5 comments about Love at First Sting.

1. I bought this album when it was all the rage and the front cover photograph was the big controversy. It rocked then and it still rocks now. I used to love to put this on and crank it as I was getting ready for a big Saturday night (big hair and lip gloss days) - it always set the right mood. It still does. Now what did I do with my lip gloss?...



2. Last solid hit by the Scorpions in 1984 following three successes with 'Lovedrive', 'Animal Magnetism', and 'Blackout.' This album is just solid German hard rock from the 1980s from one of the best bands in that genre along with Def Leppard. Every song on this album is just a classic hit thanks to brilliant musicianship and the outstanding lead guitar work by Mathias Jabbs: simply one of the most underrated lead guitarists from that period who is just as impressive as Randy Rhoads in his style. Also, don't forget to get out your lighters and raise your hands as Scorpions is pretty much the model hard rock band for your power ballad with the hit 'Still Loving You.' Very well thought out lyrically and musically, again, Mathias Jabbs just delivers an excellent solo. You can't go wrong with this album or any album by Scorpions preceding this album. This album was really their last good album.



3. it`s not heavy scorps like earlier albums,and it`s not total cheese like later albums,it`s right in the middle,



4. Most Scorpions classics are here (though don't miss other jewels of their discography as Blackout, Lovedrive, Taken by Force, etc.). Be sure to buy the non-remastered version as it sounds more dynamic and not over-compressed. It won't dissapoint.



5. The best hard rock album ever !!!
   Scorpions made a classic with this album and until today remains better than before !!!
   I'm a huge fan of Scorpions and today 08/14 I'll show them in a concert here at Sao Paulo, Brazil !!!
   SCORPIONS FOREVER !!!!

5 comments about Hold Your Fire.

1. The CD arrived in immaculate condition. One of Rush's more ambitious albums but still good none the less.



2. This is a great album. The lyrics are phenomenal (as usual). It is probably their most under-rated.



3. Let's just say this Album is far to underated and deserved more then merely becoming a Gold Recored. This may be the most synth-driven collection of songs in Rush's Repitore but it is still very entertaining & complex music.
   
   Force Ten- The opener of the cd start's off with Jack-Hammer drums and a recording of Aimmee mann's Laughter. ***** rating
   
   Time Stand Still- The only true hit off of the Cd that featured Aimmee on backup vocals. The song is catchy and leaves a soul with a positive vibe while listening. **** rating
   
   Open Secerts- Now this song is what a music critic would call an underated gem. The Track is very rich with sound and it has lot emotion too it especially in the guitar solo. ***** rating
   
   Second Nature- "Folks are basically decent as conventional wisdow would say" The lyrics are the most powerul ingreadient of this layed back song and the music is not the most memorable, yet nonetheless it still worth giving a chance. **** rating
   
   Prime Mover- " The Point of the journey is not to arrive anything can happen". Very motivating song and it features one of Geddy Lee's busiest and ear capturing basslines". Deserves a five star rating *****
   
   Lock & Key- This song is what call a forgotten hit it hit the charts but is rarely mentioned in the twenty years after it's release. I'll might mention that it would have to neil's finest drumming on the record listen to outro of the song and the listener will see what I mean.
   
   ***** rating.
   
   Mission- "Hold Your Fire keep it burning bright hold the flame til the dream ignites spirit with a vision is dream with a mission". Another insirational song that was played live this year on the 2007 "Snakes & Arrows Tour. ***** rating
   
   Turn the Page- Wow what a lively song with a bit of a slower pace than Force Ten. The song was played on the Hold your fire Tour. ***** ratings
   
   Tai Shan- The shortest song on the CD and probably the most difficult to appreciate. Nonetheless it is still very unique and its amazing how much you feel like you are in China while listening. *** rating
   
   High Water- A song that is takes repeated listening but can be rewarding if given a chance. Makes you feel like you are swimming in an ocean.
   ***
   
   I must say that this recording has been put in my CD player more than any other Rush album for good reason.



4. There are a few memorable tracks here, including "Time Stood Still," and "Mission," but this album suffers from weak melodies and dated production.
   
   Nobody plays the drums better than Peart, but his over-reliance on electronic drums, coupled with Geddy's overuse of the synthesizer on too many tracks, date this record immediately. Unfortunately, the guitar is too often buried in the background as a result.
   
   What you are left with is a record that screams 1987, and it shows. I'll take Grace Under Pressure over this one every time.



