As reported on the official website of DEF LEPPARD:
Joe Elliott’s Down ‘N’ Outz’s version of “Funeral For a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding” has been a big hit on Joe’s weekly radio show on Planet Rock. Due to the many requests you can now stream the track on demand over at the Down ‘N’ Outz Facebook page: Down ‘n’ Outz – Facebook
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* For more info, click on the link below:
LONG LIVE JOE ELLIOTT’S DOWN ‘N’ OUTZ.
CLASSIC ROCK FOREVER.
Stone.
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.
DEEP PURPLE – Released back in October of 1990, Slaves and Masters became the thirteenth studio album from the ultra-legendary Deep Purple. This terrific album embodied the reunion of Rock icons Joe Lynn Turner (vocals) and Ritchie Blackmore (guitar), both formerly together in Rainbow, a Rock historic and outrageously important band founded by Ritchie Blackmore. The Joe Lynn Turner and Ritchie Blackmore partnership in Rainbow spanned three studio albums: Difficult To Cure (1981), Straight Between The Eyes (1982) and Bent Out Of Shape (1983).
My favorite song from Slaves and Masters is: King Of Dreams. Sure, as with this entire album, there are flashes of melodic Rainbow that seep out of King Of Dreams… all due in part to Joe Lynn Turners melodic and harmoniously contagious vocals. The tone of Ritchie Blackmore’s guitar does resonate Deep Purple, yet there are reminders of his Rainbow era that resonate in his style as well… in my Metal opinion.
King Of Dreams is just a solid melodic Hard Rock song that seems to carry with it a “no end in sight” shelf life. The sound heard on this album and King Of Dreams is extremely relevant to my ears. I find it incredible that I bought Slaves and Masters on cassette 22 years ago. I still have the cassette… Metal be thy name.
I hope you dig King Of Dreams as much as I do. If not, well, go listen to some Milli Vanilli and take some laxatives.
Joe Lynn Turner – vocals
Ritchie Blackmore – guitar
Roger Glover – bass
Jon Lord – keyboards
Ian Paice – drums
* The CD single photo for King Of Dreams is at top of this post. I found this CD single at an antique store on Friday, May 20th, 2011. Yes, an antique store. This is a “For Promotional Use Only” copy which contains both the album and edit version of King Of Dreams. The whole package is in mint shape too. I paid a whopping $3 (U.S. funds) for this piece of Deep Purple history! This King Of Dreams CD single is not the one which contains the track Fire In The Basement. The record labels on the backside of the liner notes are: BMG and RCA.
(Slaves and Masters album cover/1990 – BMG & RCA)
* For more info on DEEP PURPLE, click on the link below:
LONG LIVE DEEP PURPLE.
LONG LIVE RITCHIE BLACKMORE.
LONG LIVE JOE LYNN TURNER.
Stone.
THE DOORS – Today was a gorgeous late Summer day where I live. Eastern Pennsylvania has had it’s fair share of oppressive humidity the last few months, so taking advantage of more mild temperatures with little to no humidity is essential for the mind, body and soul. Outdoor activities are once again in the fold for Stone and his family! So, the family and I set out for some mini golf this afternoon. My wife found what I consider to be the cleanest and most fun mini golf course I’ve ever seen or played. Sittler Golf Center is quite the place… with a driving range, pro-shop, take-out window and of course, mini golf. This cool place is located in Kutztown, Pennsylvania.
There are those many moments in my life, where being somewhere and hearing a song sparks a memory. Today there were two songs I heard being played at Sittler Golf Center, they were Touch Me and Light My Fire by the beyond legendary – The Doors. Listening to these kind of Rock Classics while playing mini golf makes Stone very happy. The memory these two songs sparked in my mind were of the first vinyl album I ever owned by The Doors, which was 13.
It was an immediate vision in my minds eye, the album 13. I could see it as plain as day as I moved about the mini golf course today. 13 is a slab of classic vinyl I wish was still in my collection. All I kept thinking to myself as the vision of this album drifted through my mind was… why did I get rid of so many damn great albums years ago? This question gets brought up by me so frequently and the answers are always the same. CD’s were invented and I traded or sold many of my vinyl albums so I could buy… more vinyl albums and/or CD’s! It was an economic cycle I was in for years, buying and then selling my favorite albums. I guess now I know better, the collector and nostalgic parts of me helps to keep my collection intact.
Yes, I did not own a studio album from The Doors until after this “greatest hits” of 13 ran it’s Rockin’ course through my young Rock ‘N’ Roll hungry veins and consciousness. 13 was as terrific a starting point as I could ever ask for in exploring The Doors. I believe I bought 13 sometime around 1983. I remember choosing this 13 album over The Doors Greatest Hits album, due to my liking the album cover of 13 much better. 13 has all four members of The Doors on the cover, with of course Jim Morrison taking up the majority of the cover… and rightfully so. I can honestly remember, holding both albums, debating which one to buy, while standing in the record aisle at the Caldor department store.
Here is what The Doors – Greatest Hits looks like:
Granted, both album covers have a fantastic photo of Jim Morrison. My thinking back in ’83 was to get the “greatest hits” of The Doors that everyone else was passing over. Thinking back, it seemed most of my friends and cousins had bought the Greatest Hits from 1980. L.A. Woman, Not To Touch The Earth, Break On Through and Riders On The Storm are not on 13 and on the Greatest Hits from ’80. However, 13 did have… 13 songs versus the 10 songs heard on the “original” Greatest Hits album from ’80. So, three more songs plus I liked the album cover better, making 13 my first album of choice in adding The Doors to my record collection and life.
