Great Metal Albums of 1989: Gary Moore- We Want Moore

 

Listening to Gary Moore's live album, "We Want Moore," while it is a killer album all the way, it also brings on my regret of never having seen him live. I nearly did in 2000. While passing by what was then Colston Hall in Bristol, (it's now called the Bristol O2 Academy), I saw that Gary was down to do a show a few weeks later. However, when I phoned the venue, I was informed that tickets had already sold out. What a bummer, I know. Therefore, I have to listen to his live albums like this one and reflect on what could have been.

"We Want Moore" coming right after his latest studio album, "Victims of the Future," it's no surprise that four tracks from that album are on this live one. Remembering the track, "Murder in the Skies," from said studio album, I was a little surprised at first that it would be the opener on the live album. However, it is and it works. Like any good opening song is supposed to do, be it album or concert, "Murder" grabs the listener by the throat and demands that they listen to the album and like it. It does set the tone for the rest of the album.

What is great album a live album is that many artists aren't as constrained by the songs when they play them live. With the exception of the "End of the World" and "So Far Away," all of the other songs are in excess of five minutes, three of those are more than eight and "Cold Hearted" is more than ten! The reason for the increase in length is so that Gary can work his magic with the guitar, which he does on every song on here. When I previously posted about the "Victims" album, I raved about his guitar efforts on "Shapes of Things." Well, he makes the song even better on the live album! It is eight minutes plus of a good song mingled with lots of fancy playing from Gary. He does likewise with the other songs as well and why I think that the live album outshines the studio album by miles.

Historical note: four of the songs were recorded in Detroit and four in Glasgow. One was done at the Hammersmith Odeon in London and the other was recorded at the famous Budokan in Tokyo. The way it's put together though, the album sounds like it could have been recorded all on the same night. It makes me almost feel I was there, which what a live album should do.

Track Listing:

1. Murder in the Skies
2. Shapes of Things
3. Victims of the Future
4. Cold Hearted
5. End of the World
6. Back on the Streets
7. So Far Away
8. Empty Rooms
9. Don't Treat Me Like a Loser
10. Rockin' and Rollin'

[caption id="attachment_4271" align="aligncenter" width="203"] Gary Moore[/caption]

Gary Moore- lead vocals, lead guitar

Neil Carter- keyboards, rhythm guitar, backing vocals

Craig Gruber- bass, backing vocals

Ian Paice- drums on tracks 4-8 & 10

Bobby Chouinard- drums on track 1-3 & 9

Jimmy Nail- backing vocals track 10

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AdLysNvv48U

Of course I regret never having seen Gary Moore live and I wished I had passed by Colston Hall a week or two sooner, I might have been able to get a ticket. Fortunately, there is a great live album in "We Want Moore" to soften the pain.

Next post: Lita Ford- Dancing on the Edge

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

Great Rock Albums of 1984: U2- Under a Blood Red Sky

 

Maybe U2 were trying to follow in the lead of Blackfoot in the sense that after three albums, release a live album. The difference here is that the three Blackfoot albums are all considered classics while the same can't be said for the three U2 albums. Now don't get me wrong, I like all three of these albums, "Boy," "October" and "War." However, the first two didn't propel them to stardom the way "War" did. "Boy" turned my head in their direction but when I mentioned U2 to others, I mostly got blank stares. "October," on the other hand, is U2's best kept secret. Not a lot of people seem to know too much about the album but I've always liked it. "War" goes without saying, it made the band a worldwide name. It is on the back of "War" that the live "Under a Blood Red Sky" album was released.

When most people think of this live album, they automatically assume it's from the filmed concert "U2 Live at Red Rocks: Under a Blood Red Sky," it's not. The songs are live but recorded separately from concerts in Colorado, Boston and Germany. Furthermore, the filmed concert is nearly and hour and a half long while the album consists of just eight songs and is just over thirty-five minutes.

Ironically, the album starts with the best known song from the "October" album, "Gloria." Probably a good opener as any for U2 at this stage of their career. What's more, the next two songs are off the "Boy" album but then, "I Will Follow" is my all time favourite U2 song and it's played very well. The crowd really get into it and if I had been there, I would have too. The fourth song, "Party Girl," doesn't appear on any of the albums but it's still okay. Remember, back in 1983, U2 were still hungry and making their mark on the music world and all of the songs reflect that on the album.

