Aerosmith

[SebastianPratesi]

Didn't find a thread about Aerosmith, so I decided to start one. I got into Aerosmith when I was 12, with the MTV Icon special in 2002. They were the first 'old' band I got into - it was my bridge to Metallica, the Beatles, Queen, Pink Floyd, etc.

I was obsessed with them for 2 years, and I bought every CD I could find at the time (which basically consisted of their Geffen-era albums/compilations and Just Push Play). Later on, I listened to their first 4 albums, and a friend gave me a copy of Honkin' On Bobo (a covers album) for my 14th birthday. After I got sucked into the world of prog, I basically lost interest in the band, but recently I've found myself interested in revisiting some of their songs.

Such a cool band! Steven and Joe usually get the attention, but Tom and Brad are amazing musicians too, and each of them has seen at least one of their songs become a single and a hit.

These are my favourites:

1. Trip Hoppin' (2001) some sort of tribute to The Beatles' "The End" on the solos
2. The Reason A Dog (1985) written by Tom
3. Janie's Got A Gun (1989) written by Tom
4. Permanent Vacation (1987) written by Brad
5. Deuces Are Wild (1993)
6. Blind Man (1994)
7. Same Old Song And Dance (1974)
8. Voodoo Medicine Man (1989) written by Brad
9. No More No More (1975)
10. Girl Keeps Coming Apart (1987)

[KevShmev]

Good band. I still need to check out more of the deep cuts from the 70s, since they supposedly have a lot of good ones from those albums.  All of Toys in the Attic is great, and while many of their later hits, written by outside peeps, were a bit nauseating, songs like What It Takes, Love in an Elevator, Livin' on the Edge and Rag Doll are all great.  One of those bands that is easy to listen to in a group or at a party.

[El Barto]

1 Kings and Queens/Movin Out

3 SOS/Walkin the Dog

After that there are a handful of songs that I really dig and a huge catalog of stuff that doesn't interest me in the slightest. But damn, those top 4 are Earth shattering.

[Mladen]

I love their 70 stuff, although there are some equally amazing songs later in their career. My favorite album has to be Draw the line. Other favorites: the debut, Toys in the attic, Rock in a hard place and Just push play. Saw them live two years ago, it would have been such a shame not to have seen such a legendary band.

[Kwyjibo]

Very good band. I love their 70s stuff and I love their "comeback" output.

My favorites would be (in no particular order):

Toys In The Attic
Draw The Line
Pump
Get A Grip

They often get flak for their ballads and their use of outside writers, especially end of 80s/beginning of 90s but I don't mind. In fact I like most of their power ballads because they are way better than 90% of the rest and they did have some really strong rocking songs aside from that. And they made clever use of videos/MTV.

Saw them live two times in the 90s, once opening for Whitesnake and then as headliner (with The Black Crowes opening). They were killer live. Steven Tyler isn't the best of singers but he has that special on-stage charisma. Joe Perry played like twenty different guitars and while Joe and Steven get all the spotlights, Brad, Tom and Joey are just as essential for the sound and groove that makes Aerosmith great and special.

[Stadler]

1 Kings and Queens/Movin Out

3 SOS/Walkin the Dog

After that there are a handful of songs that I really dig and a huge catalog of stuff that doesn't interest me in the slightest. But damn, those top 4 are Earth shattering.

I LOVE that you mentioned "Movin' Out".  I absolutely LOVE that song. 

Favorite songs (not in order, except for the first one):
Seasons of Wither
Movin' Out
Major Barbara
The Reason a Dog
Kings and Queens
No Surprize
Cheesecake
Simoriah
Love In An Elevator (the girl in the black bikini in the video is perhaps the hottest girl ever in a music video)
Combination
No More No More

Favorite Albums (in order):
Toys In The Attic
Night In The Ruts
Get Your Wings
Rocks
Permanent Vacation


Say what you want about Steven Tyler, his voice has held up about as good as any singer in rock.  He's 67, and he can still bring it.  They used to be one of those bands I would go see each tour just because it was fun, but I've sort of stopped that now (I'm working on bucket list things), but I would go again to see them.  They just have too many great songs to ever put on a bad show (even the ballads work live). 

[7deg_inner_happiness]

Lots of great tunes mentioned above.  One of my favorites is "One Way Street" from their debut album.  Great harmonica and guitars in that one.  The band I was in 20 years ago played this one, lots of fun, especially the build-up to the end of the song.