5. Canadian power trio Rush released its 14th album Hold Your Fire in September of 1987.
   The album was the end of their third phase and their last studio for Mercury before the band left amicably for Atlantic Records as the relationship with Mercury had run its course.
   This album was the start of Rush slowly doing away with the synthesizers that dominated the last four studio efforts. Also, this was the last album the band would co-produce with Peter Collins until 1993's Counterparts.
   I did not hear this album until Christmas of 1990 when my father bought me this on cassette. I got the remastered CD in 1997 (superbly done by Bob Ludwig) and it is stunning.
   The album kicks off with the rocking "Force Ten" which was a huge hit on rock radio. The mammoth hit "Time Stand Still" follows and features 'Til Tuesday bass player/vocalist Aimee Mann singing backing vocals as she does on Tai Shan. Bass player/singer/keyboard player Geddy Lee, guitarist Alex Lifeson and drummer Neil Peart just play like men possessed and on fire on this album.
   Other standouts include "Lock and Key", "Mission", "Open Secrets" and the closing "High Water". The other tracks "Second Nature", "Prime Mover", "Mission" and "Turn the Page" are all great songs yet people either ignored them or just disliked them.
   Despite a #12 placing and Gold sales, this album was considered a failure both creatively and commercially as it was overlooked at a time of bad hair metal like Bon Jovi and Cinderella permiating the music scene but still sounds better than many of the albums of the time twenty years down the road.
   Hold Your Fire is highly recommended!

5 comments about The Best of Eddie Money.

1. I was sadly dissapointed with the sound quality of this disc. I found it lacking any brightness. I can not reccomend this disc.



2. An excellent compilation of Eddie Money's music. It's got all the hits I remember turning up on the radio back in the 80s. Eddie's not doing anything fancy, just providing great, solid rock from the 80s. In the era of hair bands, Eddie focused on the tunes. This CD would make for excellent road music for sure. Great choice for 80s rock fans. Particularly good songs, and there are a number of them, are:
   
   2 Tickets to Paradise
   Shakin
   Take Me Home Tonight
   Walk on Water
   We Should Be Sleeping
   Trinidad
   I Wanna Go Back
   Peace in Our Time
   
   As you can see, just the really good ones make quite a list. This album lives up to "greatest hits" label.



3. Eddie Money's (Mahoney)best music. This music gets constant play on rock 'n roll radio stations and rightly so. This album is a winner and will be for a long time to come.



4. It is said that Eddie Money was a cop until he followed his heart and started in the music business.I remember myself when I was driving home in my car during a hot summer day.I turned on my radio and listened to a tune called"TAKE ME HOME TONIGHT".I was blown away.Eddie Money is pure Rock'n Roll, pure music and most of it all,music you can listen while driving or working out etc.I'm sure you know all the songs notably BABY HOLD ON or TWO TICKETS TO PARADISE.Don't wait too long.Eddie will never let you go.



5. I had forgotten how many Eddie Money songs were so good! This is a nice compilation. I am happy with my purchase.

5 comments about Classic Queen.

1. This album truly is a "must-have" for the true Queen fan. If you were to select 1 album with the essentials (i.e., Bohemian Rhapsody, Who Wants to Live Forever, Show Must Go On, These are the Days of our Lives, Under Pressure, Radio Ga Ga), this is the album for you. One notable song missing, I Want to Break Free. However, if you were to attempt to find all songs on 1 disc, this has most of the essentials. Long live the legacy of Freddie Mercury, Long live Queen!



2. I've always enjoyed Freddie Mercury and the boys musical endeavors, and this album of songs was one that gave me the opportunity to hear some of the rarer selections. Other than the usual "greatest hits" that you will get on most other collections, this collection of tunes hits a higher mark. If you're a big Queen fan, I highly recommend this disc for you collection. Some of the cuts are a bit obscure, but that's what makes it happen for me on this one.



3. What hasn't been said about Queen? They are definitely one of the best classic rock bands of all-time. Led by Freddie Mercury, they made some of the best rock of the '70s, '80s and early '90s.
   
   And now to the review. 'Classic Queen' is full of five star music. But, is this really necessary? I don't think so. Yes, 'Bohemian Rhapsody' is here, but like 'I Want To Break Free' on the American version of 'Greatest Hits,' it's out of place. 'Classic Queen' mostly focuses on the 1981-1991 time period, so why are these '70s tracks here?
   
   Thank goodness for 'The Platinum Collection' and 'Greatest Hits I & II.' Those are the original U.K. hit collections. Do yourself a favor and seek that out instead. There, you will find most of the songs offered on 'Classic Queen' and 'Greatest Hits (American version).' I suggest 'Greatest Hits I & II' because of how mediocre 'Greatest Hits III' is (that appears on 'The Platinum Collection'; it doesn't on 'Greatest Hits I & II.')
   