It's not until song five we get anything from the "War" album and that is the phenomenal "Sunday Bloody Sunday." My second favourite U2 song and the way it's played here is pure magic. Next is another good song from the debut album in the form of "The Electric Co." For me, it's played just as well live as when I hear it on the "Boy" album. Were there studio fixes here?  I can't say. The last two songs from "War" take the album out brilliantly. First is the fantastic "New Year's Day" and there is no better song for them to close a concert with than "40." When I saw them in 1985, they would close the show with that song and it was mind blowing. I have to say that "Under a Blood Red Sky" takes me back to another time and almost seemingly another U2 because they were actually good but it hadn't gone to their heads yet.

Track Listing:

1. Gloria
2. 11 O'Clock Tick Tock
3. I Will Follow
4. Party Girl
5. Sunday Bloody Sunday
6. The Electric Co
7. New Year's Day
8. 40

[caption id="attachment_2198" align="aligncenter" width="233"] U2[/caption]

Bono- lead vocals, guitar

The Edge- guitar, keyboards, backing vocals, bass on "40"

Adam Clayton- bass, guitar on "40"

Larry Mullen Jr- drums

"Under a Blood Red Sky" may not go down as one of the greatest live albums in history but it's still a good album. Especially if you like U2 when they were more hungry and less with the ego.

Next post: Julian Lennon- Valotte

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

Great Rock Albums of 1983: Pat Benatar- Live From Earth

 

For many artists, it is almost natural that after making four great studio albums that they put out a live album. That's exactly what Pat Benatar did in 1983 with "Live From Earth." All of the great classics from her previous albums are all on here and all are done with such intensity, it has left me regretting the fact that I have never seen her live. Listening to the album and viewing some of the concert footage on YouTube, I know Pat would have been amazing. If any of you at there have seen Pat Benatar in concert, I would love to read about your experiences.

"Live From Earth" was recorded in California and France during her sold out tour for the "Get Nervous" album and has the two tracks "I Want Out" and "Looking For a Stranger" and both sound fantastic live. The strange phenomena is the fact that the two best known tracks "Shadows of the Night" and "Anxiety" are absent on the record, although they both appear on the VHS version released two years later. Still, those tracks not being there doesn't spoil the rest of the record. I mean how could it with such great Benatar classics like "Heartbreaker," "Hit Me With Your Best Shot," "Fire and Ice," need I go on?

In spite of "Live From Earth" being a great hard rocking live album, some have pointed to it as the turning point for her move away from the heavy rock albums that made her the queen of rock from 1980-2. I'm talking about the single "Love is a Battlefield." To be honest, I've never hated this song but is completely different from what I had heard from her in the past. It is definitely a typical 1980s synthesizer pop song in some respects but with Pat's voice, I found it impossible to dislike.

Track Listing:

1. Fire and Ice
2. Looking For a Stranger
3. I Want Out
4. We Live For Love
5. Hell is for Children
6. Hit Me With Your Best Shot
7. Promises in the Dark
8. Heartbreaker
9. Love is a Battlefield
10. Lipstick Lies

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

Pat Benatar- lead vocals

Neil Giraldo- guitar, backing vocals

Charlie Giordano- keyboards

Roger Capps- bass, backing vocals

Myron Grombacher- drums

The question remains: Did "Live From Earth" mark the turning point for Pat Benatar from being a feisty hard rocking rock queen to a trendy top 40 performer? Possibly but after listening to this incredible live album, I don't really care. I just prefer to sit back and hear all the great Benatar rock classics played so well live and have a small regret of never having been to one of these concerts.

Next post: Loverboy- Keep It Up

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

Great Metal Albums of 1982: Saxon- The Eagle Has Landed

 

One of the things I should have realised, but didn't, is that there were some killer live albums in 1982. Three of them, Black Sabbath- "Live Evil," Michael Schenker Group- "One Night at Budokan" and Blue Oyster Cult- "Extra Terrestrial Live," I bought not long after they had come out. The fourth, Ted Nugent- "Intensity in 10 Cities" would escape my knowledge for a long while. That's the problem when you are in the military and spend most of the year deployed overseas. It creates a Swiss cheese effect on things like musical releases from bands you might follow. This caused me to completely miss a fifth great live album and one that definitely stands shoulder to shoulder with the ones I've already listed. That is Saxon- "The Eagle Has Landed."

