Great Rock Albums of 1984: Roger Hodgson- In the Eye of the Storm

 

A friend, in 1984, announced that Supertramp had a new album out. I had to inform him that it wasn't the case. Instead, thanks to the single, "Had a Dream (Sleeping With the Enemy)," getting a fair amount of airplay on radio, I could tell him that former Supertramp guitar/vocalist Roger Hodgson had released his first solo album. One point to me, I think. Besides, my friend was a total Duranie and very anti- heavy metal.

I still feel the same way about Roger's debut album, "In the Eye of the Storm," now as I did back then. It could have been another Supertramp album. It became abundantly clear to me that Roger was the driving force behind the band and with his solo album, it was pretty much the same. Not that it's a bad thing because it's not. I've always liked Supertramp's version of 1970s progressive rock. Nice keyboard work laced with some guitar done very creatively over rather long songs. I have this memory of Supertramp songs usually being in excess of five minutes, except for a few of the ones released as singles. It is the same on Roger's album. Four of the seven songs are over seven minutes long and one is just a second below six. In a musical world where synth pop was emerging, I thought it was great to still hear some good progressive rock.

Though unusual for me, I have to say that "Had a Dream (Sleeping With the Enemy) is my favourite track. I liked it enough when radio cut huge chunks out of the song for airplay so the full eight minute plus version was even better. The entire progressive rock arsenal went into making this one. Some great keyboards with bouts of both acoustic and electric guitar with Hodgson's unmistakable vocals. It all adds up to a great song. Of course, there are other nice songs too. I do like "In Jeopardy" as it is more classic Supertramp. "Hooked on a Problem" is an interesting one. The introduction reminds me of the classic, "The Logical Song" but transforms into sounding like a carnival. I would be repeating myself if I dissected every song, except for "Lovers in the Wind" which does nothing for me personally and credit where due, Roger definitely chose the right song for the closer.

Except for where noted below, I thought it was cool that he got Michael Shrieve of HSAS fame to play drums on the album, Roger plays all of the instruments himself on the album proving what a fine musician he is.

Track Listing:

1. Had a Dream (Sleeping With the Enemy)
2. In Jeopardy
3. Lovers in the Wind
4. Hooked on a Problem
5. Give Me Love, Give Me Life
6. I'm Not Afraid
7. Only Because of You

[caption id="attachment_4176" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Roger Hodgson[/caption]

Roger Hodgson- vocals, guitar, keyboards, bass, drums on "Hooked on a Problem" and "Lovers in the Wind"

Michael Shrieve- drums, except on tracks 3 and 4

Ken Alldaryce- harmonica, backing vocals

Jimmy Johnson- fretless bass on "Lovers in the Wind" and "Only Because of You"

Claire Diament- female vocals on "Only Because of You"

Scott Page- saxophone on "Hooked on a Problem

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=trOjoDIcBjs

Thinking back, I now realize that there was more great progressive rock back in the mid 80s than I allowed myself to believe. This debut album from Roger Hodgson is indisputable evidence of that.

Next Post: Soundtrack to Footloose

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Great Rock Albums of 1984: Chicago- 17

 

I'd like to thank Rich for this one. If he hadn't posted about Chicago's 11th album from 1977, I would not have remember that the band had a really good album in 1984. Thank you Rich for jogging my memory here. Once my memory got into full swing, I remember that there was a song on this album I really liked. That was the opening track, "Stay the Night," which I remember most because of the very amusing video got played quite a bit on MTV during the summer.

Reflections from my old age, I now realize that Chicago deserves more credit for "17" than what they actually received. There were two camps in 1984. Most bands were either going down the synth pop road or heading in a more harder direction. Chicago didn't go down either road. Instead, they stuck with the same formula that made them so successful throughout the 1970s. Their fusion of soft rock and jazz influences work just as well on this album as they had on all of their previous ones. That is precisely why Chicago was my 'not guilty pleasure' in the mid 1980s.

