Great Rock Albums of 1984: Greg Kihn Band- Kihntagious

 

One of the biggest questions I have about 1984 is why did the Greg Kihn Band fade into oblivion in this year? The band was riding high on the wave of their very successful 1983 album, "Kihnspiracy," which, in spite of the album having the ballad hit single "Jeopardy" on it, was a good rocking album. MTV seemed to like them as the video for the first single from the 1984 album, "Kihntagious," "Reunited," got a lot of play. I still think that it is a pretty good song. So I ask why did this band fade away so rapidly?

Could the answer be with "Kihntagious?" The already mentioned single leads off the album and gives it a promising start. Then comes the misleading "Rock," the second single. This was released as a dance track and though there's some good individual spots of musicianship on it, (Greg Douglass does some good lead guitar work on it), the dance vibe does sort of kills it for me. However, that is simply the weakest track on the album. "Stand Together" takes me back to their first album. It's a good rocking track. "Confrontation Music" has a strong reggae vibe which I like quite a bit. Plus, Douglass probably plays his best guitar solo on this one. "Work, Work, Work" is a rocking closer that works on different levels.

Track Listing:

1. Reunited
2. Rock
3. Make Up
4. Stand Together
5. Confrontation Music
6. One Thing About Love
7. Worst That Could Happen
8. Trouble With the Girl
9. Cheri Baby
10. Hard Times
11. Work, Work, Work

Greg Kihn Band

Greg Kihn- vocals, rhythm guitar

Greg Douglass- lead, slide guitars, backing vocals

Larry Lynch- drums, vocals

Steve Wright- bass, backing vocals

Gary Phillips- keyboards

Listening to "Kihntagious," I can't still fathom as to why the Greg Kihn Band slipped into obscurity after. I mean, this isn't a bad album by any stretch of the imagination. I guess the answer is somewhere out there.

Next post: U2- The Unforgettable Fire

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Great Rock Albums of 1984: Jefferson Starship- Nuclear Furniture

 

For me in 1984, Jefferson Starship, being my favourite band in the world since 1977, would come to a cross roads with me in the form of the album "Nuclear Furniture." As previously stated enough times that you're all sick of reading it, my musical tastes were getting much heavier. With "Nuclear Furniture," the band began to shy away from the hard rock of their previous three albums. However, I wasn't going to demote them straight away and there was enough good material on the album to keep them at my number one.

First let us start out with the weak. The first single from the album, "No Way Out" while miles better than the vast majority of synth pop coming out at the time, it lacked the power chords I was now craving. Craig Chaquico does save the song with one of his decent guitar solos. Then again, he does it with many of the songs, even the ones where it's not essential. The other songs that might fall into the same category as "No Way Out" have something else that makes them great, with the possible exception of  "Magician." I was getting more and more politically aware in 1984 and seeking out music that reflected my beliefs. There are some great songs that do this. Two of them are about nuclear destruction, "Champion," one of my favourites and "Showdown." Grace Slick's vocals make the latter song sound that much better. Again, lyrically, "Assassin" is a great song. It might have been better placed in the late 90s as it could be applied to school shootings. The song is about a stranger in the neighbourhood who turns out to be a killer. "Live and Let Live" speaks to me personally, not politically and without going into great personal detail, took a load of withheld anger from me. With the track, "Connection," the song clearly trumpets my theory of what would happen if Jesus and Mohammed had actually met each other. While these songs might not be hard rockers, the lyrics really make you think.

Now for the rockers, "Shining in the Moonlight" is a straight ahead one of those bringing back memories of those previous three albums, "Freedom at Point Zero," "Modern Times" and "Winds of Change." The other two are not only cool rockers in my book but also have political lyrics I like. "Rose Goes to Yale" is a short but powerful rocker that makes a great point while rocking out to it. However, my favourite track on the album has to be "Laying It on the Line." A great intro and even though it is a little synthed in places, I don't mind. A cool guitar solo and to my knowledge, it is the only song anywhere to mention what had happened to my marine buddies in Lebanon some seven months earlier.

"Got US boys on foreign soil,

"Spillin' their blood to keep the peace." 

