Great Rock Albums of 1983: Nantucket- No Direction Home

 

One thing I am grateful for as I reflect back on 1983 was the fact that I got to spend my remaining three months in the marines in North Carolina. If I hadn't, I might have missed out on some great stuff from a few of the great Southern Rock bands that were around at the time, Nantucket being one of them. By 1983, Southern Rock was once again contained to the South. Many people from the North had moved on from listening to what for me was a great sub-genre of rock. In the case of Nantucket, it was most unfortunate, because the world didn't get to hear what a great band they were.

Memories came flooding back as soon as I listened to the album, "No Direction Home," after so many years. I remember the single, "Hiding From Love," which was written by Bryan Adams getting a good amount of airplay on the local station in North Carolina. While Bryan's influence can be heard on the song, Nantucket certainly make the song their own, adding that Southern boogie vibe that all great Southern Rock bands are known for.

A criticism that was being aimed at Southern bands in the mid- 1980s was they were abandoning their roots to sound more mainstream. There is some sign of this with "No Direction Home," with the fore-mentioned single and the cover of Marvin Gaye's "Ain't That Peculiar." Saying that, Nantucket still stamp their authority on both songs and that's where any thoughts of mainstream ends. That point is made crystal clear with the hard rocking opener. The second song, "I Don't Want to Lose You" is more of a blues based song and it's done very well. Following the two songs already mentioned that they didn't write, there are some steaming rockers, "Morning, Noon and Night" and "Ready For Your Love" before slowing down to the ballad "Come Home Darling." That is as good a power ballad as any. The album finishes on a very high note with three more rockers with the closer, "Tennessee Whiskey," being everything you've always loved about Southern Rock. A massive heart pumping rocker about a favourite Southern past-time, drinking whiskey.

Another disservice to Nantucket is the lack or respect to the guitarists, Tommy Redd and Mark Downing. These two deserve to being mentioned among the great names of Gary Rossington, Allen Collins, Rick Medlocke, Duane Rowlands and Dave Hlubeck. They're that good! Nantucket offer a unique feature as well in the form of saxophonist Eddie Blair. I'm going to go out on a limb and say he's as good as Clarence Clemmons of Bruce Springsteen fame. In evidence, I ask you to listen to "Girl I Got Your Number."

Track Listing:

1. No Direction Home
2. I Don't Want To Lose You
3. Hiding From Love
4. Ain't That Peculiar
5. Morning, Noon and Night
6. Ready For Your Love
7. Come Home Darling
8. Never Felt This Way Before
9. Girl I Got Your Number
10. Tennessee Whiskey

[caption id="attachment_1322" align="aligncenter" width="472"] Nantucket[/caption]

Gary Uzzell- lead and backing vocals

Tommy Redd- guitar, backing vocals

Eddie Blair- keyboards, saxophone, backing vocals

Mark Downing- guitar

Richard Gates- drums

David 'Thumbs' Johnson- bass, backing vocals

I had the fortune of seeing Nantucket live two months before I left the service on tour supporting the "No Direction Home" album. (The above photo wasn't taken at that concert). They headlined a local festival called the Mayfair and I remembered they were brilliant, though I wish I wasn't so partied out by the time they hit the stage. While they were great in the South, I still think they were cheated out of their chance to gain wider attention.

Next post: Doc Holliday- Modern Medicine

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

Great Rock Albums of 1983: Thomas Dolby- The Golden Age of the Wirless

 

In many musical circles, Thomas Dolby is considered a one hit wonder, only known for his classic song, "She Blinded Me With Science." Me personally, I've always liked that song, always having loved humour in music and there is plenty of it to be found in "She Blinded Me With Science." What I loved best is the background voices that hilariously repeat the title or just say, "Science!" Furthermore, the keyboards in it are played very well. However, for those of us who take our music slightly more seriously, Thomas Dolby is not a one hit wonder. As I reflect back to 1983, I think that he represented the crossroads between progressive rock and the synth pop that made up much of the 1980s. I also know that I wasn't the only metalhead who liked Thomas Dolby, so for any of my metal brethren out there, don't be afraid to step forward and admit it. There's nothing to be ashamed about.

The trademark keyboards that I mentioned on the hit single can be found throughout the entire album. Some of the tracks are quite trippy bordering on space rock. "Weightless" and "Windpower" are two of these. I could easily listen to both of those songs along with Hawkwind or a Paul Kantner solo album and they wouldn't be out of place. Dolby's vocals add to the trippy feeling. He doesn't try to make any of these songs sound commercial, barring "She Blinded Me With Science" but it's the humour that makes that song for me. "Commercial Breakup" goes more in a traditional progressive rock direction while at the same time having a reggae feel to it, nicely done. What Dolby does on "The Golden Age of the Wireless" is employ the modern technology of the time into his music but he does so without compromising any of his musical integrity.

