Great Rock Albums of 1983: Bryan Adams- Cuts Like a Knife

 

For this one, anyone under the age of 30 has to forget anything they heard from or about Bryan Adams in the 1990s. Yes, I'm in the camp that believes the song "Everything I Do, I Do It For You" is an embarrassment to hard rock and metal, even if it did stay number one in the UK charts for sixteen weeks. Now my ex wife may point out that I liked the song at the time. Well that was because at the time, I thought it was a great poke in the eye at what was in the UK charts at the time. All that massed produced Stock, Aikman and Waterman crap and techno which always seemed to be around at the time. It was great that a rock song could take the number one slot and stay as long as it did. That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it.

Let's forget about the 90s as it's the 80s I'm here to talk about. Back in 1983, Bryan Adams was a fresh faced kid who put out a decent album with some good songs on it. I think the best way to describe the album "Cuts Like a Knife" is to use the term 'innocent.' There is no attempt to go in any commercial or non-commercial direction with it. I like the think that Bryan was just out to make a record here and what happens, well it happens.

There are several ballads/power ballads on "Cuts Like a Knife." In fact, it was the title cut I first heard on radio from him. It's not a bad song but it doesn't quite measure up to the bar for power ballads set by Bryan's countrymen two years earlier. However, I do like the guitar solo in it. "Straight From the Heart" is another one as is "I'm Ready" but he's honest about them. Some rock/metal artists put out ballads but downplay them. There are some decent rockers on here too. "This Time" reeks of commercial, single material but it's okay. "Take Me Back," "What's It Gonna Be" and "Don't Leave Me Lonely" are better ones and my pick for favourite tracks. Well, Eric Carr from KISS fame did co write "Don't Leave Me Lonely."

Track Listing:

1. The Only One
2. Take Me Back
3. This Time
4. Straight From the Heart
5. Cuts Like a Knife
6. I'm Ready
7. What's It Gonna Be
8. Don't Leave Me Lonely
9. Let Him Know
10. The Best Was Yet To Come

[caption id="attachment_3046" align="aligncenter" width="170"] Bryan Adams[/caption]

Bryan Adams- lead vocals, guitar, piano on "Straight From the Heart"

Mickey Curry- drums

Tommy Mandel- organ, synthesizer, piano

Keith Scott- guitar, backing vocals

Dave Taylor- bass, backing vocals

In the South Park Movie, there is a line about the Canadian government apologising for Bryan Adams. Whoever came up with that must not have heard this album. There is nothing to apologise for with "Cuts Like a Knife."

Next post: U2- War

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

Great Rock Albums of 1983: Todd Rundgren- The Ever Popular Tortured Artist Effect

 

The first time I heard the song "Bang On the Drum All Day" by Todd Rundgren on the radio, I thought, "This is great! Todd is back." I have been a big Todd Rundgren fan since 1978 when a friend enlightened me to the "Something/Anything" album. Adding to the euphoria brought on by listening to that album, he then released the "Hermit of Mink Hollow" album in said year. If I wasn't a Rundgren convert before, I certainly was after hearing both of those great albums. Therefore, it was a no-brainer that I would be obtaining his newest offering in 1983.

In a fairy tale world, I would be telling you how great "The Ever Popular Tortured Artist Effect" is. Unfortunately, it's not. It lacks the versatility that I have always liked Todd for. On the two previously mentioned albums, there is lots of progressive rock, hard rock, ballads and even a little heavy metal. "Metal?" you ask. Just listen to the track "Out of Control" off the "Hermit of Mink Hollow" album and you'll see what I mean. Another thing great about Todd's previous albums is that he brings a bit of humour to some of the songs on both. However, on this album, the only evidence of that is on the track "Emperor of the Highway," which is the second best track behind "Bang On the Drum All Day."

The funny thing is that the first four tracks all start off with a very catchy introduction but each of those tracks quickly turn bland after and one loses interest. They are all very keyboard dominated and pretty much sound the same. "Tin Soldier" picks things up a little and it's the third best track. Then comes to the two best tracks and they redeem the album from the previous blandness. Sadly though, the last two tracks are a big let down following the big single. Maybe Todd should have made "Bang On the Drum All Day" the closer, it would have worked in my humble opinion.

