This is the last in the Billy Idol Series. I hope you have enjoyed it as much as I have in writing it. There could be one more in the series if I get the Generation X Deluxe Set that was just released, but I have not grabbed a hold of yet. When I get it, I will do a review of it, but for now, we will end the series with this beauty right here. I started with a Generation X release and I will end with one as well.
For Record Store Day 2019, Generation X released a special 7″ Single of the band’s debut song “Your Generation”. The song is not the original version, but the Winstanley Mix which is done in conjunction with the release of a Deluxe Edition of the band’s debut album. This remix is not on the box set, but in addition to and a must grab for Generation X fans.
The original song was released as a single in 1977, however, it did not show up on the debut album. It wasn’t until the 2002 re-issue of the debut that this song saw new light. The B-Side of this single is “Trying for Kicks” which was also on the 2002 re-issue and not used for the original album.
The 7″ Single release was on red vinyl and is absolutely beautiful and a nice add to the collection.
I know what you are thinking, Why am I writing about an Ed Sheeran song? Well, I will tell you, I am not real sure. His new album is nothing but collaborations with mostly hip hop and pop artist and honestly, it isn’t that great. It is pretty stale for me. I would rather hear just Ed as to me that is where he shines. Now, I am an old fart and don’t get today’s music, all that crap, but I do know a good song when I hear it.
Oh yeah, now I remember. There is one song on the album, the very last song, that totally kicks ass. It is his collaboration with Chris Stapleton and Bruno Mars. The song is called “Blow” and is the heaviest and most rocking song Ed Sheeran has ever done…at least from what I have heard of his work.
The song starts off with a gritty, distorted guitar riff and a scream all reminiscent of Greta Van Fleet and lyrically it is all about sex. With a heavy drum beat and a great rhythm section that funks it up a little, the song blazes through all the hooks and melodies that make a great little rock song. Oh yeah and there is a guitar solo…What!!!!…yep, they threw everything in and then some.
For My Sunday Song #152, we are discussing the song “Mirror, Mirror (Look Into My Eyes)” by Def Leppard off their 1981 album ‘High N Dry’. The song was written by the late Steve Clark and Joe Elliott. It is one of those deep cuts that sticks with you and at times you feel is even better than anything else on the album (at times, not all the time).
The song is up for interpretation. It could be about two different, but similar things. The one I like to go with is that the “Mirror” is that mirror on the table with lines of Coke on it. As he is sniffing up the coke and the lines disappear, the mirror is suddenly staring at him and he has to face his demons. It is a rather dark viewpoint, but the one I feel is quite plausible. The lyrics in this verse is what leads me to that conclusion…
Mirror mirror Hangin’ there with that crack in your eye You make me stumble, make me blind Time after time and line by line
The “line by line” part fits in to the theory nicely. But the “hangin'” part leads me to the other theory.
The other theory is that he is just standing there looking in the mirror and it is forcing him to take a deeper look into what he has become. He doesn’t like what he sees, but he feels so lost. The anger builds up and he smashes the mirror into little pieces. Those pieces are his life.
We are in the second half of the year now and I was hoping for that releases would start to get better after a lackluster first half. Well, so far, my hopes are dashed. It is another blah week. There is one on the list I will listen to and it is mainly because my kids will be listening to him. It is highlighted in Blue. Hopefully something floats your boat. Let me know what that might be or if I missed anything. Thanks and have a great weekend!!
Ed Sheeran – No. 6: Collaborations Project – (Asylum Records): This album would excite me, BUT, it is a collaboration album…boring!! No interest whatsoever. He is best when it is just him…he doesn’t need anyone else so not sure why do this. It could turn out to be fantastic, who knows.
311 – Voyager – (BMG): Ok, this one could be interesting. I haven’t really listened to much of them since the 90’s, but hey, I need something to listen to this week so why not.
