Tag Archives: Judas Priest

The Monday Recap or: The Listens 5/31/20

01 Monday Jun 2020

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Salutations™!!

So, as I said yesterday, I’m going to attempt to write my Monday blog post about the week of “my” listening. Per usual, this week’s streaming listens comes from Discogs’ shuffle feature and it has to be an album that I own on vinyl (outside of peripheral things like Beeswax Vinyl & More listens), that way it’s like listening to my vinyl but with headphones from my computer whilst The BCPF works 10 feet away. Here’s the list (this is in order of listens):

Collage16120

So, all the records that I had in Discogs for this, I believe they all came from Underdog Records. 99% of my records came from there.

Again, check out Underdog Records’ social and web stuffs. Buy records. Use Discogs to keep track of your collection and use it’s groovy (see what I did there) shuffle feature.

Until tomorrow, keep spinnin’…
Scorp out!

—
“I am standing up at the water’s edge in my dream. I cannot make a single sound as you scream. It can’t be that cold, the ground is still warm to touch. We touch, this place is so quiet, sensing that storm.” – “Red Rain” (Gabriel)

Now Normal Chronicles or: Choices Again

14 Tuesday Apr 2020

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Salutations™!!

Today, there are several choices, again, to choose from as the anniversary feature. Let’s see… Today is the 40th anniversary of both British Steel from Judas Priest and Iron Maiden, the debut, self-titled album from… you guessed it… Iron Maiden. It’s also the 38th anniversary of Van Halen’s Diver Down album, the 37th anniversary of Bowie’s Let’s Dance album, the 34th anniversary of Cocteau Twins’ Victorialand, and the also the 34th anniversary, and the second of the day for Judas Priest, of Priest’s Turbo.

Now, let’s see. I’m not a huge fan of Cocteau Twins and Diver Down is one of my least favorite Van Halen albums, so those are out. I’m a Dickenson fan and not a Di’Anno fan so the Iron Maiden is out, too. British Steel is a little early in the NWBHM realm for me to say that I love it. That means New Wave of British Heavy Metal. I dig it, but not my favorite. That leaves Bowie and Turbo. Man, that’s hard.

Turbo is my favorite Priest album. Yeah, it’s like the cheeseballest, 80s pop Priest record, but that was what I cut my Priest teeth on. I like “Turbo Lover” and “Parental Guidance.” Sorry, but I do. I liked the over-polished hipness of it. Sue me. Well, don’t. You wouldn’t get any from me.

Let’s Dance starts off really strong. “Modern Love,” his version of “China Girl” and the title track. It gets a little squirrely outside the theme from Cat People, “Cat People (Putting Out Fire)”, co-written by Giorgio Moroder.

So, for my vid pick for today, I decided I couldn’t pass up on Culture Club doing a Bowie cover. I hope you enjoy it! I should think I’d have liked to see Culture Club doing “Grinder” from British Steel but oh well.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“If you say run, I’ll run with you. And if you say hide, we’ll hide. Because my love for you would break my heart in two if you should fall, into my arms and tremble like a flower.” – “Let’s Dance” (Bowie)

Not So Sad or: Preach On

23 Monday Mar 2020

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Salutations™!!

Today is the 44th anniversary of Judas Priest’s Sad Wings of Destiny album and while I could have spent countless hours looking for bad cover bands trying to do Halford, or at least Tim “Ripper” Owens, I decided to just stick with the real deal. Enjoy!

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“You’re in for surprise. You’re in for a shock. In London town streets when there’s darkness and fog. When you least expect me and you turn your back, I’ll attack.” – “The Ripper” (Tipton)

Big Album Day or: February 10

10 Monday Feb 2020

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Salutations™!!

I don’t like to do video posts on Monday and I still don’t know that I will do one today, but February 10 has a lot of history for releases.

1carole_king_-_tapestry

©A&M

In 1971, Carole King released her seminal album, Tapestry. It contains 12 songs and there isn’t a clunker one. “I Feel the Earth Move,” “So Far Away,” “It’s Too Late,” “Home Again,”
“Beautiful,” “You’ve Got a Friend” (I really don’t like James Taylor’s version but love this one), “Where You Lead” (I’m a huge Gilmore Girls fan and that was the theme song sung by Carole and her daughter Louise Goffin), “Will You Love Me Tomorrow?” “Smackwater Jack,” “Tapestry” and “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman.” The album is amazing. It’s #36 on the RS list and I wonder if that’s too far up the list. Should it be in the 20s? I don’t know, but man, it’s a great album.