In defense of Todd, now, unlike the Motorhead album, reading a little of the background history to this album was a good thing as far as Mr Rundgren is concerned. It turns out that "The Ever Tortured Artist Effect" was a contractual obligation album. Therefore, he didn't put the time and effort into it as he did with his better albums. This would be his last album with Bearsville Records. So, with this new evidence taken into consideration, I can let him slide for this album not measuring up to the previous ones.

Track Listing:

1. Hideaway
2. Influenza
3. Don't Hurt Yourself
4. There Goes Your Baybay
5. Tin Soldier
6. Emperor of the Highway
7. Bang on the Drum All Day
8. Drive
9. Chant

Todd Rundgren- All instruments, vocals and production

All in all, "The Ever Tortured Artist Effect" isn't horrible. It's just not nearly as great as his best albums. Then again, when you record an album simply because you have to, it probably won't be as good and you won't put your best effort into it. Let it be known that my feelings for the posted album in no way detract from my assertion that Todd Rundgren should be in the Rock Hall of Fame.

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

Great Metal Albums of 1983: Motorhead- Another Perfect Day

 

It's only right that I go out of sync a bit and write about Motorhead's contribution to metal in 1983. I like to think that I am paying my small tribute to Lemmy and the contribution he made to music over the past four decades. I figure since I am exploring all the great albums of 1983, that I would post about Motorhead's "Another Perfect Day" album, which came out in this year. It's the least I could do in honouring the memory of this great man, who sadly left us this past week.

If you are looking for a big single like "Ace of Spades" on this album, there are none. There doesn't need to be as I find that every song on "Another Perfect Day" just completely kicks ass. Things begin in true Motorhead fashion with the first two songs, loud, brash and in your face. Just how I like it with these guys. Then the third track, "Dancing on Your Grave," has an intro that sounds like it was that of a song by Ratt or Twisted Sister. I listened with interest as this intro was nicely played but it lasts for a few seconds, then the song kicks in in true Motorhead style.

While I can't say that there is one song that really stands out enough to be my favourite on the album as there is something to like on most of them, I do think the first half slightly outshines the second half of the album. I must stress the 'slightly' here because there's not that much in it. "Another Perfect Day" is a great album!

My mistake here was to read the history behind the album. To quote Lemmy, he said "He fuckin' hated it." From what I read, this is down to the acquisition of Brian 'Robbo' Robertson on guitar who replaced Fast Eddie Clark. Robertson joined the band from Thin Lizzy and listening to "Another Perfect Day," I would agree with the many comments that Robertson is a great technical guitarist. However, Lemmy claimed that Robertson would take seventeen hours to record one guitar track, thus making the recording of the album take much longer than normal. Then there his choice of clothing while on tour, which was not the standard denim and leather worn by Motorhead. Consequently, this led to Robertson and Taylor both leaving the band after the tour. For me, putting the behind the scenes stuff to one side, I can say that Robertson does lay down some really great guitar solos on here making me really love this album.

Track Listing:

1. Back to the Funny Farm
2. Shine
3. Dancing on Your Grave
4. Rock It
5. One Track Mind
6. Another Perfect Day
7. Marching Off to War
8. I Got Mine
9. Tales of Glory
10. Die You Bastard

[caption id="attachment_3036" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Motorhead[/caption]

Lemmy Kilmister- bass, vocals

Brian 'Robbo' Robertson- guitar

Phil 'Philthy Animal' Taylor- drums

Lemmy might have hated "Another Perfect Day" at the time but I love it. Saying that, he did include a few of the songs when he played live some ten years later. So my advice here is to listen to the album and completely enjoy it and don't read about the history behind it. "Another Perfect Day" is yet another great Motorhead album.

Next post: Todd Rundgren- The Ever Popular Tortured Artists Effect

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

Great Rock Albums of 1983: The Final Cut

 

Like most of the world, I was really excited to hear that Pink Floyd released a new album in 1983. While I was beginning to wean myself off being influenced by what others said about a particular album in my decision to buy it, it wasn't the case here. "The Final Cut," at least in my surroundings was slammed mercilessly by deejays, critics and some people I knew who bought it. Therefore, I didn't. After all, it seemed everybody was saying that the album sucked.

What I and many other people should have realized back then was that any album from Pink Floyd would have a very difficult time following up their mega giant, "The Wall." That album will always been known as one of the greatest albums of all time, as was their other classic, "Dark Side of the Moon." Now as I am much older and wiser, (that's a matter for debate), I am able to listen to "The Final Cut" with a much more open mind.

