Ozzy Osbourne "Bark At The Moon"

I meant to post this back on November 15, but i lost track of the days.  Anyways, on November 15, 1983 Ozzy Osbourne released his third studio album entitled "Bark At The Moon."  This was the first Ozzy solo album to feature former Rough Cutt guitarist Jake E. Lee who replaced the late great Randy Rhoads after his death.  This was also the first Ozzy album to feature Tommy Aldridge on drums.  One of the biggest issues with this album is the fact that when it was released, it said that all songs were written by Ozzy Osbourne.  Jake E. Lee was not happy with this as we wrote a lot of the material for the album.  Ozzy has stated that it was co-written by him and Lee.  Lee stated on an episode of That Metal Show that he wanted credit for what he wrote for Bark At The Moon.  Just like Ozzy's first two solo albums, this album sold very well.  It peaked at No. 19 on the U.S. Billboard album charts and was certified Gold (selling 500,000) in the U.S. within just weeks after its release.  It has now sold over 3 million copies in the U.S. to date.  My favorite songs from the album are the title track, "You're No Different," and "Rock N Roll Rebel."  I own this album on cd, cassette, and vinyl.  What are your favorite songs from the album?  Do you own the album?  Did you buy the album when it came out?  Did you like/dislike the album? 

Personnel:

Ozzy Osbourne - Vocals

Jake E. Lee - Guitar

Bob Daisley - Bass Guitar

Tommy Aldridge - Drums

Don Airey - Keyboards

Track Listing:

1.  Bark At The Moon

2.  You're No Different

3.  Now You See It (Now You Don't)

4.  Rock N Roll Rebel

5.  Centre Of Eternity

6.  So Tired

7.  Slow Down

8.  Waiting For Darkness

W.A.S.P. "Inside The Electric Circus"

During this week in November of 1986, W.A.S.P. released their third studio album entitled "Inside The Electric Circus."  I wasn't able to find the exact release date for this album either.  Some sources say November of this week, others even say September.  This was the first album to feature Blackie Lawless playing rhythm guitar.  After Randy Piper left the band after the "Last Command" tour, Blackie voted against playing bass on another album, so they brought in King Kobra bassist Johnny Rod into the band to play bass so Blackie could play guitar.  This was also the last W.A.S.P. studio album to feature Steve Riley on drums, as he left after the "Inside The Electric Circus" tour.  The title track "Inside The Electric Circus," refers to the band's point of view when they look out into the audience describing it as a "circus" and the "animals are all insane."  Blackie has often described this album as the band's worst album.  He said it was a "tired record done by a tired band," implying that they had been recording and touring non stop with no time to write a good follow up record.  The charts spoke otherwise though.  The album reached No. 60 on the Billboard 200 albums chart in the U.S. in 1987 and remained on the chart for 19 weeks.  This however did not match the success of their previous album, "The Last Command."  The album also featured two covers which was a little unusual for the band.  The covers were the highly successful Humble Pie's "I Don't Need No Doctor" and the Uriah Heep cover "Easy Living."  W.A.S.P. fans either like or dislike this album though, there's no in between.  I own this album on cd, cassette, and vinyl.  My favorite songs off the album are the title track, "Shoot From The Hip," and "Restless Gypsy."  What are your favorite songs from the album?  Do you own the album? Were you able to buy it when it came out?  Did you like/dislike the album?

Personnel:
Blackie Lawless - Lead Vocals & Rhythm Guitar
Chris Holmes - Lead Guitar
Johnny Rod - Bass Guitar & Vocals
Steve Riley - Drums & Vocals

Track Listing:
1.  The Big Welcome
2.  Inside The Electric Circus
3.  I Don't Need No Doctor
4.  9.5. N.A.S.T.Y.
5.  Restless Gypsy
6.  Shoot From The Hip
7.  I'm Alive
8.  Easy Living
9.  Sweet Cheetah
10.  Mantronic
11.  King Of Sodom And Gomorrah
12.  The Rock Rolls On

