Great Metal Albums of 1981: Billy Squier- Don't Say No

You've all been waiting with baited breath for this, okay, maybe not but here it is. After all my ramblings about great British artists who never really made it in America, it's time for the best American artist not to have made it in Britain. That's right, the award goes to Billy Squier. I know from feedback from British readers of "Rock and Roll Children" that this is the case. Since one of his concerts appears early in the story, several British readers have said, that they never knew him or even heard of him. This is true, I never heard his name mentioned in UK metal circles, heard any of his songs on the radio or seen his videos on the Kerrang or Scuzz channels. His only real association with the UK is the fact that he played the 1982 Reading Rock Festival but other than that, very little. This is a shame because Squier is an excellent musician with several fine albums including this 1981 release: "Don't Say No."

For all my goings on about my paranoia about the singles being the opening song on the album, I must say that Billy Squier goes even further on "Don't Say No" by having all three released singles as the first three tracks on the album. This is not a bad thing in this case. I continue to listen to "In the Dark" and his biggest hit, "The Stroke" which even got played on AM radio back in 1981 but the third single, "My Kinda Lover" got the memories flowing. Furthermore, it doesn't matter about where you put the singles on the track list because the rest of the album is definitely not filler. "Lonely Is the Night" could also have been released as a single, especially as I like the intro in that one. "Too Daze Gone" and "Whadda You Want From Me" are also very strong tracks and his tribute to John Lennon, "Nobody Knows." I do think his vocals are a bit too high on that song but that is offset by a cool guitar solo. The songs on here don't disappoint so once again I find myself asking, Why wasn't this album better received in the UK?

Track Listing:

1. In the Dark

2. The Stroke

3. My Kinda Lover

4. You Know What I Like

5. Too Daze Gone

6. Lonely Is the Night

7. Whadda You Want From Me

8. Nobody Knows

9. Need You

10. Don't Say No

[caption id="attachment_2462" align="aligncenter" width="163" class=" "] Billy Squier[/caption]

Billy Squier- vocals, guitar, piano, percussion

Cary Sharaf- guitars

Alan St John- keyboards

Mark Clark- bass

Bobby Chouinard- drums

What I am hoping is that everyone in the UK reading this will rush out and buy this album or at least listen to it on YouTube. That will go a long way in making up for an opportunity that was missed over thirty years ago. By all means, Americans take it out, dust it off and listen to it once more. Then remember what a great album "Don't Say No" really was. I thought it was a great way to end the journey through 1981.

Next post: A Tribute to Some True Heroines

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 Metal Albums of 1981: Black Sabbath- The Mob Rules

Vacation is over I'm afraid and now I am back in the UK. The remains of Yuengling and spicy buffalo wings are passing through my system. I had a great time on holiday although that wasn't the real reason why I went over, that was to look after my mother whose not in the best of health but I did get some time to enjoy myself too as you saw in my last post. Now that I'm back, I will go back to posting twice a week and what better way to celebrate my return than with Black Sabbath's 1981 album, "The Mob Rules."

This was the second album with Ronnie James Dio at the vocals and it was simply a continuation of their fabulous "Heaven and Hell" album a year earlier. Rolling Stone might have slated the album when it came out but what do they know? "The Mob Rules" is a fantastic album. It's yet another album that I really can't go on about individual tracks because they are all that good. One thing I must point out is the title track. It has been said that the mix on the album is different to the version that appears on the soundtrack of "Heavy Metal." This might be true but I don't hear any big difference. Both versions are fine with me. Another observation I have made is that Geezer, Iommi and Appice have to do very little to alter their style to match Dio's vocals nor does Ronnie alter his vocal style. The final three tracks definitely highlight this fact and what you get is some classic Black Sabbath at their best all over this album.

Track Listing:

1. Turn Up the Night

2. Voodoo

3. Sign of the Southern Cross

4. E5150

5. The Mob Rules

6. Country Girl

7. Slipping Away

8. Falling Off the Edge of the World

9. Over and Over

[caption id="attachment_2457" align="aligncenter" width="261" class=" "] Black Sabbath[/caption]

Ronnie James Dio- vocals

Tony Iommi- guitar

Geezer Butler- bass

Vinnie Appice- drums

Were Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne in competition with one another back in 1981? Whose to say? If it was the case, that competition spurred all of them on to make a couple of magnificent albums in 1981. Half of that was "The Mob Rules."

Next post: Billy Squier- Don't Say No

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 Metal Albums of 1981: ACDC- For Those About to Rock, We Salute You

For some of you, this is going to be a bit of a shock. The fact that I am writing about an AC/DC album without first going to see AC/DC tribute band Hell's Bells. The ironic part is that they are coming to town next Saturday, unfortunately, I am heading off to the States for two weeks on Thursday. I am a little miffed at not going to see them but this time I have a legitimate excuse. So, you'll have to settle for a picture of Hell's Bells from the last time I saw them.

[caption id="attachment_1987" align="aligncenter" width="300" class=" "] Hells Bells at their usual greatness[/caption]

Most everyone on the planet knows that "For Those About to Rock" was the follow up to the most highly successful "Back in Black" album. Many of the same people say that the follow up isn't as good but I say "Come on!" It would have been a monumental feat indeed if AC/DC or any band to think of it, was able to put out an album that measured up to "Back in Black." Credit where due though, "For Those About to Rock" comes fairly close.

I have heard many a person say that the only thing good about the title track is the cannons. True, they are brilliant and it's even more mind blowing to see it live. Hell's Bells do try to copy it using a computer but while it's a commendable effort, it's just not the same. I do try to describe this wonderful phenomenon in "Rock And Roll Children," but I probably fail. Even without the cannon, this song would probably have been my favourite on the album. The rest of the album also has the typically great tracks you expect from an AC/DC album. I remember hearing "Let's Get It Up" blasting out of many a juke box in the cafes of Toulon, France and "Evil Walks" is definitely a worthy choice for the "Iron Man 2" soundtrack. Angus Young works his guitar magic throughout the entire album but the most noteworthy from me is on "Night of the Long Knives." What "For Those About to Rock" proves is that AC/DC weren't about to rest on the laurels of just one great album.

Track Listing:

1. For Those About to Rock, We Salute You

2. Put The Finger  On You

3. Let's Get It Up

4. Inject the Venom

5. Snowballed

6. Evil Walks

7. C.O.D.

8. Breaking the Rules

9. Night of the Long Knives

10. Spellbound

[caption id="attachment_1989" align="aligncenter" width="280" class=" "] AC/DC[/caption]

Brian Johnson- vocals

Angus Young- lead guitar

Malcolm Young- rhythm guitar, backing vocals

Cliff Williams- bass, backing vocals

Phil Rudd- drums

The best thing about it not being 1981 anymore is that you can listen to "For Those About to Rock" without the specter of "Back in Black" hanging over it. This follow up is truly a fantastic album on its own and definitely one that reminds you why AC/DC have continued to rule for more than three decades.

I don't know when I'll be posting again but when I do, it will be: Black Sabbath- The Mob Rules

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