Great Rock Albums of 1981: Rick Springfield- Working Class Dog

In the mid 1980s, I thought that Rick Springfield was one of those commercially produced artists who's sound was out to try to please everybody. I still think that. My motivation for visiting the "Working Class Dog" album comes from elsewhere. Back in the summer of 1981, my marine buddies and I used to frequent a go-go bar outside the base called The Driftwood. During that summer, Springfield's biggest hit, "Jessie's Girl," received a lot of play on the juke box. There was this one dancer, I only knew her as Twinkles, seemed to be on stage a lot when it was played and believe me, she knew how to work the stage to the song. It was just how she used to use the poles to move along with it that was eye catching and that image comes to the forefront of my brain housing group whenever I hear "Jessie's Girl."

[caption id="attachment_2237" align="aligncenter" width="258"] The Driftwood (I can't believe I found a picture of it online)[/caption]

Having listened to the album again after so many years, (that's one major plus in writing this blog) I have come to the conclusion that it isn't the commercial rock that I associate with Rick Springfield later on in the decade. "Working Class Dog" is far from a metal album but it is an enjoyable rock album. There are some decent rock tunes on it and I'm not just talking about the forementioned famous hit. There is the more minor hit "I've Done Everything For You," which is a good song on it's own right, except Twinkles never danced to it. I also thought the title track, "Hole in My Heart" and "The Light of Love" are all in the same light; good, listenable rock tunes. However, I found the big surprise to be the penultimate track, "Red Hot & Blue Love." This song goes against the flow of the rest of the album with a more guitar blues sound. The guitar solo is ear catching showing why Neil Geraldo doesn't get the recognition he deserves. Once again, I find myself pleasantly surprised although my opinion of Rick Springfield's later stuff hasn't changed.

Track Listing:

1. Working Class Dog

2. Jessie's Girl

3. Hole in My Heart

4. Carry Me Away

5. I've Done Everything For You

6. The Light of Love

7. Everybody's Girl

8. Daddy's Pearl

9. Red Hot & Blue Love

10. Inside Sylvia

Rick Springfield- vocals, guitar, bass, keyboards

Robben Ford- guitar

Neil Geraldo- guitar, bass

Gabriel Katona- keyboards

Jeff Eyrich- bass

Mike Baird- drums

Jack White- drum

Jeremiah Cox- french horn, backing vocals

Tom Kelly- backing vocals

This post has given me further ideas, there were other songs that were made to come alive when danced to by some of the ladies at the Driftwood. My mind flashes back to one named Beverly who made me appreciate REO Speedwagon's "Take It On the Run" in a different light and there were others. The other thing was that experience has burned unique memories of certain songs and like in the case of Twinkles with "Jessie's Girl," got me to listen to the album more. In the case of Rick Springfield and "Working Class Dog," it was a nice surprise.

Next post: Dire Straits- Making Movies

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: George Harrison- Somewhere in England

Once again, I know that I'm repeating myself here because I did say this when I visited Mr Harrison's self-titled 1979 album but I feel the strange need to say it again. Of all the solo work from the members of The Beatles, it's George's the I like the best. I did really like Paul McCartney with Wings in the early 70s but I felt he went too disco at the tail end of the decade. For the more astute, you may have realised that I never visited Wings' 1979 "Back to the Egg" album, now you know why. However, George Harrison was consistent with his music throughout and didn't bow to trends in music. While the 1976 album "33 1/3" remains my favourite of his albums, "Somewhere in England" has to rank up there as well.

Warning, this is not a bang your head rock album. George Harrison's music has always appealed to my more mellower side and this album is no different. However, what comes through on most of the tracks is a subtle lead guitar in the background and for me, that makes most of the songs where it happens. Most notable is the opening track, "Teardrops" and "Unconciousness Rules." Other tracks have this guitar sound on it as well and there are one or two tracks that make you think George is going to let loose, especially with some of the guitar intros on a couple of tracks but the song goes into the more melodic sound that I know him for. Even so, he makes it sound really good and since the album was released just a few months after former band mate John Lennon's death, the single "All Those Years Ago" is not only a dedication to him, the other former band mates, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr appear on the song marking a true tribute to Lennon.

Track Listing:

  Blood From a Clone

Unconciousness Rules

Life Itself

All Those Years Ago

Baltimore Oriole

Teardrops

That Which I've Lost

Writing On the Wall

Hong Kong Blues

Save the World

[caption id="attachment_1203" align="aligncenter" width="253"] George Harrison[/caption]

George Harrison- Lead vocals, guitars, keyboards, synthesisers

Alla Rakha- tabla

Gary Brooker- keyboards, synthesisers

Al Kooper- keyboards, synthesisers

Mike Moran- keyboards, synthesisers

Neil Larsen- keyboards, synthesisers

Tom Scott-Lynicon- horns

Herbie Flowers- tuba, bass

Willie Weeks- bass

Ray Cooper- keyboards, synthesisers, percussion, drums

Jim Keltner- drums

Dave Mattacks- drums

 I probably appreciate this album much more these days as I'm mellowing with age, although play a Slayer or Amon Amarth song and I will be going full tilt. Over the years before his death, George Harrison put out some good light rock and "Somewhere In England" is one of the best.

Next post: Rick Springfield- Working Class Dog

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: Journey- Escape

"Escape" by Journey is probably one of the best known albums of 1981. I remember in the final months of that year, there always seemed to be a song from the album playing on the radio, whether it was "Who's Crying Now," "Open Arms" or the now very popular thanks to the TV show "Glee," "Don't Stop Believing." It is also the reason that many people site this album as the turning point in Journey's sound from their more traditional progressive hard rock sound towards the more commercial sound of their next album "Frontiers." Either way, it was a very important album in 1981 in many ways for a lot of people, including me.

Looking beyond "Don't Stop Believing" which is still a good song in spite of how it has been used recently. The piano intro by Jonathan Cain is still very unique and even though it is a top forty tune, Neil Schon still hammers out a decent guitar solo. Similar things can be said about the second single on the album, "Who's Crying Now," which comes right after track number two "Stone In Love." I wonder if that song was written for one my fellow metal bloggers here, tee hee. Anyway, back to "Who's Crying Now." There is a mysterious vibe to the song and it ends with some more fantastic guitar work from Schon. That leads perfectly to the harder sounding "Keep On Running" and hearing that, the listener can be assured that Journey have not departed from their hard rock roots. The title track bears some great progressive sounds and the next few songs feed well off it. Then another rocker, "Mother, Father" and more impressive Schon guitar licks before the closer, "Open Arms." I liked that song back then but it holds a more special meaning for me these days. It was mine and Mrs 80smetalman's first dance song at our wedding.

Track Listing:

1. Don't Stop Believing

2. Stone In Love

3. Who's Crying Now

4. Keep on Running

5. Still They Ride

6. Escape

7. Lay It Down

8. Dead or Alive

9. Mother, Father

10. Open Arms

Journey

Steve Perry- vocals

Neil Schon- guitars

Ross Valory- bass

Steve Smith- drums

Jonathan Cain- keyboards

I must make a confession here. The first dance song wasn't taken from the "Escape" album but from a soundtrack to a 1981 film, which I will be visiting down the line. Still, it goes to show just how big this album was in the year.

Next post: George Harrison- Somewhere in England

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