It’s that part of the tour of any year where I pay tribute to those artists who have one great song in that year. For 1988, there are three of those who make it to this post. The first one is another example of artists who make it on one side of the Atlantic but not the other. In the UK, Voice of the Beehive will be forever known as one hit wonders for their punk-new wave energised hit, “I Say Nothing.” To my shame, that song has stuck with me ever since I heard it but never dug further. It is my understanding that Voice of the Beehive were much bigger in their native USA.
For the second one, I can’t use the I wasn’t in America at the time excuse because Enya hails from Ireland. My first wife was really into her and her former band Clannad. I never really delved into Enya that much but I do remember this amazing Celtic inspired song “Orinoco Flow.”
Song three comes courtesy of the Australian soap opera “Neighbours.” At the end of 1988, two of the top stars of the soap, played by Jason Donovan and Kylie Minogue, were married. In the soap, not in real life and this song from fellow Aussie singer, Angry Anderson was the wedding’s theme song. To many, a song from a hard rocking bald buy was controversial but it worked and was a huge hit for him and even I like it. It’s a decent power ballad.
Have a listen to the three songs and take yourself back to 1988 and if you were born after, then just remember we had some great music in that year.
Next post: Doninington- Triumph and Tragedy
To buy Rock and Roll Children, email me at tobychainsaw@hotmail.com
It’s amazing what can happen! What started out as a B-side record turned into an album which went platinum worldwide. According to the story, George Harrison told Roy Orbison and Jeff Lynne over dinner that he needed a track recording for his new album and asked Jeff and Roy to help out, to which they agreed. On the way, George stopped at Tom Petty’s house to pick up a guitar he had left there and ended up having Tom come along. He also asked Bob Dylan if they could use his garage to record in. Originally, Bob was just going to be a host but he joined and contributed songs as well and thus the Traveling Wilburys was born.
It was agreed that they would all use the surname and make up first names for their own personas. (See below.) The first song which came out of the collaboration was “Handle With Care,” which was a huge hit. At least everywhere but the USA, where it only got to #45. “Handle With Care” sets the tone for the rest of the album. Light, melodic folk rock songs which definitely puts the easy into easy listening. While there is a similarity in all of the songs, you can hear each Wilbury’s unique stamp in the them. “Dirty World” is definitely Bob Dylan while there is no mistaking Tom Petty on “Last Night” and you get classic Roy Orbison on “Not Alone Anymore.” However, each of the others back one another up with backing or accompanying vocals. The result is fantastic.
One question I asked at the time and I’m sure many others did was how could all of these rock giants make an album together without the clash of egos? I’m sure there might have been disagreements during the song writing and recording, after all, friends have them all of the time. But there is no sound of any of that when the music starts playing. Like I said earlier, they all seem to compliment each other on the songs.
Now for standout tracks. Of course you get the big singles, “Handle With Care” and the closer, “End of the Line,” which was also a single and George led. While I can’t say there’s a filler track on the album, I did pick out a hidden gem, which happens to be “Tweeter and the Monkey Man.” It’s exclusively sung by Bob and from what I glean for the lyrics, it’s about two drug dealers on the run. It’s a dark song and the heavy guitar adds to the darkness. So does the chorus as the rest of the Wilburys sing “And the walls came down all the way to hell.” It’s brilliantly done.
Track Listing:
Handle With Care
Dirty World
Rattled
Last Night
Not Alone Anymore
Congratulations
Heading for the Light
Margarita
Tweeter and the Monkey Man
End of the Line
Traveling Wilburys
Nelson Wilbury (George Harrison)- lead and backing vocals, guitars, slide guitar
Otis Wilbury (Jeff Lynne)- lead and backing vocals, guitars, bass, drums and cowbell on “Handle With Care”
Charlie T. Wilbury Jr. (Tom Petty)- lead and backing vocals, acoustic guitar
Lefty Wilbury (Roy Orbison)- lead and backing vocals, acoustic guitar
Lucky Wilbury (Bob Dylan)- lead and backing vocals, acoustic guitar, harmonica
Additional Musicians:
Buster Sidebury (Jim Keltner)- drums, percussion
Jim Horn- saxophone
Ray Cooper- percussion
Ian Wallace- tom toms
Two months after the album’s release, tragedy struck when Roy passed away from a sudden heart attack. However, the album would go onto win many awards and achieve great things. As one critic put it: The Traveling Wilburys was the greatest commercial coup of the decade. It turns out the elders of rock could teach the younger upstarts a thing or two.