Track Listing:

1. Laying It On the Line
2. No Way Out
3. Sorry Me, Sorry You
4. Live and Let Live
5. Connection
6. Rose Goes to Yale
7. Magician
8. Assassin
9. Shining in the Moonlight
10. Showdown
11. Champion

Jefferson Starship

Mickey Thomas- vocals

Grace Slick- vocals

Craig Chaquico- lead guitar, backing vocals

Paul Kantner- rhythm guitar, vocals, banjo 

Pete Sears- bass, keyboards

David Freiberg- keyboards, vocals

Donny Baldwin- drums, percussion, backing vocals

Paul Kantner-

In spite of "Nuclear Furniture" being a decent album, Jefferson Starship would cease to be my favourite band in 1984. This was because that Paul Kantner would leave the band shortly after the album's release. Not only that, he would take the Jefferson moniker with him after a lawsuit. Like I said when I posted about Kantner's death last year, it was always his songs on the albums I preferred the most. After he left, the band would morph into Starship and I definitely didn't like what I heard on their next album. I want to like Jefferson Starship as I always have remembered them.

Next post: Greg Kihn Band- Khintagious

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

Great Rock Albums of 1984: Tony Carey- Some Tough City

 

Tony Carey was another great artist considered a one hit wonder by the MTV generation of the mid 1980s. In the spring and early summer of 1984, his biggest single, "A Fine Fine Day," tore up the charts and eventually made it to number six or seven. It got tons of airplay on both radio and MTV. However, what these robots failed to understand that Tony had been rocking our world for many years before this. They didn't know about his stint with the great Rainbow or even known that the year before, he had success with his band Planet P. Fortunately, I did and that information led me to procure his 1984 album, "Some Tough City."

If I had been among the ignorant, the second single released from the album might have put me off buying the album. "The First Day of Summer" wasn't bad, although there are much better tracks on "Some Tough City," it's just in the video for the song, he tries too hard to act like Joe Cool Rock Singer and that was a bit off putting. Now don't get me wrong, Tony Carey has a good voice but he's an even better musician as demonstrated on the album where he plays all the instruments. I know I have beaten the word 'underrated' to death on 80sMetalman but the term definitely applies to Tony.

"A Fine Fine Day" is not typical of the album. It's a great song and it won my 1984 award for best non metal song of the year but it's more progressive rock and Tony definitely demonstrates his keyboard skills on it. Most of the rest of the album has more of a hard rock edge to it, even "The First Day of Summer." However, some of the more rockier songs like, "Eddie Goes Underground" and "A Lonely Life" really cook on here. A real paradox on the album is "Reach Out," where it starts out like it's going to be some 80s synth pop song and then really explodes into a rocker. The big surprise on it is the fact that Tony hammers out a decent guitar solo on it. He does the same, actually his guitar work is even better on the more progressive rock sounding "Tinseltown." Let's face it, Tony Carey is a brilliant all round musician and his talent has been ignored for far too long.

Track Listing:

1.  
2. A Fine Fine Day
3. A Lonely Life
4. Eddie Goes Underground
5. The First Day of Summer
6. Reach Out
7. Tinseltown
8. Hungry
9. I Can't Stop the World
10. Some Tough City
11. She Can Bring Me Love


Tony Carey- vocals, keyboards, guitars, bass 

Now my mind is going off to strange worlds from posting about "Some Tough City" by Tony Carey. I wonder if he and Ronnie James Dio ever hooked up again after Rainbow. That would have been mind blowing. It wouldn't have been possible in 1984 because Tony was riding a huge wave of success as a result of the album and its top ten single. As for Ronnie, that will be all explained in a future post.

Jefferson Starship- Nuclear Furniture

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

Great Rock Albums of 1984: Queen- The Works

 

Here is a perfect example of why I never buy or not buy an album on account of one song. When the first single from Queen's album, "The Works," came on the radio, my response was "What the hell?" I thought "Radio Ga Ga" was several steps down from what I had loved about Queen throughout my teenage years of the 1970s. The conclusion I was starting to draw was that they were departing from the harder rock music I enjoyed and were selling out to the synth pop of the 1980s. Fortunately, I didn't let one bad song close my mind so I didn't miss the rest of this cool album.

