Hidden Treasures - Pre-Power Ballad Power Ballads

[Scott]

No idea how this list materialized other than a chance hearing of the old Styx hit "Lady". But not even in that moment did I think about a SHT list. You could say there wasn’t SHT to be found anywhere, just a good old ballad that I enjoyed the SHT out of. Then as I was sitting here one evening, I stumbled across another old ballad and that’s when it hit me! Power ballads existed before they were actually called Power Ballads! So I sought out some really old ballads that seemed to fit the template of a Power Ballad but weren’t actually Power Ballads because that name hadn’t been dreamt up yet. Get it!?   Yup, its Pre-Power Ballad Power Ballads week.


Yes this is how I choose to start 2016, and yes if you listen I know you'll enjoy this ...


PLAYLIST --> http://www.podsnack.com/CA69EFD9E8C/a1cm6pm9

	April Wine Stand Back 1975 1 - I Wouldn't Want To Lose Your Love After a string of inconsistent albums dotted with promising tracks, April Wine got it together in the album format on 1975's Stand Back. This album found the group hitting a workable balance between pop songcraft and hard rock guitar power and effectively distilling it into a series of tight songs that rock out as they deliver pop hooks a-plenty. It starts on an up note thanks to "Oowatanite," an effectively arranged rocker featuring a fire-alarm sound effect. It became a hit in the band's native Canada and quickly became a permanent fixture in the band's live set list. Other potent tracks on Stand Back include "Cum Hear the Band," a languid but guitar-laden track about the joys of seeing a band live with an effective sing-along hook in its chorus, and "Victim of Love," a steamy rocker that puts forth its tale of unrequited love with plenty of scorching guitar work. Stand Back also played up Myles Goodwyn's penchant for the power ballad on "I Wouldn't Want to Lose Your Love" and "Tonite Is a Wonderful Time to Fall in Love," two memorable songs that effectively underscored their delicate ballad melodies with layers of restrained but powerful electric guitar.
	Chicago III 1971 2 - What Else Can I Say Once again, the group couples that with material worthy of its formidable skills. In the wake of the band's earlier powerhouse successes, Chicago III has perhaps been unrightfully overshadowed. The bulk of the release consists of three multi-movement works: Robert Lamm's (keyboards/vocals) "Travel Suite," Terry Kath's (guitar/vocals) "An Hour in the Shower," and James Pankow's (trombone) ambitious and classically influenced "Elegy." "What Else Can I Say" reveals much more of the band's fusion beyond that of strictly pop/rock. The supple and liberated waltz bops around the playful melody line and is further bolstered by one of the LP's most elegant brass arrangements as well as some equally opulent backing vocal harmonies.
	UFO Force It 1975 3 - A Million Miles Michael Schenker and Phil Mogg really started to find their groove as a songwriting team with their second album together (and fourth UFO release overall), Force It. In fact, the last remaining folk and space rock tendencies that had stolen much of Phenomenon's thunder are summarily abandoned here, as the group launches itself wholeheartedly toward the hard rock direction that would make them stars. The first step is taken by Schenker, of course, who confidently establishes the aggressive, biting guitar tone that would define all the releases of the band's glory years. The punchy single "Love Lost Love" sounds tailor-made for the American market and acoustic ballad "High Flyer" is quite good, despite taking a dip in energy. But things only really start to gell on the album's second half.
	Styx II 1973 4 - Lady For Styx II the Chicago-based quintet continue much in the same vein as their eponymous debut. The primary difference was the inclusion of the Dennis DeYoung power ballad "Lady" -- which catapulted the combo into the Top Ten pop singles survey at an admirable number six. The collection was their first to rely entirely upon band-penned originals, kicking off with the rousing "You Need Love." The performance sounds similar to Queen's earliest sides, especially James Young's commanding vocals which provide a distinct and dramatic quality. The aforementioned "Lady" is equally dynamic, contrasting the delicate and ethereal introduction with the comparatively emphatic conclusion.

[Jon]

So sad that you couldn't find something better than "Napoleon Dynamite". Not a good way to start off the new year, if you ask me.

I dunno, but that "power ballad' term just seems so negative to me. It supposedly started with one "metal" band and sold a bunch so everyone jumped on the bandwagon even though almost all hard rock/metal bands had done a ballad or two. With these picks, I just consider them mellow tunes. All these bands had mellow songs on all their albums, so it shouldn't come as a surprise.

