Great Metal Albums of 1982: Iron Maiden- The Number of the Beast

 

Honestly, I didn't intend to make the post of Iron Maiden's killer 1982 album "The Number of the Beast" coincide with the release of their latest album "Book of Souls." I was just simply going down my list of albums for 1982 and it was next. However, the gods of rock operate in mysterious ways and so it must have been their will that the post would be made in light of the new album. Especially since "The Number of the Beast" was the first album to feature Bruce Dickinson as lead singer. It has already been established that the new album is a personal triumph for Bruce after his battle with cancer so maybe it's fitting that appropriate tribute is paid to his first album with Iron Maiden.

Unlike several other bands who were around in 1982, Iron Maiden was not one of those who escaped my attention. Quite the opposite, it was this year when I discovered them while on liberty in Toulon, France. Somebody played an Iron Maiden song that was on a juke box in a bar there and the rest was history. I can't even remember which Maiden song it was, too much alcohol, but I know I liked it. It probably wasn't even from this album.

What can I say about this album that hasn't already been said? For me, it has all the wonderful tracks that led me to love Iron Maiden. This album features such classics as "Run to the Hills," The Number of the Beast," "22 Acacia Avenue" "Hallowed Be Thy Name" and "The Prisoner." See, I heard each of these songs other places such as live albums and videos before I ever heard this album and they were stand out songs on those. Hearing all of them together on one album was simply a mega bonus. Even the track least known to me, "Gangland," is a very cool track that has every bit of the grit that Iron Maiden puts into all of their songs. I have already declared that "The Number of the Beast" is my favourite Iron Maiden studio album.

There are many things that make this album so good. Obviously all of the classic kick ass tracks that are on the album. However, I agree with many thousands and thousands of others who said that the vocals of Dickinson was what took it up to the summit of great albums. His voice is fresh and ferocious, a combination that many singers don't have together in abundance. Still, I won't take anything away from the rest of the band. The guitars of Smith and Murray are just superb with the rhythm section of Harris and Burr keeping things all together. With all of these things, it is no wonder the songs are so good.

Track Listing:

1. Invaders
2. Children of the Damned
3. The Prisoner
4. 22 Acacia Avenue
5. The Number of the Beast
6. Run to the Hills
7. Gangland
8. Hallowed Be Thy Name

[caption id="attachment_2879" align="aligncenter" width="284"]                                  Iron Maiden[/caption]

Along with all the great music associated with "The Number of the Beast" from Iron Maiden, it is also had it's share of controversy. Without even bothering to listen to the album, the religious right in America branded the band 'Satan worshipers' due to the title of the album. This led to record burnings and protests at their concerts and why when I finally got to see them two tours later, they felt the need to tell every audience they played to in America they weren't Satan worshipers. I highlight this point in "Rock And Roll Children." One listen to the album will provide plenty of evidence they aren't. "The Prisoner" was inspired by the popular British television show. "22 Acacia Avenue" is about a house of ill repute, and I am pretty sure it was inspired by the trial of Madam Cyn in London who was acquitted of running a house for prostitution. The more famous "Run to the Hills" is about the plight of the Native Americans. I could go on here but the point is that the songs aren't Satanic. In fact, the subjects of many of the songs of Iron Maiden is another reason why I like them so much.

Next post: Ted Nugent- Nugent

To buy Rock And Roll Children, email me at: tobychainsaw@hotmail.com

Great Metal Albums of 1982: Y&T- Black Tiger

 

They say you learn something new everyday and the other day I did. My first experience of Y&T was in 1983 when I saw and heard their video for "Mean Streak" on MTV. I liked the band and I liked the song and that was the start of my experience with them. Now last week I stated that there was a song on the Riot "Restless Breed" album that sounded a little like Y&T. I assumed that since Riot had been around since the 1970s, that Y&T must have drawn influence from them. As I now dig deeper into the band's history, (not only the album but the band too passed me by in 1982), I have discovered that Y&T's first album actually came out in 1976, the year before Riot's first album. So maybe it was the other way around but that doesn't matter. It was a good song and the 1982 "Black Tiger" album is a good album.

If you heard the 1985 single "Summertime Girls" and think that was Y&T, forget about it. "Black Tiger" is a true metal album. I like the introductory first track "From the Moon." It is an instrumental with some flashy guitar work that simply draws you into the rest of the album. "Open Fire" is a rip roaring track that holds you interest and Y&T puts their personal stamp on this one. I love the guitar solo on "Don't Wanna Lose," Dave Meniketti does smoke the finger board on that one. After your ears get bashed around a bit by the next few tracks, which the track "Forever" stands out the most. This is one of those catchy anthem type songs that you can sing along with. It also opens with a gutsy guitar intro before going almost thrash, wow was all I could say.  Things take a more boogie rock approach with "Barroom Boogie." This in an enjoyable song and one I would put down as a good drinking tune. Unfortunately, the next song, "My Way or the Highway" is the weakest link here. It has some good moments but seems to let itself down in some places. However, things go out very nicely with the near ballad, "Winds of Change," a really good song. So with "Black Tiger," I have found another band where I must go back and listen to some of the early stuff.

Track Listing:

1. From the Moon
2. Open Fire
3. Don't Wanna Lose
4. Hell or High Water
5. Forever
6. Black Tiger
7. Barroom Boogie
8. My Way or the Highway
9. Winds of Change

[caption id="attachment_2875" align="aligncenter" width="300"]                                             Y&T[/caption]

Dave Meniketti- lead guitar, lead vocals

Phil Kennemore- bass, vocals

Joey Alves- guitar

Leonard Haze- drums, percussion

The price I paid for serving my country back in 1982 was that I missed a lot of great albums and some great bands. With Y&T and "Black Tiger," I missed both at the same time.

Next post: Iron Maiden- Number of the Beast

To buy Rock and Roll Children, email me at tobychainsaw@hotmail.com

Great Metal Albums of 1982: Riot- Restless Breed

 

Having reread my post for the previous Riot album, "Fire Down Under," I realise that I did post a picture of RATT when I meant to post a picture of the band Riot. Therefore, I have come to the executive decision that I will no longer use google images when I post pictures of albums or bands. Instead, I will use the heavyharmonies.com site which actually takes getting its facts right seriously. Enough of that now, let's get to another great album from Riot that I should not have waited til the late 80s to listen to.

Again, after listening to the 1982 offering from Riot, "Restless Breed," I am again asking why this band didn't have more commercial success. As I listened to the album, I could hear songs that, in my mind, influenced some of the bands that came after and had more success. For instance, the track "C.I.A." sounds like something that WASP would have done and "When I Was Young" reminds me a little of Y & T. However, Riot was around long before either of these bands were so they drew influence from Riot. Saying that, I could hear a little Judas Priest influence in "When I was Young" as well. However, the rest of the album is straight ahead no frills heavy metal, the way heavy metal was supposed to be played.

"Hard Lovin' Man" may not be the greatest song in the world to open an album but it does the job in preparing the way for the rest of the album. It may have influenced WASP but "C.I.A." is still a brilliant song and the next one "Restless Breed" is even better. The middle of the order on the album is for me, the strongest. The songs "When I Was Young," "Loanshark" and "Loved by You" are the stand outs for me. The latter has one of those catchy choruses where you are still singing it long after the album has finished and you are three miles down the road in the car. They are just loveable rockers. And the best guitar solo goes to the next track, "Over to You." "Slow Down" is the token ballad on the album but it's not bad with some good guitar work on it. Things return to normal with the last two songs. "Dream Away" sounds like it might be another ballad but don't let the title fool you. It has that Southern rock boogie vibe to it and the closer, "Violent Crimes" ends things very nicely. All in all, "Restless Breed" by Riot is one I should have had on cassette blasting out of the car as I cruised down the road.

