we all live with our vices

It's funny what parts of your youth you remember.  I have lots of memories of events that have happened to me but the timelines of when they happened sometimes get skewed.  One memory that is very vivid in my mind is Xmas, Edmonton 1985.  That was the year I got my first walkman.  It was about the size and weight of a small brick, but that was what passed for portable in those days.  Didn't matter to me though, I was in heaven.  I spent that entire holiday with those headphones glued to my ears, burning through batteries at a frightening rate (anyone remember the Radio Shack battery club!) and reading my new Thieves World books.

Now I mention the books because, well they were awesome, but also I literally didn't interact with anyone that holiday.  I immersed myself in those books and listened to music.  And the music was purchased at the original West Edmonton Mall.  I bought these albums:

And finally,

I also got Van Halen 1984, and Quiet Riot Metal Health so you can see I was in 80's metal heaven!

Now besides 1984, the album that keeps creeping back in my mind all these years later is Vices.  Kick Axe was a Canadian band from Regina Saskatchewan that had their heyday in the mid 80's.  Their best album was their debut Vices.  Based on the positive reviews from the album they ended up on the road, opening for Quiet Riot, Priest and Whitesnake.  I remember hearing their follow up album, but it really didn't do much for me.  For me this was the album.  Pure 80's metal goodness, and from Canada to boot. I preferred this album to the other 'Canadian' metal band Helix.  I'll take 'Heavy Metal Shuffle' over 'Rock You' any day.  Big drums, big guitars, perfect!  Also you get a touch of the over-processed background vocals that Mutt Lange would eventually paint everything he touched with.  And for this type of music it totally works.

Now I've been looking for a good copy of this for some time.  Found a copy in one of the local shops but it was in rough shape.  Had it on my Discogs wantlist for a while and even looked on ebay until I finally found it.  And once again Apollo Music to the rescue!  Picked it up at their table at the spring record fair for a decent price and great condition.  Couldn't wait to spin it.  And the first track I played was this one:

Enjoy!

Dance The Night Away

Sometimes a song shouldn't be covered, and if it is great care should be taken.  Case in point, Santana's cover of 'Dance the Night Away' from Van Halen 2.  I could take the easy route and just say it sucks and be done with it but for me it goes beyond that.  A cover should bring something new to the table.  Spin it in a different direction, off course if you will.  You should still hear the original intent but why not push it a bit.  


The cover on the album 'Strummin' with the Devil' is an example.  I'll admit I'm not totally in love with this version either but at least they re-interpreted it a bit. 


When it comes to Santana, I'm starting to get a little disappointed in some of the choices made in the twilight of his career.  He seems to be content with noodling over top of other peoples music and cashing the cheques.  The music he made early in his career ranks up there with some of the all time classic rock songs.  Now, not so much. He has instead decided to cover others peoples songs.  And while I applaud the idea of making a cover album of great guitar rock songs, there really should be a 'parachute clause' built into the process where if what is coming out of the speakers sucks everyone involved should stop before anymore damage is done.  For those of you that haven't heard it here is a link:


http://www.vhnd.com/2010/09/19/santanas-cover-of-dance-the-night-away/


I won't post it on here because, well, I don't like so it has no business on this blog.


This is the Stummin version:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7XHoncmCd0&p=014FCCBAF3257C32&playnext=1&index=1

Now in an effort to cleanse here is the orig...

Now that is how it should be done.  The covers can now drift away into obscurity please.