Great Metal Albums of 1984: Dio- The Last in Line

 

No further evidence to support the fact that 1984 was the year of heavy metal is needed beyond the fact that Dio had two songs from their second album, "The Last in Line" played on commercial radio. When I first heard the title track played on my local commercial station, I wasted no time in cranking up the volume and breaking out the air guitar. I was working at a parking lot at the time but it didn't matter one bit if I was the subject of people's attention. To hear such a song on the radio was completely mind blowing at the time.

The video to the track, "The Last in Line" was cool in my view but it did come in for a lot of criticism at the time. In the eyes of the religious fanatics, scenes of people getting tortured by Satan's minions was a major problem. Of course, if they bothered to watch the entire video, they would have seen that the protagonist in it does make his escape with the help of Ronnie himself. My conclusion was that it's a cool video for a great song.

"Mystery" the second single, didn't do quite as well but I love this song too and the video for it. The video is a more fantasy setting so no one gets tortured in it. After one showing of it on MTV, the vee-jay said "Mystery" was the closest thing to a ballad from Dio. Maybe so, it would be another twelve years before "Angry Machines" and the closer to it, which is a definite ballad. Still, I continue to love "Mystery."

Now, let me go to the four tracks which some people consider to be filler. I don't because I consider "Breathless," "I Speed at Night," "Evil Eyes" and "Eat Your Heart Out" to all be good tracks. Maybe the heavy breathing before "Breathless" is a little OTT but that intro and Ronnie's "No No No No No" more than cancels it out. Coming home from visiting my children the other night, I realise that I do speed at night. In some cases, I discovered that I was doing 80 on the motorway, so that song is very true. "Eat Your Heart Out" has a cool intro as well and I love how "Evil Eyes" ends. So, in my mind, these songs aren't filler.

As for the three songs I haven't mentioned, well, they are better than the four I just mentioned. "We Rock" would have been used to open their shows on tour for "The Last in Line" had they not had a better show opener from the "Holy Diver " album. "Stand Up and Shout" is one of the greatest show opening songs ever. But while it might not have opened the show, Dio still had the sense to play it on their next couple of tours. It is a cool song. "One Night in the City" is my hidden gem on the album. I have always loved Ronnie's ability to tell stories behind the great music and on this one, it's near perfect. The same can be said for the closer, "Egypt (The Chains are On.)" This too tells a great story behind what is some great music. I don't quite rate it as good as "One Night in the City" but it does make an excellent closer for the album.

Most people can attest to the great vocals of Ronnie James Dio and he does a superb job on "The Last in Line." However, the rest of the band needs their credit where due. Vivian Campbell lays down some brilliant guitar solos on here. Why some people call him overrated I'll never under stand. Jimmy Bain and Vinnie Appice remain the tight rhythm section on this albums as much as they were on the last one. Then there's the new addition on the album. It was here, keyboards player Claude Schnell joined the band and his contribution to the band is immense. All together, these five men work together and put out a fantastic album.

Track Listing:

1. We Rock
2. The Last in Line
3. Breathless
4. I Speed At Night
5. On Night in the City
6. Evil Eyes
7. Mystery
8. Eat Your Heart Out
9. Egypt (The Chains are On)

[caption id="attachment_4329" align="aligncenter" width="368"] Dio[/caption]

Ronnie James Dio- vocals

Vivian Campbell- guitar

Jimmy Bain- bass

Claude Schnell- keyboards

Vinnie Appice- drums

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEV4Tov1GBM

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhKaCpm6pPE

 

The best concert I ever went to in my life happened on this tour. Dio, supported by Twisted Sister was a night I will take to my grave with me as one of the great highs. One of the main contributors to this ecstasy was the fact that it was "The Last in Line" album. Thinking back to when I wrote about this concert in "Rock and Roll Children," I didn't highlight just how magnificent a show it was.

