All These CDs Followed A Classic, What Happened?

Hello,

So what do these CDs have in common? All of these CDs directly follow a classic CD. For the most part, other than perhaps a couple of good songs, these CDs were mostly duds. For most of these musicians the classic CD mentioned is their peak. (All classic CDs certified by themusicaddict.)

Prince's "Around The World In A Day" followed perhaps the greatest soundtrack ever, "Purple Rain". "Around The World In A Day" isn't without it's charms. It's the CD that features "Raspberry Beret", "Pop Life" and "Paisley Park", all of which are good to great songs. However songs like the song with a long intro "Condition of The Heart", the lame "The Ladder" and disappointing "Temptation" have long been left in the past. "Temptation" seems to be Prince trying to create the next "Purple Rain" song, using the DNA of the actual "Purple Rain". Sadly it's a not a very good facsimile of the original.

However every song on "Purple Rain" is at least excellent. There's not a throwaway track to be found on this classic CD.

Def Leppard's "Adrenalize" follows the awe-inspiring "Hysteria", one of the greatest rock records ever. "Adrenalize" is probably best known for "Let's Get Rocked", which is a perfectly good, disposable rock song. However it's nowhere in the same league as most, if not all songs, on Hysteria. Just off the top of my head the next rock album as good as "Hysteria" probably was "Appetite For Destruction".

George Michael's "Listen Without Prejudice 1" follows chart topping and absolutely amazing "Faith". As with the first two CDs on this list, this artist was never able to hit the heights of it's predecessor. From "Faith" the songs "Faith", "I Want Your Sex", "Monkey", "Father Figure" and even "Hand To Mouth"all are good to very good. "Listen Without Prejudice 1" has "Freedom '90", "They Won't Go When I Go" and "Praying For Time", but nothing to the level of most songs on "Faith". Again those "LWP1" songs are all perfectly good songs, but "Listen Without Prejudice 1" is clearly a big step down from "Faith".

Ozzy Osbourne's "No Rest For The Wicked" follows "Ultimate Sin". Other than the recording debut of Zakk Wylde for Ozzy and a cool album cover, "No Rest For The Wicked" has little else to recommend it. Looking at the songs on this CD, I don't recognize any of these songs at all. I have a lot of CDs in my iTunes library, but this is one that's not there. I can see why and it's doubtful I'll ever add it.

INXS's "Kick" followed "X" and as any following a classic, the chances of the second CD hitting the same heights as the previous CD weren't great. Especially looking back at "Kick" now, what a great CD it is. It's easily one of the best CDs of the 80's and a CD that still sounds fresh about 30 years later. (Do ya think anyone will care about Miley or Britney 30 years from now?) "Kick" is full of great songs, such as "Devil Inside", "Need You Tonight", "Never Tear Us Apart" and "New Sensations". Even the second to last song on "Kick" is the perfectly chewy pop nugget "Tiny Daggers".

Out of these 10 following a classic CD, surprisingly for me "X" is perhaps the best. I suggest "X" is indeed a worthy follow up. It features such classic songs as "Suicide Blonde", "Disappear", "The Stairs", "By My Side" and "Bitter Tears". Obviously "X" is a very solid CD all on it's own.

Chalk up the next two CDs to it seems they only had one good CD in them. First is Neneh Cherry's "Homebrew" which followed the ahead of it's time "Raw Like Sushi". On "Homebrew", Cherry seems to be mostly recycling her own classic songs such as "Buffalo Stance", "Kisses On The Wind", "Heart" and "Inna City Mama". Nothing terrible about any song on "Homebrew", but no song that stands out either.

Aldo Nova's "Subject...Aldo Nova" follows Nova's self-titled debut CD. His second CD is much better than Cherry's second CD. "Subject...Aldo Nova" rightfully disappeared quickly, it does have a couple of great songs. I'm a big fan of "Monkey on Your Back" and "Hold Back The Night". However none of these songs will ever steal the title of best Aldo Nova song from "Fantasy". It has one of the best beginnings of any song ever:



Anyone over 25, that may have stumbled across this blog, might find it hard to believe that Meat Loaf has had two classic CDs in his career. "Bat Out of Hell 1" was followed by "Dead Ringer". "Bat Out of Hell 2" was followed by "Welcome To The Neighbourhood" Such classic songs as "Paradise By The Dashboard Light", "Two Out Of Three Ain't Bad", "Bat Out Of Hell" and "Heaven Can Wait" and the title track are song of the songs on "Bat 1". On "Bat 2" there are such great songs as "I'd Do Anything For Love", "Wasted Youth" "Rock and Roll Dreams Come Through" and "Objects In the Rearview Mirror May Be Closer Than They Appear".

The Meat went to the well one too many times on "Bat Out of Hell" Cds, the third one is a disappointing mess.

What are some of the great songs on "Dead Ringer" and "Welcome To The Neighbourhood"? "Dead Ringer (For Love)" with Cher, "I'd Lie For You (And That's The Truth)" and very little else.

The Aquabats "The Aquabats vs. "The Floating Eye of Death" follows one of the most fun CDs of all-time "The Fury of The Aquabats". Such great songs as "Super Rad", "Martian Girl", "Captain Hampton and the Midget Pirates", "Red Sweater" and "Fight Song" make it an enjoyable listening experience.

Although as a follow up CD to a classic goes, "Floating Eye" isn't terrible. It has such goofy, but good, songs as "Giant robot-head" and "Lovers of Loving Love". But again so many of these songs are disposable. Perhaps the Aquabats should focus on quality over quantity?

I may be writing similar themed blogs going forward. I would like to take one of the above CDs, or another CD that followed a classic, and maybe see what went wrong.

themusicaddict