Great Rock Albums of 1981: 38 Special- Wild Eyed Southern Boys

Now that my problems with wordpress are sorted, I couldn't get on here for two days for some unknown reason, I can finally post about what I think was probably one of the best albums of 1981. Personally, I think it was a conspiracy from the "The 80s were all about Culture Club and Wham" brigade in a bid to stop me from thwarting their version of music history but I digress once again. For me, "Wild Eyed Southern Boys" was one of those albums that made 1981 for me. I don't even need to relate a story from my military days here because that album would have had the same impact on me if I hadn't been serving at the time.

38 Special's previous album, "Rockin' Into the Night" had already given me a strong desire to check out their next one. So even after I started hearing their first single "Hold On Loosely" on juke boxes from North Carolina to New Jersey and even cover bands playing it, I was already in the mind to buy "Wild Eyed Southern Boys." This album takes elements from hard rock, country and blues rock and incorporates it into the band's own unique blend of Southern Rock. There's the more bluesier songs like "Hittin' and Runnin'" and the almost funky "Honky Tonk Night Time Dancer" where Jeff Carlisi shows he can bend a guitar string somewhat to the more hard rock gems like "Fantasy Girl" and "First Time Around." They also show they can have a little fun with their songs, just listen to "Back Alley Sally" and you will see what I mean. However, one song does tower above all the others, not trying to detract from those songs, but the title track for me takes all of those mentioned elements and puts them into one song. That song epitomises what I have always loved about Southern Rock. The acoustic intro followed by Carlisi's burning guitar solos and some great power chords alternated with some melodic harmonising. That's the paradoxical thing I have about 38 Special. I love the way that Don Barnes and Donnie Van Zant trade off vocals here, it definitely works so well on "Wild Eyed Southern Boys." So, my question is why don't they do it more on their records?

Track Listing:

1. Hold On Loosely

2. First Time Around

3. Wild Eyed Southern Boys

4. Back Alley Sally

5. Fantasy Girl

6. Hittin' And Runnin'

7. Honky Tonk Night Time Dancer

8. Throw Out the Ling

9. Bring It On

[caption id="attachment_1691" align="aligncenter" width="249"] 38 Special[/caption]

Donnie Van Zant- vocals

Don Barnes- vocals, guitar, piano

Jeff Carlisi- lead guitar

Larry Junstrom- bass

Steve Brookins- drums

Jack Grondin- drums

Lu Moss- backing vocals

Carol Bristow- backing vocals

Unlike Rossington/Collins, I did not have to listen to this album thirty years later before I decided I really like it. That's because I was rocking to "Wild Eyed Southern Boys" all through time. Even after my cassette got destroyed in my car's stereo. I got rid of that car a few months after that. It didn't stop it from being one of my favourite album's of 1981. The album for me is a classic rocker and you know the funny thing, I still think their previous album "Rockin' Into the Night" was better. Strange huh?

Next post: Blackfoot- Marauder

To buy Rock And Roll Children, go to www.strategicpublishinggroup.com/titlel/RockAndRollChildren.html
Also available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Froogle and on sale at Foyles Book Shop in London

Great Rock Albums of 1981: Rossington/Collins- Anytime, Anyplace, Anywhere

I first heard about Rossington/Collins when I was on my leave after returning from overseas after reading about them in a magazine article. The fact that they were made up of many ex Lynyrd Skynyrd members strengthened my desire to listen to their first album, which I did. While I wasn't disappointed with the album, I can't say that I was overly impressed with it either. Since I was going to post about it, I naturally gave it another listen the other evening. God, what a huge difference thirty odd years can make!

The question begs, "What did I think I was listening to all those years ago?" because this is a very good album. The opening track "Prime Time" quickly reminded me about all the things I still love about Lynyrd Skynyrd without sounding like a clone of them. Then there's the next track, the very blues-gospel sounding "Three Times As Bad" where lead singer Dale Krantz truly comes into her own. If the name sounds familiar, it is because she was one of Skynyrd's back up singers for many years. This lady has definitely not been given the respect she deserves as a vocalist.; not just with the one song but throughout the entire album. Also Gary Rossington and Allen Collins both show that they still know how to work a six string in the expert way we loved in their previous band and there are some magical moments from keyboardist Billy Powell. The tracks "Getaway" and "Misery Loves Company" bear true testimony of these facts and "Anytime, Anyplace, Anywhere" goes out on a very big high with the guitars on the final track, "Sometimes You Can Put It Out." So, I ask myself again, what did I think I was listening too all those years ago?

Track Listing:

1. Prime Time

2. Three Times As Bad

3. Don't Misunderstand Me

4. One Good Man

5. Opportunity

6. Getaway

7. Winners and Losers

8. Misery Loves Company

9. Sometimes You Can Put It Out

[caption id="attachment_2147" align="aligncenter" width="275"] Rossington/Collins[/caption]

Dale Krantz- vocals

Gary Rossington- guitars

Allen Collins- guitars

Barry Lee Harwood- guitars

Billy Powell- keyboards

Leon Wilkeson- bass

Derek Bess- drums

I heard back in the time, that Rossington/Collins were excellent in concert too. Apparently, they would play the legendary "Freebird" but without vocals, only a spotlight shining down on a deserted microphone: a very fitting tribute to Ronnie Van Zant. Listening with a different set of years has its benefits because I can now fully enjoy this album in its full splendour. I wonder if that would work with a Duran Duran album. No, I don't think I'll try it.

