Great Rock Albums of 1980: Dire Straits- Communique

I first came by this album back in 1980 in what for me was rather unusual fashion. In December of said year, I was on liberty in Naples, Italy often referred to by American sailors and marines as the grease pit of the Mediterranean. Not to offend any Italians who may be reading this but it's not the cleanest city I've been to and if you want to see your life flash before your eyes, then take a taxi. I only saw one traffic light in the whole of the city. Well, two marine buddies and I were letting our hair down in the city, (it was our first port call after leaving the Persian Gulf) so we went a bit wild. We began partying with this Englishman who had just bought this album and one owner of one of the bars we went to let him play it and I must say that through my drunken haze, I rather liked it.

Thirty three years later and sober, I still like it, probably even more. Mark Knopfler's guitar work grabs you on the very first track, "Once Upon a Time in the West" and holds you there. The next four tracks bring you more bluesy guitar work and it reminds me a little of the Grateful Dead or Little Feat. All good tracks and just as you think you're settling in for more of the same, the sixth track, "Angels of Mercy" changes the tempo and gets you back into it again. A very strong track and I'm pretty sure they played it when I saw them live in 1985. Then you get more of that same blues guitar from Knopfler and co in the next to the last song, "Single Handed Sailor" where the guitar work is reminiscent of the classic "Sultans of Swing." When it's all over, you end with a feeling that you've just heard an album by a very good band.

Track Listing:

1. Once Upon a Time in the West

2. News

3. Where Do You Think You're Going

4. Comminque

5. Lady Writer

6. Angel of Mercy

7. Portobello Belle

8. Single Handed Sailor

9. Follow Me Home

Dire Straits

Mark Knopfler- lead guitar, vocals

David Knopfler- rhythm guitar, vocals

John Illsley- bass, vocals

Pick Withers- drums

B. Bear- keyboards

"Communique" to me is a very underrated album, which is why I'm slightly surprised to discover that it got to number 11 in the U.S. charts and much higher in others. For hearing blues based guitar, this album is one of the best, a great gem.

Next post: Journey- Departure

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

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Great Rock Albums of 1980: Heart- Bebe Le Strange

Heart rocked the world throughout the 1970's with a string of hard rock albums that brought them great fame. Some of those albums have been visited in earlier posts and I stand by my claim that Ann and Nancy Wilson were the first modern rock chicks. On the flip side, many have said that their 1980 album wasn't as good as any of their predecessors. True, by this time Heart were engulfed in internal strife and guitarist Roger Fisher left the band some months earlier. However, none of that was reflected on this album in any way in my view.

The title track sets the album in the right direction from the outset incorporating everything one knew and loved about Heart. The bluesy "Down On Me" is definitely a likeable track and as always, Nancy gets to show off her guitar talent on the acoustic instrumental, "Silver Wheels." "Break" and "Rockin' Heaven Down" are true rock songs even if the former song does kind of end abruptly. This leads fine to the second single "Even It Up" whose rhythm reminds a little of the classic Heart anthem, "Magic Man." Then you get some more rocking from the next three tracks before the album ends on the ballad, "Sweet Darlin." So I ask myself after just having had a 38 minute rock out, "What is there not to like about "Bebe le Strange?" I sure can't find anything.

Track Listing:

1. Bebe le Strange

2. Down On Me

3. Silver Wheels

4. Break

5. Rockin Heaven Down

6. Even It Up

7. Strange Night

8. Raised On You

9. Pilot

10. Sweet Darlin

Heart

Ann Wilson- vocals

Nancy Wilson- guitar, vocals, piano, mellotron

Howard Leese- guitar, keyboards synthesisers, backing vocals

Mike DeRosier- drums, percussion

Steve Fossen- bass

It was a great way to wake up on a Sunday morning! Hearing this album again after so many years gave me such a good rock out this morning and I've been feeling the groove throughout the whole day. So what if Heart made this album during their infighting. It proves that once you get down to business, you can still achieve great things. "Bebe le Strange" is an underrated album by Heart and it is definitely worth a listen again.

