Great Metal Albums of 1981: Iron Maiden- Killers

As I reminisce about the great music that came out in 1981, I realise that I haven't really been giving full accolades to what a great year it was musically. 1981 was great for twofold reasons. First, many of the established superstars came out with some great albums but also some of the more up and coming acts also let themselves be known in that year. One of the latter was definitely Iron Maiden. While I had heard of them in 1981, it wouldn't be until the following year before I had actually heard them and I can't remember which song it was but I know I liked it. I would eventually listen to and like their second album, "Killers."

This album plays a major role in getting Iron Maiden the notice on the metal stage that would eventually propel them into the ionosphere of superstardom. There would be adjustments made in the future, especially in the area of lead singer. I'm not going into the Di'Anno/Dickinson debate but I will venture this: Listening to the track "Wrathchild" on the album and the live version on "Live After Death," I prefer Bruce Dickinson's voice as far as Iron Maiden goes. However, I don't think that Bruce's voice would be better suited on the next track "Murders in the Rue Morgue." But enough of that, "Killers" is still a fine album from Iron Maiden.

The tracks already mentioned are good ones and I love the guitars at the intro of "Another Life." "Innocent Exile," another great track, is more like the trademark sound of Iron Maiden and the title track follows nicely after. The two instrumentals on the album, "Ides of March" and "Genghis Khan" are also very well done. However, as the album closes with the remaining tracks, the one that definitely sticks out for me is "Prodigal Son." The slow acoustic intro grabs your attention and just when you think the song is going to be Iron Maiden's token ballad, it surprises you by going harder once again proving that the guitar combination of Smith and Murray deserves to be up there with many of the best combos of dual guitarists.

Track Listing:

1. Ides of March

2. Wrathchild

3. Murders in the Rue Morgue

4. Another Life

5. Genghis Khan

6. Innocent Exile

7. Killers

8. Prodigal Son

9. Purgatory

10. Drifter

[caption id="attachment_1972" align="aligncenter" width="284" class=" "] Iron Maiden[/caption]

Paul Di'Anno- vocals

Steve Harris- bass

Dave Murray- guitars

Adrian Smith- guitars

Clive Burr- drums

Iron Maiden may not have been a household name in 1981 but their album "Killers" makes a clear statement as to why they would become one. You can feel their hunger on the album and know full well that they would be a force for good in the world of heavy metal.
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Great Metal Albums of 1981: Girlschool- Hit and Run

Throughout the twenty eight years I have lived in the UK, there has been a lot of back and forth banter between my country of origin and my adopted country over which country did what things better. There are some things that each country will always do better than the other like the UK will always be better at cricket and the US will always be better at American football. In the world of music, neither country has been able to hold dominance over for very long. However, in 1981, one area where the UK outshone the US was in the category of all female bands. The US had The Go Gos who weren't bad as far as rock bands go but they didn't hold a candle to the UK's female metal outfit Girlschool.

Their 1981 album "Hit and Run" is precisely the reason why Girlschool reigned supreme of all female music acts that year. They gave many of the male acts a good run for their money as well as they proved they could rock with this album. This is evident with the very first chords in the opening song "C'mon Let's Go." A great song that gets things going. Those who don't truly appreciate metal complain that it's the same two chords going over and over and if they were to listen to "The Hunter," they would site this as proof. My response is that yes, it might be the same two chords but what two great chords they are. They certainly capture and hold my attention even throughout the vocals and guitar solo, so who cares? "(I'm Your) Victim," "Kick It Down" and "Follow the Crowd all move the album along very nicely until something very interesting happens. Of all the songs, that I would like to hear metalized, ZZ Top's monster tune "Tush" never occurred to me. I feel a fool because Girlschool metalize this song very well.

After "Tush," things kick up a gear and stay there for the remainder. The title track has always been my favourite Girlschool song and I was disappointed that they didn't play it either time I saw them live. Maybe one day, I'll get to see them again and they will play it for me. One can hope. However, another song I have always liked is the pen ultimate "Yeah, Right." This is a song that you want playing on the stereo before going to any metal event, a definite uplifter. The two tracks in between "Hit and Run" and "Yeah, Right" are also good jams and things go out very well with the closer "Future Flash." In short and I don't care how cliched this sounds but with "Hit and Run," Girlschool proved they could play with the big boys.

Track Listing

1. C'mon Let's Go

2. The Hunter

3. (I'm Your) Victim

4. Kick It Down

5. Follow the Crowd

6. Tush

7. Hit and Run

8. Watch Your Step

9. Back to Start

10. Yeah Right

11. Future Flash

[caption id="attachment_2373" align="aligncenter" width="276" class=" "] Girlschool[/caption]

Kim McAuliffe- rhythm guitar, vocals

Kelly Johnson- lead guitar, vocals

Enid Williams- bass, vocals

Denise Dufort- drums

I've realised that for many years I have taken for granted all the great albums that came out in 1981. To have so many great bands put out so many great albums in the same year is something truly phenomenal and there's still more to come. Girlschool can stake their own claim to the year with "Hit and Run." In spite of what I said about it when I posted on the album not long ago, "Hit and Run" beats the pants off The Go Gos' "Beauty and the Beat" and that makes these fine ladies the best female artists of 1981.
Next Post: Iron Maiden- Killers

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Great Metal Albums of 1981:Anvil- Hard and Heavy

After listening to "Hard 'N' Heavy," the debut album from Canadian metal outfit, Anvil and thinking back to the documentary made about them four years ago, I find myself asking, "Why didn't they make it into the big time?" This album alone should have catapulted them into the stratosphere of music, it's that good. My gut reaction is my belief that Canadian metal was largely ignored back then with the exceptions of Rush and Triumph but was that really the case? My mind is still grappling with the question but in any case, whenever any of the great metal albums from 1981 are mentioned, "Hard 'N' Heavy" definitely deserves to be among them.

If I still had one of those radio/cassette alarm clocks and had this album on cassette, then I would have would have woken up every morning to the opening track, "School Love" and not just because it starts with a school bell. I love what comes after, the killer sound of guitar, bass and drums that meld together to make the song. Of course, after "School Love" woke me up, I wouldn't be able to do much else because I would have to head bang away through its entirety. What impresses me with many of the songs is that Steve 'Lips' Kudrow is a far better guitarist than what I have given him credit for. There are some killer solos on "Hard 'N' Heavy." "AC/DC" (which is not a tribute to the band of the same name), "At the Apartment," Oh Jane" and "Bondage" all immediately come to mind here.

There are a good many songs that would sound even better if metalized and there are a couple of Rolling Stones songs that qualify here. But what Anvil have done with "Paint It Black" on the album is something truly phenomenal. They just didn't metalize the song, they ultra metalized it. Another aspect that the band has always done well in my mind is add a certain sense of humour to a lot of their songs. That humour is apparent in all of the songs here while all the time, taking nothing away from the style that makes Anvil a true metal band.

Track Listing:

1. School Bells

2. AC/DC

3. At the Apartment

4. I Want You Both (With Me)

5. Bedroom Game

6. Oooh Baby

7. Paint It Black

8. Oh Jane

9. Hot Child

10. Bondage

Steve 'Lips' Kudrow- vocals, guitar

Dave Allison- guitar, vocals

Ian Dickson- bass

Robb Reiner- drums

Whoever first said that Anvil are the greatest band never to have had a break gets total agreement from me. I can only wonder why they didn't make it to the great heights achieved by so many other bands in the 80s. "Hard 'N' Heavy" is a fantastic metal album and deserves its place among so many of the other great metal albums from 1981.

Next post: Girlschool- Hit and Run

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