sing a long

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From the album “Sin After Sin.” Recorded in 1977 it was light years ahead of its time. Even the cover artwork. The girl sitting outside the temple is very sexy. I have often wondered if she is cis or trans? Does it even matter? Although this album was released several years before I was born, I do know music from many different generations. At least to me, this entire album (especially this song) sounds like nothing else from that era. Listening to it, it is almost impossible to believe this is a 42 year old song!

Of particular note is the incredible drumming of Simon Philips who at the time was only 19. This would be the only album he would record with Judas Priest. Phillips was known as an innovator and is considered one of the greatest drummers of all time.

Rob Halford, one of the earliest rockers to come “out of the closet,” was a powerful frontman with an amazing voice and dominating stage presence. He was bigger than the other members and clad in “biker gear” would ride his trademark Harley onstage. When I was about 12 or 13 my dad commented on a few of my “band” posters. He thought they “all looked like girls.” Then he pointed to this big guy with short hair on a motorcycle (not realizing he was gay or bi) and said “You should be like him.” Well looking back, I guess I DID sorta turn out to be like him…

Best YouTube Comments:

“This was 1977. Think about that for a second. What sounded like this before then? Nothing.”

“Way ahead of it's time...to think disco was happening at the same time...a true musically artistic statement.”

"The drumming is so over the top, they could have hired this guy forever...so intense and complex."

“Teenaged drummer Simon Phillips on this killer track. Respect!”

“And with this song a new form of music was born they came to call it metal.”

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From 1981. The late 70’s and early 80’s strike me as somewhat of a “golden” era for hard rock and the beginnings of metal. Great sounding guitars, bass, drumming, and songwriting. My own “era” was somewhat later. Roughly 1989 through 2010 which included more “extreme” forms of metal, grunge, and the much maligned “nu metal” genre. Still, I love going back in time and checking out some of these bands. Many of these songs are on my “workout” playlist.

Best YouTube Comments:

“So heavy for the time.”

“140 mph down the interstate to this song, good times... Did it 2-3 am, no lives at risk, except my own.” (Me: Only 140? )

“Whoa!!! This is really cool!!! I love it when I rediscover good music!!!”

“Check out the drums freaking awesome!!!”

"At least you get to hear the Bad Ass Jams that your mommy and daddy fucked to in order to have you" (Me: So I was conceived to this? Well, that explains a lot… )

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Even farther back in time. All the way to 1971. What sounded like this? More than anything else, to me at least, this is the true beginning of heavy metal although I’m not sure the term “heavy metal” was even used back then. Black Sabbath were from Birmingham, England. In 1971, the US was still fighting the Vietnam War, the Apollo moon landings were taking place, Nixon was President, Watergate had not yet happened, “Dirty Harry” was in the theaters, something called the “ARPANET” was being developed to explore the networking of computers, and you could buy a Chevrolet Chevelle Super Sport 2 Door Hardtop with a 454 for only $3,611 USD.

Best YouTube Comments:

“I don’t always listen to Sabbath, but when I do, so do my neighbors.”

“Jesus, this is what, '71? The riffs that Iommi came up with were so ahead of the curve it's absurd."

“…perhaps the absolute heaviest song of all time....”

“When that bass kicks in lawd have mercy.” (Me: That’s Geezer Butler. )

“Still kills me that most people think of Sabbath as simply Iron Man. Good song but they have so many better ones.”

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From the 2009 album, "War Is The Answer." Considered an “old” song now. But these guys are still around and it’s great stuff to workout to. Goes well with Testosterone.

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It was either the “official” video (censored) or the lyric video with the album cover only. Figured you would like to watch the video… You can fill in the words.

Mudshovel was released in October 1999. I bought this CD in early 2000. Can’t believe it’s been 20 years…

Best YouTube Comments:

“The definition of anger.”

“Yes... need more of this currently. Oh when music was talent instead of noise!” (Me: I totally agree we need more music like this. But my dad thought this was noise. My grandparents thought the Beatles and Rolling Stones were noise. And I bet their parents thought Bing Crosby, Dean Martin, and Frank Sinatra were noise, and so on and so on… )

“Reminds me of highschool dayz yeaa…” (Me: Yeah. Me too. But are you really my age or is this my 9 year old niece (“highschool dayz yeaa”)? Although around 1994-95 I did in fact name the first website I ever did “Andyz Home Page.” It featured exotic “carz.” Fuck, that’s embarrassing… )

“That bass tho!”

“I loved Staind back in 2001, then when Modern Metal hit... (Me: I thought this was “Modern Metal”? Shit, guess it’s time to join the AARP? )

“Pretty much sums up the FNaF story.” (Me: OK, this is my niece. The “FNaF” reference gives her away.)

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I thought this one might be fun to post. Released in late 1983 while Black Sabbath was going through their separation from Ozzy, this album featured Ian Gillan (of Deep Purple—you know, “Smoke On The Water” and all that…) on vocals. Gillan also sang the role of Jesus on the original recording of “Jesus Christ Superstar” in 1970. Here you have what may be Sabbath’s most evil sound ever fronted by Jesus.

The other story involves the album cover. Widely considered the “worst” cover of all time, it is based on a real picture of a newborn from a 60’s medical journal. Rejected at first by the band and management, Tony Iommi, lead guitarist, decided he liked it and so that was that.

Sales of the album have done better through the years as more people “discovered” hard rock in the 80’s and 90’s. Today, it is considered a rock “classic.” Some good stuff here.

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Released in 2002. This is the “uncensored” version. The video was edited by MTV to remove the references to “pistol” and “blood.” I had this CD of course. I assumed the singer committed suicide over a breakup with his girlfriend. That, or else he killed her… ("all I can hear is the sound...") I guess it’s up to the listener to decide. Very intense subject matter in either case. “Click Cilck Boom” and this song were on my football “pre-game” playlist. If it doesn't sound like your “brand of vodka” better pass on this one. "Always" reached #1 on the Billboard Modern Rock tracks in February 2003.

Here’s what Wikipedia says about the video:

Directed by Charles Infante, the video focuses on a young man, played by future Criminal Minds star Matthew Gray Gubler (Me: Awesome! I never knew that. Bet you’re surprised I’m a fan of “Criminal Minds.” Not. Especially “A.J.” ) who appears to be haunted by a woman of his past, sporadically appearing throughout the city. The video ends with the man, enraged, destroying a telephone booth before collapsing to the ground. MTV requested an edit of the lyrics in the final verse. The line "the pistol shaking in my hand, and all I can hear is the sound" was edited to replace the word "pistol" with "anger" in the video version.

Wonder if my younger friends know what that is on the cover? God that makes me feel old.