Great Metal Albums of 1984: Twisted Sister- Stay Hungry

 

With all the fuss about the upcoming Christmas holidays and reading about various opinions of the "Twisted Christmas" album and why Twisted Sister made such an album, I thought I'd treat everyone to their most defining album, "Stay Hungry." It was by and far the most successful Twisted Sister album of all time and it made, to quote Dee Snider, 1984 "the year of the Sister."

Let me take you back to the golden year and where it first started. The massive sales of the album were spring-boarded by the huge hit, "We're Not Gonna Take It" and the very amusing video for it, that got tons of airplay on MTV. I never minded the fact that during the summer of 1984, it seemed to be on every time I turned the station on. The video for said song featured actor Mark Metcalf, famous for playing Niedermeyer in the greatest party film of all time, "National Lampoon's Animal House." Metcalf plays an overbearing dictatorial father who shouts constantly at his rock loving son. The son gets his own back by propelling his father out windows after turning into Dee Snider. It was all very hilarious and only those without any sense of humour wouldn't enjoy it.

[caption id="attachment_1033" align="aligncenter" width="281"] A scene from the video, "We're Not Gonna Take It."[/caption]

"Stay Hungry" spawned two more singles, "I Wanna Rock" which did fairly well in the charts. The video carried on the zaniness of the Niedermeyer debacle. It too was a very funny video. The other single was the power ballad, "The Price," which didn't break the top forty, but who cares because it is definitely up in my top ten of power ballads.

Singles aside, the remaining seven songs are just as awesome. The closest track to filler is "Don't Let Me Down" but it's better than many songs on other albums which  aren't considered filler. While "The Beast" never got played the last two times I saw Twister Sister at Bloodstock, it did get played the two times I saw them on tour for this album. "Captain Howdy" is a cool song. The title track is one of the best album openers of all time and the closer "SMF" is also outstanding as a closer and build the foundations as to why this album is so great. To my knowledge, there isn't a sane soul in the metal world who doesn't like "Burn In Hell." Except for the first time because it hadn't been written yet, it got played all the other times I saw the band live. However, the one small disappointment whenever I saw them live  was that they never played the song I call the hidden gem, "Street Justice." I like everything about this song from the cool intro to the guitar solo to the serious lyrics. Maybe that's why I think I'm different to the rest of the world because I seem to be the only person who really likes it. I've read that they played the song in 2009 when they played the entire album live. I wish I could have been there.

Track Listing:

1. Stay Hungry
2. We're Not Gonna Take It
3. Burn In Hell
4. Horror Teria

a. Captain Howdy

b. Street Justice

5. I Wanna Rock

6. The Price

7. Don't Let Me Down

8. The Beast

9. SMF

Twisted Sister

Dee Snider- lead vocals

Eddie Ojeda- guitars, backing vocals

Jay Jay French- guitars, backing vocals

Mark 'The Animal' Mendoza- bass, backing growls

AJ Pero- drums, percussion

Three videos from this iconic album is my Christmas treat to all of you, enjoy. Whatever else happened in the band's history before or since, the obvious thing is that "Stay Hungry" made Twisted Sister in 1984. It was definitely the year of the Sister and I wonder sometimes if I didn't convey that point in Rock and Roll Children.

Next post: The 12 Days of Christmas, several versions

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

Great Metal Albums of 1984: Ratt- Out of the Cellar

 

Here's a scene from "Rock and Roll Children." One night, after unsuccessfully trying to get into bars, the four main characters decide to head to one of the group's houses. While driving with the radio on, some power chords come blasting through the car's speakers. Intently listening to whoever the mysterious artist is playing, these words coming ringing true.

"I knew right from the beginning

That you would end up winning,

I knew right from the start,

You'd put an arrow through my heart."

The big single "Round and Round" brought Ratt into the homes of many Americans in the summer of 1984, with it being constantly played on radio and MTV. I can't deny the fact that it is most likely my favourite Ratt song of all time although there are a couple of others that might come close. I can't explain why this song is so good, not just to metalheads but many non-metalheads liked it too. That's why it got to number 12 on the Billboard charts.

