Great Metal Albums of 1979: Motorhead- Bomber

With the "Overkill" album, Motorhead knew exactly what direction their music was going to take. The proof in the pudding is clear with the "Bomber" album, released in the same year. This was another album that I listened to in retrospect, but upon hearing it, I was convinced that this was the sound that would define them. "Bomber" is one heavy speed-thrashfest from beginning to end. When I listened to the album the other night, I admit it was the first time in many years, I found myself head banging away. Unfortunately, I couldn't crank it to the required volume as it was 3 in the morning, but I can't safely say that it definitely did not put me to sleep.

Like "Overkill," it is difficult to pinpoint any one track that stands out, for once again, they all do. This is in spite of the fact that there are some classic Motorhead gems on here such as "Dead Men Don't Tell Tales," "Sharpshooter" and "Stone Dead Forever." Those tracks just go along with the rest of the other ones, making this one killer album. Lemmy and the boys should be dead proud.

Track Listing:

1. Dead Men Tell No Tales

2. Lawman

3. Sweet Revenge

4. Sharpshooter

5. Poison

6. Stone Dead Forever

7. All the Aces

8. Step Down

9. Talking Head

10. Bomber

Motorhead

Lemmy Kilmister- bass, vocals

Fast Eddie Clark- guitars, vocals on "Step Down"

Phil "Philthy Animal" Taylor- drums

With "Bomber," Motorhead were well and truly on their way to metal dominance. This is a classic album and I wish that I had heard it back in the year it had actually come out.

Next post: The Scorpions- Lovedrive

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Great Metal Albums of 1979: Motorhead- Overkill

While some bands were experimenting with their sound on the road to playing heavy metal, Motorhead was one of those bands who already knew where they were heading in 1979. "Overkill" was the first of two albums put out by these guys in the year the dam began to burst. Unlike Led Zeppelin or Duran Duran or the Spice Girls or Wham or JLS, nobody in America ever said that Motorhead was the best thing to come out of England since The Beatles. This is in spite of the fact that, with the exception of Led Zeppelin, they stomp all over the other mentioned names. Not that Motorhead would actually give a sh*t about that to begin with. 

Again, it would be several more years before they came to my attention so this is yet another of those albums I listened to in retrospect. Still it is everything I would later come to know and love about them. "Overkill" is a metal album that put several cracks into that bursting dam. Every song says to me, "I'm going to make your ears and nose bleed and you're going to like it." Therefore, it is difficult for me to pick out any one or two tracks that stand out. For me, when every song is that good, it makes for one hell of an album. 

With "Overkill," I can see the birth of thrash and speed metal for these guys helped pioneer it. Everything from Lemmy's gutteral vocals and thumping bass to the great guitar work of Fast Eddie Clark and yes, I'm going to add him to the list of underrated guitarists. Of course it is all to the beat of Phil "Philthy Animal" Taylor on the drums. This album is a promise of great things to come. 

Track Listing:

1. Overkill

2. Stay Clean

3. I Won't Pay Your Price

4. I'll Be Your Sister

5. Capricorn

6. No Class

7. Damage Case

 8. Tear Ya Down

9. Metropolis

10. Limb From Limb

Motorhead

Lemmy Kilmister- bass, vocals

Fast Eddie Clark- guitars

Phil "Philthy Animal" Taylor- drums

While I have been writing this post, I've been hoping a song would stand out for me. However, when one pops into my head so does another in direct competition, so no, there is not one song that stands out because they all do. That makes a good album and for many in 1979, it would be an indication of greater things to come. 

Next Post: Motorhead- Bomber

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Great Metal Albums of 1979: KISS- Dynasty

It has been said that KISS went disco with this album and use the hit single from it "I Was Made For Loving You" as the argument to support it. In some circles, in regards to the song, that may be true but I have a younger sister who was heavily into disco at the time. Therefore, I avoided going near her bedroom so I wouldn't get my ears desecrated by "I Will Survive" by Gloria Gaynor or anything the Bee Gees were doing at the time. I would take the KISS song over those every time. If my sister should read this, she will probably kill me for mentioning these embarrassing days of her youth. She did see the light a year or so later.

