Great Rock Albums of 1980: 38 Special- Rockin' Into the Night

Halfway through 1980, I was thoroughly converted to the genre known as Southern Rock. I had been listening to bands like Lynyrd Skynyrd and Molly Hatchet and had heard the "Strikes" album by Blackfoot and really liked that. So when a friend of a friend introduced me to this album, I was chomping at the bit to hear more and when I did, in no way was I disappointed.

It was easy to assume that because the lead singer for 38 Special, Donnie Van Zant, was the brother of the famous Ronnie Van Zant of Skynyrd fame, that 38 Special would sound like carbon copies of Lynyrd Skynyrd. It was made more so because Skynyrd's former pianist, the late Billy Powell, plays on a few of the tracks on this album. However, the sound of 38 Special is their own and their own fingerprint on Southern Rock definitely manifests itself throughout "Rockin' Into the Night." They are definitely unique. 

As I said before, I am normally a bit nervous about an album whose hit single is the first track on it. It makes me think, there's nothing after worth listening to. That isn't true here and that is despite the fact that the track "Rockin' Into The Night" is such a fantastic song, probably my favourite 38 Special song of all time. Even the thought of it has me bobbing my head to it at this very moment. After the title track, however, the album continues on with a string of great tracks in the 38 Special style. "Stone Cold Believer," the hard rocking "Take Me Through The Night," which eerily goes almost ballad like in some places and "Money Honey" are all great tracks on the first side if you heard it on vinyl or cassette. Side two doesn't deteriorate in any way either. After a strong side opening "You're The Captain," (a very good anti- drugs song) is most likely my favourite instrumental song of all time, "Robin Hood." The blends of acoustic and electric guitars are riveting. The last two tracks, "You Got The Deal" and "Turn It On" provide the perfect end to this great album.

Track Listing:

1. Rockin' Into the Night

2. Stone Cold Believer

3. Take Me Through the Night

4. Money Honey

5. The Love That I Lost

6. You're the Captain

7. Robin Hood

8. You Got the Deal

9. Turn It On

38 Special

Donnie Van Zant- vocals

Don Barnes- vocals, acoustic and electric guitars

Jeff Carlisi- lead and slide guitars

Larry Junstrom- bass

Jack Grondin- drums, percussion

Steve Brookins- drums, percussion

Additional musicians

Billy Powell- piano

Terry Emery- piano

Dale Krantz- Rossington- backing vocals

Five years after this magnificent album, I would find myself defending 38 Special to a friend who claimed they were a Top 40 band. What I should have done with hindsight, was to play this album for him. He would have known that back in 1980, 38 Special and "Rockin' Into the Night" were the real deal. This album continues to be a classic rocker.

Next post: Blackfoot- Tomcattin' 

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 1979: The Scorpions- Lovedrive

I have to make a confession here, I have never, until now, listened to an album by The Scorpions pre- "Blackout." I know, I need my head examined. In fact, I never knew of their existence until 1982 when I was stationed on Okinawa. There are some cool rock bars on that island and it was in such a place that I was first acquainted with them but that full story is for another time. What makes me feel even more foolish is that fact that I have been missing out on this great album from 1979.

"Lovedrive" is typical of why The Scorpions are probably Germany's best musical export. Having now finally listened to it, the album totally does it for me. I love the riffs on the opening track "Loving You Sunday Morning" and other tracks like "Just Another Piece of Meat" and "Can't Get Enough" had me going full tilt. I was also very impressed by the instrumental "Coast to Coast." That really blew me away. Another reason why I should see a shrink is the fact that I know the ballad "Always Somewhere." I had it on a compilation tape a long time ago but my car stereo decided it wanted the tape for lunch. Still, shame on me for not at least trying to find out what album it was on.

Track Listing:

1. Loving You Sunday Morning

2. Just Another Piece of Meat

3. Always Somewhere

4. Coast to Coast

5. Can't Get Enough

6. Is There Anybody There

7. Lovedrive

8. Holiday

The Scorpions

Klaus Meine- lead vocals

Rudy Schenker- rhythm guitar, backing vocals

Matthias Jabs- lead guitar, backing vocals

Francis Buchholz- bass, backing vocals

Herman Rarebell- drums, backing vocals

Guitar legend Michael Schenker plays lead guitar on two of these tracks as well adding another dimension to this album. What it has made me do is want to go out and buy all of their earlier stuff. If you haven't listened to the album yet, don't wait like I did, you'll regret it.

Next post: The Boomtown Rats- The Fine Art of Surfacing

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

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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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Other Great Metal Ballads

Like I said in the last post, it is a common belief that every metal band has their "token" ballad. This is true with many of them, although I still wouldn't say that to any fans of Exodus. This next list is more of those great ballads. These aren't necessary love songs. I mean I wouldn't play "Community Property" by Steel Panther if I were going for seduction. Same with Kansas, according to Family Guy, you only listen to this one when you are walking the streets in deep contemplation. Anyway, enough of me, here's the list and a few piccies.

• Kansas- Dust In The Wind
• Lionsheart- Flights of Angels
• Anthrax- Nice F*cking Ballad
• Dogs D'Amour- How Come It Never Rains
• Warrior Soul- We Cry Out
• Dio- This Is Our Life
• Black Sabbath- Too Late
• TNT- Eddie
• Bonfire- Good Night Amanda
• Stryper- Together As One
• Heart- Allies
• Von Groove- Arian
• Vaughn- Paradise Ain't Home
• Pretty Maids- With These Eyes
• Rainbow- Rainbow Eyes
• Westworld- Suicide
• Megadeth- A Tout Le Monde (not exactly a ballad, but it is the closest they will ever come to one
• Tesla- Sail Away
• Night Ranger- Sister Christian
• Steel Panther- Community Property

I know there are probably hundreds more I can list here, so if you have your own ideas what should be included, let me know. Knowing me, I proabably missed some obvious ones.
Next post: Great Rock Albums of the 70s, Boston
To buy Rock And Roll Children, go to: www.strategicpublishinggroup.com/title/RockAndRollChildren.html
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