The Countdown encounters some Bad Company

Do the Math...10 from 6 equals Bad Company Rocks!

Number 39 on my all time favorite CD list is a greatest hits set by what may be the definitive Hard Rock band...

Bad Company - 10 From 6 (1987)

When it comes to Hard Rock, less is more and Bad Company embodied that ethos better than just about any other band (except maybe AC/DC). The British rockers made their name on muscular, blunt riffs and Paul Rodgers smoky vocals. Like all things Bad Co, even the title is what it says: their 10 best songs from the first 6 albums. In some ways, they were the opposite of labelmates Led Zeppelin in that they completely lacked any sense of mystique.

The original Bad Company blasted thru songs like a jackhammer, such as on their signature song "Feel Like Makin' Love". They would set up the listener with soft, acoustic verses before bringing out the slashing guitars and howling vocals in the chorus. It's a formula that worked wonders on songs like "Shooting Star", "Ready For Love" and "Live For The Music". When they broke from formula, Bad Company could still come up with winners like the stomping "Movin' On" and their self titled ballad, "Bad Company".

It's tempting to pick the two disc Anthology because other classic cuts like "Good Lovin Gone Bad" and "Burnin' Sky" aren't here but again with Bad Company less is more. Their formula lived on long after Bad Co ended as bands like Foreigner and Wolfmother carried on the soft / loud dynamic. To sum it all up, like 10 punches to the face Bad Company delivers their message with brute force.

Feelin' it Again

Been busy lately, so just wanted to make a quick post the easiest way possible. So here's one of my all time favorite songs, "Feel It Again" by Canadian rockers Honeymoon Suite. The video was done in a totally 80's kind of way where all the objects like bright colored cut outs from a Colorforms toy (that toy is a flashback in itself. I think I had the Superfriends version). I really like how the song goes from it's atmospheric verse to the surging guitar powered chorus. In '86 I saw this band play at a festival headlined by Journey, my friend kept yelling "Honeymoon Suite's only fan!!" and pointed at me. The crowd was indifferent until they got to "New Girl Now", another great song by this group. Even years later in College I would play this song and my R.E.M. loving roommate would say "You like this?" (by the way, I like R.E.M. so that's not a knock on them). I've got time to Flash Back just one time today (like Scott Bakula in Quantum Leap), so put on your Miami Vice blazers 'cause it's time to Feel It Again!

Honeymoon Suite - "Feel It Again"

Put up those Devil Horns-It's time for the Heavy Metal Box!

Heavy Metal. It means so many things to so many people. To an outsider, Heavy Metal is devil worship in spikes and leather. To Hardcore or Speed Metal fans, the ultimate manifestation of mindless aggression. For Hair Metal fans, it's a celebration of life in the most decadent beer binging way. And to a music geek like me, Metal is simply full commitment to the act of Rocking. Don't think twice about it, just hammer on that guitar solo and shout choruses about your Mean Streak (Y&T, for those keeping score).

One gift I received last Christmas took a little time to take in and that was the incredible four disc Heavy Metal Box. Charting the growth of Metal from the early 70's to it's peak in the 80's. the Heavy Metal Box offers a mind blowing mix of classic Metal. A range of acts are featured covering most of the major sub genres of this ranging from Speed to Hair to Comedy and back again. Like any box set of a genre, licensing prevents it from being definitive (for example, no Def Leppard, Bon Jovi, Motley Crue, AC/DC, Van Halen, or Ozzy are here) yet there are enough heavy hitters brought in (Metallica, Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden) to keep things interesting. What's really great is the more obscure bands are represented as well, bands like Overkill, Helloween, Hanoi Rocks and Testament are included. These groups I only had passing knowledge of and probably knew their T-Shirts due to fans wearing them than their actual music.

The first disc covers the 70's charting the progression of Metal. Surprisingly, the box does not start off or refer to Steppenwolf's "Born To Be Wild" which is the song most commonly credited as the birth of the genre. Instead, it leads off with a three minute version of Iron Butterfly's "In-Da-Gadda-Da-Vida" (who knew a short version existed?). The 70's show Metal's progression from the Blues/Boogie Rock scene with Deep Purple's "Highway Star", Blue Oyster Cult's "Godzilla" and UFO's "Lights Out" to light the way.

The second disc focuses a bit on the British New Wave Of Heavy Metal, or BNWOHM. Many of the bands that influenced Metallica are on disc 2, bands like Tigers of Pan Tang, Merciful Fate, Diamond Head and Blitzkreig. Standard bearers of BNWOHM Judas Priest and Iron Maiden bring in prime cuts like "You Got Another Thing Comin" and "The Number of the Beast". Tellingly, Metallica is placed at the end of disc 2 with "Whiplash". (It's hard to believe now, but there was a time when Def Leppard was considered part of BNWOHM. I'm not F-F-F-F-Foolin'.)

The third disc dives into Metal's heady Hair Band period. Ratt, Quiet Riot, Twisted Sister, Krokus, Cinderella and a few other "poser" bands bring in the big anthems and shredding guitar solos. Both intentional (Spinal Tap) and unintentional (Stryper) comedic bands are included too (Remember Stryper? The Yellow and Black attack Christian Metal band that threw bibles from the stage Stryper? They sounded great but it was tough to get past that gimmick. Honestly). Some of the Speed Metal scene gets some love here too with Anthrax's "Caught in a Mosh" and Megadeth's "Peace Sells" in for good measure. Plus Accept's "Balls To The Walls", you gotta love that.

Disc 4 brings it too a close by showing the Hair Metal's switch from aerosol canned Led Zep light (Whitesnake's "Still of the Niigghhhtt!) to slightly down and dirty (Great White, Skid Row) to a more brutal sound (Metallica, Slayer and Pantera) before being wiped off the face of the earth by Grunge in the early 90's.

While probably no box set could fully capture the Metal experience, this set makes great choices in what to include. A real treat for me was getting or in some cases hearing for the first time some of the lesser known bands. Ywgnie Malmsteen is a guitarist I've always liked a lot but didn't have any of his stuff. Same with the Michael Schekner Group, finally I have some MSG. Best of all, the set comes with Savatage's "Hall Of The Mountain King". I'm a big fan of that band's name, it just sounds cool like people should have kids just so they can name them Savatage.

And what better way to wrap up this post than having the video from that band. Hmmm...maybe I should legally change my name. I could be Mr. Savatage. How cool would that be? Would I like fries with that?? No, Mr. Savatage will have the salad instead please. Heh Heh, Savatage.

Savatage - "Hall of the Mountain King"