SCOTTS HIDDEN TREASURES #30
Hidden Treasures turns 30 this week. Does this mean the list has finally reached a mature state? In 'The Myth of Sisyphus' the French existentialist Albert Camus comments that the age of 30 is a crucial period in the life of a man, for at that age he gains a new awareness of the meaning of time.
Well Albert, let’s expand on that assertion and see if this list bears out some truths based on that.
So with a keen awareness of time and a self-imposed mature nature, this SHT list will test the urgency and awareness of time by focusing on the first track of an album. You know, Side 1 Track 1, your first impression of the brand new record you just purchased. This crucial track dictated the time you would invest in the album. See the tie in now? (I know I'm reaching a bit, but its been fun)
Track 1 was an indicator of the music to come, pratically assuring that your new musical investment was worth it or not. If it was bad there was always the hope that the first track of Side 2 would atone for the sins of side 1. That hope of side 2 redeeming a bad opening track no longer exists with the appearance of CD's, so bands nowadays have one shot to capture our attention.
Let’s unwrap the album, pull out the inner sleeve and carefully place the proverbial stylus on this week’s list...
TITLE: Play The Game Tonight
BAND: Kansas
ALBUM: Vinyl Confessions
YEAR: 1982
Is it worth the time? Is it worth the price? This track is what caused me to think about this. Now here’s an album from a band in transition. New lead singer, new sound, what to expect? Is it wrong, is it right? I thought this was a great opening track, and real primer for the new sounds that followed. Vinyl Confessions while not a 100% top to bottom killer album is a strong effort by a band that found itself adopting change.
TITLE: One Night Love Affair
BAND: Bryan Adams
ALBUM: Reckless
YEAR: 1984
No Bryan Adams album has a better opener, before or since! And though this is a great opening track it never hit the charts, which makes it even better now. The writing style Adams used on this album was re-used on several other artists’ projects. Most notably (at least for me) was the Roger Daltrey 'Under A Raging Moon' release.
TITLE: The Doctor
BAND: The Doobie Brothers
ALBUM: Cycles
YEAR: 1989
The original Doobie Brothers reunited and this was their studio effort. The title track really lit up the FM airwaves for a while and drove them to renewed success. I still like Tom Johnston’s voice, can you say "underrated"? So good! Vocally this band has always harmonized with the best of them, and it was so nice to put the needle down and here their guitar driven sound return!
TITLE: Shakin'
BAND: Eddie Money
ALBUM: No Control
YEAR: 1983
This was a hit song with a hit video on Mtv. Eddies a little rough to watch on videos, but live in concert? Pure magic! One of the best I've ever seen. Now back to this track. Poppin' this in the car stereo, rolling the windows down, cranking the volume and cruising, if this the was the track the car next to you heard, then you always got a look and thumbs way up!
TITLE: Second Hand News
BAND: Fleetwood Mac
ALBUM: Rumors
YEAR: 1977
So it was second hand news that ushered in one of rocks most beloved albums. Who knew at first listen that this was a band in turmoil and this was the story of their personal breakups. Cool track nonetheless, one that foreshadows a lot of what we would be hearing stylistically from Buckingham for years to come...
TITLE: Do Me Right
BAND: Giuffria
ALBUM: Giuffria
YEAR: 1984
I had worn out my brothers "White Hot" album from the band Angel. I was so into their image and that of Greg Guiffria who stood out spectacularly in that band that when this band debuted it was a no brainer. Popped this sucker on the turntable and was most pleased to hear his keyboard styling lead off.
TITLE: Love Too Good
BAND: Jefferson Starship
ALBUM: Earth
YEAR: 1978
By now most of you who read this know that I'm a Katner/Slick/Balin fan. Don’t confuse this version of Jefferson Starship with that of the Mickey Thomas led version. Two different bands! Red Octopus and Spitfire play prominent roles in my catalog, so when Earth came out it was an automatic, and there was no let down. Perfect melodic rock and killer musicianship, if you’re not into the vocal style; keep listening, the last 2:40 of the track ends with a great jam using several keyboard styles!
TITLE: New Song
BAND: The Who
ALBUM: Who Are You
YEAR: 1978
There’s so much going on this album and it can be summarized in this track! Complicated, new styles and old styles merged into one. I later learned that this album also attempted to resurrect some of the same Lifehouse music that influenced the Who’s Next release.
TITLE: Thunder And Lightning
BAND: Gamma
ALBUM: Gamma 1
YEAR: 1979
When you buy an album because it has a cool cover, then the first track better be good or else the disappointment is magnified! In this case I knew this was a Montrose led band so the risk was a bit less, but I'm going for dramatic effect, so hang in there... If it sucked you failed miserably, but you could always move it the back of the collection and never tell anyone, but... if it rocked you just made a huge discovery that everyone needed to hear about!