Next post: One Hit Wonders of 1988
If anyone’s interested, I’ve written another wrestling script which is available to buy and download. Go to https://promixedwrestling.com/ and look for “Eva vs. Loxleigh- Grudge Match.”
Action from Eva vs. Loxleigh
To buy Rock and Roll Children, email me at: tobychainsaw@hotmail.com
I’ve discovered an interesting point about 1988. Between the heavy metal and synth pop, if there was music that was new and a bit different, people would listen to it. It could be a reason behind the success of such acts as Tracy Chapman, Tanita Tikarim and the Proclaimers, although the fact that they all made some good music had a lot to do with it as well. Thus, the same could be said for London based band, Fairground Attraction, who made their mark on the UK music scene with their number one hit, “Perfect,” from their debut album, “First of a Million Kisses.”
The big single, “Perfect,” which the band is most remembered for, is indicative of what the album is. There is an almost 1930s or 40s jazz sound to many of the songs. Many of which has that ‘make you snap your fingers along to the beat’ vibe to them. Other tracks have more of a folk flavour, especially the more mellower songs like “Moon on the Rain.” Researching the album, Wikipedia describes the genre as skiffle, which is said to be a mix of jazz, country, blue grass and the blues, a very interesting combination indeed but it’s probably the best way to categorize the album if one feels the need to do so. Before now, I didn’t know such a genre existed. I guess you learn something new everyday.
What I find very amusing is the contrast in the lyrics between the two biggest singles, (four were released), the fore-mentioned “Perfect” and “Find My Love.” On “Perfect,” vocalist Eddi Reader, sings that she is looking for someone who is perfect and she won’t settle for second best. However, on “Find My Love,” she is desperately seeking a boy out there who wants this girl. A bit of a contradiction don’t you think? But that’s my weird mind for you.
Speaking of Eddi, it’s her vocals that are the biggest element on the album. She has an amazing voice and unlike some singers at the time, she could change her vocal style to fit the song. She can sing the ballads with as much convincing conviction as she does the more jazzy songs. On “Fairground Attraction,” she stretches her voice way out there. Another brilliant example comes in the form of the hidden gem. Come on, there has to be a hidden gem and on this album, it’s “Clare.” She does that jazz vocals really well and of course, the rest of the band backs her up very nicely. I definitely like the clarinet in the song. However, I am still not surprised that she would eventually pursue a solo career.
Track Listing:
A Smile in a Whisper
Perfect
Moon on the Rain
Find My Love
Fairground Attraction
The Wind Knows My Name
Clare
Comedy Waltz
The Moon is Mine
Station Street
Whispers
Allelujah
Falling Backwards
Mythology
The last two tracks were only on the CD
Fairground Attraction
Eddi Reader- vocals
Mark E. Nevin- guitar
Simon Edwards- guitarron
Ray Dodds- drums, percussion
Guest Musicians:
Kim Burton- accordion, harp, piano
Robert Beaujolais- vibes, glockenspiel
Anthony Thistlewaite- mandolin
Steve Forster- mandolin
Ian Shaw- backing vocals
Will Hasty- clarinet
Fairground Attraction did bring something unique to the UK music scene in 1988 as their album, “First of a Million Kisses” proves. Many people really dug their brand of skiffle and while they weren’t metal, I found the album rather enjoyable, even back then.
Next post: Night Ranger- Man in Motion
To buy Rock and Roll Children, email me at: tobychainsaw@hotmail.com
With “Diamond Sun” being the second album from Canadians, Glass Tiger, I had no pre-conceived notions about what the album should or shouldn’t sound like. After posting on their debut album, “The Thin Red Line,” I knew they weren’t a metal band but more of a pop-rock outfit. While that might have put me off in 1988, it doesn’t do so now and I appreciate what a good album “Diamond Sun” is.
