Woah-ho! Here comes the Priest with yet another live album! How many does this make it? Officially that’s six, not including live discs within deluxe editions, or live DVDs! Battle Cry is the newest, recorded last year at Wacken (August 1 2015).
Some fans like to moan and complain every time an older band like Priest or Maiden release a live album. You can see their point, but at the same time, how much longer will Priest be touring? Don’t you want a live album with all their newest songs? Priest’s last album, 2014’s Redeemer of Souls, was a triumphant return for the band, who had suffered a major lineup change. KK Downing was out, and new kid Richie Faulkner was surprisingly able to take his place on the stage, and in the songwriting. Rather than suffer from this blow, Priest simply kept going full speed ahead. A live album is compulsory after this much activity. Three of the new songs are included on the disc, in among a smattering of classics, but nothing fromNostradamus (2008) or Angel of Retribution (2005). Fear not; you can get some of those songs on the live CD A Touch of Evil.
Here is a handy-dandy chart to show you where these songs originated, not counting intros “Battle Cry” and “The Hellion”.
You’ll notice a huge 23 year gap in the music presented. This isn’t uncommon for rock bands of Priest’s age. There are so many classics, not to mention new songs to play, but not enough time. As such, albums from later periods, or “cult” songs, are often overlooked. The unfortunate effect of this is an unspoken implication that maybe the music between 1990 and 2014 wasn’t very good. Now granted, Priest did have a lineup change during that period. From 1997-2004, they were with singer Ripper Owens, and Priest have yet to revisit any of that material.
Proving that nothing has been lost with the departure of Downing, “Dragonaut” opens the show on a fast heavy note. Faulkner is a perfect fit, acting in unison with Glenn Tipton to produce the same kind of Priest guitarmonies that you’re used to hearing. “Halls of Valhalla”, another new track, rocks just as hard, but with the complexity of the Priest of yesteryear. The musical chops of this band often go overlooked, but just listen to them play. As for Halford? He ain’t no spring chicken, but his singing style has changed to suit. Within that framework, the man is a demon. He can still do things with his voice that few can. The final new song is “Redeemer of Souls”, a little stiff by comparison but certainly up to snuff.
A few lesser-played songs really spice up the set. “Devil’s Child” from Screaming For Vengeance is a treat, and “Jawbreaker” from Defenders of the Faith is a nice switch up from “Freewheel Burning”. Wacken probably would have rioted if songs like “Breaking the Law” and “Metal Gods” were not played, so of course you can count on the hits being represented. A long guitar solo and instrumental section during “Another Thing Coming” is another surprise. Halford used to do a long singalong at this point of the show, but that’s been shortened in favour of a pretty damn cool Richie Faulkner guitar solo. Way to give the spotlight to the new kid — that is really classy.
Because there’s not enough time on a single disc, “Living After Midnight”, the final encore of the show, was axed. Instead, “Painkiller” ends this CD, certainly an interesting choice for a closer. This is the only song during which Rob’s voice can’t keep up. The song is just insane; it always has been, and you can’t fault the guy for not quite getting there.
Battle Cry is yet another in a long string of great live Judas Priest albums. Shoulda woulda coulda been a double CD. The only two songs missing from this show are “Turbo Lover” and “Living After Midnight”, but wouldn’t you prefer having them?
Welcome to PRIEST WEEKEND! It’s a long Thanksgiving weekend in Canada, and…
Well, here’s the truth of it. I had three Judas Priest reviews lined up and needed a spot to schedule them. A three day weekend worked. That’s how much thought went into the scheduling of this Thanksgiving theme.
Enjoy PRIEST WEEKEND starting with their immortal second album…
JUDAS PRIEST – Sad Wings of Destiny (1976 Gull)
It’s quite a shame that Judas Priest haven’t regained the rights to their first and second albums. Too many fly-by-night labels have done shoddy or half-arsed reissues of the albums and Sad Wings is no exception. This one, on Snapper, isn’t too objectionable. It’s funny to see “digitally mastered” on the front sticker, as if this is some kind of selling feature. All CDs are digitally mastered! Remember that old AAD, ADD, DDD logo that used to appear on CDs? The A and D refers to analog or digital processes: recording, mixing, and mastering. Every CD is at least AAD. The “informative liner notes” (by somebody called “Krusher”) is just a blubbering general history essay on the band.
Fortunately, no matter how it’s packaged, the music is exceptional.