Little_Feat_-_Waiting_for_Columbus

©Warner Bros.

Now, in 1978, there were three big albums released. Well, I know one of them was big, the other two were pretty big for fans of those bands, too. Let’s start with the “other two.”

Waiting for Columbus is Little Feat’s first live album. 17 tracks on 2xLP. I’m not a Little Feat fan, really. But for some, it’s the tops.

Stained Class is the fourth album from Judas Priest. It’s the first album with temporary drummer Les Binks. Binks gets a songwriting credit with “Beyond the Realms of Death.” Bassist Ian Hill gets his first writing credit with “Invader.” I always thought anyone could be the bassist for Priest because he doesn’t “do anything.” Now, he isn’t flashy, but Hill is a good solid bassist. I think the best song on the album is the opening track, “Exciter.” I have grown to really dig Judas Priest.

StainedClass

©Columbia

Now, the big one is where we were introduced to the magic that was Van Halen. On this day in 1978, Van Halen was released. The wizardry of Eddie Van Halen was something that few had heard before. His fretboard work, combined with his tremolo picking was earthshattering. Yeah, it’s not as out-there as it used to be but in 1978, it certainly was. Combine Eddie’s guitar work with Alex’s thunderous drumming, Michael Anthony’s near virtuoso-like bass playing, he was matching Eddie in a lot of those tunes, and his ultra-high harmonies and the frontman that is second, in my opinion to Paul Stanley in stage presence (at least then), Diamond David Lee Roth and you have a band like no other. Dave’s ability to split his vocals in those early days was amazing.

Van_Halen_album

©Warner Bros.

From the siren into with the growling bass in “Running With the Devil” to the groove rock of “Jamie’s Cryin'” and “Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love” to the classic rock and roll feel of “Feel Your Love Tonight” to the speed boogie of “I’m the One.” All of that on their own would be a darn-great rock album. But, then you add the laid back feel of “Little Dreamer,” the in-your-face version of the Kink’s “You Really Got Me,” the classic “Ice Cream Man” and the song that changed the lives of as many up-and-coming/wannabe guitarists as “Purple Haze,” “Stairway to Heaven” and “Iron Man,” “Eruption” and that makes this one of the greatest rock albums I have ever heard. I say that and I’m not even a big VH fan. It’s #410 on the RS list and I think that’s a bit too high. I think it should at least be in the top 200. But, that’s just me, I guess.

So, I’ll spare you a video to watch, but I just wanted to bring attention to this day in record releases, of which I have three of the four on vinyl! Thanks for indulging me.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“It used to be so easy living here with you. You were light and breezy and I knew just what to do. Now you look so unhappy and I feel like a fool.” – “It’s Too Late” (Stern/King)

The Apology or: It Happened Again

08 Tuesday Oct 2019

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Salutations™!!

Dear Reader, I want to apologize to you. I try to keep up my daily updates and I try to give you quality content for these blog posts. I could just do it when I feel like it or whatever, but I know me and if I stop posting every day, and have a reason for it, then I won’t do it enough to make any difference, especially to myself. So, these posts happen and we go on.

It’s no secret that I love music and what the videos do is give me something to put out here that goes along with my love of it, but also gives me something to post when I don’t get to it on time. So, yeah, it’s Tuesday’s post. Here ya go.

So, tomorrow is the 41st anniversary of the Judas Priest album Killing Machine which was renamed in the US as Hell Bent For Leather after the Cleveland Elementary shootings by 16-year old Brenda Spencer where she said she did it because “I don’t like Mondays. This livens up the day.” That, of course, led to the Boomtown Rats tune, “I Don’t Like Mondays.” Here’s a video of the title track of the US version, done by a Priest tribute band. I don’t know if I should be impressed or feel sorry for them. Anywhat! Enjoy!

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Seek him here, seek him on the highway. Never knowing when he’ll appear. All await, engine’s ticking over. Hear the roar as they sense the fear. Wheels! A glint of steel and a flash of light! Screams! From a streak of fire as he strikes! Hell bent, hell bent for leather.” – “Hell Bent For Leather” (Tipton)

Spinning Sunday or: The Haul 7/5/19

07 Sunday Jul 2019

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Salutations™!!

