I love perusing the local thrift stores. You just never know when you will make that Hard Rock or Heavy Metal find. Cheap Trick “At Budokan” was just that for me this past winter – a Hard Rock find. It was a dreary, cold and blustery winters day, I decided to venture to one of the local thrift shops that has been infamous for having many vintage vinyl albums available for sale – at fifty cents each!! As I entered the shop, I made my way towards the used CD and albums section… there it was… just sitting there, abandoned, found useless by a former owner. Cheap Trick “At Budokan”, in all of it’s vintage vinyl, Hard Rock glory! This live album was released in the U.S. in February of 1979. This album is a live Hard Rock masterpiece, in my Metal opinion. I saw, from just a few feet away, that this album was in near perfect condition too! The coast was clear, I made my move and Cheap Trick was in my hands. I have finally been reunited with my long lost Cheap Trick album!! Holding this album, staring at the front cover photo of Robin Zander and Tom Petersson, well, it took me back to a moment in time.
Sometime back in the very early 1980’s, my cousin, Michael, well, he asked me if he could “borrow” my beloved Cheap Trick “At Budokan” album. I replied, “yes”. You live and learn. You learn from your past mistakes. I never saw that album again, not until this find at the thrift store was in my hands. You see, throughout the years, I never repurchased this classic Cheap Trick album, nor did I ever get it on CD. I guess, deep down inside of me, I was waiting, maybe hoping, that this cousin of mine would someday return the album to me. Dream on. Did I ever ask my cousin for the album over the years? Nope. It was not worth it. Eventually realizing how my cousin actually took care of material possessions, well, I just knew the album would not be in the same mint shape as it was, when it left me.
At this point, the past is just that, the past. I now have the Cheap Trick “At Budokan” live album and I could not be happier with it’s condition. As an amazing bonus – the liner notes are still inside this album that I found! The liner notes are in black and white, however, they are like a giant tour program. The photo’s alone are fabulous. To actually get my hands on this album at a thrift store, in this perfect shape, with the original liner notes tucked inside, that to me… is a find. Plus, upon my scrupulous inspection, it appears to me, that these liner notes were never taken out of the album sleeve! I am not kidding, no creases, tears or even signs of other people’s fingerprints! (My very own fingerprints were immediately left onto these liner notes, for the majority of the ink on the artwork is black). Do I sound a tad obsessive? Maybe so, however, when you are a collector of vintage Hard Rock/Metal albums, you do tend to inspect the memorabilia more than the average/casual consumer of such items.
Now, for the actual music found on this excellent album: Cheap Trick “At Budokan” is an incredibly essential, live Rock & Roll album to own! I have this album in the top ten live Rock albums ever released, it is that good. The songs are tremendous, filled with the trademark energy of Cheap Trick, yet the live essence surrounding the music makes for an inspiring listen. This album was recorded in Japan, at Budokan, in April of 1978! This music is incredibly relevant to today’s Rock sound, it has not lost any mileage with me after all these years. This is the album that truly made Cheap Trick a household name. Since “at Budokan”, Cheap Trick continues to stay current with Rock & Hard Rock, releasing an extensive catalog of great Rock albums which spans four decades! The very famous track “I Want You To Want Me” is here in all of it’s Rock glory, with the classic cover of Fats Domino’s “Ain’t That A Shame”. “Surrender” is a signature song of this great band, it borderlines on the Punk Rock side and still has that catchy appeal it bestowed so brightly, back in the day. “Need Your Love” and “Come On, Come On” are two more tracks that can light up any concert stage today. Overall, this is required Rock & Roll listening for fans of all Rock genres. You can honestly walk away from listening to “At Budokan” and realize how much influence Cheap Trick has on today’s Rock sound. Musically, Cheap Trick is so good, simply one of a kind. Cheap Trick are: Robin Zander on vocals, Rick Nielsen on guitar, Tom Petersson on bass and Bun E. Carlos on drums.
Today is May 11, 2009 and is also – the birthday for Eric Burdon, the legendary lead vocalist for the (legendary) 1960’s Rock band – The Animals. Eric Burdon and The Animals are deservedly enshrined in The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, (inducted in 1994). Eric Burdon has turned a rockin’ 68 today! Today is as good an excuse as any to slap on some tunes from The Animals and play them LOUD. The Animals were an integral part of the historical “British Invasion” of Rock & Roll, straight from England, back in the storied 1960’s. Man, the voice of Eric Burdon is just plain timeless, in my Metal opinion. I have always been captivated by the vocals of Eric Burdon, I always wonder how he would have sounded fronting a Metal band today, he has that voice that is deep, cool and ominous. The three tunes from The Animals that I always find stuck in my head are: “House of the Rising Sun”, “Sky Pilot” and “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood”. (Now I am gonna have these tunes stuck in my head today, that is cool with me though). The Animals career may have been short compared to many other bands of that time period, however, I always feel it is quality and not quantity that matters most in Rock & Roll. To me, The Animals and Eric Burdon exemplify Rock & Roll quality.
Well, I have finally reached the pinnacle in my decision process for The Greatest Heavy Metal Album Of All Time. Please reference my past posts on this topic, you will find many great & legendary Metal albums that I personally nominated for this prestigious label. Without further delay, in my Metal opinion, and only mine alone, I have chosen: Black Sabbath – “Sabbath Bloody Sabbath” 
I really enjoy paying homage to the greats of Rock & Roll music. Especially when the musician is a member of a band that I can never, ever, tire from. Happy Birthday Craig Frost! Craig is the keyboard extraordinaire for Grand Funk Railroad, a true – blue collar, American Rock Band. Craig turned a super cool 61 on April 20th. 
Over this past weekend, I stumbled upon the opportunity to purchase (real cheap) the debut release from Bad Company, aptly titled – “Bad Company.” This first Bad Company album I had many years ago, (on cassette tape) and I actually still have it. (I always treated my cassettes like gold, for they used to cost just as much as actual vinyl). Well, this copy of Bad Company I purchased is the CD, a used copy for a meager 4 dollars and 1 penny, total. (That is less money I spend on an average trip to Dunkin’ Donuts).
Yes, we have a historic time of change in our nation’s history at the moment, it is always a great time to be an American. However, let us not forget, that it was not long ago, when the PMRC, wanted to abolish and strip Heavy Metal from its foundation. Censorship of any kind is very scary inside a democracy. So many bands were on their list, from Twisted Sister to Stryper! I will forever be grateful to Dee Snider, for sticking up for what is right, not backing down to the PMRC and the politicians (yes, Al Gore and his wife Tipper Gore), that wanted to ban and restrict Metal and musical lyrics.
Thunder and Lightning is a Thin Lizzy Hard Rockin’ and Heavy Hittin’ prize. Released in 1983, this is Old School Heavy Metal that is stupendous with every aspect of it’s music. John Sykes and Scott Gorham on guitars are both a sensational listen. The three songs of Cold Sweat, Someday She Is Going To Hit Back and Baby Please Don’t are abundantly impressive to my Rockin’ hungry ears. In my Metal opinion, the purchase of this album is worth it for these three songs alone. With that said, this entire album is vintage Heavy Metal that should be revisited and celebrated.
Metal Odyssey > Heavy Metal Music Blog 
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