Track Listing:

1. Hard Lovin' Man
2. C.I.A.
3. Restless Breed
4. When I was Young
5. Loanshark
6. Loved By You
7. Over to You
8. Slow Down
9. Dream Away
10. Violent Crimes

[caption id="attachment_2870" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Riot (and this time it actually is them)[/caption]

Rhett Forester- vocals, harmonica

Mark Reale- guitar

Rick Ventura- guitar

Kip Leming- bass

Sandy Slavin- drums

Let me venture a theory on why Riot didn't get the notoriety they so richly deserved back in the day. I think that people were so caught up in the new wave of British heavy metal (NWOBHM) that possibly American metal bands got pushed to one side. Whatever, the case, Riot was a band who rocked and those who were fortunate to listen to them can vouch for it.

Next post: Y & T- Black Tiger

To buy Rock and Roll Children,

Great Metal Albums of 1982: UFO- Mechanix

 

Confession time, when I posted about UFO's "The Wild, The Willing and the Innocent" album nearly a year ago, I promised to listen to more of UFO. The fact is, I haven't done so, not as much as I would have liked to. My admitted lameoid excuse is the fact that 2015 is in serious danger of being the year 80smetalman disappears up his own asshole. Work, family and other commitments like my hobby I get paid for doing, (I referee American football here in the UK) have made even posting twice a week difficult, though not impossible. Excuses aside and to quote a famous saying from the marines, "Excuses are like assholes, everyone's got one and they all stink," I did listen to the 1982 UFO "Mechanix" and that might go someway into making up for not listening to UFO more.

Everything I said on their 1981 "The Wild, The Willing and the Innocent" can be echoed with the "Mechanix" album. This album is another reason why I should kick myself for not listening to more UFO, (maybe I was a monk in a previous life on account of all the self harm I'm threatening myself with here.) The album just flat out rocks. UFO are definitely one tight band and that comes through with every song. The opener, "The Writer" is a great one to grab you and make you listen to it. The second track, "Somethin' Else" provides the perfect bridge between the opener and the more softer, not too soft, third track, "Back Into My Life." However, it is the fourth track, "You'll Get Love" that really gets me going with that blistering guitar solo. Of all the solos on the album and there are many, this one stands out for me the most. Saying that, the solo on the next track, "Doing it all For You" isn't bad either.

What strikes me as I listened to the album is the similarity in vocals between Phil Mogg and Sammy Hagar. Maybe it's because I listened to a Sammy album last week but it just sounds like they sound alike, I don't know. Anyway, there are some real rockers that follow on from "Doing it all For You." Two really hard tracks in fact before things slow down a little with "Terri." I emphasise the little here but it is the closest they come to a ballad. However, things pick up again and go out very nicely with the two final tracks. So with an album as great as "Mechanix," I ask myself, "Why did I wait so long before listening to UFO?"

Track Listing:

1. The Writer
2. Somethin' Else
3. Back Into My Life
4. You'll Get Love
5. Doing It All For You
6. We Belong to the Night
7. Let it Rain
8. Terri
9. Feel It
10. Dreaming

[caption id="attachment_2420" align="aligncenter" width="189"] UFO[/caption]

Phil Mogg- vocals

Pete Way- bass

Paul Chapman- guitar

Neil Carter- guitar, keyboards, sax

Andy Parker- drums

This time, I will promise myself to not to wait until the next time I post a UFO album before I listen to these guys again. So far, the two albums I have listened to have been mind blowing and from what I heard, there is better to come.

Next post: Riot- Restless Breed

To buy Rock and Roll Children, email me at: tobychainsaw@hotmail.com

Great Metal Albums of 1982: Diamond Head- Borrowed Time

 

"Borrowed Time" by Diamond Head another album that passed me by in 1982 but then again, I had never heard of the band until a year later when I came to Britain and happened to see them at Donnington in 1983. While I thought they were okay, I still never got around to buying any of their albums. When I came to Britain to stay in 1986, it was only then I got to experience them because two of my new friends were heavily into them. In fact, one was nicknamed Diamond Head Andy because of his love for the band. Although the character based on him in "Rock and Roll Children" is called Diamond Head Martin. Even then, I can't say that I really listened to them. That is why, like a good number of the albums of 1982, I am only listening "Borrowed Time" for the first time before making this post.

What is my impression of Diamond Head? Well listening to "Borrowed Time," my first reaction is Led Zeppelin. It is very obvious that Diamond Head draw a major influence from the great Zep, not that I can blame them for that. Lead singer Sean Harris sounds quite a lot like Robert Plant on most of the tracks and guitarist Brian Tatler has a style very similar to Jimmy Page. The tracks which prove the point the most are "Borrowed Time" and "Don't You Ever Leave Me." However, there is a little of the Zeppelin influence in the other tracks too and that includes the closer, "Am I Evil" which any metalhead knows was covered by Metallica. But calling Diamond Head Led Zeppelin clones would be grossly unfair and inaccurate. Sure the Zep influence is definitely there but they aren't clones. Take "Am I Evil" for an example. There is some good power metal riffs in that song that I can see why one of the most famous thrash bands in the world would cover it. The same can be said for "Lightning to the Nations." That is another song where Diamond Head put their own stamp on it. Comparisons and contrasts aside, I found "Borrowed Time to be a great album to sit back and bang your head to and I have to give credit to Tatler as a guitarist, he can cook.

Track Listing:

1. In the Heat of the Night
2. To Heave from Hell
3. Call Me
4. Lightning to the Nations
5. Borrowed Time
6. Don't You Ever Leave Me
7. Am I Evil

[caption id="attachment_2861" align="aligncenter" width="236"]                          Diamond Head[/caption]

Sean Harris- vocals

Brian Tatler- guitars

Colin Kimberly- bass

Duncan Scott- drums

My trip through 1982 has been full of pleasant surprises for me. Because so many albums passed me by that year due to my military commitments, (though I can't use that excuse here), I have had the pleasurable experience of having to catch up on them. So far, every one of them has been a good experience but I have to say that Diamond Head's "Borrowed Time" has been the best surprise thus far.

Next post: UFO- Mechanix

To buy Rock And Roll Children,

Great Rock Albums of 1986: Sammy Hagar- Three Lock Box

 

By 1982, Sammy Hagar was attracting the attention of many people in the rock world, including mine. After several kick ass albums and some great songs on a couple of soundtracks, my curiosity was certainly aroused. It was this 1982 album "Three Lock Box," that allowed me to listen to the Red Rocker in his fully glory.

The opening title track ever most definitely sets the pace for the album straight away. His opening vocals, "Suckers walk, money talks, but it can't touch my three lock box," has been etched in my mind for all eternity. It's not just the lyrics though, that fuzzy blues rock guitar that kicks in a second later propels it through to the ionosphere. The song not only allows me to appreciate Hagar's vocal ability but I can also give him respect as a guitarist. Funny thing is that "Three Lock Box" isn't my all time favourite Hagar song, that's still to come.

"Three Lock Box," the album, doesn't depreciate as it goes further down the line with more songs. "Remote Love" has a good intro and I like it as a rock song but it's the very next song that wins my award for the album's best hidden gem. "Remember the Heroes" is a true rocker with a great rocking introduction and some fantastic guitar soloing in the middle. What a great song, maybe they should of released that one as a single but instead, the known single from the album is "Your Love is Driving Me Crazy." The song is what it is, great single material and I did like it when it came on the radio in the day. After the single, the album goes back to some more good Hagar sounding rock. He stretches out a bit with the next song, "In the Room." Maybe he was trying to sound more new wave here, I don't know. Saying that, I won't take anything away from it, I do like it. Things go more hard rock with the next track, "Rise of the Animal" and I can hear some good guitar tweaking in that one. It does go out with a cool guitar solo. That leads the album to the end with the four remaining tracks although I really dig the straight forward rocker, "Growing Up." It precedes the closest thing Sammy has to a ballad on the album, "With Never Give Up." That too was released as a single but it didn't do as well as "Your Love is Driving Me Crazy." Still, it's not a bad song and then there's the closer, "I Don't Need Love." Another cool rock song that at first listen had me asking myself, "Why is this the last song on the album?" Then I answered my own question when I heard how the guitars ended the song. In short, after hearing "Three Lock Box," I was converted to Sammy Hagar.