First and foremost, "The Final Cut" doesn't suck in the least but I will make the predictable statement that it doesn't compare to either of the two classic albums shown above. In fact, I hear reminders of both those albums and their 1977 "Animals" album in it. Except unlike that last mentioned album, there are no ten minute long songs on this album. Saying that, on this album, Pink Floyd do make use of sound effects, which was trademark for them throughout the 1970s and early 80s. But what I noticed straight away is that the songs, at least the first few, take shots at Margaret Thatcher.

What Roger Waters was trying to convey in the album was his frustration of seeing all of the liberal achievements made after World War II, where he lost his father, being eroded away by the election of Thatcher. In the very first song, Waters asks "What have we done, Maggie, what have we done? What have we done to England?" I admit that in 1983, lyrics like these would have been lost on me but today I totally understand the meaning.

Maybe it was the fact that many people weren't quite ready for music to become too political at the time. My eyes were only opening up to such things. However, I think the music to the album is very typical of Pink Floyd and is why I loved listening to them all of these years. Like with any Floyd album, I could easily pop this one on, kick back on the couch and get absorbed into it while puffing the magic dragon. Only now, I would appreciate the lyrics to the songs much more. For me, the standout songs are the title track and "Not Now John," which I now remember hearing on the radio and watching the video for back then.

Track Listing:

1. Post War Dream
2. Your Possible Pasts
3. One of the Few
4. The Hero's Return
5. The Gunner's Dream
6. Paranoid Eyes
7. Get Your Filthy Hands Off My Desert
8. The Fletcher Memorial Home
9. Southampton Dock
10. The Final Cut
11. Not Now John
12. Two Suns in the Sunset

Roger Waters- vocals, bass

David Gilmour- guitar, vocals

Nick Mason- drums

Additional Musicians

Michael Kamen- piano, harmonium

Andy Bown- organ

Ray Cooper- percussion

Raphael Ravenscroft- tenor sax

Forget what the critics said, "The Final Cut" is a good album from Pink Floyd. It contains all that I came to love about this band. Unfortunately, it would be the last one that this particular line up would record together.

Next post: Todd Rundgren- The Ever Tortured Artist Effect

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

Great Rock Albums of 1983: DNA- Party Tested

 

We all have songs and albums that we listened to many years ago which still pop up in our minds after all these years. For me, when I began to reflect back to the music of 1983, there was one such band that immediately came to mind. I remember DNA getting plenty of air play in the spring of said year although it was only when I refamiliarised myself with them that I remembered the song in question was "Doctors of the Universe." Now, this could have qualified them as one hit wonders but I did hear the album "Party Tested" once upon a time and remember liking it. Why I never bought it is something I can not understand. Besides any album made by guitar great Rick Derringer and drumming ace Carmine Appice has to be worth, not only a listen but a post on its own.

Let me tell you that listening to "Doctors of the Universe" after more than thirty years did get me in a party mood. I forgot just how catchy that song was then and now. It starts with a hard guitar riff then comes the hook of the keyboards. They sound clean without going totally synth pop, which was the bucking trend at the time. Then there's the chorus which you want to sing again and again.

"We are the doctors of the universe, we twist your DNA we like our work"

Needless to say, the guitar solo by Rick, while not a belter, is sufficient for this song.

Listening to the rest of "Party Tested" is like seeing an old friend whom you haven't seen in years. The old familiarites come back instantly. Most of the songs gave me the distinct impression of "Oh yeah, I remember this one." That is especially the case of the following track, "Intellectual Freedom for the Masses." But even more so with track three, "Rock and Roll, Part 2." I definitely heard that one before and fairly recently. It took me a few minutes of laying nude in the grass in deep contemplation, okay maybe not the nudity in the grass, too cold for that but I do remember where I heard it. It was from an episode of South Park where the new kid brings dance to the school. However, he would rather play basketball but his father makes him dance and bitch slaps anyone who opposes him. They play "Rock and Roll Part 2" at the basketball game at the end to which the father gets up and gets into the song. Of course, that song could have that effect on people.

