Great Rock Albums of 1983: Joe Jackson- Night and Day

 

What I liked about the "Night and Day" album by Joe Jackson in 1983 was the fact that it was different. While rock was busy dividing and sub-dividing itself into categories and sub categories, including my beloved heavy metal, Joe went out and made an album that you really can't put anywhere. Of course, as was the style of the time, so called music officianadoes simply called it new wave. That is very lazy in my humble opinion. I just appreciate it the album because it was so unique although the fine musicianship of Joe and his band had something to do with it as well.

My first experience with Joe Jackson came a year earlier with the song many know him best for, "Is She Really Going Out With Him." Why I never visited any of his previous albums, I'll never know but it was the "Night and Day" album that made an impression on me. Funny thing is that this album is a contrast to the mentioned song as that song is more of a hard rock tune and this album has definite hints of jazz and combined with some of the sarcasm with some of the lyrics, reminds me a little of the great Frank Zappa.

Let's start with what many people know, the two singles "Steppin' Out" and "Breaking Us in Two." In 1983, a lot of people played the former song before going on nights out and I don't blame them. It is a great song to get you in the mood. The latter song is more of a ballad type and I get the impression that it's about a relationship on the rocks. While slower than the other songs on the album, it's definitely not soppy and is a decent song.

Singles aside, the rest of the album holds up very well. All songs are definitely played very well here. Many of them are piano dominated with his best efforts heard on the track "Cancer," one of my favourites on the album. He just goes to town on the ivories for the final two or three minutes of the song. Furthermore, I love the assertion the song makes that every thing will be found to cause cancer. The way scientists are going on these days, that song is a bit of a prophecy fulfilled. He also sarcastically sings about television in with "T.V. Age" and "Real Men" was written in response to the emerging gay community in New York. As you have probably guessed by now, I do take a specific interest in albums' opening and closing songs. For me, they can make or break an album. Both of the positioned tracks on "Night and Day" pass my mark. "Another World" grabs your attention from the start and "A Slow Song" takes the album out on a sublime note. Overall, this album is proof that music didn't need to be categorized to be good.

Track Listing:

1. Another World
2. Chinatown
3. TV Age
4. Target
5. Steppin' Out
6. Breaking Us in Two
7. Cancer
8. Real Men
9. A Slow Song

 

Joe Jackson 

Joe Jackson- vocals, pianos, organ, alto saxophone, harmonica, synthesizer, vibraphone

Sue Hadjopoulos- flute, percussion, congas, xylophone, timbale, bells, bongos, backing vocals

Graham Maby- bass, percussion, backing vocals

Grace Milan- vocals

Ed Roynesdal- keyboards, violin

Larry Tolfree- timbale, percussion, drums

Richard Torre- percussion, clave, bongos, cowbell

Al Weisman- vocals

There's a very interesting thing about the "Night and Day" album. As you go through the list of musicians on it, there's not one guitar mentioned. Normally, the metalhead in me would scream, "Wot, no guitars!" That leads to another question: How can an album not have any guitars on it and sound this good? The answer is down to the musical genius that is Joe Jackson.

Next post: Golden Earring- Cut

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

Great Rock Albums of 1983: Jackson Browne- Lawyers in Love

 

Proof of my Swiss cheese memory. I remember the album from Jackson Browne, "Lawyers in Love" quite well in 1983. However, it took me listening to this album after so many years to realize that during my tour of 1980, I missed out his then album, "Hold Out." Thing is, I liked that album too and fondly remember the song "Disco Apocalypse" because it was talking about the death of disco, or at least that's what I thought. Maybe it was just the fact that none of the songs on the mentioned album stuck out like the title track on "Lawyers in Love" did for me in 1983. It was the lyrics in the second verse that have lingered in the back of my mind for over thirty years.