“Victim of Changes” defines “epic”, and probably remains Judas Priest’s definitive word on the epic song. This is actually a mashup of two earlier songs called “Red Light Lady”, written by Rob Halford, and “Whiskey Woman” by original singer and founder, Al Atkins. That’s how it came to be that Halford shares a writing credit with his predecessor, an unusual circumstance indeed! The finished song “Victim of Changes” has everything: the concrete heavy riffs, the drama, the melody and the unearthly screams! It takes its time, but it simply lays waste to the landscape. By the time Rob nails his final scream, you may find yourself hard of hearing. As if that wasn’t enough, “The Ripper” (a shorty) contains even more screams-per-minute than “Victim”. Priest seemed to take a turn away from blues, towards metal on Sad Wings of Destiny. The first two songs are as sharp and devastating as anything else in the Priest canon.
Although they are often separated on compilations and whatnot, “Dreamer Deceiver” and “Deceiver” are more or less one song. One sounds incomplete without the other. “Dreamer Deceiver” is an airy, acoustic number about some sort of ethereal being. It is as entrancing as its title character:
“We followed the Dreamer through the purple hazy clouds, He could control our sense of time. We thought were lost but, no matter how we tried, Everyone was in peace of mind.”
Rob’s vocal performance on this one ranges from the deep and dramatic, to the wails that Priest fans crave. It is the blueprint for similar early Iron Maiden tracks such as “Remember Tomorrow”. Even the guitar solo is a well-composed piece of music, but this is just the beginning. Morphing into “Deceiver”, the acoustic plucking has changed to an electric chug. This time the guitar solo blazes rather than cries. “Deceiver” burns out quick, ending the first side.
Side two begins, as it obviously should, with a piano instrumental! Glenn Tipton wrote and performed “Prelude” which is really just another track meant for you to let your guard down…before being ploughed over by the evil “Tyrant”! He is the destructor, and every man shall fall! The way Rob screams it, you believe it. This is straight up the alley of prior tunes, like “Ripper” and “Deceiver”: fast, lean, and heavy as balls!
“Genocide” is a change of pace, a leaning towards the mid-tempo ground that Priest would find great success with later. There is a Priest stamp to it: a simple 4/4 beat, a couple of cool riffs, verses, chorus and solo…but I like the slow middle section best. “Sin after sin…I have endured, but the wounds I bear, are the wounds of love.” Sin After Sin was used as the next Priest album title. Then, another surprise. “Epitaph” is a piano ballad with Rob singing with a Queen-like backdrop of vocals. Only piano and vocals, that is it. Once again this is a Glenn Tipton song, and even though Priest let on that they had quiet tendencies, this is still a bit of a shocker. “Pretty” is an appropriate word. It is a tour de force for Rob, who performed some very intricate singing.
Chugging off to into the horizon, “Island of Domination” is the final track on a purely excellent heavy metal album. Multi-layered Halford screams usher in the final assault. Rocking both heavily and intelligently, the mighty Priest finished the album with a blitzkrieg, taking no prisoners. From gallop to groove, “Island of Domination” has a bit of everything Priest did well.
What an album. Do you like heavy metal music? Then you need Sad Wings. Period. Exclamation point!
Getting More Tale #433.5 presents: A worldwide online event! THE TOP 15 ON THE 15th – Guest shot by Uncle Meat
This is an event spanning many sites and writers in the World Wide Web. I will link to as many as possible; my own Top 15 can be found here. A few months ago, the challenge was thrown down to all comers: List your top 15 albums of all time! The date September 15 was chosen for the deadline.
Uncle Meat laboured hard on his Top 15, eventually whittling it down from a list of 31 great records*. Without any commentary, here they are. His only requirement: No live albums.
15.Rust in Peace – Megadeth
14. Screaming For Vengeance – Judas Priest
13.Little Earthquakes – Tori Amos
12.Close to the Edge – Yes
11.Consolers of the Lonely – The Raconteurs
10.Clutching at Straws – Marillion
9.Reign in Blood – Slayer
8.Operation: Mindcrime – Queensryche
7.Whale Music – The Rheostatics
6.Misplaced Childhood – Marillion
5.Moving Pictures – Rush
4.Roxy and Elsewhere – Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention
3. Pet Sounds – The Beach Boys
2.Hemispheres – Rush
1.El Corazón – Steve Earle
* For shits and giggles, here are the rest of The Meat’s albums that didn’t make the final cut.
Oh, how I loathe lists! Readers seem to love “Top Whatever” lists; different kinds, but I sure do hate making them.
However, I don’t like doing things in half-measures either. So for this, the Top 15 on the 15th, I’ve gone one step beyond. Not only do you get my Top 15 on the 15th, but also a list of the Top 15 tracks to listen to from these 15 amazing albums.
As of today, here are my Top 15. These will change periodically, probably tomorrow, and again the day after. See why I hate lists? In the end I decided that I wanted to fairly represent some of my favourite artists. But enough whining from me — let’s rock. Spin these little bastards for a good time!