For this month’s version of The Original vs. the Cover, we are going to discuss the Jake Holmes song “Dazed and Confused” that was later covered (or stolen) by Led Zeppelin. The Jake Holmes song was released in 1967. Jimmy Page heard this song when Jake’s band and Jimmy Page’s band The Yardbirds were on the same bill. Jimmy took the song and made several changes to it and performed it with the Yardbirds. However, it didn’t get recorded until 1968 with Pages new band Led Zeppelin.
I say stole, because Page didn’t credit Holmes as the songwriter with the Led Zeppelin release. Page felt he had made enough changes to the song that he didn’t need to credit Mr. Holmes. And for the longest time Holmes did nothing until 2010 when he finally filed suit against Page. The lawsuit never made it to court as it was eventually settled out of court. Now, when the song is on an album that is newly released from Zeppelin it says…inspired by Jake Holmes.
Enough of the dirty music business. Let us focus on the song and which version is better. We will start as we usually do with the Original and then discuss the Cover ending with a wonderful Verdict of which one I like more. And away we go…
JAKE HOLMES
The song was recorded in 1967 for Jake’s debut album, ‘The Above Ground Sound”. It was recorded as a trio with only an acoustic guitar, an electric guitar and a bass. No drums!! And honestly, you don’t miss them. The song is a trippy, psychedelic wonder. The song feels like a bad acid trip, full of paranoia and god knows what. Holmes at one time said it was about a girl and that can be true because women have dazed and confused men for centuries.
We are to the final studio album released in our Billy Idol Series which means we are really close to the end of the series which makes me a little sad as I have enjoyed doing this series. The next album up for review is a remix album of Billy’s hits called ‘Revitalized’ which was released in September 2018 and is 31 years after the release of his first remix album called ‘Vital Idol’.
Billy’s songs are brought into the 21st century with remixes coming from some of the best EDM artist of 2018 including Paul Oakenfold, Moby, The Crystal Method, CRAY and many more. The original album has 11 tracks where the digital version gives you an additional 4 tracks for 15 songs total.
I guess I will preface this by saying the album is full of hits songs and the remixes are all worth a listen, but nothing beats the original songs and actually nothing is better than Vital Idol. These songs are good and give us a look at them in a new, modern light. For fans it is fun and a must have for the collection; however, nothing groundbreaking here like Vital Idol was.
What’s the old saying…”Things are bigger in Texas”. That can’t be more true than Texas Hippie Coalition. The music is bigger and so is the singer Big Dad Ritch! No, I am not talking about his size (which is Big) but I am talking that voice. It is loud and menacing!
The band is back with their sixth album and first with their new label Entertainment One. A “big” step up for the boys. Their music is a soundtrack to Bar Fights and even for Strip Club dances. It is loud, gritty, dirty and downright nasty! It is pure Texas Metal!! From the opening salvo of “Moonshine” all the way to “Blue Lights On” they assault you with blistering guitars and head banging drums.
For My Sunday Song #151, we are now going to spend the next 10 weeks exploring some of my favorite Def Leppard songs. These won’t be the hits you have heard on the radio or in concert (okay, some may have been played live, and one might be a single but that is it). These will be songs that I think are some of their best deep cuts and something I think is worth checking out if you want to get a better understanding of what the band is about.
The first song is off the 1993 album, ‘Retroactive’ and it was the B-Side to the song “Have You Ever Needed Someone So Bad” off ‘Adrenalize’ from 1992. The song is called “From the Inside” and was written by Joe Elliott.
The song is one of the darkest songs they have ever written or performed. The theme of the song is about drugs and addiction and the point of view of the song is actually from the drugs. The drugs describe to the user what it will do them and how it will take them up high and drag them to their lowest of lows. With lyrics such as…
And I’ll laugh while you’re up there And I’ll laugh when you’re down Though your screams break the silence Oh, they won’t make a sound
…it is quite disturbing and sadly, so true. Written around the time I think Steve Clark died, my guess is that Joe was inspired by what happened with Steve write this track.
There is no Friday New Releases this week as there is really nothing coming out worth mentioning so I will take you back in time and do an Album Ranking…
When you think of Canada, there is always that one band that comes to mind. No, not Nickelback, no not Justin Beiber…it is Loverboy!! One of the most iconic 80’s bands to ever be in existence. When you think Loverboy, you think tight, red, leather pants and “Working for the Weekend”. There is nothing more 80’s than that.
