SCORPIONS – “SAVAGE AMUSEMENT” 1988 ALBUM FLASHBACK
Scorpions. Scorps. Thank you very, very, much Germany. How much Metal praise can I really give this band without sounding too smoochy? Since 1972, the Scorpions have created twenty plus albums, (both studio & live), etching out an undisputed place in Heavy Metal history… better yet, Rock history. I have numerous favorite albums from the Scorpions, one such album is Savage Amusement, released back in 1988. O.k., this album leans towards commercial appeal… quite frankly, I don’t give a crap. The songs on Savage Amusement are solid and laced with quality from every Metal angle. I can never resist listening to Don’t Stop At The Top repeatedly and very loud. Savage Amusement has the late ’80’s Arena Rock atmosphere encompassing each song, a sound that is so identifiable to that decade. I am currently listening to Savage Amusement while I write this post… I am starting to get psyched out at the moment… We Let It Rock… We Let It Roll is playing right now… excuse me please while I go and play some spastic air drums.
Alright, I’m back, man that song is a Metal kick for me. You know, when I go off playing air drums while I am sitting at a red light in my car, people look at me with such amazing disgust… go figure. Nothing beats the privacy of your own home for letting loose with Heavy Metal… Scorps Metal too. When music, Heavy Metal Music, can affect my mind and soul like this Savage Amusement album can, it reminds me how great it is to be alive. Listening to this album reminds me of the day I bought it on vinyl back in 1988. I bought this album along with Sevent Son Of A Seventh Son by Iron Maiden. If I am not mistaken, both of these albums were released the same week back in 1988. I remember walking into my graphic design class, (at Northwestern Connecticut Community College), with both new albums under my arm… one damn happy Metalhead I was that day. I was showing off both of these albums to my fellow classmates like they were baby pictures in my wallet.
Saying this once again – I have never been the huge fan of Heavy Metal ballads. However, the Scorpions always know how to do a Heavy Metal ballad right. Believe In Love is one Heavy Metal ballad that gives me those Metal duck bumps up and down my arms. Klaus Meine… his vocals are insanely unreal great. When Klaus Meine sings a ballad, he does so with profound emotion, nothing sounds fake about it. Rhythm Of Love is another powerful Scorps song for me, one that received plenty of FM airplay back in the late ’80’s too. I remember daze, I mean days, when I used to cruise to this song… with little cares in the world to ruffle my Metal feathers. It just seems that a great album like Savage Amusement will always stand the test of time… that is what elite musicianship does, weaving through the decades and sounding better with each listen.
Thank you Scott for hooking me up with this classic Scorpions album, I now finally have it on CD.
Track Listing For Savage Amusement:
Don’t Stop At The Top
Rhythm Of Love
Passion Rules The Game
Media Overkill
Walking On The Edge
We Let It Rock… We Let It Roll
Every Minute Every Day
Love On The Run
Believe In Love
Scorpions, as they appeared on Savage Amusement:
Klaus Meine – lead vocals
Rudolf Schenker – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
Matthias Jabs – lead guitar, backing vocals
Francis Buchholz – bass guitar, backing vocals
Herman Rarebell – drums, percussion, backing vocals
Metal Odyssey > Heavy Metal Music Blog 
December 24, 2009 at 4:28 am
Great Album. I remember seeing them as part of the Monsters of Rock tour in Foxboro MA back in 1988. They were touring with Van Halen who had released OU812 that year, Metallica was just set to release …And Justice for All. Dokken was still touring with Back for the Attack, and that Zeppelin Rip off Band Kindom Come was the opening act. That was one kick ass summer concert! Thanks for blogging about this underrated album…Brings back a great Metal Memory!!!
December 24, 2009 at 5:00 pm
Your lucky you were able to see that great Heavy Metal festival. Great lineup, historic lineup of bands on that bill! Kingdom Come sold quite a few of their debut album… I have to admit that “Get It On” is a Kingdom Come song that still psyches me out.
December 28, 2009 at 3:54 pm
One of my favorite modern-era Scorpions albums.
December 30, 2009 at 3:49 am
It’s so good… just the whole package of songs. A real album. It’s cool you consider it a favorite of yours.
January 6, 2010 at 1:18 pm
I left a reply on a previous blog about this release. It seems you already know. FANTASTIC album. Anytime I was in a cover band, this is one of the first albums I would go to for what song I wanted to cover. FYI, it was usually “Passion Rules The Game”.
January 6, 2010 at 4:45 pm
There is just a ton of cool emotion in these Scorpions songs on Savage Amusement. Great choice of song to cover too.
In Metal – Stone