It’s funny, yet as I played 13 over and over again back then, my favorite song on this album was You’re Lost Little Girl. Why it’s funny is that this song was never a huge hit for The Doors. I can recall hearing this song being played on WCCC, WHCN and maybe WPLR up in very expensive Connecticut while growing up, only very rarely. Heck, compare this song to the timeless classics of Light My Fire, L.A. Woman, Riders On The Storm and Hello I Love You and forget about it… these songs were staples in the FM rotation of any reputable station back in the 80’s, today as well for some.
What lured me in first and foremost, upon my initial listening experiences of 13 was the voice of Jim Morrison. Whoa. Jim Morrison sounded like no other dude I was listening to of any band at the time. This wasn’t Rob Halford, Ozzy, Paul/Gene/Ace or Peter of KISS, Dennis DeYoung, Lou Gramm, Tom Petty, Bon Scott, Brian Johnson, Jeff Lynne or Robin Zander. Nope. This was a more mysterious voice I was being exposed to at this time of my young life. The previous names I mentioned were all being digested by my ears and mind around 1983, slightly before my “real” exposure to the Thrash Metal movement that enriched my life to this very moment. All of these vocalists I named off are extremely unique and I admire them all greatly.
The voice of Jim Morrison to this day, makes me wonder as to what exactly was going through his mind as he sang. The only other vocalist that I could consider mysterious, with an unreal alluring X -factor, is the late and so sadly missed by me and countless others… Ronnie James Dio. To me, the voice and persona of Jim Morrison was Rock ‘N’ Roll in it’s most profusely exposed state. Sure, I could rant on about the drugs and misfortune of Jim Morrison here, only that’s not what I take from this legend of Rock ‘N’ Roll. Just knowing at that young age back in ’83, that drug abuse defeated Jim Morrison was enough for me to understand the consequences of living such a lifestyle.
13 motivated me to buy this amazing book:
This fabulous biography, No One Here Gets Out Alive, was written by Jerry Hopkins and Danny Sugerman and was printed back in 1980. I remember being mesmerized by the content that I absorbed from these pages. Whoa… was I becoming schooled on the life and times of a Rock ‘N’ Roll legend. I was so fascinated by this book, that I can admit to reading it several times over before I graduated high school. I can remember that my mom was just happy that I was reading a book at all! So many kids had this book under their arm, in their locker or tucked away in their stash back in those early ’80’s that it was alarming.
My memory of watching this album, 13, spin around on the turntable seems like yesterday to me. Yes, I held that album jacket and stared at The Doors. I even read No One Here Gets Out Alive as this album played. Listening to Ray Manzarek on keyboards, Robby Krieger on guitar and John Densmore on drums was a lesson in how American Rock Music was formulated in the late 1960’s and into the early 1970’s. I remember back in ’83, as I still do now, the feeling of amazement that The Doors released their debut album in 1967… when I was only 22 days from turning 1 years old!
The Doors and their 13 album only enlightened my adoration for Rock ‘N’ Roll, making me all the more better prepared for the onslaught of Metal Music that has been an important part of my life for so long now. This is not nonsense about The Doors actually pushing me head first into exploring so many other cool and historical bands when I was a teenager. I actually took a keen interest in listening to The Animals, The Rolling Stones, The Who and a slew of other Rock Music heavyweights back in those early to mid ’80’s due to this remarkable album called… 13.
* The Doors – 13 was released back in November of 1970, on Elektra Records.
* The Doors – 13 was their first “greatest hits” album release.
* Apparently, 13 has never been released on CD. I’m going to find it on vinyl again someday… hopefully in the same mint condition as I once owned it!
* For more info on The Doors, just click here: THE DOORS – Official Website
* For more info on Sittler Golf Center, just click: Sittler Golf Center – website
Track Listing For The Doors – 13:
Light My Fire
People Are Strange
Back Door Man
Moonlight Drive
The Crystal Ship
Roadhouse Blues
Touch Me
Love Me Two Times
You’re Lost Little Girl
Hello I Love You
Land Ho!
Wild Child
The Unknown Soldier
LONG LIVE THE DOORS ROCK ‘N’ ROLL!
R.I.P. Jim Morrison & Ronnie James Dio
Stone.
ORION THE HUNTER – Let’s go back to those good ol’ ’80’s… again. When Rock, Hard Rock and Heavy Metal seemed to mesh together for me, just like chocolate-caramel-fudge swirl ice cream. It was a decade when FM Radio really was the one-stop listening destination for great music. MTV proved to be the same for music videos. I can recall vividly hearing So You Ran on the FM dial… and I was hooked. Sure, it wasn’t a Heavy Metal song I was hearing, nonetheless, it was Rockin’ along with a melodic sound that made me feel alright… and still does.
This Orion The Hunter album is yet another great piece of vinyl that I let go many Metal moons ago. It was released back in 1984 on Columbia Records. Now, from what I have seen, the CD sells “new” from $50 to $125 (U.S.). It appears Orion The Hunter is… out of print.
Orion The Hunter was: former Boston guitarist Barry Goudreau, Boston vocalist Brad Delp on backing vocals, future Boston vocalist Fran Cosmo, Bruce Smith on bass and Michael DeRosier on drums.
Convict me of being sentimental sometimes… yet this song just brings back some good memories of being a young dude, with no bills and high taxes to pay.
Track listing for Orion The Hunter:
All Those Years
So You Ran
Dreamin’
Dark And Stormy
Stand Up
Fast Talk
Too Much In Love
Joanne
I Call It Love
REST IN PEACE, BRAD DELP – 1951 – 2007
Stone.
MANOWAR – Warriors Of The World (2002)
July 4th, 2010 – Independence Day: Happy Birthday U.S.A.! On July 4th, 1776, The United States of America declared independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain, adopting the Declaration of Independence. What better way to celebrate July 4th, by listening to some patriotic Rock ‘N’ Roll songs that embody the spirit of America? Plus, I make no apologies to all of the Hollywood deadpans and political deadbeats that will be most offended by celebrating America, through song, on the 4th of July. For the rest of us Patriotic Americans out there… enjoy this list of songs that you might just crank up LOUD on this July 4th holiday!