[SebastianPratesi]

Love In An Elevator (the girl in the black bikini in the video is perhaps the hottest girl ever in a music video)

They used to be one of those bands I would go see each tour just because it was fun, but I've sort of stopped that now

I don't think I've ever watched that video - I guess I'll have to

What tours/years did you see them?

[TAC]

Stadler, awesome call on The Reason A Dog. Great tune!! I love Done With Mirrors.

Also great call on recognizing Night In The Ruts and it's tracks. It's the heaviest of their albums and it is BY FAR my favorite.

[Stadler]

What tours/years did you see them?

I saw:

The Done With Mirrors tour in 1985 (Steven Tyler was NOT sober and fell off the drum riser)
The Permanent Vacation Tour in 1987 (I think I saw two shows on this tour)
The Pump Tour in 1989 (Great great show; first time I saw my favorite song of theirs played live, "Seasons of Wither"  I think I saw two shows on this tour)
I can't remember if I saw the "Get A Grip" show; I was in Georgia then, so not 100% sure I would have.
The Nine Lives Tour in 1998 (Second date with my first wife)
The Kiss/Aerosmith tour in 2003 (This is up there with the best shows I've ever seen; Kiss as opening band DESTROYED.  They were SO good, and the only thing that made it less than perfect was Peter Criss sucked; I'm convinced there was a drummer back stage).
The Rockin' The Joint tour in 2005 (This pissed me off; it was a great show, but they played the night before as well.  They saw this for the last six songs:
Walkin' The Dog
Dream On
No More No More
Love In An Elevator
Seasons of Wither
Helter Skelter

I saw this:
Lord of Your Thighs
Dream On
No More No More
Love In An Elevator
Back In The Saddle
Draw The Line

Still good, but I'd seen BITS a hundred times before (well, at least five ) but I would have loved Lord..., Seasons... and the Beatles cover.  )

[El Barto]

Cheesecake's a great song. Between the lyrics and that slide guitar it's just sleazy as all fuck.

Only saw Aerosmith once at one of the Texxas Jams (not the one from the DVD). At that point I was already sick of them. Every time they come through now I think to myself that I should grab a cheap scalper ticket just to see a couple of the songs that interest me. Then I think about the songs I'll also have to sit through and blow it off. They're one of a handful of bands whose bad songs outweigh any benefit of seeing their shows.

[Orbert]

Great hard-rocking band.  I like the 70's stuff the best, of course.  Get Your Wings, Toys in the Attic, Rocks, etc.  The debut isn't bad.

Got to play "Lord of the Thighs" a few summers ago at a jam.  I'd always wanted to play that song because of the piano part, and finally got to.  We nailed it.

[Stadler]

Cheesecake's a great song. Between the lyrics and that slide guitar it's just sleazy as all fuck.

Only saw Aerosmith once at one of the Texxas Jams (not the one from the DVD). At that point I was already sick of them. Every time they come through now I think to myself that I should grab a cheap scalper ticket just to see a couple of the songs that interest me. Then I think about the songs I'll also have to sit through and blow it off. They're one of a handful of bands whose bad songs outweigh any benefit of seeing their shows.

I'd hate for you to go on my account and feel like you wasted your money, but the only song that REALLY doesn't translate live is "I Don't Want to Miss One Thing" or whatever it is.   The rest rock just enough live to make them not totally suck.

Plus, I think there are a handful of things you just have to see live once, to say you did, and Steven singing "Back In The Saddle" is one of them.

[Orbert]

I've only seen Aerosmith once, and that was their opener, "Back in the Saddle".  It totally smoked.  Great show.

[bl5150]

I have only been a casual fan over the years but I did something I've only done for one other band and saw them a second time in a different city on their last time in Australia.  At the first gig (festival) they did something I have trouble admitting - blew my favourite band (Van Halen) off the stage.  Tyler was amazing.

[King Postwhore]

1 Kings and Queens/Movin Out

3 SOS/Walkin the Dog

After that there are a handful of songs that I really dig and a huge catalog of stuff that doesn't interest me in the slightest. But damn, those top 4 are Earth shattering.

Kings And Queens is my favorite.   Seasons Of Wither is up there as well

[DragonAttack]

Certainly would have liked to have seen them after their comeback (did enjoy 'Permanent Vacation, Pump, and Get A Grip).  Lost interest with 'Draw The Line' and have never listened to 'Right in the Nuts', er...'Night in the Ruts'.  I did see Joe Perry as a warm up way back for Rush.  Showing my age a bit, saw the band as one of two warm up bands (Queen being the other).
A mostly chronological best of, all 70s (save one). 

