Great Rock/Metal Albums of 1983: Thin Lizzy- Life

 

"Thunder and Lightning" might have been the final studio album for Thin Lizzy but that didn't mean they were in any way finished. Further along in the year, 1983, the band released the live album, "Life." The album was recorded over a series of concerts played in September and October, predominantly taking place at the Hammersmith Odeon in London.

The closest I got to ever seeing Thin Lizzy live was seeing the tribute band, Limehouse Lizzy, in Stroud over ten years ago. It's a shame they never came back, but I digress. Both the tribute band and this album make me regret the fact that I have never seen the actual band in concert. What I have heard in both camps here give me the impression that they would have been sensational, but no use crying over something I have no control over.

It wouldn't have taken a computer to deduce the fact that any live album late in Thin Lizzy's career would have been a glorified greatest hits album. Having owned their greatest hits album, (I have it on cassette), I can attest to this. Still there are some great surprises on here, starting with the fact that "Thunder and Lightning" would be the best track to open the live album or any concert. They play it just as loud and proud live, maybe more. In fact, the songs from "Thunder and Lightning" are all played rather well, "Cold Sweat" definitely gets an honourable mention here. In addition, in my mind, they pick the right songs from that album to play on this one. Saying that, I like the live version of "The Sun Goes Down." To me it seems more sinister though it does go on even longer than on the studio version.

Of course, all the great Lizzy classics are on here and most of them are played very well live. I only have to wait to the third song to hear my all time favourite Thin Lizzy ditty and they definitely do it justice. Other notable efforts are "Emerald," "Black Rose," "Waiting for an Alibi," "Hollywood (Down On Your Luck)" and if they genuinely closed their shows, with "The Rocker" like they do on the album, then it was a very wise choice indeed. A great song to go out on.

Additionally, Phil Lynott got the former Thin Lizzy guitarists to play on different numbers on the album. Gary Moore, Snowy White, Eric Bell and Brian Robertson all play on the album. I now know why "The Rocker" was such a great closer. That's because all the guitarists mentioned as well as Sykes and Goram of course play on the final song in what Phil calls 'The All Star Jam." That was great to hear, it must have been mind blowing to see.

Track Listing:

1. Thunder and Lightning
2. Waiting for an Alibi
3. Jailbreak
4. Baby Please Don't Go
5. The Holy War
6. Renegade
7. Hollywood (Down on Your Luck)
8. Got to Give it Up
9. Angel of Death
10. Are You Ready
11. The Boys are Back in Town
12. Cold Sweat
13. Don't Believe a Word
14. Killer on the Loose
15. The Sun Goes Down
16. Emerald
17. The Black Rose
18. Still in Love With You
19. The Rocker

[caption id="attachment_3501" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Thin Lizzy[/caption]

Phil Lynott- bass, lead vocals

John Sykes- guitar, backing vocals

Scott Goram- guitar, backing vocals

Darren Wharton- keyboards, backing vocals

Brian Downey- drums, percussion

Guest Musicians

Gary Moore- guitar on Black Rose and The Rocker

Eric Bell- guitar on The Rocker

Brian Robertson- guitar on Emerald and The Rocker

Snowy White- guitar on Renegade, Killer on the Loose, Hollywood and The Rocker

In November of 1983, I met up with a friend who was on leave from the army after spending two years stationed in Germany. Before he left the country, he got to see Thin Lizzy's last ever gig in Nuremberg. I don't remember many of the details but it sounded like an amazing event. They played many of their classics more than once and "The Boys are Back in Town" three times! Boy I was jealous, still am. I have to settle for the next best thing, this live album.

Next post: Zebra

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

Great Rock/Metal Albums of 1983: Thin Lizzy- Thunder and Lightning

 

Before I launch into the final studio album from one of the greatest rock bands from the 1970s, I feel I must bring to everyone's attention the boo-boo I made on my last post. Having looked at it, I realise that I never posted the photos I took of the headline band, Twister, that night. I have since rectified this mistake and the photos are there for your viewing enjoyment. I've listened to a couple of Twister songs on Youtube and they're quite good.

