The 1982 Listening Post - Iron Maiden - The Number of the Beast

 Reviewed by John Tommasino

Released: March 22 1982 Iron Maiden The Number Of The Beast Genre: Heavy Metal/NWOBHM Allen’s Rating: 4.5 out of 5 John’s Rating: 5 out of 5 Highlights: 22, Acacia Avenue Run To The Hills Hallowed Be Thy Name First of all, Iron Maiden is my favorite band of all time so I admit that is impossible to write an objective review. But I will try. Iron Maiden had put out two impressive high energy records with lead singer Paul Di'Anno and the band was building some serious momentum in the world of music. But behind the scenes, Di'Anno was rubbing a lot of people the wrong way with his brash attitude and unprofessional antics. If you get a chance, read the Maiden biography "Run to the Hills" by Mick Wall. Wall describes a typical Di'Anno episode when the maiden frontman mouthed off to Gene Simmons of Kiss when Simmons was paying the band a genuine bit of praise. Bassist Steve Harris and maiden manager Rod Smallwood had had enough. But switching vocalists before recording their third record was a big gamble. Fortunately Samson lead singer Bruce Dickinson was ready to take the band to a whole new level. The Number of the Beast is an epic metal album. From the opening track chronicling a medieval battle in 'Invaders' to the man contemplating his impending death in 'Hallowed Be Thy Name' this record delivers the metal goods like no one had before. Standouts include the title track and the first single released "Run to the Hills" but the whole record is solid prime metal. "22 Acacia Avenue" continues a story about a prostitute named Charlotte in epic form. The evocative title track reminds me of cinematic depictions of occult activity and I have no doubts that this song fueled the Satanic Panic of the 1980s...despite the cartoonish Derrick Riggs cover depicting Maiden mascot Eddie towering over the devil himself and pulling the strings of the prince of darkness. Even lesser known tracks like "Gangland" carry out a showcase for drummer Clive Burr and Harris on bass. Dickinson's operatic vocals prove to be more than a good fit for the group. The gamble paid off in spades. Without Dickinson I doubt the band would have evolved into the metal legends they are today. Give this album its due, it's a great one!

The 1981 Listening Post - Bitches Sin - Your Place or Mine

 Reviewed by John Tommasino

Released: 1981 Bitches Sin Your Place Or Mine Genre: Hard Rock Rating: 3 out of 5 Highlights: Livin' On The Highway Fallen Star I was not into Bitches Sin in the 80s. In fact, I had never heard them before taking this assignment. That said, I don’t think I missed a whole lot. To be fair, I’ve heard better in the genre and I’ve heard much worse as well. Livin' on the Highway and Fallen Star were good songs, the rest are so-so. It’s not bad guitar work but I can think of a lot of bands who were doing this better than Bitches Sin. I consider myself to be a fan of the whole classic metal and NWOBHM, bands like Iron Maiden and Saxon. I don’t like the whole Sunset Strip poser hair metal scene. This act doesn’t sound like either of my personal tastes spectrum. It’s all rather garden-variety rock and roll and if you like garden-variety rock then give this a whirl. So I’m giving them 3 stars. And I feel I’m being generous with three stars instead of two.

The 1981 Listening Post - Loudness - The Birthday Eve

 Loudness - The Birthday Eve

#582

By John Tommassino

November 21 1981

Loudness

The Birthday Eve. 

Genre: Metal  

Allen’s Rating: 3 out of 5

John’s Rating: 3 out of 5

Highlights : 

To be Demon

Sexy Woman

I'm on Fire.    

First off, I'm a fan of metal and I like Japanese metal. I know other fans who dislike metal from Japan because of the vocals. But that doesn't bother me. 

In the 80s, I would search record stores for unique metal from Japan including Loudness, Earthshaker and my favorite Japanese metal act, EZO.

 Loudness just had it going on back then...a bonafide guitar hero in Akira Takasaki and solid musicians backing him up. You can tell these guys were hungry on this record.. it's a good album to rock out to...but their other, later releases namely the albums Devil Soldier and Disillusion built on the sound on display here. It's funny, when I went to college I had a Japanese roommate and I dated a girl from Japan. They were of the opinion that Loudness wasn't for real, that they were just imitating American and European metal acts. 