Bruce Springsteen – Born In The U.S.A. (1984)
Grand Funk Railroad – We’re An American Band (1973)
The Charlie Daniels Band – In America (1980)
James Brown – Living In America (1985)
Helix – The Kids Are All Shakin’ (1985)
Kansas – Song For America (1975)
Billy Joel – Allentown (1982)
Ace Frehley – New York Groove (1978)
W.A.S.P. – Blind In Texas (1985)
GOD BLESS AMERICA!
Stone.
What does the Electric Light Orchestra and Velvet Revolver have in common? The song – Can’t Get It Out Of My Head.
Here is the cover version of Can’t Get It Out Of My Head by Velvet Revolver:
Here is the original album version of Can’t Get It Out Of My Head by the Electric Light Orchestra:
Which version of Can’t Get It Out Of My Head do you like better? For me, it’s ELO’s original. Listening to ELO’s original just takes me back to when I first really became interested in music. The exploration and journey into the vast world of music, of Rock and Roll, was a profoundly exhilarating and personal experience for me as a kid. Just hearing the orchestration and the arrangements, makes me marvel at how this song was put together. There is emotion that seeps from both ELO’s original and Velvet Revolver’s cover version, only the ELO original really packs in the higher emotion, due to the string arrangements, in my Metal opinion.
Velvet Revolver substitutes an electric guitar courtesy of the ultra great Slash, in exchange for the piano and synthesizer that ELO used, making for a more harder and edgier sound. Velvet Revolver makes Can’t Get It Out Of My Head really Rock, for certain… while still not losing sight of the song’s original outpouring of emotion, that it is so well known for. My personal feeling, is that this is one of Scott Weiland’s finest moments as a vocalist in his entire career… Stone Temple Pilots, his solo album and Velvet Revolver combined. I do embrace this cover version from Velvet Revolver, no question about it, making for one of my more favorite Velvet Revolver songs from their two albums.
This is the cover for the ELO single Can’t Get It Out Of My Head, released in 1974.
* Electric Light Orchestra released Eldorado, their fourth studio album, back in 1974.
* Velvet Revolver released Libertad, their second studio album, back in July of 2007.
At the end of my Metal day, I can easily recommend both versions of Can’t Get It Out Of My Head to anyone. Yet ELO’s original can never be topped.
Stone.
MOTHERS DAY – is here, it’s May 9th, 2010 and more Mom’s will be smiling today while they are remembered, visited upon and bestowed with love and/or flowers, cards and gifts. My Mom will be smiling for her first Mothers Day up in heaven. I love you Mom, for eternity.
I want to wish my mother-in-law, Nonny, my sister-in-law and of course my unreal and beautiful wife a Happy Mother’s Day! So, as with any event, moment or thought that happens in my life… it always gets coated with Metal. What better way to celebrate Mother’s Day, than to also salute some of Rock ‘N’ Roll’s greatest songs, that have Mother as the theme or any reference to Mom in the song title! There are probably hundreds of songs that I may have overlooked… I did not want to embark on an overwhelming list here. If you know of a Heavy Metal or even a Hard Rock or Classic Rock song that incorporates “Mom” into the song title and is not on this list, drop it off as a comment!
* I really can care in the least about the lyrical content of the following songs, it’s the songs having any reference to mother, mom, momma, etc. that is what this list is about. Enjoy… and if you find your not enjoying this list, go watch some Oprah reruns for some real excitement.
DANZIG – Mother (DANZIG debut/self titled)
QUIET RIOT – Mama Weer All Crazee Now (Condition Critical)
Ozzy Osbourne – Mama, I’m Coming Home (No More Tears)
Loggins & Messina – Your Mama Don’t Dance (The Best Of Friends)
Poison – Your Mama Don’t Dance (cover version) (Open Up and Say… Ahh!)
Earth Wind & Fire – Mom ( Last Days And Time)
The Rolling Stones have 2 songs from their 1967 compilation album – Flowers.
Have You Seen Your Mother, Baby, Standing In The Shadow?
Mother’s Little Helper
Electric Light Orchestra – Ma-Ma-Ma Belle (On The Third Day)
King Diamond – Mother’s Getting Weaker (Them)
Aerosmith – MaMa Kin (Debut/Self Titled Album)
GAMMARAY – To Mother Earth (Land Of The Free II)
Here’s a Metal Odyssey “Mother” bonus for you… it’s not a song, instead it’s a super cool, greatest hits album from the beyond legendary – Led Zeppelin… it’s titled… Mothership.
And since I mentioned an actual album “title” that has some “Mother” in it… try out this ultra legendary Rock ‘N’ Roll band for size on Mother’s Day… The Mothers Of Invention.
Freak Out! is the debut double album from The Mothers Of Invention, released back in the magical year of 1966. Freak Out! has the historic distinction of being the very first, double album debut in Rock ‘N’ Roll history. God bless Frank Zappa.
And as you can see, the phrase Freak Out! was made famous long before the Disco/Funk band Chic released their popular 1978 Disco song – Le Freak on their C’est Chic album. (Just thought you would like to know that).
If The Mothers Of Invention are not on your playlist on Mother’s Day… then maybe this iconic band should be… The Mamas & the Papas.
Hey, if your music taste for Mother’s Day is a tad heavier… look no further than… Mother Love Bone. This compilation of songs from Mother Love Bone was released back in 1992.
Here’s hoping this list of Mom related songs and bonus material made for a more wonderful Mothers Day for you. If this cool list did not provide you with any entertainment value, then go take some Ex-Lax and search the television channels for some Brady Bunch reruns.
Stone.