Yes, I have the date right up there. The BCPF and I went to Underdog Records on Friday because I had a Cobras Game last night. Jonathan had been closed on Wednesday and Thursday for the holiday but was open on Friday. Yay us! Here’s the haul:

Ultravox_-_Vienna

©Chrysalis Records

  • Metallica – Metallica — #255 on the RS list, it’s my second favorite Metallica album after Ride the Lightning. On this tour, they did an “In-the-Round” stage setup where they were in the middle and the crowd surrounded them on all sides. During the song “Seek and Destroy” from their debut album, Kill ‘Em All, James Hetfield came down and sang the hook with groups of people. As he walked past me (I was in the second row but we had been moved up to the security railing) and said, “I need one more crazy m*****f***er and I nearly jumped the fence screaming me! me! me! He came over, grabbed my hand and had me dangling over the railing as he went into the line. I was breathing through my nose, inhaling deeply, and he did the “searchin’…” and I yelled, at the top of my voice, “SEEK AND DESTROY!!!” I had friends who watched it from farther back in the arena and they told me later that they couldn’t even hear the music when I did that because it was so loud. “Enter Sandman,” “Sad But True,” “The Unforgiven,” “Wherever I May Roam” and “Nothing Else Matters” were all released as singles. It was a great heavy album. Not as heavy as their previous albums, at least not in the “thrash” way, but it was heavy sonically. 2xLP. New.
  • The Decemberists – Picaresque — The BCPF doesn’t hold back when it comes to The Decemberists. This album was the band’s last on the Kill Rock Stars label and was produced by Chris Walla, guitarist for Death Cab for Cutie. 2xLP. VG++.
  • Judas Priest – Killing Machine — This is a 2015 reissue of what we Americans knew as Hell Bent for Leather. It’s the same album and yes, I have Hell Bent but I wanted one with the albums’ proper name. Why was there a change? When this came out it was around the time of the Cleveland Elementary School shooting in San Diego. Brenda Spencer, a 16-year old, shot and killed the principal and a custodian and injured nine others (including eight children) from her house. When a reporter got in touch with her whilst she was holed up in her house and asked why she did it, she said, “I don’t like Mondays. This livens up the day.” That was the inspiration of Bob Geldof’s Boomtown Rats’ song, “I Don’t Like Mondays.” Anyway, this was an opportunity to have both titles. VG+.
  • Okkervil River – The Stand Ins — The BCPF likes this band and picked out the album. I liked what I heard but I wouldn’t have known to get it. My pal Patrick Ferguson is a big fan of the band as well. This was a follow up to The Stage Names and if you put the prior album above this one, it makes a complete picture. VG++.
  • The Knack – …But The Little Girls Understand — The follow-up to their debut, Get the Knack, which I tout as a gravely underappreciated album. This one charted well, but many critics panned it for its tired misogynistic themes and subject matter. I haven’t listened to it, yet, but again, I loved the previous record. We’ll see how the sophomore effort goes with me. VG+.
  • Arlo Guthrie – Power Of Love — I know nothing about this album other than it was released in 1981. The BCPF likes her folk heroes and well, he is one. VG+.
  • The Shirelles – The Shirelles Greatest Hits — $1 bin find. I’m not really sure why The BCPF wanted this one but it could be that it was a girl group. She usually goes for the more rocking/post-punk/first wave-kind but she picked it up.

Now, the next four I did not buy at Underdog Records, although I would have had I seen them there. Before we knew that Jonathan was open on Friday, we had stopped by Design Archives on Fourth Street and they had vinyl. I thought at first these things were overpriced, but I had Jonathan look at them and he said that was pretty accurate to what he would have charged, so I felt better about getting them at that point. Here’s that mini-haul:

  • Rush – Fly By Night — I added three more albums to my Rush collection through this vinyl stop. This is Rush’s second album and the first with the monster Neil Peart not only on drums but with the lyrics, too. Alex Lifeson and Geddy Lee liked that Peart was a bookworm and wrote imaginative lyrics. That way they could concentrate on complex music. VG+.
  • Rush – Power Windows — This was the follow-up to Grace Under Pressure. The album has the songs “The Big Money” (for which there was a somewhat revolutionary video), “Manhattan Project,” “Marathon” and “Mystic Rhythms” among others. VG+.
  • Rush – Hold Your Fire — The mostly forgettable follow-up to Power Windows does at least feature “Time Stand Still” with Aimee Mann singing back up. It was the lowest selling Rush album since Hemispheres. VG+.
  • Ultravox – Vienna — Their fourth album and the first on Chrysalis Records and the first with singer Midge Ure. The singles on this album were “Sleepwalk,” “Passing Strangers,” the title track and “All Stood Still.” VG+.

