Great Metal Albums of 1984: Sammy Hagar- VOA

 

Sammy Hagar was most definitely a busy boy in 1984. In the early part of the year, he made the one album with HSAS along with Neil Schon from Journey. When I reviewed that album, I wrote a follow up post of what music life would have been like if HSAS had stayed together and released more albums. On the plus side, there would have been a couple more great albums from that quartet and we would have have been spared from Van Hagar, whether that's a good or bad thing is up to the individual conscience to determine. Furthermore, Neil Schon's career would have been still going strong because Journey was fading from view by then. On the minus side, had that band remained in tact, we might have not been able to feast upon Sammy's solo album from later on in 1984, "VOA."

As a result of the big single from the album, Sammy would be described as the "red haired rocker who couldn't drive fifty-five." "I Can't Drive 55" received constant airplay on radio and MTV, not that I ever complained about that. It is my favourite Sammy song of all time, a great tune about driving really fast. Funny thing was that I have no recollection of anyone calling for the song to be banned because it encouraged people to break speed limits. All I know is that I love that song.

Seven other songs also adorn the "VOA" album and all of them are really good. "Rock is In My Blood" is a good power song where Sammy declares that rock is in his blood and his soul. It also demonstrates that Sammy can play a guitar a little bit as well. Two songs come closest to being a power ballad here. One of them is "Two Sides of Love." It's not slow enough in my opinion to be a ballad but it is a song about a failing relationship. The guitars are good and the keyboards punctuate the song very effectively. Sammy's solo is pretty good too.

Now let's talk about the hidden gem on the album and man, do I love this song. I'm talking about "Dick in the Dirt." The song is about a man named Richard to is a bit of a ladies' man. The innuendo behind the lyrics is comical and remains so throughout the song. I always laugh my ass off whenever I listen to the song, even after more than thirty years! Apart from that, it is a good power song and comes with another cool guitar solo. So, I guess you could say that the song hits you from both sides.

For me, the least strongest song, (I call it such as none of the songs are weak), is the title track. Maybe it because it was used so much for patriotic purposes in the days of 80s Reagan America. Actually, it's because the keyboards take over too much of the song. It's good but not as much as the other seven songs. Fortunately, the last two songs are much stronger and end the album on a high. "Don't Make Me Wait" is another song that comes near to being a power ballad but not near enough. It starts as if it's going to be one but it just rocks. There is some great  guitar work from Sammy and the closer, "Burning Down the City," all I can say is "Wow! What a great song to end the album with."

Track Listing:

1. I Can't Drive 55
2. Swept Away
3. Rock is in My Blood
4. Two Sides of Love
5. Dick in the Dirt
6. VOA
7. Don't Make Me Wait
8. Burning Down the City

[caption id="attachment_1954" align="aligncenter" width="228"] Sammy Hagar[/caption]

Sammy Hagar- lead vocals, lead guitar

Gary Pihl- rhythm guitar, backing vocals

Jesse Harms- keyboards, backing vocals

Bill Church- bass, backing vocals

David Lauser- drums, backing vocals

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7DXOA0IUnE

Whatever your thoughts might be on the path Sammy Hagar took in 1984 and after, you can't fault that "VOA" is a great solo album. Things have moved on in the past three decades and in most American states, the speed limit is above 55. Maybe the big single influenced government to raise the speed limits.

Next post: Waysted

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Great Soundtracks of 1984: Footloose

 

There was a very strange trend in regards to movie soundtracks in the mid 1980s. It seems that in order to appeal to all forms of music lovers, there would be songs representing nearly every genre. There would be some trendy pop songs, some rock, some soul oriented songs and even a heavy metal jam or two. This is exactly the case with the soundtrack for the film, "Footloose" which came out in the very beginning for this year.

Let's start with the trendy. Kenny Loggins was already known for hit songs from soundtracks. He achieved it with the 1980 film, "Caddyshack." So, it was no surprise that he sings the title track to the film. It has always been one of those songs I've neither loved or hated. The "Footloose" soundtrack also gave one hit wonder Deneice Williams her one hit with "Let's Hear it For the Boy." That song seemed to be on every AM radio station during the summer of 1984. I've heard worse but I've certainly heard far better. On the other hand, the soundtrack was unable to give 1982 one hit wonder Karla Banoff her second hit. It's a song that's just there. Then comes the usual practice of using former hits like Bonnie Tyler's "Holding Out for a Hero." Finally, there's the let's take two singers from established bands and have them do a duet for the soundtrack. Cue, Mike Reno of Loverboy and Ann Wilson from Heart with "Almost Paradise." It was supposed to be a power ballad that draws rock lovers and top forty fans together but no, it doesn't. Both singers do a good job on the song and it's better than most of the other tracks but not good enough to get into my top power ballad list.

