Great Rock Albums of 1981: John Lennon- Double Fantasy

Like every year so far, I begin with albums that were actually released in the previous year but didn't come to my attention until the new year. In 1981 I had a good excuse. I spent the first two months of the year sailing around the Mediterranean on a ship. As it was the end of the deployment, there weren't many port calls although there was a field operation in Tunisia. Therefore, news of new record releases were very slow in making their way to my attention.

It is only fitting that since 1980 ended with the tragic murder of John Lennon, I begin 1981 with the album he released just before his death. It has been said in secret whispers that if John hadn't died so tragically, this album wouldn't have had the acclaim that it received. I am not going to argue one way or the other here. It's not the rockiest album I've heard, even from him and if it were up to me, all of the songs Yoko Ono sings would be removed from the album. In the same way Linda McCartney had over Paul, Yoko had a definite hold over John and that is why she appears so much on this album. The songs he does make the album for me. My favourite song has always been "Watching the Wheels" especially as I can relate it to what I was going through at the time. I would come to the halfway point of my enlistment and I was getting really fed up with the military bullshit. So, I would sing this song only changing the lyrics to "I'm just waiting for my EAS to come around." For those wondering, EAS means expiration of active service.

Another song that really stands out for me on the album is "Clean Up Time." This is probably the closest to a real rocker on the album. "Beautiful Boy (Darling Boy)" is amusing and there are the two other singles, "Just Like Starting Over" and "Woman." Both are decent songs but better to listen to when in a more mellow mood.

Track Listing:

1. Just Like Starting Over

2. Kiss Kiss Kiss

3. Clean Up Time

4. Give Me Something

5. I'm Losing You

6. I'm Moving On

7. Beautiful Boy (Darling Boy)

8. Watching the Wheels

9. Yes I'm Your Angel

10. Woman

11. Beautiful Boys

12. Dear Yoko

13. Every Man Has a Woman Who Loves Him

14. Hard Times Are Over

John Lennon

It has been suggested that the reason behind the mellow feel and soppy love songs that incorporate most of the "Double Fantasy" album is that John was repenting for his chauvinistic attitudes in the 1960s. Maybe so and if it is the case, then he can say he left the world paying back that debt because this album is in no way chauvinistic. It pours out his love for Yoko and his son and I don't think anyone should begrudge him that.

Next post: The Police: Zenyatta Mondatta

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1981: More Cracks Emerge

As we have seen, (sorry it's the teacher in me) 1980 gave us many a great rock and metal album. In fact many of the great all time classics came out in this year. So it was only natural to assume that we should expect more of the same in 1981 and I will endeavour to show that this was the case.

Bezerk

Many changes were a foot in this year in and out of music and with me personally. Space Invaders gave way to Pac Man and the forerunner of Mario with Donkey Kong. However, my game in that year was definitely Bezerk. Loved killing all of those robots and the fact that Evil Otto was indestructible didn't stop me from shooting at him anyway. America returned to conservative leadership under the presidency of Ronald Reagan but it would be another two and a half years before my mind changed about him. All that aside and I know that this is going to sound very clichéd but I don't give a rat's bottom, music got me through 1981. I had some challenging times while serving my country in that year. Without going into too much personal detail, let's say that I had a lot of sympathy for Joe in a particular Jimi Hendrix song. It was some of the great albums that will be visited here that helped me through the tough times.

1981 wasn't all doom and gloom. I bought a car that year and although it gave me lots of problems, (putting 24,000 miles in ten months on any car has that effect) my 73 Chevy Nova would be the undisputed party wagon of the year. I bet if someone lifted out the back seat, they would still find a roach or two and I'm not talking about insects. The music was still there to add to that party atmosphere. So, without further wait, I will go onto the great albums of 1981.

Next post: John Lennon- Double Fantasy

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 at Foyles Book Shop in London

A Tribute to Great Blues Guitarists

Like I did with the "Who's the Greatest Rhythm Guitarist?" poll, I have decided to put in an extra thought between the years of my metal history tour. So, since I have finished with 1980 and before heading into 1981, I thought I would take a moment to reflect on some of the great blues based guitarists I have come to know and love over the years. Now, I have always been a sucker for a good long guitar solo played in the mentioned fashion. Even when they were performed by guitarists who may not have been known for such a style. That is probably why my all time favourite Jimi Hendrix song is "Hey Joe," although the lyrics may have something to do with it as well. Then the other day, I was listening to the Rainbow "Anthology" album and I must say that I was relatively blown away by Ritchie Blackmore on the final song, "Difficult to Cure." 

