Great Rock Albums of 1985: Stevie Ray Vaughn- Soul to Soul

 

If I had relied on MTV for musical influence back in 1985, I would have never discovered this cool album from Stevie Ray Vaughan. I remember not being overly impressed with the music video for the song, “Change It” from the album. That was because that a huge part of Stevie’s guitar solo on the song got cut out of the video and that was a damn shame. What he could do with a guitar was what Stevie Ray Vaughan was all about and the 1985 album, “Soul to Soul” demonstrates this to a tee.

At the time, blues based guitarists seemed to be not trendy enough for the then current generation of MTV slaves. Eric Clapton was accused of being too ‘new wave’ and in spite of some great albums in the late 1970s and early 1980s, Rory Gallagher had not really broken through to the USA. Furthermore, Pat Travers seemed to have vanished off the face of the earth, it was reassuring that Stevie Ray Vaughan was able to carry the torch in traditional blues based style.

Any doubt about it is erased on the very first track of “Soul to Soul.” “Say What” is a blinding blues instrumental where Stevie just takes his guitar and does what does best with it. He does take over the vocal duties on the songs after that and while his vocals are okay, it’s the guitar work that impresses me more. “Look at Little Sister” is the hidden gem on the album because of the upbeat tempo along with the combination of saxophone and guitar which sounds perfect for this song. The following track “Ain’t Gone n Give Up On Love” is also an amazing blues song reminding me of some of the blues Gods who have gone before such as John Lee Hooker and BB King. There’s another blinder of a guitar solo on that one.

Thinking about it and my Swiss cheese memory might be to blame here, maybe it wasn’t “Change It” that I saw on MTV all those years ago. Listening to it now, this song is much better than what I remember seeing on the video. I have to confess it is a great song. The remainder of the album doesn’t depreciate in any way. The fast paced “You’ll Be Mine” takes things up a notch or four leading right to the great guitar solo intro on “Empty Arms.” After more blistering guitar solos on “Come On (Part III), the album concludes nicely with the slow blues number, “Life Without You” making “Soul to Soul” a classic blues rock album for the 1980s.

Linking past to present, while I have always loved Stevie Ray Vaughan’s music, I think the reason I like it even more these days is because this album especially reminds me of the television show, “NCIS- New Orleans.” Mrs 80smetalman and I are both big fans of the show and with every song here, I think of the end of the programme when after solving the big case, the team are all celebrating in the bar owned by Scott Bakula’s character and this type of music always seems to be playing in the background. Think about it, if it hadn’t been for Stevie’s tragic death from a helicopter crash in 1990, he might have made a guest appearance on the show. That would have been awesome!

Track Listing:

1. Say What
2. Lookin’ Out the Window
3. Look at Little Sister
4. Ain’t Gone n Give Up On Love
5. Gone Home
6. Change It
7. You’ll Be Mine
8. Empty Arms
9. Come on (Part III)
10. Life Without You

Stevie Ray Vaughan

Stevie Ray Vaughan- guitar, vocals, drums on “Empty Arms”

Tommy Shannon- bass

Chris Layton- drums

Reese Wynans- keyboards

Joe Sublett- saxophone on “Lookin’ Out the Window” and “Look at Little Sister”

Stevie Ray Vaughan proved that blues based rock was still alive and well in 1985 in spite of what the synth pop addled MTV youth might have said. “Soul to Soul” is a fantastic album.

Next post: Molly Hatchet- Double Trouble Live

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Great Rock Albums of 1985: George Thorogood- Maverick

 

By May of 1985, I had conceded that the anti-metal brigade had won as far as commercial radio and MTV was concerned. It was a rarity then to see or hear any metal played on mainstream media. The only time I would really listen to any radio was during my eight hour shift at a parking lot in Atlantic City. While I lamented the lack of metal, there was some good rock tunes on radio, many from recently visited albums of this year. Then sometime in May, while listening to radio on my shift, I was treated to the first single from George Thorogood, “I Drink Alone,” from his “Maverick” album and that made eight hours of commercial radio much more bearable.

“I Drink Alone” is my all time favourite George Thorogood song. While the more ignorant claimed that the song was more of his usual same sounding stuff, I begged to differ. Yes, his voice is trademark and the riffs might sound familiar but if so, who the hell cares? He plays a blinder on it and one can’t fault the guitar solo at all. What I like just as much is his innuendos towards famous alcoholic drinks. Since the song is about a guy who enjoys drinking alone, he mentions his drinking pals; his buddy Weiser, pals Jack Daniels and partner Jimmy Beam and friends Johnny Walker and his brothers Black and Red. Then there’s the only family member who will drink with him, his Old Grandad. All very clever and I wonder if George collected any advertising royalties for mentioning these products in his song.

Looking at the rest of the “Maverick” album, it is business as usual from George Thorogood and the Destroyers. The first three songs are the best, the middle one the big single although the third track, “Willie and the Hand-jive” was also released as a single and it’s a great blues boogie song too. Saying that, I do prefer the opener, Gear Jammer.” The remainder of the album, while not as brilliant as the first three songs, doesn’t deteriorate the album in any way. “Long Gone” is more of what George and the Destroyers do best and the spotlight is on saxophonist Hank Carter who makes the mark. My vote for hidden gem on “Maverick” has to be “Woman With the Blues.” The song slows down a lot and while it gives the impression that George shouldn’t sing ballads, which it’s not, he still sounds okay. However, it’s his more famous guitar riffing on it that makes the track a hidden gem.

Apart from the boogie/blues, it can be said that there is a 1950s sound to some of the songs on the album. Yes, I can picture Ritchie Cunningham and friends dancing to “Dixie Fried” at Arnold’s but then again, there is another great Thorogood guitar solo on it but that’s not the point. My point here is that George records songs by some of the greats from that era, Chuck Berry, Fats Domino, John Lee Hooker and Carl Perkins. He was criticized, (there will always be people who will), for not writing many of his songs. I won’t explore why this is the case, my guess is that he loved those songs so much that he wanted to record them. It doesn’t mean that he couldn’t write songs because the ones he does write are some of the best on the album. The opener, the big single and hidden gem all prove it. The ones he didn’t write are all performed well and I’m sure those who wrote them would have given him the thumbs up on each of them.