"God sends his spaceships to America, the beautiful
They land at six o'clock and there we are, the dutiful
Eating from TV trays, tuned into to Happy Days
Waiting for World War III while Jesus slaves
To the mating calls of lawyers in love"

 "Lawyers in Love" is more of a light rock sound. It doesn't veer too far away from his best known single and my personal favourite, "Running on Empty." While none of the songs reach the level of "Running on Empty," there are still some good songs on it. "Tender is the Night" may give the impression that's it going to be some sort of ballad, but the song does have a great hook with the guitar. It's one of those songs you want to sing along to while you're driving in the car or carrying out some mundane activity. It makes such tasks less so mundane. "Downtown" is a pretty cool song too. I have to say that while none of the songs are ones to bang your head to, there was enough of a rock hook to reel me in on just about all of them. The best rocker is probably the closer, "For a Rocker."

Another thing which turned my ear more to Jackson Browne was he was getting more political with his music in the 1980s. In 1983, on account of my experiences in the marines and when I came out, I was getting more politically aware and paying more attention to such songs. "Say It Isn't True" is probably the best example of this. While Jackson was called naive by some for this anti- war song, it made a statement. It didn't make me go out and attend no nukes rallies but it made me think, as did the title track. But that's just me.

Track Listing:

1. Lawyers in Love
2. On the Day
3. Cut it Away
4. Downtown
5. Tender is the Night
6. Knock on Any Door
7. Say It Isn't True
8. For a Rocker

Jackson Browne- lead vocals, guitar

Craig Doerge- synthesizer, piano

Bob Glaub- bass, organ

Ross Kunkel- drums

Billy Payne- organ on "On the Day"

Rick Vito- lead guitar, vocals

While I was headbanging most of 1983 away, Jackson Browne's album "Lawyers in Love" provided a light break in the action. It's a good album to just listen to. Not a headbanger but has plenty of cool hooks that appealed to metalheads like me back in the day.

Next post: Joe Jackson- Night and Day

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

Great Rock Albums of 1982: Glen Frey- No Fun Aloud

 It was often speculated back in the early 1980s if Glenn Frey and Don Henley were engaged in a rivalry after the Eagles split. Many thought the same thing a decade earlier with John Lennon and Paul McCartney after the Beatles broke up. The evidence in this case was the fact that in 1982, both Frey and Henley put out albums around the same time. Don Henley's album was visited in the last post so this time, I'll take a look at Glenn Frey's debut album, "No Fun Aloud."
One big similarity between the two albums from the former Eagles is Glenn Frey also uses a shit load of musicians to record the album. In fact, I recognised at least one name from the Don Henley album although Glenn doesn't use any members from Toto on his album. Another big similarity is the fact that while Glenn Frey does add put his own stamp on the album, there are still plenty of hints from his Eagle days on "No Fun Aloud."

Frey's stamp is immediately put on the album with the two opening tracks, both of which are introduced with horns. Both, however, do the job in hooking your attention. The opener, "I Found Somebody" is a more bouncier tune while its successor, "The One You Love" is more of a slow jazz sound. The Eagles influence comes with the next song, "Party Town." "Sea Cruise" comes from way out in left field because it wasn't something I would have expected from Glenn. The song is more of a reggae, calypso sound but fair play, he makes it work. One song that sticks out for me is "That Girl," which Glenn co wrote with Bob Seger. It is definitely Glenn's style of song but you can hear Bob's influence on it as well. It had me wondering out loud if these two did any more collaborations and saying it's a shame if they hadn't. Furthermore, I do like the lead guitar intro in "All Those Lies," a classic Eagles type jam, kind of reminiscent of "One of These Nights." The closer, "Don't Give Up," is the hardest rocker on the album. Some impressive guitar and a couple of solos make sure this album goes out on a high.

