VIDEOS OF THE WEEK: SAXON Special

[Niels (Mod)]

VOTW - SAXON Special

Even though I now prefer the classic bands from the 60's and 70's, once I was a major fan of some of the original NWOBHM-bands, like SAXON. When I found out, there was a "new movement" in rock-music in the beginning of 1980, the first cuople of bands I heard about was Iron Maiden and Judas Priest. A few months later in the summer of 1980, I got to know two other bands: Def Leppard and Saxon. What was so great about those 4 bands, was that even though, they played the same kind of Heavy Metal, they didn't sound like each other, not one bit. Unfortunally for Saxon, they couldn't keep the flame high, and 1980-81 was the only couple of years, that they really was as great as the other 3 bands. I saw Saxon live twice: In 1983 and 1984 (the latter was because one of my friends at that time was a MAJOR Saxon-fan, even after they released the dreadfull "Crusader" in 1984).

WHEELS OF STEEL

"Wheels Of Steels" was the first Saxon-album, I bought in 1980. The album received very positive reviews by critics and is today regarded as being a classic metal album helping to define the genre. Canadian reviewer Martin Popoff regards Wheels of Steel as a "qualified classic" and "one of really two or three of (NWOBHM) building blocks"; it is "a record on a mission, willing to take responsibility as spokesvinyl for legions of English punters with a thirst for regular metal guys".The album eventually went on to achieve Platinum status in the UK.This is just a bit of the whole track, and therefor there's 6 instead of 5 video's this week.

747 (Strangers In The Night)

Also from WOS, "747 (Strangers in the Night)" is about a power cut that forced planes in New York to remain in ascent in 1965 with the power outage provoking a Scandinavian flight to detour to Kennedy airport in the dark. A true classic Saxon-song, which they (also) still play live (though these days, there's not that many left of the "original" band, but Biff (the singer and "face" of the band) is still there.). This video is from a live-video/album they made in 1983, and it was on this tour, I saw them the first time around.

HEAVY METAL THUNDER

One of the few bands, that released two classic albums within the same year. But not only within a year, but 4 months after WOS, Saxon released "Strong Arm Of The Law", which is my favorite Saxon-album. Can you name other bands, that have released 2 classic albums within 4 months??! "Heavy Metal Thunder" is an excellent opener to "Strong Arm Of The Law". Listening to it now, and I feel like 15 again. Eduardo Rivadavia of Allmusic gave the album a positive review, rating it four and a half out of five stars. He called it "equally timeless" to the band's previous album, Wheels of Steel and commented that "all the right ingredients pretty much fell into place for Saxon on this amazing record, and though it lacked as many clear-cut hits as its predecessor, Strong Arm of the Law‘s unmatched consistency from start to finish makes it the definitive Saxon album in the eyes of many fans and critics.

DALLAS 1 PM

The probably best track from SAOTL. This is a live version from probably the mid-80s', my guess would be 1986. SAXON had two excellent lead-guitarists, but not many know their names (Paul Quinn and Graham Oliver), but they were just as good as Tipton and Downing from Judas Priest imo. They were playing very melodic guitar-solo's, you know the ones you actually can sing along to. And the song is...well, it doesn't take much brainsells to figure out, what it's about.

PRINCESS OF THE NIGHT

Denim and Leather is the fourth studio album by English heavy metal band Saxon released in 1981. The album was certified Gold status in the U.K. This was the last album with the classic line up of Saxon, as drummer Pete Gill would leave the band due to a hand injury, later joining Motörhead; this was also seen as the last of their triptych of classic albums, but imo the start of the end for the band, being one of the great 4. But "Princess Of The Night" is a good track. And The Band Played On" was another one. Actually I got that song on single a few months before DAL was released, so I was a bit tired of that song, when the album came.

POWER AND THE GLORY

From the album of the same name, released just around the first time, I went to my first Saxon-concert. Even though, I wasn't as big a fan anymore, I remember, I bought a sweatshirt with the Saxon-logo, and I loved it so much, that I used it on and off for the rest of the 80's. It WAS too small the last couple of years :-) A retrospective AllMusic review by Eduardo Rivadavia gave the album three out of five stars. Rivadavia criticised the mixing, saying that the album "sounds as though it was recorded in a tin can, albeit a very, very large tin can" eliminating the "big, in-your-face, and gritty" sound heard on the band's past albums. He also criticised the material itself, saying that "despite a few sparks generated by "Redline," "Warrior," and the proto-thrashing "This Town Rocks," only the anthemic title track ultimately showed enough staying power (and, errr, glory) to earn a frequent slot in Saxon's live repertoire".

Bottomline: SAXON were true pioneers in Heavy Metal, made two classic albums, that stands the test of time, had two great guitarists that also played some excellent riffs, and a charismatic frontman (yeah, he was ugly, but no one cared back then, because HM was music for "men", just like soccer was a "men's game"), and they were probably a great inspiration for the guys making the movie "Spinal Tap" (especially the bass-player, Steve Dawson).

[Scott]

What you've posted here is all new to me!

Wheels of Steel...  ACDC feel for sure and least the bass line is straight off any song Cliff Williams played on!  Thats a good thing!  Not sure why this band totally escaped my radar, I know of several friends from my youth who got into them.   Interesting that you note the bands that were introduced to you from the NWOBHM movement, for me it was similar just a different list of bands...  Def Leppard for sure (even though they don't like being lumped in with NWOBHM), Iron Maiden for sure, and Priest never really broke here until British Steele even though Hell Bent for Leather was my first taste of them.  Back to Saxon... comparing the bands I just listed its now easier for me to understand why they never hit my radar!

Strangers In The Night...  The mix is off on the video, the lead guitars are turned down too low.  This one falls kinda flat for me, the chorus is uninteresting and there's not enough guitar work to carry it.

Heavy Metal Thunder ...  I cannot name another band who released an album within 4 months of each other.  Im not sure about this tune, sounds under cooked, rushed...  Maybe thats the result of releasing albums within 4 months of each other?

Dallas 1pm...  Has to be about a bbq lunch, right?  ok maybe not, but if your ever in Dallas you gotta get the bbq!  Seriously, I do love a nice melodic guitar solo, but here again, the main riff falls into the monotone  range.  Good song, not great ...

Princess of the Night...  Denim and Leather is the album that broke through here (I believe).  This is much better riff-wise but the chorus doesn't inspire me to love this.

Power and the Glory ...  Was wondering if they ever a proper Mtv style video.  Here it is!  Not sure what the point is, but the tune is good.

These videos give me a great sense of this band, and I would say at face value I'd likely pass, but maybe a live experience would help me!  Another fine and informative post!!!

[RJhog (Admin)]

Strangers In The Night>Wheels Of Steel>Dallas 1pm>Princess Of The Night>Power And The Glory>Heavy Metal Thunder

I'll be honest, this doesn't do much for me.  I was never a fan of NWOBHM music to begin with.  I have adapted a bit to the point where I actually like Iron Maiden and I've even dropped 12 bucks for the entire Judas Priest catalog.  But Saxon is just not doing it for me.  You are right about the guitarists.  They are quite good.  But overall, the songs just aren't there.  Heavy Metal Thunder is truly dreadful to me.  I do like Strangers In The Night.  That's all though.  As far as the videos, it's pretty much all just live shots except for the last song, which makes an attempt at some sort of concept video.  It's typical 80's cheese, but that's okay.  Eighties cheese is better than any other cheese.