FLASHBACK 1981 (again!) ACCEPT, RAVEN & SAMSON.

[Niels (Mod)]

Well, it's my turn on NMC, but since I really have'nt bought any new music since last year, I'm going to do a FLASHBACK instead, AGAIN to my favorite (music)year 1981.


ACCEPT - BREAKER




1. Starlight
2. Breaker
3. Run If You Can
4. Breaking Up Away
5. Down And Out

From Wikipedia:

Breaker is the third album released by the heavy metal band Accept. It was once again recorded at Delta-Studio in Wilster with Dirk Steffens producing, and was the first Accept album engineered by Michael Wagener. Bassist Peter Baltes sings lead vocal on "Breaking Up Again", and the bridge vocal on "Midnight Highway".
After the unsuccessful attempt at commercialism on I'm a Rebel, Accept decided not to allow any more outside people to influence the band. Pulling together in the midst of a very cold winter, the band members concentrated on making the album they themselves wanted to make. Udo Dirkschneider remembers: "Following our experiences with I'm A Rebel we made it our goal not to be influenced musically by anyone outside of the band this time." Udo believes Breaker is among Accept's best records and marks the beginning of the band's greatest era - the album title would later become the name of Udo's own record company, Breaker Records.
Wolf Hoffmann concurs: "Maybe we knew that the old approach from the record before didn't work very well. So we were saying 'fuck it, let's just do what we think is right. Let's not try to be somebody else, let's not try to have a radio hit anymore.'" The lone possible concession to commercial interests was the upbeat rocker "Midnight Highway", which Wolf described as "sort of a semi-commercial attempt" and "a little too happy for my tastes."
Much of the rest of the album is angry and defiant in tone, especially the profanity-laced "Son Of A Bitch". Udo describes that song's lyrics as "absolutely anti record company." Wolf explains why this particular song was the only one to not have its lyrics printed inside the album: "On the initial release WE thought it would be a good idea to just put "Censored" on the liner notes for the song to avoid any controversy. Well, it turns out it caused MORE controversy that way with everyone wanting to know who censored it." An alternate version titled "Born To Be Whipped" was recorded with tamer lyrics. Wolf explains: "We had to change it because the British were so uptight about this kind of stuff that you couldn't possibly release the record over there with a song called Son Of A Bitch."
All compositions are credited to Accept.

From me: The cover of this album, caught my attention in the summer of 1981, and after listening to the first couple of songs, I bought the album. Just like Gordon, I love this album. It IS my favorite Accept-album, even though the best 2 songs, they have made (imo), "Restless and wild" and "Princess Of The dawn", first appeared on the following album. Classic stuff!


RAVEN - ROCK UNTIL YOU DROP



1. Don't Need Your Money
2. Hard Ride
3. Hell Patrol
4. Rock Until You Drop
5. Tyrant Of The Airways

From Wkipedia:

Rock until You Drop is the first full-length album by the British heavy metal band Raven, released in 1981. The album was the first of many heavy metal studio albums issued by British independent label Neat Records. It reached position No. 63 in the UK Albums Chart.
The song "Lambs to the Slaughter" was covered by German thrash band Kreator on their Out of the Dark ... Into the Light EP, added to the re-mastered Terrible Certainty CD in 2000.

From me: Like I read the other day: Raven were best, when they did'nt think, and just played straight out heavy rock'n'roll. They were one of the leading bands in NWOBHM, but this album (imo), is the only one, they made, that's REALLY good. It went downhill after that. They started to think!!


SAMSON - SHOCK TACTICS



1. Riding With The Angels
2. Earth Mother
3. Blood Lust
4. Bright Lights
5. Communion

From Wikipedia:

Shock Tactics is an album by British heavy metal band Samson. It was released in 1981 as the band's third studio album, and singer Bruce Dickinson's last one with the band before joining Iron Maiden.
"Riding With the Angels" is a cover of Russ Ballard.

From me:

This is the second-best album feat. Bruce Dickinson as the lead-singer. The best is of course "The Number Of The Beast", but this album is (imo) better than the rest of the albums, he made with Iron Maiden. In fact, I think Dickinson never sang better, than he did on this album. Paul Samson, band-leader, was NOT a very good guitarist imo, and it was very wise of Bruce Bruce, to join Maiden instead. But this is one mother of a NWOBHM-classic!!!

Do yourself a favor, and listen here:

http://www.podsnack.com/playlists/d15b3348ea42563aff6a58d9fa490928

[Jon]

RAVEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Only you and I like them!

[Scott]

Ive been listening to Raven in the background for bit ...  I predict you may be right, I certainly wont be a factor in making that different.

[Niels (Mod)]

Well, did you like anything else on this FLASHBACK, Scott??

[Scandal 2000]

Good stuff. We talked about Accept the other day but it bares repeating, Accept went on an early to mid 80's run of putting out not good albums, but great albums. Another overlooked band was Riot. I am not talking about Quiet Riot, but Riot. Their first three albums slayed.

 

Speaking of Bruce Dickinson and I agree with your assessment of the Samson release and NOTB. He has put out some solo albums from time to time. If you have never heard them, I highly recommend Accident of Birth and Chemical Wedding.

 

 

[Niels (Mod)]

Glad, you liked it. Yeah, we've talked about Accept a few times now. A few month's back, I did a "special" album of the week, and it was Riot's "Fire Down Under", one of THE best Heavy Rock-albums EVER. 

I will definetly check out the 2 solo-albums, you recommend.

[RJhog (Admin)]

Just listened to Accept.  I ordered Blood Of Nations a few days ago, so this band is on my plate anyway.  As I and a few others have discussed, I'm a big fan of good quality, clean (not to much screaming) vocals.  I've always figured that Accept's vocals would not please me.  However, I definitely enjoyed this selection Niels.  Especially Run Away If You Can and Breaking Up Away.  The latter's vocals are quite pleasing to me, with all the other songs not in any way turning me off.  I know they have a new singer, so it remains to be seen if I'll feel the same about the new album.

[Scott]

Accept...

To me there are two versions of Accept, one thats commercial and one thats not.  This is the not commercial version.  And I like it!  And you can really hear what they were about to become.  Cool album!

 

Raven...

My prediction stands as true, Yuck! 

 

Samson...

I think your right Niels, the guitar is not very impressive, but Bruce is!  The music isnt that bad though.  Earth Mother really felt like it coudl be worked into Maidens Somewhere In Time album.

[RJhog (Admin)]

I'll agree with Scott on Raven.  It's not very good.  The singer reminds me of the guy from The Darkness.

 

I disagree on Samson.  I don't really like it.  The only song I do like is Communion, it's pretty cool.  I don't know Iron Maiden's stuff well enough to compare how Dickinson sounded in Samson as compared to IM.  I do have plans to buy some older Maiden, but the first one I want, Killers, didn't have Bruce on it, at least I don't think it did.

[Niels (Mod)]

You're right: Killers is with Paul D'Ianno.

I'll guess Jon is right then!!

[Jon]

Raven RULES!