   Overall, save your hard earned cash. If you want a Queen collection, 'Greatest Hits I & II' is the way to go. The good news is, disc one focuses on 1973-1980 and disc two focuses on 1981-1991, meaning that it devotes one disc per phase for Queen. Disc one is phase one, disc two is phase two.
   
   Save your money. You will be glad you did. This isn't a bad compilation, and again, everything here is five stars, but the three stars are here because there are so many better options.
   
   Recommended for the easily pleased Queen fan.



4. I try not to review best ofs too often but sometimes that's all I own of a group. It occured to me the other day that all the Queen I ever owned in the past I have sold off for cigarettes and beer while living in the cold depths of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.
   
   So I ran off to buy me some Queen. I figured I'd start with the most obvious and get all the hits I could. This collection is for sure a great way to start, with the hits like "Crazy Little Thing Called Love", "We Will Rock You" etc. I can't stop listening to it. Unfortunetly they had so many hits, they had to put out a second version called "Classic Queen" which has "Bohemian Rhapsody" and "Under Pressure" so I bought that one too. There is a remastered Greatest Hits out there but once again it doesn't have all the songs, perhaps one day someone will come up with the perfect Queen mix. Until then Queen Classic Queen and Queen's Greatest Hits will do just fine.



5. CD is great, nice fast transaction. Would recommend this seller to
   everyone.

5 comments about Bon Jovi.

1. Todos los discos de Bon Jovi son excelentes, si no los has escuchado te estás perdiendo a una de las mejores bandas de rock gringo, cómpralo 100.000.000 de fans de Bon Jovi no podemos estar equivocados!!!



2. While many people often say an album like 'New Jersey' or 'Slippery When Wet' are Bon Jovi's finest album(s), I am pretty different. In my opinion, their 1984 self-titled debut album is their best and my personal favorite.
   
   I had the cassette of this, and I have just about worn it out. This album is superb. Jon Bon Jovi and company are at their best here. This album, of course, contains one of their most well-known songs to date, 'Runaway.'
   
   Other great songs here are 'She Don't Know Me,' 'Shot Through The Heart,' 'Get Ready,' and another one of my all-time favorite Bon Jovi songs, 'Roulette.'
   
   I would say that if you don't own 'Bon Jovi,' than you are really missing out. If you enjoyed 'Slippery When Wet,' than I can almost guarantee you will love this album.
   
   Overall, I strongly recommend this album for any Bon Jovi fan. This is the band at their best. It sounds just as good in 2008 as it did in 1984.
   
   This is highly recommended for any Bon Jovi fan, whether it be casual, new or die-hard. This is a must own album. An '80s classic.
   
   ENJOY!!!



3. This is the best Bon Jovi CD they ever made. It has almost all of my favorite Bon Jovi songs from back in the day. I love it! My next purchase is Slippery When Wet. :o)



4. I would recommend this seller to anyone at all. The shipping could not have been any quicker and the product was excellent.



5. OK, first off I will admit that I like this disc! Secondly, I still listen to this disc! Now that I got that out of the way, this disc is one of the essential bubble gum pop-rock discs of all time. You can hear that Bon Jovi were going to take off and they basically are the (kings?) of pop-rock. Catchy riffs, catchy tunes, and catchy lyrics are all here. Enjoy this guilty pleasure and I know some metal fans like this disc even if they won't admit it.

5 comments about But Seriously, Folks....

1. "But Seriously Folks" CD is awesome. WOW and let me say that backwards..
   WOW. Joe Walsh is "seriously" talented and I loved the music, his
   singing, the instrumentals, all of it. I just wish I had bought it sooner!



2. I can still remember during the summer of '78 when "Life's Been Good..." was a hit on the airwaves(and I was a young lad of 20)seeing my old man,who was 52 at the time and who had no use for rock music, enjoying this song. He got a big kick out of the lyrics.Me too. I still own this on vinyl(when I've gotten rid of a great deal of my vinyl collection over the years) and every so often ,especially during the summer months, I have to put it on the turntable and kick back."Second Hand Store" and "Tomorrow" are outstanding tracks on their own and make this album a must have.Classic album--always will be.



3. I think this is a great CD. I love Joe Walsh's guitar playing and I enjoy listening to the entire first 4 songs straight through uninterrupted. "At the Station" "Indian Summer" and "Second Hand Store" always make me think of summer time when I was a kid and we used to hang out at the fishing hole drinking beer. Of course, this contains the classic "Life's Been Good" and there's also a great catchy tune called "Tomorrow" and a couple of cool intrumental pieces.
   