Happy Easter to all who celebrate this holiday, which represents a renewed inspiration and spirit for life, love, peace and happiness! Spring is the season where all the trees, shrubs, plants, weeds and the grass becomes green once again, (if you live in the cold parts of the world that is). Spring is a time to start anew and put into action every detail and/or project I’ve been wanting to accomplish. The best part of Spring is the warmer weather… for us folks who live in the “Winter States” and/or cold regions of the world, it’s an unreal reprieve!
* An extra special Happy Easter goes out to all of my family and friends… you all know who you are!
One of my favorite bands of my entire living life has been: The Electric Light Orchestra. Mr. Blue Sky from their Out Of The Blue album, (released in 1977), makes for a perfect song to applaud Spring’s arrival and this Easter weekend… with the weather where I live being gem perfect!
If you like to hear this ELO classic, Mr. Blue Sky, just click that magic box below!
LONG LIVE THE MUSIC OF ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA!
Spring reminds me of all the good that is in my life. (Hello family, friends and Rock and Roll). It also reminds me not to sweat the small and ridiculous stuff. ELO has always grounded me, giving my musical soul that positive jump start it needs from time to time.
Stone.
JOURNEY – released their sixth studio album, Departure, on March 23, 1980, on Columbia Records. This was my very first Journey album that I ever bought, sometime around 1980. Between this Journey album and Queen – The Game, I was becoming quite a Rock Music fanatic at the age of fourteen. Departure falls into the first dozen or so albums that I ever owned. As with Queen’s The Game album, this Journey album is an exquisite blend of Rock and Hard Rock songs. The FM radio favorite back in the day was Any Way You Want It, this song was the motivation for my buying this album to begin with. A genuine Hard Rock song, Any Way You Want It flowed through my veins like psyche-out serum. Aw, heck, it still does to this very day.
Walks Like A Lady is the mellow Rock song that FM radio caught onto as well, it’s chorus coupled with the simplicity and innocence in it’s lyrics, gives this song it’s appeal, almost spotlighting it amongst the other songs on Departure. Where Were You is one of my favorite Journey songs… ever. If a song can Rock me at age fourteen, then Rock me the same way three decades later… then it ‘s an impact song that did it’s deed in imbedding itself into my Rock and Roll psyche. Where Were You, as with Any Way You Want It, just brings back memories of my discovering what Rock and Hard Rock Music was really all about. Back in 1980, I found myself gravitating towards much more up-tempo and harder edged songs. Departure became another tile, on the Hard Rock ground floor that I was setting foot upon.
I’m Cryin’ for all intents and purposes, is Steve Perry at his very finest, unleashing his never to be duplicated vocals, with a spill-over of believable emotion. Line Of Fire has the saturated sound of Classic Rock boogie, pulsating with every imaginable vibration of 1970’s Hard Rock as well. Neal Schon’s guitar actually sounds like a backup singer on Line Of Fire, his signature tone is that expressive… to my ears. When I listen to Good Morning Girl in 2010, I can safely point to this song as the direction as to where Journey would go musically, on future albums. Steve Perry’s vocals being the focal point in a soft ballad, is a key part of the puzzle to Journey’s mainstream success and popularity explosion of the 1980’s. Good Morning Girl was the hint of more incredible things to come, from this legendary band and lead vocalist… only I did not have a clue of Journey’s future back in 1980.
Whenever I can reach into my music collection and pull out an album that resonates the roots of Rock and Hard Rock of my young adult life, it surely is an impeccable album for me indeed. Rock and Roll is more than an aging slab of vinyl or a hardened plastic disc referred to as a CD. Rock and Roll encompasses dozens upon dozens of genres, while these same genres are represented by bands that are iconic as well as lesser known. What comes out of all this are the emotions, vibrations and memories that the music instills in one. Journey – Departure is an album I look upon as an integral reason as to why I decided to take a Hard Rock trek in my early teens. Journey, as with many other Hard Rock bands of the late 1970’s and early 1980’s, aided in my transition to Heavy Metal… and I never considered for one second of abandoning Journey or any other influential band from my youth… Metal be thy name.
Journey, as they appeared on Departure:
Steve Perry – lead vocals
Neal Schon – guitar & backing vocals
Ross Valory – bass & backing vocals
Gregg Rolie – keyboards, harmonica & backing vocals
Steve Smith – drums & percussion
* Gregg Rolie is the lead vocalist on Someday Soon.
* Neal Schon is the lead vocalist on People And Places.
* Check out the Official Journey website: JOURNEY
Track Listing for Departure:
Any Way You Want It
Walks Like A Lady
Someday Soon
People And Places
Precious Time
Where Were You
I’m Cryin’
Line Of Fire
Departure
Good Morning Girl
Stay Awhile
Homemade Love
* Bonus Tracks From 2006 Reissue:
Natural Thing
Little Girl
Stone.
QUEEN – I can remember like it was yesterday, it was 1980 and I wanted so badly, as a Christmas gift from my Mom and Dad, Queen’s The Game album. I can recite what and how many albums I received as gifts from my parents when I was young, due to the fact that I so deeply appreciated each one. While growing up, my family may not have been “rich” with money, instead we were pretty “rich” with love. As a young dude, I never expected more than one album as a gift from my parents, with each passing Christmas and birthday. Receiving an album a few times during the year, as a thank you for helping out around the house and yard, was reality as well. Therefore, that “one” album at Christmas held some weight… and each album gift was always one of my choices that I made known to anyone who would listen.
1980 came upon me as a breakout year in my life… for I finally broke out of eight years of parochial school. (A Catholic School). I was now an official high school student… enrolled as a freshman. My Rock and Roll taste buds were changing by the week it seemed… so many bands I was hearing on the FM dial, still, so little funds to buy them.
