KirksNoseHair's Top 50 v. And the #1 album is........

[jjrock88]

great selections so far

[Jaq]

Oh, and on an unrelated note:

Longer note about Texas Flood - I've been listening to that album since it came out thanks to my Dad, who'd seen SRV many times in the early 80s at Antone's here in Austin before Stevie really broke out large thanks to Bowie's Let's Dance and Texas Flood.  SRV and Double Trouble was also my very first concert back in 1986, and I was at one of five shows where the Live Alive album was recorded.  Man... just an amazing show, and I remember he ended up playing until about 2am (when the show started at 8pm!).  Phenomenal guitar player, no fooling.

I envy you so much. SRV's my favorite guitarist ever and I never got to see him.

[Dr. DTVT]

With the exception of Megadeth, this sounds like a list my dad would put together so far, so I've grown up to all this music so far (including Megadeth).

[DebraKadabra]

Oh, and on an unrelated note:

Longer note about Texas Flood - I've been listening to that album since it came out thanks to my Dad, who'd seen SRV many times in the early 80s at Antone's here in Austin before Stevie really broke out large thanks to Bowie's Let's Dance and Texas Flood.  SRV and Double Trouble was also my very first concert back in 1986, and I was at one of five shows where the Live Alive album was recorded.  Man... just an amazing show, and I remember he ended up playing until about 2am (when the show started at 8pm!).  Phenomenal guitar player, no fooling.

I envy you so much. SRV's my favorite guitarist ever and I never got to see him.

My brother said the same thing - SRV was never his favorite guitarist (that was reserved for Frank Zappa) but he always had an appreciation for Stevie's style.

There are only two really sad days here in Austin - Stevie's birthday and the anniversary of his death.

I also agree with Kwyjibo's point about Stevie being 6 months clean and sober before the accident that caused his untimely death.  I agree that his version of Little Wing is awesome, but in a different way than Jimi's.  I love how at one point you can clearly hear Stevie's amp buzzing.  I LOVE hearing that in music - makes it so much more raw and fresh.

NOW... to the new additions...

I need to get more familiar with Leftoverture (even though The Wall is one of my favorite Kansas songs ever) and SBS, but Fragile is a stellar choice and a great album.

[johnnysuperfan]

Leftoverture ..... another one of my favs ..... love Opus Insert and The Wall. Steve Walsh one of my top favorite vocalists 

All hail to KirksNoseHair   

[Elite]

FRAGILE 

Also Leftoverture is great.

[jsem]

SHIIE MAN you have great taste

[jingle.boy]

With the exception of Megadeth, this sounds like a list my dad would put together so far, so I've grown up to all this music so far (including Megadeth).

Shit man, the two of you aren't THAT far apart in age.

This is definitely a rock lesson for the kidlets around here.  Methinks I'm gonna love this list, and the chatter.  I'll be honest (runs to put protective gear on), the only full albums I have from this so far are Zep II and Fragile.  The others, I'm only peripherally familiar with.  Most of these were well past their prime by the time I started on my rock journey (about '86).

[MasterShakezula]

I'm familiar with all that stuff and dig it all.  Except for Foreigner; can't stand those guys.  Everything else is jammin.  Esp. Peace Sells.  That album's my jam.  That and the goddamn Lemon Song.  Can't genough of that. 

[pain of occupation]

i aint superstitious = fun. love the cover.

[wolfking]

Good list so far, and your making me look like a snail the rate you are going.

Priest
Sabbath
Megadeth
SRV

 

[The King in Crimson]

i aint superstitious = fun. love the cover.

I personally can't stand that song. Mustaine sounds worse than he normally does. 

Small blot on an otherwise perfect album.

Some great picks so far.

I  of the LZ, Sabbath, Yes and Megadeth picks.

[jjrock88]

I always seem to change my mind in regards to which is the best Judas Priest album of the 70s. Stained Class is a great choice.

