Classic Rock Bottom

We've been puttin' playlists together for quite some time. I've got a bunch of rotating themes as go-to's and we've done a ton of one off topics. But this week we're trying something new yet again. You know those "Essentials" compilations that you see all over the 5 dollar bins and maybe even in your Amazon recommendations? Well, I'm going to post some essential album - bit of a twist on the theme and a bit of a shift of focus from tracks/themes to hidden treasure albums. Sounds fun to me, so I’m adding this idea to my theme bucket and it will pop-up every now and again, heck I may even do two or three in a row just to get a good feel for how this might work... 2 albums, 2-3 tracks from each album per post to give you a taste of why I think you should own it (if you don't already). That’s the first swing! Let’s hope it’s not a miss…


Enjoy!


PLAYLIST --> http://www.podsnack.com/sgabbert/a1k86ncc

Axe
Offering
1981

1 - Rock 'n' Roll Party In The Street
2 - Burn The City Down
3 - Now Or Never

Kicking off with their raison d'etre "Rock 'n' Roll Party in the Street," Offering proved to be the moment of glory for Florida's Axe. That single remains a great slice of heartland party rock, and the rest of the record ably falls in line. While the quaint "Video Inspiration" berates artificial imagery, "Jennifer" serenades a screen star; but Axe doesn't let such cerebral quandaries get in the way of booty-shaking boogie like the smoking run-through of Montrose's "I Got the Fire" (later covered by Iron Maiden and Rest in Pieces) and the summer-in-the-city riot selection "Burn the City Down." "Holdin' On" falls in the ol' reliable "love 'em and leave 'em" category while "Now or Never" is the kind of blatant Top 40 bid heavy bands used to sneak onto records that resulted in the twilight era of AOR, which backfired into groups attempting to be as intense as their album artwork and spurning the radio. Axe offers an innocent, innocuous, and endearing escape, conjuring muscle cars and convenience stores; thus these sincere soldiers of the '80s delete bins deserve preservation on CD.

Scorpions
Animal Magnetism
1980

4 - Hold Me Tight
5 - Lady Starlight
6 - Animal Magnetism

Wether AllMusic agrees or not, this is must have IMO...

Although Animal Magnetism contains such classic songs as "The Zoo" and "Make It Real," the album is somewhat disappointing when compared to its predecessor, Lovedrive. The well-written songs on this album end up saving it from total disaster, and it's obvious the band wasn't sure what to exactly put on this record -- many of the songs sound like the work of some other rock group and simply don't blend together as they should. Singer Klaus Meine, known for his excellent vocal performances, sounds bored and just plain overshadowed. Although far from bad, Animal Magnetism isn't a highlight of the Scorpions' career.

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I remember both albums from back then. I never bought any of them. I can't remember, if I've heard the Axe-album, but I think so. The Scorpions-album I've heard, but I was never that impressed by Scorpions, and much lesser these days.

AXE- You guys are kind of stuck in the 80's. I'm not, and I have much more respect for albums released in the early-mid 70's. Off course there's crap from that periode, as there are great albums from the 80's. This is not really one of them. It reminds me of Survivor or something like that. Another band, I never was interested in at all. It's not bad music, but I don't really like going back to where I was musically in....1982-85. Only to albums, I loved at that time. If I saw an album in say, 1983, that still had titles like "Rock And Roll Party In The Street" or "Burn The City Down", I would had avoided it. This is from 1981, though, and at that time, I was listening to NWOBHM. Not american AOR. Sorry, not my scene at all....like NIN for you, I guess.

SCORPIONS - Well, I used to buy Scorpions'albums, well 2 or 3, and I even went to a Scorpions-concert in January 1989.

First track on this on, Meine sounds like Dan Macafferty, or how you spell that. It's better than Axe, but as I said, if ever I was somewhere near being a fan, it's looooong gone. I WAS an Accept-fan, but only till 1984-85. I never liked Meine's voice, and the songs are too simple, just like in UFO's case. Scorpions were masters of the rock-ballad, and I wouldn't mind, if a friend of mine put this album on. Lady Starlight is a bit too long for a ballad, though. I'm bored, like Meine. And the last track doesn't make me change my mind. Never was, never will be a Scorpions-fan. Now I will listen to the new Haken- and Radiohead-albums, and forget about the 80's for a while, until one of you reminds me again.

