Great Rock Albums of 1989: Lenny Kravitz- Let Love Rule

First of all, I must thank a fellow blogger named Robert who enlightened me to Lenny Kravitz’s debut album, “Let Love Rule,” otherwise it would have been left out. To be honest, I don’t remember too much about the album save for the singles from it. I definitely now recall, “I Build This Garden For Us” and I vaguely remember the title cut and “Mr. Cab Driver.” Now that I’ve listened to the entire album, it pretty much follows along the lines of those singles. With that said, I do love the sax solo in the title cut.

Wikipedia, not that I tribute much to what they say, calls this album, “psychedelic rock” or what I sometimes call “space rock.” However, I can hear fusions of jazz or reggae in the songs, “Freedom Train” is a prime example of this. Then we come to the hidden gem on the album, “My Precious Love.” There is a definite atmosphere provided when I hear this one. I can picture myself listening to it while sitting in a smoky jazz bar, fully appreciating it and the band playing, while knocking back whiskeys. Yes, it’s a throw back to a previous life and tobacco wasn’t the only thing being smoked. Back in the 80s, one could still smoke in bars. But on “My Precious Love,” you can hear that sax again with some cool tinkling of the ivories backed up by a determined rhythm section and a cool organ solo while Lenny pours his heart out into the vocals. Wow, I’m exhausted writing that.

Of course, you don’t need to be in a smoky jazz bar to appreciate the album. You can appreciate the smoky beat to the tracks while sitting at home. At least you don’t have to pay through the nose for your whiskeys, if that’s your thing. The already mentioned single, “I Build This Garden For Us” just radiates pure cool and has a part that’s just way out there with some cool guitar work. “Fear” has the reggae vibe fused with more spaced out rock. I love how Lenny punctuates the “fear” in the vocals. What I didn’t know was that “Fear” was written by Lenny’s then wife, Lisa Bonet, who starred in the television programme, “The Cosby Show” back in the golden decade. She also co-wrote the track “Rosemary” with Lenny. I’ve learned something new.

Track Listing:

1. Sittin’ On Top of the World
2. Let Love Rule
3. Freedom Train
4. My Precious Love
5. I Build This Garden for Us
6. Fear
7. Does Anybody Out There Even Care?
8. Mr. Cab Driver
9. Rosemary
10. Be
11. Blues For Sister Someone
12. Empty Hands
13. Flower Child

Note: Tracks 11-13 were bonus tracks on the CD.

Lenny Kravitz

Lenny Kravitz- lead and backing vocals, all instruments except for those listed below

Alfred Brown, Maxine Roach- viola

Tisha Campbell, Jean McClain, Yolanda Pitman- additional backing vocals

Eric Delente, Gene Orloff, Lou Elex, Matthew Raimondi, John Tintualle, Winterton Yarvey- violin

Karl Denson- saxophone

Henry Hirsch- bass, piano, organ, harmonium

Nancy Ives, Kermit Moore, Mark Shuman- cello

Lee Jaffe- harmonica

Adam Widdoff- guitar

Thank you Robert for the save or else a great debut album might have been omitted from this tour of rock and metal history of the golden decade.

Next post: Joe Satriani- Flying in a Blue Dream

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A Nice Little Concert

The Local Ladies singing group

First of all, I’m rather silly for not asking any of the ladies if their group had an official name but no worries, they provided some good entertainment for a Saturday afternoon in Stroud, Gloucestershire in the UK. We went because Mrs. 80smetalman knows some of the group, particularly Sue (on the far left wearing the black hat). They share a granddaughter. So, we went and saw them perform at the venue where Mrs. 80smetalman and Sue play bingo together on Mondays. The show was pretty good and I’m including some snippets of the performance.

Opening song, Walking on Sunshine

Elsie, aged 10, blew a lot of minds, including mine. She has potential.

Singing Heart’s classic Alone. If they kept the guitar solo.

Sue singing Fleetwood Mac’s “Songbird.” I wish people showed more consideration

Josie is 16 and pretty good too.