   I am a huge Joe Walsh fan so I have to say I am probably playing some favoritism but why not - I think the man is underrated as both a guitar player and lyricist. He may not write mind bending philosophical lyrics 24/7 but he sure knows how to construct a good piece of humoring lyrical content and he has the ability to make you forget about your worries and draw you to another place and time. And isn't that what music is supposed to be about sometimes?



4. This is an old favorite of mine from an artist I have long admired. Since none of these songs are on iTunes, I purchased the CD and I am glad I did. I was particularly glad to be able to hear Second Hand Store, Indian Summer and Life's Been Good again as the cassette I have is well worn. The CD arrived right on time and was priced well; can't argue with that.



5. Remastered by producer Bill Szymczyk, "But Seriously Folks" is one of Joe Walsh's most catchy, ambitious mainstream albums. It's not as experimental as one of Joe's best album "Barnstorm" but this album along with "The Smoker You Drink, The Player You Get", "So What" and "There Goes The Neighborhood" ranks among his best solo albums. Every song is infectious with great hooks and melodies. It's more like "So What?" than Walsh's first two albums which had elements of the folk/jazz of Traffic mixed into the crunchy guitar chords. Joe writes or co-writes all the songs on the album borrowing the chorus from one of multi-instrumentalist Joe Vitale's solo albums (Vitale was a member of Walsh's "Barnstorm" band and has toured with Walsh in just about tour he's done including The Eagles where Joe Walsh hangs a new melody on it (he even borrows the guitar riff he came up with for Vitale for that song)for "At the Station". Every song is a stand out with a bit of experimentation that recalls "Barnstorm" and "The Smoker You Drink, The Player You Get" with the instrumentals "Inner Tube" and "Theme From Boat Weirdos" (a continuing theme and "joke" that plays across several solo albums of Walsh associates).
   
   The big hit, though, was the nearly 9 minute (although it was edited down to 4 minutes for the AM radio version)rocker satire "Life's Been Good". Walsh pokes fun at the rock star lifestyle from trashing rooms, to having mansions that they never see because they are on the road touring so much. It's a great track and was one of Walsh's biggest hits propelling this terrific album into the top twenty.
   
   While we don't get a booklet discussing the making of the album or any lyrics, we do get all the original credits but, more importantly, a beautifully mastered CD that captures the best qualities of the vinyl version released in 1978. The original vinyl had a terrific master by Ted Jensen and Szymczyk goes for broke replicating Jensen's master for a different format. There's a lot of great detail that can be heard on the CD from the cymbals that open "Over and Over" to the crunchy slide guitar work by Walsh on "Life's Been Good".
   
   Featuring a parade of 70's rock stars as guests (all of the Eagles appear the album with Henley, Frey and Schmitt doing backing vocals for "Tomorrow" and Don Felder playing pedal steel on "Second Hand Store" and guitar on another track nicely complimenting Walsh. Jo Jo Gunne and Spirit alumni Jay Ferguson plays keys while Vitale plays drums, flute and other assorted istruments), "But Seriously Folks" was followed by "There Goes The Neighborhood" an album almost as strong as this one with another Walsh hit "Life of Illusion". Highly recommended.

5 comments about Infinity.

1. The first time I heard Journey's Infinity, I knew it would be one of my favorites. Now, 30 years later, it is still one of my favorites. I was glad to find it available in CD form. There's just something I can't define about the music on this CD that lifts my spirit every time I listen to it.



2. I was 14 years old when this album was released. I went over to a friends house after school and through the door of his older brother's room was the sound of this voice. The voice was, Steve Perry's.
   I was already building a pretty diverse record collection. I told my friend to hang on for a second and literally stopped in my tracks and knocked on his brother's door. He opened the door and said, "Hey, what's up?" I asked who it was that he was listening to. He said, "Journey." and showed me the cover. That friday night, I went to a local department store with my family and passed by the record section. There it was, "Infinity". With the best looking artwork on the rack. I pulled out my lone $10 dollar bill and bought the record. It was on sale for $5.98!. This purchase began a journey of my own. They were my favorite band from 1978 to 1983's "Frontiers". I bought their records. Went to their concerts on every tour and watched them develop and implode. I didn't know about terms like "corporate rock", or the pending homogenization of rock radio that was beginning to happen. I just knew that i liked their sound. Roy Thomas Baker produced the album's "Infinity" and "Evolution". His production style was a major force to why and how they became so hugely successful. Infinity is an album for the ages and for all ages. Personally, The best Steve Perry Era album, and one which I am listening to right now at the age of 44, as I write this.
   It is one of the best rock album's made in the 70's. Waaaay beyond it's time. It had class and soul and groove. The band played great and I feel that if you like good melodic, well sung rock music this is an absolutely stellar recording. If you are into the "New wave" or "punk" generation from the same era. You won't dig this at all. It's not angst. It's beautifully played and arranged commercial rock music.
   A masterpiece.
   NOTE:I hadn't heard Journey before this record (or so I thought). Actually, my older brother had "Look Into The Future" and "Next" in his collection. The pre-Steve Perry Journey is a fantastic lineup and great, great music. It's this Journey without Steve Perry. But the great voices of Gregg Rolie (Santana's co-founder and singer of Black Magic Woman) and Neal Schon (a Guitar Prodigy and fine singer in his own right) . The Pre-Steve Journey holds it's own and deserves just as much attention from the record label and curious musician based fan.
   Remasters with bonus tracks, etc.
   