[caption id="attachment_3010" align="aligncenter" width="169"] The bitch-slapping dancing father[/caption]

Track four, "The Song That Wrote Itself" is the first noticeable one where Rick Derringer shows why he should be counted among the guitar greats. He really jams out here and while his guitar presence isn't as in your face as the mentioned song, it is enough to hook you. The title track is definitely one for that and I have to say that "What About?" is a better than decent closer. One thing I must point out is that if you're expecting major drum solos from Carmine, there are none to be had on "Party Tested." He doesn't need to as his drumming is as good as ever on the album. In fact, I will venture forth the opinion that he and bassist Jimmy Johnson make a damn fine rhythm section.

Track Listing:

1. Doctors of the Universe
2. Intellectual Freedom for the Masses
3. Rock And Roll Part 2
4. The Song That Wrote Itself
5. Party Tested
6. The Recipe For Life
7. What About?

[caption id="attachment_3011" align="aligncenter" width="259"] Rick Derringer and Carmine Appice[/caption]

Carmine Appice- drums, vocals

Rick Derringer- guitar, vocals

Jimmy Johnson- bass

Duane Hitchings- keyboards

I am hoping that when people read about this album, they respond with, "Oh yes, I remember them, that song/album" but I fear that it might draw a blank. Therefore, your assignment should be to have a listen to "Party Tested." It will get you in the party mood and what a better way to do that in the run up to the holiday season.

Next post: Christmas

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

Great Rock Albums of 1983: Weird Al Yankovick

 

Madness had finally broken through to America and Frank Zappa put out a fantastic album but if there was any more proof needed to forward the belief that 1983 was a good year for humour in music, it would be the debut album of Weird Al Yankovic. In fact, since this year, many people would forever compare Weird Al with Frank on account of their love of humour. So much so, that twenty years after this album, Weird Al would have a track on an album that if you didn't know any better, you would think it was Zappa himself. As for me though, it would only be the humour and the fact that both are true musical geniuses being the only things they have in common. They have totally different styles.

Hearing the tracks "Ricky" and "Stop Dragging My Car Around" on the radio in the spring of this year would convert me to Weird Al forever and I don't care if people think I'm sad for it, (some do.) Those songs had me rolling on the floor in laughter and when I heard it, so did the self titled debut album. Nobody, now or then, does parody better than he does. What's even more impressive is how he is able to adjust to the musical style of the song he's parodying even if he sometimes does it with an accordion. That's another amazing thing about him, no one else has been able to employ an accordion in rock songs the way he does.

On the debut album, the parodies come thick and fast. Not only do many of them take the piss out of classic songs, they are also parody other things. Take the two already mentioned. "Ricky" is obviously a parody of one hit wonder Toni Basil's "Mickey" but it also parodies the old "I Love Lucy" show. Same with "Stop Dragging My Car Around." Yes, it's a humourous version of the classic Tom Petty/Stevie Nicks duet "Stop Dragging My Heart Around," but it also rips on the the culture of towing cars away. Other great ones are "Another One Rides the Bus," which is a parody of a Queen classic and if you have ever ridden on a crowded bus, then you would appreciate the sentiments on this song. Others great parodies are "My Bologna" which pokes fun at The Knack's "My Sharona and "I Love Rocky Road," a dig at the famous Joan Jett and the Blackhearts song. However, not all of Weird Al's songs parody other songs. Some are just simple digs about other things. "Buckingham Blues" makes fun of the Royal Family. "I'll Be Mellow When I'm Dead" is a dig at the hippy culture. Then there's "Gotta Boogie," let me just say this song has nothing to do with dancing. In any case, unless you have no sense of humour at all, and there are people out there who do, you can't stop laughing out loud at the songs from this album. Weird Al proves to the world just how weird he is.

Track Listing:

1. Ricky
2. Gotta Boogie
3. I Love Rocky Road
4. Buckingham Blues
5. Happy Birthday
6. Stop Dragging My Car Around
7. My Bolgna
8. The Check's in the Mail
9. Another One Rides the Bus
10. I'll Be Mellow When I'm Dead
11. Such a Groovy Guy
12. Mr Frump in the Iron Lung

[caption id="attachment_3006" align="aligncenter" width="374"] Weird Al Yankovic[/caption]

Weird Al Yankovic- accordion, vocals

Rick Derringer- guitar

Steve Jay- bass

John 'Bermuda' Schwartz- drums, percussion

Rich Bennett- ukulele, banjo, guitar

William K Anderson- saxophone, harmonica

Joel Miller- bongos

Mike Kieffer- percussion

Dorothy Ramsen- harp

Tress MacNeille- voice of Lucy Ricardo on "Ricky"

Dawn Smythey, Zaidee  Cole, Joan Manners- backing vocals

Weird Al Yankovic, along with Frank Zappa of course, proved to the world in 1983 that humour and music could go together. The debut album from Weird Al continues to have me in stitches each time listen to it.