I think this week’s haul was awesome. We’ve already listened to some great stuff and hopefully will get to a bit more today and hopefully, I’ll have time to listen to some throughout the week. Underdog Records will be open all next week and you should listen to The Less Desirables (well, you should anyway) to hear the TLD/UR weekly special. Also, use Discogs to track your music collection, be it vinyl, cassette, CD, or even 8-Track.

Until tomorrow, keep spinnin’…
Scorp out!

—
“Time stand still. I’m not looking back but I want to look around me now. Time stands still. See more of the people and the places that surround me now.” – “Time Stand Still” (Peart/Lee/Lifeson)

Spinning Monday or: The Haul 5/11/19

13 Monday May 2019

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Salutations™!!

The post mother’s day edition of Spinning Sunday Monday is here. We had a whole weekend that was “normal” for us and about time. Started with breakfast, then to Underdog Records, buying and listening and then to dinner. A great day, minus the rain, but we were in listening to records, so there’s that! Here’s the haul:

GunsnRosesAppetiteforDestructionalbumcover

©Geffen Records

  • Guns N’ Roses – Appetite For Destruction — #62 on the RS list and really a great all-around album. I had never had it on vinyl and was waiting to find a good used copy but people don’t just give that up so we bought it new. This album was a game changer. I know I give Nirvana a lot of flack for “killing my music,” but I really believe this is where the killing started. They may have had a song about “doing it” but most of it was slinging their stuff around with attitude and extreme prejudice. They weren’t fluffing anything and taking no prisoners. Hair bands couldn’t keep up with this and the scene shifted a bit. Hair was still going strong into the 90s but it was watering itself down and then in 1992, it all really fell apart. This was just turning the eye on. I will say if I never hear “Paradise City” again, I’ll be happy. Everything else on the album is great.
  • Judas Priest – British Steel — Four to go. I have every official Judas Priest album from the first Rocka Rolla to Screaming for Vengeance and also Turbo. I want to fill the gap to Painkiller which is what I think of as the definitive “Priest Discography.” Yes, they did stuff, good stuff, even after, but once you get past 1990, then records weren’t the thing any longer. I need Defenders of the Faith, Priest Live, Ram It Down and Painkiller to have them all. I am glad to have what I have so far. Great first wave of British Heavy Metal stuffs. New.
  • Lambchop – This (Is What I Wanted To Tell You) — The BCPF loves Lambchop, but this, his latest release, was a bit of a departure from what he’s done in the past. It was good, but he used a bit too much autotune as a prop, I felt. The BCPF agreed, I think. It’s on cool clear vinyl, though. New.
  • Rush – Caress Of Steel — I have started trying to fill my Rush discography, as well. I got three steps closer on Saturday. This album is the oldest of theirs that I have and a little rawer than I’d like but it has some great stuff on it. “Bastille Day” is probably the biggest thing from it. It’s just starting to be a little more prog from the band at this point. VG+.
  • Rush – Permanent Waves — The album that followed Hemispheres (which I need to get) and before their biggest album Moving Pictures, this has “Spirit of Radio,” “Free Will” and “Entre Nous” on it. I didn’t know that I was such a fan of what they did before yesterday. Yeah, I know stuff I like, but I’ve always said they were too robotic and lacked feeling. That is true about some aspects of their music, but the lyrics are deep (sometimes too deep) and they tell a story with the music, even above the lyrics at times. I liked it. VG+.
  • Rush – Grace Under Pressure — The band was definitely in their synth years at this point, which I love because I’m a synth fan. When I saw the video for “Distant Early Warning” for the first time, I didn’t get it and didn’t like the song. Now, though, I dig the song. I like this album and it had four “official” singles, “Distant Early Warning,” “The Body Electric,” “Afterimage” and “Red Sector A.” “The Enemy Within” had a video and was the very first video played on Canada’s MuchMusic in August 1984. VG+.