Maybe, but  I disagreed then as I do now. 

I like Loudness. Three stars is my rating.

https://open.spotify.com/album/5IeyWpUf4DNPhC3qloOpB3?si=KQo5z5hsQvO5CC5J_yTveQ

The 1981 Listening Post - Thin Lizzy - Renegade

 Thin Lizzy - Renegade

#579

By John Tommasino

November 15 1981

Thin Lizzy

Renegade 

Genre: Heavy Rock

Allen’s Rating: 3.5 out of 5 (upgraded to 4.25 in 2023)

John's rating: 5 out of 5

 Full admission, I'm a fan of Thin Lizzy. Lead singer and bassist Phil Lynott was a genuine talent for the rock genre. Far underrated and underappreciated when critics discuss rock of the 1970s and 80s, Lynott stands out with his distinctive vocals and catchy songs about fighting, loving, and skipping town. He had raw talent, energy and a frontman's charisma that carried this band. Renegade feels like an epic album from the moment you hear the opening of "Angel of Death" with Lynott quoting a line from "Apocalypse Now"...- 'My God, there's millions of them"... until the closing number.. Renegade delivers the goods. Standout songs include "Angel of Death" "Hollywood (Down on Your Luck) the bluesy "Fats" and the tragic "Mexican Blood" in which Lynott weaves a sad story about a boy and a girl and a violent murder. This is a great album. It's not Jailbreak but what is? I highly recommend it. Five star rock all the way. Rest in power Phil Lynott.

https://open.spotify.com/album/57mD54LjIFfFspvoELYlMz?si=I2aaBcdXQyG49-YLLr8Caw

The 1981 Listening Post - Donovan - Love is Only a feeling

 Donovan - Love is Only a Feeling

#528

By John Tommasino

October 1981

Donovan

Love is Only Feeling

Genre: Sensitive Man Music....okay, it's not a crime to have sensitivity....Folk, acoustic....

Allen’s Rating: 2 out of 5

John's Rating 2 out of 5

I really didn't enjoy this record and it's not because I don't like Folk and acoustic music. It's just because at this point, Donovan wasn't making good music. There are no highlights here. This albums only saving grace is that it clocks in at under 33 minutes. I think the only reason anyone would listen to this music would be to soften a perp up before interrogation. Note: The chorus of the song, "The Actor" would be enough to break the resistance of even hardened subjects. The only reason I can think of anyone wanting to listen to this is that they are followers of Donovan and are required to as completists.....otherwise don't bother. 

This is a bad record.

https://open.spotify.com/album/5uikSgPMo7YRgcJRIuguWb?si=_VdgXjPXS8qCfm___8MwvQ

The 1981 Listening Post - The Bee Gees - Living Eyes

 Bee Gees - Living Eyes

#522

By John Tommasino

October 1981

Bee Gees

Living Eyes

Genre: Post-Disco/soft rock/ music to shed tears with.....

Allen’s Rating: 2 out of 5

John’s Rating: ......John's Rating 1 out of 5 stars and that's being generous....

Highlights: 

Soldiers

Don't Fall in Love With Me

Disco is dead. Ronald Reagan is President of the United States and the Bee Gees are an act in search of a new sound. 

It seems like a lot of bands go through stages like what the Kings of the Disco Era were going through in 1981. 

Full confession: I don't care for disco, it seemed insincere to me even as a kid and I've never seen "Saturday Night Fever" although it was my older sister's favorite movie at the time....I don't know, a whole movie about a young Scientologist trying to learn how to dance? Really? They made a movie out of that? And there are sequels? I'm not digressing because if you've ever seen the 2000 sci-fi flop "Battlefield: Earth"(that's a sequel to SNF, right?)- well this is its musical equivalent. 