Track Listing

1. Three Lock Box
2. Remote Love
3. Remember the Heroes
4. Your Love is Driving Me Crazy
5. In the Room
6. Rise of the Animal
7. I Wouldn't Change a Thing
8. Growing Up
9. Never Give Up
10. I Don't Need Love
11. [caption id="attachment_1954" align="aligncenter" width="228"] Sammy Hagar[/caption]

    Sammy Hagar- vocals, guitar

12. Bill Church- bass

Gary Pihl- guitar

David Lauser- drums

Guest musicians

Jonathan Cain- keyboards on "Remember the Heroes"

Mike Reno- vocals on "Remember the Heroes"

Sammy Hagar not only made a believer out of me in 1982, he made one out of many people. "Three Lock Box" is the reason why. It is my favourite album of Sammy's and listening to it, reminds me why.

Next post: Diamond Head- Borrowed Time

To buy Rock And Roll Children, email me at: tobychainsaw@hotmail.com

Great Metal Albums of 1982: Girlschool- Screaming Blue Murder

 

Everything I said in my last post about Anvil not getting the respect they've deserved for all these years can be said for Girlschool. Like their Canadian counterparts, Girlschool blasted onto the scene in the early 1980s only to disappear a few years down the line, although they were bigger in the UK than they were in America. But with all of the other bands from the UK who came on the wave of new wave of British heavy metal (NWOBHM), Girlschool seemed to be the first to fade from view. Should I play the 'it's because heavy metal is sexist' card? After all, Girlschool were an all female outfit. No I won't do that unless clear evidence can be provided, but whatever the reason, one thing I know for sure was that they could rock just as hard as the men.

The 1982 album "Screaming Blue Murder" is proof alone that Girlschool weren't just four pretty bimbos who decided to take up instruments. They could at least play them. Each song, except for maybe the closer, is a true metal tune and each contains something of the basic elements to be a true metal song. "Screaming Blue Murder" is a fantastic opening track and sets the pace to the album ever so appropriately. The introductory riffs on "Take it From Me" are the type to grab you by the ears and say, "Here's a song you should listen to." Other stand out tracks for me are "Don't Call It Love," "Live With Me," "Turns Your Head Around" and "When Your Blood Runs Cold." So, I ask myself, why didn't these girls go onto to the same accolades as the likes of Saxon, Maiden or Priest?

Another issue I noted from listening to the album is the guitar work of one Kelly Johnson. She can shred, plain and simple. Just have a listen to "Don't Call it Love" and you will be convinced. That's the song where she shines the most but she certainly makes her presence known on the other tracks on "Screaming Blue Murder." So, let's all give Johnson the respect she deserves as a guitarist. P.S. You could probably add Kim McAuliffe to my list of great rhythm guitarists as well.

Track Listing:

1. Screaming Blue Murder

2. Live With Me

3. Take It From Me

4. Wildlife

5. Turns Your Head Around

6. Don't Call It Love

7. Hellrazor

8. When Your Blood Runs Cold

9. You Got Me

10. Flesh and Blood

[caption id="attachment_2373" align="aligncenter" width="329"] Girlschool[/caption]

Kim McAuliffe- rhythm guitar, vocals

Kelly Johnson- lead guitar, vocals

Gil Weston- bass, vocals

Denise Dufort- drums

1982 was full of great metal bands, probably so many that some possibly slipped through the cracks and faded into obscurity. That might be said for Girlschool but in that year, they made their mark with the album, "Screaming Blue Murder." For me, it was another metal album made in the way the gods of metal intended and it has played a major role in getting me psyched for Friday.

To buy Rock And Roll Children, email me at: tobychainsaw@hotmail.com

Great Metal Albums of 1982: Anvil- Metal on Metal

 

The other night I was watching Anvil performing the title track to their 1982 album, "Metal on Metal" and it got me thinking about the now famous Anvil Documentary that came out a few years back. Many bands admitted that they were blown away by Anvil back in the day and seeing their performance on You tube, I now know why. They were just so full of energy and the way they played was just mind blowing. I wished I could have seen them back then. Fortunately, their first three studio albums were just as mind blowing, including this one.

While I can easily say that all the songs on "Metal on Metal" are mind blowing metal anthems, it is the title track that I like best. Seeing it performed live only makes it that much sweeter. It's just metal as metal was intended. However, it is likewise for the rest of the album as well. I get the distinct impression that the band had a good time recording this one. "Mothra," "Jackhammer" and "Heat Sink" all fall in line with the title track, all great head bangers. The instrumental "March of the Crabs" show that these guys can actually play. One thing I do find surprising is the closer "666." I'm surprised that it hasn't appeared on an American fundamentalist Christian hit list, just for the title alone. The other reason I'm surprised the album hasn't appeared on the same list is that "Metal on Metal" is what metal was meant to be. If someone with no experience of metal, who wanted to hear it in its purest form, this would be one of the albums I would reach for.

Track Listing:

1. Metal on Metal

2. Mothra

3. Stop Me

4. March of the Crabs

5. Jackhammer

6. Heat Sink

7. Tag Team

8. Scenery

9. Tease Me Please Me

10. 666

[caption id="attachment_2368" align="aligncenter" width="226"] Anvil[/caption]

Steve 'Lips' Kudrow- vocals, guitar

Dave Allison- guitar, vocals on "Stop Me"

Ian Dickson- bass

Rob Reiner- drums

One observation I've made about Anvil today and was probably true back in the early 1980s, was that people either loved them or hated them. No prizes for guessing which side I'm on. Even when they played Bloodstock in 2012, these things were said. All I know is that their first three albums were all killer ones and though I didn't experience them until 1984, I was glad for the opportunity.

Next post: Girlschool- Screaming Blue Murder

To buy Rock and Roll Children, email me at: tobychainsaw@hotmail.com 

A Metal Tragedy: The Death of Randy Rhoads

 [caption id="attachment_2796" align="aligncenter" width="220"] Randy Rhoads[/caption]

Actually, I'm quite surprised that no one pointed this out when I posted my "Triumphs and Tragedies" post for 1982. While the death of John Belushi was certainly a tragic occurrence, for metalheads, the terrible loss of Randy Rhoads was a far bigger tragedy because on March 19, 1982, the world was robbed of a guitar god. That is why I felt that Rhoads's death deserved its own post because for metalheads, his death overshadowed everything else in 1982 in the same way that John Lennon's murder did for the world in 1980.

For any metalhead, it's standard 101 to know that Randy Rhoads was killed in a plane crash on that tragic day in March, 1982 but it is only now that I have fully learned the full details behind the crash. The pilot had taken Randy and the band's make up artist up in a small plane for a little bit of show boat flying. After making two successful attempts to fly close to the tour bus that was parked nearby, the pilot botched the third attempt, hitting the bus, severing the top of a pine tree before crashing into a garage of a nearby mansion. The contact with the bus forced Rhoads's head to crash through the windscreen and then he was immediately incinerated when the plane exploded into a fireball after hitting the garage. While only God himself could have saved the three people in the plane, it still took over a half hour before the fire service arrived on the scene and then it was only one engine. This leads me to speculate two possible reasons for this. One was the fact that it was rural Florida and the local fire department would probably have been a volunteer one so there would have been a great delay in the response. The other, a result of me seeing anti- metal conspiracies all over the place, is the fact that the locals weren't too bothered in responding quickly because it was a bunch of heavy metal people involved. In any case, heavy metal and the world lost a truly magnificent guitar player on that day.

Standard Metal knowledge 102 teaches that while Randy is no longer with us, his legacy will never die. From that fateful day, the tributes to Randy Rhodes and what he has done for music continue to pour in. His former band Quiet Riot dedicated a song to him on their next album and Ozzy Osbourne released a tribute album to Randy a few years after that and rest assured, I'll be visiting both when the time comes. Young guitarists still study his guitar style and Jackson Guitars still sell a replica of the one he used to wow audiences with his playing. Randy might have only lived for 25 years (way too young) but his memory has lived on for the last 33 years and will go on forever. Here's where I should urge everybody to go out and listen to some album where Randy appears. There's really no need because I know that everybody reading this will have already done so in the recent past and will continue to do so well into the the future.

