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:
- Bad Boys Running Wild
- Rock You Like a Hurricane
- I'm Leaving You
- Coming Home
- The Same Thrill
- Big City Nights
- As Soon As the Good Times Roll
- Crossfire
- Still Loving You
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
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