  • Pet Shop Boys – Please — The debut album from Pet Shop Boys, it is probably still what they’re best known for, even though they have had some great things since. The big singles were “West End Girls,” “Opportunities (Let’s Make Lots of Money),” “Suburbia,” and “Love Comes Quickly.” Great synth-pop from some of the masters of that genre. VG++.
  • ELO – Time — The ninth studio album from Electric Light Orchestra, although for this album they were credited as ELO only. It’s a concept album and had five singles released for it: “Hold On Tight,” “Twilight,” “Ticket to the Moon” (backed with “Here Is the News”), “Rain Is Falling” and “The Way Life’s Meant to Be.” This was more synth-based music as Jeff Lynne had already gotten rid of the orchestral aspect of the band, which may be why they went with ELO as the band’s name? Who knows? VG+.
  • Chilliwack – Lights From The Valley — I know little about Chilliwack, except for two songs, “My Girl (She’s Gone, Gone, Gone)” and “I Believe” in which neither is on this album. They came later. But, in my quest to become more rounded in my musical knowledge, this was at Underdog and I wanted it. It was sealed, which, I immediately unsealed it to get the catalog number to be able to put it in Discogs. The vinyl is in NM condition and the sleeve is VG+ with a little wear on it, including a “record ring.”
  • Bangles – All Over The Place — The band’s debut album with the singles “Hero Takes a Fall” and “Going Down to Liverpool,” written by Kimberley Rew of Katrina and the Waves. Great pop record, this. VG++.
  • Roger Hodgson – In The Eye Of The Storm — I asked Jonathan if Hodgson’s solo stuff sounds like Supertramp (since he was one of the main songwriters/singers) and he said that not only does it, but he has this record in his collection and loves it. So, I bought it. I’m a fan of Supertramp, so I figure I’ll be a fan of this, too. VG++.
  • Various – Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band — I know a lot of people hated this film. I didn’t hate this film. Plus, I mean the all-star lineup for the soundtrack is hard to beat and they’re doing Beatles songs? Heck yeah! 2xLP. VG.
  • Donnie Iris – Back On The Streets — Donnie Iris, the former songwriter/singer of The Jaggerz (“The Rapper”) and post-“Funky Music” Wild Cherry, I came to know him for one song. “Ah, Leah.” It was brought to my attention because my sister’s name is Leah and she liked the tune. That’s on this album and why I snatched it from the $1 bin. VG.
  • Rud Wharton And The Musette Street Players – –  Sidewalks Of Paris — Because The BCPF and I are suckers for anything Parisian. No other reason. Well, that and this was a $1 bin find. VG.
  • Peter, Paul And Mary – A Song Will Rise — It’s sappy 60s folk, just the way The BCPF likes it from the $1 bin. VG-.
  • Peter, Paul And Mary – Album — Second verse, same as the first. VG-.
  • Creedence Clearwater Revival – Green River — A very “fair” copy of this album. It’s scuffed, it’s scratched, I almost didn’t include it in the collection. But, it is here, now. G at best and that’s pushing it. $1 bin find.

Underdog Records was a bit empty when we got there but people started coming in pretty steady by the time we left. Jonathan wasn’t feeling good, so watch social media to make sure he’s back by Tuesday. Always listen to each new episode of The Less Desirables to find out what the TLD/UR special of the week is.

I use Discogs to rate, catalog and track my collection. You can do it with CDs and cassettes, too.

Until tomorrow, keep spinnin’!
Scorp out!

—
“Off on your way, hit the open road. There is magic at your fingers. For the spirit ever lingers, undemanding contact in your happy solitude.” – “Spirit of Radio” (Peart/Lee/Lifeson)

Spinning Sunday or: The Haul 1/26/19

27 Sunday Jan 2019

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Salutations™!!

jfrontiers

©Columbia

Yesterday, The BCPF and I got off to an earlier-than-usual start and had breakfast and then ran by Underdog Records. We were there before they opened so we got first dibs on his wares, but not until he opened, of course, we don’t do that. The record-listening time was cut short because we judged a chili cook-off for the Ardmore Neighborhood late in the afternoon. But, the haul was great and I was excited about three things, in particular. Here’s the haul:

  • Roxy Music – Manifesto — This is one of the ones I’m excited about. I have really enjoyed listening to Roxy Music stuff, whether I have it on vinyl or not. In fact, I listen to it on streaming, too. I also like the Brian Eno solo stuff. He was gone from Roxy before this album came out. I was just making a point. “Dance Away” is one of my favorite Roxy tunes and it’s on this album. VG+.
  • Journey – Frontiers — Another that I was excited about. I can’t believe I didn’t already have this, but now, I can’t say that any longer. This has so many good songs from “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)” to “Faithfully,” “After the Fall” to “Send Her My Love” which happens to be one of my favorite Journey songs. I know the album and the band (in this era) got a lot of flack and scoffs but I love them and I love this album. VG++.
  • Stan Getz – Eloquence — Stan Getz. ‘Nuff said. VG.
  • Canned Heat – The Canned Heat Cook Book (The Best Of Canned Heat) — All I know from Canned Heat is “Going Up the Country” and “On the Road Again.” Both of those are on here, so we got it. VG.
  • The Joseph Consortium, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Tim Rice– Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat — I saw this on a traveling tour. I liked it, but then again… Webber and Rice. VG+.
  • Richard Strauss – Rudolf Kempe, Dresden Staatskapelle– Also Sprach Zarathustra — This is a “tone poem” from Strauss that was inspired by Friedrich Nietzsche’s novel Also Sprach Zarathustra (Thus Spoke Zarathustra). You and I, though? We know it as the theme to Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey. VG++.
  • Judas Priest – Hell Bent For Leather — The American version of Killing Machine from Priest. The album was renamed in the US because CBS/Columbia was wary of the implications following the Cleveland School Shooting in San Diego. Incidentally, that shooting led to Boomtown Rats’ song “I Don’t Like Mondays” because the shooter, 16-year old Brenda Spencer shot folks from her house across the street and when questioned about it, said “I don’t like Mondays. This livens up the day.” She still sits in jail 40 years later. But, this album rocks, as does all Priest, I’m learning. It’s the last one with Les Binks behind the drums. VG.

Again, with the swing through, I didn’t get to notice a lot of equipment that Jonathan had but there were things there, including a few cassette decks, speakers and of course, turntables/record players. And, again, check out the Curated by Underdog feature that Jonathan does, now. Go in and ask him about it. Listen to The Less Desirables, new episodes out every Wednesday night, to hear the TLD/UR special of the week.

I used Discogs to track and catalog my collection.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Yesterday, when it seemed so cool, when I walked you home, kissed goodnight, I said, “It’s love”, you said, “Alright.” It’s funny how I could never cry until tonight when you pass by hand in hand with another guy. You’re dressed to kill and guess who’s dying. Dance away the heartache. Dance away the tears. Dance away the heartache. Dance away the fear. Dance away.” – “Dance Away” (Ferry)

Spinning Sunday or: The Haul 12/29/18

30 Sunday Dec 2018

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Salutations™!!

Judas_priest_-_point_of_entry_a

©Columbia

Yesterday was our last visit to Underdog Records. I mean, this year, of course. The BCPF and I will certainly be back next weekend. We have a lot of records to collect, yet, so we’re not done. We will have to get yet another LP case because three full- and one half- sized ones aren’t enough. Our “to-be-listened-to” stack was reset but our “listened-to-awaiting-filing” is getting huge. I mean… huge. Plus, we don’t like leaving them laying flat and that’s what’s happening right now. It’s not good for the records and it takes up a lot of space. Anywhat! Here’s the haul…

  • Judas Priest – Point Of Entry — I passed on this when I could have gotten it, in great shape, used earlier this year when I got that large haul of Judas Priest albums. I wish I would have gotten it, but I didn’t. So, I got it brand new. Luckily, it was not as expensive as most new albums. But, it’s a great album and fun listen. New.
  • Stryper – Soldiers Under Command — The funny thing about this is, the night before, The BCPF and I were playing through songs that teetered between country, religion and other things, just because. I played Stryper’s version of “Battle Hymn of the Republic.” I found this yesterday and was happy. Even given my non-Prophet religion views, I like Stryper. At least this album and its follow-up (and my favorite Stryper album) To Hell With The Devil. It was in VG+.
  • George Harrison – Gone Troppo — This is a whimsical little album from the former Beatle. It’s a fun listen but it’s not his greatest work. A little tropical, a lot of George. VG.
  • Earth, Wind & Fire – Gratitude — 2xLP with “Shining Star,” “Sunshine,” “Sun Goddess,” “Reasons,” and more. VG.
  • Bartok, L’Orchestre De La Suisse Romande, Ansermet– Dance Suite · Two Portraits Opus Five · Rumanian Dances — NM.
  • Kenny Rogers & The First Edition – Greatest Hits — It’s amazing how a young Kenny Rogers sounded unlike Kenny Rogers back then. It’s a lot of great tunes, too. VG+.