Next post: Dire Straits- Communique

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Great Rock Albums of 1980: Warren Zevon- Bad Luck Streak in Dancing School

I plead guilty to the fact that when you hear an album from a particular artist, you expect their next album to be pretty much exactly the same and you are a bit disappointed when it's not. However, I know I'm not the only one. This was the case when I heard this 1980 release from Warren Zevon. His 1978 album "Excitable Boy" had me rolling on the floor in stiches with songs like "Excitable Boy" and "Lawyers, Guns and Money." Even the hit single "Werewolves of London" deeply amused me. However, I can't say the same with "Bad Luck Streak in Dancing School." None of the songs had me laughing the same way and maybe that was a good thing. I now appreciate how good of a musician Warren Zevon actually is.

Okay, so the album wasn't as hilarious as its predecessor. The most amusing songs on the album are "Jeannie Needs a Shooter" (co written with Bruce Springsteen) and "Gorilla, You're a Desperado" and then there's the song "Play It All Night Long" which satirizes the famous Lynyrd Skynyrd tune "Sweet Home Alabama." The rest of the album just contains some decent songs which are still enjoyable to listen to. It leaves me to conclude that Warren Zevon never got the recognition he deserved for his talents as a singer, musician and song writer. Furthermore, he puts a good band behind him and there are contributions on the album from Jackson Browne, Linda Ronstadt, Glen Frey, Don Henley, Don Felder and Joe Walsh to name a few.

Track Listing:

1. Bad Luck Streak in Dancing School

2. A Certain Girl

3. Jungle Work

4. Empty Handed Heart

5. Interlude No.1

6. Play It All Night Long

7. Jeannie Needs a Shooter

8. Interlude No. 2.

9. Bill Lee

10. Gorilla, You're a Desperado

11.Bed of Coals

12. Wild Age

Warren Zevon- vocals, piano, bass, guitar, organ, synthesiser, keyboards, harmonica

Jorge Calderon- guitar, vocals

David Lindley- guitar, violin, steel guitar

Rick Marotta- drums, percussion, bells, vocals

If you fancy a listen to a decent light hearted rock album, than this one is a sure thing. There are some amusing moments on it with some good songs to get into. I know, I'll be checking out more of Warren Zevon's work in the future.

Next post: Heart- Bebe Le Strange

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

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Great Rock Albums of 1980: The Cars- Panorama

We've established that bands whose second albums don't match their debut one is the sophomore jinx but what about a band's third album? Does that make it the junior jinx? Those who went to high school in North America will know what I'm talking about here. Some people may put that branding on the third album by The Cars since many consider it not as good as their first two albums. I'm inclined to agree with that. "Panorama" isn't quite as good as the self titled debut nor "Candy O." Still, this in no way makes it a bad album, in fact, I very much enjoyed listening to it.

Why do people consider "Panorama" to be not as good. I explanation I can offer (and I whole heartedly agree with Stone over at Metal Odyssey with this) was that in the last two years of the 70's, The Cars were ahead of their time. The problem was that by 1980, time was catching up with them. Many rock artists had a listen to them and thought, "These guys got something here." Therefore, in 1980, many started to copy their unique sound. So when the third album wasn't anything totally different, the reception wasn't as great. However, a more simpler reason is that it's hard enough following up one great album, it's even harder to follow two. BTW, The Cars weren't the only ones to experience this in 1980, but you will have to stay tuned for the other one.

"Panorama" starts off well with the title track and goes quickly to the song "Touch and Go" which I know from having their greatest hits album. I'll admit that it's not the greatest of their greatest hits, but it's still a good song and the next two songs "Give Me Some Slack" and "Don't Tell Me No" carry the album through fairly well. Then comes track five, "Getting Through" that really grabbed my attention and kicked things into gear, a very good song to say the least. "Misfit Kid" is a good bridge to the next really memorable track, "Down Boys." This to made me stop what I was doing and listen more closely, I especially liked the introduction. The next track, "You Wear Those Eyes," didn't impress me at first, then came a very interesting guitar bridge and that turned my opinion on the song. As I said before, Elliot Easton isn't a great guitarist all the time but he definitely shines when he's needed to. The final two tracks do their job in taking the album home. So all in all, there is absolutely nothing wrong with "Panorama," it's a good solid album from a group that doesn't disappoint.

