themusicaddict's Top 106 80's Bands Part 9b: # 88 Whitesnake "Whitesnake" & "Slip of The Tongue" Finished April 7th, 2016)

Hello,

"Whitesnake" is Whitesnake's 7th CD and obviously the biggest CD of their career. The CD is highlighted by the remade "Here I Go Again" and the best non-Zeppelin Zeppelin song ever "In The Still of The Night". Obviously no band will ever match the overall impact of the mighty Zep. Many knocked Whitesnake as being a Zeppelin knock off band, but I never considered them that. Vocalist David Coverdale has an amazing voice and is a great singer, he has also surrounded himself with some amazing musicians. But then again I just love rock music and don't care if they steal or borrow from other bands. That's because there's no such thing as a completely original band. In other words carry on Whitesnake.

"Whitesnake" peaked as the #2 CD on Billboard's Top 200 CDs and went on to sell over 8 million copies. This was during the end of the peak era of the hair metal movement, an era that I still can't believe how successful ended up being. When Quiet Riot started receiving notice and having some fo their songs chart that was pretty amazing. But for hair metal to get as big as it did would have completely surprised me when Quiet Riot first began receiving notice. Of course hair metal was just one of the many great music genre break outs of the 80s. I still love hair metal as much today as I did as back in the day. "Whitesnake" still has the same kick as it did in 1987. I've been cranking their Greatest Hits for my drive music the last day or so.

The ever changing band's lineup continued to change for this CD. Drummer Cozy Powell left the band after 1985's Rock In Rio concert. The line up of the band at the time of this CD: the one constant, David Coverdale, on vocals, John Sykes, guitars and vocals, Neil Murray on bass and Aynsley Dunbar was on drums and percussion. (Thanks to Wikipedia for much of the biographical info.)

1) "Crying In The Rain":



"Crying In The Rain" (live):

2) "Bad Boys":

If you've ever wondered why they call it hair metal, watch this video. Look at all that hair! I think this might be my favorite Whitesnake song.
3) "Still of the Night":

4) "Here I Go Again" (1987):

5) "Give Me All Your Love":

6) "Is This Love":

7) "Children of the Night":

8) "Straight For The Heart":

9) "Don't Turn Away":

Whitesnake's final CD of the 80's was "Slip of the Tongue" It was a perfectly fine CD, but nowhere as good as "Whitesnake". Here's the highlights of "Slip Of The Tongue":

"Fool For Your Loving" (1989):

"Now You're Gone":

"Wings of the Storm":

"The Deeper The Love":

"Judgement Day":

themusicaddict

themusicaddict's Top 106 80's Bands Part 9a: # 88 Whitesnake (Finished April 7th, 2016)

Hello,

My thoughts are with the victims of the latest cowardly ISIS attack that happened in Belgium today. This attack is more personal to me as my brother, sister-in-law and nephew lived in Belgium just a couple of years ago.

I can't think of any thing more cowardly than attacking a group of innocents. Best wishes to the three Mormon missionaries, all Americans, that were injured in the attack. #saddaysindeed

themusicaddict's 88th greatest band of the 80s is Whitesnake. Whitesnake is said to be named after David Coverdale's manhood. I didn't feel the need to go on a fact finding mission to confirm that. I've posted all the songs I like for each CD below. The band at the time of 1980's "Ready An' Willing" were: David Coverdale, duh, Micky Moody, guitars and vocals, Bernie Marsden, guitars and vocals, Jon Lord, keyboards, Neil Murray, bass, and Ian Paice, drums. Is there a more rocker name that Jon Lord?

1980's "Ready An' Willing" had 9 songs.

A perfectly fine version of this song here, but it was the right decision to increase the rock quotient later on "Fool For Your Loving":

"Ready An' Willing (Sweet Satisfaction)":

"Love Man":

Whitesnake is known for constant band lineup changes, at the time of 1981's "Come An' Get It" the band was the same as their previous record. David Coverdale, duh, Micky Moody, guitars and vocals, Bernie Marsden, guitars and vocals, Jon Lord, keyboards, Neil Murray, bass, and Ian Paice, drums. 

1981's "Come An' Get It" has 10 songs.

"Come An' Get It":

"Don't Break My Heart Again":

"Lonely Days, Lonely Nights':



"Wine, Women An' Song":



"Child of Babylon":

At the time of 1982's "Saints & Sinners" the band was the same as on their previous record. David Coverdale, duh, Micky Moody, guitars and vocals, Bernie Marsden, guitars and vocals, Jon Lord, keyboards, Neil Murray, bass, and Ian Paice, drums. This change was a minor one as Mel Gallery was added on backup vocals.

1982's "Saints & Sinners" has 10 songs.
"Bloody Luxury":



"Crying In The Rain" (1982):



"Here I Go Again" (1982):

For 1984's "Slide It In" there were a few more changes in personnel. Still David Coverdale of course, Micky Moody, guitars and vocals, Bernie Marsden, guitars and vocals, Jon Lord, keyboards, Colin Hodgkinson, bass, and Cozy Powell, drums. Mel Gallery took on a bigger role as he played guitars and backup vocals. (John Sykes and Neil Murray played guitars on the US release- which makes no sense to me.)