Playing a long to an instrumental

My biggest mistake this day was to put my mobile phone away too soon as they ended the day with Bonnie Tyler’s “Total Eclipse of the Heart” and Abba’s “Waterloo.” Both songs were done very well. In any case, I hope you enjoy the videos.

Great Rock/Metal Albums of 1989: House of Lords

House of Lords has now made it onto my list of American artists who didn’t crack Britain. Yes, they appeared on the “Protect the Innocent” compilation album but after that, zero. However, when I researched the band and the album, I discovered that they had a rich discography that carried on until 2022! So they must have been somewhat known in the US.

The other surprise came when I watched the video for the single, “I Wanna Be Loved,” which appeared on the compilation. The camera seemed to home in on the keyboards player quite a bit. Now that I know who it is, I’m not surprised. Gregg Giuffria. In the mid 80s, he had is own band, which was named after him and originally this was supposed to have been another Giuffria album, but producer Gene Simmons, yes that Gene Simmons, persuaded him to go another way.

The intro on the opening track, “Pleasure Palace,” sounds as if it could have been a classic progressive rock song from out of the 1970s, ala Yes or Emerson, Lake and Palmer. Gregg definitely has skills on the keys. However, the track develops into a more 80s synth rock song, something you might hear from Survivor but it’s not bad. The track from “Protect the Innocent” is more a rocking track so any thoughts of the album disintegrating into a pop album is quickly erased.

House of Lords really show their worth on “Edge of Your Life.” This is a nicely done melodic rock track with everyone firing on all cylinders. It’s the first track where Larry Cordola is let off the leash and he bangs out a great guitar solo. My personal opinion, this one should have been released as a single. “Looking For Strange” sounds like it might be a little all over the place but the chaos has plenty of hard rock swagger with some cool piano chops from Gregg and nice drum fills from Ken Mary.

Was it a thing in 1989 for bands to have their power ballad at the mid point of the album? It was like that with Femme Fatale and the same happens here. “Love Don’t Lie” is a really tender ballad without being too soppy. James Christian really pours his heart and soul out with the vocals and the rest of the band support with piano, a hard drum beat and a good guitar solo. Well done boys.

“Slip of the Tongue” is the first true hard rock song. They really take things up more than a few paces and rock it out. Just a great metal tune and one Rick Nielsen helped write the song. Still, it has me banging my head at a rapid pace. But it’s the cool intro on “Hearts of the World” and what happens after which convinces me that House of Lords can be considered a metal band. This one too has me headbanging away and while it’s not as fast as “Slip of the Tongue,” the power of metal is there to be heard. This one and its predecessor can both be considered hidden gems.

More 70s sounding progressive keyboards bring in “Under Blue Skies” but this time, it goes into a more heavy metal vibe. Enjoyable but I think the repetition at the end goes on a little too long. Both of the final two tracks could have been closers on the album. Both have that lets end the album in the right way and everybody sing along to the chorus vibe. I don’t see anything wrong with two songs which could be considered closers ending an album on an absolute positive.

Track Listing:

1. Pleasure Palace
2. I Wanna Be Loved
3. Edge of Your Life
4. Looking for Strange
5. Love Don’t Lie
6. Slip of the Tongue
7. Heart of the Worlds
8. Under Blue Skies
9. Call My Name
10. Jealous Heart

House of Lords

Gregg Giuffria- keyboards

James Christian- lead vocals

Larry Cordola- guitar

Chuck Wright- bass

Ken Mary- drums, percussion

Additional Musicians:

Jeff Scott Soto- backing vocals

Well, I’m convinced, I don’t know about the rest of you. I will explore House of Lords further albums.

Next post: Lenny Kravitz- Let Love Rule

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Great Metal Albums of 1989: Femme Fatale

As promised, I am posting about one of the albums from 1988, although it didn’t get really going until 1989, so I am still being accurate here, from the “Protect the Innocent” compilation. First up is the self titled album from Femme Fatale. Question: Am I the only one who, when hearing the bands name and the vocals, immediately jumped to the assumption that they were an all female band? Well, they’re not but saying that, lead singer, Lorraine Lewis has so much presence that it’s very easy to make such an assumption.