15. Judas Priest – Hell Bent for Leather (Killing Machine)
14. Max Webster – A Million Vacations
13. Queen – News of the World
12. Alice Cooper – School’s Out
11. The Beatles – The Beatles (The White Album)
10.Thin Lizzy – Johnny the Fox
9. Led Zeppelin – Houses of the Holy
8. Johnny Cash – At San Quentin
7.Faith No More – Angel Dust
6. Rush – Moving Pictures
5.Van Halen – 1984
Let’s stop here for a moment. The thing about my top albums list is, the top four never change. Four of these five albums have been in my top five for a long as I can remember making lists for. The order may change, but that top four have been my top four, forever. They are indelibly heat-stamped onto my grey matter. These are as much a part of me as my left arm!
4.Iron Maiden – Piece of Mind
3. Kiss – Hotter Than Hell
2.Deep Purple – Fireball
1.Black Sabbath – Born Again
Right there are 15 incredible collections of music, both studio and live. But let’s not fool ourselves. Nobody is going to listen to all 15 of those albums just because some guy on the internet who goes by the name of “LeBrain” said so. I have chosen to distill these 15 amazing records down into 15 key tracks. I’m sure nobody needs an introduction to the big hits, so here are tracks you may not have heard. If you have ever cared about rock music, then you need to listen to these Top 15 Songs from the Top 15 Albums, on the 15th!
1. Rush – “Vital Signs”
2. Black Sabbath – “Disturbing the Priest”
3. Queen – “It’s Late”
4. Iron Maiden – “Where Eagles Dare”
5. The Beatles – “Dear Prudence”
6. Johnny Cash – “San Quentin”
“If any of the guards are still speakin’ to me, can I get a glass of water?”
7. Led Zeppelin – “The Ocean”
8. Thin Lizzy – “Massacre”
9. Alice Cooper – “Gutter Cat vs. the Jets”
10. Deep Purple – “Fools”
11. Iron Maiden – “Revelations”
12. Judas Priest – “The Green Manalishi (With the Two-Pronged Crown)”
13. Alice Cooper – “My Stars”
14. Queen – “Spread Your Wings”
15. Deep Purple – “No No No”
Astute readers will realize that one singer appears on two albums. Ian Gillan was fronting Black Sabbath in ’83 for Born Again, and of course is best known as Deep Purple’s lead howler. Does this double appearance make Ian Gillan the greatest rock vocalist of all time? No. But the greatest does appear, with Queen on News of the World – Freddie Mercury!
I began writing Record Store Tales about 15 years ago. In the time between then and now, a lot of the earlier chapters were cut. One that did not make it was called “Persecution I”. This was some background material, on what it was like growing up as a heavy metal kid in a Catholic school.
Hint: it wasn’t fun.
Now that Record Store Tales is finished, I can revisit some of these old stories.
Grades 7 and 8 were essentially just two years of waiting to finally graduate and get the hell out of there. The bullies were relentless and nasty. I also had the worst teacher for both years. Her method of discipline was to humiliate students in front of the class. This woman was the definition of strict. I still talk to some people from grades 7 and 8, and they seem to remember the teacher the same way I do. She was unpleasant and mean.
It was always difficult when a kid like me showed up on the first day of class looking different than they did before summer holidays began. I didn’t realize that. I thought people might think I was pretty cool all of a sudden, showing up in my brand new Judas Priest T-shirt.* My grandpa had also given me this camouflage army hat, to which I affixed my favorite rock buttons of Iron Maiden.
The problem with my new look was, the kids who did like heavy metal before had suddenly abandoned the greatest music of all time, in favour of New Wave bands. Where Ian Johnson had previously been boasting about how awesome this new band called Metallica were, suddenly he had grown a rat tail and gone New Wave. He mocked me as hopelessly behind the times. He even had the sack to make fun of me for liking W.A.S.P. when he used to like W.A.S.P. more than I did. I had counted on him as a metal ally, but he was no longer. He joined the rest of the crowd in mocking me.
On the first day back, the teacher walked up to me and pointed to my Priest shirt.
“What does that say?”
I thought she was referring to the small writing at the bottom.
“It says ‘Rock Hard Ride Free’,” I answered.
“No up here! What does that say?”
“It says Judas Priest,” I said, starting to realize maybe she was offended by the “Judas” part.
“Well I never!” she began with her rant. “In all my years I have never seen anyone wear something so disgusting in my classroom. Do you even know what that means?”
I was really upset and confused. “It’s just the name of a band.”
“No it is not! My father used to say that when he was very, very angry. That is a very distasteful phrase. I won’t have those words in my classroom.” I could hear the chuckles of the other kids as she tore into me some more. “I don’t understand it,” she continued. “You should not be wearing that filth. What is the matter with you?”
