Black 'n Blue (album)
| Black 'n Blue | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black 'n Blue studio album | ||||
|
Publication |
August 1984 |
|||
| Label (s) | Geffen | |||
|
Format (s) |
LP, MC |
|||
|
Title (number) |
10 |
|||
|
running time |
39:50 |
|||
| occupation |
|
|||
|
Studio (s) |
Dierks Studios , Stommeln near Cologne |
|||
|
||||
Black 'n Blue is the 1984 debut album by Portland , Oregon , Los Angeles , California based hard rock band Black' n Blue . In Germany the album was initially only available as an imported product.
History of origin
Still living in Portland, the musicians drove to Los Angeles to play at the famous Troubadour club . There she discovered Don Dokken . Under his and Michael Wagener Director one came demo tape , which actually as Independent - EP to be released would. Ultimately, however, they abandoned this plan because more, i.e. a major contract , seemed possible to them. They soon found someone interested in Geffen Records and after a test concert the LP was being planned. Wagener made contact with the Scorpions producer Dieter Dierks in Stommeln near Cologne , where the recordings were to take place. Before that, Brian Slagel had already placed the demo version of the song Chains Around Heaven by the band without a contract on his first metal massacre sampler (but only from the second edition).
In January 1984 the band moved to Europe . Work on the self-titled album began in mid-February. The planned publication date was June 1984, and it finally appeared in August. The band used their stay in Europe to open the Whitesnake Show at the legendary Hammersmith Odeon in London at the beginning of April .
Black 'n Blue did not achieve the desired success, which was mainly due to the smooth production. Especially in relation to Germany , however, there is also the difficult or more expensive procurement via import. The last-mentioned success inhibitor was only eliminated in the spring of 1986. Instead of returning to the rough pace, the band then sought their salvation in even more melodic arrangements . Singer St. James commented: “I would say our first album was a lot heavier than the new one. But it was also less directional. We are now in the process of finding our style. ”And elsewhere:“ Melodic rock just suits us. We are developing more and more in this direction. ”Said direction became - that was the Kerrang ! -Employee Paul Suter in his Heavy Metal Enzcyclopedia published in 1985 already clear about the debut - dominated by Mötley Crüe and Ratt , in whose shadow only little could thrive. The album was in position 129 on the Billboard charts .
Track list
Page 1:
- The Strong Will Rock (Thayer / St. James) - 4:02
- School of Hard Knocks (Thayer / St. James) - 4:00
- Car Blast (Thayer / St James / Warner.) - 3:52 (also on the Epic - compilation The New Gladiators , 1985)
- Hold On to 18 (Thayer / St. James) - 4:12
- Wicked Bitch (Thayer / St. James) - 4:16
Page 2:
- Action (Brian Conolly / Andy Scott / Mick Tucker / Steve Priest) - 3:32 ( The-Sweet - cover version )
- Show Me the Night (Thayer / St. James) - 4:00
- One for the Money (Thayer / St. James) - 4:18
- I'm the King (Thayer / St. James / Young / Holmes) - 3:40
- Chains Around Heaven (Thayer / St. James) - 3:58 (also on the second edition of the Metal Blade compilation Metal Massacre I , 1982)
reception
In 1984 Andreas Kraatz wrote in Musikexpress / Sounds : “Cleverly arranged power rock with a dose of metal, medium weight class, some songs on a radio-appropriate level, elegant and promising at the same time.” His rating was 3 points. Jens Schmiedeberg took the view in Metal Hammer 1985 that “good ideas” had not been adequately implemented, which is why there were only a few outstanding pieces, the majority being “healthy mediocrity”. He trusted the “melodic driving hard rock” to “rise to the top”.
On the occasion of the re-release as a Japan CD, Oliver Klemm described Rock Hard The Strong Will Rock and Hold On to 18 as “Classics of the original LA scene” in 1995 , even if, in contrast to the demo, the angular element has unfortunately disappeared. In 1997, Götz Kühnemund performed the album among the “forgotten pearls” , also in Rock Hard , because The Strong Will Rock , Chains Around Heaven and Hold On to 18 were “immortal hits in the Kiss / WASP style”.
The Internet platform Allmusic fixed itself on 3 out of 5 possible stars. Metalreviews.com gave a rating of 90% (Mike) and 92% (Jeff). Killer songs are Autoblast , Hold On to 18 , Wicked Bitch and Chains Around Heaven .
Individual evidence
- ↑ Anonymous: Black´n´Blue only via import . In: Metal Hammer . January 1986, p. 6 .
- ↑ a b c d Petra Becker: Black 'n Blue . In: Metal Hammer . March 1986, p. 88 f .
- ↑ a b c Paul Suter: HM AZ . The Ultimate Heavy Metal Encyclopedia. Omnibus Press, London, New York, Sydney, Cologne 1985, ISBN 0-7119-0633-5 , Black and Blue, pp. 18 (English).
- ↑ a b c Anonymous: Black 'n Blue . In: Metal Hammer . No. 3 , April 1984, pp. 6 .
- ^ Paul Suter: Black and Blue . Spots. In: Crash . February 1986, p. 56 .
- ↑ taken over by Allmusic
- ↑ Andreas Kraatz: Black 'n' Blue . In: Musikexpress / Sounds . December 1984, p. 75 .
- ↑ Jens Schmiedeberg: Black 'n Blue . Black 'n Blue. In: Metal Hammer . February 1985, p. 63 .
- ↑ Oliver Klemm: CD imports . Black'n'Blue. In: Rock Hard . No. 92 , January 1995, p. 90 .
- ↑ Götz Kühnemund: Hall of Fame . Forgotten pearls & immortal highlights. In: Rock Hard . No. 119 , April 1997, p. 156 .
- ↑ Black 'n Blue at Allmusic (English)
- ↑ Mike: Black 'n Blue - Black' n Blue. Majestic Rock Records. NWOBHM meets hard rock. In: metalreviews.com. MetalReviews, October 13, 2003, accessed March 19, 2014 .