Track Listing:

1. Gear Jammer
2. I Drink Alone
3. Willie and the Hand-Jive
4. What a Price
5. Long Gone
6. Dixie Fried
7. Crawlin’ King Snake
8. Memphis/Little Marie
9. Woman With the Blues
10. Go Go Go
11. The Ballad of Maverick

George Thorogood

George Thorogood- guitar, lead vocals

Hank Carter- saxophone, harmony vocals

Billy Blough- bass

Jeff Simon- drums, percussion

George Thorogood was an oasis in a land barren of good music, at least as far as mainstream media was concerned. Whether or not you think “Maverick” was his best album, it still demonstrated that he could play with the best of them.

Next post: Weird Al Yankovic- Dare to be Stupid

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Great Rock Albums of 1985: Van Morrison- A Sense of Wonder

Here's another example of how I was so focused on heavy metal in early 1985 that I didn't fully appreciate a good non-metal album. I have to admit, back then I didn't have much experience of the legend that is Van Morrison. My most memorable experience of him was his performance in the film, "The Last Waltz" where he sang with The Band. Other than that, what I knew of him was virtually zero.

While by 1985, I had become totally fed up with commercial radio, I have to thank it for this one. The single from the 1985 album, "A Sense of Wonder," "Tore Down a la Rimbaud" got a considerable amount of airplay in the early part of the year. It was only after a few listens that I got past my "it's not metal" mentality and realized that "Hey, this song is pretty good." However, for some reason, I never bought the album, which was a bit of a shame because I missed out on a good one.

Wikapedia puts Van's "A Sense of Wonder" album in the category of Celtic Soul. Well the man is from Northern Ireland and he does put his soul into the album so it's hard to disagree with that label. Back then, I would have put it into either or both of the categories of soft rock or mellow out rock. It covers both. While the deafening power chords I was so into in 1985 and still am today are absent, one can't fault the quality of the musicianship on it. Here's another myth I believed about Van which this album has obliterated. I thought that he only sang because that's what he did in "The Last Waltz." But he plays guitar and piano and rather well judging from the instrumentals "Evening Meditation" and "Boffyflow and Spike," the latter sounding like true Irish folk music.

While the single remains my favourite song on the album, the rest of the album keeps up as well. In my opinion, "Ancient of Days" could have been released as a single too because it's almost as good. After the first mentioned instrumental, he goes very almost gospel soul softer though I think the title track goes on a bit too long for me. The second instrumental does pick things up a pace after and "If You Only Knew" keeps that pace going with "A New Kind of Man" closing the album out with a good feeling.

Track Listing:

1. Tore Down a la Rimbaud
2. Ancient of Days
3. Evening Meditation
4. The Master's Eyes
5. What Would I Do
6. A Sense of Wonder
7. Boffyflow and Spike
8. If You Only Knew
9. Let the Slave (Incorporating the Price of Experience)
10. A New Kind of Man

Van Morrison

Van Morrison- vocals, guitar and piano

John Allair- organ

Bob Doll- trumpet

Tom Donlinger- drums

Pee Wee Ellis- tenor saxophone

David Hayes- bass

Chris Michie- guitar

Pauline Lazano- backing vocals

Bianca Thornton- backing vocals

The group Moving Hearts performs on tracks 6 and 7

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1oF3PMHq-Nk

I'm now a believer. Again, it could be me mellowing a tiny bit with age but I now appreciate how good the "A Sense of Wonder" album from Van Morrison really is. Perhaps I should delve into his discography a little more.

Next post: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers- Southern Accents

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Great Soundtracks of 1984: Streets of Fire

 

Unlike "Footloose" the soundtrack to the film "Streets of Fire" went with virtually unknown or less known artists, at least for the time. It would be six months to a year before I would hear about The Fixx. The only others I had heard of were Ry Cooder and The Blasters and I'll get to them in a minute. Stevie Nicks does write and sing backing vocals on the Marilyn Martin track, "Sorcerer" but for the most part, the artists were virtually unknown to me at the time. However, I would take this soundtrack over that of "Footloose." Quiet Riot, Foreigner and Sammy Hagar weren't quite enough to tip it past "Streets of Fire" in my eyes.

Before I get onto the soundtrack, let me provide a little background about the film, which was slammed mercilessly by most critics. The 23 year old me in 1984 thought this film was okay. I mean it was the 1980s where one shot from a gun could set off multiple massive explosions and men settled their differences with sledgehammers. What wasn't there to like? However, as I grew older, I realized how surreal the movie was almost bordering on the ridiculous.

"Streets of Fire" is about a famous rock singer named Ellen Aim who gets kidnapped by a motorcycle gang, led by a guy named Raven played Willem Dafoe, while performing a gig in her home town. Without going into great detail, Ellen is rescued by former boyfriend Tom with the help of an ex-army girl named McCoy played by Amy Madigan. After many explosions and action sequences where they receive aid from an all black doo-wop band called the Sorrells, Tom and Raven have their predictable show down at the end. First with the fore-mentioned sledgehammers and then with fists. Therefore, Dafoe gets his ass kicked twice. Other little details include Rick Moranis, playing the usual nerd but this time it's in a serious role as Ellen Aim's manager and current boyfriend. His best line in the film is, "It's the shits." He says it several times and his performance, while good, never made me think that doing "Honey I Shrunk the Kids" was a bad career move. The best performance was by Amy Madigan who did receive a nomination for best supporting actress, so I'm not just saying it because Mrs. 80smetalman is a huge Amy Madigan fan.

[caption id="attachment_4186" align="aligncenter" width="209"] Amy Madigan as McCoy[/caption] [caption id="attachment_4187" align="aligncenter" width="265"] Rick Moranis as Ellen Aim's manager. "It's the shits."[/caption] [caption id="attachment_4188" align="aligncenter" width="199"] Willem Dafoe as Raven. Note the pvc dungarees.[/caption]

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

Okay, the film wasn't Oscar material but that doesn't stop it from having a rather cool soundtrack. When it first came out, MTV plugged the film by constantly playing the video from the first single, Fire Inc's "Tonight Is What it Means to Be Young." I do really like the song which was probably why it didn't go anywhere in the charts. The most successful song as far as chart success was "I Can Dream About You" by Dan Hartman. It is a good song but the irony here is that in the film, the song is performed by The Sorrells. Back in 1984 many people were amazed that a song performed by a black quartet in the film was actually sung by a white man. I think it's great we're more wiser about these things nowadays.

