You know how people sometimes ask you, "If you were able to go back into time, what time period would go to?" Well, I know what time I would go to. Hell, I know what YEAR I would go back to. That year would be 1981. As a whole year, it had the most solid group of albums to come out that year. Many classic records came out that year, from Ozzy's follow-up to "Blizzard" in "Diary of a Madman" to Motorhead's classic live record "No Sleep 'til Hammersmith." Many bands made their debuts that year, like Motley Crue, Venom, and Kix. Many bands were starting to become big off of the albums released at this time, like Riot, Def Leppard, and Accept. Many legends were still making killer records at this time, like Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, and Rush. The year was a pivotal year for hard rock, heavy metal, and well, shit, just music in general. New wave was starting to become the "it" thing, punk was slowly fading away, and AOR was starting to become the "heaviest" rock on radio (nothing against any of those kind of bands, like Journey and Foreigner, for whom I'm huge fans of.) But, hard rock and heavy metal were still reigning and still kicking tons of ass. This was evident through all the albums that were released that year. So, because of all the kick ass albums released that year, 1981 has been my favorite year in all of music. Way too many great albums were released, and it's hard to put together the top 10 best albums of that year, but god damn it, I'm going to do it anyway. So, here she blows!
1. Motley Crue - "Too Fast for Love"
My second favorite Crue record and one of THE best debut albums of all time. At the time, nothing was as dirty and raw as this record. This album would steal your girlfriend AND your booze, fuck the girlfriend, drink all the booze, and then do a line of coke on your kitchen sink, and then leave. THAT'S how dirty, sleazy, and raw this record was. The album, as a whole, is a killer sounding metal record, with elements of punk and glam incorporated in there. Many classic tunes are on this record, from the immortal opening track "Live Wire" to the title track (songs still played live to this day). But, it is the album tracks, to me, that really make the album, from the sleazy "Piece of Your Action" to their first power ballad, "Merry-Go-Round." I highly recommend this album to anybody that is a fan of hair metal, punk, or just hard rock and heavy metal in general. 30 years on and this album still rocks harder than a lot of the shit being put out today.
2. Ozzy Osbourne - "Diary of a Madman"
How the HELL can you follow up a classic debut solo record like "Blizzard of Ozz"? Well, my friends, you get HEAVIER, DARKER, AND CRAZIER, that's what. This is exactly what the Ozz man did on "Diary of a Madman." This album was my first taste of Ozzy, and my god, was it a tasty little treat. Kicking my ass right off the bat with "Over the Mountain" was the perfect way to start off the record. I was hooked the rest of the way. From his ode to the cannabis in "Flying High Again" to the song that I still have no idea what it is about, but still rocks like a motherfucker, in "S.A.T.O.", every single song on here kicks major ass. But, two songs that really stick out to me are the two epic songs on this record, "You Can't Kill Rock and Roll" and the title track. "You Can't Kill..." is one of my top 5 favorite Ozzy songs and is such an anthemic tune that still holds up very well today. The title track is the most adventurous track Ozzy had done at the time and really shows off guitarist extraordinaire Randy Rhoads' classical skills, and has one of the most epic endings I have ever heard, EVER! My second favorite Ozzy record and one of my favorite albums of all time. Check this shit out, MEOW!
3. Def Leppard - "High 'n' Dry"
When people think Def Leppard, they think poppy, anthemic tunes that the girl next door was listening too, along with listening to her Duran Duran records. When
I think Def Leppard, I think a hard-rocking AC/DC-esque band on roids that really smoked live and could drink a lot of dudes under the table in the early 80s. I prefer the early Lep over anything they released from 1987 and on. I do like the stuff they put out around that time, but man, their first 3 records are the only records of theirs I consistently listen to. My favorite of the 3? No doubt about it, it would be "High 'n' Dry." I got my first taste of this record when they released a double-disc best of album and included the whole first side of this record, along with "Mirror, Mirror." I was in awe of those songs, and could not believe that this was the same Def Leppard that would release "Love Bites" and "Animal." I started listening to those tracks over and over again, and then just decided to buy the damn record. One of the best side As to a record EVER, it kicks off with "Let It Go," a raunchy little number with a killer riff. Then, their is "Another Hit and Run," which is, in my opinion, their heaviest song they have put out, EVER. The socially-conscious lyrics were a bit surprising, but still, the song hit me in the gut pretty damn hard at the time (I was in middle school when I got this record.) "High 'n' Dry (Saturday Night)" is just a great party tune, and I feel would be awesome to put on at ANY party. Then, there is "Bringin' on the Heartbreak," their biggest hit at the time and one of their most recognized songs. It was one of the first power ballads, along with one of the first music videos on MTV, and for a power ballad, it rocks, especially coming from a band that would make some rather sappy sounding ballads in their future. "Heartbreak" leads right into guitarist Steve Clark (RIP)'s tune "Switch 625," a rockin' little instrumental that closes side A with a bang. Side B also rocks fucking hard, with some great songs like "Mirror, Mirror" and "Lady Strange" (one of my favorite Lep songs). For people really looking more into Lep besides "Pour Some Sugar on Me" and "Photograph," I highly suggest you check out this album and prepare to get your ass kicked.