Track Listing:

1. Panorama

2. Touch and Go

3. Give Me Some Slack

4. Don't Tell Me No

5. Getting Through

6. Misfit Kid

7. Down Boys

8. You Wear Those Eyes

9. Running to You

10. Up and Down

The Cars

Ric Ocasek- rhythm guitar, lead vocals on tracks 1,2,3,5,6,8,10

Elliot Easton- lead guitar, backing vocals

Benjamin Orr- bass, lead vocals on tracks 4,7,8,9

Greg Hawkes- keyboards, backing vocals

David Robinson- drums, percussion

The rest of the rock world might have caught up with The Cars in 1980, but that doesn't make "Panorama" a bad album. It was an enjoyable listen but then again, people tried to duplicate them but The Cars are the original thing.

Next post: Warren Zevon- Bad Luck Streak in Dancing School

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 Jam- Sound Affects

The Jam were another British band that were big in their own country but hardly heard of in the USA. At least I didn't hear of them until the mid 80s and that was when Paul Weller was making it solo and The Jam were referred to in retrospect to him. Worse still, I didn't listen to them until much later and if you read my post on their 1979 album "Setting Sons," you will know the history behind it. I still like to once again thank my ex-wife for introducing them to me.

In the late 70s, they had that angry British punk sound that typified the era and the country back then. In 1980, the punk scene in the UK was beginning to die out and make a new beginning on the West Coast of the USA. I think that is reflected in this album. There is that very notable sound that The Jam possessed back then, only with "Sound Affects," the ferocity began to slow down a bit. The only song, I would call angry is "Set the House Ablaze" and that happens to be my favourite song on the album, but I won't deride the others either. "Man In the Corner Shop" is a good one as well as "Monday." The others are also reminiscent of The Jam with that short, sharp rock sound that took them to the top. But instead of going at 200 miles an hour, it goes about 150 and there is nothing wrong with that.

Track Listing:

1. Pretty Green

2. Monday

3. But I'm Different Now

4. Set the House Ablaze

5. Start

6. That's Entertainment

7. Dream Time

8. Man In the Corner Shop

9. Music For the Last Couple

10. Boy About Town

11. Scrape Away

The Jam

Paul Weller- guitar, vocals

Bruce Foxton- bass, backing vocals

Rick Buckler- drums, percussion

Punk may have been in reference to a famous Jam song going underground in 1980, but it didn't stop one of the big names of British Punk from putting out a cool album. It might not have been as fast or as angry, but it doesn't stop it from being good.

Next post: The Cars- Panorama

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

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Great Rock Albums of 1980: Bruce Springsteen- The River

If it wasn't for me hearing about this album while I was on sea duty during the last four months of 1980 and the first two of '81, I would have delayed the album to 1981. I can't remember who it was but one of my fellow marines had a copy of "The River" by Bruce Springsteen (cassette, always cassette in the military due to limited living space) and played it to which I have to say that I was duly impressed. The very first track, "The Ties That Bind" is all you could ask for with a traditional Springsteen album and sets the stage throughout this impressive double album.

What I really like about it too is that fact that it talks about the two sides of life. There are some fun happy tracks like "Sherry Darling" and "Crush On You" but it also talks about some of the more depressing things of that time, recession, unemployment  and other aspects of life that aren't all apple pie and smiles. The title track for me was the sign of the time for many people then and there was no getting away from that. The track "Drive All Night" has been used in not one but two films, "Copland" and "Reign Over Me." However, no matter what the mood of any given song, there is that well known and loved straight ahead rock and roll sound that has made Springsteen famous for nearly forty years. As usual, he has the E Street Band backing him up and they as always, don't disappoint.