Proof of what I'm talking about can be traced to the success of "17." There were four singles, including my favourite track mentioned above, the best known of these was the ballad, "Hard Habit to Break." Sure, it's no where near a heavy metal power ballad but it's a good song anyway. Just as successful was the track "You're My Inspiration" which did just as well in the singles charts as "Hard Habit to Break." The fourth single is probably the hardest rock song on the album, "Along Comes a Woman." Guitarists Bill Champlin and Chris Pinnick deliver on the guitar on the track and the other instruments do well in support. It has a definite catchy vibe and that makes it my second favourite track. Of course, it wouldn't be me if there weren't any non single songs on the album to like. "We Can Stop the Hurting" takes the prize here as it is a definite reminder that Chicago were not about to compromise with their sound. "Remember the Feeling" does come closer to being a power ballad as there is some hard guitar in the background and a fairly decent solo on it. With some really great tracks to close, this album was just like anything you found on any Chicago album throughout the band's history.

Track listing:

1. Stay the Night
2. We Can Stop the Hurtin'
3. Hard Habit to Break
4. Only You
5. Remember the Feeling
6. Along Comes a Woman
7. You're My Inspiration
8. Please Hold On
9. Prima Donna
10. Once in a Lifetime

Chicago

Peter Cetera- bass, lead and backing vocals

Bill Champlin- guitars, keyboards, lead and backing vocals

Robert Lamm- keyboards, lead and backing vocals

Lee Loughnane- trumpet

James Pankow- trombone, horn arrangements

Walter Perazaider- woodwinds

Chris Pinick- guitar

Danny Seraphine- drums

The reason why I considered Chicago to be my not guilty pleasure from the 1980s was down to the fact that by then, I was a total metalhead. Chicago are definitely not metal but I've always liked their softer version of rock, especially in the 70s. So there was no reason why I shouldn't have carry it over into the next decade.

Next post: Roger Hodgson- In the Eye of the Storm

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Great Metal Albums of 1984: Stryper- The Yellow and Black Attack

 

On one occasion in 1984, I resisted the temptation of the devil. Sometime in late August, TCN Hot Rock premiered a Christian heavy metal band on its radio programme. The deejay stated that the band they were playing called themselves 'headbangers for the Lord' and that very much intrigued me. So, on that particular Sunday morning, personal history was made as this was my introduction to the now very famous Christian heavy metal band Stryper.

I can't remember which one of the six songs from their debut EP, "The Yellow and Black Attack" was played on that morning but what I do remember was that I very much liked what I heard. To me, Stryper could hold their own with their secular counter parts in every way. This album has everything a metalhead could ask for. Some crunching power riffs that come through straight away on the opening track and continue all the way to the end. All the vocals on the album were truly amazing and I had a lot of praise for the singer, I didn't know his name at the time. Of course there was a tight rhythm section but in most cases for me, especially back then was how good the lead guitar was. Well, I don't think anyone could debate me if I say that Oz Fox belongs up there among his great guitar peers. The best thing about "The Yellow and Black Attack" is that you get all of those ingredients on each one of the six songs on it.

One thing I have stated over the past three decades was that with many heavy metal bands, they start out hungry for success and that raw hunger is expressed on their initial demo or even the debut album, some beyond that. That hunger is definitely there on this album. They might have been singing and playing their hearts out here and the result was that the music could be capable of turning stones into bread.

The problem Stryper had with both Christian and secular audiences was that no one knew how to take Christian heavy metal. Christians had always branded metal Satanic and some thought that the fusion of Christianity and heavy metal to be sacrilege. As for the heathen, many were put off by the threat of Jesus lyrics. One critic referred to them as "Quiet Riot singing Jesus music." That's more of an insult for Stryper than to Quiet Riot. Stryper doesn't sound like them at all to me. True, Stryper proudly sing about their love for their Saviour but having listened to this band so many times in three decades, I have never found myself wanting to go back to the fold.