This past week, Jonathan actually had a few tape decks for sale in the store. I have somehow resisted the trend of cassettes. They have always been inferior in quality to vinyl, CDs and even streaming. But, hey, if you’re into that, check with Underdog Records to see what they may have for you. Listen to The Less Desirables this week to hear what the weekly TLD/UR special is.  I also used Discogs to make sure I didn’t get a few duplicates yesterday. Discogs is pretty righteous.

Until tomorrow, keep spinning…
Scorp out!

—
“I pushed my soul in a deep dark hole and then I followed it in. I watched myself crawlin’ out as I was a-crawlin’ in. I got up so tight I couldn’t unwind. I saw so much I broke my mind. I just dropped in to see what condition my condition was in.” – “Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)” (Newbury)

Hot in the What? or: Yeah…

17 Wednesday Oct 2018

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Salutations™!!

In recent posts about KISS albums, you will have noticed that I always talk smack about one album in particular. And, today happens to be that album’s 29th anniversary.

Of course, I’m talking about Hot in the Shade (HITS).

Hot_in_the_shade_cover

©Mercury

Until Sonic Boom came along, this was my least favorite KISS album. I have two immediate (and probably several subsequent) reasons for this. One, the song “Boomerang,” and two, the lyrics to “Cadillac Dreams.”

I remember buying this album. In the days before the internet’s popularity, you had to read the music rags to know when things were coming out. I hadn’t read one in a while and didn’t know when the album was coming out. I was a freshman in college and hated every minute of it. I had the morning off, which I believe was a Tuesday. I went by Peaches Records and Tapes on Peters Creek and looked at the new release section and saw the cover to this album on cassette. Other than the “postmark” there was no indication that it was a KISS album. My eyes grew wide when I saw it was KISS. Heck yeah!

I bought it, ran straight to my car and put it in the cassette player. Hey… what’s Cinderella’s “Bad Seamstress Blues” doing on this tape? Are they covering it? No. It was a ripoff, though, I still think. The rest of the song (“Rise to It”) isn’t bad, but I get tired of “cheerleading” songs.

Fast forward a few songs and you hear Paul attempt to rap. “Read My Body” is one of the most ridiculous songs I think I’ve ever heard him do. Now, that being said, I don’t really mind it, I just understand it’s not at all good.

Let’s talk “Cadillac Dreams” a second. I hadn’t heard the song yet (it’s the first song on the second side of the cassette), but I took the cassette cover into class with me and I remember sitting in the communications building at WSSU waiting for class and reading the lyrics. What in the wide world of sports is this!? “When I was seventeen, found out just what it means. If you can get it free, it just ain’t worth a damn. When I heard the preacher say, don’t throw your life away. I got that message, and I wrote it on the wall.” I think I was just worn out on that same song mentality over and over. I had lived it since I was seven. Perhaps I was maturing? Perhaps I just needed something new? I don’t know. Then I heard it and it was not better than I had imagined it to be.

I know Paul had stated in an interview about the album (I did read that) that “there won’t be any hammer-ons on this album.” I know they were trying to get back to basics-ish and scale things back. But, most of the songs seem uninspired to me. They lack any real feeling and depth. Yes, I know I’m talking about KISS here but, to me, they were innovative (if but to and from themselves) and always put out things that I liked. As I have stated, this is the first time I was able to see through my KISS “fog” and see that they weren’t infallible. With the exception of a few tunes, I really did not and still do not like this album.

