REVIEW: The Black Crowes – Happiness Bastards – “Wanting Waiting” (2024)

THE BLACK CROWES – Happiness Bastards (2024 Silver Arrow)

One could not help but be struck by a mixture of happiness and healthy skepticism when the Black Crowes announced yet another reunion.  With a mostly new band, Chris and Rich Robinson didn’t ask drummer Steve Gorman back.  Instead they asked bassist Sven Pipien (who they once famously edited out of the photos for the Black Crowes & Jimmy Page album).  On the album are Nico Bereciartúa (guitar), Erik Deutsch (keyboards) Brian Griffin (drums).  It’s not really a “band”, but maybe the Black Crowes always were Chris, Rich and whoever was along for the ride?

The good news is, no matter the motivations, the Crowes succeeded in putting out another fine studio album.  It’s not a “back to basics” record, like “Here’s Shake Your Moneymaker Part II“.  It’s also not a rootsy, The Band-like record such as Before the Frost… Until the Freeze.  It’s more like the next step beyond those two.  Happiness Bastards is also shorter than either:  10 tracks, with one additional Record Store Day B-side to discuss.

Opening with “Bedside Manners”, it’s the classic Crowes rock and roll sound, but with a slide guitar lick to make it a bit more southern.  It actually sounds a little like Deep Purple Mk IV.  A strong opener, Chris has barely aged and still belts much like Young Chris did 25 years ago.  The lyrics sound cool, but the booklet is printed in such a way that you will never want to read the words.

A smoking riff kicks off a groove unlike any the Crowes have some before.  “Rats and Clowns” clearly recalls Aerosmith, but not “hit” Aerosmith.  No, this recalls “deep cut” Aerosmith, riff-based and snotty.  This will go down as one of the most memorable Crowes tunes in the discography.

A really surprising number is “Cross Your Fingers”, which begins as an acoustic soulful ballad.  It then transforms into a bass-driven groove.  This is a sound that the Crowes do so well, when they choose to do it.  Rich’s abbreviated closing solo is gravy.  Three tracks in, and the Crowes have done three different directions, on three awesome songs.

The single “Wanting Waiting” has an AC/DC (Bon Scott) groove, mixed with Hammond organ and the Crowes’ own swagger.  The drummer even has a Phil Rudd vibe.  It’s clear why a song like this was chosen as single.  Though it sounds like something from another band in another decade, the soulful rock and roll here is timeless.  A “greatest hit” kind of song to be sure.

Side One ends with “Wilted Rose” featuring country singer Lainey Wilson.  Though it’s only the first ballad, the Crowes do have a lot of more memorable songs like this.

The second side opens with another rippin’ riff backed by Hammond organ.  Then Chris struts his way through the verses, sounding as cool as a cat.  It’s a song called “Dirty Cold Sun”, but again the Crowes have captured a really solid groove, before they go off experimenting again.

“Bleed It Dry” is pure blues, acoustics and pedal steels crying away with some honky-tonk piano and a moaning Chris Robinson.  The harmonica blasts, telling the timeless tale of woe.

It’s off on another direction again.  Pop rock inflects the jubilant “Flesh Wound”!  This high speed blast sounds like the Crowes travelled back in time to the new wave era of the 80s, wrote a song, and came back to the present in order to record it.   It’s an absolutely brilliant song.  Wait until you hear the chanted chorus accompaniment at the end!   If it wasn’t so different for this band, it probably would have made a better single.  “Flesh Wound” is the diamond of a deep cut that you will find when you play the album through.

“Follow the Moon” takes us back to a bluesy groove, with a funk Rich riff leading the way.  When Rich plays his lead solo, the rhythm guitar drops out just like a 70s record, allowing the bass to come up.   Great song, slick playing, and very much a traditional Crowes sound.

The sequencing of the album leads us to feel like a ballad would be the way to close.  And so, “Kindred Friend” ends the album with acoustics, slide, and harmonica, done up with sentiment and nostalgia.  It has a similar feel to a previous Crowes closer, “Time Will Tell”.

Happiness Bastards feels like a journey.  Listening to it, you are taken from peak to valley, and a variety of colours and sounds.  It doesn’t feel like a cash-in, a sell-out, or a phone-in.  It legitimately sounds like the Black Crowes moving on to their newest incarnation.

It’s wonderful.

4/5 stars

THE BLACK CROWES – “Wanting Waiting” / “Morsels for Mongrels” (2024 Silver Arrow RSD single)

One bonus B-side to Happiness Bastards can be found in “Morsels for Mongrels”, the B-side to the “Wanting Waiting” single.  The most different of all the songs, it’s still based on bluesy slide guitar, but with a distant distorted lead vocal.  It’s like the Crowes doing their version of garage rock.  You can understand why it wasn’t included on the album, as it’s just a little too far out there for the record.  Yet it’s a valuable add-on; a fun additional direction that the Crowes explored with typical joie-de-vivre.  A blast to slide into your file folder as a bonus track.

