Fish, Raingods with Zippos

Fish, Raingods with Zippos (1999-Roadrunner) 

The ex Marillion front man had done a few albums up to this albums release. And I do remember at the time he was having some trouble in the industry. I think that is why the album is on a metal label. Some sort of new start and well listening to the music he has definitely got full creative control here. 

This album is very much in the feel of what Fish has done before but I have to admit it is way more adventurous. Again I wonder if being on a metal label has made him step up a bit. It is not so much metal but his classic rock feel but there are many guest musicians on here and I think all have given this their best. The first track is fantastic and captures the fun of this album. No way pretentious or at trying to put people off, you will either get it right away or it is not for you. 

As the album goes on there is some fantastic studio work in here as well, with Fish himself helping with recording and production by Elliot Ness. This is easily one of the best sounding albums I have ever heard and I really mean that. There is so much going on, with Fish singing and sounding amazing here you have to listen close to all the little bits of guitar, percussion and keyboards. This is a prog fans wet dream, but as I say there is no pretentious music here and many styles are used and done so well you barley notice. 

Take the drum and bass ending 'Rites of Passage' and at times the distorted guitar is more sounding like a tribute to his past works. There are instruments and sounds all over the place, a small sample here and a spoken work passage there. Not one second of the album is filler or even lets you get board. The last track of the album is split into six separate names but really is one full song 'Plague of Ghosts' clocks in at about 25 minutes and I think it may have been split up to look better on the album track listing for the record label. I don't know but it is fantastic. 

With Fish always being associated with the neo-progressive rock style from Marillion many people may write off his music if they were not a fan of his previous work. But this album is a must listen if you like something a little bit different (more so the last track). It is still in his very much down to earth style with lyrics I am sure come direct from inside the man himself. You could read into all the songs so much more if you wanted as it is that deep but you can also take it as a great fun trip in music, for me it is more like a ride at Alton Towers where you get an experience unlike any other ride in any other park. A one off, and those are always worth waiting in a long line for. 

This was never that big a hit but I got it as the metal press had a soft spot for it and I think the metal label was a problem for many of the older fans who could have missed it. But you are now with the internet at the front of the queue, so why not give it a go?

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Raging Violence, Hirax

Hirax, Raging Violence (Metal Blade Records, 1985)

Here we have a missing part of history, with the big four of thrash bands going on to sell millions and make a great living from it. Here we have a band that could easily have slotted into the Anvil documentary as they seem to not get any breaks as well.

This album is the first by the band and what a great start, first up is it really is quite a different album than most thrash bands. Some like Metallica had a very mediocre singer where as say Slayer had a vocalist that really just talked. The closest to this band is Flotsam and Jetsam with a more operatic style vocal. The album is very much in the 80s metal area but for me one of the better examples of thrash metal about. Even more so for the time.

The speed and timing of the music is very different to other metal bands and has a great punk feel to it bit like the Ramones drumming the relentless hitting of the snare drums you could use as a metronome. But it does come over as fresh and with those vocals it hits the spot. The recording even now does sound good considering it was on Metal Blade I doubt there was much money for the bands debut. Near everything sounds clear but with that more live feel, you can even hear the bass guitar (something very unusual for thrash).

With fourteen tracks over 29 minutes I really am not bothering to review each track as it is kind of all the same but here and there are blistering all out solos, way more epic than the other bands of the time. Not so much trying to steal the show but prove they have it as well. Some of the music has that great groove feel you got in the late 80s with Pantera and Faith no More metalers in any rock pub would be happy to hear this album.

The reason I have it here is more a shock to me as I was looking at gigs coming up and there they were playing near me soon. As they only did this and a few EPs back in the 80s before splitting I did get last years album "Immortal Legacy" (and great it is too) thinking I would never see them. But it seems after many false re activations they have managed to finally get to the UK for the first time ever. So an album you may have missed and a live gig I have never had the chance of seeing in one post.

