You know how much I love Eric Clapton so this post should come as no surprise to you, guys. I think he is absolutely one of the last of his kind of musicians who still got it – in the record studio, as well as on stage.
The list of concerts, events and shows he did throughout his long career is never-ending but since I had to draw the line somewhere, I decided to pick 10 outstanding live performances of Eric, just for you, guys. It’s quite the task, since he doesn’t really have a weak show and he has always been giving it all on the stage. Just watch the following videos and you will understand what I’m saying.
Enjoy~
“I Shot the Sheriff”, 1987
“Layla”, 1992, MTV Unplugged
“Layla” (ft. Phil Collins, Live Aid 1985)
“Cocaine”, 2015
“My Father’s Eyes”, 2007
“Bad Love”, 1990
“Anyway The Wind Blows” (ft. JJ Cale, 2007)
“Tearing Us Apart” (ft. Tina Turner, Phil Collins and Dire Straits)
“Change the World”, 2007
“Tears in Heaven”, 2013
+ Bonus Track
Mark Knopfler, Eric Clapton, Sting & Phil Collins- Money for Nothing (Live Montserrat)
I’ve been listening to Led Zeppelin’s fourth album quite a lot these days and even though many people claim that the crown jewel of the record is undoubtedly “Stairway to Heaven”, I say that that’s not necessarily the case. As much as I love the gorgeous ballad, I’ve always been drawn to the other classics from the album, such as “Black Dog”, “Rock and Roll” and “Misty Mountain Hop”. I want to specifically focus on “Black Dog” because I just can’t really express how much I adore this song and how empowering it is to me. On top of that, it’s probably my favorite Led Zeppelin live act due to its musical complexity and even chaotic patterns which became a true testament to the band’s musicianship. Believe me, even by Led Zeppelin standards this is a very hard song to perform and even harder to dance to.
“Black Dog” Live
– “Black Dog” is the opening track of Led Zeppelin’s fourth album, which is also their best-selling album, released back in 1971.
– The title of the song – “Black Dog” has nothing to do with and doesn’t appear in the lyrics of the track. The story behind the title goes like this: While Led Zeppelin were working on the song in a mansion in England, a nameless black Labrador was wondering around the grounds and the band would befriend and feed it. The song is named after it.
“Let me tell you ’bout this poor old dog because he was a retriever in his early days, and the only thing he could ever find in his late days was his old lady who lived two houses away from where we were recording. And he used to go see the old lady quite regularly, but after he’d “boogied” and everything else he couldn’t get back. And we used to carry him back,” Robert Plant once said. (Apparently, despite his old age, the doggy was quite “adventurous” – quite like the song’s protagonist)
– Led Zeppelin’s bassist player – John Paul Jones was credited for writing the main riff of the song.
“I wanted to try an electric blues with a rolling bass part. But it couldn’t be too simple. I wanted it to turn back on itself. I showed it to the guys, and we fell into it. We struggled with the turn-around, until Bonham figured out that you just four-time as if there’s no turn-around. That was the secret,” John
– The song begins with Jimmy Page warming up his guitar. He called it “waking up the army of guitars”.
– The lyrics of the song are not quite complex or difficult to comprehend (as compared to “Stairway to Heaven” for instance). The way I see it is that Plant is simply singing about a very attractive, “long-legged” woman who is obviously triggering the protagonist’s prurient thoughts. Also, there’s this line – “Eyes that shine burning red, dreams of you all through my head” which made a lot of people conclude that the song was talking about a hellhound (or a black dog) and was related with Satan. (Because of course a relation to Satan had to be made – it was the ‘70s after all…)
– The track reached number 15 on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart.
– “Black Dog” ’s sophisticated shifting time signature was intended to stop any attempts from other cover bands to duplicate the song. Originally John wanted it to be recorded in 6/8 but since it’s too difficult to reproduce it live, John Bonham would eliminated the 5/4 variation. The guitar riffs are heavily layered and distorted.
– The start-and-stop a cappella verses were inspired by Fleetwood Mac’s 1969 song “Oh Well.”
– A Led Zeppelin cover band, named Dread Zeppelin did a version of the song and mixed it up with Elvis‘ “Hound Dog”. The vocalist was an Elvis impersonator. Here’s the result, you be the judge
“Black Dog” Clean
“Black Dog” Lyrics
Hey, hey mama, said the way you move, gonna make you sweat, gonna make you groove. Unh nh child, way you shake that thing, gonna make you burn, gonna make you sting. Hey, hey baby, when you walk that way, watch your heart-ache drip, can’t keep away.
Ah yeah, ah yeah, ah, ah, ah, ah yeah, ah yeah, ah, ah, ah. I gotta roll, can’t stand still, got a flamin’ heart, can’t get my fill. Eyes that shine, burnin’ red, dreams of you all through my head.
Ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah.
Hey hey baby, oh baby, pretty baby, darlin’ can’t you do me now? Hey, baby, oh, baby, pretty baby, move me while you do me now.
Didn’t take too long ‘fore I found out what people mean by down and out. Spent my money, took my car, started tellin’ her friends she gonna be a star. I don’t know, but I been told, a big legged woman ain’t got no soul.
All I ask for, all I pray, steady loaded woman gonna come my way. Need a woman, gonna hold my hand will tell me no lies, make me a happy man. Ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah.
