Great Metal Albums of 1985: Metal For Breakfast

 

Welcome to the first heavy metal compilation album I bought. It was early February 1985 when I saw "Metal For Breakfast" at my local record store. Since I often used to feel like the way the dude on the cover looks, I thought it was worth a look. When I flipped to the back cover of the album and saw who was actually on it and their songs, I knew I had to buy it straight away. Who couldn't resist an album with Ted Nugent, Saxon, Y&T, Quiet Riot, Ozzy and Judas Priest on it. Furthermore, the songs from these artists with the exception of Judas Priest's hidden gem, (I had never heard "The Ripper" until this album), was more incentive to get it. But that's only half the story!

Attic Records, being based in Toronto, seemed very eager to unveil much of its local talent and they chose a good group to do so. I had heard of Anvil but never listened to them. "Forged in Fire" changed all that. Any band called The Killer Dwarfs had to be granted a listen and "Heavy Mental Breakdown" did not disappoint. This was the first step on their way to them becoming my all time favourite Canadian band. I know Mercyful Fate are from Denmark but the fact that "Black Funeral" comes right out and sings "Hail Satan" sticks one in the ear for the American religious zealots. On the second side is the lovely Lee Aaron and "Metal Queen" is mind blowing. Of course, there's always a hidden gem and on "Metal For Breakfast" it's the track "Metalhead" by Blotto. It takes a dig at metalheads but it's done in a really funny way plus, it's a good song. So what you have is a great combination of well known metal tunes and ones that weren't so well known coming together to make a fantastic album.

Track Listing:

[caption id="attachment_2368" align="alignnone" width="226"] 1. Anvil- Forged in Fire[/caption]

2. Ted Nugent- Cat Scratch Fever

[caption id="attachment_3211" align="aligncenter" width="223"] 3. Killer Dwarfs- Heavy Mental Breakdown[/caption] [caption id="attachment_4225" align="aligncenter" width="259"] 4. Accept- Balls to the Wall[/caption] [caption id="attachment_3680" align="aligncenter" width="287"] 5. Mercyful Fate- Black Funeral[/caption] [caption id="attachment_4619" align="aligncenter" width="276"] 6. Blotto- Metalhead[/caption] [caption id="attachment_3675" align="aligncenter" width="204"] 7. Lee Aaron- Metal Queen[/caption] [caption id="attachment_1148" align="aligncenter" width="259"] 8. Saxon- Princess of the Night[/caption] [caption id="attachment_1309" align="aligncenter" width="194"] 9. Judas Priest- The Ripper[/caption] [caption id="attachment_3552" align="aligncenter" width="272"] 10. Quiet Riot- Metal Health[/caption] [caption id="attachment_2875" align="aligncenter" width="300"] 11. Y&T- Mean Streak[/caption] [caption id="attachment_2343" align="aligncenter" width="238"] 12. Ozzy Osbourne- Crazy Train[/caption]

And I think you should listen to the hidden gem:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vzu4L4ZnMvQ

Back in 1985, "Metal for Breakfast" was the classic metal combination of what was known and not so known in the heavy metal world. Nowadays, it's just a classic 80s album but it still kicks ass!

[caption id="attachment_4620" align="aligncenter" width="225"] I probably looked more like this back then.[/caption]

Next post: Dokken- Tooth 'N' Nail

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

Great Metal Albums of 1984: Lee Aaron- Metal Queen

 

Probably the first thing anyone talks about in relation to Canadian metal singer Lee Aaron's second album, "Metal Queen," is the album cover. For those who might not know, that is actually the Lee on the cover. I wouldn't debate anyone who thought her outfit on the cover was bought at a dime store but hey, even if it was, she makes it look good. Even more than thirty years on, looking at this cover still gives me a warm feeling.

While the cover might be nice to look at, it's the music contained on the record, wait I had this on cassette, that counts. Let me just sidestep for one second. I once read in an interview that Lee stated that she use to laugh when she heard her first album, I said such when I visited that album. Well, she can laugh as much as she wants at her first album because her second album is much much better. Lee and guitarist John Albani have a brilliant chemistry and that started with the live track from the first album and gets even stronger on "Metal Queen." Another reason for the massive improvement over the first album is that Lee had more control over things and she has a hand in writing all of the songs.

The title track just happens to be my all time favourite Lee Aaron song. Okay, the chains at the beginning may be a little unnecessary but the song just explodes into a mad metal frenzy. Lee's powerful voice and John's guitar solo team up to make a great song. Then again, they do so throughout the entire album. The next two songs move the album along very well and I've always wondered who the lady of the darkest night is. After reading the lyrics and listening to the song many times, I still haven't figured it out.

Lee proves her vocal versatility with the ballad like "Got to Be the One." It's as good a power ballad as any and I don't mind that she repeats the title so much at the end. Her voice is a delight to hear on the song. The two songs following continue to roll things along and I do really enjoy hearing John's guitar ability on "Deceiver." He is an underrated guitarist and would have been my first alternate for guitarist in the 80smetalman's band of underrated musicians.