Track Listing:

1. I Found Somebody

2. The One You Love

3. Party Town

4. I Volunteer

5. I've Been Born Again

6. Sea Cruise

7. That Girl

8. All Those Lies

9. She Can't Let Go

10. Don't Give Up

[caption id="attachment_2716" align="aligncenter" width="190"] Glenn Frey[/caption]

Glenn Frey- vocals, guitar, organ, synthesizer, bass, keyboards, piano, clavinet

Wayne Perkins- acoustic guitar

Duncan Cameron- electric guitar

Danny Kootch Korchmar- lead guitar

Josh Leo- lead guitar

Roger Hawkins- bass, drums

Bryan Garofalo- bass

Bob Glaub- bass

David Hood- bass

Roberto Pinon- bass

Michael Huey- drums

John J.R. Robinson- drums

Allen Balzeck- keyboards

Clayton Ivey- piano

David Hawk Wallinsky- organ, synthesizer

Al Garth -tenor sax

Greg Smith- sax, backing vocals

William Bergman- saxophone

Harvey Thompson- saxophone

Jim Coiles- saxophone

Ronnie Eades- saxophone

Jim Horn- saxophone

Ernie Watts- saxophone

Lee Thornburg- trumpet

John Berry Jr- trumpet

Jim Ed Norman- strings

Steve Foreman- percussion

Heart Attack- horns

It's hard to say for sure if there was any sort of rivalry between Glenn Frey and Don Henley or if Glenn had the dilemma that some artists have when they are/were in a group and record a solo album. All I know is that "No Fun Aloud" is a suitable solo debut album from Glenn Frey.

Next post: Styx- Kilroy Was Here

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

Great Rock Albums of 1982: Don Henley- I Can't Stand Still

Sometimes I wonder if musicians who are in a band and then put out their own solo albums aren't faced with an agonizing worry on how their albums are to be received. If the album sound too much like that of their band, they are accused of just putting out the same album with different musicians. On the other hand, if they venture too far from that band's sound, they are criticized for being too diverse or if the album sounds somewhat commercial, selling out. People of little or no experience of heavy metal have accused both Ozzy and Bruce Dickinson of doing the former in spite of the fact that when you listen to those albums, there are notable differences  in the sound between Ozzy and Black Sabbath as well as Bruce and Iron Maiden. No pleasing some people I suppose. Having heard many a solo album, I think the one album that best successfully strides the line between these two extremes is the solo album by Tyketto's Danny Vaughn, "Soldiers and Sailors on Riverside." It is my favourite melodic rock album of the 2000+ era and while there are some moments where you can hear the Tyketto influence, he definitely does his own thing without totally diversing and it sounds very good. Therefore, I wonder if back in 1982, I wonder if Don Henley had such a worry when he released his first solo album following the demise of The Eagles.

It took me a couple of listens to "I Can't Stand Still" before I finally remembered how good it is. Fortunately,  I am more musically open minded than I was in 1982 and that helped me appreciate it even more. While the influence of Henley's days with The Eagles is definitely there, he puts his own spin on things. It's not "Hotel California" but it was wrong of me to expect it to be. The closest songs that come to that on "I Can't Stand Still" are the tracks "You Better Hang Up," "Nobody's Business" and "Them and Us." As far as The Eagles go, I have always believed that Henley's voice was best suited for their ballads and this is certainly proven with the two ballads on this album, "Long Way Home" and "Talking To The Moon." Ironically, it is the single from the album where Don puts his best personal stamp. "Dirty Laundry" may sound like new wave synth pop to the untrained ear but it is definitely his song and the guitar solos are the best on the album. The following track and probably my favourite, "Johnny Can't Read," gets the same sort of work from Don. What amazes me the most about "I Can't Stand Still" is the sheer number of musicians Henley gets to play on the album with him. I mean, he practically used all of Toto at some point on the album.