You can tell right from the start that the Bee Gees must have been a frustrated lot- disco is over and maybe they weren't sure what was next? I'll just break down a few songs here so you get the picture. "Living Eyes" is a weak title track, it's just not engaging in any way. And what do the Gibbs mean when they say "Living Eyes" as opposed to what?  "He's a Liar"- Yes, he is....and that was the clerk at the record store when he sold you this turd of an album. 

"Paradise"- next. Not a good song, the Bee Gees fired three supporting musicians before making this album- they didn't find paradise. 

"Don't fall in love with me."- Don't worry, no one will at this point. I'm a little puzzled why they just didn't call this one "It's gonna be a lonely night" as it is the chorus and it is an engaging chorus...but the song and the band are so down on themselves-.you just want to turn the music off. 

"Soldiers" is a standout but that's not saying much here...but I'm not going to say it's worth a listen. 

"I Still Love You" is a sappy song about loneliness. 

"Nothing Could Be Good" - another weak song that could easily be a replacement for the title of this record. 

You get the picture. 

1981 was a memorable year for me...I was in sixth grade and someone tried to assassinate the president and another would-be assassin tried to kill the pope...we talked about these turbulent topics and the arms race, the Cold War in history and current events class. But nobody was talking about the Bee Gees in 1981.....this album sold less than one million units compared to the 16 million mark reached on their previous efforts. Thanks for reading this. Do yourself a favor, avoid this effort.

https://open.spotify.com/album/1Gkwm2bYBSKGBFBwcGhVj5?si=Z-BqT7wDQLuEIOY61S7ssg

The 1981 Listening Post - Cabaret Voltaire - Red Mecca

 Cabaret Voltaire - Red Mecca

#409

By John Tommassino

September 15 1981

Cabaret Voltaire

Red Mecca

Genre: techno, new wave, art rock. 

Allen’s Rating: 3 out of 5

John's Rating 4.5 out of 5 

Highlights:

A Touch of Evil

A Thousand Ways

Black Mask

...I'm not much of a fan of techno...I like New Wave and all of its styles but I tend to listen to basic guitar, bass, drums and music in a heavier tone. That said, Cabaret Voltaire produced a real listening gem here. A Touch of Evil is an eerie number with unnerving blisters of noise and sporadic beats. I found it both enjoyable and a little anxiety-producing at the same time. Random thoughts entered my head during my listening session...like if there were deleted scenes in the original "Planet of the Apes" film showing Charlton Heston's astronaut companions being lobotomized, stuffed and mounted and suffocating in space- this music would work and fit in seamlessly in the original soundtrack. Sly Doubt is a catchy number that would still work in any number of dance clubs if they were still open...A Thousand Ways works as the album's centerpiece, a 10 plus minute song that is just fantastic. I imagined walking into a corporate orgy or a feast to a long forgotten pantheon of deities and this music would work perfectly, it has an edge to it that must be heard. Red Mask and Black Mask seem to be distant musical cousins but both are engaging techno tracks. The ominously titled "Spreading the Virus" had me at the get-go but the track itself sounds more like Disney's Herbie the Lovebug trapped in a nihilistic demolition derby and winning the event to the dismay of the crowd. The reprise of A Touch of Evil ends the album on an epic note. Listen to this record with an open mind. It is truly unique.

https://open.spotify.com/album/4W0VBisNs7yFtQJ9XX4RCd?si=h3Q0D_hUS6KaepV8-3lmfw

The 1981 Listening Post - Blackfoot - Marauder

 Blackfoot - Marauder

#359

By John Tammassino

July 15 1981

Blackfoot

Marauder

Genre: Music to accompany a fight in the parking lot aka Redneck Rock...okay, Southern Rock. 