3.5/5 stars

And that’s the latest from the Black Crowes.  An unexpectedly excellent comeback.  Keep it going, guys.

EPSON MFP image

 

 

Rock Daydream Nation: Black Sabbath – Born Again: Is this album hot or not?

Good morning!  For your entertainment this fine day, please check out Rock Daydream Nation’s epic analysis of Black Sabbath’s controversial Born Again LP.  Is this album hot or not?  Long time readers know my feeling on this subject.  Ian Gillan of Deep Purple fame joined Black Sabbath’s otherwise-original lineup to record the weirdest sounding albums in Sabbath history.  It could also be their heaviest, most evil sounding album with some of Ian’s most perplexing lyrics ever.

Born Again has been seen in a better light over the decades, but I still receive much mockery when I tell people how high I rank it.  Will our panel today agree with me?

Joining Peter and I are a special Rock Daydream Nation YouTube panel featuring Reed Little, John Gaffney (Alchemist of Rock), and Brandon Battick (Disturbing the Priest).

Saturday 17 January at 8 AM EST!  Join us!

 

🅻🅸🆅🅴: Have You SEEN This Concrete Blonde Collection?!

GRAB A STACK OF ROCK With Mike and the Mad Metal Man

Special 🅻🅸🆅🅴 Episode

Episode 134: Have You SEEN This Concrete Blonde Collection?!

This week Harrison takes the hot seat as he helms an episode he’s passionate about!  Its Concrete Blonde, featuring the talents of bassist and vocalist Johnette Napolitano!  Harrison is taking tonight to show off his “Complete Albums, Super Rare + More”!  Both Harrison and Mike focus their collecting on an end goal:  getting a physical copy of every officially released version of every track.  Has Harrison achieved this yet?

Concrete Blonde are a little off our usual beaten track.  The alternative rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1982, broke up in 1994 after scoring some major hits such as “Joey”, and reunited a number of times over the decades.  Harrison will walk us through the discography tonight.

This will be a fun episode for the compact disc and physical media collectors!  Join us live so we can interact in the comments!

 

Friday January 16 at  7:00 PM EST, 8:00 PM Atlantic.  Enjoy on YouTube or Facebook.

50 Years of IRON MAIDEN bonus episode: The Essential Iron Maiden

50 Years of IRON MAIDEN bonus episode: The Essential Iron Maiden

GRAB A STACK OF ROCK bonus episode

This week’s bonus episode of 50 Years of Iron Maiden falls on a Tuesday.  This is a shorter episode, that we wanted to run mid-week.

On 12 July 2005, Sony released The Essential Iron Maiden in North America.  As Maiden’s fourth compilation (and third multi-disc compilation), it was interesting for several reasons.  First and most obviously, there is no Eddie on the cover.  Second, it was released as part of Sony’s Essential series, and we’ll look at another disc from that series for comparison.  Third, it is again mostly reverse-chronological, almost like an updated Best of the Beast without the rarities.

We’re calling it the “weirdest” Iron Maiden best of album for these reasons and more.  Would you buy it?  Have a watch and let us know about this truly un-essential Essential release by Sony!

 

Wednesday January 13 at 7:00 P.M. E.S.T., 8:00 PM Atlantic.  Enjoy on YouTube.

 

 

Past episodes:

Handy YouTube Playlist:

 

RE-REVIEW: Poison – Open Up and Say… Ahh! (1988, 2018 180 gram coloured vinyl reissue)

Our review of the deluxe CD edition of this album can be found here.

POISON – Open Up and Say… Ahh! (1988, 2018 Capitol 180 gram coloured vinyl reissue)

There are some bands I find myself constantly having to defend my enjoyment of.  Poison is definitely up there in the top five, if not #1.   They’re not incredible musicians (Richie Kotzen and Blues Saraceno notwithstanding).  They put out some junk.  But they also did at least three legitimately great hard rock albums, and Open Up and Say… Ahh! is one of them.  Poison had good producers behind their best albums.  Bruce Fairbairn, Richie Zito, and in this case, Tom Werman, who had plenty of experience getting great records out of mediocre musicians (and great ones too).

This 180 gram vinyl reissue, on red vinyl and spinning at 45 rpm, still sounds great.  This was a good sounding album 1988 and this record spins well.  The drum sound is a little synthetic sounding, but that was a common issue in the 80s.  Rikki Rocket got a better snare sound later on in the 1990s.  CC’s guitar is like an over-the-top Ace Frehley.  Harsh with more of that 80s transistor amp sound, but actually not that bad on this album.  Frehley was probably the model.  Werman got a solid performance out of Bret Michaels, and layers the choruses with ample backing vocals, but just enough for sweetener.