La-da ah e ah yes I will. And yes I really, really do baby, baby, baby. I can really do you, huh? Ooh, wew, you do it baby. Push it, baby, push it, baby, push it, baby, push it, baby, Push it, baby, push it, babe babe. Ooh, ooh, aah ooh. Ooh. I’d really like to do it now. I’d really like to do it now.
P.S. I don’t own any audio or visual material used in this publication. All the rights and credits go to the owners and/publishers. Cheers~ The publication expresses my personal opinion and in no way is trying to make a generalized statement. Please be kind and considerate when you read and/or comment.
The 8th studio album of The Beatles – Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band was released today in 1967! This is one of those records that don’t really need an introduction, accompanied by a bunch of words expressing how great and impressive it is. What do we need to understand and remember, though, is that this record is one of the most essential and unsurpassed albums ever made and its influence, contributions and success will forever remain unmatched. Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band is simply the holy grail of rock music; an absolute breakthrough masterpiece that features adventurous elements of rock&roll, classical music, psychedelia and art rock, all racing together on superior studio technology. The Beatles were fearless; boundaries were demolished and the ultimate achievement was reached. It’s been almost 50 years since its release but this record still remains the greatest musical statement of all time!
Let’s look through some facts about Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band and listen to some music!
Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band is #1 on Rolling Stone Magazine’s list of the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time”
Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band spent 27 weeks at the top of the album charts in the UK and 15 weeks at #1 on the USA charts as well. It’s also the third best-selling album in the UK with over 5.1 million copies being sold.
Sgt. Pepper band is the name of the alter ego group they chose to present themselves as. This alter ego band gave them freedom and flexibility to experiment and explore new musical directions.
The Beatles spent over 129 days and 700 hours on the LP which was 30 times more than they did on their debut album “Please Please Me”.
George Martin – the producer of the record explained that Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band was an attempt to match Beach Boys’ Pet Sounds. “Without Pet Sounds, Sgt. Pepper never would have happened … Pepper was an attempt to equal Pet Sounds,” Martin stated.
The album cover art cost more than £3000 which was quite expensive at that time. It was designed by British pop artists Peter Blake and Jann Haworth. The collage includes 57 photos and 9 waxworks of famous people, such as actors, scientists and writers, including Bob Dylan, Marlon Brando, Marilyn Monroe, Stan Laurel, Oscar Wilde, Lewis Caroll and many more. Lennon wanted to include Jesus and Hitler, however his ideas were rejected.
Time magazine described the record as “a historic departure in the progress of music”.
The lyrics were printed in full on the back cover of the record. This was done for the first time on a rock LP.
Paul sings five lead vocals; John sings three; John and Paul share the lead on two; Ringo sings lead on one song and George, Paul and John share the lead on one song as well.
‘Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds’ was thought to be a reference to LSD. However, John stated that it was from a drawing made by his 4-year old son Julian.
All the songs were written and composed by Lennon–McCartney except “Within You Without You”, which was written by George Harrison.
The total length of the album is 39:52 as it includes 13 songs.
Paul wrote and sang lead on the title track “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band”. Three days after the record came out, the Jimi Hendrix Experience opened a show with their interpretation of the track.
Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band is a record with songs designed in a way so that they couldn’t be performed live. The Beatles were embracing the studio experience and adopted numerous experimental approaches that simply cannot be adjusted for a live performance.
I don’t own any audio or visual material used in this publication. All the rights and credits go to the owners and/publishers. The publication expresses my personal opinion and in no way is trying to make a generalized statement. Please be kind and considerate when you read and/or comment. Cheers~
Released: March 18, 1982 Recorded: June – November 1981, Townhouse Studios, London Genre: AOR, Progressive Rock, Rock, Pop Rock Length: 44:22 Label: Geffen Producer(s): Mike Stone Singles: “Heat of the Moment”, “Only Time Will Tell”, “Soul Survivor” Personnel: Steve Howe – guitars, backing vocals, Geoff Downes – keyboards, backing vocals, John Wetton – bass guitar, lead vocals, Carl Palmer – drums, percussion Certified: 4xPlatinum (RIAA)
TRACKLIST:
“Heat of the Moment”
“Only Time Will Tell”
“Sole Survivor”
“One Step Closer”
“Time Again”
“Wildest Dreams”
“Without You”
“Cutting it Fine”
“Here Comes the Feeling”
OVERVIEW:
This monstrous debut record by the supergroup Asia was released back in 1982 and proved that there was indeed a reason why those immensely talented and versatile musicians from YES, ELP, King Crimson and The Buggles got together in the first place. “Asia” spawned one of the most distinctive rock tunes of the 80s – “Heat of the Moment” which became their ultimate signature song. That was not the end of it, though – the record is full of catchy hooks and fine melodies, perfectly designed to fit the demands of the commercial radio stations. If you are looking for some traces of YES or ELP on this album, you won’t find them. “Asia” doesn’t really impress with lengthy instrumentals or heavy lyrics but it does impress with its style and class. We cannot deny the excellent collaboration of Steve Howe‘s guitar Carl Palmer’s drums and Geoff Downes’ keyboards. Plus of course, John Wetton’s vocals which are the essence of the record! They created a much needed spark with this record and it’s quite sad that they couldn’t live up to this album in their following endeavors.