Having seen Saxon live before I got to listen to "The Eagle Has Landed," I had a very strong inclination that this was going to be an excellent live album. I was right. It has all of the classic Saxon songs at the time with the bonus touch of being played so well live. I thought it was only natural that they used the great song "Wheels of Steel" for the audience participation part of the show. After all, that song is one of their best known songs.

The added bonus for me was that the album was recorded while Saxon were on tour for my favourite album of theirs, "Denim and Leather." "Princess of the Night" has its much deserved place on the album and is played brilliantly on it. Here is my personal slight disappointment about that. Other than "Princess," the other two songs, "Never Surrender" and "Fire In the Sky" wouldn't have been my first choices from "Denim and Leather" to use on the live album. Don't get me wrong, they are both cool songs but why the hell wasn't the title track on it? After all, "Denim and Leather" is a metal anthem that rings true throughout the metal generations! I thought it was only right that it be on the live album. Another song I would have used would have been "Play it Loud," almost for the same reason. Saying that, "And the Band Played On" and "Midnight Rider" appear on the 2005 remaster. But enough of me nit picking, there are so many great songs on "The Eagle Has Landed" that it makes it a guaranteed good listen.

Track Listing:

1. Motorcycle Man
2. 747 Strangers in the Night
3. Princess of the Night
4. Strong Arm of the Law
5. Heavy Metal Thunder
6. 20,000 Feet
7. Wheels of Steel
8. Never Surrender
9. Fire in the Sky
10. Machine Gun

[caption id="attachment_1148" align="aligncenter" width="254"] Saxon[/caption]

Biff Byford- vocals

Graham Oliver- guitar

Paul Quinn- guitar

Steve Dawson- bass

Nigel Glockler- drums

Like I said, there were many great live albums in 1982. Saxon's contribution "The Eagle Has Landed" definitely belongs along side of the other great ones from that year.

Next post: Twisted Sister- Under the Blade

To buy Rock And Roll Children,

Great Metal Albums of 1982: Ted Nugent- Intensity in Ten Cities

 

Someone once called me "clueless" because I stated that I would still go to a Ted Nugent concert in spite of his political ramblings. What do they know? What I know is that when you see the Motor City Madman on stage, you don't care about politics, you are simply amazed by the energy Ted emits while on stage and the magic he creates with that guitar. Having seen him live twice and both accounts are recorded for posterity in "Rock and Roll Children," I can personally testify to this.

"You're Double Live Gonzo, Live at Budokan, Intensity in 10 Cities." Wayne Campbell to Casandra in Wayne's World 1

I have heard many a live album in my years and I can say that no one else brings the energy from a live show onto a record better than Ted Nugent. This is just as much true with the 1982 live album "Intensity in 10 Cities" as it was with the 1978 "Double Live Gonzo." The songs recorded on the album were a series of songs that were never recorded previously. Ted believed that since those songs had been well honed over the months of playing them on tour, they would sound better recorded live as opposed to in the studio. I have to say, I think he was right on that one.

If "Intensity in 10 Cities" had been recorded as a live concert instead of over a series of concerts, it still would have been worth the price of admission. These are 10 songs that simply sound fantastic live and the order they appear is near perfect. If it wasn't for his introduction of the song before he played, "Put Up or Shut Up" would have been a great show opening song. It's one that would have definitely gotten the crowd on their feet.

While his trademark work with the guitar is well cemented on the album, it is the third track "My Love is Like a Tire Iron" where he really goes to the ionosphere with it. The long lead solo is simply hypnotic and the same can be said for the solos on "Heads Will Roll," "Land of a Thousand Dances and of course, the instrumental "The TNT Overature." Furthermore, his between the songs banter is best on "Jailbait" which is shows his more humourous side. However, the stand out track for me is "I Am a Predator" because that song has many of the elements I have already mentioned.

This mighty combination propels things very nicely to the closer "I Take No Prisoners." It's not a bad closer, especially when he works his typical guitar magic, but if I were in the audience and heard that song before he left the stage, I would certainly expect him back to play more. Me personally, like the Mitch character in the book, I would be screaming for him to play "The Great White Buffalo." His failure to play that song either time I saw him is the only thing I can hold against his performances.