Personal note: I was a Born Again Christian during my teenage years of the 1970s but all it did for me was mess my head up more than any drugs or music ever could. However, I don't begrudge anyone who has spiritual beliefs and if they want, I would happily listen to Stryper with them.

Track Listing:

1. Loud 'N' Clear
2. From Wrong to Right
3. You Know What to Do
4. Co'mon Rock
5. You Won't Be Lonely
6. Loving You

[caption id="attachment_4163" align="aligncenter" width="277"] Stryper[/caption]

Michael Sweet- lead vocals, guitar

Oz Fox- lead guitar, backing vocals

Tim Gaines- bass, backing vocals, keyboards

Robert Sweet- drums

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqhPVWPllY4

They didn't know it back then but Stryper laid down the foundations that built the bridge between the gulf of Christianity and heavy metal with this, their debut EP, "The Yellow and Black Attack." From here, Stryper would go onto bigger and better things and whether or not you were a Christian or heathen, their music would touch the metal souls of many metalheads.

Next post: Chicago 17

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Great Rock Albums of 1984: Kerry Livgren- Timeline

 

Once again, I was deceived by Satan in 1984. The Christian Rock radio programme, TCN Hot Rock played the song "Mask of the Great Deceiver" by Kerry Livgren. What blew me away about the song was who was on the lead vocals. That alone was grounds for me to go out and buy a Kerry Livgren album. However, when I read the tracks on the 1984 album, "Timeline," that track wasn't on it. Therefore I didn't buy it. As think back to that time, I see the irony in it all, in regards to the vocalist on the song. See, it was about this time that the singer was getting attacked by Christian groups for being Satanic. They obviously never listened to Livgren's song for even the deejay had to admit the great job done by the vocalist. I'm not going to tell you who that vocalist was, you have to listen to the song and guess. Though, it is pretty obvious. Actually, the picture gives it away but have a listen anyway.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0CiS5IWMvlA

Most of you will know that Kerry Livgren came over from the great 70s prog rock band Kansas. After leaving Kansas in 1983, he met some musicians who were like minded in his spiritual beliefs so they formed the band Kerry Livgren AD and "Timeline" was their first album although it's considered by some to be Kerry's second solo album. He had one in 1980 which features the track I pontificated about above.

One critic back then called the "Timeline"album stale. While I won't agree with that, I can see where he might say that because the first tracks are very 80s synth pop. However, he does nail a good guitar solo on the opening title track and some interesting keyboards work at the end of the second one. While probably the weakest tracks on the album, the first two do set the stage for the better tracks that follow. In fact, the very next track, "Make or Break It" is reminiscent of Kansas and the track after even more so. Kerry nails down some killer guitar solos on tracks, "Take Us to the Water" and "New Age Blues," (my favourite track), as well as some interesting keyboards work. "Slow Motion Suicide" is a great example. Another very interesting and very notable aspect on "Timeline" are the Yes inspired harmony vocals on the album. They appear throughout. There always being an exception, the track "Beyond the Pale," sounds very contemporary for the time Joe Jackson.

Track Listing:

1. Timeline
2. Tonight
3. Make or Break It
4. Take Us to the Water
5. Beyond the Pale
6. New Age Blues
7. Slow Motion Suicide
8. High On the Hill
9. Life Undercover
10. Welcome to the War

[caption id="attachment_4154" align="aligncenter" width="259"] Kerry Livgren AD[/caption]

Kerry Livgren- guitars, keyboards

Michael Gleason- lead and backing vocals

Warren Ham- lead and backing vocals

Dennis Holt- drums, percussion

David Hope- bass

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaimb3IOk3o

Kerry Livgren AD might have been pushed into the area of Christian Rock by some critics and followers of Christ but there are no in your face Jesus lyrics. To me, it's just some good old progressive rock similar to what Kerry did with his former band.

Next post: Stryper- Yellow and Black Attack

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