When Christmas of 1980 finally rolled around, I was anxious as to whether or not an album would be under the tree at all. If there was an album, which one would it be? I had jotted down just about every KISS album on that wish list back in 1980, save for Double Platinum and Dynasty, which I already owned. I remember putting Queen’s The Game down on my wish list, I needed a real Queen album and this one would be as good as any. All I did own of Queen at this time in my life was the 45 rpm of We Will Rock You/We Are The Champions. Crazy Little Thing Called Love and Another One Bites The Dust were enormous hits for Queen on the FM dial in 1980. Each time I heard these two songs back then, it felt like Rock and Roll magic in my brain.
Once I heard these next two songs from this powerful Queen album, I was literally covered in ostrich bumps: Play The Game and Need Your Loving Tonight. The Hartford, Connecticut FM stations were very cool back in the late ’70’s on through the ’80’s, their spinning these deeper album cuts from The Game only made it more clear to me, that I absolutely needed this album! Listening to the song Play The Game made me feel like I was walking on air. It still does have that affect on me. Sure, Another One Bites The Dust has been overused commercially over the decades, I do understand. This entire Queen album still makes me feel more powerful than I really am… it’s as if it lifts me up and puts the troubles of the day below my feet.
I did see a wrapped album under the Christmas tree, that Christmas morning back in 1980 and it had my name on the tag. It was from Mom and Dad. Once the wrapping was taken off, (gently I might add, as not to damage a cool album), my eyes widened as big as Pennsylvania Dutch pancakes on a Saturday morning. Queen. The Game. In my hands, the entire album. Yes, I played it on my turntable every day during my freshman year in high school. Back in 1980, hearing the song Dragon Attack was a quick study in Hard Rock 101 for me.
This Queen album, single handedly inspired me as a high school freshman, in ways that I cannot even explain. The operatic and prolific vocals of the late and ultra legendary Freddie Mercury, the ever distinguishable guitar tone of Brian May and the rhythm being solidly accented by John Deacon on bass and Roger Taylor on drums. A Rock album for the ages was and still is – The Game.
LONG LIVE QUEEN. REST PEACEFULLY, FREDDIE MERCURY.
Stone.
Here is a Rainbow album that I can never get enough of. Down To Earth, released on July 28, 1979. This Rainbow lineup is nothing short of legendary, unreal musicians they were together. I actually saved this vinyl copy of Down To Earth since the mid 1980’s, never having the thought of letting it go. Graham Bonnet on vocals is tops… for me. This album just illuminates Hard Rock meets Heavy Metal legitimacy, in my Metal opinion. To this day, I will crank up, (extremely loud), the two songs: All Night Long and Since You Been Gone. I endorse the other six songs on this album as well… songs like these are what makes a complete and memorable album. I often times, find it hard to believe that Down To Earth was released back in 1979, saying these songs are dated will never cross my Metal mind.
I have always embraced each lead singer that fronted Rainbow over the years. Each new lead vocalist lent a different sound and feel, while the hardness of Rainbow never seemed to wane for me. Ronnie James Dio, Graham Bonnet, Joe Lynn Turner and Doogie White made each respective Rainbow lineup unique. Sure, you can say that there have been four different Rainbow bands… the more Rainbow music that was made, the better, in my Metal opinion! I could never embrace the gossip or rumors that surrounded each Rainbow lineup, all I ever cared about were the albums that were created. Down To Earth seems to be an album that gets skipped over, when discussions/articles of great Hard Rock releases of the ’70’s are brought forth. Maybe my blabbing about this Rainbow Down To Earth album will inspire someone to give it a listen again or for the first time, it is extremely well worth it.
Listening to this Rainbow album puts me in a darn good mood. Heck, any Rainbow album puts me in a good mood and sets me straight. I wish that Ritchie Blackmore kept the Rainbow brand moving forward. Regardless, I’ll embrace and enjoy the Rainbow albums that did become reality… especially Down To Earth.
The Rainbow lineup for Down To Earth… and what a lineup:
Ritchie Blackmore – guitar
Graham Bonnet – lead vocalist
Roger Glover – bass guitarist
Cozy Powell – drums
Don Airey – keyboards
The track list for Down To Earth… these are songs, no fillers:
All Night Long
Eyes of the World
No Time to Lose
Makin’ Love
Since You Been Gone
Love’s No Friend
Danger Zone
Lost in Hollywood
* Since You Been Gone was written and recorded by Russ Ballard, originally appearing on his 1976 album Winning. Russ Ballard wrote one pretty cool song, in my Metal opinion.
I am going to embark on a topic that may be sensitive to some people… what really happens when a grocery store song gets you, well, psyched? I have decided tonight, to come out of the grocery store song closet. Yup. Please note, that department store chains also play songs over their central speaker system as well… I will refer to grocery store songs to simplify things. Be honest with yourself, there just had to be at least one moment in your life, where you were innocently shopping in a grocery store and then… that song was played. For me, I have had numerous experiences while grocery shopping and suddenly a song begins that just touches my Rock and Roll nerve. How do you act when this situation arises? Do you show emotion? Maybe you hide your psyched out – inner feelings and pretend that nothing is going on at all, you are in a public setting… a damn grocery store for Metal sakes. Let’s explore this incredibly taboo subject together now, shall we?
It is really senseless to ignore that this grocery store song phenomenon exists… it is o.k. to hear a song playing in a grocery store that psyches you out. My top three grocery store songs ever are: Lido Shuffle by Boz Skaggs, Sweet Talkin’ Woman by The Electric Light Orchestra and Call Me by Blondie. Seriously, I really strain to hold back my psyched out feelings when Lido Shuffle gets played at the grocery store – really. I can remember each moment when I heard these three songs in the grocery store… I felt so good I wanted to run up and down the aisles, high five strangers while shouting yeah! I have been fortunate enough to have heard Sweet Talkin’ Woman several times at the grocery store now, each time is a psyched out charm. Now, for the truth… when I do hear a grocery store song that gets me riveted, I stay cool and collected. My face may show signs of Rock Music satisfaction, a semi-grin if you will, however, staying cool is the best advice I can give anyone who hears a song they like in the grocery store. Just this evening, I was meandering about in an antiques mall, my wife and one half of my twin daughters were close by. Anyhow, inside this antiques mall, Old School Country Music was being played through the stores speaker system. No songs were psyching me out… no problem, until… Carly Simon came on with Your So Vain.