Allen’s Rating: 4 out of 5

John's rating 2 out of 5

 I really don't like Southern Rock... probably because for a good part of my life I've lived in rural areas where it has its devotees. That said, when I was assigned this record to review I was less than enthusiastic about actually listening to an entire album by Blackfoot. But I approached it with an open mind, listened to "Marauder" and if you like Lynyrd Skynyrd and 38 Special and the like, you will probably like this record. If you dislike that genre, thoughts and prayers. I can't see how this group got beyond playing in a garage. This record just failed to engage me in any way.

https://open.spotify.com/album/7j0wSeUKj4rz2Surh5ICdN?si=CwwsrF1jS_SckW-1XWI_Sw

The 1981 Listening Post - Dan Fogelberg - The Innocent Age

Dan Fogelberg - The Innocent Age 

August 1, 1981

#353

By John Tommassino

Dan Fogelberg

The Innocent Age (A double LP)

Genre: soft rock (with two throw pillows)

Allen’s Rating: 3.5 out of 5

John's Rating : 4 out of 5 

This double album would not have been on my radar in 1981. I was just venturing into popular music with acts like Devo, Split Enz, Gary Numan and Thin Lizzy. I was just 12 years old and very much into Comic Books and big budget Hollywood films as well as academic ventures like Edith Hamilton's work on Norse and Classical Mythologies. But listening to all 80 minutes and one second of this double album has left me with a newfound respect for Fogelberg and the entire genre of soft rock. Highlights on this album are many including the opening track "Nexus" to the title track and, of course, the heartfelt epics  "Leader of the Band" and "Same Old Lang Syne". Fogelberg shines as both a vocalist and guitarist and producer. Check out the credits on this album and it reads like a master artist at the height of his creative powers. Supporting musicians are also skillful adept at capturing the moods and memories Fogelberg pursues and captures with expert finesse. 

This is a solid double album- I am not sure if modern artists are even bother with the double LP format...is it a lost art? I find myself listening to less and less modern music in favor of older eras, so I don't know. I am more than curious about Fogelberg's other works and will explore in the next few weeks. Check out this album even if the phrase "soft rock" makes you cringe...

https://open.spotify.com/album/1cidJkUwzlnQQZTlK6H6Hf?si=29QJg7IISYiHYrXEfIxsxw

The 1981 Listening Post - Demon - The Night of the Demon

 Demon - The Night of the Demon

#257

By John Tommassino

Demon

Night of the Demon

Genre: British Heavy Metal with or without the new wave (your pick).

Allen’s Rating: 4.5 out of 5

John’s rating: 2 out of 5

Full admission: I was a teenage metalhead in  the order of Bill and Ted or Beavis and Butthead ( but never Wayne and Garth - those two were posers). But looking back I'd say 80-90 percent of the music I collected is unlistenable to me today. I have my favorites but I've come to the conclusion that heavy metal is a European Genre. Sure there are exceptions to that broad rule but metal itself is a genre top heavy in rules regarding sound, vocals and dare I mention - image. I was also was an unhappy teen who couldn't wait to leave the small town where I was raised. Music itself was also hard to come by at the local NRM(early to mid 80s - The Police and U2 were stocked up everywhere but if you wanted something heavy you had to go outside of the  town and stock up in cities like New York, Pittsburgh, Washington DC or just mail order LPs. My friends and I would share and trade cassettes, LPs and mixed tapes and enjoy just about every act from Accept to the Tygers of Pan Tang. So somewhere along the line Demon was lost in the shuffle for me. In 1987 I purchased their later album "The Plague" and I was both entertained and horrified by its concept...I was a declared major in Ancient History my freshman year in college so I was aware of what a plague could do to a civilization ( fast forward to today....I can only hope we get by the current global pandemic). 

Review: the album is mediocre in comparison to other British bands. The musicians are okay, the vocals are okay but that's it. "One Helluva Night" is a standout song but only genre fans are going to dig this bland record. It's available for free on streaming today but don't waste your money on the vintage record.

https://open.spotify.com/album/5bvtddJVZr3l6BWwL9D8HA?si=vVrJhpS2R3OULW_vec2mzA

The 1981 Listening Post - Y&T - Earthshaker

 Y&T - Earthshaker

#245

By John Tommasinno

Y&T

Earthshaker

Genre: Hard Rock

Allen’s Rating: 4 out of 5

John’s Rating: 3 out of 5

Highlights: 

Dirty Girl

Young and Tough.    