I can see why the song which appeared on the compilation album, “Falling In and Out of Love,” was the single from the album, It has that hard rock meets commercial viability vibe which such a song should have. I hope when you listened to it on the last post, you could feel Lorraine’s energy on it and the shredding is done well. I wish there was some note as to which guitarist solos on which track but there’s none. However, all of the first four songs on the album can fall into such a category. They are all in the same vein, although “Waiting for the Big One” is the right choice for the opener and “My Baby” has a sharper edge than the others.

Separating the more commercial first four songs from the harder final five is the power ballad, “Rebel.” While the other members of the band do their part well on it, it’s the charisma of Lorraine that makes the song. The power ballad is the stop gap between the two halves of the album as “Fortune and Fame” kicks off a more heavier sound for the remainder and gets your head banging straight away

I’ve also learned something new here. The track, “Touch and Go,” was also on the soundtrack for the film, “License to Drive.” I’ve never seen the movie but I enjoy the song. It does start with a pretty cool bass line. However, the hidden gem goes to “If.” This is the one where they put it all together and make a great metal tune. It sounds down and dirty, the band was definitely firing on all cylinders here. Great rhythm, cool shredding and of course, the vocals. “If” marks the final peak as while the two closing tracks are good, they don’t quite reach the dizzy heights.

Track Listing:

1. Waiting for the Big One
2. Falling In and Out of Love
3. My Baby
4. Back in Your Arms Again
5. Rebel
6. Fortune and Fame
7. Touch and Go
8. If
9. Heat the Fire
10. Cradle’s Rockin’

Femme Fatale

Lorraine Lewis- vocals, tambourine

Bill D’Angelo- guitar

Mazzi Rawd- guitar, keyboards, backing vocals

Rick Rael- bass, backing vocals

Bobby Murray- drums, backing vocals

Like with many a band’s debut albums, this showed that Femme Fatale had the chops to go further but bad luck prevented this. The band dissolved and didn’t record another album until 2016. Shame really but with so many metal bands out there at the time, it was easy to fall through the cracks. As for Lorraine, well she now sings in an all female band called Vixen. You might have heard of them.

Next post: House of Lords

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Great Metal Albums of 1989: Protect the Innocent- Part 4, The Wanton and The Warriors

Here’s the fourth and final installment of the greatest metal compilation album of 1989 and possibly all time. The sad part of this is that some of these bands have faded into obscurity.

Dream Theater- The Killing Hand

Acid Reign- Goddess

Femme Fatale- Falling In and Out of Love

Tigertailz- Love Overload

Wrathchild- (Na Na) Nukklear Rokket

Zodiac Mindwarp and the Love Reaction- Backseat Education

House of Lords- I Wanna Be Loved

Well, that completes it. I hope you all loved this entire album. If there was any one compilation which caught the entire essence of heavy metal at the time, then it was “Protect the Innocent.”

Next post: I haven’t fully finished with this album yet. There are two tracks from the final installment which are from albums I missed on the tour of 1988. Therefore, I’m going back and covering those albums. So the next album is Femme Fatale.

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Great Metal Albums of 1989: Protect the Innocent: Side 3- The Wild and the Willing

The “The Protect the Innocent” saga goes on with side three, “The Wild and the Willing.” However, there seems to be no let up in the great metal this album has.

Magnum- Start Talking Love

Vow Wow- Helter Skelter

Megadeath- Rattlehead

Saxon- Back on the Streets

Lita Ford- Kiss Me Deadly

Lisa Dominique- Rock ‘N’ Roll Lady

Exodus- Fabulous Disaster

I hope you’re continuing to enjoy. Three sides down one more to go.

Next post: Protect the Innocent- Side 4, The Wanton and the Warriors

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Great Metal Albums of 1989: Protect the Innocent- Side 2, The Second Reign

Now that you’ve heard the first side of “Protect the Innocent,” I hope it’s left you hungry for more. Here’s side two, titled “The Second Reign.”