The album was loaded with mostly good songs.  Opening with the terrific riffing of “Love on the Rocks”, Poison started with a rocker, as if to prove a point.   “She goes down slow, like a shot ‘o gin…” and 14 year old me had no idea what Bret was really signing about, so you have to give the lyricist credit for that.  “You wanna taste my love, why don’t ya swallow this.”  Well, maybe I did get the picture after all.  Swallow This was the original album title, but cooler heads prevailed.  It was later used as the title for Poison’s premature double-live.

Smash hit and first single “Nothin’ But A Good Time” is in the second position, exactly where it belongs, hitting it home immediately.  The riff always struck me as something inspired by Kiss (“Deuce), but later on Kiss ripped off this song for one of their own (“Never Enough”).  Although it’s bubblegum hard rock fun, there’s nothing wimpy about “Nothin’ But A Good Time”.  “Back to the Rocking Horse” is a good track, a sort of Poison deep cut, as is the harmonica-laden “Good Love”.  The first side ends with the darker “Tearin’ Down the Walls”.  Songs like this show that Poison were more than the sum of the public’s perception.  CC’s guitar solos speak.  The lyrics may be shallow (coming home from the road for a good romp in bed), but there’s something about the music that is more than meets the ear.

Opening side two, “Look But You Can’t Touch” has a completely different vibe.  A vicious CC riff kicks it off.  We’ll ignore Bret’s ill-advised lyrics about plying an unwilling young woman with drink.  Not cool, Bret!  (I didn’t think so back in 1988 and I don’t think so now, so don’t come at me.)   Great song otherwise, thanks to CC’s killer riff.  As if to make up for the previous song, Poison got a bit serious on “Fallen Angel”.  In the music video, a predatory manager played by actor Anthony James takes advantage of young girls heading to Hollywood looking for stardom.  It’s a re-enactment of the lyrics:  “She stepped off the bus out into the city streets, just a small town girl with her whole life packed in a suitcase by her feet.”  Things gradually go bad, and Bret’s words serve as a warning.  The song itself remains in the top Poison tracks of all time.  It has it all:  great riff, terrific chorus, strong verses, and another in a series of memorable CC guitar solos.  He didn’t break new ground as a lead soloist, but like many that receive far more praise than he does, CD composes his solos.  The one in “Fallen Angel” is like a mini-song inside a song.

“Every Rose Has Its Thorn” was respected in its time for being a bit further out in the acoustic direction than many bands were comfortable.  “Too country!” said some.  Bret was right on the money with this song, as time has shown.  It didn’t take long (only three years) to become something of a pop culture phenomenon, being quoted in the second Bill & Ted film.  You’ve heard it a million times, but it still stands as a good, well written and well performed ballad, with another great little CC solo.

The cover of “Your Mama Don’t Dance” was cute, and we’ve all heard it a million times now.  It’s fun but at this point we don’t need to discuss it.  We close on “Bad to be Good”, which actually focuses on Bobby Dall’s bass line as the main backbone of the song.  Not to be ignored, listen to CC’s opening guitar licks.  This is a fine song, but not an album cornerstone.  Just a way to take the album out on a dark, sassy note.

One thing we always appreciated about Open Up And Say… Ahh! back in the 80s was that it came with ample photos on the lyric sheet.  Though the cover was always garish and ugly, Poison gave you value when you bought their records.

4/5 stars

 

 

New VIDEO PLAYLIST: Gaming – And we have Atari 2600 fun for you

Hello Grab A Stack of Rock viewers, and gaming fans!  Subscribers and readers know that in the summers, I have done some quick and fun gaming videos at the cottage.   These have been fun and simple Plug & Play arcade and Atari 2600 games, made simply by pointing my camera at a screen.  These were enjoyable to make and watch, so I set about making gaming videos at home on the PC too.

On the PC, I like to play Atari 2600 games emulated on Stella.  Windows 11 enables you to easily screen capture videos, so I made a few just by playing games using the directional keys on the keyboard.  This was effective for most games but annoyingly loud on the resulting audio recording.  I went ahead and bought a $30 Hyperkin Trooper 2 joystick, very similar to the original 2600, which has now brought me to the level that I can make gaming videos of a more satisfying quality.

Subscribe to the channel and check out the playlist below.  My recent Atari 2600 videos are embedded below as well.

Happy gaming!

CLICK HERE FOR THE PLAYLIST

 

 

 

 

 

Satisfying Red Dragon Escape! Atari 2600 “ADVENTURE” on Stella

I was having a REALLY good game of Atari 2600 Missile Command on Stella, until…

Zaxxon: Atari 2600 emulated on Stella

Stop! Hammer Time! Atari 2600 Donkey Kong on Stella – beating level 2 at least!

Stupid Snake! Playing Atari 2600 Q*Bert on Stella with new Hyperkin Trooper 2 Joystick!

