Classic Rock Bottom

Hidden Treasures turn 16 this week.  What an awkward age!  I was 16 in 1981, the eighties just began and the cheese factor hadn't yet been invented, in fact cheesy was cool in 1981 and Mtv was still not seen in very many homes.  I want to hone in on the transition into the early 80's and reconnect with a few of styles happening around those times...

 

Throw away your bell bottoms and lets get started...

 

TITLE: Borrowed Time
BAND: Styx
ALBUM: Cornerstone
YEAR: 1979

Don't look now but here come the eighties!  Do you remember that lyric?  I thought that was so cool.  Still a great track from a band that was still writing and producing some real good rock and roll.  Cornerstone would change Styx forever with the ballad Babe, but we didnt know that yet.

 

TITLE: The Modern Day
BAND: Foreigner
ALBUM: Head Games
YEAR: 1979

This track is voiced by Mick Jones.  I love the opening riff, I remember thinking that Foreigner was turning to a more new wave sound with this track.  Now I Listen to it and I don't hear that anymore.  But its still a really nice track and the riff still works.

 

TITLE: Double Life
BAND: The Cars
ALBUM: Candy-O
YEAR: 1979

My absolute favorite Cars track!  So different, so simple, so damn good!  Tell me this album cover isnt awesome!  I know where Whitesnake got their video ideas now!  I miss this band, and what a shame that we'll never get them back.  R.I.P. Ben Orr... 

 

 

TITLE: I Got A Line On You
BAND: Blackfoot
ALBUM: Strikes
YEAR: 1979

I first seen Blackfoot opening up for Foghat and was hooked.  Then I learned about the Medlockes also.  Cool stuff!  Also, I grew up in a very Native American area so this band went over real big with us.  In fact, the area I grew up in was native to the Blackfoot Indian. So you could probably guess this band had a following there.

 

TITLE: Disco Apocalypse
BAND: Jackson Browne
ALBUM: Hold Out
YEAR: 1980

Did you burn your disco records or did you just say you did?  Don't answer that, I know you kept them and probably re-bought them on CD and then again remastered.  Don't know what that has to do with this song other than that's what the title of it reminds me of.  Good Tune from an always politically charged guy...

 

TITLE: The Kid is Hot Tonite
BAND: Loverboy
ALBUM: Loverboy
YEAR: 1980

So influential at the time it came out, I think it gets lost in rock history because their cheese factor was very high - you know, headbands and butt shots...  But this track really kicked New Wave into high gear and it still hits a nerve with me.

 

TITLE: Only Game In Town
BAND: Red Rider
ALBUM: As Far As Siam
YEAR: 1981

Just when the music scence was getting good, here come another new sound.  Red Rider was a kick in the pants when they came out.  They never got their due, in my opinion.

 

 

TITLE: Take the L
BAND: The Motels
ALBUM: All Four One
YEAR: 1982

(Taken from the Essentials Collection)
OK, I admit that at the time I had a thing for Martha Davis, I thought she looked intriguing and dangerous, a very hot combination for a 16 year old.  While I eventually got over her, I'm sure she can still belt out some killers tunes and this is still a track I really love.

 

TITLE: The Weapon
BAND: Rush
ALBUM: Signals
YEAR: 1981

Signals was a huge issue for hard core Rush fans, this was a major change to their sound.  Admittedly its my least favorite era, but Signals is still a strong release for me.  I like it from top to bottom.

 

 

TITLE: Hear About It Later
BAND: Van Halen
ALBUM: Fair Warning
YEAR: 1981

I wanted to end with my personal favorite from when I was 16.  Fair Warning still holds a place of prominence in my catalog.  The best VH in my opinion.

 

 

 


Being 16 is tough, trying to find your muscial identity in this era was even tougher.  But in the end, the musical styles from this time still influence alot of music now.  One of my favorite times musically without a doubt!

 

Chao!!!!

 

FIREFOX USERS USE THIS LINK...

http://www.podsnack.com/playlists/dbd1ba6d0923f228f7bebe6d2ca79643

 

EMBEDDED PLAYER...

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Scott, I am so psyched to listen to this tomorrow at work. I really, really dig the playlists that capture a moment in time. I was 15 in 1981, so about the same age as you were. And this music left a tremendous impression on me. This is in no way a criticism of what you've included here, because all of your choices are excellent, but my immediate thoughts of this time period place 3 songs in my mind that I wish were on here, maybe as a bonus:

1. Bob Seger - Her Strut (from Against The Wind 1980)

2. Journey - Mother Father (from Escape 1981)

3. REO Speedwagon - Someone Tonight (from Hi Infidelity 1980)

To me these songs would fit perfectly. Anyway, I can't wait to listen to this tomorrow (but I have to).
After Scott's mean comment about this week's MSoTW, I am boycotting this list. I will not listen to it. Instead, I will pull each CD and listen to the songs in the order I want to hear them.

How do you like THEM apples?
So sorry. I didn't mean for it to be mean, I meant it to be silly
It hurt my feelings. Even made me cry a bit.
I sure hope you two make up soon...
Nope, I don't see it happening. However, the next Lost/Forgotten Album post will be dedicated to Scott. The group, the album title....all dedicated to Scott.

On a sidenote, I listened to my own version of this SHT list, in a different order. I liked it. I didn't have the Red Rider album on CD so had to use one of my free Amazon.com downloads to get the song and then used another for the Jackson Browne song since I'm not a JB fan.

I must say, my playlist was quite good.
You know you da man!
That's true. Oh crap, it's YOU!
Okay, got to this first thing this morning. And as I imagined, it was an excellent listening experience. It had some stuff that took me back to that particular time, as well as some stuff I wasn't familiar with (The Cars, Jackson Browne, Red Rider, The Motels and Rush).

Out of those 5, I'd like to comment on The Motels. Of course, I'm familiar with their two big hits (Only The Lonely, Suddenly Last Summer, of which I think the former is a terrific song), but this was new. I liked the clever lyric "take the L out of Lover and it's Over". Maybe I need to check more of this bands stuff out.

As far as that Van Halen track goes, I love that whole album, and it will make an appearance on AOTW soon.

Great playlist Scott.
Okay, it had to happen: A SHT I didn't really like, even the Rush-track is definetly not one of their best, but then it ended with a GREAT Van Halen-number, and everything is forgiven. By the way, I was also 16 in 1981, and the coming AOTW, that I'm a guest-host on, in this week, is a 1981-album, a bit different from this playlist.
Hmmm....any more hints?
It's not a european band. That's about it. Any guesses?

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