R.I.P. Randy Rhoads

Next post: Anvil- Metal on Metal

To buy Rock and Roll Children, email me at: tobychainsaw@hotmail.com 

Great Metal Albums of 1982: KISS- Creatures of the Night

 

KISS, in 1982, were very much in danger of slipping into musical obscurity in the same way Aerosmith were at the time. Unlike, Aerosmith, it wasn't drugs that were causing the slide, it was KISS  themselves. When I visited their album "Unmasked," I pointed out that they seemed to be abandoning the hard rock sound that made them a household name, for good or ill, back in the 1970s. "Unmasked" was a deliberate lurch to more commercial sounds that was feared to have started when they released a disco tune on the "Dynasty" album and continued onto the 1981 "Music From the Elder" album, although the latter was an improvement on the predecessor. By 1982, people like me were starting to forget them. My biggest memory of them that year was the night before my battalion was starting its combat readiness evaluation. My company gunnery sergeant told us that when we applied the camouflage make up the next day, that we were not to make ourselves up to look like KISS.

[caption id="attachment_2788" align="aligncenter" width="288"] Definitely not like KISS[/caption]

What KISS needed was to go back to their heavy roots. One night, at my favourite rock bar on Okinawa, a video came on that made personal history. It was for the song "I Love it Loud" and from first strike of the guitar string, it was clear that KISS had gone back to what made them great. "I Love it Loud" is a complete rock out and since that fateful evening, it has been my all time favourite KISS song. I think the band knew that too because it would be another three years before I would finally get to see them live and they played that song for me. Even to this day, hearing that song makes me want to jump out of my seat.

Insert tired cliche here but one song does not make a good album and there are plenty of other great rockers on "Creatures of the Night." In fact, there it is extremely difficult to pick one that isn't. Even the power ballad "I Still Love You" rocks and rocks hard. Maybe back then, I should have played that one as opposed to "Beth" in my attempts to woo the ladies. While I can't fault any track on the album, the ones that really do it most for me, apart from my all time fave, are "Rock and Roll Hell," the title track," "Killer," "Saints and Sinners" and "War Machine" is the perfect closer to this album. It's also the track for me where Vinnie Vincent comes into his own as a lead guitarist. What I said back then I reiterate now. When I heard "Creatures of the Night," I concluded that KISS were truly back.

Track Listing:

1. Creatures of the Night

2. Saints and Sinners

3. Keep Me Coming

4. Rock and Roll Hell

5. Danger

6. I Love it Loud

7. I Still Love You

8. Killer

9. War Machine

[caption id="attachment_2338" align="aligncenter" width="316"] KISS[/caption]

Paul Stanley- rhythm guitar, vocals

Gene Simmons- bass, vocals

Eric Carr- drums, backing vocals

Ace Frehley- lead guitar

Vinnie Vincent- lead guitar on tracks 2, 3, 5, 6, 8 and 9

Sometime during the recording of "Creatures of the Night," lead guitarist Ace Frehley would be out and new guitarist Vinnie Vincent would be in. Thus the course of metal history would be changed in the KISS camp. Notice, I said metal here. That is because I believe that this album would be the first KISS album that I would truly call heavy metal.

Next post: A Tragic Loss for Metal

To buy Rock And Roll Children, email me at: tobychainsaw@hotmail.com

Great Metal Albums of 1982: Michael Schenker Group- One Night At Budokan

 

After letting their great studio album "Assault Attack" slip through my fingers, it was the live album from the Michael Schenker Group, "One Night at Budokan," that I finally bought. This was because I was looking for one song in particular and although my record buying rule has always been never to buy a entire album on account of one song, I was so determined to get something with the song "Cry for the Nations" on it, that I broke my rule. On this occasion, my gamble paid off because not only I got the song I wanted, I got twelve other kick ass tracks as well.

"One Night at Budokan" adds the Michael Schenker Group to the list of bands I regret not having seen live. From what I hear on this album, I'm sure that they would have totally ruled in concert. Like with so many live albums, great guitarists just use their time in the spotlight to just let loose and Michael Schenker does that so well many times here. The most stand out for me is his efforts on "Lost Horizons." Schenker just goes into a long mad solo and I find myself lapping up every second of it. Needless to say, though I'm going to anyway, his guitar work is just as mad on many of the other tracks and it's a shame I took so long to recognize his talents.

Graham Bonnet does not appear on this live album but Gary Barden does an excellent job at the mike here. His vocals are enough to make me wonder why I haven't heard him anywhere else. Another thing I didn't acknowledge all of these years is that the Michael Schenker Group are part of the Deep Purple family tree. I have already pointed out Graham Bonnet but beating the drums on this album is none other than Cozy Powell. I don't think I need to say any more about the quality of the drumming, do I? He is recognized on the album as he is introduced to the audience who show their appreciation to having such a great drummer on stage. With all of these elements in place, it is little wonder why "One Night at Budokan" is such a great live album and yes, they also do a great rendition of the song I was looking for in the first place.

Track Listing:

1. Armed and Ready

2. Cry for the Nations

3.  Attack of the Mad Axeman

4. But I Want More

5. Victim of Illusion

6. Into the Arena

7. On and On

8. Never Trust a Stranger

9. Let Sleeping Dogs Lie

10. Courvoisier Concerto

11. Lost Horizons

12. Doctor, Doctor

13. Are You Ready to Rock

[caption id="attachment_2783" align="aligncenter" width="488"] Michael Schenker Group (as on One Night at Budokan)[/caption]

Michael Schenker- guitar

Gary Barden- vocals

Paul Raymond- rhythm guitar, keyboards

Chris Glen- bass

Cozy Powell- drums

Breaking my record buying rule on this occasion paid off. I got myself a killer live album. However, there will be a tale when I get to 1983 where doing the same would bite me on the bum. So for the moment, let us linger on the success with Michael Schenker Group.

On another note, it was an eleventh hour decision buy my step son and I will be going to this years Bloodstock Festival on the Friday only. For my step son, it will be the headliners Trivium  and Sabbaton that interest him. As for me, I'm dying to see Overkill, Armoured Saint and Nuclear Assault and of course, I will post a full account of the day.

Next post: KISS- Creatures of the Night

To buy Rock and Roll Children, email me at: tobychainsaw@hotmail.com 

Great Metal Albums of 1982: Michael Schenker Group- Assault Attack.

 

There is a story from back in the day in which this album is involved but not in a good way. In the closing weeks of 1982, I was stationed on Okinawa. On most Saturday nights, my friends and I would hit this rock club about 10 miles from the base. I won't go into too many details about the club as that is reserved for a future post but I will say that they had video screens which were state of the art back then. One song that received a lot of play on those screens was "Cry for the Nations" by Michael Schenker Group. I liked the song enough to want to check out the album. During my search, I assumed that the song was current, so I looked up their most current album at the time, "Assault Attack." However, seeing that the desired song wasn't on this album, I put it down and continued my search. After all these years, and finally listening to the album, I see what a fool I've been. The worst part was that I can't blame being in the service for missing it because I had this album in my hands! Anyway, what I have learned that this album totally kicks ass.

When I posted "Great Guitarists of the 70s," an old friend of mine stated that he would have added Michael Schenker to the list. While I wasn't totally naive to the guitar mastery of Mr Schenker, it took this album to agree that he possibly should have been included, at the very least, in the group of underrated guitarists because this guy can play. What amazes me most is his versatile style. He lays down some great blues based riffs on "Rock You to the Ground" but goes more straight ahead metal with the likes of "Assault Attack," Samurai" and "Desert Song." Then he shines in the spotlight with the instrumental "Ulcer." Bad joke alert: I did not get one after hearing that track. Anyway, I humbly beg Michael Schenker's forgiveness in ignoring his guitar talents and make a vow to rectify that.

Of the lead singers who fronted Rainbow over the years, I must say that Graham Bonnet was always my least favourite. While Ronnie James Dio will always be my favourite, I even put Joe Lynn Turner above Bonnet. After listening to his vocals on "Assault Attack," I am now in the mind that my feelings about that era of Rainbow were nothing to do with Graham but more to do with the songs they put out at the time; too commercial for me. Listening to him with MSG, I couldn't believe my eyes when I read that he was the lead singer because his vocals are just superb on this album. One prime example is "Dancer" but he hits the notes on every song on the album. I have the feeling that I'm going to be eating a lot of humble pie after making this post because Graham, you rock here!