Track Listing:

1. Put Up or Shut Up
2. Spontaneous Combustion
3. My Love is Like a Tire Iron
4. Jailbait
5. I Am a Predator
6. Heads Will Roll
7. The Flying Lip Lock
8. Land of a Thousand Dances
9. The TNT Overature
10. I Take No Prisoners

[caption id="attachment_561" align="aligncenter" width="203"] Ted Nugent[/caption]

Ted Nugent- lead vocals, lead guitar

Charlie Huhn- lead and backing vocals, rhythm guitar

Dave Kiswiney- bass, backing vocals

Cliff Davies- drums, backing vocals

So there you have it, a live album that would have sounded great as a concert on its own. Ted Nugent shows why he is so awesome live and puts that down on vinyl, cassette and CD. "Intensity in 10 Cities" is a tribute to a fine musician. BTW, can any of you spot the mistake in this post?

Next post: Hanoi Rocks- Self Destruction Blues

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

Great Metal Albums of 1982: Michael Schenker Group- One Night At Budokan

 

After letting their great studio album "Assault Attack" slip through my fingers, it was the live album from the Michael Schenker Group, "One Night at Budokan," that I finally bought. This was because I was looking for one song in particular and although my record buying rule has always been never to buy a entire album on account of one song, I was so determined to get something with the song "Cry for the Nations" on it, that I broke my rule. On this occasion, my gamble paid off because not only I got the song I wanted, I got twelve other kick ass tracks as well.

"One Night at Budokan" adds the Michael Schenker Group to the list of bands I regret not having seen live. From what I hear on this album, I'm sure that they would have totally ruled in concert. Like with so many live albums, great guitarists just use their time in the spotlight to just let loose and Michael Schenker does that so well many times here. The most stand out for me is his efforts on "Lost Horizons." Schenker just goes into a long mad solo and I find myself lapping up every second of it. Needless to say, though I'm going to anyway, his guitar work is just as mad on many of the other tracks and it's a shame I took so long to recognize his talents.

Graham Bonnet does not appear on this live album but Gary Barden does an excellent job at the mike here. His vocals are enough to make me wonder why I haven't heard him anywhere else. Another thing I didn't acknowledge all of these years is that the Michael Schenker Group are part of the Deep Purple family tree. I have already pointed out Graham Bonnet but beating the drums on this album is none other than Cozy Powell. I don't think I need to say any more about the quality of the drumming, do I? He is recognized on the album as he is introduced to the audience who show their appreciation to having such a great drummer on stage. With all of these elements in place, it is little wonder why "One Night at Budokan" is such a great live album and yes, they also do a great rendition of the song I was looking for in the first place.

Track Listing:

1. Armed and Ready

2. Cry for the Nations

3.  Attack of the Mad Axeman

4. But I Want More

5. Victim of Illusion

6. Into the Arena

7. On and On

8. Never Trust a Stranger

9. Let Sleeping Dogs Lie

10. Courvoisier Concerto

11. Lost Horizons

12. Doctor, Doctor

13. Are You Ready to Rock

[caption id="attachment_2783" align="aligncenter" width="488"] Michael Schenker Group (as on One Night at Budokan)[/caption]

Michael Schenker- guitar

Gary Barden- vocals

Paul Raymond- rhythm guitar, keyboards

Chris Glen- bass

Cozy Powell- drums

Breaking my record buying rule on this occasion paid off. I got myself a killer live album. However, there will be a tale when I get to 1983 where doing the same would bite me on the bum. So for the moment, let us linger on the success with Michael Schenker Group.

On another note, it was an eleventh hour decision buy my step son and I will be going to this years Bloodstock Festival on the Friday only. For my step son, it will be the headliners Trivium  and Sabbaton that interest him. As for me, I'm dying to see Overkill, Armoured Saint and Nuclear Assault and of course, I will post a full account of the day.