Track Listing:

1. I Can't Stand Still

2. You Better Hang Up

3. Long Way From Home

4. Nobody's Home

5. Talking to the Moon

6. Dirty Laundry

7. Johnny Can't Read

8. Them and Us

9. La Eile

10. Lilah

11. The Unclouded Day

[caption id="attachment_2710" align="aligncenter" width="201"] Don Henley[/caption]

Don Henley- drums, lead vocals, keyboards

Ras Baboo- percussion, timbales

Derek Bell- harp

Kenny Edwards- bass, guitar

Steve Foreman- percussion

Bob Glaub- bass

Louise Goffin- vocals, gut string guitar

Andrew Gold- keyboards

Max Gronenthal- vocals, gut string guitar

George Gruel- vocals

Garth Hudson- synthesizer

Maren Jensen- vocals, gut string guitar

Danny Kooch Korchmar- bass, guitars, synthesizers, backing vocals

Ross Kunkel- drums

Steve Lukather- guitar

Paddy Maloney- whistle, ulliean pipes

Jeff Porcaro- drums, moracas

Steve Porcaro- keyboards

Timothy B Schmidt- bass, guitar, vocals

Leland Sklar- bass

JD Souther- acoustic guitar, gut string guitar

Benmont Trench- keyboards

Waddy Watchel- electric guitar

Ian Wallace- drums

Joe Walsh- lead guitar

Max Williams- drums

Bill Withers- vocals, gut string guitar

Warren Zevon- vocals, gut string guitar

Don Henley made an impressive start out of the blocks in his solo career with "I Can't Stand Still." While he doesn't completely abandon his past, he isn't afraid to be his own person with the album and once that conclusion is arrived at, it makes the album that much more enjoyable.

Next post; Glen Frey- No Fun Aloud

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

Great Rock Albums of 1982: Steve Miller Band- Abracadabra

Unfortunately for the Steve Miller Band, they were another artist, like Billy Joel, I had written off as selling out in the early 1980s. They were another band I was quite into in the late 1970s only to go off them in the early 80s. After some reflection, I have come to the conclusion as to why I accused both Billy Joel and the Steve Miller Band of selling out. By late 1982, mainstream popular music and I were heading into totally opposite directions. While music was going into more new wave synth pop, my musical tastes were growing more and more harder and while I didn't realise it at the time, I was well on my way to becoming a metalhead.
Whatever the reason, however, the best known song and title cut from the Steve Miller Band's 1982 album, "Abracadabra," is not one of the songs that first come to mind when I think of this band. This is in spite of the fact that when I went to the Driftwood in 1982 and I went there a lot in the four months I was in the US, there was a dancer, (not Twinkles, she had stopped dancing there in Autumn of 81), who knew how to work the stage to that song. Fortunately, as I know all too well, one song does not an album make.

[caption id="attachment_2237" align="aligncenter" width="258"] The Driftwood (I still can't believe I found a picture of it online)[/caption]

The best sticker I can assign to "Abracadabra" is soft rock or mellow out rock or melodic rock, probably a combination of all the above. The album has its good moments. While it was softer than what my musical tastes would allow at the time, at least it's done with guitars and no synthesizers. You  can hear this in each and every song. "Give It Up" gets my vote for number one song and I have to give an honourable mention to "Never Say No," "Cool Magic" and the closer "While I'm Waiting." When I listened to the album again after so many years, I realised that it still possessed the quality musicianship I had come to appreciate about the Steve Miller Band back in the late 70s. I just didn't appreciate it back in 1982.

Track Listing:

1. Keeps Me Wondering Why

2. Abracadabra

3. Something Special

4. Give It Up

5. Never Say No

6. Things I Told You

7. Young Girl's Heart

8. Goodbye Love

9. Cool Magic

10. While I'm Waiting

[caption id="attachment_2691" align="aligncenter" width="280"] Steve Miller Band[/caption]

    The Steve Miller Band has always appealed to my more mellower side and I must give credit to where credit is due, the "Abracadabra" album is as good as some of their others although "Fly Like an Eagle" remains my favourite. I realise now that my mind was so focused on hard rock that the album didn't tickle my fancy back in 1982. Times change and though I still focus on the hard stuff, I can take time and appreciate some of the more melodic offerings like this album.

