When it comes to this band I prefer not to think about the recent history. The porn movies, reality shows, fights and all the other drama that has taken up a huge portion of their time these days. Instead I like to remember their youth, and by extension, my youth. Because when this album was released in 1983 I was 12 and was just starting to spread my wings musically. I had been a Kiss fan for a long time but a group of us were starting to embrace the 'metal' of the time. I still remember when a friend of mine played it for me. It was heavy. It felt like the type of music that our parents wouldn't approve of, hell they had a pentagram on the cover. We would all listen to it on whatever 'ghetto blaster' was around at the time and thought it was the coolest stuff ever.
As far as the imagery that went along with the music, well we thought that was cool too. I mean this was what the inside of the gatefold looked like.
What the hell!! I was never quite sure what to make of it. They looked bad ass but they were wearing a hell of a lot of makeup!?! In hindsight I now see that it was just an extension of what bands like Kiss, Alice Cooper and the like were doing, creating a persona that would leave an impression. But forgetting that, if you focussed on the music, you got to hear what I consider one of those milestone albums. Maybe not their best. I think as he matured, Nikki's songwriting got better. Also they got better as musicians in later albums, Dr. Feelgood being a good example. But you will never find another album of their's that affected me as much. I listened to it all the time, and from this album branched out to other metal bands. In fact the whole genre was my focus from the age of 12 til I was about 15. This album, along with a few from other bands, influenced everything. We wore jean jackets with back patches cause we thought that was metal. We proudly displayed our allegiances with band shirts and we all had the necessary posters on our walls. We all thought we were 'metal'. Maybe, maybe not, but at least the music was great.
I first had this album on cassette but recently picked it up on vinyl. Let me tell you, it still sounds heavy. I brought it into work the other day to play it for a buddy's birthday. Real metalhead. The following Monday, he commented how great it was to hear it again. He was right, hearing it again really felt good.
Now as far as posting a song from it, there really is a lot to choose from. You got the title track, Too Young To Fall In Love, Looks That Kill, the Beatles cover Helter Skelter. So which one? I'm gonna go rogue and pick Red Hot. Enjoy! Oh, and go out and get this album if you don't have it!
PS: On the cover that had their pictures on it, they were doing a tribute to the Beatles album 'Let It Be'
Just like the did with their debut album 'Too Fast For Love'
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