Category: My Sunday Song

My Sunday Song – “Return Of The King” by Bruce Dickinson

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For My Sunday Song #394, we see Mike continue his Japanese Edition Bonus Tracks with “Return of the King” by Bruce Dickinson. The song is off his 1998 album ‘The Chemical Wedding’. The song was written by Bruce Dickinson and his Iron Maiden bandmate Adrian Smith. Now, don’t think you can only get this on a Japanese Edition as that is not the case anymore. It is on the Expanded Edition of the album and you can stream it on Apple Music and probably any streaming service and you should.

The song is partially about Stonehenge or maybe the Beltany Stone Circle as referenced by the Beltane Fires. It talks about how long it took to build and the mysteries behind it. It also talks about Uther Pendragon the legendary King of the Britons and father to King Arthur. This is one reason I’ve never listened to Bruce or Maiden as it makes you think and learn history. I just want to rock out.

However, the song does kick ass. Bruce’s vocals are really incredible as they soar to amazing heights and are perfectly suited fo heavy metal. He is one of the best in the business. The song to me feels more like Iron Maiden then I expected, to be honest. I figured this was a solo album, it would be his own thing, but I guess with Adrian also in on the writing, the Maiden connection makes sense. It is a is rocking track and some great guitar work and the drums are immense and powerful. A really cool song I will admit.

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My Sunday Song – “Crossing Over” by Van Halen

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For My Sunday Song #393, we are on the third Japanese Bonus Track picked by Mike Ladano. This time around it is the Van Halen song “Crossing Over” off the band’s 1995 album ‘Balance’. The song was written by Van Halen (credited to all the members) and was not just a Japanese Bonus Track, but was also used as the B-Side to “Can’t Stop Loving You”. And if you recently bought the new Van Halen Collection II box set, you got the track on the 4th Bonus LP so that is really cool.

I read somewhere that the song was not actually written during the Balance recording sessions, but originated way back in 1983 when it was titled “David’s Song”. Eddie played all the instruments on the demo. The song wasn’t about Roth, it was about a friend of Eddie’s name David who had committed suicide. If you read the lyrics you can get that from them. Eddie is trying to reach out and see his friend one more time. To touch him one more time before he crosses over. It is a dark song and powerful too.

The song starts off with Eddie and the tone is really eerie and then the bass comes in with a little duh dum, and then the Alex is in on the drums and those drums are unmistakable Alex as he has such a unique sound. There are some electronic drum elements too. It all is very dark. Sammy finally comes in and sings and it isn’t all powerful. It is slow and the lyrics are very deliberate and meant to convey the dark tone to the song. There is an importance to the lyrics, to the sound, to it all. I read somewhere that Eddie’s demo was used for this track and they layered in Alex and Sammy and if that is true, that is cool. The song isn’t explosive and the chorus isn’t very catchy, but this is the mid 90’s and things were not always done the way we were used to hearing things. Overall, a really cool track.

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My Sunday Song – “In Your Face” by Kiss

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For My Sunday Song #392, then next one in the Japanese Bonus Tracks from Mike Ladano’s picks is one from Kiss off the 1998 reunion album ‘Psycho Circus’ is the Japanese Bonus Track called “In Your Face”. It was written by Gene Simmons but it is Ace that is on vocals. The song didn’t make the regular album, but did show up as a B-Side on singles and listed as a non-album track. Therefore, there are no charting on the song and it didn’t help drive sales, but I have to say I really dig it.

The song seems to be autobiographical for Ace even though Gene did write it. Gene made it from Ace’s perspective. The song seems to be about that Ace doesn’t feel like he belongs, but he is who he is and he won’t apologize for it. And if you push him, he will get in your face so you better watch out. They lyrics mention Ace and the Spaceman and the song feels like an Ace track. It is better than numerous songs on this album.

As I said, Ace sings and actually plays lead guitar on this one which he only does on 3 of the 11 tracks on the Japanese Edition. I assume Gene is on bass since he wrote the song and Paul on rhythm guitar, but there is no Peter on drums as it is handled by Kevin Valentine. I do love the bass on this one as Gene really gets a little nasty on this one. Ace sounds great and his solo is also spectacular. Again, the song has a classic Ace feel to it and is a solid rocker with a catchy chorus and all around melodic track.