Let's side track for a moment. I have an experience with "Almost Paradise." Mrs 80smetalman and I chose it for our wedding at our local registry office. Three weeks before our wedding, we get a letter from the registrar stating that we can't use the song because it has religious connotations, which is not allowed at a civil wedding in the UK. I wonder if they would have said the same if I asked for a Deicide song.

Back to the point, "Dancing in the Sheets" by Shalamar was a definite attempt by the movie makers to appeal to music lovers of African origin. It's like, let's put in a song by a black band and black people will buy the soundtrack. That's my take on it. Now, for true rock lovers like me and you, there's the classic John Cougar song, "Hurt So Good" and another attempt to bridge the rock/top 40 gap, let's bring back the Foreigner classic ballad, "Waiting for a Girl Like You." Now to the metal, we got the great "Metal Health" by the then up and coming Quiet Riot but for me the best song on this soundtrack has to be Sammy Hagar's "The Girl Gets Around." Maybe someone heard the "Heavy Metal" soundtrack and said, "Hey, let's use a Sammy Hagar song." At least they chose a good one.

A note about the film: "Footloose" is about a teenage boy, played by Kevin Bacon, who moves into a small town, which is run by people who are anti-music. The local reverend is the spearhead of the anti-rock campaign. Of course, Kevin and the music win the day and music is allowed in the town but maybe Hollywood was onto something here. The religious right's war on music was just in the early stages in 1984 and maybe this film could be a prophecy of things that could come about. It's something to think about. Oh yes, the track by unknown band Moving Pictures called "Never" isn't bad but it never (pun intended) made me want to explore their discography.

Track Listing:

1. Footloose- Kenny Loggins
2. Let's Hear it For the Boy- Deneice Williams
3. Almost Paradise- Mike Reno and Ann Williams
4. Holding Out For a Hero- Bonnie Tyler
5. Dancing in the Sheets- Shalamar
6. I'm Free (Heaven Helps the Man)- Kenny Loggins
7. Somebody's Eyes- Karla Bonoff
8. The Girl Gets Around- Sammy Hagar
9. Never- Moving Pictures
10. Metal Health (Bang Your Head)- Quiet Riot
11. Hurt So Good- John Cougar
12. Waiting for a Girl Like You- Foreigner
13. Dancing in the Sheets (12 inch mix)- Shalamar

[caption id="attachment_3552" align="aligncenter" width="272"] Quiet Riot[/caption] [caption id="attachment_3299" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Bonnie Tyler[/caption] [caption id="attachment_2514" align="aligncenter" width="176"] John Cougar Mellencamp[/caption] [caption id="attachment_2277" align="aligncenter" width="238"] Foreigner[/caption] [caption id="attachment_1954" align="aligncenter" width="228"] Sammy Hagar[/caption]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UiEp7drkGBo

"Footloose" wouldn't be the only film whose soundtrack got the 'corporate' treatment. While there's something for everyone, at least it's thought so, there's not enough songs here for me to ever go out and buy the album. Besides, I already have the tracks I do like from here on other albums.

Next post: Streets of Fire

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Great Rock/Metal Albums of 1984: HSAS- Through the Fire

 

Late in 1983, Sammy Hagar and Journey guitarist Neil Schon did a project together along with bassist Kenny Aaronson and drummer Michael Shrieve. Together, they formed a band called HSAS which was short for Hagar, Schon, Aaronson and Shrieve and the result was their one and only album, "Through the Fire." Was it a success? Maybe not according to the charts but it made my spring in 1984 and continued to do so for years after.

Confession, I never bought the "Through the Fire" album, I cheated. Instead, I recorded their full performance from an MTV concert. Besides, they played every song on the album plus a few songs that didn't get on it. Having finally listened to the album, I feel no shame as it simply brings back all the great memories of that taped concert.