Track Listing:

1. Assault Attack

2. Rock You to the Ground

3. Dancer

4. Samurai

5. Desert Song

6. Broken Promises

7. Searching for a Reason

8. Ulcer

[caption id="attachment_2777" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Michael Schenker Group[/caption]

Michael Schenker- guitars

Graham Bonnet- vocals

Chris Glen- bass

Ted McKenna- drums

Tommy Eyre- keyboards

Cliched quotes like "all's well that ends well" and "better late than never" are entering my mind in regards to this great album by the Michael Schenker Group. Unfortunately, none of them justify the fact that back in 1982, I literally let a fantastic album slip through my fingers. As for "Cry for the Nations," I did find the song on a live album and that's coming next.

Next post: Michael Schenker Group- One Night at Bukokan

To buy Rock and Roll Children, email me at: tobychainsaw@hotmail.com

Great Metal Albums of 1982: April Wine- Power Play

 

When I returned from my second tour of the Mediterranean in the summer of 1982, I was quite excited to discover that April Wine had put out a new album. After all, their 1981 album "Nature of the Beast" was one of the albums that made that year for me. Therefore, it was logical for me to conclude that "Power Play" was going to be just as kick ass. Unfortunately, it wasn't but the band should not hang their head in shame because the album didn't make me want to remove it from the turntable and throw it directly in the bin. It really is a decent album.

First, let me get the obvious compare and contrast between "Power Play" and "Nature of the Beast" over and done with straight away. The main issue here is that with the previous album, April Wine recorded a power ballad that set the bar for all power ballads ever since. Expecting them to create another one as mind blowing as "Just Between You and Me" is asking them to make tea in a chocolate kettle. "Enough is Enough," "What if We Fall in Love" and "Tell Me Why" don't come close to touching the bar but on the other hand, I didn't find myself wanting to hit the fast forward button when those songs came on. With hindsight, that could be the problem with this album. Maybe the band was too engrossed in writing another kick ass power ballad, that it detracted from the rest of the album.

When they weren't focusing on power ballads, the rest of the album is pretty good. I love the opener, "Anything You Want, You Got It." When I first heard it back then and even now, I think that this is a great start to what I hoped would be a great album. The song really does rock. Furthermore, I like the guitar work on "Waiting on a Miracle." It proves that April Wine still had a trick or two up their metal sleeves. I can say the same for "Doing it Right," another really good rocking song. Those three songs redeem the album for me.

Now let's go to what some called the "ostrich in the room." Yes, I mean the song "If You See Kay" and yes I know, everyone sees the innuendo here. I too, admit that I thought the song was going to be a shitty song disguised by an amusing sounding name but I have to admit, it's not that bad. The down side to it is I think that the band wasn't sure whether to make it a power ballad or a rocker, it kind of lingers in between both nor is there anything rude about the lyrics. It's just about a girl named Kay.

Track Listing:

1. Anything You Want, You Got It

2. Enough is Enough

3. If You See Kay

4. What if We Fall in Love

5. Waiting for a Miracle

6. Doing it Right

7. Ain't Got Your Love

8. Blood Money

9. Tell Me Why

10. Runners in the Night

[caption id="attachment_2349" align="aligncenter" width="348"] April Wine[/caption]

Myles Goodwin- vocals, guitars, keyboards

Gary Moffet- guitars, backing vocals

Steve Lang- bass, backing vocals

Brian Greenway- vocals, guitars

Jerry Mercer- drums

The fact that "Power Play" didn't live up to the expectations set by its predecessor made some of the less informed at the time dismiss them as one album wonders. They obviously never to listened to the early albums. I did and I can say how good they were. However, like I said, while the album isn't as good as the previous, it's still a pretty good album and it was a good one to come home to.

Next post: Michael Schenker Group- Assault Attack

To buy Rock And Roll Children, email me at : tobychainsaw@hotmail.com 

 

Great Metal Albums of 1982: Judas Priest- Screaming for Vengeance

 

For many people, "Screaming for Vengeance" is the defining album from Judas Priest. Even those who don't declare it as their favourite Priest album always say it's in their top three. It is no real surprise to why everyone rates this album so highly, it's just that damn good. I won't debate this fact because while "British Steel" was the album that got me interested in Judas Priest, it was this album that made me a Priest follower in the true sense.

What was a bonus for "Screaming for Vengeance" was the fact that they had a hit single from it. "You Got Another Thing Comin'" actually got airplay on both UK and US radio and actually got to number four on the Billboard Charts. It is still probably the song they're best known for and when I saw them live in 2009, it was the concert closer. I can't say for sure if it's my number one all time Priest fave, (there are too many great songs to choose from) but it's up there. It's impact on me was so great that the lyrics appear in the opening scene of "Rock and Roll Children."

They may have had a great single but Judas Priest were never going to be a top 40 band. The successful single was a bonus and there are so many great songs on "Screaming for Vengeance" that it doesn't matter. "Electric Eye" is another well known song and it rocks just as much. "Bloodstone," "Devil's Child" and "Pain and Pleasure" are other songs which tickle my fancy but that doesn't take anything away from the rest of the album. Each song has the true Judas Priest stamp on them and each one must be played at maximum volume with plenty of room to bang your head. It's the only way to appreciate such fantastic music.

Track Listing:

1. The Hellion

2. Electric Eye

3. Riding on the Wind

4. Bloodstone

5. (Take These) Chains

6. Pain and Pleasure

7. Screaming for Vengeance

8. You Got Another Thing Comin'

9. Fever

10. Devil's Child

[caption id="attachment_1108" align="aligncenter" width="192"] Judas Priest[/caption]

Rob Halford- vocals

Glenn Tipton- guitar

KK Downing- guitar

Ian Hill- bass

Dave Holland- drums

I must say, the one thing I resent about being in the military in 1982 was that I practically missed the entire New Wave of British Heavy Metal that landed in America in that year. If I had been there, I would have definitely soaked it up completely. It was only by chance that I heard the big single on the radio and more than a year before I got to listen to the album in its entirely. Fortunately, I managed to enjoy it in retrospect so I didn't miss any of the great metal albums like this one from Judas Priest.

Next post: April Wine- Power Play

To buy Rock And Roll Children, email me at tobychainsaw@hotmail.com 

Great Metal Albums of 1982: Ozzy Osbourne- Diary of a Madman

 

With former band Black Sabbath riding high, after Ozzy's departure with two successful studio albums and one thrilling live album, Ozzy Osbourne was not about to disappear in a puff of smoke. He let the world he was still around and still able to rock with his second album, "Diary of a Madman." In fact, when people talk about this album today, it is often in the same breath as his fantastic debut album, "Blizzard of Oz." Many go on to boldly declare that these are his two best albums ever! Even though I'm inclined to agree, I won't enter into that debate but what I do know is that "Diary of a Madman" made my 1982 that much nicer.

What I find so great about this album is that every song has something to like about it. As much as this has been stated about so many albums, there literally is no song to dislike on "Diary of a Madman." Hell, there isn't even a mediocre song on it. "Over the Mountain" lets you know that this is going to be a great album, so prepare for the ride. "Flying High Again" gave me that "I remember that song and it was cool" feeling and brought back memories to when I used to rock to it back in the day. "You Can't Kill Rock and Roll" could have and should have been used a statement against the anti- rock movement that would manifest itself a couple of years down the line. Oh, I'll go into that much more when the time comes. "Believer," "Little Dolls" and "S.A.T.O." all show what a great guitarist Rhoads was although he works his six string magic all over the album. "Tonight" is the token ballad and it is done very well and with the title cut closing out things, the result is one brilliant album from Ozzy. His first two solo albums alone are plenty of reason why he should be knighted.