Track Listing:

1. She Blinded Me With Science
2. Radio Waves
3. Airwaves
4. Flying North
5. Weightless
6. Europa and the Pirate Twins
7. Windpower
8. Commercial Breakup
9. One of Our Submarines
10. Cloudburst at Shingle Street

 

[caption id="attachment_3093" align="aligncenter" width="209"] Thomas Dolby[/caption]

Thomas Dolby- vocals, synthesizers, wave computer, piano, kalimba, monk voice

Kevin Armstrong- guitar, backing vocals

Dave Birch- guitar, monk voice

Bosco- percussion

Mark Heyward Chaplin- bass

Justin Hildreth- drums

Simon House, Tim Kerr- violin

Simon Lloyd- leadline brass, flute

Daniel Miller- synthesizer

Andy Partridge- harmonica, percussion

Dr Magnus Pike- voiceover

Matthew Seligman- moog bass

Further backing vocals provided by: James Allen, Les Chappel, Judy Evans, Lesley Fairbairn, Mutt Lange, Lene Lovich, Miriam Stockley, Brian Woolley, Akiko Yano

I should have included "One of Our Submarines" in with the songs that stand out for me since it does. My conclusion here is what I have always thought all these years. Thomas Dolby was not a one hit wonder but a very underrated musician. Although many of them might not admit it, I think many of the synth pop bands that came after him would site him as an influence. For me, he was more than synth pop or a one hit wonder.

Next post: Nantucket- No Direction Home

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

Great Rock Albums of 1983: Billy Idol

 

I didn't think I was ever going to post about this album. Twice it was up for next post but other things beyond my control meant that I needed to post about other albums. At least because of the delay, no one either picked up on my mistake or was too diplomatic to bust my chops over it. When I first announced that the 1983 album from "Billy Idol" was going to be visited, I put the album down as "White Wedding." Ah, duh, I should have known better. The album is actually self titled with "White Wedding" being the song Billy is best known for. My mistake now takes away any right of mine to bust those who call Boston's classic self titled album, "More Than a Feeling." Okay, I now will stop feeling dumb.

"White Wedding" was the song that got my attention. When I first heard the song in May of 1983, I thought this song was really cool. There was that catchy riff with the guitar that made the song for me. Unfortunately, I can't recreate it in print but those who've heard the song will know what I am talking about. I also liked this punk image, which was something the Marine Corps really hated and with less than two months to go in my enlistment, it was one way I could stick the finger up at them.

The already mentioned song turned my head to Idol but I have to say that I was and still am rather impressed with the debut album. "Hot in the City" is the other single and its not bad but I much prefer "White Wedding," although both songs show that he does have a rather unique voice. Oh yes and I apologise for going off track for a moment but the version of this album I am speaking about is the 1983 re-issue and not the 1982 version. The reason why is so I can include the additional track on the album, which was released as a single later that year, "Dancing With Myself." I do like that song too.

"Billy Idol" is a good hard rock album and it's no surprise that, with his image, so many people branded it punk. I don't give a flying fart (I'm going to use that expression a lot now because it impressed mikeledano) if it is punk, it's a good album. Other tracks that definitely impressed me are "Dead on Arrival" and "Hole in the Wall" and "Nobody's Business" is pretty good too.

Track Listing

1. Come On, Come On
2. White Wedding
3. Hot in the City
4. Dead on Arrival
5. Nobody's Business
6. Love Calling
7. Hole in the Wall
8. Shooting Stars
9. It's So Cruel
10. Congo Man
11. Dancing With Myself

[caption id="attachment_3089" align="aligncenter" width="194"] Billy Idol[/caption]

Billy Idol- vocals, guitar

Steve Stevens- guitar

Phil Feit- bass

Steve Missal- drums

In 1983, Billy Idol gave me the different thing I was looking for because with only a few weeks left in the service, I was looking forward to becoming an individual again. This album helped provide that for me.

