Great Rock Albums of 1981: Pat Benatar- Precious Time

Kings and queens of rock music have come and gone throughout the years but it can be safely said that in 1980 and 81, Pat Benatar was the undisputed queen of rock. She ascended to the throne in 1980 on the wings of her second album "Crimes of Passion" after the previous rock queen, Debbie Harry, in my view, abdicated. The more astute among you probably realise that I never visited Blondie's "Auto-American" album and for good reason. While "Crimes of Passion" ascended Pat Benatar to her rightful throne, her third album in 1981, "Precious Time," kept her firmly seated there.

"Precious Time" continues on in the same hard rocking theme that made Pat Benatar a household name in rock circles. I admit, when I first heard the introduction to the opener, "Promises in the Dark," I thought she might be going a bit softer but about thirty seconds in, the guitars take over and that Benatar sound is back in full swing. The second track is the big single, "Fire and Ice" and contains what I think is the best ever guitar solo from Neil Giraldo. "Just Like Me" and the title track are both traditional Pat Benatar rockers and the track "It's a Tuff Life" goes quite reggae but nonetheless is a great track. In all of these tracks and the following, "Take It Anyway You Want It," the vocals of Pat Benatar combined with the guitar of Neil Giraldo definitely work well like they did with the two albums.

Now, if they were ever to make a film from either of my books, "Rock And Roll Children" would be filled with some great concert footage, but with my latest one, "He Was Weird," I would insist that one song from this album, "Evil Genius," be on the soundtrack. While the lyrics of this song don't exactly fit in with the main character in the story, the song itself would greatly add to the ambiance of the movie. The lyrics are spot on here and that helps make the song even better for me. I can't leave out the fact that this album proves that The Beatles wrote a song that had an impact on hard rock and heavy metal. This album provided me with my first opportunity to hear the classic "Helter Skelter" covered by a great hard rock act. Here, Pat Benatar, to quote Cheryl Cole, makes the song her own and no I don't watch "X-Factor."

Track Listing:

1. Promises in the Dark

2. Fire and Ice

3. Just Like Me

4. Precious Time

5. It's a Tuff Life

6. Take It Anyway You Want It

7. Evil Genius

8. Hard to Believe

9. Helter Skelter

[caption id="attachment_1396" align="aligncenter" width="195"] Pat Benatar[/caption]

Pat Benatar- vocals

Neil Giraldo- lead guitar, keyboards, backing vocals

Scott St Clair Sheets- rhythm guitar

Roger Capps- bass

Myron Grombacher- drums

With "Precious Time," it is easy to see why Pat Benatar was the undisputed queen of rock in 1980 and 81. Come the following year, there would be a serious challenge to her rule but that is best left for another time. In the world of hard rock, 1981 was without a doubt Pat Benatar's year and "Precious Time" backs this up.

Next album: Frank Zappa- You Are What You Is

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To buy He Was Weird go to: http://www.amazon.co.uk/He-Was-Weird-Michael-Lefevre/dp/1909740942/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1403623312&sr=8-1&keywords=he+was+weird

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

Great Rock Albums of 1981: George Harrison- Somewhere in England

Once again, I know that I'm repeating myself here because I did say this when I visited Mr Harrison's self-titled 1979 album but I feel the strange need to say it again. Of all the solo work from the members of The Beatles, it's George's the I like the best. I did really like Paul McCartney with Wings in the early 70s but I felt he went too disco at the tail end of the decade. For the more astute, you may have realised that I never visited Wings' 1979 "Back to the Egg" album, now you know why. However, George Harrison was consistent with his music throughout and didn't bow to trends in music. While the 1976 album "33 1/3" remains my favourite of his albums, "Somewhere in England" has to rank up there as well.

Warning, this is not a bang your head rock album. George Harrison's music has always appealed to my more mellower side and this album is no different. However, what comes through on most of the tracks is a subtle lead guitar in the background and for me, that makes most of the songs where it happens. Most notable is the opening track, "Teardrops" and "Unconciousness Rules." Other tracks have this guitar sound on it as well and there are one or two tracks that make you think George is going to let loose, especially with some of the guitar intros on a couple of tracks but the song goes into the more melodic sound that I know him for. Even so, he makes it sound really good and since the album was released just a few months after former band mate John Lennon's death, the single "All Those Years Ago" is not only a dedication to him, the other former band mates, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr appear on the song marking a true tribute to Lennon.