   Anyway, go and listen. Really listen.



3. Great classic rock, great Journey album. But it's not one of their best, and is better left for the hard-core Journey fan. There are a couple of great songs on this album, but you'll find them on the Greatest Hits collections.



4. Back in the late 70s, Pop-Rock bands like JOURNEY (i.e. STYX, KANSAS, REO Speedwagon) ruled the American Rock music layout. Powerful tunes with wonderful vocal Queen-esque works, awesome guitar riffs, keyboards and drums, as well as very good, mellow ballads were the standards in those days.
   "Infinity" was one of the best musical products of that era. However, why to spoil so much an excellent album, reissuing it on an "ENHANCED" version...???? Hey... Try to play this CD on some older CD players (portable/car/home) and you'll have some problems... My suggestion: Try to get any good European (Germany-Holland-France), older 1990s reissue of this great Journey album, you will get equal outstanding sound quality, without the reproduction problems!!



5. Journey has been my favorite band since I was 12 years old. This CD is a classic. Steve Perry's voice sounds crisp and pure. Neal Schon's guitar playing is revolutionary for it's time, and Gregg Rolie is/was one of the best keyboardists from that era. You can still hear songs such as: Lights, Wheel In The Sky, and Patiently on the radio today. The only reason I gave this CD 4 stars and not 5 is that it is a little heavy on the ballads. Not that any of the ballads are bad; I just would have preferred to have had a little better mix on this CD. That aside, in my humble opinion this CD really is a must own in anyone's CD collection

5 comments about Stiff Upper Lip.

1. As usual, AC/DC doesn't disapoint with Stiff Upper Lip. Strong, blues driven rock from the opening title track to the final track "Give it Up". The one thing that I can always enjoy about AC/DC is that when you buy an album from them, you know exactly what you're going to get. No worrying about whether Malcolm or Angus are going through a blue period or whether they're feeling a little EMO this week. No, no, no...once again songs are driven by the indulgences of life (women, drugs, booze, fighting and good ole' Rock and Roll).
   
   My personal favorite tracks are "House of Jazz", "Stiff Upper Lip", "Safe in New York City", "Can't Stand Still" and "Meltdown". This album doesn't have a feel like any other AC/DC album but it's the standard you would expect from AC/DC lyric and vibe wise.
   
   BUY IT!!!



2. No way to explain...is just AC/DC!When you heard this album for the first time, you already realize that is ,no dout:they never changed and never will!Enjoy!



3. All of AC/DC's albums with Johnson have two good songs and thats it, and some suck al together...but this one actually has 4 good songs.



4. you know it's ac dc, you know it's angus and malcolm, you know it's brian williams screaming through the songs, and you know it's going to rock.



5. AC/DC-Stiff Upper Lip ***1/2
   
   
   All the right ingrediants are there, but it just feels like something is still missing. Stiff Upper Lip is bluesier than any of AC/DC's other albums with the exception Powerage. It's got the feel of something from every time period of AC/DC's career. The hard driving no non-since rockers like the albums strongest track 'Safe In New York City' and the late 80's early 90's areana rock 'Meltdown' to the feel of very early AC/DC with the albums title track 'Stiff Upper Lip.' So why then doesn't this album satisfy like it seems it should?
   
   As far as the cast of characters, well Angus is playing some of the best guitar of his career in my opinion. Malcom is writing some of the bands strongest songs in years, I really do mean in years! Brian Johnson who I have always liked better then Bon Scott, is sounding great as ever and coming on as strong as ever. Then their is Cliff Williams who is always a fine bass player. But then last we have Phill Rudd, who is my opinion is one of the finest drummers in all of rock history. AC/DC has always been known for fantasttic drummers.
   