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Black Sabbath, Headless Cross

Black Sabbath, Headless Cross (IRS-1989)

As a big fan of this band I as all fans love the Ozzy stuff and for a great reason. But all those albums done very well and sold quite rightfully in their million is America and beyond.

Next singer was again a favorite in Ronnie James Dio. But again that was a very successful era in the band. After the second 'Dio' album many fans seem to slowly move on. Some may have felt the constant lineup changes making that once fantastic band seem a little corporate and well stale. But by the time the band got to the late 80s the band was very different. New deal with IRS was signed and a real idea for a change in direction.

A great help for me in this album is Cozy Powell, what a fantastic drummer, he played on many other bands but notable for me Rainbow and on the 'Rising' album. He as ever plays a blinder on this album. And thanks to him a new singer was recruited in Tony Martin. The plan by Tony Iommi was to bring back Dio but Cozy suggested Tony Martin. The idea was to have him on rehearsals and well it all went so well this album was made with the three of them and like the old days all writing credits between the band.

There is an air of AOR on this album but it for me it is in that 80s feel, little bit of a hair metal sort of vibe. But those are all quickly trampled on with guitar from Toni Iommi, easily one of the geniuses of music. Great playing and some nice solos here. Not so much a big riff album but an all round classic rock structure.

The classic inro track really shows what this is all about, Occult and Satanic lyrics and references all over the album. There is also a nice mix of all out metal songs and the classic doom style the band invented in ‘Kill in the Spirit World'. one of the first things I heard about this album was the track ‘When Death Calls’ and I never knew the solo was by Brian May, again amazing stuff and it really expands on everything the band used to be but moving it forward to 1988. As I say the bands at the time were hair metal and slowly there was the grunge thing in the early 90s so it is a nice album in the middle of all that. There are some nice touches of keyboards that give the album that occult vibe from Geoff Nicholls and I think his best work with the band.

Produced by Powell and Iommi it shows how much creativity they had and I am glad that there was no others in the studio as the sound may well have been watered down for that 88 sound.
For me the best Sabbath albums are the first six then this one then the Dio stuff so there really is some great quality here. Well receved at the time by critics but on IRS it really never sold bundles or even got people buzzing at the band. If you are a fan of Sabbath or like many a big fans of the Ozzy/Dio era and and have not heard this it really is a cracking album and fully deserves to be in your collection.

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Johnny Cash, Ragged Old Flag

Johnny Cash, Ragged Old Flag (Columbia-1974)

Mr Cash had up till now some big selling albums. And one of them the 'At Folsom Prison' for me is one of the best live albums ever recorded. The live album was the second of live recordings from inside a prison. But those two albums were so successful I really can't put them in here so I have chosen this one. 

And a good choice I would think, this album was his first ever album where he wrote all the material himself. That is quite unusual for country back in 1974 and a kind of gutsy move. Not only that he did also have quite a political subjects included on the album. Again not the sort of thing you get that often in mainstream/radio music never mind country.

Title song 'Ragged Old Flag' is a spoken word tribute to patriotism. Released as a single it really shows how good a story teller he is. Back when he was young he would write poems and you can tell he loved a good story. Written during the Watergate scandal many Americans were questioning what they country had really done. 

Other songs have the classic man in back themes as he deals with working in jobs with long hours 'All I Do is Drive' and jobs where promotion offers very little in reward 'King of the Hill'. He delves into environmental subjects with ' Don't Go Near the Water' questioning where the fish are going and how clean the water may well be upon getting to the sea. Although the subjects for the songs can be regarded as being negative the album is helped with the inclusion of the Oak Ridge Boys. Mr Cash for me had one of the most unique voices in the world and on this album the crystal clear production does him justice but the Oak Ridge Boys give this some volume and wealth. 

This album is a great start for anyone who is just getting into Johnny Cash as it is a classic country album. Filled with messages and content and made more special as it is all his own (Bar 'I'm a Worried Man' co written with his wife June). The whole album is from his experiences and understanding. As I mentioned the two prison albums near the end of the album 'Please Don't Let Me Out' is about a prisoner who fears being released. Or does he simply think he has more freedom in prison? After all they then have to get a job and work for the man before dieing 'Pie in the Sky'. 