It seems that with the first two tracks, Glass Tiger seemed to be copying U2 as that’s what those tracks remind of. Al Connelly’s riffs are similar to those of the The Edge on these tracks and if I didn’t know better, it could have been Bono singing on the tracks instead of Alan Frew. Now, I’m not condemning Glass Tiger for this influence because both of those songs are pretty good, it’s just my insane mind picking things like that up.
Glass Tiger do go more original on the third track, “I’m Still Searching,” which I have discovered went to number two in the Canadian charts. So, well done to them. Listening to the track, it is definitely a made for radio commercial rock song and it does have a catchy vibe to it. My only minor criticism is they should have let Al do a longer guitar solo. Right after, we come to the ballad, “A Lifetime of Moments.” I’m surprised that this one wasn’t released as a single because it’s also a radio friendly ballad. I do love the sax solo from guest musician, Earl Seymour.
They do rock things up a bit more of “It’s Love U Feel” and while the bassline is present for many of the songs, it is definitely the driving force behind the song. Full marks to Wayne Parker but while the tempo picks up and there are some good little guitar hooks, it reminds a little of Duran Duran, except for the cool guitar solo. The track “Send Your Love” is in a similar vein to this one and that included a cool guitar solo.
Full marks should also be given to the band for not being afraid to explore. On “My Song,” they get with Irish folk band, The Chieftains, and make a really nice sounding Gaelic rock tune. As for the hidden gem, it’s a no brainer, the power ballad, “(Watching) Worlds Crumble” wins it hands down. It’s great listening to Alan Frew croon his way through with power chords and a great solo from Al Connelly. The piano parts from Sam Reid bring an air of tenderness to the song before a cool drum fill from Michael Hanson lead the charge which takes the song out on a high. “Suffer in Silence” has a Stevie Nicks feel on the intro but other than that, nothing special and while “This Island Earth” is a good closer, it does go on a little too long.
Track Listing:
Diamond Sun
Far Away From Here
I’m Still Searching
A Lifetime of Moments
It’s Love U Feel
My Song
(Watching) Worlds Crumble
Send Your Love
Suffer in Silence
This Island Earth
Glass Tiger
Alan Frew- vocals
Al Connelly- guitar
Sam Reid- keyboards
Wayne Parker- bass
Michael Hanson- drums, additional guitars
Additional Musicians:
Dabello, Arnold Lanni, Sheree Jeacocke, Colina Phillips- backing vocals
Keith Scott- additional guitar
Jim Vallance- additional drums and keyboards
Rene Worst- additional fretless bass
Earl Seymour- saxophone
Full credit where due, Glass Tiger was a very talented band and it shows on this album. I might have passed this one by back in 1988, especially as it was unheard of in the UK but I can appreciate it now.
Next post: The Bangles- Everything
To buy Rock and Roll Children, email me at: tobychainsaw@hotmail.com
Technically, I’m a year late with The Proclaimers. They first came to the attention of Great Britain and mine in 1987 with their first single, “Letter From America.” When I heard it, I thought the song was quite amusing and better than the manufactured synth pop around at the time. However, KISS’s “Crazy, Crazy Nights” was also in the top ten at the time, therefore, that song didn’t get the attention from me as it should have.
One year can make a hell of a difference and when The Proclaimers again hit the charts with what is probably their biggest song, “”I’m Gonna Be (500 miles),” I was ready. I liked the thumping guitar intro to it. Plus, there is no question as to their Scottish nationality when these two twins sing. They say that twins have a bond and this is true in the case of Charlie and Craig Reid. Especially the way they sing the “den, den, den lendas” on it. It’s one of those songs which is still fondly remembered today.
What about the rest of the album? Well, I can safely say that The Proclaimers carry on their own version of Scottish folk rock throughout the album. On the second track, “Cap in Hand,” there is a “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” vibe on it. Yes, I’m talking about the Queen classic. Only two songs into the album and we already have the hit single and the hidden gem. “Cap in Hand” was used as a rallying song during the 2014 Scottish Independence Referendum. That takes nothing away from “Then I Met You” which is has some good guitar hooks and an acoustic guitar solo to accompany the unique vocals provided by the twins.
