Great Rock Albums of 1984: The Alarm- Declaration

 

In very early months of 1984, when MTV was still playing lots of good music, one song definitely caught my attention. It wasn't metal, not even hard rock. If I were to categorize it, something I don't like doing, I would say it was post punk or new wave. Categories and labels a side, what I knew for sure was that I really liked the song "Sixty Eight Guns" by the Alarm. This song was a true anthem for me at the time and I still find myself singing it after all these years. The guitars were hard enough for my tastes but the way the chorus was belted out totally blew me away.

"Sixty Eight guns will never die

Sixty Eight guns our battle cry."

As I've said many times, I will not buy an album on account of one song so you have to know that the rest of the album kicks just as much ass as the feature song. Most of the first half of "The Declaration" are straight ahead new wave rockers and really cook. I do detect a little Irish folk influence in the track "Where Were You Hiding When the Storm Broke." Then again, when doing further research on the band, I discovered they were Welsh, so I'm not surprised at this. "We Are the Light" is an acoustic track but even that doesn't limit the powerful vocals of lead singer Mike Peters. For years, I have underestimated his vocal ability, I'll never do that again.

"Shout to the Devil" is not a Motley Crue cover but very intelligently combines the acoustic flavour of the previous track and the more powerful sounds of the previous songs. Again, it's very catchy. "Blaze of Glory" is also a good anthem like "Sixty Eight Guns" and like that song, I found myself wanting to sing along to the chorus. Only the lyrics aren't quite as straight forward as "68 Guns." I can at least sing the first part over and over, "Going out in a blaze of glory." I do like how they use the horns on it. "The Deceiver" has an eerie introduction before going into a fast acoustic track with some good harmonica played on it. In fact the second side, isn't quite as hard rock as the first but that doesn't diminish the quality of "The Declaration" in the slightest.

Track Listing:

1. Declaration
2. Marching On
3. Where Were You Hiding When the Storm Broke
4. Third Light
5. Sixty Eight Guns
6. We Are the Light
7. Shout to the Devil
8. Blaze of Glory
9. Tell Me
10. The Deceiver
11. The Stand
12. Howling Wind

[caption id="attachment_3790" align="aligncenter" width="354"] The Alarm[/caption]

Mike Peters- vocals, acoustic guitar, harmonica

Dave Sharp- acoustic and electric guitars, backing vocals

Eddie MacDonald- bass, guitar, backing vocals

Twist- drums, percussion, backing vocals

When I listen to "The Declaration" I wonder why The Alarm didn't get more commercial success. Some misguided people did say that they were too much like U2 but I never thought so. They were unique enough to avoid that. So, I wonder if it's down to the discovery I made about them in the early summer of 1984, they were born again Christians. True, Christian rock was getting more attention at this time, something I'll talk about in a future post, but I don't hear any obvious Jesus lyrics in any of the songs that would frighten off listeners. For me, The Alarm's "The Declaration" defined the direction I was heading in 1984 and it's still a great album.

Next post: The Pretenders- Learning to Crawl

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Great Pop-Rock Albums of 1984: Julian Lennon- Valotte

 

I'm taking a lead from a post from Rich and posting about one of my not guilty pleasures. By 1984, I was in full heavy metal mode and it might surprise some that I would even entertain a pop sounding album. My counter is that having been (and still am) a big fan of The Beatles, I thought an album by the son of the great John Lennon, whose life had been so tragically snuffed out just over three years prior, was worth a listen. To be frank, I do like Julian Lennon's debut album, "Valotte." While it's called pop on Wikapedia, I have always and will continue to call it mellow out rock because that's what it exactly is.

Julian's old man's influence can be heard straight away on the opening title track of the album and its head rises now and again throughout the album. My first reaction to the opening track was that he was trying to sound like his father and while there isn't anything wrong with that, I was wondering on my first listen way back then that would there be any originality from the son. I can say there is. On the track, "On the Phone," there is a venture near the waters of progressive rock and I do like the intro. The next track "Space" is an appropriate title for that song, It does sound rather spacey and goes even further into the prog rock zone.