While most trendy types might not remember HSAS, I'm sure that a lot of metalheads and a few non ones do. When Sammy Hagar toured solo at the end of the year and even during his first tour with Van Halen, there were signs around many a concert venue that read, "Sammy Hagar, Top of the rock." That's because it's the best known song from the album. He played it that night I saw him and it is a brilliant song. However, it's only my second favourite. The top slot goes to the very next track, "Missing You." That song really cooks and Neil belts out great guitar solo on it.

Hearing the next three tracks, I am now convinced that when the band played live, they played all three together as one song. Each track quickly goes from one to the next so you don't really get a break. Furthermore, all three are in the way out space rock mode and they fit very well together. In the MTV concert, only the title of the first song, "Animation" was introduced but it went on for far longer than the four minutes it says the song lasts on the label. Actually, I am pretty sure that the song lasted for the duration indicated by the three songs.

There is one blip in comparing the album with the concert and that comes in the form of the band's cover of the classic, "Whiter Shade of Pale." The song closes the concert and I think it was a great song to close the show with. However, it's not the closer on the album and now I wonder if it should have. It's still done very well and I think that Procol Harum would have been impressed. After that comes the hard rocker, "Hot and Dirty," which Sammy stated in the concert that it was about Kenny the bass player's girlfriend. Can't fault the song, it's really good and Neil Schon shows his talent up and down all of it. While not a ballad, "He'll Understand" is, to quote Sammy, on the tender side. It starts out as a ballad but that changes not far into it and has a smoking guitar solo. The irony is the closer because I am fairly certain that it was the opener for the concert. However, it works both ways.

HSAS in concert

The reason why all nine songs are so good is down to the talents of the four men who comprised HSAS. Sammy's vocals and Neil's guitar work were always going to be a lethal cocktail, no doubt about that. But we should raise a glass to the rhythm section of Aaronson and Shrieve because together, they make a fine one.

Track Listing:

1. Top of the Rock
2. Missing You
3. Animation
4. Valley of the Kings
5. Giza
6. Whiter Shade of Pale
7. Hot and Dirty
8. He'll Understand
9. My Home Town

 HSAS

Sammy Hagar- vocals

 Neil Schon- guitars

Kenny Aaronson- bass

Michael Shrive- drums

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-QdcrubBBY

 For the last 33 years, I have been asking myself "What if?" What if HSAS went beyond this one project and put out more albums? I think that they would have made a huge impact on the music of metal's golden decade. History does sort of support me. When Neil went back to Journey, they didn't make any impact after, at least not on me. Then there's the case of Van Hagar, although I've always said that Sammy can't be blamed for that. What we are left with is one fantastic album and three decades of me wondering, what if.

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1983 Triumphs and Tragedies

 [caption id="attachment_3349" align="aligncenter" width="539"] The Alamo[/caption]

The only tragedy I remember from 1983 actually happened the year before. Due to my military service, I didn't find out about it until 83 when I read about all the fallout from it. I'm talking about when Ozzy Osbourne pissed on the Alamo. He claims he was drunk as a skunk, (I've never seen a drunk skunk so I have nothing to compare it to.) Ozzy also said he didn't know it was such a national shrine, well it is in Texas. The result of his action got him banned from the city of San Antonio for ten years, although that was lifted a few years later when he made a large donation to the Alamo charity.

[caption id="attachment_2343" align="aligncenter" width="199"] Ozzy Osbourne[/caption]

Ozzy was already getting himself a reputation outside the heavy metal world for the wrong reasons. His infamous biting the head off a bat was making its rounds. Of course, the religious element in America embellished things further. There were rumours he blew up goats on stage and at one show, he supposedly threw a puppy into the crowd and said he wouldn't sing anymore until the audience killed the puppy. While this was all untrue hype, it didn't help Ozzy when he actually did something for real. So for Ozzy and somewhat in the metal world, this was a bit of a tragedy because it overshadowed the two albums he released in the year. I'll be covering those soon enough.

Now for the triumphs. It seems that 1983 was a cool year for festivals. I got to go to two of them. The first one, I mentioned when I posted about the Nantucket and Doc Holliday albums a few months ago. Those two bands topped the bill at the Mayfair Festival at Jacksonville, North Carolina. The other five bands remain pretty much unheard of with the bottom three being cover bands. So, I thought I'd include them in this little piece of history. They were Skeet Kelly, Roxy, Avalanche- who did a great cover of Sammy Hagar's "Heavy Metal," Peer Pressure- who did a reasonably decent cover of John Cougar's "Hurt So Good" and Eraxle- who closed their set with a fantastic cover of Van Halen's "Ice Cream Man." I consumed loads of alcohol and there were some interesting events between the bands like a wet t-shirt and a men's ugly legs competition. A fine day from what I remember.