Next post: KISS- Creatures of the Night

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 Rock/Metal Albums of 1982: Blue Oyster Cult- Extraterrestrial Live

 

1982 featured two magnificent live albums from bands I've never seen live and with both, the results are the same: After listening to those albums, I regret not having seen them live even more. I've already visited the first album, Blackfoot's "Highway Song" and the second one is Blue Oyster Cult's "Extra- Terrestrial Live." All but two songs were recorded during the "Fire of Unknown Origin" tour, the band's previous album, so you know that this live album is going to be great straight away. The three songs that appear from that album sound even better live! The piano intro on "Joan Crawford" sounds even more eerie and they don't leave out the sound effects like the screeching brakes, which some bands tend to do live. Even "Burning for You" has a more upbeat feel that makes you think you're in the arena pumping your first along to the song. However, both of those songs pale to the live version of "Veteran of 1000 Psychic Wars." The song is extended to include some great guitar soloing from Buck Dharma. That takes nothing from the rest of the song where the keyboards sound just as fresh as when done in the studio. Fantastic!

Being a live album, Blue Oyster Cult don't disappoint with some of their classics from the 70s. No gold stars given for stating the obvious, "Don't Fear The Reaper" being the closer. After all it's their best known song. At the other end, "Dominance and Submission" is certainly a good song to open the show with and "Cities on Flame" and "Dr Music" are both great songs to follow on from that. Furthermore, Blue Oyster Cult show their versatility by playing an excellent cover of The Doors classic, "Roadhouse Blues," although I'm not too sure about Eric Bloom's tale about buying a six pack from the Seven-Eleven. It doesn't ruin the song though but that's hard to do. Like with all the songs mentioned, I was also very impressed with the live version of "Black Blade." They make that song come alive for real.

Saving the best for last, my all time personal BOC favourite, "Godzilla." It begins with one of the best live introductions to a song ever. Marrying past with then present, Eric Bloom explains to the crowd how the Cold War and nuclear testing caused a monster frozen in ice to come back to life. It is a fine intro before it rips into the great song I know it for. It is here where they fully launch into their famous three guitar attack and the pausing to hear bombs dropping is just superb and makes the song that much better. While any song following "Godzilla" would work here, it just so happens that with "Extra- Terrestrial Live," that song is "Veteran of 1000 Psychic Wars." Sheer brilliance if you ask me.

Track Listing:

1. Dominance and Submission

2. Cities on Flame

3. Dr Music

4. The Red and The Black

5. Joan Crawford

6. Burning For You

7. Roadhouse Blues

8. Black Blade

9. Hot Rails to Hell

10. Godzilla

11. Veteran of 1000 Psychic Wars

12. ETI (Extraterrestrial Intelligence)

13. (Don't Fear) The Reaper

[caption id="attachment_1443" align="aligncenter" width="248"] Blue Oyster Cult[/caption]

Eric Bloom- lead vocals, guitar, keyboards

Donald "Buck Dharma" Roesser- lead guitar, vocals

Alan Lanier- keyboards, guitar

Joe Bouchard- bass, vocals

Albert Bouchard- drums on tracks 1 and 8

Rick Downey- drums on all other tracks

 *Albert Bouchard was fired during the "Fire of Unknown Origin" tour and was replaced by roadie, Rick Downey

Wow, another great live album from a band I have never seen live. It's no wonder I regret not having done so.

Next post: Aerosmith- Rock in a Hard Place

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

Great Rock Albums of 1982: Blackfoot- Highway Song Live

What is the most logical thing to do after your band has put out three very good studio albums? Well, in the case of Blackfoot, the answer is to put out one hell of a live album. That is exactly what they did in 1982 with the album recorded live in London. If it hadn't been for the fact that I happened to visit London in the summer of 1983, this album would have past me by because I never saw it on sale at any of the record shops in New Jersey and that, to me, would have been a damn shame.

Why is this live album so good? The answer is pretty obvious to any Blackfoot fan. At this particular concert, they played some of their finest material off their previous three albums, "Strikes," "Tomcattin'" and "Marauder." If I were to have produced the album, I would have done little different except ask the band to play "I Got a Line On You" from the "Strikes" album but that's a personal thing. The album is fine as it stands. Things open with two songs from "Tomcattin,'" "Gimme, Gimme, Gimme," which is definitely a great concert opener, especially at the beginning when Rick Medlocke announces "All right London, it's boogie time!" You get little time to rest after the opener because Medlocke gets the crowd going by saying, "If someone messes with your queenie, you're gonna mess up their god damn nose!" Then they launch into "Queenie, Every Man Should Know." If the crowd isn't fully up by now, then the almost thrash sounding, "Good Morning" definitely gets them there.