REVIEW: Iron Maiden – The Early Days (2004 DVD)

IRON MAIDEN – The History of Iron Maiden Part 1: The Early Days (2004 EMI DVD)

Staying on the cutting edge, Iron Maiden released one of the best and most value-packed videos of anyone’s career with The History of Iron Maiden Part 1: The Early Days.  We won’t get too much into how they never really properly followed it.  We’ll just praise it for what it is:  A must-buy DVD for your Iron Maiden collection, and your education.

The DVD is divided into several sections, with the main feature The Early Days winding up on Disc Two.  That’s where we’ll start.

 

 

Disc Two

The Early Days

Released to DVD on, The Early Days is a 90 minute feature directed by Matthew Amos.  Impressively and most importantly, they gathered together as many past members as were willing and able.  Many of them have never seen interviewed before:  Doug Sampson, Rob “Rebel” Matthews, Dave Sullivan, Terry Rance, Bob Sawyer, Terry Wapram, Paul Di’Anno, Dennis Stratton, and Clive Burr.  This in addition to Steve Harris, Bruce Dickinson, Dave Murray, Adrian Smith, and Nicko McBrain.  We gain some insight into the formation of Steve’s early band Gypsy’s Kiss.  What Steve really needed was a band where he could lead.   Gypsy’s Kiss broke up after a mere five gigs, due to the usual “musical differences”.  Iron Maiden formed, and gained fans via word of mouth.  There is the claim that original singer Paul Mario Day didn’t have a great stage presence, according to original drummer Ron “Rebel” Matthews.  Looking for a showman, they went with Wilcock who was highly influenced by Kiss.  He had this sword gimmick with fake blood coming from his mouth.  Musically, Dave Murray was the turning point, but Dennis Wilcock convinced Steve to fire the whole band.  Steve and Wilcock formed a new Iron Maiden, with Thunderstick on drums.  You know!  The guy with the leather mask, best known from Samson.  He blew a gig (on drugs) and was fired.  Maiden tried a keyboard player instead of a second guitarist, until Wilcock suddenly left the band.  Doug Sampson from one of Steve’s first bands, Smiler, joined in.  Dave Murray came back, and they found Paul Di’Anno.  This would prove to be the foundation of Iron Maiden.  They toiled with a four-man lineup, as they tried out guitarists.  Paul Todd, Tony Parsons, and “Mad Mac” all their moments, but don’t last.  Parsons, at least, was recorded on a number of tracks now released on Eddie’s Archive.  Speaking of whom, Eddie is finally created (as a smoke-breathing head), and Maiden had a mascot.  The Soundhouse Tapes were recorded, and handed to DJ Neal Kaye.  This led to a live gig at the Soundhouse and things began to snowball.

Future manager Rod Smallwood got hold of the tape.  Somehow he managed to sign Iron Maiden to a three record deal, which was an incredible guarantee for Iron Maiden.  Doug Sampson unfortunately was not healthy enough to enjoy the spoils.  He would not be able to tour, and had to be replaced.  The talented Dennis Stratton came aboard on guitar and backing vocals, bringing drummer Clive Burr with him.  The lineup that recorded the EMI debut was set.

The band were not happy with original producer Will Malone, who was disengaged and uninterested.  Artist Derek Riggs was found, and Eddie was brought to life.  Iron Maiden performed live on Top of the Pops, the first band to actually play live since the Who in the 1970s. Touring with Kiss, Maiden took note of their stage and performance.  It is acknowledged that Kiss were their model when they chose to get more theatrical on future tours.  Unfortunately for Stratton, Dennis was let go at the end of the Kiss tour.  Regardless of his talent, they were not cut from the same cloth.   They knew Adrian Smith from his band Urchin (“Roller” is shown).  Martin Birch (Deep Purple) is recruited to produce the more satisfying second album, and they band embark on their first world tour.

The beloved Paul Di’Anno began to falter.  Even Paul acknowledges that Maiden did the right thing by getting Bruce Bruce from Samson.  Bruce electrified the band, in the studio and on stage.  He enabled them to push it further.  On stage, he was an acrobat.  This caused some friction with the bass player, who was quite used to standing next to the singer on center stage.  Now, there was a madman running about, colliding with Steve Harris at center stage as they battled for position.  It only made the band that much better live.

It’s clearly a tough gig.  Clive Burr was not doing well.  The drummer was given three months to sort himself out but he couldn’t.  Lacking time, the band had to move on.  Nicko McBrain was known from the band Trust, and was the natural guy to take over.  Food For Thought was considered for the next album title, but we all know it became Piece of Mind.

Cut to Maiden live at Dortmund.  To be continued.

 

Disc One

Live at The Rainbow (originally released on VHS on 11 May 1981) – 30 minutes

Recorded 21 December 1980

The video quality on Live at the Rainbow is incredible – feels more like late 80s than early 80s quality!  However it was recorded and remastered for DVD, they did a smashing job here.  This lineup features a short-haired Adrian Smith on guitar, and has a stage set with the first album Eddie as the backdrop.  Paul Di’Anno is rocking mega spikes on his arms and belt, as was the look at the time.