[caption id="attachment_4189" align="aligncenter" width="207"] Dan Hartman[/caption] [caption id="attachment_4190" align="aligncenter" width="300"] The Sorrells in Streets of Fire[/caption]

While all the songs I've mentioned are good ones, for me, it's the rockabilly songs that make this soundtrack. The two tracks by The Blasters are the best songs here and "Hold That Snake" by Ry Cooder gets the bronze. All three of these tracks are just really damn cool and the soundtrack wouldn't be nearly as good without them. For the record, the song by The Fixx, while good as well, didn't have me wanting to check out future material without hearing it first.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lo63jMvDEK0

So, is "Streets of Fire" a bad film with a really cool soundtrack? Well, it's not a bad film, but it does have a killer soundtrack.

Next post: Great and Not So Great Movies of 1984

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Great Rock Albums of 1983: Rolling Stones- Undercover

 

If the Rolling Stones 1981 album "Tattoo You" was a move away from the band's disco albums (at least I thought so) of the late 1970s, then the 1983 "Undercover" album moved them even further away. Saying that, when I first heard the album's first single "Under Cover of the Night," I thought it was a bit of a dirge. It did take me a couple of listens to get used to it. By then, the second single, "She Was Hot" came out and was, in my humble opinion, much better than its predecessor. Unfortunately, memories of the song will be forever in twined with the cheesy video for it. That was one drawback with MTV, good songs could be ruined by bad videos that stick in your mind but anyway.

[caption id="attachment_3331" align="aligncenter" width="300"] A shot from the video for "She Was Hot." Cheesy or not?[/caption]

One thing about the Rolling Stones over the decades was that if I didn't buy an album myself, someone I knew would and eventually I would listen to it. That's what happened with "Undercover." I listened to it and I liked it. "Undercover" takes the Rolling Stones even further back to their roots. This album is more hard rock than anything that they had put out in years, at least I thought that back in 1983. After the two singles are done and dusted at the beginning of the album, the third track, "Tie You Up" starts the hard rock off in earnest. And goes on that path for the next two songs. Then comes the track, "Too Much Blood," which for me is a song of two halves. At first, I thought the jazz infusion, with the horns was nicely done. Then somewhere in the middle, it begins sounding like a dance track making me think they hadn't totally gotten over the disco thing.

"Pretty Beat Up" also has horns and a bit of a rock/jazz fusion and the best part is that it doesn't become a dance tune anywhere I can hear. For me, the best is saved for last. "Undercover" goes out on a real high with the last three tracks. All of them are hard rockers and sound like the Stones of the 1960s that I grew up on. If anything, it is these closing songs that has kept me coming back to the album after so many years.

Track Listing:

1. Under Cover of the Night
2. She Was Hot
3. Tie You Up (The Pain of Love)
4. Wanna Hold You
5. Feel On Baby
6. Too Much Blood
7. Pretty Beat Up
8. Too Tough
9. All the Way Down
10. It Must Be Hell

[caption id="attachment_2295" align="aligncenter" width="374"] Rolling Stones[/caption]

Mick Jagger- vocals, harmonica, guitar

Keith Richards- guitar, lead vocals on "Wanna Hold You"

Ronnie Wood- guitar, backing vocals

Bill Wyman- bass, percussion, piano on "Pretty Beat Up"

Charlie Watts- drums

It has been said that "Undercover" is one of the weaker albums by the Rolling Stones. I never agreed with that or really cared, I just liked it.

Next post: John Cougar Mellencamp- Uh Huh

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Great Rock Albums of 1983: Brian May- Starfleet Project

 

Here's another album that would have passed m e by hadn't been for MTV. The single from Queen guitarist Brian May's album, (yes I know it's really an EP) "Starfleet Project" was never played on radio, at least not on my local station in New Jersey and this was before it degenerated into a top forty station. I remember the video for "Starfleet." It looked like something out of "The Thunderbirds" with the puppets and stuff. The science fiction theme to the video added to it. To be honest, I couldn't have cared less about the video but I loved the song and thus, had to get the EP.

[caption id="attachment_3311" align="aligncenter" width="395"] From the video to "Starfleet"[/caption]

Now you have probably noticed that the album is from Brian May and Friends and boy did Brian choose the right friends to help him record this. He got Eddie Van Halen to accompany him on the guitar and Alan Gratzer from REO Speedwagon fame to do the honours on the drums. Those names right there should tell you that what you are about to hear is totally going to blow you away and they do.

There might only be three songs on the album but they are three memorable ones, plus the fact that the shortest of these three is still over seven minutes made "Starfleet Project" an album in my book back then. Starting with the title track, it is the more commercial of the three. Brian shows that he knows his way around a keyboard a little bit but he still does some great guitar work on the song. I had always suspected from his Queen days that he could sing and he clearly shows it here.

Track two is the more bluesy "Let Me Out." Here, May and Van Halen really start to go to town with the solos. They are so good that I can never remember what Brian wants to be let out of. However, it's the third track that takes you to Neptune and beyond. Here we have the two mentioned guitar greats paying tribute to another guitar god, Eric Clapton, with "Blues Breaker." When that happens you are guaranteed nothing short of guitar heaven. For nearly thirteen minutes, Brian and Eddie go back and forth trading off guitar solos, each one as good as the last. There is a short break in the action for a bit of ivory tinkling from Fred Mandel but things go back to the blistering solos. This song alone makes the entire album a must have.

Track Listing:

1. Starfleet
2. Let Me Out
3. Blues Breaker

[caption id="attachment_287" align="aligncenter" width="200"] Brian May[/caption]

Brian May- guitar, vocals, keyboards

Eddie Van Halen- guitar, backing vocals

Alan Gratzer- drums

Phil Cohen- bass

Freddie Mandel- keyboards

Roger Taylor- backing vocals on "Starfleet"

Queen might have been taking a hiatus in 1983 but Brian May wasn't. He went well above and beyond and showed his true talents on this album.

Next post: Bob Dylan- Infidels

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Great Rock Albums of 1983: Don Felder- Airborne

 

Having acquired MTV in 1983, I found, at the time, a more reliable source than radio to keep me informed of new music. If it hadn't been for this revolutionary new TV station that showed music videos 24/7 and informed viewers of news in music, then the album "Airborne" by former Eagles guitarist Don Felder would have most likely passed me by.