Next Post: Helix- Walkin' the Razor's Edge

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

Great Metal Albums of 1983: Dio- Holy Diver

 

Like with David Bowie's and Motorhead's 1983 albums, I was hoping to write about the debut album from Dio, in 1983, under much happier circumstances. With the passing of Dio bassist, Jimmy Bain, I feel that it should be a fitting tribute to him that I post about this iconic album now.

[caption id="attachment_3067" align="aligncenter" width="162"] Jimmy Bain[/caption]

What can I say about "Holy Diver" that hasn't already said? Probably nothing, therefore, I am going to speak about it straight from the heart and yes the pun is intended. From my first listen, I admit it wasn't til early 1984 when I got that opportunity, til now, I was and still am completely blown away by it. No wonder it's my fourth favourite album of all time.

Why is this album so good? Let's start with the opener, "Stand Up and Shout." That is one of the best album and concert opening songs of all time. A great opener will grab you by the throat and make you listen to the entire album. It's no wonder, Dio opened with this song three of the five times I've seen them live.

You are the driver
you own the road
you are the fire -- go on, explode

Then comes my favourite Dio song of all time, the title track. If I were running a 'Headbanging for Beginners' course, "Holy Diver" would be the first song I would use. This unique but catchy riff is just plain phenomenal. I still remember at the local nightspot in London for heavy metal, scores of metalheads all in a huddle headbanging away to it. The song is so easy to do that with. Not only that, there are Ronnie James Dio's lyrics, (he was top of his game here), and Vivian Campbell just nails the guitar solo. For me, it's always been truly an amazing song.

Between the velvet lies

There's a truth as hard as steel

A vision never dies

Life's a never ending wheel.

Following the title cut are two more excellent songs in the form of "Gypsy" and "Caught in the Middle." With both songs, we see some heavy chords being struck while in sync with more of Ronnie's lyrics.

Take a look at yourself, you might see someone you don't know

If you haven't already figured it out, the above lyrics were from "Caught in the Middle." After that is what many claim to be the best non single or song that should have been released as one on the album. Anyone who has any experience of Dio will know "Don't Talk to Strangers." Its eerie intro followed by lyrics that can be of sound advice before exploding into pure heavy metal mania with Campbell's solo probably being the best one on the album. There's something for everyone to like here. It is most likely the reason why Dio has played this song all five times I've seen them live.

Having originally procured "Holy Diver" on cassette, I should go on about side two. However, the age of CD's and MP3 downloads has made me stop dividing albums into sides. "Straight Through the Heart" is a very powerful rocker and maintains the standard the album sets but after that is my choice for best hidden gem on it, "Invisible." Don't ask me to explain why or how but I just love that song. I think it's the way like "Don't Talk to Strangers," it starts melodically before hitting you over the head with more power chords. Those chords may not be quite as in your face as the other song but it does the job.

If your surface stays unbroken, then you're a lucky man

Cause it never, never, never has for me

In the palace of the virgin lies the chalice of your soul

And it's likely you will find the answer there.

Again, Ronnie's lyrics are amazing, especially matched with his truly one of a kind voice. Following "Invisible" is the more known "Rainbow in the Dark," which maybe was Dio's most successful single. Hell, I remember in 1984, a Budweiser advert being played to this tune. This is the one song where keyboards play a major role but still, they don't detract from the power of the song.

Now onto the closer, "Shame on the Night." If I have to pick a least favourite track, it would have to be this one. Don't get me wrong, it is no way a bad track, I just don't rate it quite as high as the other eight but what it does do is close the album very nicely, I guess that's what Ronnie had in mind with it. That is yet another reason why I think "Holy Diver" is so fantastic.