4. Rush - "Moving Pictures"
Oh Rush, how much I love and adore you and your progressively heavy ways. One of THE coolest bands ever, and nothing can get much cooler than this record right here. Their best record, in my opinion, this is the album they are known for. This is their "Back in Black." Again, another album with a killer side A, so it kicks your ass right off the bat. Of course, so many people know their little diddy about a man that goes by the name "Tom Sawyer." That song is going to be immortal and live on even when we are all long gone. Killer drumming on that tune, along with every other tune on this record, by sir Neil Peart, a drumming god who deserves every bit of hype he gets. But, the other members are just as godly, with Geddy fucking Lee slapping that bass, stomping them pedals, and smacking those keyboards like a fucking boss, sometimes at the SAME TIME (I've seen it) and Alex Lifeson pounding out riff after riff on this record, along with some killer solos, like the one on "Limelight," which closes out side A. The songs in between "Sawyer" and "Limelight," "Red Barchetta" and "YYZ", one being about epic car chases in the countryside and the other being a sick little instrumental, are still radio hits and amongst Rush fans' favorite songs. Side B is just as killer a side as Side A, with the epic "The Camera Eye" leading the way (their last "epic" song for a long time). "Witch Hunt" is a creepy little tune, with some haunting synth driving the song. They whipped out that tune randomly when I saw them a few years back, and it was quite kick ass to hear them play that tune. "Vital Signs" is also a synth-driven tune, but has a Police-meets-hard rock kind of feel to it. It is a great way to close off what is a Rush masterpiece and one of the best records in hard rock and heavy metal.
5. Van Halen - "Fair Warning"
They were quite the party band at the time, but with "Fair Warning," it seemed as if the party was slowly ending. This album was a hell of a lot darker than their past 3 albums, which were like keggers in vinyl form. The music seemed a lot darker and heavier, but honestly, it did not stop them from making tunes that were filled with swagger and grit. "Unchained," Sinner's Swing!", and "So This is Love?" still had that VH swagger to it that the band had then become known for, but it was tracks like "Push Comes to Shove" and "Saturday Afternoon in the Park" that threw people for a loop, with synths and jazz-like hard rock. Yeah, it was their darkest album, but just like every Roth-era VH record, it kicked fucking ASS. This was an album that took me a couple listens to really get into this record, but the more I listen to it, the more I dig it, and it has since become my second favorite VH record (next to their first record, which cannot be beat, EVER).
6. Iron Maiden - "Killers"
Maiden is a band I have come to love more and more as years went on. My first taste of their music was a cassette of "Live After Death" I bought as a kid at a garage sale. I loved that tape, but really loved a track called "Wrathchild." I found what album it was on many years later, and found out that Dickinson was NOT singing on it at first, but it was Paul DiAnno, a gritty, no-nonsense, kinda punky lead singer that sang on their first two records (highly influential records in the world of metal, I'd say). The second record, "Killers" is the album that contained "Wrathchild" and when you couple that with the instrumental album opener, "The Ides of March," you get one of the most epic songs of all time. Early Maiden was kind of a punk-metal hybrid, with touches of the epicness that Maiden would later become known for, and this album was THE perfect example of the punk-metal hybrid they were known for at the time. Songs like "Another Life," "Murders in the Rue Morgue," and "Innocent Exile" ripped and roared like a mother and featured stellar playing from all instruments. This is, by near and far, my favorite record by Maiden. All the way through, there is a grittiness, heaviness, and rawness to the record you cannot find on any other Maiden record to come after.
