Toto and Jefferson Starship – My Early FM Radio Introduction To Melodic Hard Rock
During the late 70’s I was just a kid and (almost) ready to become a teenager. I’ve written before that I did not own many cool albums in the late 70’s. ELO (Out Of The Blue), Foreigner (S/T), Foreigner (Double Vision), KISS (Double Platinum), KISS (Dynasty), Paul Stanley (KISS – solo album) and Cheap Trick (At Budokan) were really the only albums I owned going into 1980.
I had some cool 45’s. Queen and Bad Company come to mind. Really. I was twelve years old in 1978 and just happy with what I had. My main source for finding out about new and “old” Rock Music (besides American Bandstand and Soul Train) was the mighty FM dial on my beloved radio.
Many of us know how it was to listen to FM back in the day. It was exhilarating to say the least. No MTV. No internet with youtube and band websites. Streaming music was stuff of science fiction back then. I hate sounding old, yet those late 70’s were the good old days. My FM radio I had received as a Christmas gift from my parents, when I was in sixth grade, was pure Rock N’ Roll gold to me back then.
I try to tell my daughters about how things used to be and they just giggle and shake their heads at me. They can’t picture a world without the internet being their #1 source for music. I can’t blame them at all. I used to shake my head at my Dad too, especially when he would tell me that a double-feature at the movies only cost a quarter.
I recently had two Classic Rock songs that began playing in my head, (no, not at the same time). These two songs I vividly remember hearing on the Connecticut FM stations: WCCC, WHCN and WPLR for years, stretching right into the 80’s and beyond. During those last two years of the 70’s decade, these two songs were a grand introduction of Melodic Hard Rock/AOR to my young ears. Here they are:
JEFFERSON STARSHIP – Jane (Freedom At Point Zero – 1979)
I remember when I first heard Mickey Thomas singing Jane and I was in awe that a guy could sing such high notes. I only thought Freddie Mercury could do that back then. Hey… my young ears weren’t introduced to Rob Halford just yet. Jane popped into my head and it made me realize that this song justifiably Rocks for me, after all these decades. I kinda get psyched out when I still hear it.
Side notes: Rock Music is also a damn cool Rockin’ song too. The amazing thing about this Jefferson Starship album is: I’ve never owned it! Hey… it doesn’t come cheap on CD right now either. Apparently Freedom At Point Zero is out of print. Try $40 (U.S.) used and $70 (U.S.) new. Those are the current prices on Amazon.com. Whoa!
TOTO – (S/T – 1978)
When I used to hold my FM radio up to my ears late at night, all those years ago, I would pray that Hold The Line would be the next song played. What is it about Hold The Line that makes it not lose its Rockin’ appeal? It’s a song that has been played on FM radio (and now) Classic Rock FM stations a million times since 1978. Now, every time I hear it, I get pumped up. I summarize that this song is obviously timeless… for me. I’m certain there are those of you who might agree.
Side Notes: Unlike Freedom at Point Zero, I didn’t let this Toto album get away. I never owned this Toto debut album on vinyl. Yes, it did take me years to finally buy it on CD too. If my Metal memory serves me correct, I bought this Toto CD back in 2000. Whoa! After listening to this entire Toto album, all I kept wondering to myself was: what in the hell took me so long to buy this incredible album of quality Classic Rock? Go figure.
LONG LIVE TOTO & JEFFERSON STARSHIP.
LONG LIVE CLASSIC ROCK.
Stone.
August 29, 2011 at 4:08 am
“Jane” is an amazing song – one of my favourite rock singles, perhaps in my Top 10 – and the TOTO debut, just a seminal album for me. Track after track of pure class. I covered “Hold the Line” in ’79 on an album I recorded in Copenhagen – always loved the song, always will.
August 30, 2011 at 9:14 pm
Very cool Kev! I want to hear your cover of “Hold The Line”. 🙂
I understand your loving this song!
August 29, 2011 at 10:56 am
>I did not own many cool albums in the late 70′s. ELO (Out Of The Blue), Foreigner (S/T), Foreigner (Double Vision), KISS (Double Platinum), KISS (Dynasty), Paul Stanley (KISS – solo album) and Cheap Trick (At Budokan) were really the only albums I owned going into 1980.
Sounds like a good start to a record collection to me!
I was still in elementary school in 1979. But I had a few albums too:
Aerosmith “Toys In The Attic“,
Rolling Stones “Flowers“,
Rolling Stones “Get Yer Ya-Ya’s Out”
KISS “Dressed To Kill“,
KISS “Alive II”
KISS “Gene Simmons” (solo), and
KISS “Dynasty“.
Never had a Jefferson Starship or a Toto album.
August 30, 2011 at 9:16 pm
Gee Metal whiz… that was an excellent start to a record collection too! I’m not surprised that KISS had the “upper-hand”
in representing your beginning collection too! \m/
August 29, 2011 at 4:28 pm
Both great albums and Freedom At Point Zero is one of my favourite of all times. I will be featuring both albums in my blog at a later date.
August 30, 2011 at 9:20 pm
Cool… I look forward to reading your posts about these two “timeless” albums! 😉
I hope I find a used (or new) CD of “Freedom At Point Zero” for the “cheap” at a thrift store or yard sale one day… I would definitely write about it too! 😮