Great Rock Albums of 1980: Aerosmith- Greatest Hits

Some newer Aerosmith fans may be wondering why Aerosmith needed to put out a Greatest Hits album way back in 1980 seeing that they have been going now for four decades. So, let's travel back in history to that year. In 1980, Aerosmith were a completely different story. My joke about them going from musicians dabbling in drugs to druggies dabbling in music no longer applied because they weren't even dabbling in music! Drugs, in fighting and departures were plaguing this band something chronic. As a result, this album was put out as some last hurrah for them because many people were writing them off as finished.

Finished or not, this album brought back the songs and memories that made them the great icons they were throughout the 1970s. I won't list any songs individually here as it wouldn't be fair to the ones I didn't but this is one greatest hits album I am absolutely proud to own. Some of their best songs from their classic albums are all included here and I'm sure there is plenty of room for debate for other great Aerosmith songs to have been included as well. Me personally, I would have included the title cut from "Toys in the Attic" and for my own amusement "Big Ten Inch (Record)" as well. So here's a look back to some of the great Aerosmith albums that made this compilation possible.

Track Listing:

1. Dream On

2. Same Old Song And Dance

3. Sweet Emotion

4. Walk This Way

5. Last Child

6. Back In the Saddle

7. Draw the Line

8. Kings and Queens

9. Come Together

10. Remember, Walking in the Sand

 

  Aerosmith

Steve Tyler- vocals, harmonica

Joe Perry- lead guitar

Brad Whitford- rhythm guitar

Tom Hamilton- bass

Joey Kramer- drums

I bet those who wrote Aerosmith off thirty three years ago are feeling foolish now because after a few more years of turmoil, they would be back and back to stay. Still for those who are new to the earlier material and are looking for a listen, then this album would be a great place to start.

Next post: REO Speedwagon- A Decade in Rock and Roll

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Great Rock Albums of the 70s: Aerosmith- Rocks

Aerosmith could not have put out a better album to follow up on the highly successful and popular "Toys in the Attic" album. "Rocks" does exactly what it says on the label, it rocks! Many albums have what I call great opening tracks and this is definitely with the opener here. "Back in the Saddle" can be listed as one of those first tracks that say "You're gonna listen to this album and like it." Of course, the other tracks on the album like "Last Child" and "Nobody's Fault" along with all of the others back up the first track and make "Rocks" a truly memorable album.
One track which also must be mentioned here is "Rats in the Cellar" for two reasons. As with the rest of the album it is a great track, but not only that, Tom Hamilton states that it was originally written as a counterpart to the title track "Toys in the Attic." I can see a little bit of humour on this. But more importantly for me, Hamilton says the track was inspired by the death of the band's drug dealer. This, to me, is kind of ironic because it has been said that after "Rocks," Aerosmith began their descent from musicians dabbling in drugs to druggies dabbling in music and began, to quote Joe Perry, "Make albums in order to pay their dealers."

Track Listing:

1. Back in the Saddle

2. Last Child

3. Rats in the Cellar

4. Combination

5. Sick as a Dog

6. Nobody's Fault

7. Get the Lead Out

8. Lick and a Promise

9. Home Tonight

Aerosmith

Steven Tyler- vocals

Joe Perry- lead guitar

Brad Whitford- guitar

Tom Hamilton- bass

Joey Kramer- drums

Many great metal acts from the 80s and since have sited Aerosmith's "Rocks" album was one of their greatest influences. Acts from Metallica to Kurt Cobain to Slash and more all pay homage to this great offering in music. Furthermore, many tracks, especially "Nobody's Fault" has been covered by many times. As great classic rock albums go, this is one of the best.

Next post: Aerosmith- Draw the Line

To buy Rock And Roll Children, go to www.strategicpublishinggroup.com/title/RockAndRollChildren.html

Also available on Amazon, Froogle and Barnes & Noble