"Good Morning" is the first of three songs from the "Marauder" album. The other two songs that follow, "Dry County" and "Fly Away" sound much better live than the versions on the album and there was nothing wrong with those. It's just the raw energy this concert gives that takes things up several levels. One note, in between "Dry County" and "Fly Away," Blackfoot play their own version of John Lee Hooker's "Rolling and Tumbling" and I will say that they put their own unique stamp on that song quite nicely.

The rest of the album/concert is dominated by songs from the "Strikes" album. "Road Fever" for all the Scotland rock and roll maniacs as how Medlocke introduces the song, rolls things along very well. After they play "Trouble in Mind," Blackfoot take the show up on an enormous high with the two best songs from that album, "Train, Train" and of course "Highway Song" and both are cases of the live version being way above the studio version. This leads me to realise that if Blackfoot can improve on songs from great studio albums when played live, they are definitely a band to be reckoned with.

Track Listing:

1. Gimme, Gimme, Gimme

2. Queenie, Every Man Should Know

3. Good Morning

4. Dry County

5. Rolling and Tumbling

6. Fly Away

7. Road Fever

8. Trouble in Mind

9. Train, Train

10. Highway Song

11. Howay the Lads

[caption id="attachment_1316" align="aligncenter" width="215"] Blackfoot[/caption]

Rickey Medlocke- guitar, lead vocals

Charlie Hargrett- guitar

Greg T Walker- bass, backing vocals

Jackson Spires- drums

I think back to that time in 1983 and thank God that I was in London and saw this album in a record store. Otherwise, I would have missed it. Then again, each time I listen to the album, I become pig sick at not having ever seen them live. Trust me, "Highway Song" will make you feel that way.

Next post: Rossington/Collins- This is the Way

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 1981: Devo- Dev O Live

I must admit, I was never much of a Devo fan. I saw them on "Saturday Night Live" in the late 70's and I can't really say they impressed me. Therefore, it would be easy for me to pass them by on that account, however, I can't deny that they are part of our history and the fact I wasn't impressed with them back then can't hide that fact. I remember this album because my then girl friend used to play the hell out of the single "Whip It." Not a bad song, although my favourite all time Devo song appears on a soundtrack that I will be visiting later on in our tour of 1981.

Thanks to YouTube, I was able to give the album a fresh listen. Maybe it's me mellowing with age or the fact that my musical horizons are much more broader than they were back then, but I somewhat enjoyed listening to "Dev O Live" this time around. The intro song "Freedom of Choice" was a good way to open the concert this live recording was taken from. I also liked "Girl U Want." Listening to the six song EP that was released in 1981 encouraged me to listen to some of the full album they released in 1999 on the back of this one. My ears are more in tune with their new wave sound. It's not hard rock or metal but it is far better than much of the synth stuff that would come out later in the decade. "Planet Earth" was a pretty cool song too.

Track Listing:

1. Freedom of Choice

2. Whip It

3. Girl U Want

4. Gates of Steel

5. Be Stiff

6. Planet Earth

[caption id="attachment_2133" align="aligncenter" width="274"] Devo[/caption]

Mark Mothersbaugh- guitar, keyboards, vocals

Gerald V Casale- bass, keyboards, vocals

Bob Casale- guitar, keyboards, vocals

Bob Mothersbaugh- guitar, vocals

Alan Myers- drums

In the end, I was pleasantly surprised by this album. Plus, from the footage I saw on YouTube, I think they would have been fun to see live.  My conclusion is that Devo does deserve a place in the annals of rock and metal history for 1981 and not just because of "Whip It."

Next post: Cheap Trick- All Shook Up

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 19891: Fleetwood Mac- Live

Fleetwood Mac has always been one of those intriguing, controversial bands who put out some great albums in the 1970s and 80s. Most everyone knows of their best known "Rumours" album and a good many can say the same for the follow up "Tusk" album. Both are great albums and probably one of the reasons they put out a live album on the wake of the previous two. Much of the material from the mentioned studio albums is to be found on "Live" and for good reason. Those albums gave us so many great classic songs. For me, however, and this will be an ongoing theme for me throughout the tour of 1981, it had some personal meaning in my own life at the time. One of my comrades in arms bought this album at the PX in Rota, Spain just before we sailed back to the USA. It got played a lot on the voyage home and it was this album that made the trip home a lot easier.