You know, you could squeeze out a SHT on songs that include hand clapping. But, you won't be able to use this April Wine song. You would have to find others. Oh, but you can find something else on this album when you have a SHT about album covers with a cannon on it! I know, I am very helpful.

Chicago III is a really good album, but so were most of the early 70's albums. I think I listened to this recently. Maybe I didn't. I just don't know.

Don't understand all the faucets on the cover of "Force It". Just doesn't make sense. I wouldn't be surprised if UFO had a monkey on a cover. Or a cover with balls on the faces of a couple members of the group, except for Michael Schenker who would probably complain. 

I remember buying Styx II, think it might have been a re-release or something. It did have a sticker (maybe) stating that it featured "Lady". I didn't like the album back then, except for "Lady", but now I can accept it even though I haven't listened to it in quite awhile. 

Would have been a swell SHT except for ND.

 

[Scott]

ND and I have something in common, and its not Ligers or Tater Tots (Well kinda like Tater Tots but not totally)...  So I used him.

Of course these are mellow tunes, because there was no such thing as Power Ballads when they were released, see you did get it!  And we've had the Faucet/ForceIt discussion once before at least.  I get it, but will the other listener?  hmm.....

Styx II has actually held up pretty well, its got some good prog on it and that cant be bad especially DeYoung Prog!  Wish that never went away...  But oh well..

[Niels (Mod)]

1. I never have heard much April Wine. I know the name of the band from waayy back, but I don't know anything about the band. This is a nice 70's ballad, and I do prefer the 70's ballads to the soppy 80's ballads, very much so. The best of those was Voices by Cheap Trick imo. I like this one, though.

2. Hmmmm.....doesn't sound like the Chicago I know, and like. I haven't heard much "old" Chicago, and this song doesn't really make me wanna check it out. Definitely not as good as AW, but not bad. It's still the sound of the 70's, and I dig that. "Tonight, tonight, tonight.." reminds me of some other song, and no it's not "tonight" by CT I'm thinking about. Oh, I remember now:

3. Here we go again. I've said many times, that I don't really care about UFO. They are just not very good imo. And this song doesn't make me change my mind. Not a good singer, not very good songs/albums, and I'm not impressed at all by any of the musicians. I know this one. I can hear that coming to the chorus. 

4. Now, Styx is another story. They won me over a couple of years ago. They have a "City Boy"-sound, that I like, but it's mostly their rock-tunes, that I like, but this do gets a bit "rocky" around the chorus. Not much City Boy in this tune, though, but it's easily the second-best song here, maybe the best? Nah, April Wine wins this round.

Good start, my friend.

[Scott]

Never heard the Shadows and I can hear your Chicago association, but only barely.  Interesting tune you posted...

Someone should post a prog playlist of only old Styx tunes.  Hey! Maybe that should be me!!

[RJhog (Admin)]

Got to this yesterday.  I can, without a doubt, say that Lady by Styx is the most familiar song here for me.  It's really weird how it didn't really do anything until it was re-released.  Back at that time, I had no idea what it meant for a song to be re-released.  I just know I thought this was a killer ballad, and I still do.  

The UFO song is really nice too.  I never got into UFO when I was younger, though I wish that I had.  I feel like I missed a lot of good music.  I have the vast majority of their studio releases now, but I'm still not familiar enough with them to know what song is from what album.  

The Chicago song is interesting.  I don't think it's all that great (it's certainly not bad), but I have begun to feel this urge to pick up some of Chicago's early stuff.  I only have one album (17 I think) and a greatest hits disc.  But I'd really like to pick up at least three or four of the earlier ones.

I actually have more April Wine albums than Chicago albums.  But I feel more familiar with Chicago, probably because they had so many hits.  But April Wine seems to be a pretty good band as well.  I do like most of what I hear.  Maybe it's time to spin the albums that I do have.

I like the theme and your picks for the week Scott.  I enjoyed listening to this yesterday.

[Scott]

That April Wine album is a fine one, you could say its fine Wine! 

If early Chicago is on your list start with the debut album, its freaky cool! Then go straight to VI, VII, X and XI