Next post: DNA- Party Tested

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

Great Rock Albums of 1983: Frank Zappa- The Man From Utopia

 

If there was any more evidence to further my belief that 1983 was the year for humour in music, then it would have to be the album "The Man From Utopia" by Frank Zappa. For over a decade and a half before the release of this album, Frank had been successfully carrying out a two pronged assault of making some fantastic music while at the same time, making us laugh our asses off with his humourous lyrics. In the late 1970s, listening to Zappa was practically a requirement at my high school. 1983 would be the year that one of his songs would actually get airplay on commercial radio. Before that, his only access to radio play was via the Dr Demento Show. Yes, I know that "Valley Girl" broke into the top forty charts in 1982 but that song will always be associated with his daughter Moon.

[caption id="attachment_778" align="aligncenter" width="235"] Doctor Demento[/caption]

That all changed when one day, while listening to the one decent rock station in Jacksonville, North Carolina, I heard the track "Cocaine Decisions." Okay, the song never broke the top forty singles chart, but who really cares about that? I just thought it was great to hear Frank on the radio. True, "Cocaine Decisions" is an anti drug song. However, it is not aimed at the common man. Instead it pokes fun at all the high class executives who used to snort. There was a saying back in the 80s that went, "Cocaine was God's way of telling you that you make too much money." Frank's song parodies that.

The rest of the album consists of everything that Frank Zappa has been doing to entertain us for all those years. There are a load of great parody songs on the album. At first, I thought "The Radio is Broken" was going to be about a broken radio. Instead, Frank is being a kind of prophet here. It would only be less than two years later when, in my view, commercial radio started to suck. This song is about that.

Then there's "The Dangerous Kitchen." This one takes the piss out of the rising health and safety culture and look where it is now these days. The track "The Jazz Discharge Party Hats" rips on musicians trying to get laid after every gig. However, my favourite track on "The Man From Utopia" is "The Man From Utopia Meets Mary Lou." While the song is done with the usual Zappa sense of humour, there is a serious side to it. It's about a down trodden housewife who gets away but then gets revenge by fleecing men. It is on this track that Ray White's underrated vocals come out. Oh yes, "Sex" is a pretty funny track too.

If I were to nit pick anything about the album, it would be the absence of Frank Zappa's guitar playing ability. He doesn't go into any great solos and it could be said that there is a lack of guitar great Steve Vai's skills. Honestly, I'm not really bothered. There are three instrumentals, "Tink Walks Amok," "We're Not Alone" and "Moggio," on the album and they all boast the great musicianship from the people Frank gets to play on his albums. I think that "The Man From Utopia" might be his best album since "Joe's Garage Act 1."

Track Listing (CD)

1. Cocaine Decisions
2. Sex
3. Tink Walks Amok
4. The Radio is Broken
5. We're Not Alone
6. The Dangerous Kitchen
7. The Man From Utopia Meets Mary Lou
8. Stick Together
9. The Jazz Discharge Party Hats
10. Luigi and the Wise Guys
11. Moggio

[caption id="attachment_777" align="aligncenter" width="198"] Frank Zappa[/caption]

Frank Zappa- vocals, guitar, drum machine

Steve Vai- guitars

Ray White- guitar, vocals

Roy Estrada- vocals

Bob Harris- boy soprano

Ike Willis- vocals

Bobby Martin- keyboards, saxophone, vocals

Tommy Mars- keyboards

Arthur Barrow- bass, rhythm guitar, keyboards

Ed Mann- percussion

Scott Thunes- bass

Chris Wackerman- drums

Vinnie Colaiuta- drums

Craig Twister Stewart- harmonica

Dick Fegy- mandolin

Marty Krystall- saxophone

Frank Zappa was still going strong in 1983 as "The Man From Utopia" shows. After all, if 1983 was a year for humour in music to step forward, it wouldn't have been able to do so without Frank.

I have also made a rather disappointing discovery. As a teen forty years ago, I thought that by now, 2021, wars would no longer exist but there would be ROLLERBALL!

[caption id="attachment_3001" align="aligncenter" width="274"] Rollerball[/caption]

Next post: Weird Al Yankovick

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