The set begins with a cracking good version of “Wrathchild”.  Then Paul introduces the “Title track from the second album!”, but the lyrics are the early version from before the words were finalized.  “Killers” features an incredible top-speed Clive Burr.  There are great closeup of Davey playing the descending harmonics.  The lights go dim, and the band are in darkness for the quiet opening of “Remember Tomorrow”.  The lights really go nuts on heavy parts.  Steve moves to the front for the instrumental “Transylvania” as he becomes the focus on stage.  The epic “Phantom of the Opera” follows.  Clive shows the world why he was so beloved in Iron Maiden.  He’s absolutely hammering here.  This could be the greatest version of the song ever released.  The set closes with “Iron Maiden”.  Davey starts with a whammy dive, before going into the main lick.  Paul has jacket on.  You can tell there was some editing here, as Paul had no shirt on the previous song, and now he has his jacket.  It’s a treat to see Dave and Adrian play those harmonies and leads though.

Beast Over Hammersmith (full audio available on Eddie’s Archive, video previously unreleased) – 45 minutes

Recorded 20 March 1982

They claim the full show is unwatchable.  They say they had to do a lot of work just to restore the nine songs on this DVD.  Regardless, this show including Bruce is great to watch because of the contrast.  Now the band were on the big stage.  Now they had a stage show.  Now they had Bruce.

There is an opening montage of the crowd entering the venue, lots of jean jackets and patches, to the tune of “Murders in the Rue Morgue”.  Bruce enters like a whirlwind!  The lighting rig is cool – like a “V” of lights on stage below Clive.  “Run to the Hills” is early in the set and now it’s refreshing to go back to 1982 and hear Young Bruce singing it at full lungs.  Bruce is noticeably a far more visual frontman than Paul was.  Only one studded arm though!  “Children of the Damned” is next, as the lights dim a bit and Bruce stands center stage.  No running about, this time.

“The Number of the Beast” sees the crowd fairly calm during the opening, since it is a new song and they don’t know the opening yet.  Davey headbangs through the whole thing!  Annoyingly, the camera avoids Adrian during his part of the guitar solo.  During “22 Acacia Avenue”, Bruce reveals that Adrian had some bruised or broken ribs!  Though musically brilliant, this is where the band lost their way.  Charlotte appears on stage in the flesh, dancing next to Adrian, raising her legs, and moving to center stage in front of Bruce.  It’s a rare miss for Iron Maiden as it takes the focus away from the band.

Bruce introduces the “B-side of our current single!”, and it’s the rarely played “Total Eclipse”.  Bruce’s vocal is far more expressive than the studio version.  This time the camera focuses on the appropriate guitar players during the split solo, thankfully.  Bruce then removes his leather jacket for the melodic masterpiece “The Prisoner”  For “Hallowed Be Thy Name”, he most dramatic song of the set, Bruce stands on the “V” steps by the drums.  Then, he comes down later to rile up the crowd as the song gets faster and harder.  Finally, it’s “Iron Maiden” and Bruce explains to the crowd what the torture device does.  The band really explode onstage for this fast blaster!

Live In Dortmund – Rock and Pop Festival (previously unreleased) – 45 minutes

Recorded 18 Dec 1983, broadcast only once

Maiden headlined over Ozzy, Scorpions, Def Leppard, Priest and Michael Schenker if you can believe it.  Maiden over Ozzy.  For this Piece of Mind era show including Nicko McBrain, we only have the surviving broadcast tapes.  “Iron Maiden” was also played, but cut from broadcast due to an Eddie “lobotomy” with tissues and ribbons counting as “excessive violence”.  The recording of that song is now lost.

Bruce had what we’ll call his “caveman look” with a shirt like something Fred would wear on the Flintstones, paired with some leather trousers.  We open with “Sanctuary” and a very animated Nicko on the cymbals, when he stands for the cheer break.  Bruce’s vocal delivery is a tad too operatic for this song.  Davey’s solo is gravy.  Onto “The Trooper”!  Bruce waves the union Jack, with smoke all over the stage.  The guitars are a bit thin sounding on this recording.  One cool moment is when Steve runs up drum riser and plays face to face with Nicko.  Steve is a real band leader, interacting with all the members on stage.  It is during “Revelations” that Bruce plays a Les Paul during the guitar harmonies.  Plays, or “plays”, it was rarely seen and here it is documented.  (It is this version that is included on the Best of the Beast vinyl LP limited edition.  His vocal here is powerful and far more expressive than the album.  It is a brilliant, full sounding version, loaded with energy.  There is however an annoying close-up on the stage Eddie (behind Nicko) during instrumental mid-section that keeps repeating.