Next post: Thomas Dolby- The Golden Age of the Wireless

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

Great Rock Albums of 1983: Paul Kantner- Planet Earth Rock and Roll Orchestra

 

It figures that my weird mind would notice that Paul Kantner's very recent passing would occur right when I was going through the music history of 1983, the year his solo album was released. I was going to visit his album "Planet Earth Rock and Roll Orchestra" further along down the road as it didn't come to light until near the end of said year. Actually, I remember the opening title cut getting some airplay on radio back then. Mind you commercial radio didn't completely suck in 1983. Like I said last post, I always preferred the songs Kantner penned on Jefferson Starship albums, so it was a no brainer that I would get this one.

What I never knew was that this album was written to be a soundtrack for Paul's second novel "The Empire Blows Back," which was a sequel to his first "Blows Against the Empire." Listening to the album again, I can see how it fits. "Planet Earth Rock And Roll Orchestra" or PERRO for short is a mixture of hard, progressive and space rock and it's nicely done. Many of the musicians who appear on the album were current or former members of Jefferson Starship and Jefferson Airplane. Grace Slick does lead vocals on two songs and backing on many of the others. Furthermore, Craig Chaquico works his guitar magic as does Pete Sears with the keyboards, just like all three of them do on Jefferson Starship albums.

The album starts out in a fine hard rock form with the first three songs. The title cut opens things very well and I'm very impressed with track 2, "(She is a) Telepath." "Circle of Fire" was originally meant for the "Winds of Change" but it fits very well here. The next few tracks go very spacey and I think that possibly when these tracks are listened to, maybe one should partake of the same substances they would if listening to a Pink Floyd album. "The Mountain Song" combines both hard and space rock and to me has the typical trademark of a Kantner song. I have since learned that Paul co wrote it with Jerry Garcia so that may explain a lot. Then , out of the blue comes the very amusing track, "Declaration of Independence." Sung by Paul and Grace's daughter China Wing Kantner, the song is almost country with Paul playing along on the banjo, a very amusing song to say the least. China, who was only 12 at the time, provides the perfect vocals for it sounding like a little girl. The last two songs end things very well, especially the closer, "Let's Go." I remember once when listening to the track "I Came Back from the Jaws of the Dragon" off Starship's "Winds of Change" album, my ex wife commented that it sounded like Godspell. Yes, Paul had a thing for harmonies in that style on many of the songs but on "Let's Go," it concludes the album in masterful form.

Track Listing:

1. Planet Earth Rock And Roll Orchestra
2. (She Is a) Telepath
3. Circle of Fire
4. Mount Shasta
5. Lilith's Song
6. Transubstantiation
7. The Mountain Song
8. Declaration of Independence
9. Underground (The Laboratories)
10. The Sky's No Limit
11. Let's Go

[caption id="attachment_1600" align="aligncenter" width="178"] Paul Kantner- Jefferson Starship[/caption]

Paul Kantner- vocals, guitar, banjo, harmonica, synthesizers, lead guitar on "Underground"

Grace Slick- vocals, piano on "The Mountain Song" and "The Sky is No Limit"

Jack Casady- bass

Chiam Wing Kantner- vocals on "Declaration of Independence" and "The Sky Is No Limit"

Alexander Kantner- vocals on "Underground"

Craig Chaquico- lead guitar

Pete Sears- piano

Aynsley Dunbar- drums

Scott Matthews- guitar, harmonica, synthesizers, pedal steel guitar and Linn drums

Ron Nagle- piano and vocals on Transubstantiation

Ronnie Montrose- lead guitar on (She is a) Telepath

Flo & Eddie- vocals

Mickey Thomas- vocals on Circle of Fire

David Freiberg- synthesizers and vocals on Circle of Fire

The problem with "Planet Earth Rock and Roll Orchestra" was that it wasn't mainstream enough. That's why it go only limited airplay on radio. Even if it didn't I believe that I would have eventually discovered it and bought it anyway. This is a cool album and I think it would be only fitting to honour Paul Kantner by listening to it.

Next post: (Hopefully) Billy Idol

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

Great Metal Albums of 1983: Dio- Holy Diver

 

Like with David Bowie's and Motorhead's 1983 albums, I was hoping to write about the debut album from Dio, in 1983, under much happier circumstances. With the passing of Dio bassist, Jimmy Bain, I feel that it should be a fitting tribute to him that I post about this iconic album now.

[caption id="attachment_3067" align="aligncenter" width="162"] Jimmy Bain[/caption]

What can I say about "Holy Diver" that hasn't already said? Probably nothing, therefore, I am going to speak about it straight from the heart and yes the pun is intended. From my first listen, I admit it wasn't til early 1984 when I got that opportunity, til now, I was and still am completely blown away by it. No wonder it's my fourth favourite album of all time.