   But you see songs like 'Hold Me Back' and the title track 'Stiff Upper Lip' have the same guitar riff, almost exactly, which coincidently is the same guitar riff as 'Thunderstruck' was about a decade earlier. 'House Of Jazz' is a good song, with maybe the best solo on the album, but you feel cheated because you can tell something went wrong. Put it this way, the song could have been great instead of just good. As for 'Can't Stand Still' that seems to be slightly ironic as the song repeats the same thing over and over and over again, and that at this late stage in the bands career they still have not managed to grow as a band. This song once again has the same riff as 'Thunderstruck' and on further throught, the same as 'For Those About To Rock' did in the early 80's.The song should have been left off the album as it is the worst thing they have recorded since the Fly On The Wall and Flick Of The Switch albums in the 1980's. Finally, one of the albums stronger songs 'Can't Stop Rock 'N Roll' sounds like a rehasing of 'For Thos About To Rock' as well, not to mention several other classic songs in the bands 80's material.
   
   So what seems to be the issue here is AC/DC, once one of the top hard rock bands of all time has become a parody, not of hard rock, but of themselves. They are clearly running through the motions. I know AC/DC's modo has always been if it isn't broke then why fix it but at this juncture it's time to change the formula or call it a day. When songs are just recycled versions of others, and of classics by the same band then there is a problem. I know they have been known for a sound but this seems forced, it's no wonder it is taking so many years for the band to create a follow up to this album.

5 comments about Little Queen.

1. Little Queen, Heart's second album, measures up to their debut Dreamboat Annie. It's great to have a remastered version with bonus tracks, wish Capitol would do the same with Dreamboat Annie. "Barracuda" is the featured song here & in many ways surpasses "Magic Man" from Dreamboat Annie. "Barracuda" rocked hard & added to the claim that Heart was the Queens of Rock. "Kick It Out" is a good song, so is the funky "Little Queen". It's unfortunate that, like its predecessor, its not a consistent album. This album might be more consistent than their first but the highs are quite as good.
   
   "Dream of the Archer" is similar to the Led Zeppelin song "Battle of Evermore" but not one of my favorites. Call me a fool if you will but I was never the biggest fan of Led Zeppelin. "Sylvan Song" is a great instrumental that features Howard Leese. Leese was Hearts musician extraordinaire, playing several different instruments. In Fact, he would be the longest surviving member of the band, not counting the Wilson sisters. The album has two bonus cuts :Too Long a Time", an early version of "Love Alive" & a live recording of "Stairway to Heaven". Adding this cut only reinforces the myth or title that Heart was "the female Led Zeppelin". I'm not sure where this myth originated but Heart did little to dispel the myth.
   
   Heart was one of the major groups to debut in the seventies & was one of my favorites. In a three year period we got Heart, Boston, Foreigner & Van Halen. This was the last great rock band period of the seventies. Heart would continue for many years & would reinvent themselves in the eighties to once again enjoy a large scale success. The Wison sisters & Heart were "rawkers" & this album does nothing to change that image.



2. With "Little Queen", Heart managed to continue the musical brilliancy promised by their phenomenal debut.
   
   "Barracuda", now a staple of classic rock radio (and playable on Guitar Hero II), kicks off this album with a bang, much like the hard-rocking "Magic Man" that touched off their debut album. "Barracuda", with its chugging rhythm and trippy effects, showcases the technical prowess of Heart's three(!) guitarists and drummer. Somewhere through this churning blend, Ann Wilson's powerful voice comes through loud and clear, as always.
   
   Heart slows it down for "Love Alive", "Sylvan Song", and "Dream of the Archer", continuing to develop Heart's Led Zeppelin-esque blend of folk music and hard rock. "Kick it Out" rivals "Barracuda" for the hardest-rocking song on this album. "Little Queen" is probably the catchiest track, featuring a funky bass groove and crooning vocals from the Wilson sisters.
   
   "Treat me Well" is a largely forgettable song, sounding like an outtake from "Dreamboat Annie", but it nonetheless serves its purpose in transitioning the album towards a more laid-back feel. "Say Hello", which features a Pink Floyd-like ambient intro, is a cheerful, relaxed tune that serves as an effective contrast to the slow caress of "Cry to Me" and "Go on Cry".
   
   "Too Long a Time", an early demo version of "Love Alive", and a live cover of "Stairway to Heaven" finish out this CD version of "Little Queen". I actually prefer "Too Long a Time" to its counterpart on the album; it shows more genuine emotion than the more slickly produced "Love Alive". "Stairway to Heaven" is a bit of a disappointment; Ann Wilson laughs nervously during her spoken intro, her vocals are spotty, and her backing band adds no new ideas to a song that everyone has heard a thousand times. Nevertheless, it does reinforce the influence that Led Zeppelin had on Heart during this time.
   