“Scream for me, Dortmund!  The Flight of Icarus!”  The bass sounds heavier on this version.  Bruce nails the chorus.  No backing vocals audible as on Live After Death.  An absolutely killer rendition.  Back to “22 Acacia Avenue”, there is no dancing girl this time, Maiden having learned their lessons.  The audience is a sea of hands.  A great live version, with Bruce adding extra flair.

Now that they are familiar with the song, the audience speaks along to “The Number of the Beast” and its opening narration.  A grim reaper, concealed in smoke, appears on stage.  The band leaves, and then returns for the encore “Run to the Hills” and final song of the included set.  The chorus sounds different this time, lower perhaps.  Maybe it is because Steve’s backing vocals being so high in the mix?  At the end, Bruce destroys a drum kit!

 

Disc Two

There is plenty more to be seen and heard on disc two of this set, besides just The Early Days documentary.  There is a whole other 45 minute unreleased set of music from the band’s own archive, and lots of TV stuff included as well.  Here is a detailed breakdown of everything else on Disc Two.

20th Century Box – 21 minutes

Recorded & broadcast 1981

This television special is primarily framed in terms of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal (here called a “revival”), and the musical culture of the time with Punk also reigning high.  There is rare black and white footage from the Marquee club, including “Phantom of the Opera”, “Drifter” and “Iron Maiden”.  There are interviews with Steve and Paul (in a comics shop!), Neal Kaye, Geoff Barton, famed air guitarist Rob Loonhouse (age 23), and many fans.  Produced for television, everything is slick and pro-shot.  A valuable time capsule.

Live at the Ruskin (previously unreleased) – 45 minutes

Recorded 14 April 1980

As of this DVD, Live at the Ruskin is the oldest known video of Iron Maiden live.  It is single camera of surprising quality, probably filmed by road tech Vic Vella.  The Ruskin was kind of a home base to Iron Maiden, and so the introduction goes:  “Welcome, your very own Iron Maiden!”  Paul is very talkative, as if presiding over a party with friends.  Heck, his own mum is in the house!  And so is guitarist Dennis Stratton, not yet sacked, and very much showing his value in this video.

“This is a song you should all know by now, it’s our next single.” And know it they do.  “Sanctuary” lights the place up.  The young band appears crowded on that small stage.  Dennis’ Les Paul solo is speedy magnificence.  Davey takes the second solo, with wah wah pedal.  Paul Di’Anno is very growly, and the “chuggy” section at the end is longer.  The video gets blurry a bit on “Wrathchild”, but it’s awesome to hear a version with Dennis’ solos.  The sweat is visible on Di’Anno’s face during “Prowler”.  Again, it is amazing to hear a live version with Dennis, as his tone was not the same as Davey’s or Adrian’s.  He also sings ample backing vocals, and his voice is different from Adrian’s.

A touch slower version of “Remember Tomorrow” follows, and then Clive leads the clapping on “Running Free”.  Vocally this is one of the best versions available, and that’s partly due to Dennis’ audible backing vocals.  Dennis and Davey perfectly in sync on guitar harmonies.  Outstanding version.  The instrumental “Transylviania” also features a lot of Dennis.  He does the first solo, and the main guitar lick of the song.

Time for band intros, as Paul removes his shirt.  Then it’s onto “Another Life”, the only official live version with Dennis ever released.  Steve’s bass is dominant, with a lot of high notes.  This is back when Maiden still had drum solos.  “Clive Burr on drums!” The audio goes out for a second, it’s not your DVD.

“Phantom of the Opera” features Steve and Dennis on backing vocals, in a very version.  Amusingly , you can spy lots of beer cans visible behind Davey on his amp.  Then we end the recording with “Charlotte the Harlot”.  Paul explains that it’s a song about a whorehouse, a brothel!  He can’t say more, as his mum is in the house!  There is a meandering intro, but Iron Maiden were not an arena act yet.  Another powerful version!

Top of the Pops

Two tracks here:  “Women in Uniform” (22/02/1980) with Adrian on guitar.  Actually live!  This is the only official live version of “Women in Uniform”, ever.  The drums sound shit, and you can hardly hear the guitars.  It’s not like Top of the Pops knew how to broadcast a live rock band.  The second track is “Running Free” (13/11/1980) which sounds better.  Paul is wearing the striped shirt under leather jacket.

Rock and Pop ZTV

Only one track here, from a German broadcast in 1980.  It’s a mimed “Running Free” with Adrian on guitar.

Five Promo Videos

You’ve seen ’em on TV, on Visions of the Beast, and now here too:  “Women In Uniform”, “Run to the Hills”, “The Number of the Beast”, “The Trooper” and “Flight of Icarus”, all original versions.  It doesn’t matter what people think today; back in the 80s these were some of the coolest music videos ever!  “Flight of Icarus” even had footage from inside the recording studio, which was not common for a lot of metal bands.