Like the big hit, one thing that many of the songs on Ratt's debut album, "Out of the Cellar" have catchy intros that make your ears perk up and pay attention. True, some of the songs trail off a bit and end not as exciting as they begin but there isn't a bad song on the album. Saying that, except for "Round and Round" the second half of the album is better than the first. It's probably why the said single was put third on the album. A kind of high point on a more level ground. Furthermore and this is me totally nit picking here, I would have swapped "She Wants Money" as the opener and "Wanted Man" would have been fifth. The latter is a good song, I just think the former would have made a better opener.

Having heard "Out of the Cellar" on vinyl, flipping to side two, one is greeted with a great side opener in "Lack of Communication." This song opens the doorway for the best to come. "Back For More" was the second single on the album and I liked it more than what the charts indicated. I think it only got to 27 but that never bothered me because it is a cool song. The acoustic intro makes a great change up to the album and I can't fault Warren DeMartini's guitar playing on it or on any song actually. However, after single number two comes the hidden gem on the album and the one to rival "Round and Round" for my affections. "The Morning After" is just a fantastic song. I love all the tempo changes in the guitars on it and how they kick in big time on the chorus. It's hard to describe in words but even thirty three years on, I still don't tire of this song. Shit, maybe I should call it number one.

The last two tracks are strong and solid ones. I sometimes wonder if "I'm Insane" applies to me. After all, I feel that way sometimes. "Scene of the Crime" isn't the greatest album closer in history but it is probably the best song to close the album, especially with the intro.

Track Listing:

1. Wanted Man
2. You're In Trouble
3. Round and Round
4. In Your Direction
5. She Wants Money
6. Lack of Communication
7. Back for More
8. The Morning After
9. I'm Insane
10. Scene of the Crime

[caption id="attachment_4305" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Ratt[/caption]

Stephen Pearcy- vocals

Warren De Martini- guitar, backing vocals

Robbin Crosby- guitar, backing vocals

Juan Crocier- bass, backing vocals

Bobby Blotzer- drums, percussion

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXlDPA52BXc

When people talk of the metal explosion of 1984, Ratt always gets a mention. Though many would accuse them of being too much the same on later albums, there is no debate that "Out of the Cellar" album was something fresh, at least to me.

Next post: Twisted Sister- Stay Hungry

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

Great Metal Albums of 1984: Quiet Riot- Condition Critical

 

It is the opinion of many metalheads now and in 1984 that Quiet Riot's fourth album, "Condition Critical" was not as good as it's predecessor, "Metal Health." I am one of those and my opinion is the same now as it was back in said year. But, was the album as bad as some people believe? My answer has always been a resounding "NO!" True, it's not as good as the last one but I still like "Condition Critical."

Quiet Riot did try to follow the formula they laid down on the very successful "Metal Health" album and I'm not just talking about the Slade cover. "Mama Weer All Crazee Now" isn't as good as "Cum On Feel the Noize" but I never decided to head to the fridge whenever it was played on MTV. Unfortunately, some people didn't agree with me, especially readers of Hit Parader (Motley Crue magazine) because Kevin DuBrow referred to the mag as akin to toilet paper. The magazine and readers hit out in response by giving the album negative reviews. One letter to the magazine asked "If I shoot Slade, would Quiet Riot die too?" I am glad that nobody got shot.

I think that the main difference between "Metal Health" and "Condition Critical" was the fact that the singles released from the latter weren't the chart toppers the ones from the former were. Even I have to admit that "Cum On Feel the Noize" and "Metal Health" are better than "Mama Weer All Crazee Now" and "Party All Night." If one was to take the singles away, the rest of the songs on the album are fairly equal. "Stomp Your Hands and Clap Your Feet" is a good song to get you moving to it. It does have a catchy singalong vibe to it. "Winners Take All" is a very good power ballad. It is definitely high up on my list in that category.  Furthermore, "Scream and Shout," (my favourite track), "Red Alert" and "Bad Boy" are all cool tunes too. When you put it all together, it does make a rather good album.

If there is one item on the album consistent with all of the songs, which hooks me every time, it is the guitar work of Carlos Cavazo. For me, it is his guitar playing that makes the songs good and therefore makes the album. He lays down some great solos on all of the songs here, it's hard for me to pick which one he does his best on. But if you put a gun to my head, I guess I'd have to say "Red Alert." Still, I won't take anything away from the rest of the band.

