Great Rock Albums of the 70s: Bad Company- Straight Shooter

Since we are now in summer and I have heard a lot of talk about music that makes it feel like summer, especially from my friend Metalodyssey, I thought I would offer an album that reminds me of the summer. So now you have it, the second album by Bad Company, "Straight Shooter." This album reminds me of summer mainly due to it's hit single, "Feel Like Making Love." That, to me, has always been a song for the lazy warm weather days. However, the other tracks on it compliment the summer feeling just as much. If I still had my copy, I would be laying on the grass with a beer in hand as I write this post from a laptop.
"Straight Shooter" was the follow up to Bad Company's successful debut self titled album and was a big hit for them. While the album received mixed reviews from critics, it hit the top ten in the album charts in most countries, New Zealand being an exception where it only reached 13.

Track Listing:

1. Good Loving Gone Bad

2. Feel Like Making Love

3. Weep No More

4. Shooting Star

5. Deal With the Preacher

6. Wild Fire Woman

7. Anna

8. Call On Me

As I did my background research for this post, I was shocked to discover that the track "Shooting Star" was never released as a single. It's defintely my favourite track on the album and I had no trouble finding it on a Limewire search. Furthermore, I have seen it on the odd juke box over the years. Maybe they should release it now as I'm sure many rockers would love it.

Bad Compny

Paul Rodgers- vocals, rhythm guitar and piano

Mick Ralphs- guitar, keyboards

Simon Kirke- drums

Boz Burrell- bass

There's not much more I can say about this album. Just have a listen and enjoy the summer.

Next post: Bob Dylan- Hard Rain

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

Also avaliable on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Froogle

Great Rock Albums of the 70s: Jefferson Starship: Spitfire

A common proverb through the years has been "Never judge a book by its cover." I have always wondered if the same concept applies to music albums. In 1983, I learned the hard way never to buy an entire album on account of one song when I bought "The Getaway" by Chris DeBurgh because I liked the song "Don't Pay The Ferryman." On the other hand, if I didn't buy the Jefferson Starship album on account of the single "With Your Love," I wouldn't have bought this album and would have been poorer for it. Fortunately, I did judge the album by its cover. The idea of a pretty lady riding on a dragon that was formed by the smoke of her cigarette was a cool image for me. To me, the "Spitfire" album was the first really cool album cover in my eyes.
Back in the late 1970s, Jefferson Starship were renowned for being a mellow out type of band. They were noted for songs like "Count On Me" from the "Earth" album and their top hit "Miracles" from the "Red Octopus" album and even on the "Spitfire" album, the hit single "With Your Love," branded this band as one who excelled in mellow out rock.

Tack Listing:

1. Cruisin'

2. Dance With the Dragon

3. Hot Water

4. St. Charles

5. Song to the Sun

i. Part 1 Ozymadias

ii. Part 2, Don't Let It Rain

6. With Your Love

7. Switchblade

8. Big City

9. Love Lovely  Love

Unlike the hit single, the other tracks are much more rocking and showcase the great musicianship posessed by the band. There are some good rocking tracks like "Dance With the Dragon" and "Don't Let It Rain" and there is some great progressive rock on the tracks St. Charles and Switchblade and show cases the keyboard wizardry that is Pete Sears. What I like about this album especially is that lead guitarist Craig Chaquico is let loose on most of the tracks and is allowed to show that he can smoke the fingerboard.

Jefferson Starship:

Marty Balin- vocals

Grace Slick- vocals, piano of Ozymadias and Switchblade

Paul Kantner- rhythm guitar

Craig Chaquico- lead guitar

Pete Sears- bass and keyboards

David Freiberg- bass and keyboards

John Barbata- drums

Back when the album came out in 76, before people started putting music into categories, this album worked on a lot of levels. There are good hard rocking tracks, some great progressive rock and for the top 40 followers, a solid hit single. This is a great rock album and with the cool front cover design, shows you can judge and album by its cover.

Next post: Bad Company- Straight Shooter

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

Also available on Amazon, Froogle and Barnes & Noble

Great Rock Albums of the 70s: Boston

If I could point to any one album back in my naive teenage days which opened my eyes to the world of heavy rock, it would have to be the first album by Boston. When I first heard the song "More Than a Feeling," I was completely blown away and made sure whenever that song played on the radio in late 1976 and early 1977, the volume would get turned up to full. Boston was the major turning point leading me out of relying on the top 40 played on AM radio to more harder rock persuits.

Track Listing:

1. More Than a Feeling

2. Peace Of Mind

3. Foreplay/Long Time

4. Rock and Roll Band

5. Smokin

6. Hitch A Ride

7. Something About You

8. Let Me Take You Home Tonight

While "More Than a Feeling" is the most popular Boston song of all time, (it appears on many compilation albums including three of mine) many of the other tracks can stand alone in their own right. "Peace of Mind" and "Foreplay/Long Time" also both made the top 40 charts and I know that "Let Me Take You Home Tonight" also received play on the radio. Furthermore, all of the other tracks also feature on classic rock stations and back in the late 70s, many thought that "Rock And Roll Band" should have also been released as a single, I was one of them.

Boston is:

Tom Sholtz- guitar, organ, electric piano, accoustic guitars, clavinet

Brad Delp- vocals

Sib Hashian- drums

Barry Goudreau- lead guitar

Fran Sheehan- bass

Boston's first album is the second largest selling rock album of all time, only "Appetite for Destruction" by Guns and Roses has more sales. This album while a good rocking album is quite melodic as well, which is why it works on so many levels. After 35 years, this album continues to set a standard for great rock.

Next Post: Jeffereson Starship: Spitfire

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

Also avaliable on Amazon, Froogle and Barnes & Noble

Other Great Metal Ballads

Like I said in the last post, it is a common belief that every metal band has their "token" ballad. This is true with many of them, although I still wouldn't say that to any fans of Exodus. This next list is more of those great ballads. These aren't necessary love songs. I mean I wouldn't play "Community Property" by Steel Panther if I were going for seduction. Same with Kansas, according to Family Guy, you only listen to this one when you are walking the streets in deep contemplation. Anyway, enough of me, here's the list and a few piccies.

• Kansas- Dust In The Wind
• Lionsheart- Flights of Angels
• Anthrax- Nice F*cking Ballad
• Dogs D'Amour- How Come It Never Rains
• Warrior Soul- We Cry Out
• Dio- This Is Our Life
• Black Sabbath- Too Late
• TNT- Eddie
• Bonfire- Good Night Amanda
• Stryper- Together As One
• Heart- Allies
• Von Groove- Arian
• Vaughn- Paradise Ain't Home
• Pretty Maids- With These Eyes
• Rainbow- Rainbow Eyes
• Westworld- Suicide
• Megadeth- A Tout Le Monde (not exactly a ballad, but it is the closest they will ever come to one
• Tesla- Sail Away
• Night Ranger- Sister Christian
• Steel Panther- Community Property

I know there are probably hundreds more I can list here, so if you have your own ideas what should be included, let me know. Knowing me, I proabably missed some obvious ones.
Next post: Great Rock Albums of the 70s, Boston
To buy Rock And Roll Children, go to: www.strategicpublishinggroup.com/title/RockAndRollChildren.html
Also available on Amazon, Froogle and Barnes & Noble