One very good reason for this was that MTV showed the video to the single from this album, "Bad Girls" while I never recall hearing the song played on radio. I remember the video quite well because not only "Bad Girls" was a decent song, but it also featured a guest appearance by Cheech Marin of Cheech and Chong fame. Then again, Don Felder had already gotten my attention two years earlier with his phenomenal song, "Heavy Metal" from the soundtrack to the film of the same name. If I was to try to rank solo songs by all the members of the Eagles, "Heavy Metal" would definitely be number one.

"Airborne" has no such powerful heavy metal anthems like the one I have mentioned from the above soundtrack. Saying that, the album tends to chart the waters of melodic hard rock and is very similar to some of the songs he co-wrote with his former band mates when he was in The Eagles. The first half of the album is pure evidence of this but all of the tracks are nicely done. While I cite the Eagles influence, I am not left thinking, "why don't I just put on "Hotel California" when I listen to "Airborne."

Track five, "Never Surrender" appeared on the soundtrack of "Fast Times at Ridgemont High." If you remember when I covered the soundtrack, I thought it was a very good album but shame the movie sucked. But, I digress yet again. With the tracks following "Never Surrender," he does get more adventurous. "Asphalt Jungle" and "Night Owl" are more in the blues fashion and in my view the two best tracks on the album. While Felder rips out some great guitar solos and bridges with every song, his best efforts are on these two tracks and the closer. He really just lets himself go on these and really shines.

Track Listing:

1. Bad Girls
2. Winners
3. Haywire
4. Who Tonight
5. Never Surrender
6. Asphalt Jungle
7. Night Owls
8. Still Alive

[caption id="attachment_3307" align="aligncenter" width="377"] Don Felder[/caption]

Don Felder- guitar, vocals, synthesizer, keyboards

George 'Chocolate' Perry,Greg Hawkins, Nathan East - bass

Jeff Lorber, Michael Murphy- keyboards

Joe Vitale- keyboards, flute, drums

Albhy Galuten, Anthony Marianelli- synthesizers

Carlos Vega, Ross Kunkel, Tris Imboden- drums

Paulino da Costa- percussion

James Pankow, Lee Loughnane- horns

Dave Mason, Kenny Loggins, Timothy B Schmidt- backing vocals

"Airborne" by former Eagles guitarist Don Felder is probably the best hidden gem from 1983. When I listen to it, I ask myself why this album didn't make more of an impression on people. Maybe it was just the way things were back then because this is a very good album. Felder was just a good singer/song writer as the rest of his compatriots from the Eagles and he is one hell of a guitarist as well.

Next post: Brian May and Friends- Starfleet

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Great Rock Albums of 1983: George Thorogood- Bad to the Bone

 

Here's another album that was released in 1982 but didn't come to my attention until 1983 on account of my military commitments. Then it was very late in the year and only because of the film, "Christine," a film about a possessed car based on the book by Stephen King. The title track to this album from George Thorogood and the Destroyers was the main single from the soundtrack. I can't remember anything else appealing to me from the soundtrack so I didn't get it but because I only associated "Bad to the Bone" with the film, the album nearly passed me by, nearly.

I've always been a rather big fan of George Thorogood and his unique-ish guitar style. Then again, I've always been a fan of blues based guitarists. "Bad to the Bone" is no departure from this. His guitar and vocal style is present throughout the entire album. While he only pens three of the ten songs himself, he definitely leaves his stamp on the other seven.

"Bad to the Bone" opens with one of his own. "Back to Wentzville" is a 1950s style boogie blues jam and it is perfect to open this album. The next two songs are more in line with George's traditional blues-riff style and I'm sure the Isley Brothers wouldn't be too upset over the way he jams on their song, "Nobody But Me." "It's a Sin" is more of a slower song but the George and his band inject a great deal of power into it. Next comes my second favourite track, "New Boogie Chillun." This was a classic John Lee Hooker song and again, the performance of it is phenomenal. After that is the title track and possibly my favourite on the album. Wow, that's two albums in a row where my favourite track is the single, I'm hope I'm not starting a trend here. Anyway, it is the second song he writes on the album and I think the main reason I like it so much is that I have been listening to that one separate from the rest of the album way too much. Still, it's a great tune.

"Miss Luann" is the third and final song he writes on the album. This along with the other two, shows that he can definitely write songs which has me wondering why he has used so many covers on the album. Then again, he does each and every cover total justice. For instance, the very next song, "As the Years Go Passing By" is the closest thing to a ballad on the album. However, it also highlights the fact that George's voice has a little bit more range than what he is usually given credit for. Still, he lays down yet another grand guitar solo on it. After a classic Chuck Berry number, the album closes with a Bob Dylan tune, "Wanted Man." Even though you can clearly hear the Thorogood stamp on it, you can still work out that this is Dylan through the lyrics. Nevertheless, it's a great one to go out on.

Track Listing:

1. Back to Wentzville
2. Blue Highway
3. Nobody But Me
4. It's a Sin
5. New Boogie Chillun
6. Bad to the Bone
7. Miss Luann
8. As the Years Go Passing By
9. No Particular Place to Go
10. Wanted Man

[caption id="attachment_1885" align="aligncenter" width="294"] George Thorogood[/caption]

George Thorogood- vocals, guitar

Billy Blough- bass

Jeff Simon- drums, percussion

Hank Carter- saxophone

Ian Stewart- piano, keyboards

Besides the fact it was a rubbish film, I think that the soundtrack to "Christine" was the first of a long list of film soundtracks back in the 1980s to try to incorporate different forms of music in an attempt to appeal to everyone. I don't know for sure as I have no intention of listening to it. Why should I? After all, the best single on it can be found on a far more superior album.

Next post: Planet P Project

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Great Rock Albums of 1983: Stray Cats- Built for Speed

 

Internet didn't exist back in 1983 and that is going to be my excuse for posting an album that came out in the middle of 1982 in 1983. A quick historical point here, it was the early 1980s when computer technology was becoming accessible to the common masses. I did do an introductory course in computers during my first semester at college in the Autumn of this year but that's not important here. What is was the fact that back then, I had to rely on record stores, radio, word of mouth and a late night television show called "Video Rock" to learn about new music. Our house didn't even get MTV until the December of this year! It was the mentioned television show where I first learned about the Stray Cats in the summer of 1983.