[caption id="attachment_1322" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Nantucket[/caption]

Military commitments kept me from attending this festival but my sister went. I tried to pick her brains but she didn't remember much. In the June, Journey headlined in Philadelphia and with them were John Cougar, Sammy Hagar, The Tubes and Bryan Adams. From what she can remember, my sister says that Journey sounded great and had a fantastic light show. John Cougar and Bryan Adams were both very good as was Sammy Hagar despite his red spandex. Unfortunately, The Tubes weren't up to the rest of those who played that day. If this line up played in more cities than Philly, I would love to hear your account of the day.

[caption id="attachment_3350" align="aligncenter" width="387"] Journey Live[/caption]

It didn't matter that I was in the military for this one, I couldn't have gone to the US Festival because it was 3000 miles away in California. The US Festival was a three day festival where the first day consisted of new wave bands, the second day's line up was heavy metal and the third day's was a rock line up. From what I heard, all three days were fantastic although I do recall an interview with a local sheriff saying that he was going to try to ban such events following the festival. I didn't think about it then, but that was the first salvo fired at music in the 1980s. I think the best thing to do is just to let you look at the line up for the three days and I'm sure you will be just as awestruck as I was.

[caption id="attachment_3351" align="aligncenter" width="478"] Us Festival Showbill[/caption]

I did get to the final festival in 1983. This was my first Donington Festival as I happened to be in England at the time. From my memory, I can recall that Diamond Head were all right and Dio were very good. I didn't twig on who the lead singer was until they played "Heaven and Hell" but that was okay. They were brilliant. Then came Twisted Sister. I can still remember Dee Snider's quip: "We're not Culture Club or any of those gay boys or Duran Duran nor any of those other wimps. We're Twisted Sister and we play heavy metal rock and roll!" Of course I knew there must of been something about them when they were introduced as Twisted Fuckin' Sister. Their music was great too.

For me, ZZ Top took the concert. They played a magnificent combination of old and new material during their time on stage. Of course it helped that they played my two favourite ZZ Top tunes, "Jesus Just Left Chicago" and "La Grange." They also played quite a few songs off their new "Eliminator" album so they basically rocked. The big let down after ZZ Top was Meatloaf. I was not impressed, he just sounded terrible that day. Worse, my friend's English girlfriend didn't realize that they ran a special train after the concert so out of fear of getting stuck, we left early and missed headliners, Whitesnake. I remain gutted but overall, Donington 1983 was a kick ass day and proved that Great Britain could rock.

 

That was 1983 in a nutshell. The only real tragedy was Ozzy pissing on a national shrine but all the great concert festivals more than compensated for it. Just posting about it has me psyched for Bloodstock in two weeks. It was no wonder I was super excited when I got out of the marines that year.

Next post: Great Soundtracks

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Great Rock Albums of 1983: John Cougar Mellencamp- Uh Huh

 

One type of person whom most other people in the world find annoying is the guy who acts all tough but clearly isn't. This was a major problem for John Cougar Mellencamp back in the early 1980s, especially in the eyes of many metalheads. My sister saw him live in 1983 along with Journey (who headlined,) Sammy Hagar, The Tubes and Bryan Adams. Anyway, while Cougar was on stage, ( he hadn't reclaimed is family name yet), someone threw something onto the stage. In response, John called out, "Hey mother f*cker, throw some shit up here again and I'll come down and stomp on your ass." While this was amusing, I remember one friend who said that he would have thrown something else at the stage so he could kick John Cougar's ass because Cougar was a wimp.

JCM's 1983 album "Uh Huh" established him as a true American rock act and many of my British friends agree. My thoughts on the album was while it wasn't a metal album, it was still hard enough for metalheads to enjoy. I have always enjoyed "Uh Huh," even the singles, which are the first three songs on the album. "Crumblin' Down," "Pink Houses" and "The Authority Song" were all good tunes that stretched across the barriers that were being erected in music back then. They had a commercial appeal and a hard rock enough sound that no one who liked those songs would be accused of leaving their chosen camp. Of the three, "The Authority Song" is my favourite because it highlights perfectly the phase I was going through at the time. It was kind of and I stress kind of my theme song for a brief period.