Track Listing:

1. Stand Up and Shout
2. Holy Diver
3. Gypsy
4. Caught in the Middle
5. Don't Talk To Strangers
6. Straight Through the Heart
7. Invisible
8. Rainbow in the Dark
9. Shame on the Night

[caption id="attachment_3069" align="aligncenter" width="259"] Dio[/caption]

Ronnie James Dio- vocals, keyboards

Vivian Campbell- guitar

Jimmy Bain- bass

Vinnie Appice- drums

I don't give a flying fart as to how cliched this statement sounds but I know in my heart that Jimmy has now joined Ronnie and they are jamming away together in a better place. Probably their former Rainbow band mate, Cozy Powell has joined them and if they had any sense, they would invite Jon Lord to do the honours on the keyboards. However, I can't think of any guitarist who has played along side of these guys who has departed from our world. Therefore, I would suggest they take Criss Oliva from Savatage as his guitar work would fit Ronnie's vocals perfectly. Who knows, maybe they would make an album as great as "Holy Diver."

Next post: Paul Kantner- Rock and Roll Orchestra 

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

Great Metal Albums of 1982: Black Sabbath- Live Evil

 

 

Perhaps it's something to do with having black in the title of the bands' names but like Blackfoot in 1982, the mighty Black Sabbath also recorded a live album in the same year. Like the former, Black Sabbath were riding high on the wave of two very successful studio albums, "Heaven and Hell" and "The Mob Rules." It could be argued that with great albums such as these and a further legacy of great albums with the previous lead singer, it is only logical that they put out a live album.

"Live Evil" is everything I would expect from a live Black Sabbath album. It's a fine marriage of the great songs they were playing at the time from the last two albums and their classic older hits. I can easily imagine myself sitting in the audience, my anticipation ready to explode through the roof with the introduction of "E5150" and then having it actually do so when the band explodes into "Neon Knights." What a great song to open the show with. Then lead vocalist Ronnie James Dio shows right away that he can handle the Ozzy era songs in the way he sings "N.I.B." I am very tempted to actually take Lucifer's hand when I hear him sing the line. Then comes my favourite Dio era Sabbath song and possibly my second favourite over all, "Children of the Sea." Maybe with this one, it was a good idea that I wasn't in the audience at some arena but listening at home. There I could jump around to the song totally unheeded.

[caption id="attachment_2760" align="aligncenter" width="407"] Black Sabbath live[/caption]

Following "Voodoo" from "The Mob Rules" album, which is also nicely done, the band launch three of the best known Sabbath classics, "Black Sabbath," "War Pigs" and "Iron Man," the middle song being my all time favourite Sabbath jam. There is no need to repeat myself as to how well Dio handles the Ozzy songs, so I'll comment about the musicianship, especially the guitar playing of one Tony Iommi. He simply cooks, not only on these three songs but the entire album. We are also treated to a drum solo from Vinnie Appice following "War Pigs" although I have heard mixed comments about this. All I know is that it sounds okay to me. However, going back to Tony, it's "Heaven and Hell" where he really cooks. The song is twelve minutes long and most of that is him just laying down some cool guitar work. If I had been in the audience, I would be definitely holding my cigarette lighter high in the air.

"Heaven and Hell" serves as a great climax to the show. The final songs, "Sign of Southern Cross" combined with the remainder of "Heaven and Hell" lead things out nicely. However, if Black Sabbath left the stage at this point, I would have been one of the many thousands screaming for their return. Of course, as the album shows, they played the all too familiar "Paranoid" and end things with "Children of the Grave." While, I would have been booing when the main lights came back on, I would have still left with a very contented feeling that I had witnessed a piece of history.

Track Listing:

1. E5150

2. Neon Knights

3. N.I.B.

4. Children of the Sea

5. Voodoo

6. Black Sabbath

7. War Pigs

8. Iron Man

9. The Mob Rules

10. Heaven and Hell

11. Sign of the Southern Cross/Heaven and Hell

12. Paranoid

13. Children of the Grave

14. Fluff

[caption id="attachment_1949" align="aligncenter" width="291"] Black Sabbath[/caption]

Ronnie James Dio- vocals

Tommy Iommi- guitar

Geezer Butler- bass

Vinnie Appice- drums

Like some of the live albums I covered in 1982, at the time, this was the closest I had come to seeing them live. Fortunately, in the case of Black Sabbath, that would change a year later, so be prepared for when I visit that album. But if you haven't seen them live, then "Live Evil" is the best alternative to it.