Same Old Song and Dance / Mama Kin / Dream On / Walking The Dog / SOS (Too Bad) / Train Kept A Rollin (with 40 seconds of 'Wither') / Toys In The Attic / Walk This Way / Sweet Emotion / Round and Round / You See Me Crying                   

Back In The Saddle / Last Child / Draw The Line / Get It Up / Let The Music Do The Talking (plus the JPProject fadeout) / Sick As A Dog / Nobody's Fault / Home Tonight

Old style, my favorite album side is Side Two of 'Rocks'

[SebastianPratesi]

Certainly would have liked to have seen them after their comeback (did enjoy 'Permanent Vacation, Pump, and Get A Grip).  Lost interest with 'Draw The Line' and have never listened to 'Right in the Nuts', er...'Night in the Ruts'.  I did see Joe Perry as a warm up way back for Rush.  Showing my age a bit, saw the band as one of two warm up bands (Queen being the other).
A mostly chronological best of, all 70s (save one). 

Same Old Song and Dance / Mama Kin / Dream On / Walking The Dog / SOS (Too Bad) / Train Kept A Rollin (with 40 seconds of 'Wither') / Toys In The Attic / Walk This Way / Sweet Emotion / Round and Round / You See Me Crying                   

Back In The Saddle / Last Child / Draw The Line / Get It Up / Let The Music Do The Talking (plus the JPProject fadeout) / Sick As A Dog / Nobody's Fault / Home Tonight

Old style, my favorite album side is Side Two of 'Rocks'

Those are some great songs!

[Stadler]

Certainly would have liked to have seen them after their comeback (did enjoy 'Permanent Vacation, Pump, and Get A Grip).  Lost interest with 'Draw The Line' and have never listened to 'Right in the Nuts', er...'Night in the Ruts'.  I did see Joe Perry as a warm up way back for Rush.  Showing my age a bit, saw the band as one of two warm up bands (Queen being the other).
A mostly chronological best of, all 70s (save one). 

Same Old Song and Dance / Mama Kin / Dream On / Walking The Dog / SOS (Too Bad) / Train Kept A Rollin (with 40 seconds of 'Wither') / Toys In The Attic / Walk This Way / Sweet Emotion / Round and Round / You See Me Crying                   

Back In The Saddle / Last Child / Draw The Line / Get It Up / Let The Music Do The Talking (plus the JPProject fadeout) / Sick As A Dog / Nobody's Fault / Home Tonight

Old style, my favorite album side is Side Two of 'Rocks'

If you're even remotely a fan of the band, you have to listen to NITR.  It's not "Draw The Line, Part II" in any way.  It rocks harder, and despite the band chaos, is probably a shade more cohesive than DTL. 

[TAC]

Night In The Ruts is AMAZING!! I have no idea why it catches the grief it does.

That solo in Think About It! 

[ReaperKK]

I'm a casual fan of Aerosmith. I loved Pump, Get A Grip, and Nine Lives when i was a little kid and a few years ago I looked into their older stuff. There are a lot of really great gems. I haven't checked out anything more recent than Nine Lives.

[KevShmev]

I'm sure I will get a whole host of different answers, but what are some good deep cuts to check out from the 70s albums aside from Toys in the Attic? 

Note: I am not that big of an Aerosmith fan to where I will buy all of the albums, but adding a handful or so of deep cuts that I can buy from amazon or iTunes would add to my collection nicely.

[TAC]

Think About It
SOS (Too Bad)
Combination
Sick As A Dog
One Way Street

There's 5!

[SebastianPratesi]

I'm sure I will get a whole host of different answers, but what are some good deep cuts to check out from the 70s albums aside from Toys in the Attic? 

I suppose you referred to 'Toys In The Attic' the album, right?

My recommendations would be:
-"Make It" (first song on first album)
-"Lord Of The Thighs" (the piano and overall mood reminds me of "Darkness" from 1985)
-"Sick As A Dog" (as TAC also already said; a nice poppier song by Tom)
-"Home Tonight" (a cool, heavier 'You See Me Crying' or 'What It Takes', which -based on your first post in this thread- I think you might like)
-"Draw The Line"

I'd also recommend you check out the album Done With Mirrors from 1985 - their 'reunion' album. All songs were written by the band members only, and the sound is reminiscent of their '70s albums (it doesn't feature any horn arrangements or extra musicians like the other Geffen-era albums). Some cool songs there - "The Reason A Dog", "The Hop", "Let The Music Do The Talking".