It was their 1950s look and sound that first got my attention. At a time where everyone was trying to be different, the Stray Cats actually were. While I wasn't very impressed with the first single I heard, "Stray Cats Strut," I did like the second one that reached my ears, "Rock This Town." Even though, like most people, I got the impression they were in love with the fifties, I thought they were at least trying to be original at the time. Besides, with "Rock This Town," they proved to me they were good musicians. Brian Setzer was a competent guitarist, (no Van Halen or Nugent but competent) and Slim Jim Phantom and Lee Rocker work very well together as a rhythm section, a point I will certainly expand on when I get to 1985.

The Stray Cats' album "Built For Speed," pretty much sounds like the two songs I've already mentioned. They are firmly locked in the 1950s rockabilly sound reminiscent of Eddie Cochran or Bill Haley and the Comets, not a bad thing. Each song, with the exception of the slower "Lonely Summer Nights" possesses a catchy sound that draws you in. It might not get you to start fist pumping and banging your head but I did find myself wanting to snap my fingers along with them, which is saying something for someone with no natural rhythm. Apart from "Rock This Town," the other songs which stand out for me are "Little Miss Prissy," "Rumble in Brighton" and "Jeanie, Jeanie, Jeanie." All contain a strong dose of the elements that turned my ear to the Stray Cats in the first place. Not only was it something different at the time, what was different was done very well.

Track Listing:

1. Rock This Town
2. Built for Speed
3. Rev It Up & Go
4. Stray Cats Strut
5. Little Miss Prissy
6. Rumble in Brighton
7. Runaway Boys
8. Lonely Summer Nights
9. Double Talkin' Baby
10. You Don't Believe Me
11. Jeanie, Jeanie, Jeanie
12. Baby Blue Eyes

[caption id="attachment_3222" align="aligncenter" width="326"] Stray Cats[/caption]

Brian Setzer- vocals, guitar

Slim Jim Phantom- drums, percussion, vocals

Lee Rocker- double bass, bass, vocals

Outside of this album, I have little experience of the Stray Cats. For me, their 1950s persona would only last for the one album. Their next album would pretty much escape my notice and in the years following, it would be their post break up projects that I would be more into. Saying all this, however, doesn't stop "Built For Speed" from being a pretty good album.

Next post: Michael Stanley Band- You Can't Fight Fashion

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Great Rock Albums of 1983: ZZ Top- Eliminator

 

I wasn't completely accurate when I said that Molly Hatchet's "No Guts No Glory" album was the first vinyl record I bought after leaving the marines. In fact, I was only telling half the truth because I bought the record through a mail order record club but not only did I buy Molly Hatchet, I had also bought "Eliminator" by ZZ Top and they came in the same package. I won't lose any sleep over it though, after all I had two great albums from 1983 to listen one right after the other, which I did.

For many people, ZZ Top's "Eliminator" album epitomized 1983. It was one of those albums that brought people of different musical tastes together. Johnny-come-lately trendies liked it because ZZ Top sounded a little different and back then, anything to mainstream enthusiasts that sounded different was branded new wave. However, for harder rockers like me as well as those who had been listening to them for years, it was the fact that ZZ Top managed to do so well without compromising their musical style, well not too much anyway. They retained their Texas-bad boy-boogie-blues style rock that had endeared them to listeners such as myself. Believe me, unlike some artists about this time, "Eliminator" has never had me pining for their earlier classics like "Tres Hombres" or "El Loco." It's great as it stands.

The main reason why I like is that Billy Gibbons just basically rips through the entire album with his guitar solos. Pick any song on this album and guaranteed, I will be rocking away to his solo on it. But while Billy is sensational, you must give credit to the Dusty Hill and Frank Beard who must be one of the tightest rhythm sections in music. Another plus for "Eliminator" is the songs are so upbeat without being mushy. Most of the songs are topics we can all identify with. Yes, every girl is crazy about a sharp dressed man. It's just too bad I didn't take those words to heart back then and more than the average man, I am definitely a sucker for a nice pair of legs. We've all eaten TV dinners at one time in our lives. Oh, I do like that song because ZZ Top proved that they could add keyboards and still sound great. Then I think everybody gets the innuendo with "I Got the Six." I could say that the song was about a dice game but I don't think anyone would believe me somehow. One more thing, I think that "Got Me Under Pressure" is a very underrated song with some amusing lyrics.

"She don't like other women, she likes whips and chains.
She likes cocaine and filppin' out with great Danes.
She's about all I can handle, it's too much for my brain."

[caption id="attachment_3206" align="aligncenter" width="251"] The famous ZZ Top Eliminator car[/caption]

Another first for me with this album was that it was the first one where I was influenced by video. Videos for the songs "Gimme All Your Lovin,'" "Sharp Dressed Man" and "Legs" all featured the famous eliminator car, (see above) and those three lovely ladies. Now, I'll be the first one to say that ZZ Top didn't need such things for this album to succeed because the music is that good but on the other hand, who am I to complain?

[caption id="attachment_3207" align="aligncenter" width="362"] Remember these ladies from the ZZ Top videos?[/caption]

Track Listing:

1. Gimme All Your Lovin'
2. Got Me Under Pressure
3. Sharp Dressed Man
4. I Need You Tonight
5. I Got the Six
6. Legs
7. Thug
8. TV Dinners
9. Dirty Dog
10. If Only I Could Flag Her Down
11. Bad Girl

[caption id="attachment_1585" align="aligncenter" width="251"] ZZ Top[/caption]

Billy Gibbons- guitar, vocals

Dusty Hill- bass, keyboards, vocals

Frank Beard- drums, percussion

"Eliminator" by ZZ Top brings back fond memories of 1983 for me. It was a great album and on a personal note, it was a great one to return to civilian life to. It's an album in the ZZ Top style that happened to gain loads of commercial success. Well done!

Next post: A Revelation That Might Interest Some Readers!

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Great Rock Albums of 1982: Dire Straits- Love Over Gold

When I visited Dire Straits' previous album, "Making Movies," I mentioned that when I saw them live in 1985, how disappointed I was that they did not play my favourite song from that album and my number two Dire Straits song of all time, "Skateaway." To add to that disappointment and my total perplexity on this, they did not play the biggest single from their 1982 album, "Love Over Gold," "Industrial Disease" either. What was strange about that was even three years later, that song still got the occasional play on the radio.