Track Listing:

  Blood From a Clone

Unconciousness Rules

Life Itself

All Those Years Ago

Baltimore Oriole

Teardrops

That Which I've Lost

Writing On the Wall

Hong Kong Blues

Save the World

[caption id="attachment_1203" align="aligncenter" width="253"] George Harrison[/caption]

George Harrison- Lead vocals, guitars, keyboards, synthesisers

Alla Rakha- tabla

Gary Brooker- keyboards, synthesisers

Al Kooper- keyboards, synthesisers

Mike Moran- keyboards, synthesisers

Neil Larsen- keyboards, synthesisers

Tom Scott-Lynicon- horns

Herbie Flowers- tuba, bass

Willie Weeks- bass

Ray Cooper- keyboards, synthesisers, percussion, drums

Jim Keltner- drums

Dave Mattacks- drums

 I probably appreciate this album much more these days as I'm mellowing with age, although play a Slayer or Amon Amarth song and I will be going full tilt. Over the years before his death, George Harrison put out some good light rock and "Somewhere In England" is one of the best.

Next post: Rick Springfield- Working Class Dog

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Great Rock Albums of 1981: John Lennon- Double Fantasy

Like every year so far, I begin with albums that were actually released in the previous year but didn't come to my attention until the new year. In 1981 I had a good excuse. I spent the first two months of the year sailing around the Mediterranean on a ship. As it was the end of the deployment, there weren't many port calls although there was a field operation in Tunisia. Therefore, news of new record releases were very slow in making their way to my attention.

It is only fitting that since 1980 ended with the tragic murder of John Lennon, I begin 1981 with the album he released just before his death. It has been said in secret whispers that if John hadn't died so tragically, this album wouldn't have had the acclaim that it received. I am not going to argue one way or the other here. It's not the rockiest album I've heard, even from him and if it were up to me, all of the songs Yoko Ono sings would be removed from the album. In the same way Linda McCartney had over Paul, Yoko had a definite hold over John and that is why she appears so much on this album. The songs he does make the album for me. My favourite song has always been "Watching the Wheels" especially as I can relate it to what I was going through at the time. I would come to the halfway point of my enlistment and I was getting really fed up with the military bullshit. So, I would sing this song only changing the lyrics to "I'm just waiting for my EAS to come around." For those wondering, EAS means expiration of active service.

Another song that really stands out for me on the album is "Clean Up Time." This is probably the closest to a real rocker on the album. "Beautiful Boy (Darling Boy)" is amusing and there are the two other singles, "Just Like Starting Over" and "Woman." Both are decent songs but better to listen to when in a more mellow mood.

Track Listing:

1. Just Like Starting Over

2. Kiss Kiss Kiss

3. Clean Up Time

4. Give Me Something

5. I'm Losing You

6. I'm Moving On

7. Beautiful Boy (Darling Boy)

8. Watching the Wheels

9. Yes I'm Your Angel

10. Woman

11. Beautiful Boys

12. Dear Yoko

13. Every Man Has a Woman Who Loves Him

14. Hard Times Are Over

John Lennon

It has been suggested that the reason behind the mellow feel and soppy love songs that incorporate most of the "Double Fantasy" album is that John was repenting for his chauvinistic attitudes in the 1960s. Maybe so and if it is the case, then he can say he left the world paying back that debt because this album is in no way chauvinistic. It pours out his love for Yoko and his son and I don't think anyone should begrudge him that.

Next post: The Police: Zenyatta Mondatta

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1980 Ends in Tragedy

John Lennon

In spite of all of the great rock and metal happenings, the kick ass albums from the likes of Black Sabbath, Judas Priest and AC/DC to name just a tiny few, triumphant events like the first ever Donington Festival and even tragic departures in the form of John Bonham and Bon Scott; all of them were over shadowed by an event that not only shocked the music world but the world in general, the murder of John Lennon. Like other infamous tragedies such as Pearl Harbour, the assassination of JFK and 911, many people can remember exactly where they were when they first heard the news that John Lennon and been shot and killed. Personally, I was on the USS Saipan and we had just returned through the Suez Canal and was on our way to Italy when the ship news service told us of the murder. Naturally, we were all shocked and some of my comrades in arms thought it was a joke. However, when we realised the truth, there was much mourning and sympathy, even from those who would have not listened to Lennon's music and it caused what had been a landmark year in music to end on a tearful note.

John Lennon's murder was as unnecessary as it was tragic. If it had been any ordinary Joe or Josephine, I would still say that the way in which he was shot down was completely wrong. Even after all these years, I still fail to see any reasoning behind Mark Chapman's actions other than he simply wanted his fifteen minutes. Now, I am one of the biggest hippy liberals going but I have always maintained that if anyone callously and maliciously takes the life of another human being, then they should forfeit their own. Originally, Chapman was sentenced to 20 years to life in prison and I do feel a slight touch of relief after reading that he has been denied parole seven times.