“My Old Friend the Blues” proves that The Proclaimers were just as capable of turning about a ballad or two. What I didn’t know was that the song was written by Steve Earle, who will be getting a post on here in the not too distant future. They go from ballad to mid-tempo rock song on “Sean.” The guitar in the background makes the song and while I have already praised the vocals of the Reid twins, I think the guitar talents of Jerry Donahue need praising as well. He does deliver the goods on the album.
The title track closes out the first half of the album and it’s a mellow ballad. It seems to lament about a broken heart or possibly the depressing life many people in Scotland felt at the time. It’s definitely a melancholy ballad but it’s effective.
Maybe it’s probably best to listen to this album on vinyl or cassette. This way you get to prepare for the jump from melancholy ballad to the more upbeat “Come on Nature.” This would be a good sing-a-long track if you and friends were sitting around drinking beers, either in a pub or someone’s living room. Following that is the second single, “I’m On My Way,” which wasn’t nearly as successful as the first one but I really like it. Probably why it didn’t do as well. I love the tempo to this track and how the Craig and Charles bounce the “Uh huh’s” back and forth.
“What Do You Do” is another melancholy ballad but with a difference. The brothers Reid make their political feelings quite clear. My hypothesis is that the song was a reaction to the 1987 UK general election where the Labour Party basically swept Scotland but because the Conservative Party won big in England, especially in the South East, a Conservative government was elected. Furthermore, there was the North-South divide where the South of the UK seemed to be getting richer while the North was getting poorer. “It’s Saturday Night” is a tribute to those who go out and get drunk every Saturday night because that’s all there is to do. I do love the line “The drink that I had three hours ago has been joined by 14 others in a steady flow.”
“Teardrops” is an amusing acoustic number in which the twins have a lot of fun singing and I can say similar for the closer “Oh Jean.” It’s not acoustic but the song has a party feel but then maybe one of the brothers had a pleasurable experience from whoever Jean is. It ends the album very well.
Track Listing:
I’m Gonna Be (500 miles)
Cap in Hand
Then I Met You
My Old Friend the Blues
Sean
Sunshine on Leith
Come on Nature
I’m On My Way
What Do You Do
Saturday Night
Teardrops
Oh Jean
The Proclaimers
Craig Reid- vocals, percussion
Charles Reid- vocals, acoustic guitar
Additional Musicians:
Jerry Donahue- electric and acoustic guitars
Gary Hogan- steel guitar
Dave Whetstone- melodeon
Phil Cranham- bass
David Mattacks- drums, percussion
Paul Robinson- drums, percussion
What I realize now that I didn’t realize back in 1988 was how many decent non-metal rock acts there were. The Proclaimers definitely brought a unique sound to the music of the year as the album “Sunshine on Leith” shows.
Next post: Kansas- In the Spirit of Things
To buy Rock and Roll Children, email me at: tobychainsaw@hotmail.com
On a side note, a women’s wrestling match, Autumn Rose vs. Lady Lolita, which I contributed on the script to is available to buy and download here: https://promixedwrestling.com/downloads/
It’s my Swiss cheese memory again. I had no memory that Big Country had put out an album in 1988, which was bizarre because I was living in London at the time and “Peace in Our Time” went to number nine in the UK charts. Fortunately, a follower named Damien saved my bacon by emailing me asking I include the album in my 1988 posts. So, thank you Damien! Listening to the album, I am glad I followed his suggestion.
What a paradox the opening track, “King of Emotion” is. The song just missed the top ten in both the US and UK charts but that’s not important. What is important is that it begins with a drum beat which reminds me of the Grand Funk Railroad classic, “We’re An American Band.” Some sections of the song sound like Spandau Ballet trying to go hard rock. We know they couldn’t but with Big Country, there is no need as this turns out to be a pretty viable commercial rock tune.
The next four tracks are good solid tracks but as a whole, not mind blowing. The second single, “Broken Heart,” has a background guitar which would have made The Edge jealous. What Big Country accomplish is their blend of Celtic folk rock, hard rock and elements of new wave and it’s all done with great success. All of those songs have a catchy melody backed up by the power chords of a guitar and each one is quite enjoyable in its own right. Saying that, I like the intros of tracks three and four, the progressive sound of “From Here to Eternity” and the acoustic intro on “Everything I Need.” Both are hauntingly catchy.
