Sunday 29 July 2012

A Different Compilation Album


Whenever a rock compilation is unleashed onto the public, you can bet that there will be a repetition of the same songs. When you buy it, you are really only buying it for a few songs you don't have, because the other songs on it will definitely be on all the other rock compilations you own. These include:
Boston- More Than a Feeling
Blue Oyster Cult- Don't Fear the Reaper
Black Sabbath- Paranoid
Deep Purple- Smoke on the Water
Rainbow- Fool For Your Loving
Whitesnake- Here I Go Again
Heart- Alone
Marillion- Kayleigh
Motorhead- Ace of Spades
There's nothing wrong with any of these songs, I like all of them. But I don't want them on every compilation I buy. Besides, there are songs from many of these artists which I like more than the ones listed here. Taking all of this into consideration, I have decided to put together my own compilation album, (not for sale) with the following songs.
1. Michael Stanley Band- My Town
2. Heart- If Looks Could Kill
3. Black Sabbath- War Pigs
4. Blue Oyster Cult-Godzilla
5. Whitesnake-  Slide it In
6. Jay Ferguson- Thunder Island
7. OPM- Heaven is a Half pipe
8. Anthrax- Make Me Laugh
9. Ted Nugent- High Heels in Motion
10. Saxon- Wheels of Steel
11. Marillion- Sugar Mice
12. Motorhead- Killed By Death
13. Night Ranger- Don't Tell Me You Love Me
14. Boston- Piece of Mind
15. Rainbow- Death Alley Driver
16. Deep Purple- Woman From Tokyo
You might like some of these or most likely you have your own suggestions for a rock compilation. If so, feel free to post your suggestions here.
Next post: 1978- They Year the Rivers Began to Overflow
To Buy Rock And Roll Children- go to www.strategicpublishinggroup.com/title/RockAndRollChildren.html
Also available on Amazon, Froogle and Barnes & Noble

Sunday 22 July 2012

Rock And Roll Children- The CD

Book sales of Rock And Roll Children are a bit slow at the moment, so in order to jump start things, I will be now giving away a free CD with any books bought directly from me. All you have to do is email me at tobychainsaw@hotmail.com for more information. However, those lucky few who already have a copy can still get a CD by writing a review on Amazon, The Rock And Roll Children Page on Facebook or on any blog. Just alert me to it's presence.
The CD obviously features songs mentioned in the book. When compiling the list, I originally chose 61 songs to use on the CD and I could have used a few more. Some of my British friends may wonder why "Don't Tell Me You Love Me" by Night Ranger is not on it as the club we all used to go to back then played it every week. After much consideration, I eventually had to cut it down to 17.
Song List:
  1. Judas Priest- You Got Another Thing Coming
  2. Twisted Sister- We’re Not Gonna Take It
  3. Ratt- Round and Round
  4. Dio- The Last in Line
  5. Krokus- Screaming in the Night
  6. Iron Maiden- Two Minutes to Midnight
  7. Deep Purple- Perfect Strangers
  8. AC/DC- For Those About to Rock, We Salute You
  9. Dio Rock And Roll Children
  10. Stormtroopers of Death- Pussywhipped
  11. Aerosmith- Dream On
  12. Ozzy Osbourne- Shot in the Dark
  13. Anthrax- Madhouse
  14. Iron Maiden- Wasted Years
  15. Megadeth- Peace Sells
  16.  WASP- Fuck Like a Beast
  17.  Kiss- Crazy Crazy Nights
 
So, if you fancy a good read and you want some kick ass jams to accompany it, then buy the book and get this great CD.
Next Post: An alternative compilation album
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Wednesday 11 July 2012

Great Rock Albums of the 70s: Styx- The Grand Illusion



This is the last offering in the chapter of great rock albums of the 70s. After a short commercial break in the next two posts, I will be moving onto albums from 1978 exclusively and then every year after that until I get to 1989. 1978 was the year the rivers of rock began to overflow and what the beginings of what was to become heavy metal started to evolve. Therefore, I thought it only fitting to end with what was for me, the very last album before 1978, Styx- "The Grand Illusion."

I remember back in December 1977, the television ads for the album selling Styx as the hardest working band in rock. I will not debate that and when I first listened to the album, I can safely say that their hard work definitely paid off. "The Grand Illusion" is definitely one of Styx's best and in my humble opinion, the best except for possibly "Pieces of Eight" which I will be visiting down the line. In "The Grand Illusion," you have some really great hard rocking tracks like "Miss America" and "Superstar" as well as the big single "Come Sail Away." There is also a lot of great musicianship on all of the other tracks as well and that is what makes it so good.


Track Listing:
1. The Grand Illusion
2. Fooling Yourself (Angry Young Man)
3. Superstar
4. Come Sail Away
5. Miss America
6. Man in the Wilderness
7. Castle Wall
8. The Grand Finale


Styx

Dennis DeYoung- keyboards, synthesisers, vocals

Tommy Shaw- electric and accoustic guitars, vocals

James Young- guitars, keyboards, vocals

Chuck Panozzo- bass, vocals

John Panozzo- drums, vocals
This is a truly great album and for me will always be one of the great classics. I hope you have enjoyed the tour through the great rock albums of the 70s. I know that there are many albums out there I could still mention and I apologise for any I have left out, it wasn't intentional I assure you. One album I failed to mention and you can blame it on an old man's swiss cheese memory is "Fly Like and Eagle" by the Steve Miller Band. Here's a photo to compensate. Meanwhile, I hope you will continue the ride through my tour of heavy metal history.


Next Post: Rock And Roll Children, The CD



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Wednesday 4 July 2012

Great Rock Albums of the 70s: Foreigner

Every male group of friends have their "cruising song." It is one they all agree they like and one that they thing punctuates them the most. The song can change and another song takes over, but no matter how many times it does or how long it lasts, one song will be designated the cruising song. For a six month period, from October 1977 to April 1978, "Cold As Ice" by Foreigner from the debut album was the cruising song for me and some of my friends.
"Cold as Ice" propelled Foreigner onto the rock scene and got the attention of many listeners, especially rockers like me who were looking for shelter from the disco storm that was all around back then. The hard rock sound breathed a bit of fresh air to the many who embraced it and even for those who weren't into the even harder rock of Ted Nugent, which I was, it was still a very palletable album.
Track Listing:
1. Feels Like the First Time
2. Cold as Ice
3. Starrider
4. Head Knocker
5. The Damage is Done
6. Long Long Way From Home
7. Woman, Oh Woman
8. At War With the World
9. Fool For You Anyway
10. I Need You
The follow up from "Cold as Ice," "Feels Like the First Time" was also a very big hit for Foreigner. Although it never became one of my cruising songs, it helped make the debut album establish them as a force in the rock world.
  Foreigner
Dennis Elliot- drums, vocals
Ed Gagliarti- bass, vocals
Lou Gramm- vocals, percussion
Al Greenwood- keyboards, synthesiser
Mick J0nes- guitars, keyboards, vocals
Ian MacDonald- guitar, keyboards
In late 1977, the rivers of rock were flowing fast and was getting close to overflowing. This debut album from Foreigner was one of those which helped speed the rushing waters.
Next post: Styx- The Grand Illusion
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