Motley Crue "Too Fast For Love" Leathur Records

On this day (November 10, 1981), Motley Crue released their debut album entitled "Too Fast For Love" on their own record label "Leathur Records."  I was a bit unsure of the exact release date, some sources say this day, others say it wasn't released until December.  There were three different pressings of "Too Fast For Love." The first pressing is the rarest and most valuable with only about 900 to 2,000 copies being pressed according to most sources.  The first pressing had an all black and white cover like the first picture above.  Vince Neil also threw a fit about it because on the back and on the lyric insert his hair was completely blown up and looked horrible as you can see in the picture.  The 2nd and 3rd pressing had the same cover which was restored to color with red lettering instead of black and white.  The 2nd and 3rd pressings are the most common, especially on Ebay, but be prepared to spend about anywhere from 100 to 300 dollars as it is a very sought after collectable.  Too Fast For Love would later go on to be rereleased by Elektra/Asylum Records in August of 1982.  The Elektra version featured a different song order and omitted the song "Stick To Your Guns" for some stupid reason.  The album was also partially rerecorded and remixed for the Elektra release.  In July of 2005, Motley Crue rereleased the 3rd pressing of Leathur Too Fast For Love on vinyl limited to 5,000 copies.  With it also came a rerelease sealed copy of the Crue's first single "Stick To Your Guns/Toast Of The Town.  Both also had limited edition gold stamps on them as well.  Most Crue fans seem to prefer the Leathur version over the Elektra version, as the Elektra version took away a lot of the rawness that the Leathur version had.  I unfortunately do not own any of the original pressings, but have been trying to win a copy off Ebay.  I was however, able to get a copy of the rerelease and that alone is probably the rarest Crue item I have.  My favorite songs off the album are "Live Wire," "Merry-Go-Round," and "On With The Show."  What are your favorite songs from the album?  Do you own any of the pressings?  Were you able to buy it when it came out?  Did you like/dislike it?

Personnel:
Vince Neil - Lead Vocals
Nikki Sixx - Bass Guitar
Mick Mars - Guitar & Vocals
Tommy Lee - Drums & Percussion, Vocals

Track Listing:
1.  Live Wire
2.  Public Enemy #1
3.  Take Me To The Top
4.  Merry-Go-Round
5.  Piece Of Your Action
6.  Starry Eyes
7.  Stick To Your Guns
8.  Come On And Dance
9.  Too Fast For Love
10.  On With The Show

W.A.S.P. "The Last Command"

On this day (November 9, 1985), W.A.S.P. released their second studio album entitled "The Last Command."  I was a bit unsure of the release date of this album as most sources say that it was released today, whereas others say it was in late October, but does it really matter?  W.A.S.P. kicks ass!  The album is more or less a "stand up" to the PMRC (Parents Music Resource Center) who declared war on bands and artists that used violent, vulgar, and sexually explicit lyrics in their music.  This album was W.A.S.P.'s first album to sell over a million copies certifying it Platinum.  This is also W.A.S.P.'s highest charting album in the U.S.  It reached No. 47 on the U.S. Billboard 200 album chart in early 1986.  This was also the first album to feature Tony Richards' replacement, Steve Riley on drums and was the last W.A.S.P. album to feature co-founding member Randy Piper on guitar.  After riding off the success of their self-titled album, W.A.S.P. decided to take a different direction with this album.  Bassist and lead singer Blackie Lawless stated in an interview that he played about 14 different instruments on this album.  The opening song "Wild Child," was originally written by Blackie to give to Motley Crue because him and Nikki Sixx were friends, but Nikki felt that the song was out of Vince Neil's vocal range.  The song "Cries In The Night," is a remake version of the song "Mr. Cool," a song that Blackie used to play in his old bands called Sister and Circus Circus.  "Sex Drive" is also a song that Blackie used to play in Sister.  My favorite songs off this album are "Widowmaker," "Blind In Texas," and "The Last Command."  I also own this album on cd, cassette, and vinyl.  What are your favorite songs off the album?  Do you own the album?  Were you able to buy it when it came out?  Did you like/dislike it?