Yes, "Thunder and Lightning" would be the final studio album from Thin Lizzy. My first experience of this album came in 1986, when partying in my college dorm room, my new British friends and I were making a tape for my sister. A Thin Lizzy song was suggested and "Thunder and Lightning" was further suggested. Upon hearing that suggestion, the Thin Lizzy officianado in the room stated that it was the worst Thin Lizzy song you could play. Having to decide things like that for myself, I listened to the album and I never agreed with my friend's opinion.

Whether it was the addition of John Sykes on guitar or Thin Lizzy trying to jump on the new wave of British heavy metal, (NWOBHM), "Thunder and Lightning" is the heaviest Thin Lizzy album I have experienced. The title cut opens the album and from the first notes, you know that this is a much heavier brand of Thin Lizzy. That heaviness carries on through the second song as well. However, things slow right down with "The Sun Goes Down." This one is much slower, a rock against the tide of the rest of the album. Still, there is some good keyboard work on it and I have always been a sucker for a great slow blues guitar solo. However, the song does drag in some places.

"The Holy War" returns things to its natural pace. While not quite as hard as the first two tracks, it does deliver through the melodic hard rock avenue and it's possibly my favourite track on the album. It's melody is quite catchy. That track sets up the rest of the album. From then on it's one hard tune after the other, sort of a one, two, three, four, five punch. The opening riffs of "Cold Sweat" give that away. Even then, I can still hear the what some would say as traditional Thin Lizzy coming through and there is some good soloing from both Goram and Sykes.

One song that really intrigued me on "Thunder and Lightning" is "Someday She's Going to Hit Back." The title suggests this is an anti- domestic abuse song and having a read of the lyrics, it seems to support that theory. Here's the paradox. This music to this rocker is really cool with another great guitar solo. However, I fear that on account of that, the message of the lyrics gets lost in the song. Just an observation here. Then comes "Baby Please Don't Go," another cool hard rock song but I am left to wonder if the last song sets up this one. However, both songs lead the way out for the album which ends on a terrific closer in "Heart Attack." Not to take anything away from the penultimate song as that's a good one too.

Track Listing:

1. Thunder and Lightning
2. This is the One
3. The Sun Goes Down
4. The Holy War
5. Cold Sweat
6. Someday She's Going to Hit Back
7. Baby, Please Don't Go
8. Bad Habits
9. Heart Attack

[caption id="attachment_3501" align="aligncenter" width="369"] Thin Lizzy[/caption]

Phil Lynott- bass, lead vocals

Scott Goram- guitar, backing vocals

John Sykes- guitar, backing vocals

Darren Wharton- keyboards, backing vocals

Brian Downey- drums, percussion

Usually in the case of final albums, they are a lackluster offering from a band whose attitude is to get it done and go. This isn't the case here with "Thunder and Lightning." There was some good thought put into it. Some say that the lyrics aren't up to much but that's a technicality. The music more than makes up for it. Definitely the rockingest album from Thin Lizzy.

Next post: Thin Lizzy- Life

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

Great Rock/Metal Albums of 1983: Thin Lizzy- Thunder and Lightning

 

Before I launch into the final studio album from one of the greatest rock bands from the 1970s, I feel I must bring to everyone's attention the boo-boo I made on my last post. Having looked at it, I realise that I never posted the photos I took of the headline band, Twister, that night. I have since rectified this mistake and the photos are there for your viewing enjoyment. I've listened to a couple of Twister songs on Youtube and they're quite good.

Yes, "Thunder and Lightning" would be the final studio album from Thin Lizzy. My first experience of this album came in 1986, when partying in my college dorm room, my new British friends and I were making a tape for my sister. A Thin Lizzy song was suggested and "Thunder and Lightning" was further suggested. Upon hearing that suggestion, the Thin Lizzy officianado in the room stated that it was the worst Thin Lizzy song you could play. Having to decide things like that for myself, I listened to the album and I never agreed with my friend's opinion.