Uh, Carly Simon did get me semi-psyched out at the antiques mall tonight. Maybe it was due to my surroundings… all of this old stuff… antiques everywhere, the ambiance within the framework of this store is quite calm and somewhat like a rerun of The Walton’s. With all of this mellow and old fashioned stimulus around me, hearing Carly Simon sing Your So Vain in the midst of all the Old School Country Music just did it for me. Honestly, I now understand why Faster Pussycat did a cover of Your So Vain… this song most likely struck a chord with Taime Downe (lead singer of Faster Pussycat), like it did me tonight. Weird stuff. Remember, we as a society, are most likely 35 years away from hearing Megadeth and Obituary songs being played as grocery store songs. This is a shame. I have to take what is given to me here, then my Rock and Roll mind filters out the very best of what I do hear with these current grocery store songs that are being played… the psyche me out ones. Now, before you ever step foot into a grocery store again, please take some solid Metal advice in regards to getting psyched out by a song you may hear once there…
Please, if you like to hum along to your favorite grocery store song – stop! I find the annoying humming of a stranger in a grocery store, to be just as offensive as a stranger walking by me and dropping a fart. If you feel the need to sing along to a grocery store song that psyches you out – stop! The setting of a grocery store is not karaoke night at the Wonderland Pub. In the event you find yourself starting to dance and/or move in a groovy manner to a grocery store song – stop! I and potentially many other people, could possibly get anxious by your actions and report you to the store manager or security detail. Remember, the grocery store is not the dance floor of your cousin Jackie’s wedding. Then again, you may ignore my advice altogether and find me to be a tad too sensitive… however, when I hear my next psyched out city, grocery store song, I will remind myself that staying cool is the rule.
When I first heard the song Out On Bail, back in 1984, it was on an FM radio show called Metal Shop. Out On Bail is from the Legs Diamond album Out On Bail, released in 1984. After my first listen to this song, I obtained a copy of it and played it to my Metal hearts delight for years. I have always considered Legs Diamond to be a Hard Rock meets Heavy Metal Band… the heaviness of their music seems to go either way, depending on the song. Out On Bail is both hard and heavy, for me it is as legitimate a Heavy Metal song as any. Quite a few years have passed since I have dug out some Legs Diamond to listen to… I recently pulled out Out On Bail and this song sounds as tough and heavy in 2009 as it did in 1984. This is a fabulous example of my dusting off a tremendous Heavy Rock song and spreading the Metal word to all the world about such song – Out On Bail seriously Rocks.
Legs Diamond may not be the household name of a Heavy Band, still their music is worth getting ahold of. To the best of my Metal research, Legs Diamond has released 15 albums, from 1976 to 2005. The Legs Diamond catalog includes a greatest hits, 2 compilations and a live album. Legs Diamond, in my Metal opinion, is an American Hard Rock Band that has always flown under the Metal radar, a band that is more decent than dozens of more popular bands of their time and now. The album Out On Bail is readily available on Best Buy online, itunes and Century Media Records online.
Out On Bail:
I can still remember that Friday night,
When they came to take me away.
Wish I could have missed that fateful night,
Instead I missed the light of day.
Hey Mister Jailer, won’t you give me my one call,
I know who set me up, to take this fall.
You know I wanna find that guy today,
I want you to bring him up my way!
Get me out, get me out.
Get me out on bail.
Get me out, get me out,
Get me out on bail, yeah.
Thank you Mr. Majors, now, for what you did.
Here’s what I’m gonna do for you,
Gonna find the guy who did this to me,
And send his pointy finger to you!
Now I can go and tell all my friends,
He can’t point a finger at any of them!
Yes, I know, he might have somethin’ to say,
I’ll take care of that another day.
Now I’m out, so far out,
Yes, I’m out on bail.
Yes I’m out, well I’m out, yes I’m out on bail.
Out, yes I’m out, out on bail
Well I’m out, Yes I’m out, out on bail.
-solo-
Out, out, out, out, out on bail.
Out, out, out, out, out on bail.
Out, out, out, out, out on bail.
Out, out, out, out, out on bail.
Out, out, out, out, out on bail.
Out, out, out, out, out on bail…
I really, really, really like In This Moment… especially the vocal talent of Maria Brink. I bought The Dream last September of 2008, man, what an album. Collectively speaking, In This Moment put out one incredibly melodic Heavy Metal album of songs, with The Dream. Sure, In This Moment took on a more mainstream Heavy Metal sound, yet it hooked me line and Metal sinker. On June 30, 2009, In This Moment released The Ultra Violet Edition of The Dream, (on Century Media Records), which includes several additional bonus tracks and videos. One bonus song that has really grabbed ahold of my Metal awareness and senses is the cover of the Blondie Rock classic – Call Me. In my most honest of Metal opinions, In This Moment covers Call Me with the upmost of Heavy Metal respect. Too often, I am not a fan of how a Classic Rock song gets covered… I always like to see a great Rock song from decades past get it’s just due. Maria Brink vocally gives Call Me her very own identity, without sacrificing the original character and emotion of the original. In This Moment Rocks this song to new heights, for me.
As I see it, In This Moment can do no wrong right now… they are on a tremendously heavy roll and there hopefully is no Metal limit for this band in the future. For me, this cover of Call Me is one that I need to hear consecutive times over, to get my Metal fill. I will always revere the original version of Call Me by Blondie, Deborah Harry shall never take a back seat to Maria Brink. I am just psyched out that there are now two versions of this great Rock Classic, for me to get pumped up from. The original version of Call Me by Blondie caught my ears attention back in 1980, when I was fourteen years old… the cover version of Call Me by In This Moment has made it two times a Metal charm for me, in 2009.