"Industrial Disease" isn't only the best known song on the album but it is the only track less than six minutes in length. The others are nearly seven or more and the opener, "Telegraph Road," is just over fourteen minutes long. The opener sets the tone for the entire album. Normally, I view songs over ten minutes in length with both optimism and pessimism. Either the song is going to rock out with interludes of great solos and combined musicianship or just be boringly repetitive. Fortunately, "Telegraph Road" follows the former. While, Mark Knopfler's vocals aren't too intelligible on the track, he makes up for it with some sound guitar work in different points of the song. It helps that he has assistance from some polished keyboard work, compliments of Alan Clark. If Knopfler's vocals aren't intelligible in the opener, they are even less so on the next track, "Private Investigations" but like the first track, it is more than made up for with some fine instrumental work. "Industrial Disease" takes the middle slot of the album and we get more of same quality blend of progressive rock and blues based lead guitar with the title track and a very worthy closer. "Love Over Gold" might only have five tracks stretched out over forty minutes but they are definitely ones to remember.

Track Listing:

1. Telegraph Road

2. Private Investigations

3. Industrial Disease

4. Lover Over Gold

5. It Never Rains

[caption id="attachment_1856" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Dire Straits[/caption]

Mark Knopfler- lead vocals, lead guitar

Hal Lindes- guitar

Alan Clark- keyboards

John Illsley- bass

Pick Withers- drums

After thirty years, I remain dumbfounded as to why Dire Straits never played "Industrial Disease" on their 1985 tour. I can only speculate that maybe they were advised not to play too much of their early stuff on tour because they were pushing their most commercially successful album then. Still, it would be a shame because there are five really good tracks on the "Love Over Gold" album and the longer tracks tend to sound much better live.

Next post: 38 Special- Special Forces

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Great Rock Albums of 1981: Rolling Stones- Tattoo You

Once again, the more astute among you may or may not have noticed that through my tours of both 1978 and 1980, I didn't visit the two albums released by the Rolling Stones in those years. To many, this might sound very strange because the Rolling Stones have been one of the stalwarts of rock for over half a century now. Throughout the 1960s and 7os they put out a huge number of songs and albums that will continue to live on throughout rock history. There are even some songs that would sound great metalised. So why didn't I visit the 1978 "Some Girls" album and the 1980 "Emotional Rescue?" For me, the answer is quite simple. I thought both of those albums were too disco for my liking. The 1981 album "Tattoo You," in my humble opinion took them back to their roots. The album sounded like the Stones of old and they finally remembered what had made them so great.

"Tattoo You" is a two part album in a sense. The first six songs are all cool rockers, the first of which is the big single "Start Me Up." When I first heard that song on the radio, I was convinced that the Rolling Stones had come back. Normally, I get concerned when the single opens an album because that's usually the ploy of one hit wonders but I have to say, it works well for "Tattoo You." That song is a good one to wake you up on a Wednesday morning. (Note: War Pigs by Black Sabbath is reserved for Monday mornings.) If you think that you can take a breath after "Start Me Up," you can't because "Hang Fire," the second track has the same effect. The next four songs all have the same effect and I love the hard blues rock sound of "Black Limousine." I don't know if it's Ronnie Wood or Keith Richards who play the solo on that song, but it is well done.

The remainder of the album goes into a more bluesier sound although not as hard as "Black Limousine." "Worried About You," "Tops" and "Heaven" are all in this vein  as is "No Use In Crying." These songs wind the album down to the more mellow closer "Waiting on a Friend" which seems to close the album out very well. I remember hearing that song blasting out of cafe juke boxes when I was in Toulon, France in May of 1982. What the album does accomplish for me is the fact that it's a massive improvement from the previous two.

Track Listing:

1. Start Me Up

2. Hang Fire

3. Slave

4. Little T & A

5. Black Limousine

6. Neighbours

7. Worried About You

8. Tops

9. Heaven

10. No Use in Crying

11. Waiting On a Friend

[caption id="attachment_2295" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Rolling Stones[/caption]

Mick Jagger- vocals

Keith Richards- guitar

Ronnie Wood- guitars

Bill Wyman- bass, synthesiser on "Heaven"

Charlie Watts- drums

After doing a little historical research, I was surprised to discover that the bulk of this album was out takes and previously unreleased material. Whatever the case, it worked and re-established the Rolling Stones as a serious force in rock.
Next post: The Go-Go's- Beauty and the Beat

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Great Rock Albums of 1981: Dire Straits- Making Movies

In spite of the fact that I loved both of Dire Straits' previous two albums, "Making Movies" kind of passed me by in 1981. What is even stranger is that I know the first three tracks on the album very well. Track three, "Skateaway" is my second favourite Dire Straits song of all time. I still haven't forgiven them for not playing it when I saw them live in 1985. They did play the other two songs and my number one favourite, "Sultans of Swing"  but that's little consolation.

Thinking back to that night I saw them live, "Tunnel of Love" was the concert closer and for some reason, I remember it being played slower than what appears on the album. My theory was that they may have been trying to sound more mid 80s. The version on album has all the trademarks of the great music this band was making at the time. Mark Knopfler plays his classic licks throughout and he does the same with the second track, "Romeo and Juliet." Those two songs build up perfectly to the song whose praises I can't sing enough, great song but I know I'm biased here. However, three tracks don't an album make and the great music that is on "Making Movies" continues to go on long after. In fact, it goes on immediately into the next track "Expresso Love." The opening riffs to the song are rocking and I can't take anything away from the final three tracks on the album. The first of those three, "Hand in Hand" might be a little slower than the rest but it doesn't detract from the quality of this album because the last two songs bring it all home very nicely. So, this is yet another album that makes me want to travel back in time and force the me back then to listen to it.

Track Listing:

1. Tunnel of Love

2. Romeo and Juliet

3. Skateaway

4. Expresso Love

5. Hand in Hand

6. Solid Rock

7. Les Boys

[caption id="attachment_1856" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Dire Straits[/caption]

Mark Knopfler- guitar, lead vocals

John Illsley- bass, vocals

Pick Withers- drums, vocals

Additional musicians

Roy Bittan- keyboards

Sid McGuiness- guitar

One historical part in "Making Movies" was that David Knopfler left the band during the recording of the album in 1980. I don't know the reasons behind this but am always open to enlightenment. "Making Movies" is a fantastic album and hearing it makes me slightly sick that I let it go by me for all these years. Still, I'm not yet ready to forgive Dire Straits for not playing "Skateaway." It could be a reason why I don't give an account of the concert on "Rock And Roll Children," just merely a mention.