“Heat of the Moment” sets the tone for the record by definitely kicking things off with the biggest bang ever. It’s one of those songs that leave a lasting memory and definitely one of the most memorable and enjoyable classics from the 80s. “Only Time Will Tell” is one of the fines moments of the record as it demonstrates the perfect fusion between pop and rock. The track can’t but affect us with its harmonies and perfect little details, such as Palmer’s powerful drums and layered chorus. “Sole Survivor” is the absolute rocker from the record, combining excellent Hammond organ playing and a basic straight-up rock ‘n’ roll fashion. Some other fine moments from the record include the intriguing and quite fierce guitar intro of “Time Again” which definitely has the “wow” effect on listeners. The essential melancholic track comes in the form of “Without You”, which again demonstrates fine keyboard playing and smoky vocals.
Many people have rather conflicting opinions about this album; however I believe the above mentioned songs are good enough to make it up for the lack of substantiality that could be felt in the rest of the album. Overall, it’s a “modern-classic” record that brought together extraordinary people and spawned hit singles which we still love and listen to even today! Good job~
HEAT OF THE MOMENT
SOLE SURVIVOR
TIME AGAIN
Credits:
“ASIA” official Wikipedia webpage: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asia_%28Asia_album%29
P.S. I don’t own any audio or visual material used in this publication. All the rights and credits go to the owners and/publishers.
Cheers~
I have very strong opinions towards this “institution” called Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and I have always been one of those people who cannot stop criticizing and being mad at their rather shady and unrealistic nomination process. Let’s face it – Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is an absolute joke and it doesn’t really reflect or represent an objective and fair point of view. Not to mention that they include too many artists from all kinds of genres which confuses people and makes them lose their trust in this “institution”. They lost me as a fan and a supporter a long time ago. However, I cannot ignore their inductions because if I do ignore what’s happening, it will bug me and I won’t be able to find my sleep!!! Bottom line is – if you are a top rock act with a career that lasted for more than 30+ years and you sold millions of records, the chance of you being inducted into this “piss stain” is very SLIM! WHY? No one knows… Money? Politics? Basically, all that crap that ruin everything decent in life… The nomination process sucks and they better hope I never find a way to get down there and give them a little rock ‘n’ roll lesson cause apparently they don’t really know what that is….
Anyhow, these are 10 of the most outstanding and timeless rock legends who guess what… are NOT INDUCTED in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame! Let’s talk a little bit about their accomplishments and careers and try to figure out who in their right mind decided that THEY ARE NOT ELIGIBLE for this “prestigious” recognition! I swear, I’m losing it… Let’s just hope that they will be inducted sometime soon. The influence, success and love for those following artists is SO HUGE that they most definitely DESERVE to be there among the other legends of rock music… Let’s check them out!
Def Leppard
Def Leppard have been active since the late 70s and never stopped making awesome music. With their Platinum hit records “Pyromania” and “Hysteria”, they basically ruled the hard rock scene in the 80s and quickly became one of the best-selling bands in the world. They have sold over 100 million records worldwide and released over 50 timeless classic singles we can’t get enough of. I can’t stop asking myself why are they STILL NOT INDUCTED in Rock & Roll Hall of Fame?? Only a few other artists managed to sell over 10 million copies of an original studio album and if this is not a worthy accomplishment I don’t know what is…
Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden – the absolute pioneers of British Heavy Metal and one of the most influential and successful rock bands ever! They began their journey in the late 70s and so far have released 38 albums which sold more than 90 million copies worldwide!!! Their contributions and achievements are unquestionable and they should be inducted in Rock Hall of Fame RIGHT NOW!
Judas Priest
Judas Priest – the fathers of metal and one of the most essential bands for the development and success of rock music back in the day. In the 70s, they helped shape thrash and in the 80s they just blew everyone’s minds away with their heavy metal sound and innovations. Up to date, they have sold more than 45 million records worldwide and influenced the majority of rock artists with their unique style, image and music. Induct them NOW, please!
Journey (2017 Inductees)
Journey! A band that went through a lot of line-up changes but became one of the most commercially successful rock acts of the 80s. They have 18 top 40 singles and a number of unforgettable tunes we love with all our hearts – “Open Arms”, “Don’t Stop Believin’” and many more. Journey sold over 48 million records and became one of America’s most beloved bands! Also, we have to talk about Steve Perry and his immense contributions and vocal abilities which became one of the main reasons why they reached such success back in the day! They deserve to be inducted for sure!
Ronnie James Dio
This right here is the biggest mistake of Rock Hall of Fame – not inducting the MOST influential and talented rockstar – Ronnie James Dio. I can never forgive them for that. I don’t really need someone to tell me that he was a legend and a pioneer of rock, but he deserves to be acknowledged and respected for what he did. His name should be alongside the other big names – Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Black Sabbath, etc. He fronted Dio, Black Sabbath, Rainbow, Elf and Heaven & Hell and sold over 47 million albums over the span of his career! It’s time, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame – it’s time!!
Bon Jovi
Bon Jovi were nominated in 2011 but couldn’t make it – I have absolutely no idea why, though! They have the whole package – a long and productive career, amazing and charismatic frontman, timeless classic rock hits, sold over 100 million records worldwide and keep on releasing awesome music! Come on, Rock Hall of Fame – it’s now or never!