The same teacher liked to tell us that we were “the worst, most ill-behaved class” she had ever taught. I think she just said that every year.
I knew that the words “Judas” and “Priest” had obvious religious connotations, but how was I to know that it was once considered a “swear”? Nobody in my family said it. My dad was more blunt in his swearing – “shit”, “fuck”, “damn” and so on. None of this esoteric “Judas Priest” nonsense. When my dad swore he went all in. I was completely ignorant, and innocent of any wrongdoing.
Needless to say, I never wore that shirt to school again. I still have it, as it’s an important part of my metal upbringing. It was clear that my teacher wasn’t impressed, and the fact that it was the T-shirt of a metal band didn’t do me any favours. If it wasn’t a hymn, then it probably wasn’t worth singing to her.
Harassment continued to the bitter end. Inside one of the cabinets in the classroom, somebody had stuck a Kiss sticker on the back of one of the doors. It looked like it had been there since the 1970’s, and it probably had been. However I was the only kid in that school in 1985 who liked Kiss, so I was screwed one way or another. As the rest of the class howled, “Mike put it there! He’s the only one who likes Kiss!” I just knew I could not win.
There was one incident that is so surreal that I’m not even sure it actually happened anymore. My memories of it are clear, but I it seems so weird and unlikely. I’m willing to accept the possibility that it never happened at all, and might just be a very vivid dream from back then that has been mis-remembered as an actual event. It’s not impossible, but unless someone else confirms the memory I’m not willing to stand behind this as fact. I’m including it anyway. If anything it illustrates how the whole era felt to a metalhead in a Catholic school.
In my memory it was a chilly, damp fall morning. We were out at recess. The schoolyard was bordered by a gravel pathway now known as the Dom Cardillo trail, named after the beloved former Kitchener mayor, who died in 2013. Parked on the pathway was a white van, and a small crowd of kids was gathered around it. Curiosity must have got the better of me so I went over to see what was going on.
Inside the van were two men, who were preaching the evils of drugs and heavy metal. According to these two guys, the two went hand in hand. Stay away from drugs, and stay away from metal. If you listen to heavy metal, you will be drawn into an evil web of drugs and alcohol, said the two men to the crowd.
This is an assumption that has always pissed me off: metal = drugs. Or metal = evil. Especially among the Catholic crowd, this was the way of thinking. These folks had never bothered to actually listen to the music and lyrics. When Gene Simmons sang in 1981, “I don’t need to get wasted, it only holds me down,” he was being sincere. “All I need is a will of my own, and the balls to stand alone. I believe in me.” Even taken at face value, however, these words did not jibe with what we were being taught in school. We were not taught to exercise our own free will, and to stand on our own. We were told to stand with God, and follow His will. I don’t believe life is that simple. We have brains for a reason and we must use them to do what we believe to be right, for ourselves and for the world around us. Encouraging us to think for ourselves was not in the school curriculum. I gave myself enough credit to know the difference between good and bad. If the music made me feel good, made me feel stronger and more confident, and didn’t hurt anyone, then what was the problem? It probably didn’t help my cause that a lot of rock lyrics encouraged rebellion against authority figures.
The two guys in the van asked the crowd, “Does anyone here listen to heavy metal music?”
Before I knew it, the kids laughed and pushed me to the front of the crowd. I fought against them but I found myself at the front, facing the two guys in the van. The kids were shouting, “He does! He does!”
Face to face with the disapproving guy in the driver’s seat of the van, he asked me, “So you listen to heavy metal?”
“Yes,” I answered quietly.
“So you do drugs then?” he responded.
“No!” I protested, “I don’t do drugs!”
“But you listen to heavy metal music,” responded the man, as if one equaled the other.
I had enough and pushed my way out of the crowd again. I could hear all the laughing behind me. I walked away as fast as I could without looking like I was running. Here I was being branded a druggie based on the music I listened to.
These events happened 30 years ago, and the van incident does not feel real. It feels more like a dream and I’ll probably never know if it really happened or not. It seems too weird to have really happened, but you never know. It’s not impossible, just surreal.
Grade 8 ended on a final, humiliating note. We were all supposed to choose which highschool we wanted to go to. The expectation was that we were to attend the Catholic school. Three or four of us did not, and applied to the public school Grand River Collegiate. That was obviously going to be my escape route. It was a way to get away from the nasty kids who tormented me every day, but it certainly wasn’t teacher approved. She was not happy, at all.
She had already told the entire class that whoever didn’t attend the annual Mount Mary religious retreat would end up on drugs, dead, or both. “Every student I ever had who did not go to Mount Mary grew up to do drugs, or killed themselves,” she told us. Hooray for religious retreats, where music and music-related T-shirts were not allowed.
