Best of albums released in 1980 (IMHO)

[Niels (Mod)]

1980 was a very important year in music for me, and as a whole. Some major sad things happend: John Lennon was shot, and John Bonham also died very young that year. For me, some great things happend: I was at my first rock-concert ever, and saw my, at that time, favorite band KISS, with Iron Maiden as support. I knew Iron Maiden, because earlier in the spring of 1980, I "discovered" the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal, by hearing "Breaking the law" by Judas Priest and "Running Free" by Maiden on Radio Luxembourg. 1980 WAS the year, that broke a lot of the BIG bands from NWOBHM, that later made it big i the US, like Maiden, Priest and Def Leppard. This is a list of some of my favorite-music from that year, oh and once again, sorry but I can't seem to make a top 10-list, this time it's a top 13-list, but in no order at all:


1. City Boy - Bloody Sunday


City Boy was (I think) the first band, that was produced by Robert John "Mutt" Lange. He did'nt produce this one, though.

2. Def Leppard - Rock Brigade

 

It will allways irritated me, that I did'nt saw Leppard with Pete Willis on guitar, because he was very good. I allmost did, because they were suppose to support Rainbow at a concert I was at in june '81, but they cancelled. It was very cool, that the band (at least Rick Allen) was about my age.

3. Iron Maiden - Remember Tomorrow

 

I DID get to se two "different" Iron Maiden, in 1980 with Dennis Stratton, Paul D'Ianno and Clive Burr and then in 1983 with Bruce Dickinson, Nicko McBrain and Adrian Schmidt. I've allways prefered the version('s) of Maiden, that made the two first albums, and this song is one of my alltime favorites.

4. Black Sabbath - Neon Knights

 

Again a band, with different line-ups. This is MY favorite line-up, and one of my favorite BS-tracks.

5. Judas Priest - Metal Gods

 

British Steel is probably the best Judas Priest-album ever made, but I've never understood, why the 3 weakest songs on the album, were the singles? It was very hard for me to pick a track from this album, because there are so many great one's, but Metal Gods it is.

6. Ozzy Osbourne - Revelation (Mother Earth)

 

Imo one of the absolute best tracks by/with Ozzy, but I think that Randy Rhoads classical training has somethinh to do with that. Too bad, I could'nt add the next (last) track on the album, because it's allmost like they are connected.

7. Saxon - Taking your chances

 

Saxon was a HUGE band in NWOBHM, but they never made it in the US. This is the first of two Saxon-tracks on this list, because they made TWO classic HM-albums in the year of 1980, but alas, it was the ONLY two classic albums they made. They were never that good again.

8. Cheap Trick - World's Greatest Lover

 

The last album with Tom Petersson for a while, and the (IMHO) last REALLY good CT-album. There are some filler on the album, but side one on the record was flawless. The guitarsolo on this song, is one of Rick Nielsen's best ever.

9. Van Halen - In A Simple Rhyme

 

The third-best of the first 3 Van Halen-albums, but never the less a great album and a true classic today.

10. AC/DC - Givin' The Dog A Bone

 

This was in fact the first AC/DC-album I bought. I had a friend, who had most of the early albums, and in those days, I did'nt really like Bon Scott's voice, but when I heard "Hells Bells" the first time, I thought it sounded GREAT. Nowadays I'm a great fan of the Bon Scott-albums.

 

11. Queen - Play The Game

 

The last of the classic Queen-albums, and one of their best songs ever. The best on this album, anyway.

 

12. Rush - Freewill

 

This is the only album, that I did'nt buy IN 1980. I was'nt really aware of Rush back then. I knew them, but I did'nt think it would be my cup of tea, but I was so wrong!!

 

13. Saxon - Wheels Of Steel

 

This album was released in the spring of 1980, while "Strong Arm Of The Law" was released in the fall. Not many bands have released two of their best albums in the same year. I can think of maybe Beatles, Led Zeppelin, KISS and Saxon.

If you want to hear my take on some GREAT music from 1980, click on this:

http://www.podsnack.com/playlists/671034b8f0a9f5f8eb176c0b8a216333

[RJhog (Admin)]

These are definitely different than my picks would be for that year, but I'm still really interested in listening to this week.  Mine would have included Bob Seger's Against The Wind, Journey's Departure, REO's Hi Infidelity, Pat Benatar's Crimes Of Passion, and of course, Unmasked by Kiss.  Probably even the Eagles Live, and from your list Black Sabbath, Van Halen, AC/DC and Queen.  Looking forward to this as well.

[RJhog (Admin)]

Man, I enjoyed that Niels.  Some of it was new to me.  City Boy immediately made me think of Thin Lizzy.  Loved the Def Lep tune.  That's the only DL album I don't own.  I'll fix that one day.  The Iron Maiden song was outstanding, also new to me.  The Ozzy tune was just okay, but the end was killer.  Anything by Cheap Trick is always a great addition to a playlist.  And you can't go wrong no matter which song you pick from the Black Sabbath album or the AC/DC album.  Play The Game is probably my second favorite song off of the Queen album, right after Save Me.  Dragon Attack and Sail Away Sweet Sister are also excellent hidden gems from that album. 

[Jon]

Very interesting list. Only one song I didn't get into, and that was City Boy. The rest was, again, interesting. Love these IMHO lists cause you can never be wrong! 

[Niels (Mod)]

I'm glad you enjoyed it. I'm working on a 1978-list right now, but to my surprise, there are really many great albums from that year, so I'll have to split it up in 2 IMHO "Top-10"-list's.

[Niels (Mod)]

Well, come to think of it, no I won't. The coming weekend I'll make a 1976-list, and the following weekend a (only one!) 1978-list. I'm having fun doing this!!

[Jon]

Nice! I have to post part 3 of my thingy eventually..