Starting the swing to more harder rock in the second half of the album is the title track which is also the hidden gem of the album. It was released as a single but barely cracked the top 40 in the UK. So for me, having no memory of the song, it qualifies as a hidden gem. I just love the way the guitar kicks in to start things off and the U2 meets Guns N Roses guitar sound in the background just rocks. Okay, there are no blistering solos but there’s a guitar riff in the middle which is definitely ear catching.
Tracks seven through ten are sort of like those of two to five, only there seems to be a definite harder rock feel to them. Still, the melodies behind the songs are no less catchy and will have you dancing around the kitchen if you aren’t careful. “River of Hope” really rocks with the guitars and drums. Then just to change things up is the ballad, “In This Place.” It starts off as a soft piano ballad but the guitars come in and give it a bit more kick. “I Could Be Happy Here” ends the album in the right frame of mind and I do like the guitar hooks as it fades out.
Track Listing:
King of Emotion
Broken Heart (Thirteen Valleys)
Thousand Yard Stare
From Here to Eternity
Everything I Need
Peace In Our Time
Time for Leaving
River of Hope
In This Place
I Could Be Happy Here
Big Country
Stuart Adamson- guitar, vocals, piano, e-bow
Mark Brzezicki- drums, percussion
Tony Butler- bass, vocals, guitar
Bruce Watson- guitar, harmonica, e-bow, mandolin, sitar, vocals
“Peace in Our Time” was near fatal miss for me back in 1988. Fortunately, thanks to Damien and the Tubes of You, I got to appreciate what a great album it is.
Next post: Tina Turner- Tina Live in Europe
To buy Rock and Roll Children, email me at: tobychainsaw@hotmail.com
This post is going to be a little shorter than normal. It’s also telling me that I should have bought Michelle Shocked’s 1988 album, “Short Sharp Shocked” back in the day. I have tried to find the album on both Youtube and Spotify but it has been non existent on both. It has been suggested the reason for this is that many of Michelle’s music was taken down on account of supposed homophobic comments she made in 1990. Therefore, I am going to have to write this post on memory and the two songs which appear on Youtube, one of them being a cover done by someone else.
My introduction to Michelle came by the heavy metal hating Sun newspaper. Does anyone see a pattern here with the last three posts? The ‘critic’ was moaning that first there was Tracy Chapman, then Tanita Tikarim and now Michelle Shocked and the critic was tired of all these female protest folk singers. Maybe it was the fact that the social-political content of the lyrics of all three singers didn’t agree with the right wing politics of that paper.
Musically, my introduction to Michelle came from the single, “Anchorage.” If I can remember correctly, the song is about a young couple trying to make it in the Alaska but don’t take that as gospel. I do remember Michelle’s unique vocals and the folk rock sounding guitar. While I can’t say for sure, most of the songs on the album follow in the same folk rock vein.
The one song I was able to listen to on the Tubes of You was “The L&N Don’t Stop Here Anymore.” This tempo is very upbeat and the violin in the background accents the song very well. It also has a strong and pronounced thudding bassline while at the same time, Michelle laments the hard life of coal miners and their loss of livelihoods as the coal industry began to shut down in the late 1970s and early 80s. Her vocals are well suited to the songs. I speculate if this and “Anchorage” are typical of what Michelle does on the rest of the album, then it must be a pretty good one.
Track Listing:
When I Grow Up
Hello Hopeville
Memories of East Texas
(Making the Run to) Gladewater
Graffiti Limo
If Love Was a Train
Anchorage
The L&N Don’t Stop Here Anymore
V.F.D.