[kirksnosehair]

41. Mercyful Fate - "Into The Unknown"





Tracklist:


01 - Lucifer
02 - The Uninvited Guest
03 - The Ghost of Change
04 - Listen to the Bell
05 - Fifteen Men (And a Bottle of Rum)
06 - Into The Unknown
07 - Under The Spell
08 - Deadtime
09 - Holy Water
10 - Kutulu (The Mad Arab, Part 2)


"Into the Unknown" is Mercyful Fate's fifth studio album, released by Metal Blade records in 1996, it is the most commercially successful Mercyful Fate album ever.  Peaking at #31 in the Finnish charts and remaining for two weeks in the top 40 it's the only album by the band that ever appeared on any charts.  The album features some of the band's best and most progressive material in their catalog, a direction that King Diamond lead the band in, which has always been a rather large bone of contention and source of infighting.  Now I will be the first to admit that band leader and vocalist King Diamond is an acquired taste.  There is rarely any middle ground with him.  It seems that most folks either love him or hate him.  His vocals are certainly unique.  His use of falsetto can sometimes be distracting, but if you can make the adjustment the music is well worth it.  Some of the best riffing this side of Black Sabbath and the songs grow on you.  Key tracks here would be "The Uninvited Guest" "Fifteen Men" "Into The Unknown" and "Kutulu"






40. Triumph - "Allied Forces"





Tracklist:


01 - Fool for Your Love
02 - Magic Power
03 - Air Raid
04 - Allied Forces
05 - Hot Time (In This City Tonight)
06 - Fight The Good Fight
07 - Ordinary Man
08 - Petite Etude
09 - Say Goodbye


Released in 1981, the 5th studio album from Canadian hard rock giants, Triumph, "Allied Forces" propelled them into mega stardom with monstrous FM Rock radio hits in "Magic Power" and "Fight The Good Fight" Triumph were now selling out huge arenas around the globe.  Lead by virtuoso guitarist and vocalist Rick Emmett, this power trio took the world by storm and would eventually release 10 studio albums with 6 gold and 4 platinum.  "Fight The Good Fight" was one of the first songs I ever learned on the guitar and Rick's playing inspired me to learn how to play the modes of the major scale.  Key tracks are "Magic Power" "Allied Forces" "Fight The Good Fight" and "Ordinary Man"






39. Savatage - "Poets and Madmen"





Tracklist:


01 - Stay With Me Awhile
02 - There In The Silence
03 - Commissar
04 - I Seek Power
05 - Drive
06 - Morphine Child
07 - The Rumor
08 - Man In The Mirror
09 - Surrender
10 - Awaken
11 - Back To Reason


What can I say about Savatage's final studio album (their 11th overall)?  A bittersweet ending to one of the greatest metal bands ever.  When researching for this list, I found out something I never knew and that is the fact that this album is a "loose concept" based around the life of a journalist named Kevin Carter.  Jon Oliva does all of the vocals here (Zach had left the band on good terms) and Chris Caffery plays most of the guitar solos, which are killer.  Savatage certainly has stronger albums in their catalog, but this one hit me on a personal level with tracks like "Morphine Child" and "I Seek Power" connecting with my personal demons.  Those would be the key tracks along with "Commissar" and "There In The Silence"

[kirksnosehair]

Quick review of the first dozen:



50. Judas Priest - Stained Class
49. Foreigner - Foreigner
48. Led Zeppelin - II
47. The Edgar Winter Group - They Only Come Out at Night
46. Stevie Ray Vaughn - Texas Flood
45. Megadeth - Peace Sells but Who's Buying
44. Yes - Fragile
43. Black Sabbath - Sabbath Bloody Sabbath
42. Kansas - Leftoverture
41. Mercyful Fate - Into The Unknown
40. Triumph - Allied Forces
39. Savatage - Poets and Madmen

[Scorpion]

Well, this is surely getting a bit repetitive, but great stuff! I really, really like Savatage - do you know Reverence? IIRC, a member of Savatage plays in that band and I've been really digging them lately.