Track Listing:

1. Over the Mountain

2. Flying High Again

3. You Can't Kill Rock and Roll

4. Believer

5. Little Dolls

6. Tonight

7. S.A.T.O.

8. Diary of a Madman

[caption id="attachment_2343" align="aligncenter" width="199"] Ozzy Osbourne[/caption]

Ozzy Osbourne- vocals

Randy Rhoads- guitar

Bob Daisley- bass

Lee Kerslake- drums

Like Black Sabbath with "Live Evil," Ozzy's band would have similar problems during the recording of "Diary of a Madman." Bassist Bob Daisley and drummer Lee Kerslake would be fired from the band when they approached management about not being paid. From what I've heard and read, that may have been down to new manager, Ozzy's wife Sharon, stamping her authority. However, the biggest blow would be the loss of guitarist Rhoads and that is something that I feel needs its own post. But whatever went on behind the scenes, this album is a sure fire cracker.

Next post: Judas Priest- Screaming for Vengeance

To buy Rock and Roll Children,

Great Metal Albums of 1982: Black Sabbath- Live Evil

 

 

Perhaps it's something to do with having black in the title of the bands' names but like Blackfoot in 1982, the mighty Black Sabbath also recorded a live album in the same year. Like the former, Black Sabbath were riding high on the wave of two very successful studio albums, "Heaven and Hell" and "The Mob Rules." It could be argued that with great albums such as these and a further legacy of great albums with the previous lead singer, it is only logical that they put out a live album.

"Live Evil" is everything I would expect from a live Black Sabbath album. It's a fine marriage of the great songs they were playing at the time from the last two albums and their classic older hits. I can easily imagine myself sitting in the audience, my anticipation ready to explode through the roof with the introduction of "E5150" and then having it actually do so when the band explodes into "Neon Knights." What a great song to open the show with. Then lead vocalist Ronnie James Dio shows right away that he can handle the Ozzy era songs in the way he sings "N.I.B." I am very tempted to actually take Lucifer's hand when I hear him sing the line. Then comes my favourite Dio era Sabbath song and possibly my second favourite over all, "Children of the Sea." Maybe with this one, it was a good idea that I wasn't in the audience at some arena but listening at home. There I could jump around to the song totally unheeded.

[caption id="attachment_2760" align="aligncenter" width="407"] Black Sabbath live[/caption]

Following "Voodoo" from "The Mob Rules" album, which is also nicely done, the band launch three of the best known Sabbath classics, "Black Sabbath," "War Pigs" and "Iron Man," the middle song being my all time favourite Sabbath jam. There is no need to repeat myself as to how well Dio handles the Ozzy songs, so I'll comment about the musicianship, especially the guitar playing of one Tony Iommi. He simply cooks, not only on these three songs but the entire album. We are also treated to a drum solo from Vinnie Appice following "War Pigs" although I have heard mixed comments about this. All I know is that it sounds okay to me. However, going back to Tony, it's "Heaven and Hell" where he really cooks. The song is twelve minutes long and most of that is him just laying down some cool guitar work. If I had been in the audience, I would be definitely holding my cigarette lighter high in the air.

"Heaven and Hell" serves as a great climax to the show. The final songs, "Sign of Southern Cross" combined with the remainder of "Heaven and Hell" lead things out nicely. However, if Black Sabbath left the stage at this point, I would have been one of the many thousands screaming for their return. Of course, as the album shows, they played the all too familiar "Paranoid" and end things with "Children of the Grave." While, I would have been booing when the main lights came back on, I would have still left with a very contented feeling that I had witnessed a piece of history.

Track Listing:

1. E5150

2. Neon Knights

3. N.I.B.

4. Children of the Sea

5. Voodoo

6. Black Sabbath

7. War Pigs

8. Iron Man

9. The Mob Rules

10. Heaven and Hell

11. Sign of the Southern Cross/Heaven and Hell

12. Paranoid

13. Children of the Grave

14. Fluff

[caption id="attachment_1949" align="aligncenter" width="291"] Black Sabbath[/caption]

Ronnie James Dio- vocals

Tommy Iommi- guitar

Geezer Butler- bass

Vinnie Appice- drums

Like some of the live albums I covered in 1982, at the time, this was the closest I had come to seeing them live. Fortunately, in the case of Black Sabbath, that would change a year later, so be prepared for when I visit that album. But if you haven't seen them live, then "Live Evil" is the best alternative to it.

Next post: Ozzy Osbourne- Diary of a Madman

To buy Rock And Roll Children, email me at tobychainsaw@hotmail.com

Great Rock/Metal Albums of 1982: Aerosmith- Rock in a Hard Place

 

Two reasons exist for why I have never listened to Aerosmith's 1982 album "Rock in a Hard Place" until this week. Yes, I hang my head in shame and will whip myself mercilessly for this transgression. If I may address the court, my first defense is of course, being in the military and spending eight months out of the twelve in this year overseas. A lot of music passed by without my notice. The second reason was that between the years of 1980-85, I considered Aerosmith to be lost in the rock wilderness. In my mind and many others too, they had truly gone from musicians dabbling in drugs to druggies dabbling in music. I don't know if was during the tour for this album but I heard a story that when they played live, a roadie would have a collapsible table near the stage and every time there was a guitar solo, Steve Tyler would go to that table and snort the eight lines of coke that the roadie had laid out for him. However, like so much of the stories like that, it was probably more hype than truth.

So what did I think of my introduction to "Rock in a Hard Place?" For one, it wasn't the diamond in the rough that lain hidden for over 30 years. I wouldn't hold in the same regard as I do classics like "Toys in the Attic" or "Get Your Wings." However, I do think it was better than the 1979 "Night in the Ruts." While the first few songs of "Rock in a Hard Place" is a bit of the dirge that its predecessor was, the second half of the album for me is quite good. While, I like the intro of "Jailbait" and it is better than the next two songs, which ironically are the two singles released from the album, it doesn't really grab me until track four, "Bolivian Ragamuffin." One surprise is that I have to say that "Cry Me A River" is their best ever attempt at a power ballad and that includes some of their better known ones in the 90s. "Joanie's Butterfly is a decent tune but my favourite on the album is definitely the title track. It seems that on "Rock in a Hard Place," the band came down long enough to just relax and enjoy making music. If I listened to the album when I should have, I would have said to the band, "Remember when you you to sound like this?" at the title track. Saying that, the best song is followed on by the last two which take the album out nicely. "Push Comes to Shove" is a very tidy closer.

I would be negligent in my duties if I didn't point out that this was the album without guitarist Joe Perry and rhythm guitarist Brad Whitford would leave during the recording. In fact, he only plays on "Lightning Strikes." I must say that from the solos, I thought that Jimmy Crespo is a good guitarist in his own right. At least enough where I never found myself saying "Come back Joe, all is forgiven."

Track Listing:

1. Jailbait

2. Lightning Strikes

3. Bitches Brew

4. Bolivian Ragamuffin

5. Cry Me a River

6. Prelude to Joanie

7. Joanie's Butterfly

8. Rock in a Hard Place

9. Jig is Up

10. Push Comes to Shove

[caption id="attachment_2755" align="aligncenter" width="322"] Aerosmith line up for Rock in a Hard Place[/caption] 

Steve Tyler- vocals

Jimmy Crespo- guitar, backing vocals

Rick Dufay- guitar

Tom Hamilton- bass

Joey Krammer- drums

For a band in the wilderness, it could be said that Aerosmith were calling out to be found. Unfortunately, I didn't hear them at the time. If I had heard this album back then, I would have most certainly listened to it. But as they say, better late than never.

Next post: Black Sabbath- Live Evil

To buy Rock and Roll Children, email me at tobychainsaw@hotmail.com 

Great Rock/Metal Albums of 1982: Blue Oyster Cult- Extraterrestrial Live

 

1982 featured two magnificent live albums from bands I've never seen live and with both, the results are the same: After listening to those albums, I regret not having seen them live even more. I've already visited the first album, Blackfoot's "Highway Song" and the second one is Blue Oyster Cult's "Extra- Terrestrial Live." All but two songs were recorded during the "Fire of Unknown Origin" tour, the band's previous album, so you know that this live album is going to be great straight away. The three songs that appear from that album sound even better live! The piano intro on "Joan Crawford" sounds even more eerie and they don't leave out the sound effects like the screeching brakes, which some bands tend to do live. Even "Burning for You" has a more upbeat feel that makes you think you're in the arena pumping your first along to the song. However, both of those songs pale to the live version of "Veteran of 1000 Psychic Wars." The song is extended to include some great guitar soloing from Buck Dharma. That takes nothing from the rest of the song where the keyboards sound just as fresh as when done in the studio. Fantastic!