Black Widow
Fog Town (hidden track)
Michelle Shocked
Michelle Shocked- vocals, acoustic guitar
Pete Anderson- electric guitar, six string bass
Jeff Donovan- drums
Dominic Genova- electric and acoustic bass
Skip Edwards- piano, organ
Michael Tempo- percussion
Al Perkins- dobro
Byron Berline- mandolin
Don Reed- fiddle
Rod Piazza- harmonica
Kristina Olsen- hammered dulcimer
Banjo Jim Croce- banjo
Sophia Ramos- vocals
MCS- vocals on “Fogtown”
Apologies, I wish I could say more about “Short Sharp Shocked” but that’s not the case. I can say what I’ve heard from the album, I liked. If any of you have the album, feel free to further my education here.
Next post: Weird Al Yankovic- Even Worse
To buy Rock and Roll Children, email me at: tobychainsaw@hotmail.com
It was said in 1988 and I eluded to it in my post on Tracy Chapman, that Tracy opened up a path for female folk singers. I can’t say for sure it was the case but one such singer to come through in regard to it was British singer, Tanita Tikarim. Some people even called her a British Tracy Chapman but I think that was a little off the mark. Tanita had her own voice and style and you had to look deeper into her songs to glean the messages behind them. Still, that wasn’t a bad thing because I liked Tanita as much as I did Tracy.
Her debut 1988 album, “Ancient Heart,” brought forth four singles. The best known of these was “Good Tradition,” which went to number ten in the UK charts. While this screams, “pop single,” it’s easy to see why to see the song had such mass appeal. The blend of instruments and her upbeat tempo make the song cool.
The other singles weren’t as successful at least in the UK. “Twist in My Sobriety” only made it to #22 in the charts but it was most successful song for her internationally. Critics said the song was too depressing and the message behind it was unclear but I don’t agree. It might have been sung in a somber manner but but Tanita has the voice and style to pull it off. However, the other two singles, “Cathedral Song” and “World Outside My Window” failed to break the top forty. Now as you know by now, I don’t really care about things like that and I actually like “Cathedral Song.” It’s a straight forward folk song about two swimmers finding love in a summer setting. “World Outside My Window” is more pop oriented but it does lack the energy of “Good Tradition.”
You know by now, and I’m not alone in doing so, but I look beyond the hits on an album, always in search of the hidden gem. I’ll get to the gem in a second but the runner up is “I Love You,” which has some good soft rock. It’s a love song but at the same time not one. The predecessor, “Sighing Innocents,” is the hidden gem. When I hear it, I picture myself in a smoke filled cafe, yes, I know you can’t smoke in them these days, with Tanita on stage singing into the mike. Like “I Love You,” it is a great folk tune with a message.
She does change things up with “For All These Years.” A horn is heard in the background which gives it a more haunting edge. The song is about two lovers aged 17 and 16 who don’t know how to express that love. But if you want contradiction, the track “Poor Cow” is about a person not wanting to celebrate their birthday but it’s done in a upbeat manner. The guitar in “He Likes the Sun” is a throwback to 1970s progressive rock reminiscent of Blood, Sweat and Tears. Halfway through the song, things change and she rocks out a bit. The change works because one second you’re kicking back digging the vibe and then get abruptly woken up. The shock doesn’t last long but you definitely rmember it. It’s also runner up as hidden gem. “Valentine Heart” is an excellent piano ballad.
Being in the folk rock vein with social conscience, the metal hating UK newspaper, The Sun, came out against her. It’s music critic stated that Tanita sounded like a bullfrog when she sang. True, she does have a deeper voice and maybe she wouldn’t make a great metal singer but her voice fits her musical style very comfortably.
Track Listing:
Good Tradition
Cathedral Song
Sighing Innocents
I Love You
World Outside Your Window
For All These Years
Twist in My Sobriety
Poor Cow
He Likes the Sun
Valentine Heart
Preyed Upon
Tanita Tikarim
Tanita Tikarim- vocals, guitar
Additional Musicians:
Mark Isham- trumpet, flugelhorn
Paul Brady- mandolin
David Lindley- violin
Marc Ribot- guitar
Rod Argent- keyboards
Brendan Crocker- guitar
Pete Beachill- trombone
Mitch Dalton- guitar
Martin Ditcham- percussion
John Georgiadis- violin
Keith Harvey- cello
Noel Langley- trumpet
Malcolm Messiter- oboe
Helen O’Hara- violin
Brendan O’Reilly- violin
Phillip Todd- saxophone
Peter Van Hooke- drums
Clem Clempson- guitar
Mark Creswell- guitar
Ian Jewel- viola
Rory McFarlane- bass
Wow, that’s a lot of musicians! I’m surprised Steve Lukather didn’t play on the album.