Next post: The Pretenders II

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Great Rock Albums of 1981: Eric Clapton- Another Ticket

When I remembered this album by Eric Clapton in 1981, I found myself wondering why I haven't visited any other albums he might have done in the time I have covered so far. Now, I realise that I missed both his 1978 studio album "Backless" and his tremendous 1980 live album "Just One Night." The bad thing is that I actually listened to the live album around that time and loved it, so I have no excuse. I knew that while I journeyed through time, I would miss out the odd great album but come on. No use crying over spilled coffee, especially when "Another Ticket" is such a fine album.

The reason why I am beating myself up so much over this is that I have always been a Clapton fan and really loved what he could do with a guitar. With "Another Ticket," he plays the old fashioned blues based rock that he built his reputation on. He does this so easily on tracks like "Something Special," "Catch Me If You Can," the single from the album, "I Can't Stand It," "Floating Under the Bridge" and his cover of the Muddy Waters classic "Blow Wind Blow." Then there is the ballad title track, which he reminds me of the similar type of hit "Wonderful Tonight" but without all the lead guitar in between. However, he also goes slightly country with the songs "Black Rose" and "Hold Me Lord" but he manages to pull it off. I love albums where the closing track goes out with great guitar playing and "Rita Mae" ends the album exactly that way.

Track Listing:

1. Something Special

2. Black Rose

3. Blow Wind Blow

4. Another Ticket

5. I Can't Stand It

6. Hold Me Lord

7. Floating Bridge

8. Catch Me If You Can

9. Rita Mae

[caption id="attachment_278" align="aligncenter" width="150"] Eric Clapton[/caption]

Eric Clapton- lead guitar, vocals

Chris Stainton- keyboards

Albert Lee- guitar, vocals

Gary Booker- keyboards, vocals

Henry Spinetti- drums, percussion

Dave Markee- bass

Most sane people in the world will agree that Eric Clapton is one of the greatest guitarists in the history of guitarists. I know we may know one or two that we consider better and that's cool. But whenever great guitarists get mentioned, Eric Clapton is definitely one that gets mentioned in that group. "Another Ticket" shows why he does.

Next post: Meatloaf- Dead Ringer

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Great Rock Albums of 1981: ZZ Top- El Loco

I first listened to "El Loco" in conjunction with another classic ZZ Top album "Tres Hombres." For me, it turned out to be a double delight getting to listen to two great albums by the same band one after another and it marked another turning point in my musical life. It wasn't until 1981 that I listened to any ZZ Top at all. That was because back in 1977, the uncle of my best friend had one of their albums, (I don't know which), and he said it sucked and I was dumb enough back then to let that influence my music listening tastes. That is why I never listened to them back in the 70s and why I don't allow things like that to happen anymore.

"Tres Hombres" has my two favourite ZZ Top songs of all time on it. You'll have to read my 1979 post to discover which ones, but "El Loco" is a very good album too. The album was also the beginning of a turning point for the band musically. It was the first album they would use synthesisers in some of their songs and I must comment that they do a grand job of it on the track, "Groovy Little Hippy Pad." For the most part, however, they stay true to their more bluesier roots. The first track "Tube Snake Boogie" is a classic and still has me rocking away to it whenever I hear it. Billy Gibbons shows his guitar worth on that and many of the other songs here. The final two tracks, "Heaven, Hell or Houston" and "Party on the Patio" are definite standouts. The band also reinforces another dimension to their music in the fact that they have a sense of humour with their songs. "Ten Foot Pole," "Pearl Necklace" and the fore mentioned "Groovy Little Hippy Pad" bear witness to this. All in all, I remain thankful to yet another old marine buddy who opened my eyes to more cool music in the shape of ZZ Top and "El Loco."

Track Listing:

1. Tube Snake Boogie

2. I Wanna Drive You Home

3. Ten Foot Pole

4. Leila

5. Don't Tease Me

6. It's So Hard

7. Pearl Necklace

8. Groovy Little Hippy Pad

9. Heaven, Hell or Houston

10. Party on the Patio

[caption id="attachment_1585" align="aligncenter" width="251"] ZZ Top[/caption]

Billy Gibbons- guitar, vocals

Dusty Hill- bass, keyboards, vocals

Frank Beard- drums

I may have missed some of the classic ZZ Top albums when they came out in the 70s, although I did make up for that in the 80s, it didn't stop me from appreciating what a great band ZZ Top are. The more I travel back in time, the more I have grateful I am to the USMC. Hard core Republicans might not like this fact but my experiences there opened a great chasm in my musical awareness and played a major role in shaping me in the metal head I was to eventually become. I can say that ZZ Top had an hand in that too.

Next post: 1981 Triumph and Tragedy

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Great Rock Albums of 1981: The Who- Face Dances

In 1985, I remember listening to a radio programme about The Who and the concluding bit stated that the death of Keith Moon in 1979 marked the end of The Who as a band. The programme went on to admit that the band would continue to tour and that Roger Daltrey, Pete Townsend and John Entwistle would all have successful solo projects, however, The Who as a band, were gone. My reaction was then as it is now, "What about the 1981 album with Kenney Jones?" For me, "Face Dances" has always been a good album but it's Kenney Jones I feel sorry for. Because he was the replacement drummer for Moon, he didn't get the respect he deserves. I wouldn't be at all surprised if Jones has been relegated to a pub trivia question and that's not fair on him. It is the exact same thing I said about Jimmy Farrar, had been Jones made it with another band, his drumming efforts would have been more appreciated.

That said, the radio programme also stated that after Moon's death, The Who's sixties hard rock lyrics and rebelliousness as well as their seventies creativity were gone as well. Not entirely true! When I listen to "Face Dances" I hear a little bit of both of these elements in the album. While there isn't the crashing hard sound that they made famous in classics like "My Generation," the elements of hard rock are definitely there in songs like "Don't Let Go the Coat" and "Another Tricky Day" to name two. Plus, the big single from the album, "You Better, You Bet" definitely has reminds me of that creativity that radio programme praised them for over the likes of the rock opera "Tommy."  Whichever way you want to view "Face Dances" the one thing I can say about it throughout is that you know that it is definitely The Who on this album. Their trademark truly resonates on it.