Many who are not used to country may dislike the title song but I love it, remember country music was the first style of music to really rebel like the punks did in the later 70s people had to break away from the so called proper way to play music. And like many punk bands this album is quite simple in structure but the content is what makes you think. As the pistols sang God Save the Queen a few years before Johnny had Ragged Old Flag out. Both to me are similar and can be taken by each of us differently. That to me is good songwriting.

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Whomp That Sucker, Sparks

Whomp That Sucker, Sparks (RCA-1981)

Most people into music know Sparks well due to the gold album Kimono My House but they did keep on going after that album and done some great albums. So much so it is hard for me to single one out.

But I have here is one I think could have done more in sales. Done at Musicland Studios in Germany the band seem to change the sound a little. Going back to a more rock sound and having Reinhold Mack producing is a great addition as he was now working with the likes of Queen and a great all round studio engineer and programmer. Ideal to now bring back a more rock sound to the brothers sound.

First track "Tips for Teens" you can't help but enjoy the all out pop tune and wonder why it was not on the radio every day all the time. It makes you want to buy dance shoes and give it a go. "Funny Face" also feels great and that rock sound is now here with the track showcasing some nice guitar work. Both songs were released as singles and done nothing much at all. Not sure why they seem to just miss the mainstream as they both would have fitted in well with the new wave sound that was hitting the airwaves in the early 80s.

"Upstairs" brings in that nice synthesizers sound that you have heard so many times before. The intro alone makes me pinpoint Musicland studios as I have heard it before. The music has always got some great lyrics from the Mael brothers. At times they come across as very repetitive and no real direction but listen closely.

"I Married a Martian" is a cracking song and so catchy again radio hit all over it and a great title so much so I can see why bass player Leslie Bohem went on to have a successful screen writing career. "Suzie Safety" sounds a bit like the theme tune to a kids show but again all those pop hooks keep the music fun. The album has a nice all rounded production and never sounds too polished. Last track "Wacky Women" should have been out as a single or at least had a crazy video made for it. Grab that comb and sing along to it before a night out. Plenty of drums and bass to keep the toes moving, I love this track!

So there you go I managed to choose a Sparks album and I fear in a few weeks (or seconds) I may change my mind but a great reason here is this album was released in the US under RCA but there was no other big deal in Europe or the UK so it was put out on other labels there. That could have been the mistake that stopped any real sales as the promotion of the band and album would have been hard to tie into each areas for selling. Still it did chart in America (Just) and done well in France where the band enjoyed a high level of success. But this album for me and in 1981 should have done very well in the UK and has Top of the Pops songs all over it. Remember those days you see an act on that show and instantly buy the single the next day? Well why not make up for missing it and give it a go now.

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Eddie And The Hot Rods - Life On The Line

Eddie And The Hot Rods - Life On The Line (1977-Island)

The Rods as this band were known as for their first and only top ten hit single and it is track one on this album. "Do Anything You Wanna Do" is an all-out classic punk anthem. With it coming out in the summer of 77 and a switch in sound from the rawer first album you could credit this song and album as the first real punk pop style music. Those bands that came out in the 90s were really just recreating this album for much of the time. But as the first track shows they just have something raw and inspiring in them.

But the single is no one off, as the album has a really nice production job and also was on a decent size record label in Island. Time in the studio is used well and can be heard in “Quit This Town” great riffy guitars and catchy vocals from the single continue, some melodies are even here to show you this band mean business. Unlike many punk bands of the time you really can hear the band play on this album and for me the drums are the winner. A sound like that really can stand tall after so many years and it makes this album sound great over 30 years later. “Telephone Girl” even lets you hear some clear bass lines, not quite at the level of some of the rock greats but it is a nice sound and one that reminds me there is more to playing in the right way.

