Great Metal Albums of 1985: Ratt- Invasion of Your Privacy

Of all the bands who put out their second album in 1985, the band whom the most was expected from was Ratt. After all, in 1984, they exploded onto the metal world with their extremely successful “Outta the Cellar” album. Many an ear, including mine, was tuned for the follow up album. Even Motley Crue, sorry Hit Parader magazine had an article can they survive the ‘sophomore jinx?’ All that remains here is to answer the question, did Ratt’s second album, “Invasion of Your Privacy,” live up to expectations?

To look at the positive, “Invasion of Your Privacy” did produce two top 40 singles in the form of “Lay It Down” and “You’re in Love.” Both are good songs and I must confess that after 34 years, I can’t decide for sure which of those two singles I like better, musically that is. I hear one and decide on that one, and then hear the other and decide I like that one. However, while the two songs are on a musical parallel, I have always preferred the video to “You’re in Love” because it opens with then president Ronald Reagan not getting the girl in the film “Santa Fe Trail.” Oh, the things which amuse my mind. Then again, the part at the end with Groucho Marx and Marilyn Monroe from the film “Love Happy” is quite funny too.

Funny videos aside, what those two singles also do for the album is to give it a strong start, positioned at tracks one and three. The track in between, “Never Use Love,” provides a very strong bridge between those two giants with the best guitar solo on the album. Furthermore, the two singles anchor the two tracks following “Lay It Down,” both good tracks. “Closer to My Heart” is the closest to a power ballad Ratt get on the album as the song starts out with a slow acoustic intro before getting heavier. It also has the high pitched guitar solo which is synonymous with many power ballads. Having heard the album on vinyl, one can safely conclude that it lives up to expectation to this point.

Unfortunately, the first three tracks on the second side, tracks six, seven and eight if you have a CD, are more filler than thriller. They’re not terrible tracks. I mean I have never had the inclination of switching off the turntable or flipping past them but they do not measure up to the first five tracks. Of the three, “What You Give Is What You Get” is the strongest of the three but only just. But there is a happy ending! The final two tracks bring things back to what the album was on the first side. Both are really good tracks and do their part in making you remember that this album is actually good.

Another great thing about “Invasion of Your Privacy” in 1985 was that it was on the PMRC’s hit list. Tipper Gore and Co complained of the sexually suggestive lyrics in the songs. I even quote such in “Rock and Roll Children” with the lyrics from “Lay It Down” which goes “Under the sheets you will find me.” I bet that had the Washington wives throwing up in their Cornflakes.

Track Listing:

1. You’re In Love
2. Never Use Love
3. Lay It Down
4. Give It All
5. Closer to My Heart
6. Between the Eyes
7. What You Give Is What You Get
8. Got Me On the Line
9. You Should Know By Now
10. Dangerous But Worth the Risk

Ratt

Stephen Pearcy- lead vocals

Warren De Martini- guitars, backing vocals

Robbin Crosby- guitars, backing vocals

Juan Crocier- bass, backing vocals

Bobby Blotzer- drums, percussion

I guess this means I have to answer the question: Did Ratt survive the sophomore jinx with “Invasion of Your Privacy?” The short answer is yes. There are many good tracks on here that follow the successful formula behind their mammoth debut album. However, while they survived, the album doesn’t take them further. In fact, after this album, people like my sister would begin to start calling the band ‘Rutt.’ However, that is a story for another day.

Next post: Yngwie Malmsteen- Marching Out

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