TITLE: Tarot Woman
BAND: Rainbow
ALBUM: Rising
YEAR: 1976
Since 1976 has been in the minds of those on this site, we'll end with a real strong track from that era. What were your thoughts when this came on for the first time? Was it the first time you'd ever heard of Tony Carey? Cozy Powell? They became heroes instantly if it was...
HERES YOUR LINK...
http://www.podsnack.com/playlists/27414e2a7362928584a9cb094a235613
Views: 45
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Jon on
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Crap, and I had just got caught up. Oh, and I want that first album you have posted. I want the CD. Give me the CD. Give it to me NOW.
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Permalink Reply by Scott on
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Its not mastered very well, so I posted the remastered track from the Ultimate Kansas set. But I like this release alot... It has some of my all time favorites. Theres a track titled RIGHT AWAY that just kills it. Lyrically so cool! And I really like the drum production on the album, so crisp and clean. Mybe one day we'll get a high quality remaster...
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There is a remaster, but it's the one Kansas remaster that's OOP and I can't justify spending 25+ for it. 15, maybe.
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Anyway, I would like your non-remastered disc. Thanks.
And first songs from albums...a completely brilliant idea. Makes me think though....
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Oh. Let me make it simple....
I WANT YOUR CD OF "VINYL CONFESSIONS".
hope that was simple enough...
oh, you meant the OTHER thing. Just thinking that it's odd nobody has done something with first songs off of albums. No underlying meaning at all.
or is there?
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Permalink Reply by RJhog (Admin) on
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Nice looking list, and quite an enjoyable written lead in. It'll be Monday before I can play this game...
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Jon and RJ...
No worries, I posted a bit early because I intend on watching the Packers slaughter the Bears tomorrow! And then I am also interested in watching whoever they will be playing in the Superbowl!
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Permalink Reply by TageRyche on
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5 Songs I had heard before. Good mix of material.
I was listening to the expanded edition of Fleetwood Mac's Rumours just last week.
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Scott, I'm very much looking forward to listening to your list tomorrow, but just to butt in on your's and Jon's conversation, I made a list of my own. You know I can't resist doing this, and I agree 100% with Jon that this was a great theme for SHT. Here's mine:
1. We Will Rock You (Queen - News Of The World) - This song simply says, we will kick your ass! The only musical accompaniment until the end is the drums, and then Brian May unleashes a brilliant solo. Of course it's immediately followed by We Are The Champions on the album, but this list is for openers only.
2. Creatures Of The Night (Kiss - Creatures Of The Night) - Kiss was down...way down. The previous album was an failed attempt at a concept album, the one before that was outright pop rock (see first issue of Flashback), and the one before that was disco. Could these guys no longer rock? This song and album proved they could.
3. Don't Tell Me You Love Me (Night Ranger - Dawn Patrol) - The first song on a debut album has to rock. I'd say NR achieved that goal. Great guitars, vocals, and even the keyboards rock.
4. More Than A Feeling (Boston - Boston) - The majority of albums start out with a fast, hard rocking song. This song shows you can slow it down and still make a great statement. The soaring vocals and amazing guitar sound said this album needs to be heard.
5. Hotel California (Eagles - Hotel California) - Yes, another slower song to start an album. But the album turned out to be their best (IMHO) and this song proved to be epic. Guitars, guitars, guitars.
6. Blind Revolution Mad (Winger - Pull) - What? Winger has a new album? Don't they know hair metal is dead? I reckon they did. Don't be fooled by the slow start of this song. It turns into a beast and showed tremendous maturity on Winger's part.
7. Hells Bells (AC/DC - Back In Black) - What? AC/DC has the nerve to replace Bon Scott? Yep, they did, and unleashed this monster album that, although it made no one forget about Bon Scott, it made every one happy that the band made the decision to carry on. It's a tribute to the man himself, with the eerie sound of a tolling bell at the beginning that builds to an outstanding rock song.
8. Welcome To The Jungle (Guns 'n' Roses - Appetite For Destruction) - You knew somebody would go there. But seriously, tell me this song did not rock your ass when you heard it the first time. Nobody knew then that this song and all of the others from the album would be played to death, but everybody knew this was a very special album, and this song started it all.
9. Hair Of The Dog (Nazareth - Hair Of The Dog) - Any album that begins with a song in which the vocalist calls himself a son of a bitch has to be a great album. Hair Of The Dog is a tremendous song and album. From the drum intro and driving beat to the great riff all the way to the outstanding "I just gargled sandpaper" vocals. Brilliant opener.
10. Bat Out Of Hell (Meatloaf - Bat Out Of Hell) - To me, this is the ultimate album opener. It's an epic song with a long intro full of incredible guitar work. Meatloaf is the perfect singer for this song.
Scott, thanks for this theme and for letting me butt in on the conversation and offer my 2 cents worth. If you want to listen to my list, click HERE.
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Love these. I don't own any Winger though, will you forgive me? hahaha My favorites on your list is easily Bat Out Of Hell and Hotel California. And nice pick on the Night Ranger track! Haven't heard that one in awhile
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