Why is this album so good? Let's start with the opener, "Stand Up and Shout." That is one of the best album and concert opening songs of all time. A great opener will grab you by the throat and make you listen to the entire album. It's no wonder, Dio opened with this song three of the five times I've seen them live.

You are the driver
you own the road
you are the fire -- go on, explode

Then comes my favourite Dio song of all time, the title track. If I were running a 'Headbanging for Beginners' course, "Holy Diver" would be the first song I would use. This unique but catchy riff is just plain phenomenal. I still remember at the local nightspot in London for heavy metal, scores of metalheads all in a huddle headbanging away to it. The song is so easy to do that with. Not only that, there are Ronnie James Dio's lyrics, (he was top of his game here), and Vivian Campbell just nails the guitar solo. For me, it's always been truly an amazing song.

Between the velvet lies

There's a truth as hard as steel

A vision never dies

Life's a never ending wheel.

Following the title cut are two more excellent songs in the form of "Gypsy" and "Caught in the Middle." With both songs, we see some heavy chords being struck while in sync with more of Ronnie's lyrics.

Take a look at yourself, you might see someone you don't know

If you haven't already figured it out, the above lyrics were from "Caught in the Middle." After that is what many claim to be the best non single or song that should have been released as one on the album. Anyone who has any experience of Dio will know "Don't Talk to Strangers." Its eerie intro followed by lyrics that can be of sound advice before exploding into pure heavy metal mania with Campbell's solo probably being the best one on the album. There's something for everyone to like here. It is most likely the reason why Dio has played this song all five times I've seen them live.

Having originally procured "Holy Diver" on cassette, I should go on about side two. However, the age of CD's and MP3 downloads has made me stop dividing albums into sides. "Straight Through the Heart" is a very powerful rocker and maintains the standard the album sets but after that is my choice for best hidden gem on it, "Invisible." Don't ask me to explain why or how but I just love that song. I think it's the way like "Don't Talk to Strangers," it starts melodically before hitting you over the head with more power chords. Those chords may not be quite as in your face as the other song but it does the job.

If your surface stays unbroken, then you're a lucky man

Cause it never, never, never has for me

In the palace of the virgin lies the chalice of your soul

And it's likely you will find the answer there.

Again, Ronnie's lyrics are amazing, especially matched with his truly one of a kind voice. Following "Invisible" is the more known "Rainbow in the Dark," which maybe was Dio's most successful single. Hell, I remember in 1984, a Budweiser advert being played to this tune. This is the one song where keyboards play a major role but still, they don't detract from the power of the song.

Now onto the closer, "Shame on the Night." If I have to pick a least favourite track, it would have to be this one. Don't get me wrong, it is no way a bad track, I just don't rate it quite as high as the other eight but what it does do is close the album very nicely, I guess that's what Ronnie had in mind with it. That is yet another reason why I think "Holy Diver" is so fantastic.

Track Listing:

1. Stand Up and Shout
2. Holy Diver
3. Gypsy
4. Caught in the Middle
5. Don't Talk To Strangers
6. Straight Through the Heart
7. Invisible
8. Rainbow in the Dark
9. Shame on the Night

[caption id="attachment_3069" align="aligncenter" width="259"] Dio[/caption]

Ronnie James Dio- vocals, keyboards

Vivian Campbell- guitar

Jimmy Bain- bass

Vinnie Appice- drums

I don't give a flying fart as to how cliched this statement sounds but I know in my heart that Jimmy has now joined Ronnie and they are jamming away together in a better place. Probably their former Rainbow band mate, Cozy Powell has joined them and if they had any sense, they would invite Jon Lord to do the honours on the keyboards. However, I can't think of any guitarist who has played along side of these guys who has departed from our world. Therefore, I would suggest they take Criss Oliva from Savatage as his guitar work would fit Ronnie's vocals perfectly. Who knows, maybe they would make an album as great as "Holy Diver."

Next post: Paul Kantner- Rock and Roll Orchestra 

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

Great Rock Albums of 1983: Supertramp- Famous Last Words

 

Released at the end of 1982, "Famous Last Words" by Supertramp came to my attention in the first few weeks of 1983. I happened to see the video for the biggest single off the album, "It's Raining Again," while at a disco in Tokyo. When I say saw the video, I mean literally. While the video was played on the club's television screen, the music being played definitely wasn't Supertramp. It would be a month later when I returned to Okinawa, I would finally get to hear the song matched up to the video.