Track Listing:

1. The Ties That Bind

2. Sherry Darling

3. Jackson Cage

4. Two Hearts

5. Independence Day

6. Hungry Heart

7. Out In The Street

8. Crush On You

9. You Can Look (But You Better Not Touch)

10. I Want To Marry You

11. The River

12. Point Blank

13. Cadillac Ranch

14. I'm a Rocker

15. Fade Away

16. Stolen Car

17. Ramrod

18. The Price You Pay

19. Drive All Night

20. Wreck On The Highway

Bruce Springsteen

Bruce Springsteen- vocals, guitar, harmonica, piano

Roy Bittan- piano, organ, backing vocals

Clarence Clemmons- saxophone, percussion, backing vocals

Danny Federicci- organ, glockenspiel

Garry Talent- bass

Steve Van Zandt- acoustic and electric guitars, backing vocals

Max Weinberg- drums

Pick any song on this album, even the top ten single "Hungry Heart" and no doubt it will be a good one. "The River" is definitely Bruce Springsteen at his best and the songs on the album bear testimony to that. It has been considered among his best with "Born to Run" and "Born in the USA" and I can hear why.

My Bloodstock Tickets

Next post: Will probably come out next week because as already mentioned, I'm off to the Bloodstock Festival on Sunday. Unfortunately, I have to go to the in laws for the next three days after that so I'm afraid you won't read my account of Sunday until then. But you will get the account.

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 Knack- But the Little Girls Understand

So far, when I have been throwing around the term “sophomore jinx,” I have referred it to acts who managed to escape it. Great rock acts like Boston, Pat Benatar and The Cars who put out equally good or better second albums after having impacted with a great debut album. Unfortunately for The Knack, they didn’t escape the sophomore jinx with their second album “But the Little Girls Understand.” My first experience of it was when I saw the album’s first single, “Baby Talks Dirty” on the juke box in my Enlisted Men’s club. Expecting great things, I played the song but even before the song had finished, I concluded that I had wasted my quarter. For that reason and all of the negative things I began hearing about the album, I never bought it. I remember that it was universally slammed as being a long way down from their debut “Get the Knack” album. One rock magazine later on in 1980 ran an article “Will The Knack End Up On the 99cent Rack?” And when they put out their third album in 1981, a friend remarked, “They dare put out another album.”
The other night, I finally got around listening to a few tracks on youtube and I have discovered that the second album from the album may not have been as bad as I have been led to think. True, “Baby Talks Dirty” is still the dirge I thought it was 33 years ago but some of the other tracks are ok, not great but ok. None of them really stick out for me however and what I find disappointing from the tracks I did listen to is there wasn’t one guitar solo from Berton Averre.

Track Listing:

1.Baby Talks Dirty“

                                                                                                       2.  I Want Ya

3. Tell Me You’re Mine

4. Mr. Handleman

•     5. Can’t Put a Price on Love“
•                 6. Hold on Tight and Don’t Let Go

7. The Hard Way

8. It’s You

• 9. End of the Game
• 10.The Feeling I Get
• 11.(Havin’ a) Rave Up
• 12. How Can Love Hurt So Much

The Knack

Berton Averre- lead guitar

Doug Fieger- rhythm guitar, vocals

Bruce Gary drums

Prescott Niles- bass

One great thing about having a fabulous debut album is that it greatly affects the sales of the second album. In spite of all the negativity directed at “But the Little Girls Understand,” it still went platinum and peaked at number 15 in the charts. While I have to agree that it was a long way down from “Get the Knack” it’s not as bad as I first thought. Maybe I will listen to it one more time and see if anything sticks out.
Next post: I am going to be away a lot for the next two weeks as I’m going on holiday. The first week, I’ll be in Torquay and no I won’t be staying at the Fawlty Towers and the second, I’ll be in Grimsby visiting the in laws. However, in between the trips, I will be going to Bloodstock and I can’t wait. If I can get on here before Bloodstock, the album I will cover will be “The River” by Bruce Springsteen.” If not, then in two weeks, you will get my account from Bloodstock.
To buy Rock And Roll Children, go towww.strategicpublishinggroup.com/title/RockAndRollChildren.html
Also available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Froogle and on sale at Foyles Book Shop in London