7. Black Sabbath - "Mob Rules"
To me, between Ozzy and Dio, Dio was the best voice in Sabbath. The shit Ozzy put out with Sabbath was killer stuff, but with Dio, they were on a whole other planet, and they were kicking ass. The second album released with Dio, "Mob Rules," was quite the dark and depressing album, lyrically. 2 of the tracks, "Falling Off the Edge of the World" and "Over and Over," deal with depression, while "The Sign of the Southern Cross" is as heavy and dark as you get with Sabbath. Slab on the opening one-two punch of "Turn Up the Night" and "Voodoo," along with the barn-burner of a title track, and you got yourself one hot piece of Sabbath. I do like "Heaven and Hell" better, but this album is definitely a close second as a favorite of Sabbath's. Highly recommended for Dio fans and metal fans, in general.
8. Motorhead - "No Sleep 'til Hammersmith"
I have talked about this album once before, and I shall talk about it again, just not as much. Simply, this album is lewd, crude, loud, fast, drunk, sloppy, decadent, and kick ass. All of Motorhead's greatest tunes are on this record, and you should pretty much own the god damn record. If you want an album that will make your lawn die and your parents scream in fright, this is the record to do so. By near and far, my favorite Motorhead record.
9. Judas Priest - "Point of Entry"
Again, another album I have talked about on this blog. Actually, I have talked about this album numerous times. Do not really need to repeat myself here. It is EXTREMELY underrated and should be recognized as one of Priest's greatest accomplishments. Next to "British Steel," this is one of my favorite Priest records. All killer, absolutely no fucking filler!
10. Riot - "Fire Down Under"
I had a hard time choosing between this record and Raven's "Rock Until You Drop." But, I had to choose this record? Why, you ask? This fucking record is one hell of a party, and is also sorely underrated. Hell, this BAND is sorely underrated. The first three records by this band are hard rock masterpieces. But, I'm not talking about the first three records here. I'm talking about this bad ass record. Every single song on this record kicks major ass, with the title track, "Don't Hold Back," "Outlaw," and "Don't Bring Me Down." But, the last track threw me for a loop when I heard it, titled "Flashbacks." Basically, it is a guitar-feedback-filled track with, you guessed it, flashbacks in the band's career included, in the form of news clips, audience recordings, and interviews with the band. Rather odd track, but still very cool. If you like straight-ahead kick ass hard rock, I suggest you check this album out. No duds here, bromigos.
Bonzo Brad's "Wishes He Could Have Included These Albums in the List" List:
AC/DC - "For Those About to Rock...We Salute You"
Accept - "Breaker"
Billy Squier - "Don't Say No"
Blackfoot - "Marauder"
Kix - "Kix"
Krokus - "Hardware"
Raven - "Rock Until You Drop"
Sammy Hagar - "Standing Hampton"
Saxon - "Denim and Leather"
Ted Nugent - "Intensities in 10 Cities"
Triumph - "Allied Forces"
Tygers of Pan Tang - "Spellbound"
Venom - "Welcome to Hell"
Whitesnake - "Come An' Get It"
Y&T - "Earthshaker"
Bonzo Brad's Ultimate 1981 Party Playlist:
Motley Crue - "Too Fast for Love"
Ozzy Osbourne - "You Can't Kill Rock and Roll"
Def Leppard - "Another Hit and Run"
Rush - "Red Barchetta"
Van Halen - "Sinner's Swing!"
Iron Maiden - "Innocent Exile"
Black Sabbath - "Voodoo"
Motorhead - "The Hammer (Live)"
Judas Priest - "Troubleshooter"
Riot - "Don't Hold Back"
Accept - "Son of a Bitch"
Raven - "Nobody's Hero"
Y&T - "Knock You Out"
Krokus - "She's Got Everything"
Whitesnake - "Wine, Women, An' Song"
AC/DC - "Night of the Long Knives"
Kix - "Yeah, Yeah, Yeah"
Ted Nugent - "My Love is Like a Tire Iron"
Billy Squier - "Too Daze Gone"
Sammy Hagar - "There's Only One Way to Rock"
Blackfoot - "Rattlesnake Rock N' Roller"
Venom - "Witching Hour"
Saxon - "Never Surrender"
Tygers of Pan Tang - "Gangland"
Triumph - "Fool for Your Love"
Now, boys and girls, break out your denim and leather, high tops, and mullets, and go get fucking nostalgic to this kick ass, metallic, hard rockin', panty-droppin' music! Party on everyone!
Bonzo Brad
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