[Mladen]

I'm sure I will get a whole host of different answers, but what are some good deep cuts to check out from the 70s albums aside from Toys in the Attic? 

Are you thinking of albums or songs when you say deep cuts? As far as albums go, Draw the line is a deep cut, often neglected as not a great follow-up to very popular Toys in the attic and Rocks. But I think it's tremendous, slightly more experimental yet equally melodic and rockin'.

[TAC]

I'd also recommend you check out the album Done With Mirrors from 1985 - their 'reunion' album. All songs were written by the band members only, and the sound is reminiscent of their '70s albums (it doesn't feature any horn arrangements or extra musicians like the other Geffen-era albums). Some cool songs there - "The Reason A Dog", "The Hop", "Let The Music Do The Talking".

Hell yes! This is a great and underrated album!

[Kwyjibo]

I'd also recommend you check out the album Done With Mirrors from 1985 - their 'reunion' album. All songs were written by the band members only, and the sound is reminiscent of their '70s albums (it doesn't feature any horn arrangements or extra musicians like the other Geffen-era albums). Some cool songs there - "The Reason A Dog", "The Hop", "Let The Music Do The Talking".

Hell yes! This is a great and underrated album!

No, it isn't 

Let The Music Do The Talking is an alright song but it was a Joe Perry solo song before. The rest is more or less mediocre. Some things seem unfinished, maybe with a little bit more work and effort those songs could have been better. The sound is raw but not in a good way (it's just a shit production) and the record completely lacks any kind of energy.

[DragonAttack]

Deep cuts?  My list is a somewhat fair rep.

Then again, it doesn't include 'Big Ten Inch'.  Now, that's deep.

[Stadler]

Since "Toys In The Attic" is a SONG, too (and covered by REM as a b-side), I'll assume Kev knew what he was asking.  I would offer the following (some of which have been mentioned here already):

Movin' Out
Woman of the World
Spaced
Seasons of Wither
Uncle Salty
Adam's Apple
No More No More
Round and Round
Combination
Nobody's Fault
Sight For Sore Eyes
Chiquita
Bone To Bone
Think About It
Chip Away The Stone (perhaps not a "deep track")

Looking back, I have to say, "Toys In The Attic" as an album is about as solid from top to bottom as any big-name rock band has ever put out in my humble opinion.  I know it's my "taste", but I love every single song on that record.

[Kwyjibo]

Toys In The Attic (the album) is indeed a great classic rock record with (as Stadler already mentioned) every song being great and some of them really really great. No week spot on that record. My favorite would probably be Sweet Emotion.

[cfmoran13]

I haven't checked out anything more recent than Nine Lives.

Good call!

[SebastianPratesi]

I'm a casual fan of Aerosmith. I loved Pump, Get A Grip, and Nine Lives when i was a little kid and a few years ago I looked into their older stuff. There are a lot of really great gems. I haven't checked out anything more recent than Nine Lives.

Just Push Play has some nice songs in it (besides the singles) - some of which feel like futuristic pop. My favourites are the "Trip Hoppin'", "Under My Skin" and "Just Push Play" (with a cool reference to "Walk This Way").

I haven't checked their latest album, though.

[Kwyjibo]

And it has Beyond Beautiful which, for me, is one of their best songs despite (or because of) the Led Zep influence. 

[SebastianPratesi]

And it has Beyond Beautiful which, for me, is one of their best songs despite (or because of) the Led Zep influence. 

Any specific Zeppelin song?
Because I just realized that the pre-chorus "Under My Skin" is basically "Kashmir".

[Stadler]

I'm a casual fan of Aerosmith. I loved Pump, Get A Grip, and Nine Lives when i was a little kid and a few years ago I looked into their older stuff. There are a lot of really great gems. I haven't checked out anything more recent than Nine Lives.

Just Push Play has some nice songs in it (besides the singles) - some of which feel like futuristic pop. My favourites are the "Trip Hoppin'", "Under My Skin" and "Just Push Play" (with a cool reference to "Walk This Way").

I haven't checked their latest album, though.

That's a weird album in the context of the band (I know Joe Perry does not like it at all) but the lyrics are kind of good, in an odd way. Sometimes Stephen lapses into cliché too easily (they've kind of over done the "Put your key in the wrong. Key. Hole!" thing) but there's some interesting work on that album.  It's better than it gets credit for.