[lonestar]

Unfamiliar with the Mercyful Fate and Savatage albums. Allied Forces might crack my top ten though, as a teen, it was my favorite. Magic Power, I believe, was the song that told me music was something more than just entertainment to me, that it would hold a place dear in my life as a companion, friend, and a shoulder to cry on. Such a great tune.

[jingle.boy]

Don't know MF
Allied Forces = GEM.  It's what Moving Pictures is to Rush (same year too).
Savatage ... you know, I have their discography, but it's hit and miss with me.  Nothing wrong with any album, but I've rarely been wow'd by them.

[KevShmev]

Frankenstein is definitely an awesome song, and definitely one of the definitive classic rock radio instrumentals (along with Jessica by the Allman Brothers), but I never much cared for the rest of that album.  Even Free Ride is just okay to me.

I love Triumph!  Not sure any of their albums would break my top 50, but Allied Forces, Thunder Seven, Never Surrender and Just a Game are all killer.

[Dr. DTVT]

I love me some 'Tage, and I was about to complain about your choice of albums until I saw your explanation.  "Streets" and Dead Winter Dead are my suggested starting points, the former with Jon Oliva on vocals, the latter with Zac Stevens.

[DebraKadabra]

Not really familiar with the Mercyful Fate and Savatage albums, but the Triumph one is ace.

[Lowdz]

The Triumph is very good, the Savatage is good but not their best (that would be Streets) and MF I'm not familiar with, though I do quite like KD solo.

Last fm would have us down as musically compatible 

[theseoafs]

Triumph

[kirksnosehair]

Never really could get into "Streets" too much.  Not sure why. 


Had a ton of issues at work today, but will do a couple of updates tomorrow, I promise 

[jjrock88]

Triumph & Savatage = great choices

[Jaq]

Allied Forces, fuck yeah.

I think I see why when you recommend something I like it so. You seem to have most of my music collection already 

[King Postwhore]

Frankenstein is definitely an awesome song, and definitely one of the definitive classic rock radio instrumentals (along with Jessica by the Allman Brothers), but I never much cared for the rest of that album.  Even Free Ride is just okay to me.

I love Triumph!  Not sure any of their albums would break my top 50, but Allied Forces, Thunder Seven, Never Surrender and Just a Game are all killer.

Thunder 7 is a killer album but I'm with you on it not making my top 50 but it's close.

[Dr. DTVT]

Had a ton of issues at work today, but will do a couple of updates tomorrow, I promise 

10 albums in 36 hours?  I don't think anyone is complaining about your warp speed.

[WebRaider]

Somehow had missed this thread before now.... Lots of great selections so far! Damn good stuff 

[Kwyjibo]

Mercyful Fate and Triumph are on my endless list of bands that I'd like to check out but time and money prevailed so far.

Savatage on the other hand is great. From Hall Of The Mountain King on they delivered a row of great albums. Don't know if I would rate Poets and Madmen as their best but it's definitely a top record. I actually have a limited edition which contains the short story about the journalist the album is based upon. But it's more a loose concept unlike Dead Winter Dead or Streets. So sad that they finally called it quits.

[TAC]

Savatage might have been the worst band I have ever seen live! I always thought their vision far outweighed their execution.

Triumph is a classic call, Kirk.
And I'm hit or miss with Merciful Fate. I have to ignore the singer almost completely to enjoy the music.

[kirksnosehair]

38. Dokken - "Tooth and Nail"





Tracklist:


01 - Without Warning
02 - Tooth and Nail
03 - Just Got Lucky
04 - Heartless Heart
05 - Don't Close Your Eyes
06 - When Heaven Comes Down
07 - Into the Fire
08 - Bullets to Spare
09 - Alone Again
10 - Turn on the Action


When this album was released I was in a band that specialized in hard rock and metal covers and we immediately latched on to "Just Got Lucky" "Into The Fire" and "Alone Again." Don Dokken was a phenomenal vocalist and frontman and of course George Lynch became one of the most widely admired guitarists on the scene.  I generally always found Dokken to be a little bit uneven and this album is no exception, but it was such a key album in the formation of my musical taste that I just had to include it here.  These guys were a great live band too.  I had a chance to see them a couple of times in the 80's and they always put on a hell of a show.   From what I hear, they are working on a new album.