   For "Little Queen", Heart chose to focus on individual songs rather than crafting a unified conceptual album, a trend they continued in their subsequent releases. Nevertheless, certain parts of this album flow together seamlessly, such as the "Sylvan Song/Dream of the Archer" medley at the beginning and the "Cry to Me/Go on Cry" duo at the end of the album.
   
   "Little Queen" is worth owning, but get "Dreamboat Annie" first.



3. This is such an enjoyable album! These ladies are just so talented and I had heard them on the radio and heard their name as a child, but I can't believe how long it too me to really get into them. They were some of the first women in rock and I admire them b/c they did it without overly sexing it up and without imitating men either- they just acted as themselves and showed that femininity and rock are fully compatible, adding their own style to it.
   
   "Barracuda" is a song that came on in the car when I was getting home. It was such a kicking song I didn't want to turn the car off. It is still one of my favorite songs by them. "Love Alive" is also very beautiful and classic as she calmly sings "ever since I was a baby girl I wanted one thing most in this world was to keep my love alive" and the instrumental afterward is kind of progressive sounding. "Sylvan Song" and "Dream of the Archer" (sorry I can't tell when they separate b/c I have this on tape) are really enchanting, dreamy, medeival songs, with great use of mandolin. "Kick It Out" and "Little Queen" are both really catchy with some cool little riffs. "Say Hello" is a cheery little song, good use of mandolin again and I like the inflection in her voice. "Cry to Me" and "Treat Me Well" are slow, thoughtful songs that grew on me. "Go on Cry" is a great instrumental- kind of simple, great rythm, it plain rocks!
   
   Throughout this album is Ann Wilson's strong, piercing, clear voice, beautiful harmony, mandolin, and well written songs. And I love the cover too! It matches with the music perfectly!
   
   Currently, my car stereo is broken and this tape is stuck inside. It's been playing over and over for more than a week and I can't stop or eject it. The fact that I'm still giving this album a 5 star review certainly says something too!



4. I really enjoy the CD. Glad I added it to my collection. It brings back memories from my teen-age days. Rock on.



5. This is great cd.The 70's had so much great music.This remastered reissue sounds wonderful.I do miss not seeing the lyrics of the old release but enjoy seeing rare pictures of the band and what Nancy Wilson thought of the album during that time.The Bonus tracks are interesting and fun to listen to.

5 comments about Kansas.

1. For me, this is one of Kansas's best albums-period! While their later albums sonically would prove to be more sophisticated, none of their later efforts would match the pure, raw energy of their debut. This is not to say that the band's later work was not superb. But to my ears, Kansas was never as magnificent as on their first album. Here it really sounds like the band is out to grab the listener by the throat with the sheer ferocity of their playing. They do, and they never let go, from first note to last. Surely, this is one of the greatest debut albums ever! There is also an ecstatic joy that is quite palpable in the band's playing and for me Robby Steinhardt's violin NEVER sounded so inspired or intricate. I had the original cd issue of this and the new remastered edition is a big jump in sound quality. The music is quite detailed with a great bass tone and bottom end. I really can't say enough about this album. I never grow tired of it and I always play it when I need some inspiration-great album to work out to! I feel so fortunate to have found Kansas. Their songs are so inspiring, heroic even, and unique-noboby sounds like them and on this first album they proved that they were a force to be reckoned with and that they would take no prisoners! Go out and pick up a copy and you'll see what I mean!



2. Although this first release of Kansas was strong, fresh and unique it actually paled in comparision to how they sounded live at that time. I had the pleasure to see them in concert when this LP was first released back in like 1974, and all I can say is the concert was an order of magnitude better than this LP. Not to take anything away from this LP, which is in my opinion the best showing of any Kansas LP, it being more real, & straight forward with no radio fluff that the later hit generating releases would be chock full of. Check it out, you will be surprised to find another side of Kansas.