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My Sunday Song – “Loser Gets It All” By Black Sabbath

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For My Sunday Song #391, we are kicking off a whole new 10 song set and this time around, Mike Ladano from Grab A Stack of Rock will be picking the songs. And he has a great theme and this one is Japanese Bonus Tracks. It is those songs that were recorded during the album’s recording, but didn’t make the main album around the world, but made it to the Japanese edition as a bonus track. The more, expensive sought after Japanese Edition. If it has a Japanese bonus track, Mike is going to buy it. The first song up is from Black Sabbath’s 1995 album ‘Forbidden’ and is called “Loser Gets It All”.

The music is written by Black Sabbath and the lyrics are by, then singer, Tony Martin. The song seems to be about the fact there is never a good time to lose as there are always people watching you and judging you waiting for you to fail. And when you do, they will all see it and say something. There are a lot of gambling references in the opening verse about winning, then the rest of the song is about losing.

I will admit that I didn’t (and haven’t) listened to this era of Sabbath so this song is very new to me. I do like Tony Martin’s vocals so I can get behind this one. The song is a solid rocker, it short and sweet. But I like it a lot. I read somewhere that Tony Iommi loves this song and it is one of his favorites to perform which is cool…so why didn’t it make the album and was it relegated to a bonus track??? The guitar playing is great, I mean it is Tony Iommi so why wouldn’t it be. I found Mike’s review of the Forbidden album and he hated that album, but stated that this song was the best song on the album. Crazy!!

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My Sunday Song – “Scratch” by INXS

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For My Sunday Song #390, we are to the final song chosen by Tim Durling of Tim’s Vinyl Confessions. The song we will go out on is a B-Side for the band INXS called “Scratch”. The song was the B-Side to the song “Just Keep Walking” off their debut, self-titled, album from 1980. The single was released in October 1980 and became the band’s first Top 40 hit in their home country of Australia. This song was never on any album, well, until their 2002 compilation album Stay Young 1979–1982.

The song seems to be about a guy who is pining for a girl. He wants her to listen to his heart as it beats for her. He knows she feels the same way and she has an itch for him too. He wants her to scratch that itch baby!! He even wrote a letter to the Sunday paper telling them of his love for her, but they don’t care.

This is early INXS when the New Wave movement was getting going. It is short at just over two minutes, but it has so much to offer in that short time. Some great guitar riffs that race through with an immediate urgency. The drum beat is his heart pounding for the girl. Micheal’s vocals, man they sound so young, but he takes full command and he sounds great. His annunciation isn’t the best, but damn he is so engaging and has so much charm in those vocals. A high energy, almost punk sound on this one and I hate I am just now hearing this one.

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My Sunday Song – “Run Run Run” by Tesla

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For My Sunday Song #389, we are almost to the end of Tim’s Choices and this time around is a cover song for Tesla called “Run Run Run”. It was originally done by Jo Jo Gunne in 1972 and written by Matt Andes and Joe Ferguson. It was only released as a B-Side on the CD Maxi Single for “Love Song” in 1990 so never on any of the band’s albums.

The song, lyrically, is very simple and seems to be about a guy who might be on the run from the law and needs to get to the border or the state line to get away from them. Nothing more than that. Pretty simple, right!

The band has fun with it. They keep to the spirit of the song but bring in to the 90’s with the sound as the original is very 70’s sounding. Jeff Keith’s vocals have such a cool grit that it really makes the song jump. The guitar work by both Tommy Skeoch and Frank Hannon scream and make the song feel like the song is really racing. The rhythm section of Brian Wheat on bass along with Troy Lucketta on drums also drives the song forward. You can feel the pressure and intensity of the guy running from the law. And then the song ends with a massive build up and bam, it’s done. A great, fun track by an incredible underrated band!

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My Sunday Song – “Heart of Darkness” by Heart

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For My Sunday Song #388, we have Tim’s next pick which is “Heart of Darkness” by the band Heart. The song is the B-Side to “What About Love” off the 1985 album ‘Heart’. The songwriting credits on this one goes to the entire band which did not happen very often and in looking at the album credits, there is only one song on the album that is credited to all of them. 

The song talks about two people lying next to each other making love all night and they don’t want the night to end. But the Heart of Darkness line leads me to believe their love is in secret and they have to hide it. My guess is they are having an affair and don’t want anyone finding out about it. When you listen to it, let me know if you get the same thing from it.

It sounds very 80’s with all the keyboards and the overly polished sound. It is definitely a new Heart. It was like Dreamboat Annie album merged with Journey and produced this fine piece of work. Ann Wilson’s vocals are so powerful and damn she can hit some notes. She is one of my favorite vocalists and this shows why.  it is a hard driving song, quick tempo, fast drumming and an overall rocking track. It is so strange it didn’t make the cut as it as good as anything on that album (if not better than some).  And interesting enough, it was never released ever, not on any deluxe album or compilation that I can find which is really cool.