Next post: Ozzy Osbourne- Diary of a Madman

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

Great Metal Albums of 1981: Black Sabbath- The Mob Rules

Vacation is over I'm afraid and now I am back in the UK. The remains of Yuengling and spicy buffalo wings are passing through my system. I had a great time on holiday although that wasn't the real reason why I went over, that was to look after my mother whose not in the best of health but I did get some time to enjoy myself too as you saw in my last post. Now that I'm back, I will go back to posting twice a week and what better way to celebrate my return than with Black Sabbath's 1981 album, "The Mob Rules."

This was the second album with Ronnie James Dio at the vocals and it was simply a continuation of their fabulous "Heaven and Hell" album a year earlier. Rolling Stone might have slated the album when it came out but what do they know? "The Mob Rules" is a fantastic album. It's yet another album that I really can't go on about individual tracks because they are all that good. One thing I must point out is the title track. It has been said that the mix on the album is different to the version that appears on the soundtrack of "Heavy Metal." This might be true but I don't hear any big difference. Both versions are fine with me. Another observation I have made is that Geezer, Iommi and Appice have to do very little to alter their style to match Dio's vocals nor does Ronnie alter his vocal style. The final three tracks definitely highlight this fact and what you get is some classic Black Sabbath at their best all over this album.

Track Listing:

1. Turn Up the Night

2. Voodoo

3. Sign of the Southern Cross

4. E5150

5. The Mob Rules

6. Country Girl

7. Slipping Away

8. Falling Off the Edge of the World

9. Over and Over

[caption id="attachment_2457" align="aligncenter" width="261" class=" "] Black Sabbath[/caption]

Ronnie James Dio- vocals

Tony Iommi- guitar

Geezer Butler- bass

Vinnie Appice- drums

Were Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne in competition with one another back in 1981? Whose to say? If it was the case, that competition spurred all of them on to make a couple of magnificent albums in 1981. Half of that was "The Mob Rules."

Next post: Billy Squier- Don't Say No

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

Also available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Froogle and on sale at Foyles Book Shop in London

Great Metal Albums of 1980: Black Sabbath- Heaven and Hell

Since the 1980s was the golden age of heavy metal and that golden age began with 1980, I thought what better way to pay tribute to it than to kick things off with an album by one of heavy metal's founding fathers: Black Sabbath. The thing is however, "Heaven and Hell" isn't just an album, it's a iconic album destined to go down in history as one of the greatest of all time.

The main question when this masterpiece was first unleashed back in 1980 was would new lead singer Ronnie James Dio fill the void left by Ozzy Osbourne. The answer to that is a resounding "YES!" Now, I am not going to debate who's the better of these two vocal Gods. They both have different vocal styles but at the same time, their vocals were suited to the needs of Black Sabbath. Dio's vocals are truly amazing on this album and for Sabbath it proved to the world that there was life after Ozzy. (Although a year later Ozzy would prove there was life after Black Sabbath.) Don't get me wrong, in no way am I suggesting that this album was all down to Dio. Definitely not! On "Heaven and Hell" Tony Iommi continues to do what he does best on the guitar providing some memorable riffs. "Children of the Sea" definitely comes to mind when I think of that. Geezer Butler and Bill Ward also as always, make the fabulous rhythm section that we all know and love. More reasons why this album is such a classic.

"Children of the Sea" is just one of the brilliant tracks I could name here. There is not a bad song on the album as each one in my mind radiates what pure metal should be. If I named each one here in this paragraph, there would be no need for me to do the track listing as all of the songs make the grade and more.