After the three singles, there is still plenty of straightforward American rock and roll to be had. "Play Guitar" and "Lovin' Mother Fo Ya" definitely qualify but the best song of all on the album has to be "Serious Business." The lyrics alone make the song for me. I mean how could one not like lyrics that go :

"This is serious business, sex and violence and rock and roll."

Hell, I'm singing those lyrics now as I type this. This is why I found "Uh Huh" to be such and enjoyable album. John Cougar Mellencamp has a bit of fun on it.

Track Listing:

1. Crumblin' Down
2. Pink Houses
3. The Authority Song
4. Warmer Place to Sleep
5. Jackie O
6. Play Guitar
7. Serious Business
8. Lovin' Mother Fo Ya
9. Golden Gates

[caption id="attachment_2514" align="aligncenter" width="176"] John Cougar Mellencamp[/caption]

John Cougar Mellencamp- vocals

Larry Crane- guitar

Kenny Aronoff- drums, percussion

Toby Myers- bass

Mike Wanchic- guitar, backing vocals

Louis Johnson- bass

Carol Sue Hill- vocals

Maggie Ryder- vocals

Jay Ferguson- vocals

When I was teaching full time, I did an American theme in a cookery lesson which the class was making sloppy joes and corn dogs. One of my British colleagues remarked at this, "Sloppy Joes and corn dogs, it sounds like a John Mellencamp song." Yes, many people outside the US regard John Cougar Mellencamp as truly and American artist, especially with some of the topics he sings about in later albums. That was before "Uh Huh," where while there are some hidden themes, it's still a fun rocker of an album.

Next post: Dave Edmunds- Information

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Great Rock Albums of 1986: Sammy Hagar- Three Lock Box

 

By 1982, Sammy Hagar was attracting the attention of many people in the rock world, including mine. After several kick ass albums and some great songs on a couple of soundtracks, my curiosity was certainly aroused. It was this 1982 album "Three Lock Box," that allowed me to listen to the Red Rocker in his fully glory.

The opening title track ever most definitely sets the pace for the album straight away. His opening vocals, "Suckers walk, money talks, but it can't touch my three lock box," has been etched in my mind for all eternity. It's not just the lyrics though, that fuzzy blues rock guitar that kicks in a second later propels it through to the ionosphere. The song not only allows me to appreciate Hagar's vocal ability but I can also give him respect as a guitarist. Funny thing is that "Three Lock Box" isn't my all time favourite Hagar song, that's still to come.

"Three Lock Box," the album, doesn't depreciate as it goes further down the line with more songs. "Remote Love" has a good intro and I like it as a rock song but it's the very next song that wins my award for the album's best hidden gem. "Remember the Heroes" is a true rocker with a great rocking introduction and some fantastic guitar soloing in the middle. What a great song, maybe they should of released that one as a single but instead, the known single from the album is "Your Love is Driving Me Crazy." The song is what it is, great single material and I did like it when it came on the radio in the day. After the single, the album goes back to some more good Hagar sounding rock. He stretches out a bit with the next song, "In the Room." Maybe he was trying to sound more new wave here, I don't know. Saying that, I won't take anything away from it, I do like it. Things go more hard rock with the next track, "Rise of the Animal" and I can hear some good guitar tweaking in that one. It does go out with a cool guitar solo. That leads the album to the end with the four remaining tracks although I really dig the straight forward rocker, "Growing Up." It precedes the closest thing Sammy has to a ballad on the album, "With Never Give Up." That too was released as a single but it didn't do as well as "Your Love is Driving Me Crazy." Still, it's not a bad song and then there's the closer, "I Don't Need Love." Another cool rock song that at first listen had me asking myself, "Why is this the last song on the album?" Then I answered my own question when I heard how the guitars ended the song. In short, after hearing "Three Lock Box," I was converted to Sammy Hagar.