The band, however, has existed well past the 80’s and has gone on to release 9 studio albums so far including one in the 90’s and 3 in the 2000’s. And for that reason, they deserve the Album Ranking treatment. We will go through all 9 studio albums and rank them from their worst to the ver best. Now remember, this is just my opinion and your opinion might be slightly different and you know what, that’s okay!
I hope you enjoy!!
THE WORST – VI (1997):
Did you know Loverboy released an album in the 90’s? I didn’t either. Loverboy 6 was released to little or no fanfare as this was an 80’s band and in the 90’s, 80’s bands were not cool. The biggest problem with the album is it is Loverboy trying to bring themselves in to the modern world of rock and as a result they lost that Loverboy magic. The album was depressing, sad and really, really bad.
Loverboy is a party band, a band you have fun listening to and this album had none of that. You can’t even get this album on iTunes or even stream it. It is nowhere to be found and for good reason. There isn’t any song, I can recall that is even worth mentioning. And sadly, this was even Scott Smith’s last album as bass player before his death in 2000. If there is one to skip…this is it. Here is the opening track, which isn’t that awful, but not one I will go back to very often.
#8 – LOVERBOY (1980):
Now, I might catch some crap for having their debut so far down, but honestly, I don’t care. Even after almost 40 years, this album still stinks in my book. I never connected to it. There are, however, a couple outstanding tracks that should be in every Loverboy library and they are “The Kid Is Hot Tonite” and the really kick ass song “Turn Me Loose” with that cool ass bass line. Those two are classic songs.
Two songs don’t make an album. The rest of the album is all filler and no killer. Not one song is memorable. It bored me then and it bored me now when I went back to explore the albums again. I wish I had better things to say about it, but I can’t. Sorry.
#7 – ROCK ‘N’ ROLL REVIVAL (2012):
Revival isn’t much of a studio album. It is 3 new songs and the rest are re-recordings of classic Loverboy hits. Not remixes, but actual re-recordings. The three new songs were recorded with Bob Rock and I have to say, I really dig those new songs. They capture that old Loverboy magic. Heck they even sound like that could have fit on any 80’s album. That is why this is one step above their debut because I liked 3 songs and not 2.
The rest of the album is not bad, don’t get me wrong, it is just not the original songs. The original songs are classics and should never try to be redone in any way, shape or form. They can’t be improved upon. All these songs did was make me want to listen to the original songs not want to hear these again.
#6 – UNFINISHED BUSINESS (2014):
Unfinished Business is a collection of tracks over the bands 40 years that had never been released or even finished until now. I found the album to be pretty enjoyable and have listened to it quite a bit over the years. There aren’t any real classic, iconic Loverboy songs to be had which is okay. I still like hearing old songs that were left behind for some reason or another as they can potentially be better than other stuff released.
In this case, I think the album is better than 3 others of theirs so that should tell you something. I like “Fire Me Up”, “Counting’ the Nights”, “Doin’ it the Hard Way” and many others so give it a listen if you get a chance.
#5 – JUST GETTING STARTED (2007):
10 years after their last album and 20 years since their last 80’s album, Loverboy came back swinging and brought back that 80’s sound and gave us an album that can hold its own with any of the ’80 releases. Hell, the opening track “Just Getting Started” could have been on any of those albums.
But that isn’t the only great song, no sir. You get “One of them Days” where Paul Dean’s guitar playing is in the forefront, you get “Lost With You” that rocks with the best of them and they even have ballads such as “Back For More” and “I Would Die For You”. It is a well-rounded Loverboy album and worth grabbing if you can find it. Again, this is another album that you can’t get on iTunes or Apple music so hopefully you can find on eBay or Amazon.
#4 – KEEP IT UP (1983):
The band’s third and there were high expectations after the success of ‘Get Lucky’ and for me fell short of those expectations. Now, it is still a fantastic album, however, it didn’t have the huge hits for me like the prior album or the next two after. There was more killer than filler, but there was filler.