I have always had this sneaking feeling that Queen knew exactly what they were doing. "The Works" might open with the mentioned single which might alienate some of their hardcore fans, therefore, they followed up "Radio Ga Ga" with the hard rocking second track, "Tear It Up." After the first ten seconds of rocking out to that song, you are completely thinking, "Radio Who?" Then if the hard rock of "Tear It Up" isn't enough to grab you, Queen hit you with a very Queen sounding "It's a Hard Life." This song is Queen as they have always been as it follows the script of all the great classics. "Man on the Prowl" is a very likable rockabilly song in the vein of the famous, "Crazy Little Thing Called Love." I love the little piano bit at the end. "Machines (Back to Humans) is a very progressive sounding tune. While there are elements of hard rock, there are some very quirky sounding keyboard sounds on the song, some of them sounding like a robot. Plus there is the famous harmonizing from the band. This is my favourite track on the album because Queen do hear what they have always done best. Incorporate several different musical genres into one song. On my first listen and the many subsequent listens after, by the time my favourite track was at its conclusion, I had totally forgotten "Radio Ga Ga" was even on the album.

Some may argue that "I Want to Break Free" is on the line of that first single. I have to slap down such fools. True, there is a little disco back beat to it but May's guitar is definitely present, especially when he does that solo. Yes, some people might have discoed down to it but I just listen to it. Saying that, it's not the best track on the album, there are so many better ones. The next one in fact, "Keep Passing the Open Windows." This is on the lines of my favourite track, but not quite to the same level. "Keep Passing the Open Windows" is my third favourite track. There's some good Queen elements on here as well. BTW, "Tear It Up" is my second favourite. "Hammer to Fall" is a good rock out and it follows on very nicely. I do like May's guitar solo on it. "The Works" ends on a interesting note. It's a ballad type song, "Is This the World We Created." It's almost an anti- climax to the album but the band makes it work and end the album on a good note.

Track Listing:

1. Radio Ga Ga
2. Tear It Up
3. It's a Hard Life
4. Man on the Prowl
5. Machines (Back to Humans)
6. I Want to Break Free
7. Keep Passing the Open Windows
8. Hammer to Fall
9. Is This the World We Created

[caption id="attachment_906" align="aligncenter" width="233"] Queen[/caption]

Freddie Mercury- lead and backing vocals, piano

Brian May- guitar, backing vocals

John Deacon- bass, rhythm guitar, keyboards, backing vocals

Roger Taylor- drums, keyboards, backing vocals

Thank God, I never let one song on an album influence my decision to purchase it. If that was the case, I would have completely missed out this great album from Queen.

Next post: Tony Carey- Some Tough City

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

Great Metal Albums of 1984: AC/DC- 74 Jailbreak

 

Being predictable again! If you have been following me for some time, you have probably already guessed that I am posting about an AC/DC album because tribute band Hell's Bells came to town. They did and unlike my post about the previous two AC/DC albums, I actually went to see them last night. You know, sort of for inspiration but I really don't need any to see Hell's Bells or post about AC/DC's 1984 album, "74 Jailbreak."

[caption id="attachment_3856" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Pity the Foo[/caption]

First the show, Hell's Bells were supported by the Foo Fighters tribute band, Pity the Foo. Now, except for the videos I've seen on the Kerrang channel, I have no experience of the Foo Fighters. But if they are anything like the tribute band on stage, then maybe I should delve into some of their back catalogs. Pity the Foo honoured the band they were tributing on this evening. They were tight and if they weren't playing Foo Fighters material, they could have played anything, even their own material and played it very well. The two Foo Fighters songs I know they played were "Monkey Wrench" and "A Long Road to Ruin" were good examples of how good this band was. When they left the stage, they had accomplished their mission of warming things up for the headliner. Pity not many people bothered to turn up and see them.

[caption id="attachment_3858" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Hell's Bells ascend the stage. God, I wish my hand was steadier.[/caption]

If I went into great details of Hell's Bells performance, then all I would need to do is copy and paste previous posts about them. What I can say is that last night was their best performance ever in the five times I've seen them. Like always, they were note perfect in regards to AC/DC and played an array of AC/DC classics that everyone in the audience will have heard at least their favourites. For me, it was "You Shook Me All Night Long," "Highway to Hell" and they ended with "Whole Lotta Rosie." One thing they did different was play "Ace of Spades" in dedication to Lemmy. When they left the stage at the end of an hour and a half, which flew by too quickly, there wasn't one disappointed person in the room.