Being a live album, Blue Oyster Cult don't disappoint with some of their classics from the 70s. No gold stars given for stating the obvious, "Don't Fear The Reaper" being the closer. After all it's their best known song. At the other end, "Dominance and Submission" is certainly a good song to open the show with and "Cities on Flame" and "Dr Music" are both great songs to follow on from that. Furthermore, Blue Oyster Cult show their versatility by playing an excellent cover of The Doors classic, "Roadhouse Blues," although I'm not too sure about Eric Bloom's tale about buying a six pack from the Seven-Eleven. It doesn't ruin the song though but that's hard to do. Like with all the songs mentioned, I was also very impressed with the live version of "Black Blade." They make that song come alive for real.

Saving the best for last, my all time personal BOC favourite, "Godzilla." It begins with one of the best live introductions to a song ever. Marrying past with then present, Eric Bloom explains to the crowd how the Cold War and nuclear testing caused a monster frozen in ice to come back to life. It is a fine intro before it rips into the great song I know it for. It is here where they fully launch into their famous three guitar attack and the pausing to hear bombs dropping is just superb and makes the song that much better. While any song following "Godzilla" would work here, it just so happens that with "Extra- Terrestrial Live," that song is "Veteran of 1000 Psychic Wars." Sheer brilliance if you ask me.

Track Listing:

1. Dominance and Submission

2. Cities on Flame

3. Dr Music

4. The Red and The Black

5. Joan Crawford

6. Burning For You

7. Roadhouse Blues

8. Black Blade

9. Hot Rails to Hell

10. Godzilla

11. Veteran of 1000 Psychic Wars

12. ETI (Extraterrestrial Intelligence)

13. (Don't Fear) The Reaper

[caption id="attachment_1443" align="aligncenter" width="248"] Blue Oyster Cult[/caption]

Eric Bloom- lead vocals, guitar, keyboards

Donald "Buck Dharma" Roesser- lead guitar, vocals

Alan Lanier- keyboards, guitar

Joe Bouchard- bass, vocals

Albert Bouchard- drums on tracks 1 and 8

Rick Downey- drums on all other tracks

 *Albert Bouchard was fired during the "Fire of Unknown Origin" tour and was replaced by roadie, Rick Downey

Wow, another great live album from a band I have never seen live. It's no wonder I regret not having done so.

Next post: Aerosmith- Rock in a Hard Place

To buy Rock And Roll Children, email me at tobychainsaw@hotmail.com

Great Rock/Metal Albums of 1982: Joan Jett and the Blackhearts- I Love Rock and Roll

Not long ago when I visited Pat Benatar's "Get Nervous" album, I ended the post by saying that in 1982, someone would come along and usurp Pat's throne as the queen of rock. Yes, I know I've just given it away, the usurper would be Joan Jett. Unlike Pat's bloodless ascension to the throne in 1980, Joan's would be a very bloody one in regards to music because as evidenced by the "Get Nervous" album, Pat Benatar was not going to give up the throne without a fight. So if we were to look at this coup, not in rock terms but in terms of medieval fantasy, which I love, it would have unfolded in two ways. If both ladies amassed armies, there would be lots of casualties, ransacked castles and burning villages on both sides. In the second scenario, if both ladies chose to forego the armies and engage in single combat, both would have had serious wounds inflicted on them by the other. However, the end result would have been the same, a victorious Joan Jett standing over a vanquished Pat Benatar.

[caption id="attachment_2743" align="aligncenter" width="308"] This is what a clash of rock armies might have looked like[/caption][caption id="attachment_2744" align="aligncenter" width="300"] And if they engaged in single combat[/caption]

Putting my love for fantasy aside, fortunately, there was no actual bloodshed. The reason why Joan Jett would usurp the crown as Queen of Rock is simply down to the fact that her album "I Love Rock and Roll" is just brilliant. I first heard about the album when my lieutenant shot it down saying the band only played two chords. If that's true, then they were the right two chords. My first induction to the album was once I returned to the US, the title track was dominating the juke boxes in just about every bar I went to and the second single, "Crimson and Clover" an old number by Tommy James and the Shondells got a considerable amount of play too. Furthermore, this would be the first and probably only album that had two songs that were common favourites of different dancers at the Driftwood. A dancer named Angie really knew how to move to "I Love Rock and Roll." She made that song come to life almost. "Crimson and Clover" was finely manipulated by a dancer named Mary. Trust me, watching her work her magic to that song was something else. It is little wonder why I have fond memories of both of these songs.

Because the two hit singles from the album were classics written by others in another era, it has been surmised by some that Joan's song writing is not up to much. When I listen to the other songs, I disagree. What those songs do is set an interesting vibe for the rest of the album. If I could give this album a theme, it would be "The early rock and roll years transformed to metal." Many of the songs do have a vibe like they could have been written in the 1950s or early 60s but that hard guitar sound blows everything out of the water. Joan Jett writes the other ones that make the album for me like "(I'm Gonna) Run Away," "Love is Pain" and "Victim of Circumstance" and while she didn't write "Nag," I'm going to mention it here anyway, I like it. How Joan Jett and the Blackhearts version of "Little Drummer Boy" missed my favourite Christmas song list, I'll never know.

While it's easy to sing the praises of Joan Jett, you can't take anything away from her band. Along with Joan, who should have been included in my list of great rhythm guitarists, Gary Ryan and Lee Crystal provide a solid rhythm section and while I don't know which guitarist does which solos but I am impressed by Rick Byrd and Irvan Arifin Harahap. These boys definitely played a key role in Joan's ascension to the rock throne.

Track Listing:

1. I Love Rock and Roll

2. (I'm Gonna) Run Away

3. Love is Pain

4. Nag

5. Crimson and Clover

6. Victim of Circumstance

7. Bits and Pieces

8. Be Straight

9. You're Too Possessive

10. Little Drummer Boy

[caption id="attachment_2745" align="aligncenter" width="193"] Joan Jett and the Blackhearts[/caption]

Joan Jett- lead vocals, guitar

Gary Ryan- bass, backing vocals

Irvan Arifin Harahap- guitar, vocals

Lee Crystal- drums

Rick Byrd- guitar

That is the story how Joan Jett became the new Queen of Rock in 1982 and arguably the first Queen of Metal. It is hard to fault it with a great album like "I Love Rock and Roll."

Next post: Blue Oyster Cult- Extra Terrestrial Live

To buy Rock and Roll Children, email me at: tobychainsaw@hotmail.com

Great Soundtracks of 1982: Fast Times at Ridgemont High

Before I get started, let me be perfectly blunt here. I thought the movie "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" sucked. Not as much as my friend though because while I was willing to endure it to the end, he couldn't take it and suggested we leave. I didn't debate it. I know that it has been preserved on account of its apparent tackling of teen issues at the time. That may have been true but they could have made a better film to deliver the message. The only positive I found about the film was the stoner character played by Sean Penn, he was quite amusing.

[caption id="attachment_2739" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Sean Penn in the film[/caption]

Fortunately, a sucky film doesn't mean that the soundtrack is going to be as bad. Any soundtrack that has such artists as Billy Squier, Don Felder, Don Henley, Joe Walsh and Sammy Hagar has to be good. My hypothesis is that when deciding what songs to use on the soundtrack, someone suggested just how kick ass the soundtrack to "Heavy Metal" was so they brought in some of the same artists on "Fast Times." Again, Sammy Hagar does the title cut and it's good although I wouldn't put it at the same level as the other film I mentioned here. It's the same with Felder's track. It's good but it doesn't measure up to "Heavy Metal Takin' a Ride." Then again, that is a very tough song to measure up to. On the other hand, I do prefer the offering from Stevie Nicks on this soundtrack and I really liked her song on "Heavy Metal." Plus there are good contributions from the likes of Joe Walsh, Don Henley and Billy Squier as well.