Track Listing:

1. Neon Nights

2. Children of the Sea

3. Lady Evil

4. Heaven and Hell

5. Wishing Well

6. Die Young

7. Walk Away

8. Lonely Is the Word

Black Sabbath

Ronnie James Dio- vocals

Tony Iommi- guitars

Geezer Butler- bass

Bill Ward- drums

Additional Musician

Geoff Nichols- keyboards

In my post for the 1978 "Never Say Die" album, I mentioned that Black Sabbath would headline my dream concert. There was a twist to it however and so not to repeat myself for those who have already read that post, I suggest those who haven't have a read and hopefully, like one reader then, you will be in awe when you think about it. "Heaven and Hell" is one of the reasons why Black Sabbath would headline my dream concert. For me, it one of the cornerstones in the foundation of what we now know and love as heavy metal.

Before I go, I would like to invite all of my readers to share in remembrance with me something that has been with me for nearly three decades. See thirty years ago tomorrow, October 23, marks the tragedy which befell the US Marines in Lebanon when 241 died when a suicide bomber drove a van loaded with explosives into the building there were housed in. This occurred less than four months after I left the marines but I served in that battalion for nearly three of my four years in the service. I know I lost friends on that fateful day. Now, I don't hate America over this, hell no, but I do think that while America mourned their deaths for a while, they were also too quick to sweep the whole affair under the carpet. It is also why I am now officially beginning work on my next book which will be about the marines in Lebanon. For those who've read "Rock And Roll Children," it will be a prequel to it as the Mitch character from the book will be the main character in the new book. I hate to end this post on such a downer, especially after visiting such an iconic album but I don't have the time right now to put it as a separate post, so do forgive me for that. To unify these two thoughts, it was a marine buddy from my platoon when I was serving in that battalion who provided me with the first listen of this great album.

Pay tribute to these brave souls

Next post: Sammy Hagar- Danger Zone

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

Also available on Amazon, Barnes & noble and Froogle and on sale at Foyles Book Shop in London

Great Rock Albums of 1978: Rainbow- Long Live Rock And Roll

First of all, I have been kicking myself for leaving out Rainbow albums in the past chapter of "Great Rock Albums of the 70s." I should have at least included the "Rising" album in one of the posts. Not taking anything away from Graham Bonnet or Joe Lynn Turner, I will be visiting their contributions to Rainbow, but I remain convinced that the Ronnie James Dio era was Rainbow's best, this album is one of the contributors to my belief.
At Bloodstock 2010, there were many tributes to Ronnie James Dio by many acts over the three days. While it could be said that some of the bands should have checked with eachother, it seems fitting that many of them played the title track, "Long Live Rock and Roll" as a tribute to Ronnie. I might be biased here, but it was Twisted Sister's version of the song I liked the best.
Needless to say, the title track isn't the only song that does this album justice. Other tracks like "Gates of Babylon,"Kill the King" and the mellow but eeriely appealing "Rainbow Eyes" also combine to make this album what it is, a great album. "Long Live Rock and Roll" is a great hard rocking album and one where metal bands can point to for inspiration.

Track Listing:

1. Long Live Rock and Roll

2. Lady of the Lake

3. L.A. Connection

4. Gates of Babylon

5. Kill the King

6. The Shed (Subtle)

7. Sensitive to Light

8. Rainbow Eyes

Rainbow

Ritchie Blackmore- guitars

Ronnie James Dio- vocals

  Cozy Powell- drums, percussion

David Stone- keyboards

Bob Daisley- bass

"Long Live Rock And Roll" would be the last album to feature Ronnie James Dio, who would go on to take over the singing duties for Black Sabbath. Rainbow would continue on and both would achieve greatness. I believe that Ronnie James Dio and Cozy Powell, who passed away a few years earlier, are jamming together in the after life and continuing to rock on.

Next post: The Who- Who Are You

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

Also available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Froogle and on sale in Foyles Book Shop in London.