You never forget your first rock concert. It's often a great conversation point that tells you a little something about your friends. So when it comes up with me, I usually just blurt out "Motley Crue, 1985" and then I either hang my head in shame or just leave the room. Kidding. But technically, the very first band I saw live was Y and T , who were the opening act that night. I remember them as solid, guitar driven sub-metal with an array of Rock anthems. And that's exactly how this album, Earthshaker sounds... solid, guitar driven and it contains several rock anthems. Hard rock for sure but not heavy enough to be considered metal. There's nothing particularly outstanding here but it's not a bad record either. Three solid stars is my rating. And maybe the next time someone asks me about my first rock concert I will just say "Y and T".

https://open.spotify.com/album/6PpL2939IlbBGbF6OJyzwE?si=e3cyXis6TGiQOdbHBj8ksA

The 1981 Listening Post - Nazareth - The Fool Circle

 Nazareth - The Fool Circle

#65

By John Tommasino

Nazareth

The Fool Circle

Genre: Rock. 

Allen’s Rating: 2.5 out of 5

John’s Rating: 4 out of 5

Highlights:

Every Young Man's Dream:

Another Year

Cocaine (cover, live)

I never listened to a Nazareth record before. They were a little bit before my time as a music consumer. 1981 was the first year I bought a record(Devo's "Whip it", but I digress)....and these guys had been putting out records for awhile. I didn't even know they were Scottish until I researched this review. I just remember there were older kids who were into them and there was this long-haired character in my hometown who often wore a Nazareth t-shirt. Anyway, I found this to be a solid lp with good guitar work. "Another Year" is surprisingly philosophical and "Every Young Man's Dream " waxes nostalgic about coming of age. There is a rousing live cover of "Cocaine" that is worth listening to... good stuff here.

https://open.spotify.com/album/6qywwH9Krdn75JwLdORO3E?si=c5wr695OTOav8uuz3YBqHA

The 1980 Listening Post - Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen - Lose It Tonight

 Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen - Lose It Tonight

#427

by John Tommassino

October 1980

Commander Cody and his Lost Planet Airmen

Lose It Tonight

Genre: Rock blues, country rock, rockabilly and a lot of other sounds, too. 

Allen’s Rating: 3 out of 5

John’s Rating: 4 out of 5

Highlights:

Real Gone

They Kicked Me Out of the Band

New Radio

his is not usually the type of music I listen to..in fact I don't think I ever heard of these guys before being assigned to review this record. I had heard of Commando Cody, the iconic movie serial character and that's where this act borrowed the name from( George Lucas did the same thing with a minor Star Wars character , too...but I'll check my nerdness here!) . What we have here is some solid musicians putting together some very catchy and thoroughly entertaining songs. 'They Kicked me out of the band" is a great number and you can tell these guys are having a lot of fun. I'm curious to listen to more of their material now. I rate it four out of five stars! Give it a listen. 

https://open.spotify.com/album/6eMMQfGeqUaSNAKQeUmMKN?si=pvT-ym75Q6CFCUh9bnwo0w

The 1980 Listening Post - Gamma - Gamma 2

Gamma - Gamma 2 

#334

by John Tommasino

August 1980

Gamma

Gamma 2

Allen’s Rating: 3.5 out of 5

John’s Rating: 1 out of 5

Genre: Hard RockH

Highlights: 

Mean Streak.....

There is nothing really different or unique about this album and as far as I can tell, nothing terribly talented about Gamma. This is like a meat and potatoes microwave dinner...I found myself bored from the first song to the last. These guys just couldn't get it done for me. It's not bad musicianship it's just bland, boring music. You know those 1970s vans with wicked fantasy themes painted on their sides? This isn't one of those vans. This is like a plain green- painted van moving slowly on the freeway of my music. My rating 1 out of five stars. Don't waste your time listening to it. The coolest thing about it is the cover of the album jacket and it's not that cool of a design!

https://open.spotify.com/album/4JsdWe64xXE3KWCC9VtIfQ?si=mu3qivSDQwysa7yb6P5FvQ