Track Listing:

1. Sign of the  times
2. Mama Weer All Crazee Now
3. Party All Night
4. Stomp Your Hands, Clap Your Feet
5. Winners Take All
6. Condition Critical
7. Scream and Shout
8. Red Alert
9. Bad Boys
10. (We Were) Born to Rock

[caption id="attachment_3552" align="aligncenter" width="379"] Quiet Riot[/caption]

Kevin DuBrow- vocals

Carlos Cavazo- guitars

Rudy Sarzo- bass

Frankie Banali- drums

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PyAg7usdIMA

Due to the lack of success, (Is 3 million copies sold a lack of success?) of "Condition Critical," Quiet Riot went from headlining arenas to headlining theatres. I was going to get tickets to see them at the Tower Theatre in Philadelphia but when I went to buy the tickets, I was informed that the date of the concert had been changed to a day where I was working. I was bummed I couldn't go. That might be what sums things up for Quiet Riot in 1984 but I still enjoy this album.

Next post: RATT- Out of the Cellar

To get Rock and Roll Children, email me at:tobyshcin

Great Metal Albums of 1984: Judas Priest- Defenders of the Faith

 

If I thought I didn't do Great White justice when I wrote about theirs as the first concert to take place in "Rock and Roll Children," then I should grovel to Judas Priest begging their forgiveness. The Judas Priest/Great White concert that happens in the first few pages of the book is the one I knew least about. I couldn't go on account of work and only had patchy accounts of the concert from people I spoke to who went. This meant my account of that night was, as one critic put it, bare bones, if that. So, to Judas Priest and their hardcore fans, I'm sorry. Though I do make up for it when I write about their 1986 concert. One of my biggest critics, my sister, said I nailed that one.

While the first Judas Priest concert might have been lacking in substance, the album they were touring in support of, "Defenders of the Faith" did get a good number of listens from the characters in "Rock and Roll Children." I have always held this album in great esteem and will put my head in the lion's mouth and declare that it is Judas Priest's most underrated album, ever! Sales wise, it did not match the numbers of its mega fantastic predecessor, "Screaming for Vengeance," and I put it a half a mark below it but "Defenders of the Faith" is one fantastic album.

The first seven songs are the reason why the album is soooo good. One by one each of those songs launch into an all out assault on your ears with such ferocity, you can't help but to head bang away and jump up and down to it. Even when one song ends, the next one grabs you by the throat and makes you give your undivided attention to it. When I say the first seven songs, I mean all of those songs, not just the ones some might be more familiar with like "Freewheel Burning" and "Love Bites," who when the premier of the video for it was announced on MTV was called "a family affair." Of course there's also my favourite track from this album and my third all time favourite Priest song, "Some Heads are Gonna Roll." I just love that song. "Jawbreaker," "Rock Hard, Ride Free" and "The Sentinel" all can cause an unsuspecting listener to lose control of their bodily functions as well. Plus, there's the amusing "Eat Me Alive" which a year later would be rank on the PMRC's hit list as the third dirtiest song. All great!

This not to say that the last three songs are in any way not up to scratch, they are good songs but intensity levels do tail off after "Some Heads are Gonna Roll." Things go slower tempo with the remaining three songs but the pounding doesn't let up. It just takes on a different form, nor does it detract from this great album in any way.

Track Listing:

1. Freewheel Burning
2. Jawbreaker
3. Rock Hard, Ride Free
4. The Sentinel
5. Love Bites
6. Eat Me Alive
7. Some Heads Are Gonna Roll
8. Night Comes Down
9. Heavy Duty
10. Defenders of the Faith

[caption id="attachment_1108" align="aligncenter" width="238"] Judas Priest[/caption]

Robert Halford- lead vocals

Glenn Tipton- guitar

KK Downing- guitar

Ian Hill- bass

Dave Holland- drums

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C21PrOKRG8w

I've never really ranked Judas Priest albums before, except I knew that "Screaming for Vengeance" was my favourite. I have called "Defenders of the Faith" underrated but I am now declare it number two and not by much. It is a great under appreciated album.

Next post: Quiet Riot- Condition Critical

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