[caption id="attachment_2462" align="aligncenter" width="164"] Billy Squier[/caption][caption id="attachment_1954" align="aligncenter" width="228"] Sammy Hagar[/caption][caption id="attachment_2252" align="aligncenter" width="203"] Stevie Nicks[/caption]

Another comparison with "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" and "Heavy Metal" is the fact that there are some good songs from unknown artists. The Rayvins "Raised on Radio" is a very pleasing hard rock track and it's made me curious to hear what else they might have to offer. The same can be said for the songs by Graham Nash and Gerrard McMahon. Both deliver some decent rock here. However, they're not the only ones. Jimmy Buffet and Poco both known more for their country rock sound go down a definite rockier route with the songs on this soundtrack. But the biggest surprise is from Donna Summer! The proclaimed Queen of Disco from the late 70s sings a blinder of a rock song on the soundtrack and all I can say is, "I'm impressed."

Track Listing:

1. Jackson Browne- Somebody's Baby

2. Joe Walsh- Waffle Stomp

3. Don Henley- Love Rules

4. Louise Goffin- Uptown Boys

5. Timothy B Schmit- So Much in Love

6. The Rayvins- Raised on Radio

7. Gerard McMahon- The Look In Your Eyes

8. The Go Go's- Speeding

9. Don't be Lonely- Quarterflash

10. Don Felder- Never Surrender

11. Billy Squier- Fast Times (The Best Years of Our Lives)

12. Sammy Hagar- Fast Times at Ridgemont High

13. Jimmy Buffet- I Don't Know (Spicoli's Theme)

14. Graham Nash- Love is the Reason

15. Poco- I'll Leave it Up to You

16. Donna Summer- Highway Runner

17. Steve Nicks- Sleeping Angel

18. Palmer/Joist- She's My Baby (And She's Out of Control)

19. Oingo Boingo- Goodbye Goodbye

What can't be faulted is that there is a great collection of songs here by some of the best artists who were around at the time. Many of whom are still going. What they did was come together to make a really cool soundtrack which leaves me thinking, "Shame about the movie."

Next post: Joan Jett and the Blackhearts- I Love Rock and Roll


To buy Rock and Roll Children, email me at: tobychainsaw@hotmail.com

Great Soundtracks of 1982: The Wall

For the life of me, I can't remember much about this film. I did see it once many years ago but I had to read the synopsis on Wikapedia to remind myself what it was about. The reason for my lapsed memory on this occasion is the fact that like so many who watched the film at the time, I became like one of the songs suggests, "Comfortably Numb." I can't even remember if I liked it or not but nevertheless, the one thing no one can fault is that the soundtrack to it kicks ass.

What is really cool about the soundtrack is that Roger Waters doesn't take the easy road here and just chuck in tracks from the album of the same name. It must have been very tempting to do that. There are some new songs introduced and many of the songs from the album had changes made to them with varying results in my view. A negative one and it is very minor is from the track "Goodbye Blue Sky." They omit the child at the very beginning saying, "Look mummy, there's an airplane in the sky." While it's a good song, that bit was always my favourite part of the song. "Mother" was remixed almost completely and I couldn't hear the acoustic guitar along with the lyrics although I'll admit that I have always loved the lyrics to the song and at least they left the guitar solo alone and that makes the song.

However, the most noticeable change for  me is with "Another Brick in the Wall Part 2." The teacher saying those amusing lines: "If you don't eat your meat how can you have any pudding?" comes in during the children's singing and is broken up. The following line of "How can you have any pudding if you don't eat your meat?" follows on a few lines later. Strangely, I find that this doesn't effect my appreciation for the song at all. Other changes include vocal contributions from Bob Geldolf who played the lead role in the film and the inclusion of a brass band in the final song. None of these change the song for me as I can appreciate that Pink Floyd are talented enough to pull anything like this off. The two new songs, "When the Tigers Broke Free 1" and "When the Tigers Broke Free 2" are decent enough to be included in the soundtrack. Actually they make little impact on the quality of this great soundtrack.

[caption id="attachment_2735" align="aligncenter" width="270"] A scene from The Wall[/caption]

Track Listing:

1. When The Tigers Broke Free 1

2. In the Flesh

3. The Thin Ice

4. Another Brick in the Wall Part 1

5. When the Tigers Broke Free 2

6. Goodbye Blue Sky

7. The Happiest Days of Our Lives

8. Another Brick in the Wall Part 2

9. Mother

10. What Shall We Do Now

11. Young Lust

12. One of My Turns

13. Don't Leave Me Now

14. Another Brick in the Wall Part 3

15. Goodbye Cruel World

16. Is There Anybody Out There

17. Nobody Home

18. Vera

19. Bring the Boys Back Home

20. Comfortably Numb

21. In the Flesh

22. Run Like Hell

23. Waiting for the Worms

24. 5:11 AM (The Moment of Clarity)

25. Stop

26. The Trial

27. Outside the Wall

I have heard this film rubbished by some people although I can't see what they were expecting to find when they went to view it. Maybe they weren't comfortably numb. Whether or not you like the film, you can't fault the soundtrack, it is simply classic Pink Floyd doing what they did best.

Next post: Fast Times at Ridgemont High

To buy Rock And Roll Children, go to: tobychainsaw@hotmail.com

Great Rock Hit Wonders of 1982 and Other Significant Songs

My limited exposure to commercial radio during 1982 could be considered either a blessing or a curse depending on how you look at it. While I didn't think commercial radio totally sucked back then, there were some things played on it that I wasn't totally impressed with. Sorry but "Tainted Love" only met with a lukewarm response from me and that was only because there was a dancer at the Driftwood who could work the song to her advantage. I suppose the best way to examine this is by looking at the one hit wonders from that year.

As soon as I returned to the US in June after my second and final deployment to the Mediterranean, I was aware that all the bars were playing "Jenny- 8675309" by Tommy Tutone on their jukeboxes. I can't say that I really rocked out to the song but the melody was very catchy and when the title was sung, it stuck in your mind. The melody is going through my mind right now. I once heard a live version of this song and it did sound a bit harder rock and if Tommy had recorded the song that way, I would have liked it even more.

[caption id="attachment_1759" align="aligncenter" width="243"] The Pretenders[/caption]

All right already, I know that The Pretenders were not one hit wonders nor did they release an album in 1982. However, they did release one song and it was a killer one. "Back on the Chain Gang" is most definitely my all time favourite Pretenders song. This is the song where lead guitarist James Honeyman Scott really shines. He just riffs through the entire song and of course I won't take anything away from Chrissie. Her vocals are as good as ever on this one. Maybe with a great song like this one, The Pretenders believed they didn't need to make an entire album. Who's to know?

[caption id="attachment_2730" align="aligncenter" width="275"] The McKenzie Brothers[/caption]

Okay, it's not really a rock song, more of a comedy parody. But the single "Take Off" by the Canadian Comedy duo Bob and Doug McKenzie did break the top 40 in the US and I believe it went to number one in Canada! Maybe one of my Canadian followers can verify that for me. That fact alone qualifies them as one hit wonders in my reckoning although their version of "The Twelve Days of Christmas" is fourth favourite Christmas song. Another reason this qualifies as a rock song is the fact that none other than Geddy Lee sings the backing vocals on "Take Off." That makes the single that much better. Saying that, the McKenzie Brothers do have me on the floor with laughter when I hear it, so take off you hoser!

[caption id="attachment_2731" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Hank Williams Jr[/caption]

Having spent the better part of four years in North Carolina, I could not help developing a little appreciation for country music. When asked who are my favourite country artists I answer that one is David Allen Coe and the other is Hank Williams Jr. While, I like a lot of Hank's material the song I like best came out in 1982. "A Country Boy Can Survive" is just brilliant! From the lyrics all the way to the small but noticeable hard rock vibe to it. In fact, Kid Rock puts his own metal spin on it but I still prefer the original.

There you have, four great singles from 1982, two from one hit wonders, one from an established great band and a country song that thrills this metal head. So, maybe commercial radio didn't suck then.

Next post: The Soundtrack to The Wall
To buy Rock And Roll Children, email me at: tobychainsaw@hotmail.com