On the great side, you had songs like “Hot Girls In Love”, “Strike Zone” and “Queen of the Broken Hearts”. You had some fantastic ballads as well with “It’s Never Easy” and then some deep cuts that were great such as “Chance of a Lifetime” and “Prime of Your Life” and the rest were just okay. These songs alone are enough to put it at #4 for me.
#3 – WILDSIDE (1987):
At #3 is an album that they completely outdid themselves and is one of my favorites. The biggest problem this album had was timing. In 1987, there were 3 rock bands that stole the light from everyone…Whitesnake (1987), Def Leppard (Hysteria) and Guns N Roses (Appetite for Destruction). Because of that, the band had their first album that didn’t go platinum. It wasn’t their fault because they delivered a solid album.
Songs like “Notorious” and “Love Will Rise Again” were two of the best they had ever done. And “Don’t Keep Me In the Dark” is by far the best ballad they have ever done. It was dark and full of emotion and it spoke to me for some reason back then and even today. Those weren’t the only good songs, oh no, you had “Can’t Get Much Better”, “Wildside” and “Break It To Me Gently” were all pure Loverboy classic sounding songs. In 1987, when I wasn’t listening to those other 3 bands, this one was on.
#2 – LOVIN’ EVERY MINUTE OF IT (1985):
When this album came out, it was huge at our high school. I remember buying this one and playing it constantly. My memory isn’t great, but I want to say the title track was either the homecoming float theme song or it was the prom theme…either way I remember it being a part of my junior year in high school (85/86). The title track, “Lovin’ Every Minute of It” summed up my Junior Year. It was a fabulous year.
That wasn’t the only song that stood out. You had party songs like “Friday Night”, rockers like “Dangerous” and don’t forget the ballads. For ballads you had “Destination Heartbreak” and beautiful “This Could Be The Night” which in Junior year that was always the hope (nudge, nudge, wink, wink)!!
#1 – GET LUCKY (1981):
The two things Loverboy had going for them during their heyday was Bruce Fairbairn as producer and the other was those Mike Reno Red Leather Pants. The album cover for this one sums up the 80’s and the band. Probably one of the most famous covers from that era. But that isn’t why I love this album the most…no, no, no. It is the songs.
The most iconic song from that era was “Working for the Weekend”. Hell, who doesn’t know this song? I mean really, even today everyone knows this song as it has been in countless movies and admit it we are all just working so we can enjoy ourselves on the weekend. That isn’t all, you get the songs “Lucky Ones”, “Gangs in the Street”, “Take Me to the Top” and the ballad “When It’s Over”. You even get a song written by Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance before they were…well, Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance. Oh yeah, that song is “Jump”. The album is full of great songs and the album can’t be beat!
And there you have it, the Loverboy studio albums in order of how I rank them from the worst to the best. Let me know what you think. Where did we differ and where did we agree. What is fun about these list is how differently each album impacts people. What I like, you might not, but we like the same artist and that is all that matters really. And if as a result, you find something new, then my job is done!!!
We are up to the fifth album in the Bootleg series and we are still on the albums I found in Paris back in April. And since it is July 4th, I thought what is more American than July 4th…well KISS!!!
This was was from September 14, 1974 on the Hotter Than Hell Tour and it was recorded at The Victory Burlesque in Toronto, ON, Canada. This was actually a warm-up show for the tour, one of two nights (not sure which one). This was also about a month before the Hotter Than Hell album came out.
As usual, before we get into the music we will talk about the packaging and what was offered with this set. First off, this was a single LP and not a double like all the others as this was only a 9 song set as you have to remember this was only 1974 and Kiss hadn’t been around very long with only 2 album to choose from at this point. The packaging was quite simple. The front (as seen above) is a very early shot of the band before all the glitz and glamour. The back is a great shot of the band on stage (what show, I do not know for sure…we will assume this one, but I am sure it is not).
The vinyl sleeve is a nice solid cardboard sleeve that is very sturdy and has more great pictures.
2 Loud 2 Old Music 