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W.A.S.P. – “THE REAL ME” 12″ SINGLE FROM 1989 REVISITED!

Posted in 1980's heavy metal albums, 1980's heavy metal cover songs, 1980's heavy metal bands, 1980's heavy metal guitarists, 1980's heavy metal music, 1980's heavy metal songs, 1980's metal bands, 1980's metal music, 1990's heavy metal bands, collecting heavy metal albums, collecting music, cool album covers, guitar legends, hard to find records, Heavy Metal, heavy metal album covers, heavy metal albums, heavy metal albums 1989, heavy metal cover songs, heavy metal guitarists, heavy metal history, heavy metal memorabilia, heavy metal music, heavy metal music 1989, heavy metal on vinyl, heavy metal records, heavy metal vocalists, metal odyssey, Music, old school heavy metal, old school heavy metal bands, rare heavy metal records, rock music with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on January 14, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

Back in April of 1989, W.A.S.P. released The Headless Children, this proved to be THE album that really made me a lifetime fan of Blackie Lawless and his band. My best Metal buddy Scott, he is to blame for getting me into this album to begin with, I thank him for that. Sometime in 1989, (I can’t remember the exact month for Metal sakes), I bought the 12″ vinyl single of The Real Me from a back stabbing and obnoxious record dealer in very expensive Connecticut. The price back in ’89 for this W.A.S.P. record was $9.98. I could not resist the purchase, it was the only copy in that decrepit record store, it’s W.A.S.P. and the collectible side of my Metal brain always wins out in the end… especially when an item doesn’t cost a ton of dough. As a bonus, this 12″ single is enclosed inside a very, very, large W.A.S.P. poster, (see pics below). Back in ’89, I was still living at home, (with my parents), so my living space was a very small bedroom with walls already adorned with Metal posters… posters I just could not take down due to my loyalty and allegiance to so many bands. I am now glad I never hung this poster years ago, it’s basically in mint condition still.

The Real Me is a cover song from The Who, written by Pete Townshend… undisputed Rock legends. This song is found on The Headless Children album:

Here is what The Real Me 12″ single – record poster/jacket looks like when folded up flat:

The B – Side (or) Side Two Songs On The Real Me Single Are:

Lake Of Fools and War Cry

Lake Of Fools and War Cry are later found on the 1998 reissued CD version of The Headless Children.

The Real Me 12″ single was put out on Capitol Records. 1989 Sanctuary Productions Inc. is also printed on the back of this poster/cover.

Made In England is found on this same back poster/cover, (it appears to be rubber stamped). So, needless to say… this 12″ single of The Real Me is an import.

Please excuse the quality of my images below. Besides, being perfect is NOT Metal.

Here is the front side of this W.A.S.P. – The Real Me poster/record jacket:

The caricatures of Blackie Lawless, (guitar, vocals), Johnny Rod, (bass), Chris Holmes, (lead guitar) and Frankie Banali, (drums) are fun stuff. It’s Old School Heavy Metal. I probably won’t attempt to hang this poster up today… it’s just too vintage to ruin now. (Unless I find a poster frame large enough to hold it). Besides my picture disc of The Headless Children, this is the only other cool W.A.S.P. record I have, that is considered a limited vinyl collectible. I know I say this often, still, I’m just thankful for the stuff I did get ahold of and kept after all these years. Maybe I’ll find another W.A.S.P. vinyl collectible down the road, on one of my Metal hunts.

Here is the backside of this W.A.S.P. – The Real Me poster/record jacket:

The photo’s of W.A.S.P. on this poster are really cool and nostalgic to me. 1989 was a moment in Heavy Metal time that will never be forgotten by Metal Odyssey… I’m sure I speak for throngs of Metalheads worldwide.

W.A.S.P. “THE HEADLESS CHILDREN” 1989 PICTURE DISC IS FOR KEEPS!

Posted in 1980's heavy metal albums, 1980's heavy metal cover songs, 1980's heavy metal bands, 1980's heavy metal music, 1980's heavy metal picture discs, 1980's heavy metal songs, 1980's metal bands, 1980's metal music, 1989 heavy metal music, 1990's heavy metal bands, 1990's heavy metal music, Album Review, collecting heavy metal albums, cool album covers, creepy album covers, current heavy metal bands, heavy metal album covers, heavy metal album review, heavy metal albums, heavy metal albums 1989, heavy metal bands, heavy metal guitarists, heavy metal history, heavy metal memorabilia, heavy metal music, heavy metal music 1989, heavy metal records, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, old school heavy metal, old school metal bands, rare heavy metal records, rare picture discs, rock music, scary album covers with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on December 30, 2009 by Metal Odyssey

I bought this W.A.S.P.The Headless Children picture disc way back in 1989, I don’t remember the actual month, all I remember is being completely thrilled by this W.A.S.P. album. I initially bought The Headless Children on cassette… I still have it too… in super duper mint condition. I’ve mentioned in past posts, that I am fortunate by keeping some of my Heavy Metal picture discs from the 1980’s. I really am psyched that I did keep this W.A.S.P. picture disc, especially since W.A.S.P. has never ceased with Heavy Metal output over the years. Add the fact that W.A.S.P. is in my top 5 of favorite lifetime bands and that about says it all. Now that I have immersed myself so deeply into the 2009 release from W.A.S.P. – Babylon, I find myself wanting to collect more offbeat and collectible W.A.S.P. stuff. Time, patience and greenbacks are all key, in striving to achieve any collection that I so crave. I will stumble upon some W.A.S.P. stuff in 2010… and when I do, I will blab away about it right here on Metal Odyssey, you betcha.