The day that she handed out our acceptance papers for the highschools, she took one last scornful shot at me. “Shame on you!” she scolded in front of the class. “Not going to St. Jerome’s high school just so you can be with your friends,” she continued. “Shame on you.”
This time, I didn’t care. School was so close to being over it didn’t matter. In a few weeks, she’d have no power over me anymore. There was nothing she could say or do to ever humiliate me again. The bullies would be gone too, off to their own school while I had the chance to make new friends. I wouldn’t have to feel ashamed of the T-shirts I wore, or the bands I liked.
My poor sister had another four years of that school to go, which she dubbed the “Hell Hole” (based on the Spinal Tap song of the same name). Any time we drove by, she’d sing, “Livin’ in a hell hole…” She even ended up with the same damn teacher, who hadn’t changed a bit. When my sister struggled in math, she was publicly chided in class. “Your father is a banker!” shouted the teacher. “How can you not do math? Shame on you!”
There is no shame. Be proud of who you are. Believe in yourself!
I was so frightened I almost ran away I didn’t know that I could do Anything I needed to
And then a bolt of lightnin’ Hit me on my head Then I began to see I just needed to believe in me
Then I, I believe in me And I, I believe in somethin’ more Than you can understand Yes, I believe in me
Then I, I believe in me And I, I believe in somethin’ more Than you can understand Yes, I believe in me
They said, “I didn’t stand a chance” I wouldn’t win no way But I’ve got news for you There’s nothin’ I can’t do
Ain’t no pretendin’ Ain’t no make believe But I’ve got to be the one I gotta do what must be done
Then I, I believe in me And I, I believe in somethin’ more Than you can understand Yes, I believe in me
Then I, I believe in me And I, I believe in somethin’ more Than you can understand Yes, I believe in me I believe in me Yes, I believe in me, yeah
I don’t need no money I don’t need no fame, no I just need to believe in me And I know most definitely
Don’t need to get wasted It only holds me down I just need a will of my own And the balls to stand alone
‘Cause I, I believe in me And I, I believe in somethin’ more Than you can understand Yes, I believe in me
I believe in me I believe in somethin’ more Than you can understand Yes, I believe in me
Yes, I believe in me Yes, I believe in me Yes, I believe in me
Welcome back to GREATEST HITS WEEK! This week we are looking at different, interesting hits albums from various bands. Today we re- visit the Mighty Priest, for the second of a Priest double-shot!
Ever buy a CD for no real good reason? I have all these songs, because I already own every song Priest has ever released. I saw this Judas Priest compilation, from the “Sony Steel Box” collection, at my local Best Buy for a few measly dollars. There are a few artists who have hits albums in this collection, such as Aerosmith. I just wanted one of the steel boxes, so I chose Priest. I chose Priest because of the brief, but interesting track listing. There are some odd choices for a greatest hits disc: “Rock Hard Ride Free”, and “Rock You All Around the World”, for example, instead of “Heading Out to the Highway”, “A Touch of Evil”, “Painkiller”, or other better know singles. Hell, where’s “You’ve Got Another Thing Comin'” or any song from Screaming? You do get two “new” songs from Angel of Retribution. Needless to say, for a 10-track hits CD, it was an interesting selection of songs, so I chose this one. I have only played it once, so it’s time to revisit and assign a rating.
This is where we run into the flaw with these Sony steel boxes — the front cover and back cover art is just a sticker, that wraps around the case. When you open the case, it damages the sticker where it covers the hinge, digging huge creases all over the spine. I’ve opened my copy a couple of times and see what it looks like already? That’s me being careful.
“Breaking the Law” has always worked well in the opening position. Off with a bang (literally; the first sound is a snare drum), we are now off to the races. This Greatest Hits concentrates almost entirely on material from British Steel and after, collecting a lot of Priest music from their simple, straightforward metal period of the 1980’s. There is nothing wrong with that of course, but it lacks the balance that earlier more complex tracks like “Victim of Changes” would have brought to the table. “Breaking the Law” and “Living After Midnight”, both classics culled from British Steel, get the job done on a hit laden note. The sound is fine, as it appears these were lifted from the Priest remasters.
I’m not sure the logic in choosing “Out of the Cold”, a synth-laden slow crawler from Turbo. There is nothing wrong with it of course, it was and remains a stormy fan classic. That’s just it though, it’s a fan classic, not a well known hit that the band play in concert. On a 10 song CD, it seems an odd choice, but it leads well into the dark “Love Bites”. I went through a period of about three days in grade 8 of being completely obsessed with this song. The things I liked about it, such as the choppy rhythms and hypnotic vocals, are still striking today. It also flows perfectly into “Rock You All Around the World”, which unfortunately is pretty much just filler that should have been donated to the Scorpions.