"Steal Away Your Love" is the hidden gem on the album. It tackles a very serious and sensitive subject, the song is about a rape and the perpetrator getting away with it. These are lyrics that make you think and even the great guitar solos by John don't dampen the message behind the song. Plus, I think the footsteps walking away at the end make the point. Then after two more good tracks, "Hold Out" being the better of the two, we come to the closer, "We Will Be Rockin.'" Definitely the best song to end the album here.

Track Listing:

1. Metal Queen
2. Lady of the Darkest Night
3. Head Above Water
4. Got to Be the One
5. Shake It Up
6. Deceiver
7. Steal Away Your Love
8. Hold Out
9. Breakdown
10. We Will Be Rockin'

[caption id="attachment_3675" align="aligncenter" width="204"] Lee Aaron[/caption]

Lee Aaron- vocals

John Albani- guitar, backing vocals

George Bernhardt- guitar, backing vocals

Atilla Demjen- drums

Frank Russell- drums

Jack Meli- bass, backing vocals

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P54mua-LbDs

It was "Metal Queen" that got people South of the Border and across the Atlantic to take notice of this Canadian fire cracker. Then again, with an album as good as this one, it's pretty hard not to.

Next post: Krokus- The Blitz

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

Great Metal Albums of 1983: Lee Aaron- Lee Aaron's First LP

 

Onto the debut album from Canada's own Lee Aaron. Now, something else that the music websites say I got wrong. It seems that this album didn't come out in 1983. Originally it was released in 1982 and re-issued in 1984. However, I got this on cassette as part of a double album set with Lee's next album, "Metal Queen." Anyway, I thought for sure that it said on the cassette that the "Lee Aaron's First LP" was copyrighted in 1983 and have had it in my noggin for over thirty years that it came out in said year. Since it's too much trouble to go up into my attic and dig out the cassette to check, I must ask for clemency on any misrepresentation of this album.

Now that's over, let's move on. I remember reading an interview of Lee Aaron in 1987 where she said she laughs when she hears this, her first album. I can see where she is coming from. Back then she was brand new to the industry and rather naive and listening to the album, one can probably say that if she had more say on the album, it might have sounded different. She only wrote on four of the songs. Lee, I hope it wouldn't have sounded too much different because this first LP really rocks!

While she might slightly blush over the lyrics of the tracks, "I Like My Rock My Hard" and "Should Have Known," hell, I blush for her but they are still good sounding metal songs. In fact, I have to take my hat off to Rik Emmett of Triumph who produced the album. I always thought he did a good job of taking Lee under his wing because I can't fault any of the tracks on here. Her vocals are just phenomenal and there are some good musician work to accompany those vocals. Though I can't ascertain why Rik only played on one song, the opener, "Under Your Spell." Stand out tracks for me are "Night Riders" and "Took My Heart Away" to begin with. Her cover of the famous Willie Dixon blues classic, "I Just Want to Make Love to You," which has been covered by so many bands is one of the best. Before, I heard her version, it was Foghat's version I liked but now there's a power struggle in my brain. However, my favourite tracks on the album are definitely "Texas Outlaw," where she doubles with Buzz Sherman and the closing track and even though it's only on the 1984 re-issue, I'm going to include it here, "Under the Stars." This track is recorded live and makes me regret never seeing Lee Aaron live. So, while she might laugh at this album, I really like it.

Track Listing:

1. Under Your Spell
2. Lonely For Your Love
3. Night Riders
4. Texas Outlaw
5. I Like My Rock Hard
6. I Just Want to Make Love to You
7. Runnin' From His Love
8. Should Have Known
9. Took My Heart Away
10. Under the Stars

Lee Aaron- lead vocals

Rik Emmett- guitar, track 1

Dave Alpin- guitar, tracks 1 and 7

Rick Santers- guitar, tracks 2-4, 6, 8, 9

Earl Johnson- guitar, tracks 4,6,8

Frank Soda- track 5

John Albani- guitar, track 10

George Bernhardt- guitar, track 10

Buzz Sherman- co-lead vocals tracks 4 and 8, backing vocals track 8

Bill Wade- drums- tracks 1 and 7

Mark Santers- drums, tracks 2-4, 6, 8, 9

Gen Gratto- drums, track 5

Randy Infuso- drums, track 10

Gene Stout- bass, track 1 and 7

Rick Lazaroff- bass, tracks 2-4, 6, 8, 9

Peter Crolly- bass, track 5

Jack Meli- bass, track 10

Like I said, Lee Aaron might have been embarrassed about her first album but I'm sure not. It is a good rocking album even if the lyrics of some of the songs on it do sound a bit childish. Still, you can't fault her fabulous vocals and the musicians Rik Emmett put together to make this fine album. One of these guitarists will stay with Lee but you'll have to wait to her future albums before I sing his praises. In the meantime, enjoy this one.

Next post: Mercyful Fate- Melissa

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