Not stuck, but appreciative of good music, some of its pretty timeless.  I will admit to Axe having a sentimental value for me and maybe that wont fly well with the other two listeners on here either, but I think its a classic.

And this Scorpions album also has some sentimental value for me.  I too think songs can be too simple but while these may fit that category they do rock, and their not cliché.  So that qualifies as a jam band for me, that and I cant get past how good these 50th anniversary discs are...  So its spinning constantly around here lately. 

NIN?  Theyre not much of anything but an intentional assault on people.  Not really art, mostly piss and vinegar wrapped in experimental noise.

I can assure you that this was not as difficult for you to listen to as NIN was for me to listen to...

Excuse me?

The "wont fly well with the other two listeners on here either" tidbit has my mind boggled.

Are you including moi in that statement? If so, Jon is not happy.

Jon has always liked Offering. Nemesis not so much.

Jon has this Axe album on cassette and CD and did have it on vinyl way back in the 80's.

Jon guesses you might be "right" since he also has V, 20 Years From Home and Axeology and believes he mentioned some time ago that Axeology contained re-recordings of some songs (as does 20 Years From Home).

Jon remembers how a radio station used to play that song every Friday, just to get you in the mood.

Jon wonders what Scott's problem is.

As for Animal Magnetism, I wonder what's up with that album cover. I also played this A LOT in the early 80's, so much so that I got tired of it. I had to lay off, man, and now I like it again. I mean, I played this A LOT.

I think the album blends together nicely. Allmusic sometimes gets things wrong (kinda like Scott).

However, for a Scorpion hidden treasure album I would have to go with Savage Amusement. There's something about that album I've always enjoyed. 

Of course I can't leave without mentioning Playing To Win by LRB and Brother Where You Bound by Supertramp.

Jon was not totally amused by this pile o' SHT.

P.S. Jon was bathing the cat and remembered that he featured both Offering and Nemesis as L/F selections on that site that should never be mentioned. That would be at least 281 albums ago.

Jon is now TOTALLY NOT AMUSED.

So we agree!!!  Sweet!

RARP - I really like the piano and the way the guitar kicks in and kicks it up a bit.  But the funny thing is, the lyrics feel out of place for me.  The tone and feel of the song screams a more serious subject to me (not that partying isn't a serious subject for some).  Other than that little issue, it's a cool song.  I believe you've posted it before.  I'm guessing it's a favorite...

Burn - That little running guitar riff is way cool.  The guy has a good voice, so that should not be the reason they never took off.  So far, this song and the previous one feel like they beg to be heard in the night air.  Does that make sense?  You know, riding around at night with the windows down.  

Now Or Never - Elvis cover?  Just kiddin'.  This has a great early 80's feel.  It is a stab at a radio hit.  But that doesn't bother me at all.  Still get the night time feel.  It's just a vibe these songs have.

I have this album, but it's on vinyl.  I do think I've transferred it to my computer, so I'll have to check it out.  I like what I'm hearing here.

Hold Me Tight - A very nice start for this song.  I think Klaus is a very good singer, but this doesn't feel like a good key for him.  Just a bit too high if you ask me.  But musically, it's cool.  It might feel better to me in the context of a full album.

Lady Starlight - This one is a better fit for him vocally.  I really like the vocals on the chorus.  The guitar solo is kind of weird.  Doesn't fit.  Oh well, that's just an opinion.

Animal Magnetism - The proverbial title track.  Sounds like it's gonna be nasty (in a good way) at the beginning.  Sounds very heavy, that guitar.  But the song itself is not really developing for me.  The best thing about this song to me is the lead guitar.  All the rest is forgettable.

I own this album too, but I've never listened to it.  I like your picks for the Axe album better, but I may try to spin this soon too.  It's worth a listen.  Good job bro.

Let's see, how 'bout an essential album (for me) from the 70's...Paul Stanley (1978)...from the 80's...Thunder (Andy Taylor)...90's...Pull (Winger)...2000's...Southeastern (Jason Isbell).  These would not be big sellers so they should fit your column well.  Also, that last one isn't exactly classic rock, but it's one hell of an album...and I'm going to see him this coming Tuesday night!

Also, I like both of those album covers.

Well, that sounds fun: One essential album from each decade, let's see:

60's: The White Album

70's: Physical Graffitti

80's: British Steel

90's: Superunknown

00's: Songs For The Deaf

its been decided!  Next week will be 2 albums from the 60's, 70's, 90', or 00's...

Look what else I found while cataloging my vinyl...

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