Next post: Uriah Heep- Abominog

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 1982: Billy Joel- The Nylon Curtain

April Fool's Day has past and I am glad that everybody enjoyed my little joke last week but as Rich from Kamertunes pointed out, many of us have our musical guilty pleasures, here's mine. I freely admit that back in the late 1970s, I liked the music of Billy Joel. I thought that "The Stranger" and "52nd Street" were both good albums and they led me to find an album that I thought was even better than those, "Piano Man." The title cut and "Captain Jack" from that album are my two favourite Billy Joel tunes. Then in 1980, he put out the "Glass Houses" album, which confirmed my belief that he had it in him to rock. Therefore, I was pretty optimistic when I heard about his 1982 album, "The Nylon Curtain."

This album takes Billy in a totally different direction. It's not a rock out like "Glass Houses" but he doesn't sit behind the piano on every song like the albums before that one. In fact, he plays other keyboard type instruments and has more musicians behind him in making the album. The result for me was quite interesting.

"The Nylon Curtain is yet again another album from 1982 that begins with its best known single. I've always liked "Allentown" because of the use of the acoustic guitar and what the song is about. Back in the early 1980s, factories, mines and other types of manual industry were being closed down resulting in unemployment soaring to over 10%. Many Americans felt that the American Dream had ended and this song is a good tribute to those who suffered during those times. I'm tempted to go political here but I won't and if you listen to the lyrics of the song, you will see what I mean.

While it might not be guitar rock, there are some rocking moments on "The Nylon Curtain." One of these is certainly "Goodnight Saigon." That song not only rocks but it is the second song that year which paid tribute to the Vietnam Veterans. "Still in Saigon" by the Charlie Daniels Band was the first. "Pressure" is a good new wave type song where Billy goes wild on the keyboards. He does deliver on that one. The hidden surprise for me on this album has to be "Surprises" (no pun intended.) This starts like it is going to be a traditional Billy Joel tune but he does go in a rock direction on it. I can't fault any of the other songs on the album even if they don't stand out as much as the ones mentioned.

Track Listing:

1. Allentown

2. Laura

3. Pressure

4. Goodnight Saigon

5. She's Right on Time

6. A Room of Our Own

7. Surprises

8. Scandinavian Skies

9. Where's The Orchestra

[caption id="attachment_1661" align="aligncenter" width="199"] Billy Joel[/caption]

Billy Joel- vocals, piano, organ synthesizers, Synclavier II

David Brown- lead guitar

Dominic Cortese- accordion

Liberty De Vitto- drums, percussion

Eddie Daniels- saxophone and clarinet

Russell Javors- rhythm guitar

Charles McCracken- cello

Rob Mounsey- synthesizer on "Scandinavian Skies"

Doug Stegmeyer- bass

Bill Zampino- field snare on "Goodnight Saigon"

For me, this would be the last good album from Billy Joel. He would sell out with his next album and I wouldn't take him seriously after that. All of the Billy Joel albums before this one were good and showed his musical ability. It's just a shame that he would settle for being popular.

Next post: Bruce Springsteen- Nebraska

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Great Rock Albums of 1982: Fleetwood Mac- Mirage

Back in 1982, music video was still very new to many artists. MTV had only been up and running for a year and there were many households throughout the USA who did not have the channel. There would have been no way that having it on any of the base televisions would have even remotely considered. Therefore, the only music video I got to see was if I happened to catch "America's Top Ten" and that wasn't something I went out of my way to watch, unlike "World Championship Wrestling." So, it was just luck of the draw that I managed to catch it on one Saturday. That week, REO Speedwagon and John Cougar had the only songs I thought of any worth in the top ten but then Casey Kasem showed the video for the new single from Fleetwood Mac, "Gypsy." I liked the song, thought the video was okay and was glad to hear that they had put out a new album.