Fleetwood Mac "Live" not only had great musical  memories, it also gave me one small regret and hearing again after so many years brought it back. That regret is the fact that I never saw them live. Listening to this album, I can safely say that it would have been totally awesome to see Fleetwood Mac in concert. Not just the great songs on it, but the energy they put behind each of the songs they play.  I have always said the Lindsey Buckingham does not get the respect he deserves as a guitarist, his efforts on the live album are proof of that. I mean, the man can play. Of course, the rest of the band are all very good on the album.

While, the album is heavy laden with songs from "Rumours" and "Tusk," there are some classic gems from Fleetwood Mac's past that pop up on the album too. I absolutely love the live version of "Rhiannon" and "Landslide" is nicely done as well. Then there is the live version of my all time favourite Mac song, "Go Your Own Way." If there is a heavy metal cover of this song anywhere, someone please let me know because I would love to hear it. This song would sound fantastic if it was metallised. Saying that, if I have to pick out one personal disappointment about "Live," it's the absence of "The Chain" on it. I would have loved to have heard John McVie play my all time favourite bass line live. By way, I have heard Shark Island's cover of said song and it is done well.

Track Listing:

1. Monday Morning

2. Say You Love Me

3. Dreams

4. Oh Well

5. Over and Over

6. Not That Funny

7. Sarah

8. Never Going Back Again

9. Landslide

10. Fireflies

11. Over My Head

12. Rhiannon

13. Don't Let Me Down Again

14. One More Night

15. Go Your Own Way

16. Don't Stop

17. I'm So Afraid

18. The Farmer's Daughter

Fleetwood Mac

Lindsey Buckingham- guitars, vocals

Stevie Nicks- vocals

Christine McVie- keyboards, vocals

John McVie- bass

Mick Fleetwood- drums, percussion

My fellow music blogger Every Record Tells a Story recently posted his view of the top ten double live albums. This album wasn't mentioned. I'm not saying that it should be in the top ten of any double live album list, especially against the albums ERTaS lists. However, this album is worth a definite mention as a great double live album. For me, it will forever be the closest I ever get to seeing Fleetwood Mac live.

Next post: REO Speedwagon- Hi Infidelity

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 1980: The Eagles Live

Musically, 1980 had a great many musical highs but it also had a few lows as well. One of these was the disbanding of a band that entertained the world throughout the entire 1970's, The Eagles. The band unofficially disbanded in July 1980 but they still owed their record company, Elektra/Asylum a live album. This magnificent live album was the result.

It can be argued that this album was just a collection of all The Eagles' greatest hits, which just happened to be recorded live. True, the album contains many of the classics which made us love them. Greats like "Hotel California," "Take Me to the Limit," "Heartache Tonight" and "Take It Easy" are all on their and sound brilliant live. The album even includes a live playing of the Joe Walsh solo classic, "Life's Been Good" and a new song "Seven Bridges Road." On the flip side, they leave out a couple of my personal favourites like "Victim of Love" and "One of These Nights" but that's me nit picking. This album is The Eagles at their best on stage and for people like me who never got the chance to see them live, it makes a good consolation prize.

Track Listing:

1. Hotel California

2. Heartache Tonight

3. I Can't Tell You Why

4. The Long Run

5. New Kid In Town

6. Life's Been Good

7. Seven Bridges Road

8. Wasted Time

9. Take Me to the Limit

10. Doolin' Dalton Reprise II

11. Desparado

12. Saturday Night

13. All Night Long

14. Life In the Fast Lane

15. Take It Easy

The Eagles

Glen Frey- guitars, keyboards, vocals

Don Henley- drums, percussion, vocals

Joe Walsh- guitars, keyboards, vocals

Don Felder- guitars, vocals

Randy Meisner- bass, vocals (1976- recordings)

Timothy B Schmidt- bass, vocals (1980 recordings)

This live album reminds us of the legacy of great music left behind by one of the greatest rock bands of the 70s.  A full account of some of the great rock songs they gave us all recorded at what was considered their killer live shows. While the album is great, it also reminds us that it was what signaled the end for them.

Next post: The Pretenders

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

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