37. Iron Maiden - "Killers"





Tracklist:


01 - The Ides of March (instrumental)
02 - Wrathchild
03 - Murders in the Rue Morgue
04 - Another Life
05 - Genghis Khan (instrumental)
06 - Innocent Exile
07 - Killers
08 - Prodigal Son
09 - Purgatory
10 - Drifter


Killers is Iron Maiden's second album.  It's their first album with Adrian Smith on guitar and their last album with Paul Di'Anno on vocals who couldn't seem to stop doing coke and drinking and get his shit together, so he was asked to leave.  Some interesting notes about this album that I was unaware of before researching for this thread, Killers is the only Iron Maiden album to feature two instrumentals and the entire album was written almost exclusively by Steve Harris.  This album doesn't seem to get a lot of love from most Iron Maiden fans, but I have always thought it was a, um, Killer album.  I love the dark and almost punk edginess to it and despite Di'Anno's problems, I always dug his vocals.  Key tracks here would be "Wrathchild" "Murders in The Rue Morgue" "Killers" and "Prodigal Son"




36. Skid Row - "Skid Row"





Tracklist:


01 - Big Guns
02 - Sweet Little Sister
02 - Can't Stand The Heartache
04 - Piece of Me
05 - 18 and Life
06 - Rattlesnake Shake
07 - Youth Gone Wild
08 - Here I Am
09 - Makin' a Mess
10 - I Remember You
11 - Midnight/Tornado


The first time I heard the song "18 and Life" I was completely blown away by the vocals.  Who WAS this dude?  Then I heard "I Remember You" and immediately went out and bought the album.  Their vocalist, Sabastian Bach is undoubtedly one of the most gifted hard rock vocalists ever, and his vocals on this album are just stunning, escpecially in "I Remember You"  Unfortunately, his reputation for being extremely difficult to work with precedes him and I suspect may have even held him and Skid Row back a bit professionally.  It's too bad, because I would have liked to have heard more from this band.  In any case, Skid Row would go on to make 4 more albums with their second album "Slave To The Grind" often cited as the pinnacle of their creative success. I actually prefer the self-titled debut.  The songs just registered with me better.  Along with the other two already mentioned, the other key track here would be "Youth Gone Wild"

[kirksnosehair]

Savatage might have been the worst band I have ever seen live! I always thought their vision far outweighed their execution.

Triumph is a classic call, Kirk.
And I'm hit or miss with Merciful Fate. I have to ignore the singer almost completely to enjoy the music.

Never got a chance to see Savatage live, but Triumph was excellent when I saw them live.  I understand about King Diamond's vocals in Mercyful Fate.  It's definitely an acquired taste thing, no doubt.

[TAC]

Savatage might have been the worst band I have ever seen live! I always thought their vision far outweighed their execution.

Triumph is a classic call, Kirk.
And I'm hit or miss with Merciful Fate. I have to ignore the singer almost completely to enjoy the music.

Never got a chance to see Savatage live, but Triumph was excellent when I saw them live.  I understand about King Diamond's vocals in Mercyful Fate.  It's definitely an acquired taste thing, no doubt.

I saw Dio/Megadeth/Savatage at the Providence Civic Center on 12/28/87. The singer had this long purple coat on. He looked like a  Nightmare Barny.
I jumped in with two feet on King Diamond and Merciful Fate. The last two KD albums, Puppet Master and GMYS>>P I love. Lot more focused vocals. The high stuff is just terrible. I also have the MF albums but nothing has ever really stuck.

I only saw Triumph once, on the Thunder Seven tour, the night they filmed the video.

[Jirpo]

King Diamond has an amazing voice, I loved it from first listen.