Next post: 38 Special- Wild Eyed Southern Boys

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

Great Rock Albums of 1981: Frank Zappa- Tinseltown Rebellion

At this point in time, while we were being treated to all sorts of rock music and the emergence of heavy metal, Frank Zappa was quietly churning out several albums a year. In 1981, he put out three albums and I intend to visit at least one of the other ones as well. However, for me in this year, "Tinseltown Rebellion was the standout album.

Like with the vast majority of his albums, Frank always brings that unique blend of humorous lyrics along with master craftsmen like musicianship. There is plenty of it in this album and the best example is the title track. The song takes the proverbial out of the music scene at the time, (though I still think it's the case today.) How record companies look more for image rather than substance of music. While the message has a hint of seriousness to it, Frank does it in his usual f*ck you style, which has the listener laughing their asses off throughout the entire song. Many other songs have the same effect, "Love Of My Life" springs to mind as it rips on 50s style teenage love songs. He also reworks some of his older songs like "Brown Shoes Don't Make It" from his time with the Mothers of Invention. As usual, he gets some of the best well known and little known musicians to play with him and he always seems to bring out the best in them. On "Tinseltown Rebellion, guitar legend Steve Vai plays along with some of his regulars like Ray White, Peter Wolf and Ike Willis. So there's little wonder why the music quality on the album is so high.

Track Listing:

1. Fine Girl

2. Easy Meat

3. For the Young Sophisticate

4. Love of My Life

5. I Ain't Got No Heart

6. Panty Rap

7. Tell Me You Love Me

8. Now You See It Now You Don't

9. Dance Contest

10. The Blue Light

11. Tinseltown Rebellion

12. Pick Me I'm Clean

13. Bamboozled By Love

14. Brown Shoes Don't Make It

15. Peaches III

[caption id="attachment_1191" align="aligncenter" width="128"] Frank Zappa[/caption]

Frank Zappa- lead guitar, vocals

Arthur Barrow- bass, vocals

Vinny Coliauto- drums

Warren Cuccurullo- rhythm guitar, vocals

Bob Harris- trumpet, keyboards, high vocals

Ed Mann- percussion

Tommy Mars- keyboards, vocals

Steve Vai- rhythm guitar, vocals

Denny Whalley- slide guitar, vocals

Ike Willis- rhythm guitar, vocals

Ray White- rhythm guitar, vocals

Peter Wolf- keyboards

I have always been a Zappa fan, in fact, I drove some of my marine buddies a little crazy over my passion for his music, although I converted quite a few as well. Frank Zappa has many great albums to his credit; "Tinseltown Rebellion just happens to be among them.

Next post: Rossington/Collins- Anytime, Anyplace, Anywhere

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

Great Rock Albums of 1981: Cheap Trick- All Shook Up

Cheap Trick's album "All Shook Up" was yet another album that passed me by when I was on sea duty in late 1980/early 81. I had heard they had put out a new album and it was in my mind to get it once I got back to the US but for some reason, I never did. My loss and it was one that I now regret because after finally listening to it, I realise how good it actually is.

The main problem for Cheap Trick was that "All Shook Up" did not have the radio playability as their previous album, "Dream Police." I honestly can not remember any songs from the album played on FM radio around the time. True there's no top 40 single like "Dream Police" or "I Want You to Want Me" on this album.  Therefore, many people, not just me, allowed it to pass them by and I am sure that I am not the only person who regretted this because I can now say that this is a really good album. It proves once more that Cheap Trick can rock and have fun at the same time. The songs are all good rocking fun especially the last five or so. "I Love You Honey But I Hate Your Friends" is a classic example of Cheap Trick doing what they do best and "High Priest of Rhythmic Noise" is another one. Saying that, the band remains tight through all of the songs with all the trademark aspects of this great band.

Track Listing:

1. Stop the Game

2. Just Got Back

3. Baby Loves to Rock

4. Can't Stop It But I'm Gonna Try

5. World's Greatest Lover

6. High Priest of Rhythmic Noise

7. Love Comes A Tumblin' Down

8. I Love You Honey But I Hate Your Friends

9. Go For The Throat (Use Your Own Imagination)

10. Who D' King

[caption id="attachment_1284" align="aligncenter" width="128"] Cheap Trick[/caption]

Robin Zander- lead vocals

Rick Nielson- lead guitar, backing vocals

Tom Peterssen- bass, backing vocals

Bun E Carlos- drums

Thinking back, I believe that one of the reasons "All Shook Up" passed me by was that I got a letter from my sister telling me that her heart throb Tom Peterssen left the band shortly after it was released. I know that put her off buying the album or otherwise it would have been there for me to borrow and listen to when I got home. My excuse and I'm sticking with it. It was a definite shame because I now realise that I have been missing about on a great album for over three decades.

Next post: Frank Zappa- Tinseltown Rebellion

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