Jimi Hendrix

One guitarist who many have considered one of the all time greats was old slow hand himself Eric Clapton. I had the pleasure of seeing him live in 1985 and despite the fact that the record company was trying to get him to go new wave, that night he played many of his classic guitar jams. In fact, I thought it was an act of sacrilege when the other guitarist in his band played a solo on "Cocaine." Still, Eric showed why he is one of the all time greats.

Eric Clapton

Rory Gallagher

Pat Travers

Robin Trower

True most the guitarists I have featured here were from the years I have been visiting here on 80smetalman's Blog but these were the ones who I have first come to know and appreciate. By the late 1980s, there were some who claimed that the blues guitarist was buried dead in the past. I can see their argument as so many great metal lead guitarists were stepping into the limelight. The blues guitarist may have been pushed to the side but they weren't totally gone and then in the mid 90s, a new guitarist would take his place in the spotlight. His name was Kenny Wayne Shepherd. His album "Trouble Is" took me back to those days of listening and playing along to long bluesy guitar solos and the world was balanced once again.

Kenny Wayne Shepherd

I could go on naming more great guitarist from this style, Jimmy Page was known to lay down a killer blues riff or two and right now Mark Knopfler's efforts on "Sultans of Swing" comes to mind. For me, these were the pioneers of great guitarists. I loved their style and still do. That doesn't mean I'm not open to a good ripping solo from one of today's metal giants. It's just I like to reflect back on some of the blues guitarist that first got me into rock and then metal. I hope you've enjoyed the ride too.

Next post: 1981- The Dam Continues to Break

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

1980 Ends in Tragedy

John Lennon

In spite of all of the great rock and metal happenings, the kick ass albums from the likes of Black Sabbath, Judas Priest and AC/DC to name just a tiny few, triumphant events like the first ever Donington Festival and even tragic departures in the form of John Bonham and Bon Scott; all of them were over shadowed by an event that not only shocked the music world but the world in general, the murder of John Lennon. Like other infamous tragedies such as Pearl Harbour, the assassination of JFK and 911, many people can remember exactly where they were when they first heard the news that John Lennon and been shot and killed. Personally, I was on the USS Saipan and we had just returned through the Suez Canal and was on our way to Italy when the ship news service told us of the murder. Naturally, we were all shocked and some of my comrades in arms thought it was a joke. However, when we realised the truth, there was much mourning and sympathy, even from those who would have not listened to Lennon's music and it caused what had been a landmark year in music to end on a tearful note.

John Lennon's murder was as unnecessary as it was tragic. If it had been any ordinary Joe or Josephine, I would still say that the way in which he was shot down was completely wrong. Even after all these years, I still fail to see any reasoning behind Mark Chapman's actions other than he simply wanted his fifteen minutes. Now, I am one of the biggest hippy liberals going but I have always maintained that if anyone callously and maliciously takes the life of another human being, then they should forfeit their own. Originally, Chapman was sentenced to 20 years to life in prison and I do feel a slight touch of relief after reading that he has been denied parole seven times.

The Fab Four

I know I'm once again preaching to the choir and stating the obvious, but influence that John Lennon and The Beatles had on music, even heavy metal,  lives on over thirty years after his death. For proof, listen to the Beatles song "Helter Skelter" and then look up the hard rock and metal bands who have recorded covers of said song. I know of at least one metal artist whose album I'll be visiting in the tour of 1981 had a song in tribute to Lennon. I'm sure I'll find others and more will re-emerge from the wastelands of my distant memories. So, in conclusion, as this coming Sunday marks the thirty-third anniversary of the tragedy, take a moment to remember this superstar. But also, as I close the door on the rock and metal of 1980, also remember the great musical triumphs from the year too. I'm not a psychic, but I think that's what John would have wanted us to do.

Next post: Tribute to Blues Guitarists

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

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