Great Metal Albums of 1985: W.A.S.P.- The Last Command

Following on from my last post on the PMRC, I thought it was only right that I visit the album, “The Last Command” from W.A.S.P. My reason for buying this album was straight forward, I bought it because it was the first album I knew of to have a PMRC warning label on it. I remember from an article in the same edition of the People magazine where I first learned of the PMRC reading a quote from lead singer Blackie Lawless stating that putting labels on records would only help record sales. That’s probably why they happily allowed it to be put on the album. It worked as far as I’m concerned.

It seemed that many people didn’t rate “The Last Command” as high as their self titled debut album. In fact, a few years later, I found myself justifying buying the album on the grounds that I had bought it for the warning label. It wasn’t on my regular listening rotation back then. However, after listening to it again, after so many years, it’s growing on me.

“The Last Command” starts off very well with “Wild Child.” Hearing this song, one thinks that the album is going to kick total ass all over. I love that intro to it. The next song, “Ballcrusher,” which gets my vote for hidden gem keeps that thought alive. I mean, at the time, I was amused by lyrics about a lesbo-nymphomaniac woman drinking all my JD and stealing my brand new car. Actually, those lyrics still bring a smile to my face. Unfortunately, the next three songs give that ‘heard this all before’ feeling and it dampens things a little. Like the stock report at the beginning of “Fistful of Diamonds” and while I like the riff on “Jack Action,” the lyrics seemed re-hashed. “Widowmaker” ends the first side okay but not enough to support the previous two songs.

Side two starts out very promising with my second favourite all time W.A.S.P. song, “Blind in Texas.” The lead guitars make the song shine and even though I’ve heard tons of songs about getting drunk, the fact that Blackie is doing it in Texas is still somewhat unique. Like the first side, the remainder of the songs don’t hold a candle to the one that began the second side. It might have been better if “Cries in the Night” had been the closer because “Sex Drive” doesn’t do it for me. Those two should have been swapped around. “Running Wild in the Streets” is a decent song. One thing that seems to be overlooked on this album is the guitar work from Randy Piper and Chris Holmes. There are some good solos on some of these songs which redeems what could have been a lackluster album. “Widowmaker” is a prime choice.

Track Listing:

1. Wild Child
2. Ballcrusher
3. Fistful of Diamonds
4. Jack Action
5. Widowmaker
6. Blind in Texas
7. Cries in the Night
8. The Last Command
9. Running Wild in the Streets
10. Sex Drive

WASP

Blackie Lawless- lead vocals, bass

Chris Holmes- guitar

Randy Piper- guitar, backing vocals

Steve Riley- drums, backing vocals

Thinking about “The Last Command,” it’s would have been an average album if it wasn’t for three very kick ass songs, “Wild Child,” “Ballcrusher” and “Blind in Texas.” These three songs propel the rest of the album and I will no longer say that I only bought it because of the warning label.

Remember, don’t drive blind in Texas or anywhere else!

Next post: Soundtrack to Visionquest

I would also ask you all to raise a glass to my son Will and his lovely fiancee Ela who will be getting married this Wednesday.

To download Rock and Roll Children, go to: https://c-newfreepdf.cf/olddocs/free–download–online–rock-and-roll–children-pdf-1609763556-by-michael–d–lefevre