Best of Trust – Trust

So, there’s a band called Anthrax who did a song called Anti-Social. Then after a few years of listening to it I found out it was a cover version by a band called Trust. This was about 1989. Did I try and find out about Trust? No. I left it another 20 years before thinking about it.

So, I saw a band called Treponem Pal and while investigating them I find out about a band called Trust who are connected to them. So, I decide, I will download the “Best of”.

It’s in French because they are a French band. That seems fair enough. Also, they are connected to early AC/DC and Iron Maiden. That’s enough for me.

“Anti-Social” is an awesome song. Anthrax made it their own but the Trust version is better. The French language makes it all the better.

“Police Milice” – great.

“Le Mitard” – with quotations from Jacques Mesrine.

Les Brutes – about oppressive regimes.

So, this is a band with a NWOBHM sound and political lyrics and themes. Brilliant. Oh, don’t forget the cover of “Ride On” by AC/DC. It’s all brilliant.

Lego 13 Model 60018

Here’s the latest addition to our Lego City collection. A cement mixer with working mixer and small lumps of cement. Lovely.

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Best of Michael Schenker – Michael Schenker

I bought this on CD as I had a gatefold album on vinyl also called the best of Michael Schenker. Michael is the brother of Rudi who is one of the guitarists in the Scorpions and Michael played with them for a while but he’s also played with UFO and MSG. I really like the sound of 70s rock and this has lots of that. The riffs are really good and the songs are well written.

My highlights are:

  • Armed and Ready
  • Are You Ready to Rock
  • Attack of the Mad Axeman

It’s all real proper disco rock and very much a summer album. There’s something about the guitar sound which is lovely. It has that under-produced sound, probably due to the equipment of those days. Much like black and white movies tell us that the world only got colour after the second world war, we only got good sound for music during the 1980s. Mind you, most of the music produced in the 80s was rubbish!

Also, Michael is a blue-eyed German blond. He’s a good poster boy for rock music.

The Best Of The Doors – The Doors

I’m pretty sure that albums by The Doors are bought because people think they should own them rather than want to own them. I’ve got LA Woman on vinyl and this on CD. I think that, along with The Beatles, they are over-rated.

It’s something I might play every couple of years when I’m sitting in the garden and it’s sunny. It’s just not me, but I can’t bring myself to delete it. Why?

Iron Man 3

Went to see this film at the Showcase Cinema at Bluewater. I had to pick a seat at the front row because I was the last person in. There were a bunch of annoying teenagers just behind me and to the left but that’s what happens at the cinema. If I could watch these films at home I probably would but, then again, it’s nice to get out.
The best thing about this film is Stark’s character. He’s so quick witted and a completely self-obsessed and absorbed arse. It makes it worth seeing. Look, the story is ok. The effects are ok but I guess it’s the set-pieces people go to see. They were good and the crane at the end was massive, really impressive.
It’s amusing to think that every time IronMan landed Tony would be squashed to a pulp inside. I know the man is bright and able to make 42 different models of IronMan in his spare time and have them all working really well but I just don’t think he’s invented the inertia drive. I could spend all day moaning about science but I shan’t. Oh, apart from the acupuncture needles in Stark towards the end, what horse poo!
Anyway, look, it’s a superhero action film. Not up to the standards of Watchmen but a good one none the less.

The Best Of Great White – Great White

I bought this when I was going through my 80s rock revival. I saw them once and I really appreciate the cover to the “Hooked” album which I have as a picture disk.
I think this album is ok. I’ve not deleted it from my phone but I don’t play it a great deal. It’s too easy listening! Not a lot else to say, it’s alright.

The Best Of Diamond Head – Diamond Head

Diamond Head are one of the bands that influenced Metallica and that is how I became aware of them. I’m slightly too young for NWOBHM to have affected me directly but its sound is one that I find base. It affects me greatly and hits my emotions in all the right spots.
“Am I Evil” recorded by Metallica was on a tape I had and eventually I found out it was written and first recorded by Diamond Head. When I bought this I wanted the original versions of “Evil”, “Helpless” and “It’s Electric” which Megadeth used to play live. This album is great. I find all the songs enjoyable. Bizarrely this is another album that I consider easy enough listening to play to non-metal fans. Along with Audioslave this is, for me, easy listening.
I saw Diamond Head play with The Almighty, Megadeth and Metallica at the Milton Keynes bowl in 1992. It was a great concert for it was the first time Megadeth and Metallica had played on the same bill since Dave left Metallica. Diamond Head opened the concert and lots of the crowd obviously weren’t aware that “Evil” is not a Metallica original. Many of them rushed foward shouting Metallica. Idiots.

The Best Of Budgie – Budgie

Garage Days Revisited. Breadfan. Loud, Metallica, crashing symbols and a great quiet centre part. What? It’s not written by them? Who else could have come up with such a wondrous song?

BUDGIE

A three piece band from South Wales. This is 70s rock at its greatest. Music for any season and intellectually written. I’m amazed at it each time I listen to it.

“Breadfan”, “In The Grip Of A Tyrefitter’s Hand” and “Napoleon Bona Part I&II” stand out but this is essentially a great album. It is the best of! I have another of theirs on vinyl but I don’t think I’ve ever played it. I just like looking at the cover. The production sounds a little tinny but then it was a while ago. Just listen to the musical masterpiece. It’s great.

Best Of – Yngwie Malmsteen

Yngwie J Malmsteen

Why do I know this man’s work? Who got me into this stuff? I’m pretty sure that Andy Smith saw Yngwie play a concert and I didn’t go. Somewhere along the way I ended up with a couple of his songs on tape or heard them while at friends houses.

Eventually I bought a live album by the man. This was not that one.

Sometime later I downloaded a Best Album so that I had some studio versions of his work. I doubt that I’ve listened to it all the way through, in fact none of the song titles scream out at me.

Oh well. The guy is an awesome guitarist and I saw him play at Shepherd’s Bush. It was a good gig. Different, but good.

Beast From The East – Dokken

Mark Hodges persuaded me to buy this album shortly after my sixteenth or seventeenth birthday. I had some record vouchers and wanted new vinyl. I’d only been into decent music for a short while and so it was important to make the correct choices.

This is a gatefold live album recorded in Japan. The cover illustration is a picture of a whole back tattoo. I really like the sound of a four piece band when the guitar does a solo. I like hearing the rhythm section keep the beat going while the guitarist just goes off on one. The sound of this album is perfect.

When I bought this on CD it didn’t come with my favourite song, “Sleepless Nights” and I’m a bit annoyed about that. For the last twenty five years the middle section of that song has stuck in my brain. George Lynch’s guitar makes an awesome screeching sound and it has sent shivers down my spine since around 1988.

My highlights on this album are:

  • Unchain The Night
  • Kiss Of Death
  • Mr Scary
  • It’s Not Love

Mr O would say this is an album of pure cockrock and he wouldn’t be wrong. The 1980s produced some great sounding bands and I’ve spent quite a bit of time and money buying proper versions of the albums friends had taped for me.