Clang & Clatter

Getting my Good Friday Five on over at IckMusic.

Def Leppard - “See the Lights” (First Strike, 1979)
An “album” of demos from back when Def Leppard was a bonafide NWOBHM band. The “album” was later unofficially released without the band’s consent. “See the Lights” is not the best song on the collection—that designation would have to go to “Wasted” or “Sorrow Is a Woman,” both of which were released on On Through the Night—but it’s not bad, either.

Black Sabbath - “Never Say Die” (Symptom of the Universe: The Original Black Sabbath 1970-1978, 2002)
Ozzy had already quit and rejoined Sabbath by the time Never Say Die was recorded, and he pulls no punches when expressing his dissatisfaction with Sabbath at that point in his career, calling it “the worst piece of work that I’ve ever had anything to do with. I’m ashamed of that album. I think it’s disgusting.” With the exception of the cheesy ending, “Never Say Die” is a great, fun tune—should any Sabbath song be “fun”?!—although it sounds like it would fit better on Blizzard of Ozz.

Smashing Pumpkins - “Today” (“Unplugged” 100% Pure Acoustic Performances, 1993)
I never really cared much for the original, so a bootleg recording of an acoustic rendition of it is probably not going to rate very high for me. The performance is uninspiring and limp, with no musical embellishments until the very end when Iha adds an arpeggiated section, and Corgan struggles to hit some of the higher notes as he whines his way throughout the song. Sounds like they don’t even like it very much.

Galactic Cowboys - “Through” (At the End of the Day, 1998)

I thought you were in love, what a fool’s mistake
I don’t care about love now
It’s true
I’m through

And unfortunately Galactic Cowboys’ career was almost through at this point as well. ATEOTD is one of my favorite GC albums, containing the excellent “The Machine Fish Suite,” but I’m ashamed to admit I usually skip this one. Not that there’s anything much wrong with it. I just don’t usually turn to Galactic Cowboys when I want to hear a ballad.

Rush - “Cinderella Man” (Different Stages, 1998)
Not sure why, but this version always sounds really sloppy to me, and Geddy seems to really be straining to hit some of the notes. Odd for a band that is usually so tight.

An update from Geezer Butler on Tony Iommi’s condition since being diagnosed with cancer and the progress on new Black Sabbath tunes:

Far from being down and depressed about his lymphoma diagnosis, Tony had already written the music for two new songs, and I must say it has given us all a kick up the rump- it’s great to hear him churning out those riffs again, assuaging the Demon C. Takes more than that to stop Tony.

Here’s wishing Tony all the best in his battle with cancer.

Gettin’ my Friday Five action on over at IckMusic:

Iron Maiden - “Moonchild” (Seventh Son of a Seventh Son, 1998)
I remember thinking that both Iron Maiden and Judas Priest had sold out when they started using guitar synths. Typical teenage angst I guess, but boy was I wrong. Just listen to Steve Harris’ galloping bass underneath the synth and guitar sheen. Solid song from an album that is probably too often overlooked.

Joe Satriani - “Belly Dancer” (Strange Beautiful Music, 2002)
I bought Flying in a Blue Dream without having heard a single note and then promptly wore the cassette out. Then I fell in love with Surfing with the Alien. The Extremist was next, this time on CD. But somewhere after that I just lost the attraction to Joe. I have since tried to pick up his stuff and listen all the way through, but I’m sad to say that more often than not, I just can’t do it. Strange Beautiful Music did however become the soundtrack for my HTML, CSS, and JavaScript coding for a few weeks back in the day.

The Beatles - “Tell Me What You See” (Help!, 1965)
The Beatles catalog is just way too confusing to me, what with the differences between the UK and US releases alone. This particular song was only on the UK release since in the US, the album was a soundtrack album and since the song had already appeared on Beatles VI. Beatles VI?! That’s a real album? Are you sure? Yep, apparently so. As for the song, it doesn’t really do it for me, but it’s The Beatles, so that’s something, right?

Cheap Trick - “I Want You to Want Me” (Bun E.’s Basement Bootlegs 3 “Beertown ‘75” (Disc 2), 1975)
I love Cheap Trick, but I’ve never been crazy about this song. OK, that’s not quite true. I was infatuated with the whole of At Budokan back when I acquired the vinyl. This take has a fire and urgency missing in the sappy and admittedly weak, albeit definitive, version everyone is familiar with, but it doesn’t make me like it any better.

Black Sabbath - “Hole in the Sky” (Symptom of the Universe: The Original Black Sabbath (1970-1978), 2002)
I love the separation of the dual guitar parts you get when you listen to Tony Iommi with headphones on. Heavy, driving Sabbath tune, and I really like the edge in Ozzy’s vocals. I think I see the sky opening up.