Metal Odyssey Note: I just cannot wait to hit up the flea markets and thrift stores in 2010… Metal Music hunting will be turned up a notch this coming year, I vow to make the finds a Metal reality, at low end prices to boot! All of the discarded and unloved Metal memorabilia out there, shall be saved upon my finds! (That felt so tremendously great, to get that out of my system).

Uh, yeah, back to this unreal great picture disc. Blackie Lawless started to get a bit more serious with his song lyrics and themes on The Headless Children, the proof is in the listening and/or reading of these lyrics. My Metal buddy Scott agrees with me on that statement… I think he is the one who actually stated it to me! Blackie Lawless either wrote or co-wrote every song on this album, with the exception of The Real Me, (which was written by Pete Townshend – guitarist/vocalist for the ultra legendary The Who). The Heretic (The Lost Child) and Thunderhead are two songs on this album that Blackie Lawless co-wrote with lead guitarist Chris Holmes. The Headless Children and The Real Me are my two favorite songs on this album. Let me just say that every song on The Headless Children is Old School – wrecking ball – Heavy Metal. No one Metalhead out there can do wrong by buying this album, Metal truth be spoken… it is a must own. In my Metal opinion, I consider The Headless Children to be a very strong W.A.S.P. album, the foundation for the great run of albums Blackie Lawless delivered in the 1990’s. The Headless Children picture disc I have owned for so long, well, it IS a keeper.

The front cover/side A of this picture disc, has the original front cover album artwork, (see image below). On the B side of this picture disc are the complete lyrics to the songs, printed right onto the vinyl. The thick plastic sleeve that this picture disc has been safely stored in, for over 20 years, also came with a cardboard backing insert too… it has a black & white photo of Blackie Lawless with Chris Holmes to his left and Johnny Rod to his right. The cardboard backing – cover photo is right here… look below:

W.A.S.P. as they appeared on The Headless Children:

Blackie Lawless – lead vocals & guitar

Chris Holmes – lead guitar

Johnny Rod – bass guitar & vocals

Frankie Banali – drums

** Lita Ford – provides backing vocals on Thunderhead

The complete track listing, for the original 1989 album release and picture disc of The Headless Children:

Side One:

The Heretic (The Lost Child)

The Real Me

The Headless Children

Thunderhead

Side Two:

Mean Man

The Neutron Bomber

Mephisto Waltz

Forever Free

Maneater

Rebel In The F.D.G.

* A Metal Note: Maneater is NOT the Hall & Oates song, NOT! Ugh.

Release date for The Headless Children original album: April 15, 1989

Release date for The Headless Children picture disc: Sometime in 1989

Record Label: Capitol Records

The Headless Children picture disc code, (whatever that is, it’s on it anyways): ESTPD 2087

Here is what The Headless Children picture disc looks like, front/A side:

If you look really closely at the artwork on The Headless Children, there are quite a few real life bad dudes on the cover. How many can you identify?

Having a lousy day? Then listen to W.A.S.P. “Live… In The Raw”

Posted in 1980's live heavy metal albums, 1980's heavy metal music, 1980's metal music, Album Review, classic metal, cool album covers, essential heavy metal albums, Heavy Metal, heavy metal album covers, heavy metal album review, heavy metal albums, heavy metal guitarists, heavy metal music, Heavy Metal Reviews, heavy metal vocalists, horror metal, live rock albums, Metal, metal concerts, metal music, Metal Reviews, Music, vintage heavy metal albums, vintage live heavy metal albums with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on May 25, 2009 by Metal Odyssey

W.A.S.P. released “Live… In The Raw” on November 27, 1987. I always thank the Metal Gods for W.A.S.P. existing. Blackie Lawless is one of my Metal heroes. This live album/CD is one heck of a Metal ride, an outstanding set of vintage W.A.S.P. tunes that are monstrously power driven. My best buddy in the entire Metal galaxy introduced me to W.A.S.P. back in the mid 1980’s, it was the greatest gift I have ever received from him. I know this line has been used millions of times before, however, being introduced to W.A.S.P. back then is the Metal gift that keeps on giving. Look, if you are in need of some legitimate Metal music that will pick you up, power you up and make you flip off your enemies and/or antagonists, well, “Live… In The Raw” is all the Metal fuel you need. There has always been something about the in your face and straight up brand of Heavy Metal that W.A.S.P. provides, it has been a Metal elixir for me going on three decades now. The legendary W.A.S.P. lineup on this live album was: Blackie Lawless on lead vocals & rhythm guitar, Chris Holmes on lead & rhythm guitar, Johnny Rod on bass & backing vocals and Steve Riley on drums & backing vocals.

I always dig the live concert albums that make me feel like I am/was there to experience it. “Live… In The Raw” is one of those albums for me. From the opening track of “Inside The Electric Circus” to “The Manimal” in the middle of the set, to “Blind In Texas” – this is full throttle, old school Heavy Metal, that makes me forget about all the morons that try to make my life miserable. I recommend with full Metal pride, this album/CD to anyone just getting interested in discovering what W.A.S.P. is all about. “Harder Faster” and “9.5 – N.A.S.T.Y.” are two incredible live tracks, I envision Blackie Lawless actually singing these songs with his trademark crazed look about his face as I listen. (Hey, what else would anyone be envisioning while listening to live W.A.S.P.? Huh? Daisy and floral gardens? Cute little chipmunks? I do not think so). This live album is an all Metal feel-good experience, courtesy of one of the most commercially unacceptable bands in the world… the PMRC’s worst nightmare, the undeniable W.A.S.P.. 

W.A.S.P. "Live... In The Raw"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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