Giving credit where it is due, Blondie released Call Me in February of 1980, on the American Gigolo Soundtrack. Call Me was a #1 hit single on the Billboard Chart in 1980 for Blondie as well. Blondie was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006.
Blue Oyster Cult released “Fire Of Unknown Origin” in 1981, which was perfect timing for me. I already had Kiss, Foreigner, Cheap Trick, Queen, Ozzy Osbourne, AC/DC and Bad Company in my system back then, being wowed by Blue Oyster Cult was my ears next step in branching out into the Heavy Music world. Back in 1981, there was the choice of buying music on 8 track, I bought “Fire Of Unknown Origin” on this medium – thank you very much. (I no longer have this 8 track from yesteryear, the 8 track player is a memory as well). This album is just another example of what melded my Metal and Hard Rock Music tastes at a young age, (I was fifteen years old in 1981). Another stepping stone album, if you will, towards the lifetime of Metal and Hard Rock Music adoration that I behold. In my Metal opinion, this BOC album is an early 1980’s Heavy Metal meets Hard Rock album, that has consistently lured me back for many a listen over the years.
I always appreciated the lead vocals of Eric Bloom. The mellowness that carpets his vocals is a signature sound of BOC. The biggest hit from “Fire Of Unknown Origin” was “Burnin’ For You”, where the vocals of Eric Bloom and the semi-heaviness of the music really compliment one another. This song was a mainstream FM radio favorite for years, one of my favorite Hard Rock songs ever. “Joan Crawford”, “Heavy Metal: The Black and Silver” and “Fire Of Unknown Origin” are three other songs from this album that I could never get enough of. I have always liked this entire album, “Fire Of Unknown Origin” comes highly recommended from me to younger and new fans of BOC and/or Classic Rock. This is one of those times where I honestly state, this is just a great album of Hard Rock and heavy songs, a true classic.
Foreigner, a Hard Rock band that opened the doors to the world of Heavy Music for me. “Double Vision”, an album that I consider to be one of the greatest Rock or Hard Rock albums ever created. On June 20, 1978, “Double Vision” was released. On January 26, 1979, I received this revered album as a birthday gift from my late mother. I was able to choose an album, just one album, on a trip to the Caldor department store… Foreigner “Double Vision” was my choice, on that birthday. Each year that passes by, these fond memories only grow stronger. Man, if I was to say I have listened to this album more times than any other album, it would not be a stretch. Back in 1979, I was only listening to a handful of Hard Rock bands that would eventually guide me into evolving into the Metal Music loyalist that I am today. I was thirteen years old and completely blown away by this album and band… I listened to every lyric, every chord, every note, that erupted from these songs. Foreigner was actually teaching me, at this very young age, that Hard Rock music this enormous could and would make my life enjoyable. I continue to reflect, to revisit often, the bands and albums that molded my heavy music tastes.
From the very first listen to “Double Vision” until this very day, I honestly would choose “Blue Morning, Blue Day” as my favorite song from this album. I completely reject any notion that this song is a ballad. In my Metal opinion, Lou Gramm was at his most impeccable, vocally, on this song. My second favorite song from this classic album is a clear choice… the instrumental “Tramontane”. Whoa, when I first listened to “Tramontane”, it was my introduction to what a Rock instrumental really was and really sounded like. I realized then, at thirteen years old, that Rock and Hard Rock music did not always need lyrics to sound amazing. “Hot Blooded” and “Double Vision” are the two super hit singles from this album that literally sent psyched up – shock waves throughout my entire body. Here I was, only a few years removed from listening to a dozen or so 45 rpm’s that were my mom’s from her teen years… I went from Buddy Holly and The Everly Brothers, straight to the Hard Rock strength of Foreigner. Back in 1979, at age thirteen, this was one thrilling Rock Music leap for me. In 1979, Foreigner joined Kiss and Cheap Trick to round out my big three heavy bands that I was so ecstatic over. Queen and Bad Company were right behind them… trust me when I say that once 1980 rolled around, I was in a Hard Rock and Heavy Metal whirlwind of wonder.
Once “Double Vision” was locked into my system, I needed more Foreigner… so I delved into their debut album by buying it in the Summer of 1979. “Head Games” was released in 1979, with “4” coming out in 1981, both of these Foreigner classics I took to as well. When it was all said and done, my winner was and always will be “Double Vision”. The albums Foreigner released after “4” seemed to take off into a different Rock direction, I never could grasp onto any Foreigner ballads. I was already too spoiled by the first two Foreigner albums to really embrace any Pop Music ballads that they made so hugely popular in the mid to late 1980’s. As I look back now, it is the “Double Vision” album that is really Foreigner, this is one of the albums that took hold of a thirteen year old back in 1979 and set him straight on a life long path of Heavy Music listening bliss. I have absolutely no regrets, just a ton of Metal gratitude to Foreigner.
Foreigner, as they appeared on “Double Vision”: Mick Jones on guitar, Lou Gramm on lead vocals, Ian McDonald on guitar & keyboard, Al Greenwood on synthesizer & keyboard, Ed Gagliardi on bass and Dennis Elliott on drums.
Is it just me thinking this way? Deep Purple “Deepest Purple”, (subtitled “The Very Best of Deep Purple”), is the epitome of what a Rock/Hard Rock Greatest Hits album is supposed to be. These Deep Purple classics are hands down, sensational and historical Rock Music. Gimme a break, how can any generation not want to embrace these songs? These Deep Purple songs are perfect examples of just how amazing the song writing was in Rock and Hard Rock, back in the 1970’s. Could Deep Purple have been ahead of their time? I certainly think so, by at least a decade. The hardness, forget about the heaviness for a second, is what drives these Deep Purple songs to the top tier of Rock and Hard Rock history, in my Metal opinion. Just stop to think about this, for a Metal second… how many new Rock or Hard Rock bands out there today, could actually put out a Greatest Hits album, down the road, with such impeccable and recognizable songs? “Smoke On The Water” and “Highway Star” are two Hard Rock songs alone, that represent a generation of Rock and Hard Rock music and the decade of the 1970’s. “Fireball” and “Child In Time” are just the icing on the Hard Rock cake here.
