Great Rock Albums of the 70s: The Sex Pistols- Never Mind the Bollocks

If any one band can be associated with punk, then that band would have to be the Sex Pistols. Throughout the late 70s these icons of punk sang, played and spat their way to the top of the punk scene in Britain. In the US, they quickly came to the attention of the religious right who made calls to ban them. Therefore, it is only fitting that their most popular album gets visited here.
"Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols" caused a stir as soon as it was released. The title itself became the subject of a court case and was only allowed to remain on the album when it was proved that the word "bollocks" was originally a legitimate old English term referring to a priest. More contraversy was caused with the lyrics of classic Sex Pistols songs "God Save the Queen" and "Anarchy in the UK" probably the most well known tracks on the album. Being contraversial, however, doesn't take away from the fact that this is a damn good album.

Track Listing:

1. Holidays in the Sun

2. Liar

3. No Feelings

4. God Save the Queen

5. Problems

6. Seventeen

7. Anarchy in the UK

8. Bodies

9. Pretty Vacant

10. New York

11. EMI

The Sex Pistols

Johnny Rotten- vocals

Sid Vicious- bass

Steve Jones- guitar

Paul Cook- drums

Since punk and heavy metal have similar roots, it is easy to see why this album has inspired metal bands and why it is a favourite among metalheads as well as punks. God save the Queen!

Next post: Foreigner

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Great Rock Albums of the 70s: Talking Heads -77

In the mid to late 70s, a genre of rock called punk was establishing itself on both sides of the Atlantic. In Britain, bands like The Sex Pistols and The Jam to name two were gaining a following which would later immortalise them. In the US, the punk scene was gaining notoriety at a New York club called CBGB's where bands like The New York Dolls and the Talking Heads were delighting the audiences.
Back in those days, I viewed the punk scene with outside regard only. Like anything new and foreign in America, punk was viewed with suspicion and branded evil by the religious right. I remember a preaching denouncing punk rock stating that it encouraged violence. He said that once they heard the music, everyone would start beating one another up and then destroy the place. Being an impressionable teen, I believed this, however, I suggested that my high school American football team listen to some punk before every game to give them that killer instinct. I now know this is a myth because I played some before a street hockey game in the hopes it would make me more violent, boy was I stupid.
The album "77" from the Talking Heads never made me vi0lent either, even though the top single from the album is called "Psycho Killer." What I like about this album is that it had a sound that I hadn't heard before. It wasn't full power chords, but the music has something about it that makes me look up and take notice. The amusing lyrics behind the songs give it another level and prove to me that David Byrne is an underrated genius.

Track Listing:

1. Uh Oh, Love Has Come to Town

2. New Feeling

3. Tenative Decisions

4. Happy Day

5. Who Is it?

6. No Compassion

7. The Book I Read

8. Don't Worry About the Government

9. First Week/Last Week...Care Free

10. Psycho Killer

11. Pulled Up

Talking Heads

David Byrne- vocals, guitar

Jerry Harrison- guitar, keyboards, vocals

Chris Frantz- drums

Tina Weymouth- bass

The Talking Heads would go on to be accepted in more mainstream music in the early 80s and would eventually start experimenting in funk. But, it's this, their debut alubm which will always have the highest place for them in my mind.

Next post: The Sex Pistols- Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols

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

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

Great Rock Albums of the 70s: Lynyrd Skynyrd- Street Survivors

I thought I was ready to move onto the next part of my tour through metal history when as luck would have it, more classic rock albums come to mind and these are ones I feel I can't ignore. This album came to mind courtesy of my metal buddy Metalodyssey who recently posted an upcoming benefit concert performed by none other than Lynyrd Skynyrd. Then I realised that I had left out the album "Street Survivors" and felt it was only fair to visit it here.

Picture the scene, October 1977, radio was bombarding us with disco and most of the music world hadn't gotten over the recent death of Elvis Presley two months earlier. On the evening of the 20th, I had been at work knocking doors trying to get people to subscribe to the local evening newspaper without much success. I got into my boss's car for the drive home when he tells me that Lynyrd Skynyrd was killed in a plane crash. The tragic crash which took the lives of Ronnie Van Zant, Steve Gaines and Cassie Gaines left a big hole in the rock world at that time and to some, it still does.

"Street Survivors" was released just three days before the plane crash and let me be one to stomp on any myth that the album only did so well becasue of the tragedy. Yes, I was more interested in hearing the album because of it, but I firmly believe that this album would have still stood out, crash or no crash. The tracks show case the unique southern boogie- rock style that the band was famous for and proved to be a show case for the newest member, the multi talented Steve Gaines.

Track Listing:

1. What's Your Name

2. That Smell

3. One More Time

4. I Know a Little

5. You Got That Right

6. I Never Dreamed

7. Honky Tonk Night Time Man

8. Ain't No Good Life

Lynyrd Skynyrd

Ronnie Van Zant- vocals

Steve Gaines- guitar, backing vocals, lead vocal on "Ain't No Good Life"

Gary Rossington- guitar

Allen Collins- guitar

Billy Powell- piano

Leon Wilkeson- bass

Artimus Pyle- drums

When listening to the album, it is easy to see why "Street Survivors" is counted as one of Skynyrd's best. Great rocking tracks like "You Got That Right" and "What's Your Name" combined with some gutsy blues based guitar work in songs like "That Smell" and "I Know a Little" make it that way. Even more than three decades after the plane crash, the freebird continues to fly on.

Next post: Talking Heads- 77

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

Also available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Froogle

The Queen's Jubilee- Some Thoughts

This weekend, Great Britain has been celebrating the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. The Queen has reigned for sixty years making her the second longest reigning monarch in British history, Victoria is the longest. Now, I'm not a royalist, far from it. As an American, I remember reading about the struggle my forefathers had against what they saw as royal oppression and haven't forgotten that. I know in reality, it was really Parliament who was taxing the colonies up the wazoo, but this isn't the point.
What does bother me is that Monday was the Jubilee concert and from what I can see, there were performances from great British acts like Paul McCartney and Elton John as well as Austrailian born Kylie Minogue. What I don't see is any metal acts on the bill. Now before anyone starts wagging a finger at me and saying they don't need to play such bublegum events, I have a good argument why they should. You see, the jubilee is about celebrating things British and heavy metal is definitely that. With the exception of Jimi Hendrix, four of the five founders of heavy metal are British and so were many of the metal influences from the 70s. Therefore, it is only fitting that this great contribution to music gets its due credit in the celebrations of all things British.
The above album is another reason. You see, last week, "The Number of the Beast" album by Iron Maiden was voted the best British album in the last 60 years. That means it beat out the classic great albums from Led Zepplin, The Who, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Black Sabbath and Deep Purple, plus all the Stock, Aiken and Waterman crap as well as all the other bubblegum pop acts. It is only fitting that Iron Maiden should perform at the jubilee.

There are other reasons why Iron Maiden should be allowed to play at the Diamond Jubilee. They represent British metal to a tee. I can think of at least two songs of theirs off the top of my head that are about British history. "Aces High" is about the Battle of Britain and "The Trooper" is about the charge of the light brigade. Both are significant events in the country's history. Furthermore, Iron Maiden is one band who are definitely proud to be British! Therefore, not letting them play the jubilee is somehow wrong.
Looking at the reverse here, if Iron Maiden were to play the Jubilee concert, some metalheads would accuse them of selling out. I don't agree here. This is about the Queen and being British and not some bubblegum pop event arranged to line the pockets of opportunists like Simon Cowell. I wouldn't think any less of Iron Maiden if they took their rightful place on stage today. As I said earlier, Iron Maiden celebrates all that is great about British metal.