Whether it was the addition of John Sykes on guitar or Thin Lizzy trying to jump on the new wave of British heavy metal, (NWOBHM), "Thunder and Lightning" is the heaviest Thin Lizzy album I have experienced. The title cut opens the album and from the first notes, you know that this is a much heavier brand of Thin Lizzy. That heaviness carries on through the second song as well. However, things slow right down with "The Sun Goes Down." This one is much slower, a rock against the tide of the rest of the album. Still, there is some good keyboard work on it and I have always been a sucker for a great slow blues guitar solo. However, the song does drag in some places.

"The Holy War" returns things to its natural pace. While not quite as hard as the first two tracks, it does deliver through the melodic hard rock avenue and it's possibly my favourite track on the album. It's melody is quite catchy. That track sets up the rest of the album. From then on it's one hard tune after the other, sort of a one, two, three, four, five punch. The opening riffs of "Cold Sweat" give that away. Even then, I can still hear the what some would say as traditional Thin Lizzy coming through and there is some good soloing from both Goram and Sykes.

One song that really intrigued me on "Thunder and Lightning" is "Someday She's Going to Hit Back." The title suggests this is an anti- domestic abuse song and having a read of the lyrics, it seems to support that theory. Here's the paradox. This music to this rocker is really cool with another great guitar solo. However, I fear that on account of that, the message of the lyrics gets lost in the song. Just an observation here. Then comes "Baby Please Don't Go," another cool hard rock song but I am left to wonder if the last song sets up this one. However, both songs lead the way out for the album which ends on a terrific closer in "Heart Attack." Not to take anything away from the penultimate song as that's a good one too.

Track Listing:

1. Thunder and Lightning
2. This is the One
3. The Sun Goes Down
4. The Holy War
5. Cold Sweat
6. Someday She's Going to Hit Back
7. Baby, Please Don't Go
8. Bad Habits
9. Heart Attack

[caption id="attachment_3501" align="aligncenter" width="369"] Thin Lizzy[/caption]

Phil Lynott- bass, lead vocals

Scott Goram- guitar, backing vocals

John Sykes- guitar, backing vocals

Darren Wharton- keyboards, backing vocals

Brian Downey- drums, percussion

Usually in the case of final albums, they are a lackluster offering from a band whose attitude is to get it done and go. This isn't the case here with "Thunder and Lightning." There was some good thought put into it. Some say that the lyrics aren't up to much but that's a technicality. The music more than makes up for it. Definitely the rockingest album from Thin Lizzy.

Next post: Thin Lizzy- Life

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

Great Metal Albums of 1983: Twisted Sister- You Can't Stop Rock and Roll

 

What better way to build up the excitement on the eve of Bloodstock than to post my favourite album from one of my all time favourite bands who will be headlining on the Friday night? Words can't express how pumped I am to see Twisted Sister's farewell UK gig. Yes, I'm aware that this might be a hype, after all, Ozzy has had three farewell tours but that doesn't lessen my excitement.

"You Can't Stop Rock and Roll" is the second album from Twisted Sister, though it was the first one I heard. I probably said this when I posted about "Under the Blade," but that album was only available as an import until 1985. Having seen them at Donington that summer, getting this album was a no brainer. Cliches aside, when I got it home and listened to it, I was even more blown away.

I think what I like most about Twisted Sister was many of their lyrics seemed to speak to me personally back then. Starting with the opener, "The Kids Are Back," okay, I'm only one person but I had only been out of the service a few months and I did walk the streets as a one man tattered army. I too asked myself about others who didn't appear to be having fun, how could I stop it. Most people back then couldn't understand that I was able to work hard and play hard. That made the fourth track my response to people. "I am, I'm Me!" and I didn't take seriously those who looked down on what I believed. Then comes "We're Gonna Make It." That song was my driving force come exam time when I was in college. Especially as I found in the service and out that life was mostly a case of "It's not what you know but who you knowin." To cap it off, my favourite Twisted Sister track of all time closes the album out and it's what I say to all those who have a problem with metal, "You Can't Stop Rock and Roll."

Maybe the other tracks weren't quite so personal to me but they are all great metal tunes. From the power riffs of "Knife in the Back" to the more ballad like "You're Not Alone (Suzette's Song) this album just rocks, plain and simple! I think that Jay Jay French and Eddie Ojeda play some of their finest guitar solos on this album. Now some have said that "You Can't Stop Rock And Roll" was the beginning of Twisted Sister's decent into more commercial sounding metal. Maybe be it's me but I never had that impression then nor do I have it now. This album for me is just amazing.