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
ELP – one of the most essential progressive rock supergroup which completely re-defined the music scene. Formed back in the 70s, these phenomenal artists were destined for success. By combining unique elements of classical music, jazz, symphonic rock and excessive use of Hammond organ, they crafted a sound that was never heard of or will ever be heard again! Such influential bands should be inducted in Rock & Roll Hall of Fame – no second opinion about it.
Electric Light Orchestra (2017 Inductees)
Sometimes it really makes me mad when people just forget about the influence and success of this awesome rock band. Formed back in the 1970s, they have also crafted a unique sound, combining elements of Beatlesque pop, classical arrangements, and futuristic iconography. Not to mention that they have 27 top 40 hits and an outstanding leader in the face of Jeffrey “Jeff” Lynne who also by the way co-founded the supergroup Traveling Wilburys and is the only one of them who is not included…Such a SHAME!
Dire Straits
Dire Straits – a band everyone loves listening to! They became hugely successful in the 80s with their distinctive sound, drawing influences from jazz, folk and blues music. Their biggest triumph was undoubtedly the ultimate “Brothers in Arms” which became the first album to cell million copies on CDs. Not to mention the tons of music awards they received throughout their career… Bottom line is, Dire Straits are awesome and they should be inducted!
Motorhead
Motörhead are undoubtedly the pioneers of speed and thrash metal. Formed back in 1975, the influence of this band goes above and beyond any other heavy metal band. By mixing elements of punk and metal, the mastermind of the band – Lemmy, crafted a sound that still sounds as awesome as ever! The band has sold more than 30 million records worldwide and becoming the number one influence of bands such as Metallica, Motörhead have earned their rightful place in the Rock Hall of Fame… RIP, Lemmy!
Music legend and guitar God Eric Clapton is back with his twenty-third solo album titled “I Still Do”. The new album was officially released today (May 20) through the independent Bushbranch Records/Surfdog Records label. “I Still Do” is produced by the famous Glyn Johns who is also responsible for Clapton’s iconic “Slowhand” album which became an international success and is certified 3x-platinum by the RIAA.
“This was a long and overdue opportunity to work with Glyn Johns again, and also, incidentally, the fortieth anniversary of ‘Slowhand’!” said Eric Clapton in a statement announcing the upcoming release of I Still Do.
The 12 track record features new original songs, written by Eric Clapton and cover versions of classic songs by artists such as Robert Johnson and Bob Dylan. “I Still Do” follows up to Clapton’s hit album “The Breeze: An Appreciation of JJ Cale” released in 2014 and the commercially successful compilation album “Forever Man” and concert film and live album “Slowhand at 70 – Live at the Royal Albert Hall” released in 2015.
The distinguishable Eric Clapton artwork was painted by Sir Peter Blake who has previously worked with Clapton on his live album “24 Nights” (1991) and is famous for co-designing The Beatles’ “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” album art.
I STILL DO
Released: May 20, 2016 Recorded: British Grove Studios Genre: Blues, Rock, Pop Rock Length: 54:07 Label: Bushbranch/Surfdog Producer(s): Glyn Johns
TRACKLIST:
Alabama Woman Blues
Can’t Let You Do It
I Will Be There
Spiral
Catch The Blues
Cypress Grove
Little Man, You’ve Had a Busy Day
Stones In My Passway
I Dreamed I Saw St. Augustine
I’ll Be Alright
Somebody’s Knockin’
I’ll Be Seeing You
-Limited Edition “Denim Box” version – Bonus Tracks
Lonesome
Freight Train
OVERVIEW
The ultimate goal of “I Still Do” is to provide variety and we can clearly see it in the smart selection of songs and the wide range of artists he chose to cover, including folk icon Bob Dylan (I Dreamed I Saw St. Augustine) and blues singer Leroy Carr (Alabama Woman Blues). In addition, original compositions (Spiral, Catch the Blues) also make an appearance and add the final ingredient to the long-awaited blues blast called “I Still Do”.
The result is a consistently delightful, although quite expected, collection from Clapton that features his stimulating guitar solos, raspy vocal delivery and a dozen other credited musicians who play alongside him. Positively laidback, the album definitely grabs your attention with its bluesy easy-going and breezy aura that creates the perfect mood. The songs are rather homogeneous and once again perfectly aligned with Eric Clapton’s standards and practices of reviving and exploring old ways and meanings of music.
Some of the album’s finest moments of the record include the carelessly improvised “Spiral” on which he sings, “You don’t know how much this meansto have this music in me…I just keep playing these blues’…hoping that I don’t lose”. In the gentle lullaby “Little Man, You’ve Had A Busy Day” we can enjoy his husky and calming vocal delivery that can’t but warm our hearts. The more upbeat spirit of the album is captured in Robert Johnson’s “Stones in My Passway” and JJ Cale’s “Somebody’s Knocking”on which Clapton handsomely portrays his confidence in playing and singing the blues. The dozy “I Will Be There” and “I’ll Be Alright” may slow down the enthusiasm of some people; however the album wraps things up in a very classy and fanciful, though a but nostalgic way. “I’ll Be Seeing You” portrays Clapton’s passion for jazz music and captivates with its dreamy lyrics.
