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

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