"Mirage" is a pretty good album, the problem for me and I suppose many people, is that after putting out an album like "Rumours" five years earlier, it would always be an extremely difficult feat to measure up to. Back in 1979, I should have seen the "Tusk" album as a sign. The problem with "Mirage"  and "Tusk" for that fact is that it lacks the variety of the all time great. While listening to "Mirage," I patiently waited for a rocking jam like "Go Your Own Way" or a killer guitar solo from Lindsey Buckingham similar to "Don't Stop." Plus, I don't think it would have been too much to ask if they allowed John McVie to pump out a killer bass line like on "The Chain." Even an amusing little ditty like "Second Hand News" would have been cool, but none of these things are present on "Mirage."

Enough of the negative because it is still an enjoyable album. One thing that does come over from the "Rumours" album and I've always loved her dearly for it, is the eccentricity of Stevie Nicks. It's her vocals on "Gypsy" that made me check out the album in the first place. She does a similar job on "Straight Back." That is the first track where Buckingham stops being introverted with his guitar and plays a decent solo. That combination makes it the best track on the album for me.
If it was up to me, I would have left the first four tracks of this album off and started it with "Gypsy." From there on is where the album shines with tracks like "Hold Me" and a little bit of "Second Hand News" humour on "Empire State." The closer, "Wish You Were Here," is where Lindsey finally gets into full swing with the guitar making it the best song contributed by Christine McVie. That track gives an all well that ends well feel to things.

Track Listing:

1. Love in Store

2. Can't Go Back

3. That's Alright

4. Book of Love

5. Gypsy

6. Only Over You

7. Empire State

8. Straight Back

9. Hold Me

10. Oh Diane

11. Eyes of the World

12. Wish You Were Here

[caption id="attachment_1366" align="aligncenter" width="252"] Fleetwood Mac[/caption]

Lindsey Buckingham- guitar, vocals, keyboards

Christine McVie- keyboards, vocals

Stevie Nicks- vocals

John McVie- bass

Mick Fleetwood- drums, percussion

My advice to anyone who wants to listen to "Mirage" by Fleetwood Mac is to not think about "Rumours." The albums don't compare and you may feel disappointed. If you listen to it with an open mind, you will find the album very much enjoyable. It was still one of the better softer rock albums in 1982.

Next post: Night Ranger- Dawn Patrol

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Great Rock Albums of 1982: Toto- IV

When I listen to the fourth album by Toto, I find myself pining for what could have been. Three years prior, they came rocking into the world with the heavy rock sound of "Hold the Line." Those riffs are still catchy within my own mind and back in 1979, that song was an island that refused to be flooded in the sea of disco that was around at the time. "Toto IV" is a total departure from the sound in the song I have already mentioned. It follows subsequent albums in going into a more progressive, pop oriented sound. None of the songs on this fourth album come close to sounding like "Hold the Line."

This doesn't mean the album is bad, it's not. The members of Toto are all talented musicians and it shows on the album. Take the opening song and like many albums of 1982 thus far, the biggest single on the album. If "Rosanna" had been done by some fly by night, 80s synth pop group put together by the likes of Stock, Aiken and Waterman, then it would have totally sucked. Sure, it might have been a top ten single but quickly buried and forgotten. The reason why "Rosanna" appears on a number of rock compilation albums is the good musicianship behind it. Hearing the lyrics does make me want to say "Oh God" but then comes a cool keyboard solo and later a decent guitar solo. They make the song and probably why it has stood the test of time. Other songs on the album are in the same vein. Eight out of the next nine songs are mellow out progressive jazzy blues sounding songs which are great to sit down and listen to but I won't be listening to them on my way to Amon Amarth in a couple of weeks. The only song that goes anywhere near hard rock is "Afraid of Love" but that song is let down by a keyboard interlude where a cranking guitar solo should be. Still, the musicianship of Toto carry the songs through.