Personnel:
Blackie Lawless - Lead Vocals & Bass Guitar
Chris Holmes - Lead & Rhythm Guitar
Randy Piper - Lead & Rhythm Guitar, Vocals
Steve Riley - Drums & Vocals

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

Motorhead "Ace Of Spades"

On this day (November 8, 1980), Motorhead released their monumental fourth studio album entitled "Ace Of Spades."  While often considered as the band's best album, it is also seen as one of the most influential hard rock/heavy metal albums.  It is also said to be the most influential album that helped spawn the 1980's thrash metal movement.  The album was also listed in the book called "1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die."  The album also peaked at No. 4 on the U.K. album charts and was certified Gold by March of 1981.  My favorite songs from this album are the title track, "Love Me Like A Reptile," and "The Hammer."  I unfortunately do not own this album, but will definitely pick it up at some point in the future.  Do you own this album? Were you able to buy it when it was released?  What are your favorite songs from the album? Did you like/dislike it?

Personnel:
Lemmy Kilmister - Lead Vocals & Bass Guitar
Eddie Clarke - Guitar
Phil Taylor - Drums

Track Listing:
1.  Ace Of Spades
2.  Love Me Like A Reptile
3.  Shoot You In The Back
4.  Live To Win
5.  Fast And Loose
6.  (We Are) The Road Crew
7.  Fire, Fire
8.  Jailbait
9.  Dance
10.  Bite The Bullet
11.  The Chase Is Better Than The Catch
12.  The Hammer

Ozzy Osbourne "Diary Of A Madman"

On this day (November 7, 1981), Ozzy Osbourne released his second studio album entitled "Diary Of A Madman."  This is probably my favorite Ozzy solo album.  This album sadly was the last album to feature guitarist Randy Rhoads who died in a plane crash the following year.  The album was also certified triple platinum (selling over 3 million copies) in the U.S. in October of 1994.  In honor of Randy Rhoads, in 2011, this album and "Blizzard of Ozz" were rereleased as a Deluxe 30 year anniversary edition.  My favorite songs from this album would have to be the title track and "You Can't Kill Rock N Roll."  I also own this album on cd, vinyl, and cassette.  Do you own this album? Did you buy it or were you able to buy it when it was released?  What are your favorite songs from the album.

Personnel:
Ozzy Osbourne - Lead & Backing Vocals
Randy Rhoads - Guitars
Bob Daisley - Bass Guitar
Lee Kerslake - Drums & Percussion

Track Listing:
1.  Over The Mountain
2.  Flying High Again
3.  You Can't Kill Rock N Roll
4.  Believer
5.  Little Dolls
6.  Tonight
7.  S.A.T.O.
8.  Diary Of A Madman 

Iron Maiden "Live After Death"

All great rock/metal bands in history always released that one great live album and the British heavy metal band Iron Maiden was no exception.  On this day (October 14, 1985), Iron Maiden released their first ever live album called "Live After Death."  It was recorded during their World Slavery Tour 84/85 in support of their fifth studio album "Powerslave."  The majority of the live album was recorded at Long Beach Arena in Long Beach, CA and the last 5 songs on the album were recorded at the London Hammersmith Odeon in London, England.  The live album contained live tracks from all of Iron Maiden's previous studio albums making it a must-have live album for any Maiden fan.  Songs that were included were hits such as "The Number Of The Beast," "Run To The Hills," and "The Trooper."  My favorites from this album were "Running Free," "Hallowed Be Thy Name," and "2 Minutes To Midnight."  I unfortunately only own this album on cassette.  What are your favorite tracks from the album.  Did you buy the album when it came out?  Do you currently own the album?  Did you like/dislike the album?

Personnel:

Bruce Dickinson - lead vocals and guitar on "Revelations"
Dave Murray - guitars
Adrian Smith -  guitars and backing vocals
Steve Harris - bass guitar and backing vocals
Nicko McBrain - drums

Track Listing:

1.  Intro:  Churchill's Speech
2.  Aces High
3.  2 Minutes To Midnight
4.  The Trooper
5.  Revelations
6.  Flight Of Icarus
7.  Rime Of The Ancient Mariner
8.  Powerslave
9.  The Number Of The Beast
10.  Hallowed Be Thy Name
11.  Iron Maiden
12.  Run To The Hills
13.  Running Free
14.  Wrathchild
15.  22 Acacia Avenue
16.  Children Of The Damned
17.  Die With Your Boots On
18.  Phantom Of The Opera