Track Listing:

1. The Kids Are Back
2. Knife in the Back
3. Ride to Live Live to Ride
4. I Am I'm Me
5. The Power and the Glory
6. We're Gonna Make It
7. I've Had Enough
8. I'll Take You Alive
9. You're Not Alone (Suzette's Song)
10. You Can't Stop Rock and Roll

[caption id="attachment_2918" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Twisted Sister[/caption]

Dee Snider- lead vocals

Jay Jay French- guitar, backing vocals

Eddie 'Fingers' Ojeda- guitar, backing vocals

Mark 'The Animal' Mendoza- bass ,backing growls

A. J. Pero- drums, percussion

When I saw Twisted Sister at Bloodstock, they played three songs from this album, "You Can't Stop Rock and Roll," "The Kids are Back" and "I Am, I'm Me." These are all great songs but since this is their farewell tour I would love for them to play more from it. Definitely, I would love for them to play "Knife in the Back," "Ride to Live Live to Ride" and "We're Gonna Make It." Then again, anything they play from this album will have me screaming loudly as it is my fave. Being the Twisted Sister fanatic that I am, an entire post will be dedicated to their time on stage. We'll I'll be off in the morning.

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

Great Metal Albums of 1983: Slayer- Show No Mercy

 

Excitement and anticipation has me fully in its grasp. In just four days, I'll heading to Bloodstock for three and a half days of headbanging fun. Don't worry, I'll give you a full account of the festival, over several posts, when I get back. With that in mind, I thought it would be fitting to post about two bands playing there who had albums out in 1983 and what better way to start than with the band who will be closing out the festival, Slayer.

One has to bear in mind that in 1983, things were a lot different for Slayer when they released their debut album, "Show No Mercy." They were unheard of back then, hell, it would be another two years before my knowledge of their existence came into being. On account of that, these guys were hungry and that hunger is reflected all throughout the album. Note: I will probably repeat that fact with many bands in future posts but it is unarguably true here.

"Show No Mercy" is an unbridled explosion of hunger, anger and attitude. Hard crunching guitars, thundering bass, cool guitar solos, maniac drumming and the raw vocals of Tom Araya flow through each and every song. Furthermore, I think that Jeff Hanneman and Kerry King raised the bar for bands with two guitarists trading off solos, phenomenal, although I still think they learned it watching Don Felder and Joe Walsh on "Hotel California." The songs themselves may seem stereotypical to heavy metal nowadays but then, it was groundbreaking.  Just look at the titles. Satanism, violence and the occult are covered all through the album. If the PMRC existed then, this album would have been at the top of their hit list.  Then when you think you've heard everything, they surprise you like the semi melodic riff that begins, "Fight Till Death." However, because of the fierce power in every song, I find it impossible to pick stand outs. Every song does that in its own right. What can be said about "Show No Mercy" is that the title of the album is perfectly accurate. Slayer show no mercy here as each song is all killer and no filler.

Track Listing:

1. Evil Has No Boundaries
2. The Antichrist
3. Die By the Sword
4. Fight Till Death
5. Metalstorm/Face the Slayer
6. Black Magic
7. Tormentor
8. The Final Command
9. Crionics
10. Show No Mercy

Tom Araya- bass, vocals

Kerry King- guitar

Jeff Hanneman- guitar

Dave Lombardo- drums

It has been said that "Show No Mercy" by Slayer paved the way for bands like Metallica. I tend to agree with that analysis. They might not have realised it at the time but "Show No Mercy" introduced thrash metal to an unsuspecting populace although it would take another two years before I would come to know it. No wonder the album was the Metal Blade label's best selling record by far at the time. Today, the album has got me all psyched to see Slayer at Bloodstock this year and unlike 2013, my stepson promises not to get tired before they finish. I hope they play at least one song from this album, that would be so cool.

Next post: Twisted Sister- You Can't Stop Rock and Roll

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