Showing posts with label 1978. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 1978. Show all posts

Monday, February 27, 2012

Sanctuary - J Geils Band

Artist: J. Geils Band
Song: Sanctuary
Year: 1978
Album: Sanctuary

Rest in peace, Allan Stagg. I always tried to catch his radio show, Sanctuary. This was the theme song to that show.

Lyrics:
Times are tough -- frustration
Need relief -- medication
Gone too far -- intoxication
Fight the urge -- temptation
Miles ago -- no destination
Is it real -- hallucination
Lose the dream -- stagnation
You feel so lost -- desperation

Sanctuary, sanctuary
Sanctuary, sanctuary

It's much too close -- contamination
Love and pain -- deviation
Just suck it up -- ejaculation
It's much too late -- damnation

Sanctuary, sanctuary
Sanctuary, sanctuary

When I was young, my mother told me
She said, "Son, someday everything's gonne be all right"

There's no escape -- there's no salvation

It's much too dark for revelation

Sanctuary, sanctuary
Sanctuary, sanctuary
Sanctuary, sanctuary
Sanctuary, sanctuary
Sanctuary, sanctuary
Sanctuary, sanctuary...

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Air Dance - Black Sabbath

Artist: Black Sabbath
Song: Air Dance
Year: 1978
Album: Never Say Die!

This was the last original studio album with Black Sabbath's classic lineup on it. Sabbath chooses this album to really explore the sounds. They start to veer away from the really heavy metal sound. They end up sounding like Santana.

This is not bad though. The tracks on this album are outstanding, but none of them would be as well received as their previous work. The band is breaking apart and the album is the one that benefits.

Some songs were re-written to fit Ozzy's tastes, after he left the band for a short time. Ozzy refused to sing any of the songs written for his replacement, so the band had to tinker until they were only reminiscent of the previous versions.

Lyrics:
She sits in silence, in her midnight world
Her faded pictures, of her dancing girls
Her, distant dreamer, on the seas of time
Her happy memories, dancing through her mind

In days of romance
She was the queen of dance
She'd dance the night away

And as the seasons turn the days to years
She holds her pictures, hears the silent cheers
The days grow lonely for the dancing queen
And now she dances only in her dreams

In days of romance
She was the queen of dance
She'd dance the night away, away, away, away


Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Hell Bent For Leather - Judas Priest

Artist: Judas Priest
Song: Hell Bent For Leather
Year: 1978
Album: Killing Machine

I never got to see Judas Priest in their prime, nor have I seen them live now. After Rob Halford's outing, everything makes just a little more sense with the leather fetish. Not that there's anything wrong with that. It doesn't make me enjoy the music any less.

There was no way that I was going to see Judas Priest in their MTV days. I was too young and my mother would never allow me to attend a concert like that, even with my uncle that I went to concerts with.

"Hell Bent For Leather" is a great example of a catchy song that doesn't get enough airplay. It's raw and gritty. You can feel the leather on this song. The song belongs on a road trip with a motorcycle gang.

Lyrics:
Seek him here, seek him on the highway
Never knowing when he'll appear
All await, engine's ticking over
Hear the roar as they sense the fear

Wheels! A glint of steel and a flash of light!
Screams! From a streak of fire as he strikes!

Hell bent, hell bent for leather
Hell bent, hell bent for leather

Black as night, faster than a shadow
Crimson flare from a raging sun
An exhibition, sheer precision
Yet no one knows from where he comes

Fools! Self destruct cannot take that crown
Dreams! Crash one by one to the ground

Hell bent, hell bent for leather
Hell bent, hell bent for leather

There's many who tried to prove that they're faster
But they didn't last and they died as they tried

There's many who tried to prove that they're faster
But they didn't last and they died as they tried

Hell bent, hell bent for leather
Hell bent, hell bent for leather
Hell bent, hell bent for leather
Hell bent, hell bent for leather


Thursday, January 1, 2009

Let Me Entertain You - Queen

Artist: Queen
Song: Let Me Entertain You
Year: 1978
Album: Jazz

"Let Me Entertain You" is one of my favorite lesser known Queen songs. When I would DJ at the vampire LARP, I would frequently slip this in near the beginning of the set. We had a lot of Queen fans role playing at the club, so this was always a nice welcome wink and nod.