“Life On The Line” is the title track and a great one with a nice screeching solo in the middle. I think even some AOR fans could switch to this album as there is so much on offer if they are happy to listen carefully. Not so much of the stage posing on offer as punk posturing in a way. It is a sound and feel of a pub rock band who know exactly how to turn a room of drinkers into fans. And that is a great skill, “(And) Don't Believe Your Eyes” feels like a bit of a slower song. More of a sing along song as the hit single was.

But remember how I say this is kind of the first punk pop style album? Well there is a great instrumental on here as well. As the album was released on vinal it was on the b side track one of the album and I am sure that was done for a reason. Make you double look to see if it is the same album? Joke aside “We Sing....The Cross” is a great track. “The Beginning Of The End” continues that negative style of the album and it is hard to ignore even the cover is a big statement. Not sure if it is to do with the record deal and music industry or just an off day. But it is again catchy with real lyrics and over 8 minutes the track on its own is more than most punk bands total output.

So why did the band not make it? I think it was over saturation of the punk market at the time and most really would not have seen much past a punk band here. Such a same as they are a great rock n roll band and this is a really catchy album with great tunes. It feels so much more mature and even now it is a shock to see it was made in 77. Took many punk bands into the post punk and early 80s to move the sound along and they done it in months.

Twitter: @29xthefun

The Clash, Sandinista!

The Clash, Sandinista! (1980-CBS)

I was never a big fan of the Clash, I do like them and love the first album. I also have a lot of respect for the band as they really did include so many styles of music in every album they did. And that ties into this album in a big way.

The band made it big and way bigger than most punk bands collected together. But it never took away their punk mentality. Each album was full of great tunes and also very important political and every day subjects. This album has even been named after the troubles in Nicaragua taking the name of a political party in that country.

But the album is a first here and also something very rare in music. It is a triple album, and I do mean three LPs. The album fills up all six sides of the three slabs of plastic and I feel it is filled well. The story goes it was made three disks due to Bruce Springsteen putting out his the River album as a double and the music world creaming themselves over that. So a challenge in a way. Both artists really have no problems with each other and this reviewer looks at the River as one of the bosses top three so we all win here.

The album is no real departure from previous but one inclusion unique to it is all four member take lead vocals at some point. Also some tracks are there twice with the second being a Dub version. Sounds like some fillers here but it does seem to work. Now here is where respect is due, the band made a deal to have the album out at £5 so the punters could get it at the same price as other albums. This would have hit the bands finances and pretty much have robbed them of any royalties. So it was a big gamble and looking at sales it was a bad one for the band.

Only gaining a silver (60,000) units in the UK the album was certified gold in the US. So total sales in America must have been about 175,000 as the certification on multiple records in the US includes each disk as one sale. I feel it should have sold more and the marketing side of me sees it as a value for money buy as well. We have all purchased that soundtrack album in a supermarket as it has all the hit songs you like, cheaper than buying each individually eh?

Even the albums singles failed to do much "The Magnificent Seven" being the only top 40 hit in the UK. A great song and full of fun as was "Hitsville U.K." a great song that really shows how good the band were at writing pop music with a great world music feel. For me the album has the best sound out of all the bands albums, recorded and mixed by Bill Price he would have made sure all the music was recorded properly and that is not easy including multiple session players for things like trumpets, saxophones and harmonicas over two studios.

By todays standards artists think nothing of making an album run over 60 mins but back then a triple album was a real big thing and very rare. I hostly know of no band that done it successfully. The album has for some people filler tracks. Like "Career Opportunities" sung or rather worded by Mickey Gallagher's two sons, Luke and Ben it is an odd thing to do but it really shows how far punk had went from 76. Before the band would never have used valuable time in the studio like that but times changed in the punk world so fast.

The three disks do have a little different feel with the first full of the singles and fun, second and third feel similar but the last is way more experimental and it could have been a kind of side project in a way. But at the time the band sort of marketed the 3LP as a 2LP with a bonus 12" so looking at the last album as a bonus is a good thing. But still a cracking album and for me time has served it very well.

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