I still think it terms of albums having “sides”, and I wonder if whoever sequenced this CD had the same thought? “Rock You All Around the World” is a great side closer, as it filled that slot on Turbo. Then the next track is the very different “Diamonds and Rust” (live version from Unleashed in the East). It’s as if you have started a new side. Another track from Defenders of the Faith (“Rock Hard Ride Free”) brings the listener back to the 80’s. Although it was not a single, it was good enough to be one. Back to the Turbo album for the third time, “Turbo Lover” is a song that still gets occasional radio airplay. It’s funny how this robotic and very dated song is still loved today. I wouldn’t have predicted that.
“Turbo Lover” is the last of the golden oldies, since the last two tracks are off Angel of Retribution, Priest’s glorious reunion album with Rob Halford after a long solo career. Strange though that the single “Revolution” is not one of these tracks. “Deal With the Devil” was an OK tune, a good heavy album tune that was of the same quality as similar songs from Painkiller. “Worth Fighting For” was excellent – a midtempo quiet rocker that almost borders on ballad territory. This song was a triumph, a really excellent song worth of the Priest canon. Unfortunately in this case, a quiet midtempo near-ballad does not work to close a Priest compilation. It works as a song to build into another song, but here it just leaves you hanging. Sloppy sequencing.
Rating the steel book CD is not a reflection on the songs or the band, just the CD itself. There are too many serious omissions (“Metal Gods:, “Freewheel Burning”, hello!) for it to rate highly. The flawed packaging design is the final nail in the steel box.
Welcome back to GREATEST HITS WEEK! This week we are looking at different, interesting hits albums from various bands. Today we visit the Mighty Priest!
JUDAS PRIEST – The Best of Judas Priest(1978 Gull, 2000 Koch Insight Series reissue)
The abbreviated story: Judas Priests’s first two albums, Rocka Rolla and Sad Wings of Destiny, were released on Gull records. Priest’s first album for Columbia was Sin After Sin in 1977. When they made the move to the bigger label, they lost all rights for their first albums to Gull. The label proceeded to issue and reissue unauthorized compilations of those songs. They even had Rocka Rolla remixed in its entirety by Rodger Bain and reissued in 1981 as part of the double album Hero, Hero.
The Best of Judas Priest was the first exploitive release by Gull, in 1978. It would have been frustrating for the band to be out there promoting the new album, Stained Class (1978) when the unauthorized Best of hit the shelves. Whenever asked about it, Priest have discouraged fans from spending their money on these Gull releases. That was especially true when Best of Judas Priest was reissued again in 2000 by Koch records as part of the “Insight Series”. They even placed a disclaimer on the official Judas Priest site advising fans to stay away from this CD in particular. What really seemed to chap their collective ass was that the “Insight Series” contained a lengthy interview with former drummer John Hinch, who was really in the band for only a short time and was fired due to “lack of ability” (their words).
We at LeBrain HQ have acquired a copy for research purposes!
The Best of opens with 10 minutes of slow sludge from Rocka Rolla in the form of “Dying to Meet You” and “Never Satisfied”. Poor sequencing aside, it is surprising that the up-tempo “One for the Road” is nowhere to be found. Some heat is finally in the kitchen on Joan Baez’ “Diamonds and Rust”, an early unreleased version. This too must have peeved the Priest. This was recorded during the Sad Wings of Destiny sessions, but ultimately left off the album. Not wanting to let the arrangement go to waste, it was re-recorded for Sin After Sin with Roger Glover producing. This earlier version, out the following year, probably confused a few fans who bought both albums. The Sad Wings version is of high quality. It lacks the crispness of the Glover recording, but should be absolutely essential to collectors today. It can be found on a number of releases including Hero, Hero.
“Victim of Changes” was and is a high water mark. It’s actually an amalgam of part of a song Rob Halford wrote (“Red Light Lady”) with a song by original Priest singer and founder, Al Atkins (“Whiskey Woman”). To this day, has Halford ever used his scream more effectively? “Victim of Changes” is nothing less than a desert island classic. “Victim”, and the rest of the songs, all come of Priest’s immortal second album Sad Wings of Destiny.
“Island of Domination” is not a place you want to visit: “We gotta get, we gotta get, we gotta get out of this place. There’s a man with a needle who’s pleading to get to my face.” The speedy metal delight keeps you there anyway. “The Ripper” is a brief but undeniable classic, another highpoint from the Gull years. Finally, “Deceiver” is separated from its first chapter, “Dreamer Deceiver”. It does sound odd without its companion, but for a brief and explosive rock song to end a side of vinyl, it is certainly more than up to the task.