3. Kansas' self-titled debut, released in 1974, has some great songs. It is a bit inconsistant, but a handful of tracks make the album very worth the cost to own.
   Kansas had been signed to Don Kirshner's record label prior to the arrival of Kerry Livgren (keyboard/guitar), who wrote epic prog rock songs--much different than the straight-forward southern rock the band had been playing. So on this record (and the two that followed), the band was trying to find their sound.
   The first track is Can I Tell You. It's lyrics are very simple and it's violin heavy, but an alright song nonetheless and it has that "Kansas" sound. It's good to listen to once through, but you won't put it on repeat.
   Bringing it Back, written by J.J. Cale, is the next track. While Cale wrote many famous songs, this one doesn't fit Kansas at all. It may be that they played it at bars to keep the drunks happy, I don't know, but they shouldn't have recorded it. It's best to skip this song.
   The next song, written by Steve Walsh (vocals/keyboards), is Lonely Wind. It's a ballad that's easy to listen to, but there's nothing special about it. The lyrics are a bit odd, but not tough to understand. The track is tolerable at best.
   Belexes, written by Livgren, is the next track and the first gem. It's harder edge, the great organ work by Walsh and deeper lyrics make this a Kansas classic. Not as "prog" as some other Livgren songs, but great nonethelesss.
   Next is Journey from Mariabronn, written by Livgren and Walsh, which is one of my favorite Kansas songs of all time and the pinnacle of this album. It is breathtaking!
   The Pilgrimage, also written by Livgren and Walsh, is not so good and does not follow the previous song well at all. It's very forgetable and best to skip.
   Next is Aperçu, another Livgren/Walsh penned song, which, oddly, sounds a bit new-wave at times, but is overall one of the stronger songs on the album. The deeper you get into this track, the better it becomes.
   Aperçu fades into the next song, Death of Mother Nature Suite, which was written by Livgren. This track is great and is one of my favorites, but a bit different sounding than most of their other music. It somewhat reminds me of Jimi Hendrix or Glass Harp or something like that. Death of Mother Nature Suite really cooks and should be a rock classic, except nobody knows about it outside of Kansas circles. Which is too bad.
   Overall, Kansas' first effort was good, with some great and some not so great tracks. But the great songs are so good that they overshadow those lesser songs so much that you forget they are even there.



4. KANSAS - Kansas (1974) (**** ) 9 tracks - (54:48)
   
   This is KANSAS's debut album. Now, I have to admit, I did not grow up listening to this album. My interest in KANSAS's music came a little later, after hearing such classics as Carry On Wayward Son and Dust in the Wind on the radio as a youth. Even though I owned Leftoverture (1976) and liked it very much, I never had the interest to go back and explore the band's back-catalog. Now, fast-forward 25 years. As a middle-aged adult who still has a big interest in music, I begin to replace many of my old first issue CD's purchased in the 80's with newly "remastered" versions.
   
   After purchasing Leftoverture and Point of Know Return and being amazed at the new sound quality (plus bonus Live tracks!) It began a renewed interest in the music of KANSAS. Also, I had slowly generated much more of an interest in Progressive Rock, which I now understand KANSAS to be a participant in. Eventually I purchased their debut, and boy, was I surprised by the great songs that I had never heard before. Songs played with the energy of a young band hungry for success.
   
   The album starts off with the actual song that got Kansas their first record deal, Can I Tell You. This early track, written by two-thirds of the band, is the song that Don Kirshner was so impressed with, he dispatched his VP to get a first-hand look at the band out in the Midwestern plains of Kansas. Once Wally Gold came back to New York, he recommended Kirshner sign the band, and the rest, as they say, is history.
   
   The outstanding Prog related tracks begin about halfway thru with Belexes. Then comes a Journey From Mariabronn, a definitely Prog-length epic, clocking in at almost 8 minutes. These more complex and intricate songs keep coming with The Pilgrimage and the dual song, one-two punch of Apercu and Death Of Mother Nature Suite, which were usually played back to back Live just as they are presented on the album, flowing into one another almost as if they were simply two parts of one song (for a combination of 17 ½ minutes of brilliant songwriting). And let's not forget the great musicianship of the players. The members of Kansas were all veterans of former bands, and had a lot of experience playing before coming together as the band Kansas. That combined with the fantastic vocals of lead singer Steve Walsh, good harmonizing between Walsh, Dave Hope (bass) and Robby Steinhardt (violin), great keyboard playing between Walsh and the multi-talented Kerry Livgren (organ, piano, Moog synthesizer, lead guitar, and vocals), you have a very unique and talented outfit.
   
   This 2004 EPIC/Legacy release has an additional bonus track consisting of a "Live" version of Bringing It Back, recorded at the Agora Ballroom, Cleveland, Ohio in 1975 (previously unreleased). Like many live tracks, it stretches the once 3 ½ minute song out to over 9 minutes of musical pleasure.
   
   
   Best Tracks: Journey From Mariabronn and Apercu/Death of Mother Nature Suite



5. This one is absolutely remarkable. In this first record, Kansas left their unique signature, a balanced mix of 70's hard rock and progressive approach. Lonely Wind is one of Kansas best songs, as Journey From Mariabronn and Belexes.