“I Still Do” is a reflection of Clapton’s current, assured and calmed spirit – the days of chasing trends, looking for new ways to reach the public and focus on making smashing hit albums are over. At this point in his career, he is finally ready to do his own music in his own way. He sounds confident, genuine and most importantly he is finally comfortable in his own skin. “I Still Do” is definitely a reason enough to celebrate and acknowledge the dying breed of musicians like Eric Clapton who do everything with style and class. Thank you for being 71 and still creating such beautiful music, Eric!
There can be many reasons to break down in tears – a broken heart, unrequited love, death of a friend or a family member, losing your way in life, a happy memory that can no longer exist…Such things happen to everyone and they can truly have a very strong emotional impact on our existence.
Artists have always been channeling their emotions and feelings through music. Whether it’s true tearful lyrics or through melancholic melodies, throughout the years we have witnessed the success and effects of countless sentimental classic rock tunes. Grab your tissues and prepare yourself for the following playlist:
PLAYLIST:
Eric Clapton – Tears in Heaven (1992) Nazareth – Love Hurts (1976) Cheap Trick – The Flame (1988) Pink Floyd – Wish You Were Here (1975) Guns n’ Roses – November Rain (1991) The Rolling Stones – As Tears Go By (1965) The Who – Behind Blue Eyes (1971) Fleetwood Mac – Landslide (1975) Eric Clapton – Bell Bottom Blues (1991) Led Zeppelin – The Rain Song (1973)
+
Def Leppard – Love Bites (1987)
Pink Floyd – Comfortably Numb (1979)
Eric Clapton – Tears in Heaven (1992)
Would you know my name If I saw you in heaven? Would it be the same If I saw you in heaven?
I must be strong And carry on, ‘Cause I know I don’t belong Here in heaven…
Nazareth – Love Hurts (1976)
Love hurts, love scars, love wounds And marks, any heart Not tough or strong enough To take a lot of pain, take a lot of pain Love is like a cloud Holds a lot of rain Love hurts……
Cheap Trick – The Flame (1988)
Another night slowly closes in And I feel so lonely Touching heat freezing on my skin I pretend you still hold me I’m going crazy, I’m losing sleep I’m in too far, I’m in way too deep over you I can’t believe you’re gone You were the first, you’ll be the last…
Pink Floyd – Wish You Were Here (1975)
How I wish, how I wish you were here. We’re just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl, year after year, Running over the same old ground. What have we found? The same old fears. Wish you were here…
Guns n’ Roses – November Rain (1991)
When I look into your eyes I can see a love restrained But darlin’ when I hold you Don’t you know I feel the same
‘Cause nothin’ lasts forever And we both know hearts can change And it’s hard to hold a candle In the cold November rain…
The Rolling Stones – As Tears Go By (1965)
It is the evening of the day I sit and watch the children play Smiling faces I can see But not for me I sit and watch As tears go by…
The Who – Behind Blue Eyes (1971)
But my dreams They aren’t as empty As my conscience seems to be
I have hours, only lonely My love is vengeance That’s never free
No one knows what it’s like To feel these feelings Like I do And I blame you…
Fleetwood Mac – Landslide (1975)
I took my love, took it down I climbed a mountain and I turned around And I saw my reflection in the snow-covered hills ‘Til the landslide brought me down
Oh, mirror in the sky, what is love? Can the child within my heart rise above? Can I sail through the changing ocean tides? Can I handle the seasons of my life?
Eric Clapton – Bell Bottom Blues (1991)
Do you want to see me crawl across the floor to you? Do you want to hear me beg you to take me back? I’d gladly do it because I don’t want to fade away. Give me one more day, please. I don’t want to fade away. In your heart I want to stay…
Led Zeppelin – The Rain Song (1973)
These are the seasons of emotion and like the wind they rise and fall This is the wonder of devotion – I see the torch we all must hold. This is the mystery of the quotient, quotient – Upon us all, upon us all a little rain must fall. It’s just a little rain…
+
Def Leppard – Love Bites (1987)
I don’t wanna touch you too much baby ‘Cos making love to you might drive me crazy I know you think that love is the way you make it So I don’t wanna be there when you decide to break it…
Pink Floyd – Comfortably Numb (1979)
There is no pain, you are receding A distant ship smoke on the horizon You are only coming through in waves Your lips move but I can’t hear what you’re saying…
It’s time for my weekly mixtape. This time I have collected classic rock tunes only from the ‘70s and came up with this lovely playlist which will hopefully cheer you up and give you some strength for today. ‘70s was a decade full of so much awesomeness and most importantly – a decade of experimentation, music progress and rebirth that produced some of the greatest rock songs and artists ever…Let’s have a listen and try to have a great Monday!
PLAYLIST:
Van Halen – Runnin’ With The Devil (1978) Pink Floyd – Shine On You Crazy Diamond (1975) Led Zeppelin – All My Love (1979) Eric Clapton – Cocaine (1977) Guess Who – American Woman (1970) Blondie – Heart of Glass (1978) Boston – Peace of Mind (1976) The Who – Won’t Get Fooled Again (1971) Blue Oyster Cult – (Don’t Fear) The Reaper (1976) Queen – Somebody to Love (1976)
There are a number of essential classic rock albums from the ‘80s and then there’s Def Leppard’s “Hysteria” – the monstrous record that goes way beyond that! In addition to the brilliant technical and song-writing skills demonstrated on this album, “Hysteria” is significant due to the human stories that surround its production and release. Furthermore, till today it remains their best-selling and most successful album of all time! I don’t think something so extraordinary and out-of-this-world can actually be made nowadays. “Hysteria” is the perfect ‘80s rock album – catchy, fun, sexy and full of passion and timeless hard rock hits.