It does seem that Gene was present for this album. The production credits are given to him and Paul. They did use outside writers for most of this album. Both “Rise to It” and “Read My Body” were co-written by Bob Halligan, Jr., who is probably best known for his writing with Judas Priest and Kix (he co-wrote “Don’t Close Your Eyes). Five of the tunes were co-written by former KISS producer/songwriter Vini Poncia including “Love’s a Slap in the Face,”  “Cadillac Dreams,”  “Somewhere Between Heaven and Hell” (with Gene), “Silver Spoon” and  “King of Hearts” (both with Paul). Some of those are good some are bad.

Bruce Kulick co-wrote a few songs on the album including “Prisoner of Love” and “Boomerang.” Let’s talk the latter, now. This song makes no sense to me. Not, lyrically, but musically. It seems disjointed and sounds like it’s about to go off the rail. It’s KISS’ attempt at speed metal. It’s a good showcase for what Eric could do, but the rest of it just seems like a blur of noise. And, Paul’s assessment about pull-offs and hammer-ons is total BS on this song. I really, really, really dislike this song.

Future Spaceman Tommy Thayer co-wrote two songs with Gene, “Betrayed” and  “The Street Giveth and the Street Taketh Away.” Eric finally gets to sing lead on an original tune, that he co-wrote with Gene and long-time KISS collaborator, Adam Mitchell. The song was called “Ain’t That Peculiar” but they reworked it to become “Little Caesar” which was what Gene playfully called Eric when he was being a badarse. It’s okay, not great, but at least he got to do something that wasn’t (and doing a better job of) covering  Peter’s vox on “Beth.”

Pop music songwriting superstars Desmond Child and Holly Knight collaborated with Paul on “Hide Your Heart” which was on not only this album, not only two different albums but FIVE different albums in 1989. My fave is the KISS version but it was also covered, and probably most successfully, by Bonnie Tyler on her album of the same name, Robin Beck on her album Trouble or Nothin’, Molly Hatchet on Lightning Strikes Twice and oddly enough, Ace on his Trouble Walkin’ album. Ace’s wasn’t bad. Bonnie Tyler’s sounded like “Total Eclipse of Hiding Your Heart” and Robin Beck’s version is Bonnie Tyler Lite. I don’t like anything Molly Hatchet does and this is no exception.

But, the most eyebrow-raising collaboration has to be the album’s biggest hit and the band’s second-highest charting single ever, “Forever” which was co-written by Michael Bolton. Yes, that Michael Bolton and NO, not Michael Bolton from Office Space. “Forever” was a ballad and it was a very well-written song. It reached #8 on the Billboard Top 100 chart (only “Beth” did better on the charts). The video was great. Simplistic. To the point. Bruce’s solo was magnificently done.

The tour that followed this album was my first concert ever. I finally got to see them live. I finally got to see anything live. I had to put my foot down to my mother who wouldn’t let me go to concerts. So, on July 27, 1990, I saw Danger Danger (who I loved), Slaughter (who I liked a lot) and KISS. It was the only time I would see Eric Carr play as he passed away just two years later. But, the band came out of “LEON” the Sphinx’s (get it?) mouth followed by lasers and smoke. Eric’s drum solo with the Simmons pads was great to watch, too. I was in awe!

But, back to the album. This was their longest and longest-running studio album. It was barely shy of an hour and it had 15 songs. I think they could have left off “Boomerang,” “Cadillac Dreams,” “Read My Body,” “Prisoner of Love” and “Silver Spoon” and made it a reasonably-tracked ten-song album and it would have been better for me. I felt they just tried too much filler. I know that the minimalist approach of the album and worrying about budget had them overdubbing on demos instead of rerecording them. That could be part of my problem with the album, too. Not enough production, cutting corners, fluffing the album with filler crap. All that just made for a bad experience overall, even with some shining moments. For me that is. It sat at the bottom of the barrel (15 to that point) until the clunkers Sonic Boom and Monster came out. One day I’ll do a countdown of my own of KISS studio albums. A few people have asked about that.

This was the last KISS album I bought on cassette, as I got my first CD player in December 1989.

Happy anniversary HITS, meh…

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Would you want to know what I’m thinking about? Do you wonder do I wanna make you scream and shout – shout it out. Would you like to see what’s in my brain? Does your curiosity make you insane – insane? Baby, you’re just wastin’ precious time, if you want to know what’s on my mind. Read my body, are the letters big enough? Read my body, do you like the book of my love? Read my body, turn the page, get to the good stuff, read my body.” – “Read My Body” (Stanley/Halligan)