Steve’s Diary & Scrapbook, On The Road

Click and flick through the scans!  Interesting stuff about seeing Genesis at the Hammersmith, and the Stones at Knebworth.  There’s even some band bookkeeping:   getting paid 5 pounds for expenses, 10 pounds for a gig at Cart and Horses.  The biggest payout you see in these receipts was 25 pounds.  Steve even documents his bass amp payment installments.  Some major Maiden history is recorded:  the day Dennis Wilcock auditions to replace Paul Day (“Mon the 20th”).  Steve’s thoughts: “Now the hard part is to tell Paul…”  Paul Mario Day did 26 gigs in total, and understood when Steve broke the bad news.  The scrapbook has gig ads back to 1976.  One gig has them second to Samson (at the Music Machine, in Camden).  The section titled “On the Road” contains photo galleries going all the way back to 1973, Smiler, and the first Iron Maiden lineup.  There are pictures of Vic Vella, Rob Loonhouse, and many more.   This goes up to 1983, and includes tour programs, tour dates (back to 1979), shirts, backstage passes and assorted art.  All very fascinating stuff, but limited by the DVD format.  Today you’d do this on a website.

There is also an album and singles discography, with art.  Again this is something that works better on a website today.

And that’s an exhaustive review on an essential Maiden DVD.  There is even a beefy booklet with liner notes to read.  Maiden even toured for the DVD, playing only songs from the “Early Days”.  Now that’s how you do a release.  If only we had a live album from that tour!  Deluxe edition, lads?

4.5/5 stars

 

 

 

 

50 Years of IRON MAIDEN episode 27: The Early Days DVD

50 Years of IRON MAIDEN episode 27:  The History of Iron Maiden Part 1:  The Early Days

GRAB A STACK OF ROCK #133

Buckle up, for tonight is one of the most detailed episodes of 50 Years of Iron Maiden to date!  In 2004, Iron Maiden went out on tour, but not to promote a new album.  This time (and for the first time!) they were out to promote a video:  The History of Iron Maiden Part 1: The Early Days, on DVD.  Tonight, we break down the entire contents of the DVD release (including the special features you probably never watched!) and the tour to boot.  Yes, this is an episode of 50 Years of Iron Maiden as essential as any!

The DVD itself centers on The Early Days, a 90 minute documentary on Maiden history from 1975 to 1983 (the “early days”).  It includes interviews with Maiden members you’ve probably never met before, such as Ron “Rebel” Matthews, Terry Rance, Doug Sampson and many more.  The history of the band is run down with great care, ending in Dortmund in Germany on the World Piece Tour.

There are four concerts, in various states of completion:  Live at the Ruskin (1980), Live at the Rainbow (1981), Beast Over Hammersmith (1982) and Live in Dortmund (1983).  Even though we have discussed some of these tracks in previous episodes (including a full episode on the CD version of Hammersmith), we will go through every single track in exhausting detail.  Then there are the Top of the Pops and other TV shows to cover!  Then, Mike will take you through all the interesting details in the bonus features, such as Steve’s diary and scrapbook.  Find out exactly how Steve fired original singer Paul Mario Day, and when!

When this all said and done, Harrison will guide us through the Eddie Rips Up the World Tour, including the setlists and an incident involving Sharon Osbourne.  You might have heard about that one!  It happened on this tour.

Don’t miss the premiere of this episode, as we always like to interact in the comments!  Up the Irons!

 

Friday January 9 at 7:00 P.M. E.S.T., 8:00 PM Atlantic.  Enjoy on YouTube.

BONUS:  Tomorrow, January 10, Mike will post his written review of this DVD, never before seen, right here on this site.  This review, at almost 3000 words, is for those who prefer to read!  Mike never wrote a review of this release back in 2013 when he did his Maiden review series.  This is brand new and will not be exactly the same as what we will present in the video.  Enjoy both!

 

Past episodes:

Handy YouTube Playlist:

 

#1232: Let the Music Do the Talking? The List of Bands that Made it…and Some that Didn’t

RECORD STORE TALES #1232: Let the Music Do the Talking? The List of Bands that Made it…and Some that Didn’t

At the end of the day, does it really matter why we got into a band?  Just as long as we did discover any particular group, if it turned into true love, then the “hows” and “whys” really don’t need to be defended.  They can be interesting stories, or even just an anecdote, but if you got into Kiss because you thought they looked cool, or Iron Maiden because of Eddie, it really doesn’t matter.  It’s the fact you love Kiss, or Iron Maiden, that matters.

So, here are some stories and anecdotes that may give you a glimpse at how shallow I was as a metal kid in the mid-1980s.  Image mattered more than music sometimes.