Track Listing

1. Three Lock Box
2. Remote Love
3. Remember the Heroes
4. Your Love is Driving Me Crazy
5. In the Room
6. Rise of the Animal
7. I Wouldn't Change a Thing
8. Growing Up
9. Never Give Up
10. I Don't Need Love
11. [caption id="attachment_1954" align="aligncenter" width="228"] Sammy Hagar[/caption]

    Sammy Hagar- vocals, guitar

12. Bill Church- bass

Gary Pihl- guitar

David Lauser- drums

Guest musicians

Jonathan Cain- keyboards on "Remember the Heroes"

Mike Reno- vocals on "Remember the Heroes"

Sammy Hagar not only made a believer out of me in 1982, he made one out of many people. "Three Lock Box" is the reason why. It is my favourite album of Sammy's and listening to it, reminds me why.

Next post: Diamond Head- Borrowed Time

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Great Soundtracks of 1982: Fast Times at Ridgemont High

Before I get started, let me be perfectly blunt here. I thought the movie "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" sucked. Not as much as my friend though because while I was willing to endure it to the end, he couldn't take it and suggested we leave. I didn't debate it. I know that it has been preserved on account of its apparent tackling of teen issues at the time. That may have been true but they could have made a better film to deliver the message. The only positive I found about the film was the stoner character played by Sean Penn, he was quite amusing.

[caption id="attachment_2739" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Sean Penn in the film[/caption]

Fortunately, a sucky film doesn't mean that the soundtrack is going to be as bad. Any soundtrack that has such artists as Billy Squier, Don Felder, Don Henley, Joe Walsh and Sammy Hagar has to be good. My hypothesis is that when deciding what songs to use on the soundtrack, someone suggested just how kick ass the soundtrack to "Heavy Metal" was so they brought in some of the same artists on "Fast Times." Again, Sammy Hagar does the title cut and it's good although I wouldn't put it at the same level as the other film I mentioned here. It's the same with Felder's track. It's good but it doesn't measure up to "Heavy Metal Takin' a Ride." Then again, that is a very tough song to measure up to. On the other hand, I do prefer the offering from Stevie Nicks on this soundtrack and I really liked her song on "Heavy Metal." Plus there are good contributions from the likes of Joe Walsh, Don Henley and Billy Squier as well.

[caption id="attachment_2462" align="aligncenter" width="164"] Billy Squier[/caption][caption id="attachment_1954" align="aligncenter" width="228"] Sammy Hagar[/caption][caption id="attachment_2252" align="aligncenter" width="203"] Stevie Nicks[/caption]

Another comparison with "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" and "Heavy Metal" is the fact that there are some good songs from unknown artists. The Rayvins "Raised on Radio" is a very pleasing hard rock track and it's made me curious to hear what else they might have to offer. The same can be said for the songs by Graham Nash and Gerrard McMahon. Both deliver some decent rock here. However, they're not the only ones. Jimmy Buffet and Poco both known more for their country rock sound go down a definite rockier route with the songs on this soundtrack. But the biggest surprise is from Donna Summer! The proclaimed Queen of Disco from the late 70s sings a blinder of a rock song on the soundtrack and all I can say is, "I'm impressed."

Track Listing:

1. Jackson Browne- Somebody's Baby

2. Joe Walsh- Waffle Stomp

3. Don Henley- Love Rules

4. Louise Goffin- Uptown Boys

5. Timothy B Schmit- So Much in Love

6. The Rayvins- Raised on Radio

7. Gerard McMahon- The Look In Your Eyes

8. The Go Go's- Speeding

9. Don't be Lonely- Quarterflash

10. Don Felder- Never Surrender

11. Billy Squier- Fast Times (The Best Years of Our Lives)

12. Sammy Hagar- Fast Times at Ridgemont High

13. Jimmy Buffet- I Don't Know (Spicoli's Theme)

14. Graham Nash- Love is the Reason

15. Poco- I'll Leave it Up to You

16. Donna Summer- Highway Runner

17. Steve Nicks- Sleeping Angel

18. Palmer/Joist- She's My Baby (And She's Out of Control)

19. Oingo Boingo- Goodbye Goodbye

What can't be faulted is that there is a great collection of songs here by some of the best artists who were around at the time. Many of whom are still going. What they did was come together to make a really cool soundtrack which leaves me thinking, "Shame about the movie."