The creation of “Hysteria” took over three years due to a number of hardships the band had to go through. Rick Allen – their drummer, lost his arm in a car accident. Before this tragic event, Def Leppard were still riding on the train of success thanks to their phenomenal album “Pyromania”, released in 1983 – a record that proved that the band is here to stay and change the world! For a moment, though, their future didn’t seem as bright as they thought…What happened? Well, Def Leppard were the unquestionable kings of hard rock and such events couldn’t stop them from continuing their quest. Rick started using a custom-made electronic drum kit and not only became one of the greatest inspirations for so many people, but he became an even better drummer. Now, we call him the thunder God and he indeed is! Imagine the strength of his will and the degree of his passion. He is such a remarkable human being…
“Hysteria” is the last album to feature the outstanding guitarist Steve Clark, before his death. Some of his songs do appear on the following album – “Adrenalize” (1992), however Hysteria’s promotional tours and concerts were the last times we saw him on the stage with his bandmates, unfortunately. Losing their guitarist once again shook the band’s grounds but they rose from the ashes and kept on making great rock music!
“Hysteria” is produced by none-other than Mr Mutt Lange – the producer I adore and respect with all my heart and soul. His goal was to create an album that’s going to be the “rock version” of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” – an album in which every track is a potential hit single! Well, he did it – “Hysteria” spawned 7 phenomenal hit singles I don’t even know how to describe. From the breathtaking power ballad “Love Bites” to the sexy and timeless guitar riffs of “Pour Some Sugar on Me”, “Hysteria” can just instantly settle down in your heart and never leave it.
Oh by the way, if you haven’t figured it out yet, YES – “HYSTERIA” it’s my favorite album of all time…
Let’s talk more about it and listen to some tunes!
HYSTERIA
Released:August 3, 1987 Recorded:February 1984 – January 1987; Wisseloord Studios, Hilversum; Windmill Lane Studio 2, Dublin; Studio Des Dames, Paris; Mixing: February – May 1987 Genre:Hard Rock, Rock, Glam Rock Length:62:32 Label:Mercury (US), Phonogram (Original Release), Mercury (2000 re-release) Producer(s):Robert John “Mutt” Lange Singles: “Animal”, “Women”, “Pour Some Sugar on Me”, “Hysteria”, “Armageddon It”, “Love Bites”, “Rocket” Personnel:Joe Elliott – lead vocals; Phil Collen – guitars; Steve Clark – guitars; Rick Savage – bass guitar; Rick Allen – drums Certified:12xPlatinum (RIAA)
TRACKLIST:
“Women”
“Rocket”
“Animal”
“Love Bites”
“Pour Some Sugar on Me”
“Armageddon It”
“Gods of War”
“Don’t Shoot Shotgun”
“Run Riot”
“Hysteria”
“Excitable”
“Love and Affection”
~
2006 Deluxe Edition: Disc one “Tear It Down” “Ride into the Sun” “I Wanna Be Your Hero” “Ring of Fire”
2006 Deluxe Edition: Disc two
“Elected” (Live in Tilburg, Holland) “Love and Affection” (Live in Tilburg, Hollad) “Billy’s Got a Gun” (Live in Tilburg, Holland) “Rock of Ages” Medley: Not Fade Away/My Generation/Radar Love/Come Together/Whole Lotta Love” (Live in Tilburg, Holland) “Women” (Live in Denver, CO) “Animal” (Extended version) “Pour Some Sugar on Me” (Extended version) “Armageddon It”” (The Nuclear Mix) “Excitable”” (Orgasmic Mix) “Rocket”” (The Lunar Mix) “Release Me” (credited as Stumpus Maximus & The Good Ol’ Boys)
“We’ve always wanted to be a band for the people,” Phil Collen says. “When we started working on Hysteria we had just sold eight million records with Pyromania so we knew we had a fanbase. We weren’t necessarily trying to top that because you can’t go into something saying, ‘Okay, yeah, this one’s going to sell more than 8million copies.’ That’s a lot of records. We just wanted to make a record with good songs that we really liked and that were maybe a little more polished and more modern sounding. Even when we finished Hysteria we had no idea how it was going to do, but it felt like a triumph for us.”
OVERVIEW
“Pyromania” established a very high standard for what should be called a very well-produced and fine as hell hard rock album. In 1987, however, “Hysteria” raised the stakes even higher. Once again, Robert “Mutt” Lange was on board and his obsessive desire to create the perfect and most commercially successful hard rock album of all time, resulted in a painful squeezing of every tiny bit of talent and effort from the music engineers and technicians to the band members themselves. Undoubtedly, “Hysteria” was not an easy album to make – it took years, a lot of money and tons of planning.
