those three months, I had no information of what music was coming out. Then one night, I pulled a guard duty where a radio was playing nearby. I was able to listen to it and several times during my duty, there was an advertisement for tickets to see Ted Nugent's always kick ass live show in Savannah, Georgia. I concluded that he must have a new album out and when I went home on leave, five weeks later, I saw the "State of Shock" album at my local store.

When I first heard the album all of those long years ago, I thought it was brilliant, although it could be said that it was because I was musically starved at the time. Killer tracks like "Paralyzed" and "Satisfied" still come to mind and show what a true artist Ted Nugent is and how he can wail on a guitar like very few people could both then and now. The problem for me is time, having refamiliarised myself with the album, I am now in the mind that it doesn't quite live up to the knock out punch of "Cat Scratch Fever," Weekend Warriors" or the later "Scream Dream." Still, there is nothing wrong with the album, it is still a great album with some fine guitar work from the master himself.

Track Listing:

1. Paralyzed

2. Take It Or Leave It

3. Alone

4. It Don't Matter

5. State of Shock

6. I  Want To Tell You

7. Satisfied

8. Bite Down Hard

9. Snake Charmer

10. Saddle Sore

Ted Nugent

Ted Nugent- lead guitar, vocals

Charlie Huhn- rhythm guitar, lead and backing vocals

Walt Monaghan- bass

Cliff Davies- drums, backing vocals

Let's not get into an argument on whether "State of Shock" compares to some of the other Ted Nugent classics. It is a good album and for me, it was a great reintroduction back into music after being deprived of it for so long.

Next Post: Triumph- Just a Game

To buy Rock And Roll Children, go to www.strategicpublishinggroup.com/title/RockAndRollChildren.html

Also available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Froogle and on sale at Foyles Book Shop in London

Great Metal Albums of 1978: Ted Nugent- Double Live Gonzo

I didn't get to hear this great live album until 1982 and when I did, I regretted not having seen Ted Nugent live. It wouldn't be until 1986 until that opportunity came my way and when it finally did, I got the great delight in seeing him perform with the intensity that you can hear on "Double Live Gonzo." For me, this album is the blueprint on which all live metal albums have followed ever since. Song after song gives you that "I'm there too" feel as the music pounds away. When he's not showing why he appeared in my "Great Guitarists of the 70s" post last year, Ted Nugent is using his vocals or the in between songs banter. Therefore, it is no surprise why so many people regard this as one of the greatest live albums.
The first time I listened to "Double Live Gonzo," I was mainly waiting to hear classic songs like "Cat Scratch Fever" and "Wang Dang Sweet Poontang." While I was bobbing my head and thoroughly enjoying the other tracks as they built up to those two, it was still those two songs I was wanting most to hear. Then something happened at track number five. I got my metal ass totally kicked by "The Great White Buffalo!" That for me, with the possible exception of live "Freebird," is the greatest live song ever. Every time I listen to it I feel a surge of energy, probably eminating from the energy Terrible Ted uses up while performing it. The guitars and vocals provide a great combination to take it well over the top. It is definitely the reason why in "Rock And Roll Children," when the characters see Ted Nugent live, the Mitch character calls out for him to play it throughout his entire show. Like Mitch, I too was disappointed when he didn't play the song either time I saw him.

Track Listing:

1. Just What the Doctor Ordered

2. Yank Me, Crank Me

3. Gonzo

4. Baby Please Don't Go

5. The Great White Buffalo

6. Hibernation

7. Stormtroopin'

8. Stranglehold

9. Wang Dang Sweet Poontang

10. Cat Scratch Fever

11. Motor City Madhouse

Ted Nugent- lead guitar, lead and backing vocals

Derek St. Holmes- rhythm guitar, lead and backing vocals

Rob Grange- bass

Cliff Davies- drums

Even though, Ted Nugent didn't play "The Great White Buffalo" when I saw him live, they were still both great concerts nonetheless. Still, I have the consolation prize of this great live album to hear that song recorded live and the best thing is that I can listen to it whenever I want to. Still, that great "what if" remains.

Next post: Van Halen I

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Also available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Froogle and on sale at Foyle's Book Shop in London

Great Metal Albums of 1978: Ted Nugent- Weekend Warriors

The media has made a lot about Ted Nugent's politics recently and yes, he does love to slag off the president, but to me that doesn't matter. I don't agree with his politics and if he wants to be a spokesman for the NRA, then let him. None of this will stop him from listening to his music and reflecting on how he totally kicked ass when I saw him live twice back in the 80s. Furthermore, if I did lean more to the right in my political beliefs, I wouldn't stop watching Morgan Freeman films just because he endorses Obama.
Enough of that, the 1978 "Weekend Warriors" album is one of the reasons why I like Ted Nugent so much. This was the first album to convince me that an album didn't need a hit single to be good. The one single from this album, "Need You Bad" only got to 82 in the singles charts and I definitely don't remember it being played on that little AM clock radio of mine. However, the entire album contains a steady stream of good songs which demonstrates Ted Nugent doing what he does best with a guitar. Every track does it for me here.

Track Listing:

1. Need You Bad

2. One Woman

3. I Got the Feelin'

4. Tightspots

5. Venom Soup

6. Smokescreen

7. Weekend Warriors

8. Cruisin'

9. Good Friends and a Bottle of Wine

10. Name Your Poison

Ted Nugent- guitars, lead vocals

Charlie Huhn- lead and backing vocals, rhythm guitar on "One Woman"

John Sauter- bass

Cliff Davies- drums, percussion, backing vocals

For me, Ted Nugent was heavy metal back in 1978. I was still riding on the wave of "Cat Scratch Fever" and this album just further cemented in my mind his place in metal. Memory flashback, I am now reminding myself of the time when Ted Nugent hosted the late night "Midnight Special" show on which was the first time I had encountered AC/DC as they were guests on it. In 1978, that would have been a magnificent concert.

Next post: Ted Nugent- Double Live Gonzo

To buy Rock And Roll Children, go to www.strategicpublishinggroup.com/title/RockAndRollChildren.html

Also available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Froogle and available at Foyles Book Shop in London