Certainly, I am not going to argue the clear fact that we had genre and decade defining Rock and Hard Rock groups during the 1970’s such as The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Queen, ELO, Yes, Boston, Moody Blues, The Doors, Molly Hatchet, Bad Company, Kansas, Aerosmith, ZZ Top, Pink Floyd, AC/DC (Bon Scott era), Lynyrd Skynyrd and Ted Nugent. The list of iconic Rock and Hard Rock bands from the 1970’s is huge. You betcha. Of course I missed mentioning some well deserved bands and solo musicians here… this post would be gigantic if I was to make a master list. My point I am making is this… there was Deep Purple, man, and they rocked liked no tomorrow during the decade of the ’70’s – “Deepest Purple” is sound Rock and Hard Rock proof of that. If a time machine really did exist and I could rent one, (I am certain that I would not be able to afford to buy one), I would get on that Rock and Roll mother ship and take a ride to a vintage Deep Purple concert back in the 1970’s. (I am positive that Connecticut would have one hefty and major time machine tax, Senator Christopher Dodd would be all over that one – if a time machine existed).
Back to Deep Purple… I could not complain about which lead singer would be fronting this legendary band… if I was to go back in time to see them in concert, it is pick ’em at lead singer – for all I care! David Coverdale, Ian Gillain, Glenn Hughes or Tommy Bolin as lead singer… it would not matter, I would be cheering on this 1970’s version of Deep Purple like a psyched out, Hard Rockin’, “Space Truckin” fan! Aw heck, throw in the late 1960’s lead singer Rod Evans for good measure too, he counts. I am not by any shape or form, taking away the great Hard Rock achievements of the Deep Purple lineups of the 1980’s through present day, no way. This Deep Purple music dynasty is special, an undisputed Hard Rockin’ franchise. I just have that Rock and Roll fantasy once in awhile, this whole time machine journey to see Deep Purple in the ’70’s is one. So, the next time you hear, “Woman From Tokyo”, “Burn” and “Stormbringer”, not to mention the other great hits of Deep Purple, earlier mentioned, just remember when they were written… these songs epitomize the label of – timeless. “Space Truckin'”… ’nuff said.
I tip my Metal Music hat to all the past and present musicians of Deep Purple, especially Ritchie Blackmore on guitar, Jon Lord on keyboards, Roger Glover on bass guitar, Joe Lynn Turner on lead vocals, Nick Simper on bass guitar, Joe Satriani on lead guitar and Ian Paice on drums. I thank Don Airey on keyboards and Steve Morse on guitar for keeping the Deep Purple – Hard Rock machine turnin’ and churnin’ to this day. If it wasn’t for Deep Purple, Metal Music as we know it today, probably would not sound so cool. That… is my Metal opinion.
AC/DC – they are not just Rock and Roll Hall of Famers, this band is an elite institution of heavy music. I always pondered throughout the years… which song from the extensive catalog of AC/DC albums, is my favorite of all time? Is my favorite song from the Bon Scott era? Man, the late Bon Scott was unique, his vocals were and always will be legendary. The Brian Johnson era is power packed with amazing songs, could I take the easy route and pull my favorite tune off of the “Back In Black” album? That would be way too easy for me, it seems like choosing “Hells Bells”, “Back In Black” or “Have A Drink On Me” as my favorite AC/DC song, would be particularly predictable. I will not argue the fact it is a historical album, “Back In Black” surely paved the way for Heavy Metal commercial acceptance. Besides, I personally am forever grateful for AC/DC appointing Brian Johnson to succeed the late Bon Scott. “Back In Black” will forever be on my all time favorite album list.
Well, after all these years, probably since around 1979, (in which I was first aware that AC/DC existed and heard the classic “Highway To Hell” single on FM radio), my personal choice, for favorite AC/DC song ever is… “Touch Too Much” – from the “Highway To Hell” album, (released in 1979). Whew, do I get the AC/DC fever when I hear this song. I do not care how many times I have listened to this classic, this song rocks. Even after so many years have passed by, I still feel that certain rush go straight through my face each time “Touch Too Much” is cranked up. Yeah, you know, that psyched out feeling that engulfs your whole body, like you just drank a 2 liter bottle of happy sauce. This song does it for me – thank you very much. This song hits me from the opening note… I do not believe there is one nano second that is not cool on this song. Sure, the single “Highway To Hell” received all of the attention from this sacred AC/DC album, yet in my Metal opinion, “Touch Too Much” is a song that embodied a core heaviness that signified of continuous great things to come from this band.
I am certainly not alone in saying that I revere both the Bon Scott and Brian Johnson eras of AC/DC. Choosing a single favorite song from this band, is like choosing which day of the week is my favorite… I am just happy to be alive and be in the position to enjoy each day of the week, for Metal sakes. Going back to “Touch Too Much”, as the old saying goes… the more things change, the more they stay the same… really listen closely the next time you hear this song, then imagine if it were to be released for the first time in 2009. “Touch Too Much” is a song that blows away at least half of the newly released Hard Rock or Heavy Metal songs that do get commercial FM or satellite radio play. Angus Young on guitar, Malcolm Young on rhythm guitar, Cliff Williams on bass guitar and Phil Rudd on drums and of course, Bon Scott on vocals, made this song happen and groove in a way that has affected me for life. This is my Metal opinion – long live AC/DC and this enormous song.
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