The disco consideration was not the reason I didn't listen to the album back then and it wasn't even boot camp either. Back in that time, I was still allowing my mind to be messed up by religion and I actually believed the crap that KISS stood for Knights In Satan's Service and they were all admitted Satan worshipers. Thinking back to that time, I can't believe I was that naive. The problem was that back in my teenage years in the 70s, I was a born again Christian, a Jesus freak if you like. I won't go into details on it but I will say that as a teenager, religion messed my head up more than drugs or music ever could.

Anyway, to the "Dynasty" album. Having listened to it again, I didn't feel the need to sacrifice a goat to the Dark Lord, well maybe a couple of chickens. Still even with the disco song included, it's not that bad of an album. In fact, maybe there is an argument for removing "I Was Made For Loving You" from it because the rest of the album is pretty good. Like I said with Triumph, back then, metal was still in its early stages and many acts were still experimenting with their sound. So, I'll give KISS the benefit of the doubt on this one. Besides, I especially love the last four tracks and "Magic Touch" and "X-Ray Eyes" stand out for me in particular. All of those final songs remind me that KISS are capable of putting out some great rock.

Track Listing:

1. I Was Made For Loving You

2. 2,000 Man

3. Sure Know Something

4. Dirty Livin'

5. Charisma

6. Magic Touch

7. Hard Times

8. X-Ray Eyes

9. Save Your Love

KISS

Paul Stanley- rhythm guitar, vocals, bass on "I Was Made For Loving You" and "Magic Touch"

Gene Simmons- bass, vocals

Ace Frehley- lead guitar, vocals

Peter Criss- drums, percussion, vocals

One thing KISS could still pride themselves back then was the fact that all four members took a turn at the lead vocals, not something most bands do. The Beatles and The Eagles were the only ones that come to mind at the moment. For KISS, they still continue to do that very well on the "Dynasty" album and there is something cool about hearing the different vocalists on it. That is why I this album probably deserves more credit than what it has been given.

Next post: Motorhead- Overkill

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Great Metal Albums of 1979: Triumph- Just a Game

First of all, I just want to say that whoever the sad individual(s) who said that Canada was a land of shitty music is a complete moron. They probably were Duranies back in the 80s and at this time were of the mind that disco would never die. Their only idea of Canadian artists was Bryan Adams. Canada has given us many great rock and metal artists over the years starting from Rush and going across the board to thrash legends Voi Vod. Of all the great acts from the Great White North (yes, I was a McKenzie Brothers fan too) one that should always be mentioned with them is the great band Triumph. 

Like a lot of acts, Triumph were well into the spotlight and already had some great albums out by the time they came to my attention. When I heard that stuff, I got it into my mind that they were heavy metal although we could debate that for hours. I listened to this 1979 offering by them retrospectively and I wouldn't call it a metal album. Saying that, in that year, heavy metal was still finding its feet and many of the acts that we would come to know and love as metal were still experimenting with their sound. 

If I were to put this album into a category and I hate doing that, I would call it bluesy hard rock. Tracks like my favourite "Young Enough to Cry" and the title track as well as "Moving On" back up my thinking on that one. This doesn't bar the listener from hearing the Triumph sound that would later stamp them. What I did notice was when I heard the track, "American Girls," I thought for a second or two that I was listening to Boston and that's not a bad thing. So, I did my usual practice of not trying to label the album and sat back and really enjoyed the sound of "Just a Game."

Track Listing:

1. Moving On

2. Young Enough to Cry

3. American Girls

4. Laying It On the Line

5. Suitcase Blues

6. Just a Game

7. Fantasy Serenade

8. Hold On

Triumph

Rik Emmett: guitars, vocals

Gil Moore- drums, vocals

Mike Levine- bass, keyboards

Forget catagorising and just sit back enjoy "Just a Game" from Triumph. You will see where they started to develop into the major force that they would later become and you'll never have any doubts about the quality of Canadian music. 

Next post: KISS- Dynasty

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