"Well I Don't Know" is for sure a pop tune but it does have the only true guitar solo I can discern on the album. (There is some lead guitar bridges in other songs but that's all.) Unfortunately, as I am no longer in possession of the album and Wikapedia doesn't say which guitarist plays the solo, we'll never know. The next pop song is the big single from "Valotte" called "Too Late for Goodbyes," which got a lot of play on radio and MTV at the time. Listening to it again after so many years, I do notice that he does walk the tightrope between sounding commercial pop and his father's influences rather well. It is probably the best tune for a radio hit. But I much like better, songs like "Lonely" with the cool sax solo which is the highlight of this mellow tune. "Say You're Wrong" goes more into 80s synth pop and while not terrible, is unspectacular. "Jesse" is the hardest track on "Valotte." It's not heavy, not even close, but there is an upbeat tempo and some cool guitar bridges on it. The closer, "Let Me Be" is interesting. It's a kind of ragtime piano tune that's only just over two minutes but it is the best way to close the album out. I think Julian might have been going for a non serious exit here.

Track Listing:

1. Valotte
2. O.K. for You
3. On the Phone
4. Space
5. Well I Don't Know
6. Too Late for Goodbyes
7. Lonely
8. Say You're Wrong
9. Jesse
10. Let Me Be

[caption id="attachment_3780" align="aligncenter" width="222"] Julian Lennon[/caption]

Julian Lennon- lead and backing vocals, bass, keyboards, drums

Justin Clayton- guitar

Carlton Morales- guitar

Barry Beckett- keyboards

David Lebolt- keyboards

Peter Wood- keyboards

Roger Hawkins- drums

Steve Holley- drums, percussion

David Hood- bass

Marcus Miller- bass

Carmine Rojas- bass

Robert Mac Donald- percussion

Rory Dodd- backing vocals

Eric Taylor- backing vocals

Jon Faddis- trumpet

Joe Shepley- trumpet

Michael Brecker- saxophone

George Young- saxophone

Lawrence Feldman- saxophone

Ron Cuber- saxophone

Guest Musicians

Jean 'Toots' Theilmans- harmonica on "Too Late For Goodbyes"

Martin Briley- guitar on "Too Late For Goodbyes"

Dennis Herring- guitar on "Jesse"

In one respect, Julian Lennon couldn't win with the critics on "Valotte." The either said he was trying to be too much like his father or not enough. While his father's influence is there, he does have his own stamp on the album, even if it is a very mellow album. While I wouldn't listen to it travelling to or from Bloodstock, if I was younger, I would use it in the same ways teenage boys used "Beth" by KISS in the 1970s or "Every Rose Has Its Thorn" in the late 80s. The album is all right.

Next post: The Alarm- Declaration

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Great Rock Albums of 1984: U2- Under a Blood Red Sky

 

Maybe U2 were trying to follow in the lead of Blackfoot in the sense that after three albums, release a live album. The difference here is that the three Blackfoot albums are all considered classics while the same can't be said for the three U2 albums. Now don't get me wrong, I like all three of these albums, "Boy," "October" and "War." However, the first two didn't propel them to stardom the way "War" did. "Boy" turned my head in their direction but when I mentioned U2 to others, I mostly got blank stares. "October," on the other hand, is U2's best kept secret. Not a lot of people seem to know too much about the album but I've always liked it. "War" goes without saying, it made the band a worldwide name. It is on the back of "War" that the live "Under a Blood Red Sky" album was released.

When most people think of this live album, they automatically assume it's from the filmed concert "U2 Live at Red Rocks: Under a Blood Red Sky," it's not. The songs are live but recorded separately from concerts in Colorado, Boston and Germany. Furthermore, the filmed concert is nearly and hour and a half long while the album consists of just eight songs and is just over thirty-five minutes.

Ironically, the album starts with the best known song from the "October" album, "Gloria." Probably a good opener as any for U2 at this stage of their career. What's more, the next two songs are off the "Boy" album but then, "I Will Follow" is my all time favourite U2 song and it's played very well. The crowd really get into it and if I had been there, I would have too. The fourth song, "Party Girl," doesn't appear on any of the albums but it's still okay. Remember, back in 1983, U2 were still hungry and making their mark on the music world and all of the songs reflect that on the album.