Rush- Prime Mover

Cinderella- Gypsy Road

Scorpions- Rhythm of Love

Dio- Dream Evil

Kingdom Come- Get It On

Dogs D’Amour- How Come It Never Rains?

Anthrax- Metal Thrashing Mad

Mammoth- Fat Man

I hope you’ve enjoyed, that’s only half of this magnificent compilation albums so far.

Next post: Protect the Innocent- Side 3, The Wild and the Willing

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Great Metal Albums of 1989: Protect the Innocent- Part 1, The First Chapter

Like I said, I’ve been snowed under with everyone wanting me to do Continuing Professional Development courses, (CPD), that I’m not able to give albums my full attention. In some of my most recent posts, I have made reference to a compilation album which came out in 1989. The album is called, “Protect the Innocent” and you will see what a magnificent album this really is. Because there are 30 blockbuster metal tunes on it, I’m going break it down like it’s done on the record. Therefore, you get side 1 called, “The First Chapter.”

Steppenwolf- Born to Be Wild

Black Sabbath- Paranoid

Deep Purple- Fireball

Motorhead- Ace of Spades

Judas Priest- Breaking the Law

Ted Nugent- Scream Dream

Ozzy Osbourne- The Ultimate Sin

Blue Oyster Cult- Don’t Fear the Reaper

There you have it, enjoy!

Next post: Part 2- The Second Reign

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Spoiler- Unfortunately there are no Iron Maiden songs on the album.

Great Metal Albums of 1989: Mass- Voices in the Night

It’s rather amazing, at least to me, how much difference production on an album can make. On Mass’s album, “Voices in the Night,” the production is much better than their 1986 debut, “New Birth.” Then again, “Voices in the Night” was produced by one Michael Sweet. You might have heard of him, he’s with some band called Stryper. The difference in production between the two albums is like chalk and cheese and we get full appreciation of Mass’s potential, which I knew they always had because I had seen them live on the debut tour.

Thanks to my sister, I already knew the opening title track and it does give an indication of great things to come. That is followed by a straight forward “Nine Tonight,” which is no doubt about meeting someone at nine o’clock. I don’t know if the date goes well but the harmonizing on the song is done very well, almost like Stryper. The better production does allow you to hear what a good singer Louie St August really is.

“Voices in the Night” takes a more metal direction on “Reach for the Sky” as we get some real power chords. It’s the rest of the band’s turn to shine here. Kevin Varrio and Joey Vadala prove what a great rhythm section they are together and Gene D’Itria hammers out the first of many great guitar solos. After that, things slow down as we get the first of two power ballads. In this case, it’s “Chance for Love.” We get more cool harmonizing and Louie doesn’t break a sweat with the change in vocals and Gene hammers out a great solo. It’s a good song but as far as Mass power ballads go, “Do You Love Me?” from the debut is by far their best one.

After that little lull, things go back to some more serious hard rocking on “Turn It All Around” and “Carry Your Heart.” Both are those fist pumping anthem type vibes with some more great harmonizing. They’re those songs you would want to hear played live, especially with the guitar solo as it fades out on “Carry Your Heart.” They go more melodic metal on “Miles Away.” Don’t be fooled by the melody here as it is backed up by some serious power chords. This one could be the hidden gem.

“Call Out Your Name” is the second power ballad on the album and at the beginning, while Louie is singing tenderly, it lures you in with the expectation of a power chord which doesn’t happen until the chorus. When the chords come, they really come and Gene nails the appropriate guitar solo and by now, the harmonizing is without question.

“Follow Me” gets you to do exactly that as it’s the first three songs of the hard rocking exit to the album. It’s nothing spectacular but it does the job, a good straight up rocker. “Staying Alive,” and no it’s not a Bee Gees cover, carries the torch as it’s a great metal tune. It too is a candidate for hidden gem. As for the closer, “Still of the Night,” I get the feeling that I’ve heard this one before but can’t find it. It doesn’t appear on the debut nor the 1988 EP, “Take You Home.” Then again, it doesn’t matter because it rocks the album out to the end.