Next post: Joan Jett and the Blackhearts- I Love Rock and Roll


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Great Metal Albums of 1981: Sammy Hagar- Standing Hampton

According to Wikipedia, "Standing Hampton" by Sammy Hagar was released in 1982 but other sources state it was actually 1981. I always thought the latter because I remember hearing some of the songs on it in that year. One of these was definitely the track "Heavy Metal" which appears on the soundtrack for the film of the same name, which I covered a few weeks back. Fair dues to the film makers, when they pieced together the songs for the soundtrack, they took them straight from the album and that is a good thing, especially with Sammy's song. Wikipedia says that it is a different version but I am beginning to doubt a lot of what they say because it doesn't sound different to me. Either way, "Heavy Metal" is definitely a mind blowing anthem.

True, "Standing Hampton" starts off with the more airplay oriented "I Fall in Love Again," which isn't a bad song but not as heavy as the others on the album. After the opener, the rest of the album kicks into gear with "There's Only One Way to Rock" and that is definitely heavier and goes on throughout rest of the album, including the heaviest song mentioned above. Great heavy tracks like "Baby It's You," Baby's On Fire" and "Can't Get Loose" go together very well to stamp Sammy firmly on the page of heavy metal. Now, one might think "Sweet Hitchhiker" would make a fantastic closer to a great album and it is a fine song but Sammy goes on better and ends things with a magnificent cover of the famous Janis Joplin jam "Piece of My Heart." I'm sure Janis would be proud of Hagar's efforts on the song.

Track Listing

1. I Fall In Love Again

2. There's Only One Way to Rock

3. Baby's On Fire

4. Can't Get Loose

5. Heavy Metal

6. Baby It's You

7. Surrender

8. Inside Looking In

9. Sweet Hitchhiker

10. Piece of My Heart

[caption id="attachment_1954" align="aligncenter" width="228" class=" "] Sammy Hagar[/caption]

Sammy Hagar- lead vocals, lead guitar

Gary Pihl- guitar, backing vocals

Bill Church- bass, backing vocals

David Lauser- drums, backing vocals

One of the things I really enjoy about writing this blog is the opportunity to go back in time and fully appreciate artists I didn't fully appreciate at the time. It would be another album before I really got listening to Sammy Hagar so in my view, his best was yet to come. "Standing Hampton" was a great stepping stone for him towards greater glory.

Next Post: Anvil- Hard and Heavy

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Great Soundtracks of 1981: Heavy Metal

If I have to think back in time and pick out one major turning point in what made me the metalhead I am today, it would have to be this film and its superb soundtrack. Back then, I only thought of heavy metal music as a concept and it wouldn't be until I left the marines two years later that I would actually call myself a metalhead but after seeing the film and listening to all the great music on the soundtrack, it was safe to say that I was well on the road to becoming one.
Even though as a film, "Heavy Metal" was dismissed by some critics, even science fiction ones, I thoroughly enjoyed it. When you're twenty years old and your mind is under the influence of certain substances, seeing a space ship open its cargo door and then an astronaut comes out of it in a 1953 chevy corvette parachuting to Earth is mind blowing. For those who haven't seen the film, the mentioned scene happens to be at the beginning. The astronaut drives home and is met by his daughter. He then gives her this gift which is a large green globe. The globe melts the father and then tells the daughter its going to kill her after it shows her six stories about how it is the sum of all evil. It is these individual stories that make the film. My personal favourite is story two, "Den" about a nerdy teen who gets transported to a fantasy world where is is this muscular hero who gets all the girls. For months, I went around repeating Den's  lines from where he first discovers he's in a new body. "No hair, mmm big." Then the nerdy voice (done by the late John Candy) says, "There is no way I'm walking around this place with my dork hanging out." And then later in that story, after he sleeps with the evil queen, "Eighteen years of nothing and then twice in one day." Sorry, small things amuse small minds. While those lines amused me, the one that became the standard for me and my buddies was from story five when the two stoned aliens badly dock their space ship. Voiced by the late Harold Ramis: "One thing I know how to do man is drive when I'm stoned."
[caption id="attachment_2321" align="aligncenter" width="272"] Chevy Corvette parachutes to Earth[/caption]
You find out at the end that the entire film is tied to the very last story, "Taarna." Taarna is the last descendant of a warrior race known as the Taarakians, who after extracting vengeance on the barbarians who destroyed a peaceful city, sacrifices herself so the green globe can't take over the world. Her blood is in the young girl who becomes the new Taarakian defender. Yes, I thought the ending was a little naff but after watching the other six stories, I didn't really care. Besides, it was this last story that has instilled my fondness for ladies wielding swords. That might be too much information.
[caption id="attachment_2322" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Taarna with her sword[/caption]
Enough about the film, lets move to this fantastic soundtrack. I don't use the term "fantastic" loosely here because I really believe it about this soundtrack. It's a who's who of great rock and metal artists from the period. Two bands, Grand Funk Railroad and Blue Oyster Cult were listed in my honourable mentions category in great heavy metal influences. Then there's a song by Nazereth, whose album "Hair of the Dog" could have been used as a blue print for the creation of metal. Note: the Nazereth song on this soundtrack wasn't from that album but it's a good one nonetheless. Up an coming Sammy Hagar demonstrates why he would rise to glory in his own right with the song he plays here. There are also two great songs from Cheap Trick and my favourite Devo song and the soundtrack's more tender moments give us "Open Arms" by Journey and ones from Stevie Nicks and Donald Fagen. And of course we can't forget the contribution from one of the metal's founding fathers, Black Sabbath. What better song for this soundtrack than "The Mob Rules." However, the one song that gained the most notoriety was the second title track, (there are two on this one) by former Eagles guitarist Don Felder. If the soundtrack and film set me on the road to being a metalhead, it was this particular song that was the engine driving it.
[caption id="attachment_1950" align="aligncenter" width="275"] Black Sabbath[/caption][caption id="attachment_1443" align="aligncenter" width="248"] Blue Oyster Cult[/caption]