Finally there is the infamous 18 minute John Hinch interview that so upset the Priest camp upon its release. Hinch discusses his history with the band, going back to forming a band with Rob Halford called Hiroshima. Perhaps the guys in Priest were peeved when Hinch recalls playing on the same bill as Judas Priest, who he says were “horrible”. His description of KK Downing as a “strutting lead guitarist [with] long blonde hair,” isn’t complimentary. Ian Hill invited Rob and Hinch to join the band to replace Al Atkins, and their drummer Chris “Congo” Campbell. According to Hinch, they did so reluctantly and with a desire to change the name. This critique turns to praise, especially after Glenn Tipton joined the band to fill out the sound. Perhaps his recollections don’t match those of the band, but it is otherwise impossible to find any other interviews with the drummer from Priest’s first album. If you want a perspective from the drum stool in 1974, here it is. What’s missing is any comment on why he was let go.
Ultimately it is up to the fan to decide where to draw the line on what to buy, and what not to buy. Since the early “Diamonds and Rust” is also on Hero, Hero, one could choose to only buy that release, if they decide they don’t need the Hinch interview. One could even buy both, or neither. Personally speaking, I would have bought this anyway if only for the unique cover art. It is your decision, but The Best of Judas Priest is a decent listen.
RECORD STORE TALES MkII: Getting More Tale #399: Record Shopping in the Sticks
Summers in Kincardine, Ontario in the late 1980s and early 90s were beautiful, but to a teenage me they felt isolated. No phone at the cottage, no cable TV, and nothing that cityfolk would call a record store. We did have a few options. There were places that you could buy music, including one crummy music store that popped up for a brief while. Summertime is made for music, and one of my favourite childhood experiences was listening to brand new tunes in the summer.
We’d be at the cottage for two weeks straight every August, and I would usually pack my entire my tape collection to come with me (oh how my dad loved that). Having all my favourite songs with me meant I’d always have music for whatever mood I was in. Still, nothing could beat the rush of new music! New didn’t have to mean “new” per se; I was collecting the back catalogues of many metal masters too. There was always something to buy that would be brand new to me.
In the very early days, you could buy tapes at the local Stedmans store downtown. Stedmans sold everything from clothes to musical instruments to toys. Like many of these places, they are now closed. It was one store to buy new cassettes, and that is where I picked up Priest…Live! back in July of 1987. The other place to buy tapes at that time was an electronics store called Don’s Hi Fi. White Lion’s Big Game and W.A.S.P.’s Headless Children came from Don’s Hi Fi during the summer of 1989. I couldn’t wait until I got home and played them. We’d rip open the plastic and check out the pictures in the car, waiting to get back and hit play. The following summer, I bought Jon Bon Jovi’s Blaze of Glory at the same store. We would also be able to find tapes in the cheapie bin at places like drug stores, and I picked up The Earthquake Album from such a bin.
Around 1988, an actual music store opened up in Kincardine. It was there that I purchased Painkiller by Judas Priest, and Exposed by Vince Neil. It was a small store and they didn’t have many catalogue items, but you could pick up new releases there and some key older releases such as greatest hits.
Beyond these few stores, you had to get out of town. Kincardine is a small place, but Port Elgin to the north offered a few more options. There was a Radio Shack there with a different selection of tapes. They also had 7” singles, of which we bought a couple on clearance.
L-R Peter, Bob, Mike. Note Peter wearing deck shoes on a deck. He always was the best dresser. Also note my official Starfleet sideburns. Summer 1992
In the summer of ’92 we made several day trips to Port Elgin. My sister and I were headed to a “cards & comics” store that we discovered. One afternoon my sister phoned them up to ask if they had any promotional Star Wars cards? They did – road trip! The first of many happy and successful trips to Port Elgin looking for goodies. (Yes, promo cards are collectible just like some promo CDs.)
On the same trip, we found this grungy record store on the corner of the main drag. Really scummy, really dirty. They bought and sold used tapes and records. My sister brought in a whole bunch of her cassettes for store credit, and walked out with Rod Stewart’s Out of Order and one or two others. My first purchase there was Black Sabbath’s Live at Last. I bought my original copy of Helix’s Wild in the Streets on cassette at that store. The tape glowed in the dark. I’ve never seen another glow-in-the-dark tape before or since! I also picked up Kiss’ Creatures of the Night (original cover) on vinyl, as well as Twister Sister’s Come Out and Play. You might remember that Come Out and Play had that awesome cover with the opening manhole? That was the reason I bought it.
Those stores in Port Elgin are both gone. Don’s Hi Fi still exists in Kincardine, but they don’t sell music anymore. I did buy a pair of earbuds there about five years ago, but things have changed so much. There’s no such thing as “isolation” anymore, not like it felt back then. Today I can sit on the front porch of the cottage, streaming live radio from home straight to the laptop. I used to pack my entire tape collection for the cottage, but now anything I want to listen to, I can search for on Youtube. It is simply amazing how much has changed in the last two decades, and I am sure that in another 20 years it will be just as startlingly different.