Track Listing:

1. Voices in the Night
2. Nine Tonight
3. Reach for the Sky
4. Chance to Love
5. Turn It All Around
6. Carry Your Heart
7. Miles Away
8. Call Out Your Name
9. Follow Me
10. Staying Alive
11. Still of the Night

Louie St. August- lead vocals

Gene D’Itria- guitar

Kevin Varrio- bass

Joey Vadala- drums

Michael Sweet- backing vocals

True, we could go for days listing great metal bands which escaped with little notice. Mass was certainly one of those bands who had the potential to go farther than they did. “Voices in the Night” showcased this band’s true potential.

Next post: I’m finally going to post about this compilation album which has contributed to some of the albums I’ve visited recently. Now is a good time because everyone from my employers to the supply teaching agencies I also work for to even the British American Football Referees, which is my hobby I get paid for, all want me to do courses and exams at the moment. So, now is the perfect time to post a compilation album and because the album has 30 songs and on vinyl has seven or eight on one side which are chapters, you will have:

Protect The Innocent: Part 1- The First Chapter

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Great Metal Albums of 1989: Vow Wow- Helter Skelter

Let’s start with the obvious, yes, Vow Wow’s album is named after a famous Beatles song and the one which can be said was the Fab Four’s contribution to heavy metal. Saying that, Vow Wow’s cover of the song is very good and it does appear on that compilation album I keep going on about. It also gives me another idea which I’ll talk more about at the end of the post.

Another point about Vow Wow, which I’m sure I stated when I posted about their previous album, “V.” They were to England what Loudness was to America, a great Japanese metal band which everyone thought kicked ass. It’s a bit of a shame that either band didn’t seem to get traction in the other country. I guess it proves that the US and the UK are two peoples separated by the same language.

The first two tracks of “Helter Skelter” are decent tracks but I also think they were more oriented for commercial radio. For me, the album doesn’t really kick into gear till the third track, “Spellbound” and no it’s not a cover of the Triumph classic. This is a great tune, my favourite on the album and I guess you could call it the hidden gem. From the kick ass guitar intro you get a good steady rocking with some great vocals and backing vocals and you get a cool keyboard/guitar solo tradeoff between Kyoji Yamamoto and Rei Astumi.

After the title track comes the first of two power ballads, “The Boy.” Genki Hitomi does pour his heart into it but I must say, I think he and Minoru Nihara are cut from the same mold in regards to their vocal styles. This is no way a bad thing. One ever so slight disappointment comes in the form of “Rock Me Now.” This track would have rocked me more if the keyboards had been turned down and the guitars turned up! Fortunately, the next track, “Turn on the Night” does rock out and rocks out totally although it does sound a little Kiss-ish. Kyoji’s guitar solo is top notch.

“Never Let You Go” is the second power ballad and Genki sings it with the same conviction as he does “The Boy.” There is some good drumming from Toshihiro Niimi. Then we get back to some rocking with “Night By Night.” However, the album ends as it began with two more commercial friendly tracks although there is a bit of swagger to the penultimate track and the closer is the perfect choice for the job.

Track Listing:

1. Feel the Power
2. Talking ‘Bout You
3. Spellbound
4. Helter Skelter
5. The Boy
6. Rock Me Now
7. Turn on the Night
8. Never Let You Go
9. Night By Night
10. You’re the One For Me
11. Sign of the Times

Vow Wow

Genki Hitomi- vocals

Kyoji Yamamoto- guitars

Rei Astumi- keyboards

Neil Murray- bass

Toshihiro- Niimi- drums

“Helter Skelter” is a solid offering from Vow Wow. Somebody should have suggested a joint tour between them and Loudness, this way we would have had a double whammy of great Japanese metal.

On the subject of the song “Helter Skelter,” there have been so many covers of this classic Beatles song that I propose a post of deciding which one we like most or the original. I formally invite all of you to contribute to a massive joint post on the subject.

Next post: MASS- Voices in the Night

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