Track Listing:

1. You Better, You Bet

2. Don't Let Go The Coat

3. Cache Cache

4. The Quiet One

5. Did You Steal My Money

6. How Can You Do It Alone

7. Daily Records

8. You

9. Another Tricky Day

[caption id="attachment_2127" align="aligncenter" width="160"] The Who[/caption]

Roger Daltrey- vocals

Pete Townsend- guitar, vocals

John Entwistle- bass, vocals

Kenney Jones- drums

Hopefully, I have provided sufficient evidence that the radio programme was wrong in regards to The Who being finished in 1979 because in 1981, they put out one very good album in "Face Dances." It showed the world that they were still a force to be reckoned with in the music world. Thinking of Keith Moon, his passing opened the way for the many drummers who would join him since. John Bonham would follow him a year later. I believe that Moon, Bonham, along with the likes of Cozy Powell, Levon Helm and Razzle are drumming away together in a better place.
[caption id="attachment_2128" align="aligncenter" width="200"] Keith Moon[/caption]

Next post: Devo- Dev O Live

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Great Rock Albums of 1981: Rory Gallagher- Stage Struck

I must confess that I'm cheating a little bit here. I never heard of Rory Gallagher until 1982 when the ship I was on played a concert video of him live at Montreux. Even then, the video didn't name the brilliant guitarist who was kicking so much ass in the video. It was another four months before I finally learned his name. Because I saw the video so early in that year, I naturally assumed that the concert took place in 1981 and it was in support of an album he released in the year. However, I learned that "Stage Struck" was actually released in the tail end of 1980. Therefore, to quote from "Full Metal Jacket:" "That's why God passed the law of probability." I can infer that because I was still serving on a ship at the time, I wouldn't have known about this album until early 1981 and that is why I am including it in this year.

I can't say that any of the songs from this album were recorded from the concert I watched. There is a "Live At Montreux" that was released in the later years but that's irrelevant here. Because "Stage Struck" is a brilliant live album that showcases the music and talent of this wonder. The majority of the songs on it are from his last two studio albums, "Top Priority" (I'm kicking myself for not visiting that one in 1979) and "Photo Finish," which I did. It's no wonder this album is so good.

He opens the show with a song that if he was still alive and could play at my dream festival, it would be in his contract that he opens his set with "Shin Kicker." It is also the opener for the "Photo Finish" album and there is no better song in which to open a concert or show. It's one of those that grabs you by the balls and makes you give it your undivided attention. Nor do you get time to rest before the second one, "Wayward Child" takes over and you're rocking away to it. Right after that, there is probably my all time favourite Rory Gallagher song, "Brute Force and Ignorance." A great blues/rock gem that features some great guitar work. But the guitar display doesn't end there. The next three tracks are all big blues rockers with him soloing away to the point that you are left feeling breathless. The last two songs, "Last of the Independents" and "Shadow Play" are great songs from the "Photo Finish" album that take the album to the climax. I can't say conclusion because if I was at the concert and it ended here, I would have my lit cigarette lighter and held it aloft screaming for more.

Track Listing:

1. Shin Kicker

2. Wayward Child

3. Brute Force and Ignorance

4. Moonchild

5. Follow Me

6. Bought and Sold

7. Last of the Independents

8. Shadow Play

          Rory Gallagher

Rory Gallagher- vocals, guitar, harmonica

Gerry McAvoy- bass

Ted McKenna- drums

I believe that Rory Gallagher never quite got the total recognition he should have. I know many Americans who have never heard of him and that's a shame. Rory was a great guitarist and a decent singer. One concert video from more than thirty years ago, still remains strong in my memory and the albums I have posted here also bear witness to his greatness.

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Great Rock Albums of 1981: Joe Walsh- There Goes the Neighborhood

After the break up of The Eagles in 1980, Joe Walsh was the first ex-band member out of the blocks with a solo album. Of course, he was already experienced in that department having had a number of solo albums before joining and whilst with the band. Most notable of those was the 1978 album, "But Seriously Folks," which I visited on here a long time ago. It's sometimes hard to believe that I've been at this for three years now. "There Goes The Neighborhood" was his first solo release since "But Seriously Folks" and on account of rockers like the famous "Life's Been Good" on that album, it took me a rather long time before I was able to warm to this 1981 effort.

I realise now that I was guilty of pigeon holing Joe Walsh back then because there are no rockers like his very famous 1978 single on this album and that is something I don't do for many other artists and don't like it when the media and so called music fans do it. Now with my wrist slapped and a refamiliarisation of the album thanks to YouTube, I can talk about this album through a fresh pair of ears. What put me off the album in 1981 was the first single, "Life Of Illusion," which each time I heard it, gave me the impression that I was dining in an Italian restaurant. Don't ask where I got that from. I didn't have that impression this time around but it's still not the best song on the album. The tracks "Down On the Farm," "Bones" and "Rivers (Of the Hidden Funk) all top it for their more bluesy guitar sound. The last of those featured former band mate Don Felder, who co-wrote the song, on guitar and although it's not stated, I can't help wondering whether or not the two did their guitar solo trade off like they did on a very famous Eagles classic. The rest of the album varies between that blues sound and a more progressive rock sound.

Track Listing:

1. Things

2. Made Your Mind Up

3. Down On The Farm

4. Rivers (Of Hidden Funk)

5. Life Of Illusion

6. Bones

7. Rockets

8. You Never Know

[caption id="attachment_841" align="aligncenter" width="98"] Joe Walsh[/caption]

Joe Walsh- guitar, vocals, synthesiser

Don Felder- guitar, backing vocals

Jody Boyer- vocals

Victor Feldman- percussion

Ross Kunkel- percussion

David Lindley- percussion, violin, vocals

Bob Mayo- guitar

Kenny Passarelli- bass, backing vocals

George Perry- bass, backing vocals

Timothy B Schmidt- backing vocals

Tom Stephenson- keyboards

Joe Vitale- drums, flute, keyboards

Now I know why I try not to pigeon hole artist if I can help it. So, "There Goes The Neighborhood" wasn't the hard rocker that Joe Walsh's previous album was. It's still not a bad album and there are a few tracks where he still works some magic with the guitar.

Next post: Rush- Moving Pictures

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