It had the dual role of announcing that I was open for requests. Most of the regulars knew that already, but it wasn't always clear to the newbies. Just like in my life, I would play anything that would pop into my head. It was always appropriate though.

The first time that I remember listening to this song was on the Live Killers album. I must have listened to that live album over and over again. So much so, that I wore out two cassette copies. I didn't start getting deeply into Queen until shortly before Freddie's death, so these tracks were mostly new to me. I knew the classics that were all over the radio and the greatest hits compilations, but this was my first exposure to the hidden gems.

I always associate this song with beginnings. Probably because this was near the beginning of many of my Saturday night sets. It is the perfect choice to open a party. It's upbeat. It's full of energy. It signals the start of something big. Happy new year!

Lyrics:
Hey - it's a sellout

Hey - let me welcome you ladies and gentlemen
I would like to say hello
Are you ready for some entertainment?
Are you ready for a show?
Gonna rock you gonna roll you
Get you dancing in the aisles
Jazz you razzmatazz you
With a little bit of style
C'mon let me entertain you let me entertain you
Let me entertain you let me entertain you

I've come here to sell you my body
I can show you some good merchandise
I'll pull you and I'll pill you
I'll Cruella-de-Ville you
And to thrill you I'll use any device

We'll give you crazy performance
We'll give you grounds for divorce
We'll give you piece de resistance
And a tour de force of course

We found the right location
Got a lot of pretty lights
The sound and amplification listen
Hey if you need a fix if you want a high
Stickell's see to that
With Electra and E.M.I.
We'll show you where it's at
So c'mon
Let me entertain you let me entertain you
Let me entertain you let me entertain you

Just take a look at the menu
We give you rock a la carte
We'll breakfast at Tiffany's
We'll sing to you in Japanese
We're only here to entertain you

If you want to see some action
You get nothing but the best
The S and M attraction
We've got the pleasure chest
Chicago down to New Orleans
We get you on the line
If you dig the New York scene
We'll have a son of a bitch of a time
C'mon
Let me entertain let me entertain
Let me entertain you tonight

Hey where's my backstage pass
That was great
What an outrageous costume
Hey that Brian May is outta sight man
Not many not many
I've always wanted to be a groupie


Wednesday, October 22, 2008

'B' Movie Box Car Blues - The Blues Brothers

Artist: The Blues Brothers
Song: 'B' Movie Box Car Blues
Year: 1978
Album: Briefcase Full Of Blues

This is one of the albums that was always on when I was growing up. My dad had it playing. My godfather had it playing. Everywhere I went, this album was on. It should come as no shock though. In 1978, John Belushi had the number one television show, the number one movie and the number one album. He was everywhere.

This is what started my love affair with all things John Belushi. I've sat through dreck because he made an appearance. I've discovered hidden gems because he was somewhere in the cast. This may be where John Belushi had the most power. I know it was his finest moments on vinyl.

The lasting effect of John Belushi is still felt today. Dan Aykroyd's career owes a great deal to their friendship. Chris Farley owed a great debt to Belushi. John's own brother Jim, owes a lot to the path that was left. John left a mark on this world that can still be felt. His work has had a positive influence on my life, since I was a little kid.

This song showcases just how good the Blues Brothers Band can be. The original song was pretty standard stuff. The band took that simple song and stretched as much as possible out of it, while still retaining the original feel. I love how the ending becomes a fast paced number featuring a part for most of the members to go buck wild.

Lyrics:
Caught a ride into South Dakota
With two girls in a light blue Desoto
One's name was Jane, the other was plain
But they both had racing motors
Next I caught a ride with a gamblers wife
Lay down, she had a brand new Rambler
She parked on the other side of town
She laid the Rambler down
She said she could dig if I'd knew her

Doing my best to get back to you
Ain't nothing I'd rather do
Look for me Sunday, gonna be there honey
Something special just for you
Special just for you

Made a truck stop, toothpick and water
Got a ride from a fruit pickers daughter
Drove her through the night, let the fruit just right
Said All I could eat for a quarter

Next, hopped a train with a hobo woman
Said she's from Texas too
The way that she did, what she did, when she did what she did to me
made me think of you
Hey honey made me think of you

Doing my best to get back to you
Ain't nothing I'd rather do
Look for me Sunday, gonna be there honey
Something special just for you
Special just for you

Hey honey something special just for you