The Fab Four

I know I'm once again preaching to the choir and stating the obvious, but influence that John Lennon and The Beatles had on music, even heavy metal,  lives on over thirty years after his death. For proof, listen to the Beatles song "Helter Skelter" and then look up the hard rock and metal bands who have recorded covers of said song. I know of at least one metal artist whose album I'll be visiting in the tour of 1981 had a song in tribute to Lennon. I'm sure I'll find others and more will re-emerge from the wastelands of my distant memories. So, in conclusion, as this coming Sunday marks the thirty-third anniversary of the tragedy, take a moment to remember this superstar. But also, as I close the door on the rock and metal of 1980, also remember the great musical triumphs from the year too. I'm not a psychic, but I think that's what John would have wanted us to do.

Next post: Tribute to Blues Guitarists

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Great Rock Albums of 1980: The Beatles- Rarities

You are all now totally convinced that I have completely lost the plot. A Beatles album in 1980? They had broken up ten years prior to this. I will be the first to admit that this "Rarities" album released in 1980 was yet another attempt to milk more money out of The Beatles name off the many fans who followed and still follow them now but that didn't stop me from buying this album. I admit, I have always been a big fan of The Beatles and while I question why some of the tracks on this album are considered rarities, there are others on it that made me decide that I had to buy it.

"Love Me Do," "Help" and "Penny Lane" are all well known Beatles classics to me and I do not consider them to be rare. They are all good songs nonetheless and only added to my desire for this album. The case is also true to one of my all time favourites "I Am The Walrus," a song that continues to amuse me some four decades later. "Sie Liebt Dich," which is the all time classic "She Loves You" sung in German is for me a definite rarity and also my first piece of evidence that music can be enjoyable in whatever language it is sung in. "Across the Universe" would have been another one where I debated it being called rare. However, the version on this album is different to the one I heard on The Blue Album. The song begins the sound effect of a flock of birds flying off and the chorus is accompanied by a children's choir and is very well done. I still get a kick out of the next to last track "You Know My Name Look Up the Number" where there is a vocal part by one of them using a woman's voice. It reminds me of Monty Python.

Out of all the tracks mentioned, there is one track that stands alone. "Helter Skelter" is the track that makes this album for me, even if the the version on this album omits that famous rant from Ringo, "I got blisters on my fingers!" As most people agree, The Beatles influenced many genres of rock music and the song "Helter Skelter" is my evidence that they even had an influence on heavy metal. Two metal bands I can think of off the top of my head, Motley Crue and Vow Wow, have recorded covers of this Beatles classic as well as Pat Benatar in her more hard rocking days.  I probably would have bought this album for this song alone.

Track Listing:

1. Love Me Do

2. Misery

3. There's a Place

4. Sie Leibt Dich

5. And I Love Her

6. Help

7. I'm Only Sleeping

8. I Am the Walrus

9. Penny Lane

10. Helter Skelter

11. Don't Pass Me By

12. The Inner Light

13. Across the Universe

14. You Know My Name Look Up the Number

15. Sgt. Pepper's Inner Groove

The Fab Four

John Lennon- guitar, vocals

Paul McCartney- bass, piano, vocals

George Harrison- guitar, vocals

Ringo Starr- drums, vocals

Back in the 90's, I was at a 60's theme party where the self appointed deejay was playing a bunch of one hit wonders who nobody remembered and as a result the dance floor was empty. I suggested putting this album on and once I did, the dance floor filled right up. This is proof that everybody knows The Beatles even if some of their songs are considered rarities. On a personal note, if I were producing this album, I would have included the songs "Octopus's Garden" and "The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill" but that's just me. The Beatles influenced a lot of rock music, even heavy metal. So when you put on your next metal album, think of them.

Next post: Billy Joel- Glass Houses

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Great Rock Albums of 1979: George Harrison- George Harrison