I had a list, an actual list, of the bands I “liked”.  If I “liked” a band, that meant I’d be interested in getting an album, and would record any music video I found on MuchMusic.  I still love all those initial bands that I “liked”.  Quiet Riot, W.A.S.P., Twisted Sister, Helix, Kick Axe, Kiss, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Ozzy Osbourne, Black Sabbath, Dio, Motley Crue, Def Leppard, Van Halen, ZZ Top, Triumph, AC/DC, Accept, Lee Aaron, and oddly enough, Kim Mitchell were all in the original lineup.

I remember hearing about a band called Hateful Snake.  I didn’t know who they were, except they were supposed to be good.  They had a cool name at least.  As it happens, Hateful Snake were a Toronto band that got some video play on Toronto Rocks in 1983.  Toronto Rocks was the pre-MuchMusic show of choice before the Pepsi Power Hour existed.  All the kids watched it, and it had a huge influence in my neighbourhood.  The Hatedful Snake video for a song called “Are You Ready” was low budget but incredibly fun, and you can hear the band had potential.  With a New Wave of British Heavy Metal sound and feel, and a capable lead singer with that high voice, I get a Diamond Head feel.  Brian Simpson was the voice.   They also had the chops, as the lead guitar player shreds a cool AC/DC style solo while snaking his way down Yonge Street in Toronto.  I would have liked Hateful Snake, had I ever seen the video.

I never did see it.  Hateful Snake were all but a blip in my world.  Just a pair of words whispered from one rock friend to another and eventually to me, without ever having a chance of catching that music video.  Still, I added Hateful Snake to my list of bands I liked, on a tentative basis, just to beef it up a bit.

It was a pretty exclusive club, and all but one artist (Kim Mitchell) would be classified as “heavy metal” at the time.  Now those of you who have been reading since the beginning know that Styx was in fact the first rock band I ever liked; what happened to Styx?  In my exclusivity, I removed Styx from the list and excised my copy of Kilroy Was Here from my collection.  That’s why I don’t have it anymore.  It probably got filed with my parents’ records and sold at a garage sale, because they don’t have their records anymore either.

It was a game changer when MuchMusic entered the music video game in 1984.  Suddenly, there were more bands:  Other bands joined in as I discovered their music, such as Killer Dwarfs, Thor, Autograph, Loudness, Armored Saint, Anvil and Queensryche.  Loudness and Queensryche may have been the first metal groups I discovered on my own, without the help of my friends in the neighborhood.  There were some bands that definitely did not make my list.  Venom:  Far too heavy.  Motorhead:  Heavy, and scary.  Metallica:  Mythical.  I never had the chance to hear their music, because they didn’t have any music videos.

Given that I was sitting there in my basement watching music videos, it is inevitable that some bands made my list for trivial reasons.  Superficial, even silly reasons.

Aerosmith:  Joe Perry had a transparent plexiglas guitar in the music video, and I never saw anything like that before in my life.  I knew Bob Schipper would love it.  I hit the “record” button on my VCR.

Sammy Hagar:  The Ferrari!  “I Can’t Drive 55” was also a hilarious video, but it was the car.

Cheap Trick:  The five-neck guitar that Rick Neilson wields in “The Flame”.  Five necks!  I had to have that in my VHS collection.

David Lee Roth:  He had removed himself from my list when he did “California Girls” and left Van Halen.  This wasn’t rock!  But he got himself back in when I saw him in the smokin’ “Yankee Rose” video.  If Roth didn’t return to rocking, he wouldn’t have been on the list.

Lionheart:  This British band made it on the list as one of the first “side project” expansions to the list.  The band included Dennis Stratton, the guitarist who appeared on the first Iron Maiden album and in the “Women in Uniform” video.  That allowed them entry onto my list, the first of many such expansions.

Yngwie J Malmsteen:  Reputation alone.  The announcers on television said he was the next big thing, so I thought I better get this guy on tape.  He could play.

The exclusive club that was my list grew and grew.  Today it’s not so exclusive.  Yet, like a band, there’s something about those original members.  Listening to the original member bands of my list is always a rich, nostalgic experience.  I tend to back to the originals a lot.  Any chance to relive the golden years, if only for the length of an LP!

Tim’s Vinyl Confessions Ep. 756: Thin Lizzy (CDs)

It has been 40 years since we lost Phil Lynott.  To mark the occasion, Tim Durling recruited myself and John the Music Nut to meticulously document our Thin Lizzy CD collections on video, once and for all.  While I clearly had the biggest collection (and size does indeed matter), I still need three box sets to “complete” my Lizzy CD collection.

Please join Tim, John and myself as we go through every album one by one, and discuss the history of Thin Lizzy from the beginning right to the John Sykes and Ricky Warwick eras of the band.  We have physical CDs to marks several post-Lynott lineups, and loads of compilations and box sets too.  A truly comprehensive episode, and probably the best single-episode overview on the Lizzy discography that you’ll find on YouTube.  Enjoy!