When I think of hard rock, I don't just think of bands like KISS, Van Halen, and AC/DC. I also think of real commercially successful bands like Journey, Foreigner, and Styx. Billy Squier is what I like to think of as the perfect median between these two kinds of hard rock. Billy had some grit and power to his music, much like Van Halen and AC/DC, but also had the slick production and melodies of bands like Journey and Foreigner. That's what I always loved about him ever since I heard him on classic rock radio as a kid. He pretty much took the best of both worlds of hard rock and made it into his own. Nothing shows this off better than his masterpiece and classic rock radio staple, his 1981 album, "Don't Say No." I feel like this album is just as important an album as say, Van Halen's first record, Journey's "Escape," or AC/DC's "Back in Black," when it comes to classic rock radio airplay. I still hear over half of this album on the radio today, and not just once in awhile either. The reason why this album is still so popular today on radio is not just the hits, but how powerful, yet melodic the album as a whole is. That is why the album was so popular back in the day too and made him the best forgotten rock star there is. This guy opened up for big names such as Queen and Foreigner and had bands like Def Leppard and Ratt opening up for HIM. He does have a solid body of work outside of this album, especially his follow-up "Emotions in Motion." But, everybody seems to come back to this record when they think of Billy Squier, and so do I. The album is timeless and I always love listening to it, even though I got into the album around my sophomore year of high school, despite hearing over half the record on the radio already. "Don't Say No" is one of those albums to me that I will listen to no matter what phase of music I'm in at the time (although it's safe to say I found my home musically now.) It's also one of the best albums from start to finish, with not one weak track. Anytime I listen to this album, I always feel like I'm in my car with the windows down and the sun out with my speakers cranking out this record. The album also seems to bring me back to my childhood, hearing songs like "In the Dark," "My Kinda Lover," "The Stroke," and "Lonely is the Night" on the radio in my mom's car. It always makes me feel happy, as corny as that sounds, when I listen to the album. It always gets me pumped up too when I listen to it, whether I put it on before a party I'm going to, or just to wake my ass up. This is an album that will stick with me forever, and I feel like it'd do the same for you if you listened to the record. I suggest you go pick up the record someway, somehow, or go download it, whatever floats your boat, right now! (Hell, I'll provide you with a couple of download links so you can get a hold of this grand record.) Since summertime is coming, this would be the perfect album to crank from your speakers if you people are sick of hearing GaGa or Usher being cranked out of senseless people's car speakers. This album will sure shut them up.
Billy Squier - "Don't Say No"
Released: April 13, 1981
Length: 38:11
Label: Capitol
Producer: Mack and Billy Squier
Engineer: Mack
"Billboard" Peak Position: 5
Copies Sold: Over 3 Million
Singles: "The Stroke"
"In the Dark"
"Lonely is the Night"
"My Kinda Lover"
Personnel:
Billy Squier: Vocals, Guitars, Percussion, Piano
Cary Sharaf: Guitars
Alan St. Jon: Keyboards
Mark Clarke: Bass, Backing Vocals
Bobby Chouinard: Drums
Bonzo Brad's Killer Songs:
I really love ALL the singles off of this record, and recommend those to you to listen to, but, the album tracks on here are just as killer as the singles. These are the 3 album tracks that really were a treat to my ears:
"You Know What I Like"
"Too Daze Gone" (A minor rock radio hit I feel should get more airplay.)
"Whadda You Want From Me"
Download Links (If You're Into That...):
http://www.4shared.com/file/118881474/1761ae61/Billy_Squier-_Dont_Say_No.html (zip file)
http://www.mediafire.com/?tkvgb5dzyqr (rar file)
Rock on dudes,
Bonzo Brad
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