The closer, "Africa," is more of the same but probably my favourite song on the album. Like the previous nine songs, the closer is definitely a strong progressive song. Unlike "Rosanna," the lyrics for me are more listenable and the quality musicianship remains but I think they could have used a better instrumental break than the one in the song, perhaps a guitar solo. Still, it is the best song on the album for me.

Track Listing:

1. Rosanna

2. Make Me Believe

3. I Won't Hold You Back

4. Good For You

5. It's a Feeling

6. Afraid of Love

7. Lovers in the Night

8. We Made It

9. Waiting for Your Love

10. Africa

[caption id="attachment_1266" align="aligncenter" width="224"] Toto[/caption]

David Paich- keyboards, lead and backing vocals, all horn and orchestral arrangements

Steve Lukather- guitars, lead and backing vocals

Bobby Kimball- lead and backing vocals

Jeff Procraro- drums, percussion ,tympani

Steve Procraro- keyboards, lead vocals

David Hungate- bass

"Toto IV" is probably the reason why Wayne Campbell of Wayne's World fame put "anything by Toto" as the number two party killing song. I have to disagree somewhat here. While I wouldn't listen to the album on my way to a metal concert, I would still listen to it at more appropriate times. This is a good easy listening album, with some decent songs and quality musicianship.

Next post: Dire Straits- Lover Over Gold

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Great Rock Albums of 1982: John Cougar- American Fool

Before anyone starts putting their hands up in a Arnold Horshak moment to tell that his name is now John Mellancamp, let me just say that as far as I'm concerned, in 1982, he was simply John Cougar. I remember watching a tv interview with him and he explained the reason behind the name change. Simply, he was advised by his agent that Mellancamp wasn't a rock and roll name. Therefore, he took on the name Cougar in order to sound more hard rock. It was only when he achieved commercial success that he retook his real surname and then eventually dropped the Cougar all together but that story is for some time down the future.

[caption id="attachment_2513" align="aligncenter" width="128"] Arnold Horshak from the TV show Welcome Back Kotter[/caption]

"American Fool" was the commercial breakthrough album for John Cougar featuring the hit singles "Hurt So Good," my second favourite song of his and the more known "Jack And Diane," which got so much air play at the time that I got tired of hearing it. It would be at least another decade and a half before I finally could enjoy that song again.

Keeping with the trend in 1982, those two songs lead off the album but fortunately, like many of the albums covered so far from 1982, the rest of the album has more behind it. The songs on the album all have the vibe of straight forward no nonsense rock and roll that Cougar said he was trying to achieve. I have to agree, while "American Fool" isn't a head banger, there is some good guitar hard rock to go around. In fact, I must say that after a renewed listen, I'm quite impressed with some of the guitar work on it. Sure, there's no blood curdling solos but the guitars do enhance the feel good factor. One of those albums you listen to while driving in the car or sitting on the front step with a beer in hand, though I wouldn't recommend it this time of year. Tracks that really impress me were "Danger List" and "Can You Take It" but needless to say, the other tracks are worth a listen as well. John Cougar livened up those summer months of that year when I was actually in the States.

Track Listing:

1. Hurt So Good

2. Jack and Diane

3. Hand to Hold On To

4. Danger List

5. Can You Take It

6. Thundering Hearts

7. China Girl

8. Close Enough

9. Weakest Moments

10. American Fool

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

John Cougar- lead vocals

Larry Krane- guitar, backing vocals

Mike Wanchic- guitar, backing vocals

Kenny Aronoff- drums

George 'Chocolate' Perry- bass

Mick Ronson- guitar, backing vocals

Robert 'Ferd' Frank- bass, backing vocals

Eric Rosser- keyboards

David Parman- backing vocals

I think that "American Fool" came at a perfect time when you could play straight forward rock without being catagorised into something else. I have met people a couple of years after this album who considered John Cougar to be heavy metal. No way, but it is enjoyable good rock.

Next post: The Jam- The Gift

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