For the more astute, I did say that this post would be George Harrison's "Somewhere in England" album, however, as I began refreshing my knowledge in order to write this post, I discovered that that album wasn't released until 1981. The album released in 1979, was the one named after him, George Harrison. I apologise for getting my rock facts wrong on this one and I will visit the "Somewhere in England album when I get to 1981.
When I was posting my "Great Rock Albums of the 70s" chapter, I had great internal debate on whether or not I should visit the George Harrison album "331/3." I decided not to as the album was a real mellow out album although it does contain my all time favourite Harrison song, "Crackerbox Palace." "George Harrison" is a little less mellow and in no way a hard rock album. I decided to include it because of the history of that time. See, in 1979 rock music was fighting off the disco invasion and some notable rock musicians, some whose albums I've included here, were experimenting with the whole disco thing. This album wasn't disco and that was good enough for me. Furthermore and I'm going to say something that some Beatles fans may think blasphemous, musically George was my favourite Beatle. I'm not taking anything away from Lennon and McCartney, they are true geniuses, but I've always liked songs like "Here Comes the Sun," "Something" and my fave, "While My Guitar Gently Weeps."
Anyway, enough of the history lesson, (sorry once a teacher always a teacher) let's get on to the subject of this album. "George Harrison" by the person of the same name is a good soft rock album. It begins with an introductory guitar solo from the legendary Eric Clapton on the first track, "Love Comes to Everyone" and carries through the album with a feel good factor throughout. There's the top single "Blow Away" which, for those who take the singles charts seriously, made it  to number 14 in the US and 39 in the UK. The song "Faster" has a bit more of a rock feel to it, especially as it begins with motor racing sound effects.

Track Listing:

1. Love Comes to Everyone

2. Not Guilty

3. Here Comes the Moon

4. Soft Hearted Hanna

5. Blow Away

6. Faster

7. Dark Sweet Lady

8. Your Love is Forever

9. Soft Touch

10. If You Believe

George Harrison- vocals, guitars

Andy Newmark- drums

Willie Weeks- bass

Neil Larsen- keyboards, minimoog

Ray Cooper- percussion

Steve Winwood- polymoog

Emil Richards- marimba

Gayle Richards- harp

Eric Clapton- guitar intro

Gary Wright- oberheim

"George Harrison" for me was common ground for me and my then disco/plastic pop loving girlfriend at the time. Still it's a good album to "mellow out" to. One I listen to on a lazy summer day, like today and shows why I've always said that Harrison's work has always been underrated when compared to the other Beatles.

Next post: Bad Company- Desolation Angels

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Great Rock Albums of 19787: The Rutles

You're probably thinking, "Is he serious? How can he post something like this after recent visits to great 1978 albums from such Gods as Judas Priest, Black Sabbath, The Who and AC/DC?" You may be even be thinking that I am posting a joke album here. After all when the programme that influenced this album, "All You Need Is Cash" was shown on NBC in that year, the main attraction was that it featured members of both Monty Python's Flying Circus and original members of Saturday Night Live. So I can understand why people may think that.
"All You Need Is Cash" was about a band called The Rutles and followed their history from their formation in 1958 to their break up in 1970. And yes, it was very much fashioned on The Beatles, but with a more humourous approach. My one high school friend refused to watch the programme because he was a Beatles fan and thought it was taking the piss out of them. Okay, maybe it was and while, in spite of the cast, didn't have me rolling on the floor laughing throughout, it was still pretty funny.

All that said, let's take a look at the album by The Rutles. When I first listened to it, I assumed that it was going to be full of satirical lyrics making fun of Beatles classics. When you listen to the album, you can definitely hear the Beatles influence on it and can accurately identify most of the Rutles songs with the appropriate Beatles song it's associated with. Some are quite obvious, like "Ouch" is definitely based on "Help" and "Love Life" is definitely "All You Need Is Love" and so on. Others you may have to listen a bit more carefully, but you do figure out which song it's based on. However, most of the songs aren't funny lyrics making fun, some are what you can call serious. While I did laugh my rear end off when I heard "Piggy in the Middle," the song "With A Girl Like You" could be seen as a light hearted love song.
One thing that strikes me is that Neil Innes is a good musician who seems to have been overlooked. You may remember him as one of Sir Robin's minstrels in "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" and he has some singing parts on the album "Monty Python Live at City Center," but the man does have musical talent. He was the brains behind The Rutles and wrote the songs on the album. I think he deserves more credit than he has been given.

Track Listing:

1. Hold My Hand

2. Number One

3. With a Girl Like You

4. Living In Hope

5. Ouch

6. Love Life

7. Nevertheless

8. See How the Good Times Roll

9. Doubleback Alley

10. Cheese and Onions

11. Another Day

12. Piggy In the Middle

13. Let's Be Natural

The Rutles

Ron Nasty (Neil Innes) guitar, piano, vocals

Dirk McQuirkley (Eric Idle) bass, vocals

Stig O'Hara (Rikki Fataar) guitar, vocals

Barry Wom (John Halsey) drums

Note: Eric Idle didn't actually play on the album, other muscians also contributed

I hope you like my little break in the action, but in the mean time, why not listen to the album. You will have a laugh as well as hear some good songs. Back in 1978, this was a real "feel good" album for me and I still feel that way after 34 years.

Next post: Ted Nugent- Weekend Warriors

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