Rock And Roll Children: February 2016

Wednesday 24 February 2016

Great Rock Albums of 1980: The Pretenders

What really grinds my gears is when I think back to this year (and the couple of years before) was that whenever any new artist came on the scene with a new sound, it was immediately branded punk. I think that the corporate record execs couldn't put certain music into nice neat little categories so the "punk" branding was a generic fit for any new sound they weren't familiar with. This was also said with the premiere album from The Pretenders. While I agree that they were "new wave," they definitely weren't punk. If you want to know my definition of punk, stick around for when I visit the first album from The Dead Kennedys, which also came out in 1980.

When I hear the self-titled first album from The Pretenders, I hear several musical influences. First there is definitely some classic rock and roll there and that is evidenced in the very first track on the album, "Precious." Furthermore, there is a hint of reggae to their sound in many of their songs as well. This is evidenced in the single that brought them to the forefront of rock music in 1980, "Brass In Pocket." I never judge an album for one song but it is the song that people will forever identify The Pretenders with. Still there are many great tracks on the album and reflecting back on ancient history, I love the way they use the sound effects of the video game Space Invaders in the song of the same name. It left me feeling a bit nostalgic as Space Invaders was the number one game that year.

Another factor that tuned my ears to this album was the unmistakable vocals of Chrissie Hynde. While most of the male world was still salivating over Debbie Harry, Hynde brought a new vocals style to the world. Her vocals, backed up by a tight band, also make this album as good as it is.

Track Listing:

1. Precious

2. The Phone Call

3. Up the Neck

4. Tattooed Love Boys

5. Space Invader

6. The Wait

7. Stop Your Sobbing

8. Kid

9. Private Life

10. Brass In Pocket

11. Lovers of Today

12. Mystery Achievement

: L The Pretenders

Chrissie Hynde- lead vocals, rhythm guitar

James Honeyman Scott- lead guitar, keyboards, backing vocals

Pete Farndon- bass, backing vocals

Martin Chambers- drums, backing vocals

Label this album what you may, punk, new wave, etc, no matter, it is still a good album to enjoy. As for me, there are plenty of albums out there more deserving of the term "punk." I just like this for the feel good factor it provides.

Next post: Paul McCartney II

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 for 50% off at Foyles Book Shop in London

Monday 15 February 2016

Show Support For Iranian Metallers Confess

I have just read something online which is very disturbing. The Iranian heavy metal band has been arrested in their country for playing heavy metal music. If convicted they could face up to six years in prison or even death if found guilty of violating blasphemy laws. FFI- click the link below:

http://www.metalinjection.net/metal-crimes/iranian-musicians-jailed-facing-possible-execution-for-playing-metal

: Confess

Now both on this blog and in "Rock And Roll Children," I have been critical of and made jokes about the Jesus freaks who condemn heavy metal and will continue to do so. Just wait til I get to 1986, I'll be having a field day. However, in the West, metalheads have never been faced with arrest or execution for simply playing or listening to the music we enjoy so much. What we are witnessing here is complete intolerance by an impressive regime, forbidding their people to broaden their horizons or experience new things. Heavy metal give plenty of opportunity for both. Therefore, I urge everyone to start petitions, contact Amnesty International or do anything else to support Confess and prevent them from going to jail for merely playing the music they love so much. In the meantime, we can support them by buying their records or listening to them on Youtube.

Thank you

Tuesday 9 February 2016

Great Rock Albums of 1980: The Eagles Live

Musically, 1980 had a great many musical highs but it also had a few lows as well. One of these was the disbanding of a band that entertained the world throughout the entire 1970's, The Eagles. The band unofficially disbanded in July 1980 but they still owed their record company, Elektra/Asylum a live album. This magnificent live album was the result.

It can be argued that this album was just a collection of all The Eagles' greatest hits, which just happened to be recorded live. True, the album contains many of the classics which made us love them. Greats like "Hotel California," "Take Me to the Limit," "Heartache Tonight" and "Take It Easy" are all on their and sound brilliant live. The album even includes a live playing of the Joe Walsh solo classic, "Life's Been Good" and a new song "Seven Bridges Road." On the flip side, they leave out a couple of my personal favourites like "Victim of Love" and "One of These Nights" but that's me nit picking. This album is The Eagles at their best on stage and for people like me who never got the chance to see them live, it makes a good consolation prize.

Track Listing:

1. Hotel California

2. Heartache Tonight

3. I Can't Tell You Why

4. The Long Run

5. New Kid In Town

6. Life's Been Good

7. Seven Bridges Road

8. Wasted Time

9. Take Me to the Limit

10. Doolin' Dalton Reprise II

11. Desparado

12. Saturday Night

13. All Night Long

14. Life In the Fast Lane

15. Take It Easy

: The Eagles

Glen Frey- guitars, keyboards, vocals

Don Henley- drums, percussion, vocals

Joe Walsh- guitars, keyboards, vocals

Don Felder- guitars, vocals

Randy Meisner- bass, vocals (1976- recordings)

Timothy B Schmidt- bass, vocals (1980 recordings)

This live album reminds us of the legacy of great music left behind by one of the greatest rock bands of the 70s. A full account of some of the great rock songs they gave us all recorded at what was considered their killer live shows. While the album is great, it also reminds us that it was what signaled the end for them.

Next post: The Pretenders

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

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

Tuesday 2 February 2016

R.I.P Paul Kantner

: Paul Kantner- Jefferson Starship

Now I am convinced the apocalypse is upon us. Not even a week since the death of Dio bassist, Jimmy Bain, another rock legend departs our world. Yesterday, it was rhythm guitarist Paul Kantner of Jefferson Airplane/Starship, who passed away from a heart attack, aged 74. Paul Kantner was one of the major reasons I was such a big Jefferson Starship fan throughout the 1970s and early 1980s. It was only after he departed the band in 1984, they ceased to be my favourite band.

Paul was not only one of the best rhythm guitarists in rock, (he was nominated for the Hugo Science Fiction Award for his efforts on Blows Against the Empire), he was also a damn good song writer. Whenever I got a new Jefferson Starship album, it was his songs that I usually liked the most on that album. His songs always tended to be more hard rock, especially during their days of mellow out rock in the late 70s. Unfortunately, many of the songs he wrote weren't the 'big' singles so I doubt if they will release an album with just his songs. So what I am going to do in tribute to this great musician is to listen to all the songs he wrote or had a major hand in writing for the band and list them here if you should want to do the same.