Throughout the years, many critics have claimed that “Hysteria” is just a very well made pop sell-out product that doesn’t really possess any sort of artistic value or originality. If releasing seven hit singles from one album is not valuable and doesn’t speak for a band’s efforts and hard work then I don’t really know what else we should call “valuable and impressive”.
The brilliant consistency and marriage between pop and hard rock can easily be felt as we go from one song to another. To make the sound of “Hysteria” so unique and essential, Mutt Lange went above and beyond by using a variety of technology, vocal and sound layering and adopting numerous other effects to give the tracks a “stadium rock vibe” and “extra solid sound” that pierce your heart and gives you chills the moment you play them.
Def Leppard’s sense of craft was successfully portrayed in “Hysteria”. This pop-rock guilty pleasure record is filled with killer riffs, exquisite sonics, brilliant hooks and easy to sing along with lyrics. From the ultimate power ballad “Love Bites”, fueled with Joe Elliott’s gentle but rather extreme vocal delivery techniques to the timeless hard rock anthem “Pour Some Sugar on Me”, the album rocks song after song. Bottom line is, “Hysteria” will forever remain as one of the greatest pop-metal records ever. Not to mention that “Hysteria” completely revolutionized the industry at that time. No other rock record managed to impress with such polished production, album length and number of singles. The album and the band simply did the impossible with this album. They also paved the way and set a new and very high standard for all the rockers out there releasing albums.
My favorite thing about “Hysteria” is that there is just no weak song. Even the tracks that were not released as singles are equally impressive and important. The album is very consistent, easy to listen to, easy to sing along with and so exciting. We can just listen to it forever…
Now let’s listen to some music…
The most instantly recognizable rock tune of all times! Do I even need to introduce this song? Sexy, fun, spectacular and essential for every rock party! It hit number 2 on Billboard Hot 100 chart and is an epitome of ‘80s hard rock. The song sent sales of “Hysteria” so high that we can surely say that this song is one of the main factors behind the success of the album. The MV is also iconic and one of MTV’s most favorite and played one of all time!
Pour Some Sugar On Me
Love is like a bomb, baby, c’mon get it on Livin’ like a lover with a radar phone Lookin’ like a tramp, like a video vamp Demolition woman, can I be your man? Razzle ‘n’ a dazzle ‘n’ a flash a little light Television lover, baby, go all night Sometime, anytime, sugar me sweet Little miss ah innocent sugar me…
Power ballads were the thing back in the ‘80s. It was essential for every rock musician to have such a song in their album. However, none other is as beautiful and captivating as “Love Bites”. Joe Elliott’s vocal delivery is what makes it so strong and effective. So far, “Love Bites” is Def Leppard’s only number one single on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Following the huge success of “Pour Some Sugar on Me”, the explosion called “Love Bites” shot Def Leppard right to the stars!
Love Bites
When you make love, do you look in the mirror? Who do you think of, does he look like me? Do you tell lies and say that it’s forever? Do you think twice, or just touch ‘n’ see? Ooh babe ooh yeah
When you’re alone, do you let go? Are you wild ‘n’ willin’ or is it just for show? Ooh c’mon
I don’t wanna touch you too much baby ‘Cos making love to you might drive me crazy…
This is my favorite songs from “Hysteria” and as a matter of fact I often point it out as my favorite Def Leppard song of all time. The reception of “Women” was not as good as Def Leppard might have expected and many believe it’s the least interesting song from “Hysteria” but I can never agree with such statements. The intro, heavy bass and lyrics hit so hard that I can’t even explain it. Just listen and tell me how come this awesome track flopped?
Women
In the beginning God made the land Then He made the water and creatures, then He made man
He was born with a passion, love and hate A restless spirit with a need for a mate But there was somethin’ that was missin’, somethin’ lost So he came with the answer, here’s what it cost
One part love, one part wild One part lady, one part child I give you…
Some other memorable tunes from the album…
Rocket
Animal
Love And Affection
~
“Hysteria” is THE album of the ‘80s! It has everything I ever wanted from an album and there’s a reason why it’s my favorite one of all time! Every song is a piece of art, fueled with so many emotions. You can actually feel their immense passion, devotion and determination as u go from one track to another. This album meant a lot to them and they poured out their souls in it. Most importantly, “Hysteria” is the perfect combination of music technology, outstanding craftsmanship and the strength of human will and ambition. The greatest records are not the ones who sound good but the ones that allow you to hear the people inside of them. I can never have a more favorite album than this one…
‘80s were all about that glam rock feel, saturated with polished guitar hooks and melodramatic lyrics. One band almost instantly comes to our mind when we think about those two things – ‘80s rock music scene and glam rock, and of course the band is Whitesnake. Fronted by none other than one of the greatest voices of rock music – David Coverdale, Whitesnake turned into one of the most distinctive and successful bands on the arena.
Whitesnake’s most essential and internationally recognized record till today remains their seventh self-titled studio album. Released back in 1987, “Whitesnake” turned into a major successful hit, producing timeless rock tunes like “Is This Love”, “Looking for Love” and “Still of the Night”. What made this album such an impressive masterpiece is the unique combination of classic solid rock and melodic rhythms. This all became true due to the great songwriting collaboration between singer David Coverdale and guitarist John Sykes. Melody, energy, passion and outstanding production are just some of the characteristics of the album that contributed to its phenomenal success – it reached to #2 on the Billboard chart and got the band a very prestigious nomination for “Best British Group”. The story doesn’t end here…Keep on reading!