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My Sunday Song – “Nothing’s Gonna Stop You Now” by Loverboy

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For My Sunday Song #387, Tim’s next pick is from Loverboy and the song is “Nothing’s Gonna Stopy You Now”. The song was written for the U.S. Olympic Team for the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles and it is know as the Team Sports Theme (whatever that is). Yes, nothing like a U.S. Olympic Theme Song written by a Canadian band. Makes a lot of sense!! The song was written by composer Bill Wray with Paul Dean and Mike Reno. The song was released as a single and on the album ‘The Official Music of the XXIIIrd Olympiad Los Angeles 1984‘.

The song is an anthem for the athletes and is made to inspire which the lyrics are all about that dedication and sacrifice the players have to make to be world-class athletes. The opening lyrics “You know you paid the price – You made every sacrifice,” showcase that belief.

Musically, the music is powerful and full of energy and excitement needed to inspire. It starts off with some keyboard filled with orchestration and a high-pitched vocal by Mike Reno. Then the song kicks in and it sounds like classic Loverboy. It could be “Queen of the Broken Hearts” or any other Loverboy song it sounds that familiar. It is fist pumping and hard driving with some great guitar work while the drums and bass drive the song forward. There is no denying the band behind this song.

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My Sunday Song – “Got To Get You Back In My Life” by Triumph

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For My Sunday Song #386, we are talking about one of the earliest Triumph songs called “Got to Get You Back In My Life”. This Tim selection was the B-Side to their debut single called “Hobo” and has never been on any studio album. The single came out back in 1975 and the song was written by drummer and vocalist Gil Moore there is a lot of questions around who sang the song. Most likely it was Gil, but some have said it was handled by bassist and keyboardist, Mike Levine…who I don’t know if he ever sang another song for the band after this. My guess it is Gil with a lot of help by maybe Mike or any of the other two members.

The strange thing about this song is the band that was playing it was a four-piece with Gil, Mike, Peter Young and Fred Keeler…no Rik Emmett in the band yet. They were a blues-based band and they called themselves Abernathy Shagnaster. They signed to Attic records for which the single was released, but the single came out under the Triumph name. I’m not sure I have found why that happened. Shortly after the single was released, Young and Keeler left the band and the band found Rik Emmett

The song itself is very early 70’s. You can hear Year’s organ really well and Mike’s bass line is thick and heavy. The drums are soft and minimal and the guitar isn’t very prominent. The background vocals are great with some good harmonizing. The song sounds like a cross between the Carpenters and the Partridge Family. Okay, not really but the song is light and poppy and has that 70’s sound like you’d get from Jackson Browne or singers of his ilk. It’s a pretty good song, but man, I would’ve never guessed this was Triumph if Tim hadn’t told me.

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My Sunday Song – “Subway” by Aerosmith

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For My Sunday Song #385, we are going with Tim’s next selection which is “Subway” by Aerosmith. This one is unusual as it is simply an instrumental. The song was written by Brad Whitford, Tom Hamilton and Joey Kramer. Yep, no Joe Perry to Steven Tyler on this one. The song was never released on a studio album, but finally was released as a B-Side to “Sweet Emotions” when it was re-released sometime in 1991 for the “Pandora’s Box’ box set. It was also on the Aerosmith ‘Box of Fire’ release on a bonus disc.

The song was recorded during the ‘Draw the Line’ sessions and this was back when Joe Perry and Steven Tyler were so messed up that they wouldn’t show up for days. Meanwhile, Brad, Tom and Joey needed to keep busy so they would write their own stuff and this was a result. This would’ve been during the 1977 ‘Cenacle’ sessions I believe. The band rented an old estate known as the Cenacle, a 300-room former convent near Armonk, NY., where they would be isolated without drugs around so they could focus on writing new songs. However, the drug dealers and the drugs found them!!

The song is an instrumental, as I said above. It sounds like the guys are just jamming away and it is the basic blueprint for a song that is missing vocals and a guitar solo. It is very repetitive repeating that same riff and rhythm throughout. It is a little bluesy and there is a familiarity to it that I can’t place. Maybe that is because it sounds like Aerosmith from the 70’s. Despite no Tyler on vocals or Perry on guitar, this sounds like Aerosmith because the backbone of the band is here and all their glory. I dig when bands finally release this kind of stuff that shows more insight in to the band. Things that they worked on that didn’t get fully developed are precious treats for me.

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