Great Metal Albums of 1984: The Scorpions- Love at First Sting

 

After posting albums by two bands who came and went virtually unnoticed by the world, except for me, I noticed them, I thought it would be a good idea to go totally the opposite direction and post about a band whose album took the world by storm in 1984. That is exactly what The Scorpions "Love at First Sting" album did, it took the metal world (and in some cases, the non-metal world) by storm. The first single got played a lot on MTV, not that I minded that at all.

Even after more than three decades, when I hear the opening riffs to "Rock You Like a Hurricane," I jump up and want to start headbanging away to it. Being a little older and slightly more wiser these days, I have come to realize that it was a gutsy move to release it as a single. Those opening riffs are not something you'd expect to hear on commercial radio but one did then. Normally, metal bands would release the more commercial friendly song, not one that blows people away. Then again, 1984 was the golden year of heavy metal so I shouldn't be surprised that such songs got airplay.

The great thing about "Love At First Sting" is that the above single was just one of the great songs that appear on it. The two songs either side of "Rock You Like a Hurricane" are just as kick you in the head metal. In fact, I have come to believe that those songs could have been arranged in any order and it would have had the same effect on my enjoyment of it. I still would have loved it. After the three opening songs, "Coming Home" starts like a total ballad but after a minute and a half in, the band just goes nuts and the power of the first three songs comes through. Maybe writers Meine and Schenker thought the listener needed a break so, they wrote it that way. But whatever their motives, it worked!

Things go almost to speed metal levels with the next track, "The Same Thrill" but again, it's done very well. They just let themselves go here and it sounds great. It would be nearly another year before "Big City Nights" was released as a single but I'm glad I didn't have to wait that long to hear it. It's a powerful song with a catchy melody and some cool guitar hooks. Some very interesting opening riffs on "As Soon As the Good Times Roll" and "Crossfire" keep things ticking over and leads nicely to what some might consider another gutsy move. The album ends with the second single, the power ballad, "Still Loving You." As some of you might have guessed, I'm a sucker for a good power ballad and this one is right up there with the best. Note: I've already sung the praises of the musicians who comprise this band on previous posts about The Scorpions, so I won't repeat it.

Track Listing:

1. Bad Boys Running Wild
2. Rock You Like a Hurricane
3. I'm Leaving You
4. Coming Home
5. The Same Thrill
6. Big City Nights
7. As Soon As the Good Times Roll
8. Crossfire
9. Still Loving You

[caption id="attachment_1572" align="aligncenter" width="337"] The Scorpions[/caption]

Klaus Meine- lead vocals

Rudy Schenker- rhythm guitar, backing vocals

Mathias- Jabs- lead guitar

Francis Bucholz- bass

Herman Rarebell- drums

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pOr3dBFAeY

If any one album, established metal as a dominant musical force in early 1984, it was "Love at First Sting" by the Scorpions. Looking back, it's only right that they be part of the golden year of metal. Especially as they put out such a cool album. My regret is not giving it enough mention in "Rock and Roll Children."

Next post: Slade- Keep Your Hands Off My Power Supply

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

Great Metal Albums of 1984: White Wolf- Standing Alone

 

Here's a post about being in the right place at the right time. Sometime in the wee hours of one morning in early 1984, I happened to be up watching MTV when this video by some band named White Wolf came on. I knew nothing about the band but I knew I liked the song they were playing. So, I made a mental note about them and went to my local record shops in the days following to find out more about this band and possibly buy the album. Unfortunately, I drew a blank everywhere I went and I had a good share of confused looks from shop assistants, but that's Southern New Jersey for you. The sad tale is that I never got this album though the band from that one late night experience has always remained in my memory. However, there is a happy ending thanks to Youtube where I finally got to listen to White Wolf's 1984 "Standing Alone" album and share it with you. Believe me, the wait was worth it.

Let me start with my one tiny criticism of "Standing Alone." It's the title track. Not a bad song, in fact it's quite good but it shouldn't be the opener on the album. That duty should have fallen on the second track, "Headlines." That is the song that leaps out and assaults your ear drums and makes you pay serious attention to the album. As for the title track, it should have been third because the track after "Headlines" continues the ear assault before turning slightly more melodic at the end. The more melodic title track would have followed on nicely from there. That would have very nicely paved the way for my favourite track on the album. "What the War Will Bring." It cleverly disguises itself as a power ballad, a good one, but there is some very great guitar work here. Eight minutes of enjoyable melodic metal and guitar work combined. Most of the song is comprised of the latter and that is the reason why I like it so much.

Nit picking done, the rest of the album is one big powerful explosion of metal. The three tracks following my favourite bear testimony to that. "Night Rider" kicks it off with a harmonizing of the title before the music kicks in full blast. It's a rather fast paced song, though I wouldn't call it thrash, with a cool guitar solo. If you thought "Night Rider" was hard, "Homeward Bound" is even harsher! It's a good heavy metal tune, if ever there was one. A sort of twist comes next. One would think that a song called "Metal Thunder" would be even harder and louder than its predecessors but it's much more melodic, a good curve ball there. Still, it's a cool song with some good harmony vocals and guitar work and it leads very well to the closer, which provides the right conclusion to this fime album.

Track Listing:

1. Standing Alone
2. Headlines
3. Shadows in the Night
4. What the War Will Bring
5. Night Rider
6. Homeward Bound
7. Metal Thunder
8. Trust Me

Donn Wolf aka Don Wilk- vocals

Martin Kronlund- guitar

Cam McLeod- guitar, backing vocals

Rikard Quist- bass

Imre Daun- drums

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

I can't even remember which of these 8 cool songs the video I saw on MTV back in 1984 was for. I do remember it being a viking theme but that's all. I do know that I liked the song and there must have been something there for me to remember it all these years after. I'm forever grateful that I got to listen to "Standing Alone" and got to hear it for myself.

Next post: The Scorpions- Love At First Sting

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