WHITESNAKE (1987)
Released:April 7, 1987 Recorded:September 1985 – April 1986 Genre:Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Glam Rock Length:53:00 Label:Geffen/Warner Bros (North America), CBS/Sony (Japan), EMI (Rest of the World) Producer(s):Mike Stone & Keith Olsen Singles: “Still of the Night”, “Crying in the Rain”, “Here I go Again”, “Is This Love”, “Give Me All Your Love” Personnel:David Coverdale – lead vocals; John Sykes – guitar, backing vocals; Neil Murray – bass guitar; Aynsley Dunbar – drums, percussion Certified:8xPlatinum (RIAA)
TRACKLIST:
“Crying in the Rain” “Bad Boys” “Still of the Night” “Here I Go Again” “Give Me All Your Love” “Is This Love” “Children of the Night” “Straight for the Heart” “Don’t Turn Away”
OVERWIEW:
Whitesnake’s 1987 self-titled album is became such a commercial breakthrough due to its impressive collection of loud and solid hard rockers and a set of melodic and much friendlier pop hooks. David Coverdale is at his best game and proves that his place is indeed among the finest male rock vocalists of all time. Guitarist John Sykes also deserves a round of applause for his impeccable guitar skills and solos that sound like fireworks. Sometimes as I am listening to the album, I feel like his guitar even outshines David’s voice and becomes the only thing people pay attention to while they play the tracks.
The mood of the album is concentrated around themes such as loneliness, heartbreak and of course – love. Whitesnake are the Gods of power ballads and this album is filled with these timeless melancholic rock tunes that people can never get tired of. Their major power ballad hit and probably the song that completely changed the game for them is of course “Is This Love”. This fantastic pop-rock track is a living proof that once you were able to actually listen to some great music on the radio. “Looking for Love” – another quite memorable power ballad from the album was completely outshined by “Is This Love”, despite being much better in terms of lyrics and vocal delivery. “Here I Go Again” is yet another absolute hit that has a nice slow build to very catchy and well-balanced melody, filled with David’s excellent gritty vocals and smooth keyboards, bass and drum playing. The album hits us strong right from the beginning. Their opening track – “Still of the Night” brings us back to the ‘70s with its Led Zeppelin vibes and classic rock sounding. “Children of the Night” has to be the heaviest song from the album and it just requires the listeners to turn their stereo as loud as possible!
“Whitesnake” is full of excellent rock anthems and the greatest thing about it is that is just as rocking and enjoyable as ever even today. These songs are just made to be played forever. The album has its fine moments and despite being described as “too cheesy”, it manages to keep you interested and curious till the very last song. This was perfectly achieved due to the brilliant arrangement of the songs. They don’t just place their strongest songs at the beginning but scatter them all over the tracklist.
Now, let’s listen to some music…
“Here I go Again” was originally released on their 1982 album “Saints & Sinners” and was re-recorded for their phenomenal 1987 album “Whitesnake” with slight changes in the lyrics. The 1987 version of the song immediately topped the charts and the new music video became one of the most played and loved music videos on MTV at that time. Needless to say, the song is an absolute masterpiece and features pretty much all the correct ingredients for success – brilliant lyrics, memorable vocal delivery and chilling guitar riffs. I absolutely adore it.
Here I Go Again
I don’t know where I’m going But, I sure know where I’ve been Hanging on the promises In songs of yesterday An’ I’ve made up my mind, I ain’t wasting no more time But, here I go again Here I go again…
My absolute favourite song from the album has to be “Looking for Love”. To me this is the perfect power ballad and easily the best song of the album. I’m truly impressed and completely in love with David’s vocal techniques on this one – he effortlessly jumps from one note to a higher one and reaches my heart in an instant. The lyrics are what made this one of my most favourite rock tunes of all time…
Looking For Love
I look in the mirror Don’t like what I see In my reflection A stranger is staring at me Looking for love
The love of a woman The needs of a man I try so hard to belive But I don’t understand The search goes on…
I don’t really need to introduce this song now, do I? It’s one of the most era-defining rock tunes and it’s the song that made everyone crazy about Whitesnake and especially David. Interesting fact, the song had originally been written for Tina Turner – imagine that? I think they were quite happy with the decision of keeping it for themselves! The MV is also a must-see – it conquered MTV during that time!
Is This Love
I should have known better Than to let you go alone, It’s times like these I can’t make it on my own Wasted days, and sleepless nights And I can’t wait to see you again…
A couple of other fine moments from the album…
Still Of The Night
Crying in the Rain
~
Overall, it’s an amazing album, filled with influential songs that can’t but touch your heart and soul in a way. Actually, during the ‘80s the rock scene was filled with such glam rockers with gorgeous voices, singing about heartbreak and love. Some might say that Whitesnake were just a band among the many with nothing new or distinctive to offer. However, this album somehow proved that they can write damn good songs and still be as glam as they want. Needless to say, it’s an absolute MUST for your record collection!
You know how much I love Eric Clapton so this post should come as no surprise to you, guys. I think he is absolutely one of the last of his kind of musicians who still got it – in the record studio, as well as on stage.
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