As I reflect back to those early months of 1983 and some of the albums I have posted about so far, I am beginning to think that this year wasn't a very good one for some of the established superstars of rock. It seemed that like David Bowie and Todd Rundgren, Supertramp also decided to go for a more commercial sound. In their case, "Famous Last Words" was an attempt to build on the success of their previous studio album, "Breakfast in America." However, I don't think this album measures up to their previous classic.

Let's not be too negative about "Famous Last Words," there are some bright spots on it. First, take the big single for instance. Sure, it reeks of commercialdom but there is enough of Supertramp's presence on it to know that it is theirs. Still, there are better songs on it, like the very jazz sounding "My Kind of Lady." The sax solo on that song does blow me away. "Crazy" and "Put On Your Brown Shoes" are also decent tunes. I do like the honky tonk piano in the latter and Ann and Nancy Wilson from Heart perform backing vocals on it but my personal favourite on this album has to be "Bonnie." To me that song is Supertramp from their glory days back in the 1970s. I'm talking stuff like my favourite Supertramp album, "Crime of the Century."

Track Listing:

1. Crazy
2. Put On Your Brown Shoes
3. It's Raining Again
4. Bonnie
5. Know Who You Are
6. My Kind of Lady
7. C'est Le Bon
8. Waiting So Long
9. Don't Leave Me Now

[caption id="attachment_1474" align="aligncenter" width="275"] Supertramp[/caption]

Rick Davies- keyboards, lead and backing vocals, harmonica, melodica solo on "Its Raining Again"

John Helliwell- saxophone, keyboards

Roger Hodgeson- guitar, lead and backing vocals

Bob Seibenberg- drums

Dougie Thompson- bass

"Famous Last Words" may not be as good as some of Supertramp's more classic albums but it is enjoyable nonetheless. Maybe like so many artists back then, they were trying too hard for commercial success. It could also be why Roger Hodgeson would go solo after this album.

Next post: Billy Idol- White Wedding

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

Great Rock Albums of 1983: U2- War

 

My original intention was to post U2's breakthrough album "War" in succession with Todd Rundgren and Bryan Adams. However, with the death of David Bowie, I felt the need to abandon that intention in order to pay proper homage to a true rock icon. The idea for my original intention came about because back in 1983, there was a chance to see Todd Rundgren, U2 and Bryan Adams together. They were playing a concert in Charlotte, North Carolina and the local radio station in Jacksonville, where I was stationed, was running a bus to it. I would have loved to have gone but unfortunately, the Marine Corps stuck me on duty that day so I couldn't. It's no wonder why I didn't re-enlist.

Like I said a second ago, U2's third album, "War" was the album where they finally got the attention they deserved in the US. In 1983 and I've probably said this before, commercial radio didn't totally suck, so when the monster hits, "Sunday Bloody Sunday" and "New Year's Day," blew me away when they got played, I naturally had to get a hold of the album. Especially, having heard their first two albums, "Boy" and "October." U2 was one of those bands where I could tell the johnny come lately's that I was listening to them before they got famous.

What I have always liked about War is that, at least in my ears, it's not much different to their first two albums. They didn't have to change to get accepted, (something they would forget in the years to follow.) U2 brought a different sound to the table which many people liked when they got to hear it. The fascinating thing about "War" is that the album has been enjoyed by both metalheads and Duranies (people who worshiped Duran Duran) alike. In fact, they have often been labelled 'punk' mainly because there was no other category in which to put them.

So many great things have been said about the "War" album, I would just be repeating them and even now, I find it difficult to find my own words. I know I just really like this album. The two singles already mentioned are my joint second favourite U2 songs of all time, "I Will Follow" takes the top slot. However, I was more than slightly disappointed when they didn't play the third single from the album, "Two Hearts Beat as One" when I finally got to see them live in 1985. While all of the songs are good, I would have to pick "Surrender" as my favourite of the lesser known songs on "War."

Track Listing:

1. Sunday Bloody Sunday
2. Seconds
3. New Year's Day
4. Like a Song
5. Drowning Man
6. The Refugee
7. Two Hearts Beat as One
8. Red Light
9. Surrender
10. 40

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

Bono- lead vocals, additional guitar

The Edge- guitars, piano, backing vocals, lead vocal on "Seconds"

Adam Clayton- bass

Larry Mullen Jr- drums

In 1983, U2 finally broke into the big time with a fantastic album "War." This album was a milestone for the band and fans like me in so many ways. In fact, often times I think that the band should go back and listen to this album and remember what got them to where they are.

Next post: Supertramp- Famous Last Words

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