As long as I can still listen to my music there, I’ll be happy!
TRAPEZE – You Are the Music…We’re Just the Band (1972 Threshold)
Trapeze in ’72 was:
Glenn Hughes (future Deep Purple) – bass & vocals
Mel Galley (future Whitesnake) – guitar
Dave Holland (future Judas Priest) – drums
Due to the fame that this trio found fame separately elsewhere, Trapeze will be on interest to fans of classic British 70’s rock. Trapeze are a funky soul rock band — picture some of the funkier moments that Deep Purple were into when Tommy Bolin was in the band, and you are in the general ballpark. The very first track “Keepin’ Time” easily could have been on Purple’s Come Taste the Band. Not only is a high quality funk-rock song, but Mel Galley has some serious chops going on!
Personal highlights on this CD for me are the ferocious funk of “Way Back To The Bone”, the soul of “What Is a Woman’s Role”, and the solid rock of “Feelin’ So Much Better Now”. I also need to single out the track “Loser” as a great little lost funk rock gem. One thing is clear to anyone upon first listen: These guys could PLAY. Particularly with Holland and Galley, what they did later really was only the tip of the iceberg that is Trapeze. Hughes is in fabulous voice, at the very peak of his vocal powers, and this is essential listening for fans of the man that the Japanese call “The God of Voice”.
3.5/5 stars. A pleasantly perfect example of great 70’s soul/funk/rock!
RECORD STORE TALES MkII: Getting More Tale #386: ‘The Mighty Priest’ – A Mix CD
In January of 2009, I determined to make another mix CD for my best friend Peter. He really enjoyed them and wanted some more tunes from the LeBrain Library. The theme this time was Judas Priest. We had both been playing the video game Rock Band a lot, and I enjoyed singing lead on the song “Painkiller”, so we played that one frequently. Peter decided that he wanted to check out some Priest, so I worked very hard to make a CD suited to his own personal needs. I set out five constraints to my Mighty Priest mix:
1. Peter only knew three Priest songs: “Painkiller”, “Breaking The Law”, and “You’ve Got Another Thing Comin'”.
2. Peter generally hates slow songs. Therefore, unfortunately, I could not include classics like “Dreamer Deceiver”.
3. I always try to include a variety of tracks from as many albums as I can.
4.Must be limited to a single CD.
5. One rare track – my trademark is always sneaking in a rarity.
So I whittled down the 50 songs I started with to the nice and cozy 79 minutes you see below. Keeping in mind my self-imposed constraints, what would you have done differently?
I sought feedback, and I received feedback. My ever faithful rock compatriots had these words:
Uncle Meat: Well…Michael…valiant effort. It is a good mix of new and old Priest. But…no “Electric Eye”? What is wrong with you? I cant even believe you would make this list without including it. That “Turbo Lover” is on here…and not “Electric Eye”…kinda makes me feel dirty…unloved. And?!?!?! No “Freewheel Burning”? . I’m getting mighty confused Mr. Ladano. No “Sinner”? “Heading out to the Highway”? I know their catalogue is extensive…but the omission of “Electric Eye” especially is very disturbing….
Sarge: No “Metal Gods”? Actually I only ever owned British Steel, so I cant comment on anything. “Metal Gods” was always my favourite on that album.
Andy: I’m going to have to register an alternate opinion entirely, and that is, with any band that’s been around as long as Priest has, and has done as many albums as they have, simply cannot be captured in a “best of” that is only one CD. You just can’t do it – there’s too much good stuff, even disqualifying the “slow” songs like you did. I tried it with Manowar, and ended up with a full CD after their first four albums. I’ll be doing my personal The Best of Manowar, Volume II sometime soon….
So what I would have done differently is this: Go in chronological order, and put in all of the absolute “must have” songs from each album (remembering the rules for your friend, of course). Don’t overlap songs from one album on more than one CD, so you might have to juggle the playlist a little. Then, when CD #1 is full, move on to Volume 2. Eventually, hand over your two (or in the case of Priest, maybe 3!) CDs to your friend, apologizing that you simply couldn’t fit it all onto 1.
Johnny Sixx: What I would have done is include their track “Love Bites”…it’s a gem.
All of them made excellent points, and I think it must be concluded that a truly great single disc Judas Priest collection cannot be made. As Uncle Meat said, I think I made a valiant effort, but 80 minutes is simply not enough time for the Mighty Priest. The next time I attempted to do something like this, I went with Andy’s advice in the back of my head…
JUDAS PRIEST – Battle Cry (2016 Sony)
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