Another thing I noted was the huge age range in attendance. I'll be turning 56 next month and I can happily say that I wasn't the oldest person in the room, not by a long shot. However, there were second and third generation AC/DC fans there as well. Many bands who last for over four decades aren't as able to pick up followers from the younger generations. I remember the generation just below me regarding the Rolling Stones as golden oldies. They don't say that about AC/DC.

[caption id="attachment_3859" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Angus's double does his strip act.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_3860" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Hell's Bells taking it home.[/caption]

Unfortunately, Hell's Bells didn't play any songs off the "74 Jailbreak" album. Yes, I know in reality that it's and EP but talk about five grab you by the throat songs. These were tracks that were only previously released in Australia and made available to the rest of the world as part of this EP. My question here is why they waited so long before treating us to them. With the benefit of hindsight, one might have thought that they might have released this in 1980 after Bon Scott's tragic death. After all, his vocals are simply fantastic on the album. "Jailbreak" did feature on the "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap" album but it's a good opener. Likewise, "Baby, Please Don't Go" is a good closer. Many an AC/DC album has those so nothing new in that department. However, it's the three songs in the middle that make the album for me. All of them feature some pretty nifty guitar work compliments of Angus Young but my favourite of all is the middle track, the very bluesy sounding "Show Business." Angus just cooks on this one and I now put him on the same shelf as some other great blues guitarists. So my question here is why isn't this album or EP talked about more in AC/DC circles?

Track Listing:

1. Jailbreak
2. You Ain't Got a Hold on Me
3. Show Business
4. Soul Stripper
5. Baby, Please Don't Go

[caption id="attachment_1039" align="aligncenter" width="253"] AC/DC[/caption]

Bon Scott- vocals

Angus Young- lead guitar, backing vocals

Malcolm Young- rhythm guitar, backing vocals

George Young- bass, backing vocals, drums

Rob Bailey- bass

Mark Evans- bass on "Jailbreak"

Phil Rudd- drums, percussion on "Jailbreak"

Tony Currenti- drums, percussion on tracks 2-4

Peter Clack- drums, percussion on "Baby Please Don't Go"

Whenever people talk about AC/DC albums, it seems that "74 Jailbreak" doesn't get mentioned. My guess is it's because it's considered an EP. EP or album, there are five great songs on here and that's more great songs that many other bands have on one entire album. Maybe Hell's Bells will play some songs from it next time they come to town.

Next post: Queen- The Works

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

Great Rock Albums of 1984: Duke Jupiter- White Knuckle Ride

 

Duke Jupiter was probably the best hidden gem of 1984. Some may have considered them one hit wonders on account of the fact that the single from the "White Knuckle Ride" album, "Little Lady," got some airplay on MTV and radio. It even got to #68 in the singles charts. It has remained in my mind ever since because I have always thought it was a killer song. The video for "Little Lady" is easily accessible on Youtube and I will boldly declare that it's worth a listen. This song really kicks ass.

Like so many others back then, I thought that Duke Jupiter, (it's a band not a person), were newcomers to the rock scene when in fact, that had been around since 1975. They had a good number of albums before this one and went on tour in support of the likes of Toto, The Outlaws, B.B. King and John Lee Hooker. With a resume like that, it was never a case of if but when their efforts would finally gain notice.

While I never buy an album on account of one song, there was sufficient talk in certain circles that the "White Knuckle Ride" album was worth an investment. Trust me, it was. While it's definitely an AOR album, it is done with the pure craftsmanship of the band. Marshall James Styler does most of the vocals and is quite adept at keyboards. Greg Walker is a very good guitarist and plays some really good solos on most of the songs here. Of course, we can't take anything away from the rhythm section of David Corcoran and Rickey Ellis, they hold the album together with seemingly little effort.