It's not until song five we get anything from the "War" album and that is the phenomenal "Sunday Bloody Sunday." My second favourite U2 song and the way it's played here is pure magic. Next is another good song from the debut album in the form of "The Electric Co." For me, it's played just as well live as when I hear it on the "Boy" album. Were there studio fixes here?  I can't say. The last two songs from "War" take the album out brilliantly. First is the fantastic "New Year's Day" and there is no better song for them to close a concert with than "40." When I saw them in 1985, they would close the show with that song and it was mind blowing. I have to say that "Under a Blood Red Sky" takes me back to another time and almost seemingly another U2 because they were actually good but it hadn't gone to their heads yet.

Track Listing:

1. Gloria
2. 11 O'Clock Tick Tock
3. I Will Follow
4. Party Girl
5. Sunday Bloody Sunday
6. The Electric Co
7. New Year's Day
8. 40

[caption id="attachment_2198" align="aligncenter" width="233"] U2[/caption]

Bono- lead vocals, guitar

The Edge- guitar, keyboards, backing vocals, bass on "40"

Adam Clayton- bass, guitar on "40"

Larry Mullen Jr- drums

"Under a Blood Red Sky" may not go down as one of the greatest live albums in history but it's still a good album. Especially if you like U2 when they were more hungry and less with the ego.

Next post: Julian Lennon- Valotte

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

Great Metal Albums of 1984: Van Halen- 1984

 

History is the reason why I am beginning the journey through 1984 with Van Halen's sixth album, which is also named after this same year. Going back to in time, minutes after the bells rang in 1984 as the new year, MTV started the year by playing the first single from the album, "Jump." Like many a metalhead at the time, I wasn't too sure about the large amount of keyboards used in the song. However, I didn't think the song was bad and Eddie proved he knew his way around a keyboards almost as well as he does his guitar. That's how the year started for me. I then proceeded to get rather sloppy drunk as you do on the new year.

After "Jump," things go back to more traditional Van Halen territory, with one exception, which I'll get to. "Panama" was also released as a single and I definitely like it more than "Jump." Eddie works his magic with the guitar and David Lee Roth uses his mouth in the only way he knows. I'm not just talking about his singing either. I've always liked his talking bit in the middle of "Panama." "I reached down and put the seat back." It doesn't translate well here in print but if you listen to the song, you'll see what I mean.

"Top Jimmy" and "Drop Dead Legs" are both good songs and I like the little guitar bits done on both songs. However, whenever I hear "Drop Dead Legs," my mind immediately goes to when I heard the song used in an episode of "Family Guy." For those who don't know, it's the episode where Brian and Stewie travel to a parallel universe and find a world where Meg is hot.

[caption id="attachment_3772" align="aligncenter" width="191"] Drop Dead Legs played to this scene[/caption]

Another good thing about both of those songs is that they lead beautifully to my favourite song on the album, "Hot for Teacher." Every thing you loved about Van Halen is found on this song. Roth's little quips between the verses and don't forget, he can sing some too. Eddie plays the longest solo of all the songs on the album and very well too and of course we can never forget the rhythm section of Michael Anthony and Alex Van Halen. While these two remain tight on the whole album, they seem especially so on "Hot forTeacher."

After my favourite song comes the other exception. "I'll Wait" is another keyboard dominated song but I never disliked it. If Van Halen had been making albums in the 1970s, many people would have used this song to label them a progressive rock band. Still, Eddie plays a decent solo on it. "I'll Wait" leads the way for the album to go out on the good foot. I do like the intro on "Girl Gone Bad" and "House of Pain" is a suitable closer. For me, though I hadn't listened to "Diver Down" at the time, I still drew the conclusion that "1984" was three steps up from it. Now that I have listened to that album, I will stay say that this one is the better album.

Track Listing:

1. 1984
2. Jump
3. Panama
4. Top Jimmy
5. Drop Dead Legs
6. Hot for Teacher
7. I'll Wait
8. Girl Gone Bad
9. House of Pain

[caption id="attachment_1143" align="aligncenter" width="267"] Van Halen[/caption]

David Lee Roth- lead vocals

Eddie Van Halen- guitar, keyboards, backing vocals

Michael Anthony- bass, backing vocals

Alex Van Halen- drums, backing vocals

This was how my 1984 began. There aren't too many better ways to ring in a new year but what I do know now is that Van Halen's "1984" opened the port hole to all the great music that would come our way in this year.

Next post: U2- Under a Blood Red Sky

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