Track Listing:

1. Sammy Hagar- Heavy Metal

2. Riggs- Heartbeat

3. Devo- Working in a Coal Mine

4. Blue Oyster Cult- Veteran of 1000 Psychic Wars

5. Cheap Trick- Reach Out

6. Don Felder- Heavy Metal

7. Donald Fagan- True Companion

8. Nazereth- Crazy (A Suitable Case for Treatment)

9. Riggs- Radar Rider

10 Journey- Open Arms

11. Grand Funk Railroad- Queen Bee

12. Cheap Trick- I Must Be Dreamin'

13. Black Sabbath- The Mob Rules

14. Don Felder- All of You

15. Trust- Prefabricated

16. Stevie Nicks- Blue Lamp

[caption id="attachment_947" align="aligncenter" width="222"] Journey[/caption][caption id="attachment_963" align="aligncenter" width="220"] Cheap Trick[/caption]

One useless piece of information: When I visited Journey' "Escape" album, I mentioned that "Open Arms" was Mrs 80sMetalman's and mine first dance song at our wedding. Actually it was the CD from this very soundtrack that was used for it. See, that's how good this soundtrack was. Not much more I can say about it as the songs speak for themselves.

Next post: Thin Lizzy- Renegade

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: Sammy Hagar- Danger Zone

At first, I wasn't sure if I should put this album into the metal category as many out there don't classify Sammy Hagar has heavy metal. Then again, I never gave two stuffs about silly arguments over what should be categorised where. Besides, the first song I ever heard from the "Red Rocker" had the same title as the genre of music I love so much. It was on a soundtrack from a film of the very same name which I will be visiting when I get to 1981.

So onto this album "Danger Zone." Listening to it only confirms to me that it should be called a metal album as there are some serious rocking tunes on it. "Mommy Says, Daddy Says," "20th Century Man," "Love or Money" and "Bad Reputation" are all great melodic metal tunes that stand the test of time. Even the bluesy "The Ice Man" where Journey singer Steve Perry provides the backing vocals is a cooker. There is some great crunching guitar sounds on this album and another Journey member in the form of Neil Schon lays down some killer solos on "Love or Money." I get the impression that Hagar is still hungry on this album and it definitely shows in the music.

Track Listing:

1. Love or Money

2. 20th Century Man

3. Miles For Boredom

4. Mommy Says, Daddy Says

5. In The Night, (Entering the Danger Zone)

6. The Iceman

7. Bad Reputation

8. Heartbeat

9. Run For Your Life

10. Danger Zone

Sammy Hagar

Sammy Hagar- vocals, guitar

Bill Church- bass

Gary Pihl- guitar, keyboards

Chuck Ruff- drums

Geoff Workman- keyboards

Guest Musicians

Steve Perry- backing vocals

Neil Schon- guitar solos on "Love or Money"

In 1980, Sammy Hagar was still making his way in the rock world. Kick ass albums like "Danger Zone" paved the way to the greatness he would eventually achieve.

Next post: Motorhead- Ace of Spades

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

Also available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Froogle