Track Listing:

1. She's So Hot
2. Rescue Me
3. Don't Turn Your Back
4. Top of the Bay
5. Backfire
6. Little Lady
7. A Woman Like You
8. Work It Out
9. Me and Michelle
10.  (I've Got a) Little Black Book

James Marshall Styler- keyboards, vocals

Greg Walker- guitar, vocals

Rickey Ellis- bass

David Corcoran- drums, percussion, vocals

Duke Jupiter came and went and have vanished into musical history. I bet my UK readers have been asking, "Who the hell's he talking about?" Like many American one hit wonders or lesser known bands, they didn't impact in Britain and were considered a flash in the pan in the US. In fact, I regret not giving them a mention in "Rock and Roll Children." In spite of this, I have always remembered them and I will say that if you should listen to the "White Knuckle Ride" album, especially "Little Lady" and you'll see why.

Next post: AC/DC - 74 Jailbreak

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

Great Rock Albums of 1984: Roger Waters- The Pros and Cons of Hitch Hiking

 

Proof how sometimes initial impressions can be misguided. While Pink Floyd have continued on strong since Roger Waters departed the band and it's been said that Roger's career hasn't exactly flourished, (that's a matter for debate), things seemed a lot different in 1984. There was little or no mention of Pink Floyd in this year but Roger Waters delivered a killer solo album in the form of "The Pros and Cons of Hitchhiking." Roger hadn't left the band yet and it turns out that way back in the late 1970s, he brought the concept for this album to the band along with that for "The Wall." He told them the band would make the one and the other concept he would do as a solo album. History can tell you which concept was chosen by the band leaving "The Pros and Cons of Hitchhiking" for Roger to do as a solo album.

The similarities between the two albums come through immediately. Like "The Wall" and even "Dark Side of the Moon" the songs sometimes blend together where you have to listen very carefully or at least have the album cover with you so you can pinpoint where one track ends and the next one begins. Then again, like many a Pink Floyd album, this album can be best appreciated whilst mellowed out in a room and smoking things. It joins a great line of albums to space out to. Also like Pink Floyd's famous album, it tells a story. The concept is about the thoughts of a man who is driving through California and how he would like to commit adultery with the female hitchhiker he picks up. It's an interesting theme set to the music.

One thing that I noticed the very first time I ever listened to the album was that the guitarist can really wail. Teach me to read the credits before putting an album on because that was an absolute no brainer. The guitarist was Eric Clapton and he does what he always does with the guitar. There are some really cool solos throughout the album, I really like the one he lays down on "Sexual Revolution" but his presence his felt very strongly all through the album. Roger definitely achieved a major coup by having Eric play on the album but he orchestrates other instruments very effectively too. The horns and the backing vocals are prime examples.

Since it was hearing the title track on the radio that alerted me to the album, that has always been my favourite track on it. Clapton plays a killer solo on it as well and all the other elements I've previously discussed are there too. Saying that, the way the album is laid out, it is easy for such a song to stand out although I do like the near seven minute "Go Fishing." After listening to the "Pros and Cons of Hitchhiking" after so many years, I'm as excited about it now as I was then.

Track Listing:

1. Apparently They Were Travelling Abroad
2. Running Shoes
3. Arabs With Knives and West German Skies
4. For the First Time Today Part 2
5. Sexual Revolution
6. The Remains of Our Love
7. Go Fishing
8. For the First Time Today Part 1
9. Dunroamin, Duncarin, Dunlivin
10. The Pros and Cons of Hitchhiking
11. Every Stranger's Eyes
12. The Moment of Clarity

[caption id="attachment_3846" align="aligncenter" width="245"] Roger Waters[/caption]

Roger Waters- bass, lead vocals, rhythm guitar

Eric Clapton- lead guitar

Ray Cooper- percussion

Andy Newmark- drums, percussion

David Sanbourn- saxophone

Michael Kamen- piano

Andy Brown- organ, 12 string guitar

Madeline Bell, Katie Kissoon, Doreen Chanter- backing vocals

Raphael Ravenscroft, Kevin Flanagan, Vic Sullivan- horns

When Roger Waters did leave Pink Floyd in 1985, I wasn't worried that we had seen the last of him. After all, he had put out a great solo album a year earlier. While not different from the material he did with the band, it's still a great one to enjoy.

Next post: Duke Jupiter- White Knuckle Ride

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