While I won’t call Tanita Tikarim a British Tracy Chapman, she also helped breathed a bit of fresh air into a stale music industry back in 1988. Like Tracy, she proved that there could be a good alternative to metal or synth pop.
Next post: Michelle Shocked- Short, Sharp, Shocked
To buy Rock and Roll Children, email me at: tobychainsaw@hotmail.com
With music seeming to go into the bubblegum pop of Stock, Aiken and Waterman camp or to heavy metal and even metal was beginning to fragment in 1988, Tracy Chapman’s self titled debut album breathed much needed fresh air into the music scene. She didn’t need all the modern synthesizer gadgets or heavy electric guitar power chords. Just basic instruments, a fantastic singing voice and songs which had great messages and accurately described the times. It was no wonder she shot straight to superstardom.
Some thought a metalhead like myself wasn’t supposed to like Tracy’s music. Furthermore, one woman I dated for a little while was quite surprised that a man would actually like her music. Both philosophies are total rubbish! But just in case, I had a quick look down and all the bits are still there. My counter is what is there about Tracy not to like? Like I said, her music is straight to the point and her fine voice conveys her social observations going on in 1988.
It’s the messages behind her songs which I really like. “Talkin’ Bout a Revolution” is a call for social change. It looks behind the smoke screen which was created by the American media machine and it makes you think. Some think the track, “Across the Lines” was a dig at apartheid in South Africa but it also highlighted the growing racial tensions in America and how nothing there becomes a problem until it hits middle class white suburbia.
Let us not forget the ultra number one hit, “Fast Car.” It’s about two young lovers escaping their sad surroundings and heading for a more promising life in the big city only to find that nothing had really changed and all the man had to offer was his fast car. A really disturbing track is the a cappella “Behind the Wall.” It’s about a woman suffering from domestic abuse but the police don’t seem to bother or can’t do anything because it’s a domestic issue. The lyrics are harrowing.
There is a calypso vibe to “Baby Can I Hold You.” This sounds like a genuine love song but there was no law that every song had to be a social or political commentary. That same vibe continues on with “Mountains O’ Things.” Tracy states she will be dreaming and the laid back rhythm makes this easy to do. On the subject of vibes, I get a Dire Straits one on “She’s Got Her Ticket.” Okay, the song sounds reggae but the lead guitar hooks had me checking the credits to see if Mark Knopfler had played on the song.
She goes back to more political lyrics with “Why?” and that’s another aspect of the album I love. Tracy’s songs stirred up some fear in the establishment. One critic poo-pooed this and “Talkin’ Bout a Revolution” on the grounds that Tracy was too good for left wing altruism. Even the right wing heavy metal hating UK newspaper, “The Sun” came out against her lyrics. Tracy was singing from her heart and what I believe is that then serving president, Ronald Reagan, had spent his entire presidency vilifying the 1960s and here come this black woman singing in the style that made protest music relevant back then. I think the establishment was a little scared.
Ronald Reagan
“For My Lover” is about a young wife trying to provide for her family while her husband is in jail and at the same time, trying to raise the bail money. It’s another moving song commenting about the times and is the climax to the album. The two remaining tracks are easy listening tracks which you can just float away to. A great way to end the album.
Jack Holder- electric guitar, organ, piano, sitar, dulcimer, dobro
Steve Kaplan- harmonica, keyboards
Larry Klein- bass
David La Flamme- electric violin
Bob Marlette- keyboards
Tracy Chapman not only brought something different to the music scene of 1988, she brought a revolution of her own with her debut album. Once again, we had some simple, no nonsense music which conveyed thought provoking messages which both trendies and metalheads liked. She also paved the way for others, which I will be covering in the next few posts.
Next post: Tanita Tikarim- Ancient Heart
To buy Rock and Roll Children, email me at: tobychainsaw@hotmail.com
80smetalman's Blog 