1984's "Slide It In" has 10 songs.
"Slow An' Easy":



"Love Ain't No Stranger":



"Gambler":



"Guilty of Love":



"Hungry For Love":



"Give Me More Time":



"Standing In The Shadow":

themusicaddict

themusicaddict's Lost Gems of the 80s: Survivor's "When Seconds Count"

Hello,

Survivor hits that perfect spot between pop and rock, taking the best of both genres to make tasty audio ear candy. Survivor is one of those bands that were almost primarily an 80's band. They've released other music since the 80s, but when one thinks of Survivor one thinks of their 80's output. In no way are they close to being the best band of the 80s, but they had a great stretch in the 80s. They have about 20 solid songs, no shame in that. I saw Survivor in concert when they opened for REO Speedwagon back in the day. This was when "Eye of the Tiger" was still a very popular song. Survivor was great, but they only played 5 songs. I wished Survivor would've played more songs and REO Speedwagon played less songs. The Speedwagon was meh, even though at the time they were one of the biggest bands in the world.

At the time of "When Seconds Count" Survivor consisted of Jimi Jamison, vocals, Frankie Sullivan, guitar and backing vocals, Jim Peterik, keyboards and backing vocals, Stephan Ellis, bass guitar and Marc Droubay played drums. Sadly Jamison died at a too young age on August 31st, 2014, eight days after his 63rd birthday.

"When Seconds Count" was in no way a hit, only reaching #49 on Billboard's album chart. It only had one "hit", "Is This Love" reached #9. However on Google Play I've given all 10 of the songs the thumbs up. It's a very solid CD, especially if one likes that sweet spot in between pop and rock music. I've included "Burning Heart", although it wasn't added until Rock Candy's reissue in 2011. Rock candy is also a perfect description of Survivor's music. (Thanks to wikipedia for most of the biographical information in this blog.)

Here's the full "When Seconds Count":

1) "How Much Love":

2) "Keep It Right Here":

3) "Is This Love":

4) "Man Against The World":

5) "Rebel Son":

6) "Oceans":

7) "When Seconds Count":

8) "Backstreet Love Affair":

9) "In Good Faith":

10) "Can't Let You Go":

11) "Burning Heart":

themusicaddict

themusicaddict's Top 106 80's Musicians Addendum Linda Ronstadt (Part 2) (Complete)

Hello,

This part of my Linda Ronstadt addendum will focus on Miss Ronstadt's non 80s greatest hits and seven of my favorite songs from her amazing 1989 CD "Cry Like A Rainstorm, Howl Like The Wind":

"Still Within The Sound of My Voice":

"All My Life":

"Adios":

"So Right So Wrong":

"Don't Know Much":

"Trouble Again":

"Goodbye My Friend":

"You're No Good" (With some love for her touring band at the time.) :

"It's So Easy":

"Love Is A Rose":

"Back In The USA":

"Poor, Poor Pitiful Me":

"When Will I Be Loved":

"Different Drum" (with the Stone Poneys):

themusicaddict

themusicaddict's Top 106 Greatest 80's Musicians: Addendum 2: Linda Ronstadt (Part 1) (Finished July 23rd, 2016)

Hello,

I worked several hours on this series of blogs so that I wouldn't miss anyone. Then a few days ago I realized I had forgotten Sade. Then in the last 24 hours I realized I had forgotten Linda Ronstadt. Again I don't have the time or desire to go back and reconfigure these rankings so that's why I have these addendums.

1980's "Mad Love", CD 10 songs.

"Party Girl":

"How Do I Make You":

"I Can't Let Go":

"Hurt So Bad":

"Costs of Love":

"Girl Talk":

1982's "Get Closer" has 12 songs.

"Get Closer":

"Easy For You To Say":

"I Think It's Gonna Work Out" (featuring James Taylor):

"Lies":

"Tell Him":

Ronstadt made 3 CDs in the mid 80s with Nelson Riddle, some of the CDs were betters than others. In order 1) 1984's "Lush Life" (12 Songs) 2) 1986's "For Sentimental Reasons" (11 Songs) and last and least 1983's "Lush Life" (9 Songs).

"Skylark":

"You Took Advantage of Me":

"Can't We Be Friends":

"Falling In Love Again":

"When I Fall In Love Again":

"When You Wish Upon A Star":

"Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered":

"I Love You For Sentimental Reasons":

themusicaddict

themusicaddict's Top 106 80's Bands Part 8: # 90 Cheap Trick and # 89 Survivor (Finished March 21st, 2016)

Hello,

The 90th ranked band on my list is Cheap Trick:

1980's "All Shook Up":

"Stop This Game":

"Baby Loves To Rock":

1982's "One On One":

"One On One":

"If You Want My Love":

"She's Tight":

Greatest Hits:



themusicaddict's 89th Greatest 80s band is Survivor:
"Broken Promises":



"Popular Girl":



"It's The Singer Not The Song":



"I See You In Everyone":



"American Heartbeat":



Oh yeah, you knew this one was coming sooner or later: "Eye of the Tiger":



"The Moment of Truth":



"High On You":



"I Can't Hold Back":



"Poor Man's Son":



My favorite Survivor song, I hope this song comes true for me someday. "The Search Is Over":

themusicaddict

themusicaddict's Top 106 Greatest 80's Bands: Part 7: 92-91: Jackson Browne & Rod Stewart (Finished July 23rd, 2016)

Hello,

After listening to music from both Rod Stewart and Jackson Browne, I've decided to swap them in my rankings. Stewart has several more great songs and also more 80's hits. Clyde Jackson Browne was born October 9th, 1948. Here's my favorite of his 80's songs and a few other classics.

From 1980's "Hold Out":

"That Girl Could Sing":

"Boulevard":

From 1982's "Fast Times At Ridgemont High":

"Somebody's Baby":

From 1983's "Lawyers In Love":

"Lawyers In Love":

"Downtown":

Just a great, great song featuring the great line "You win, I win, we lose". I'm not sure that relationships are worth the effort. "Tender Is The Night":

"For A Rocker":

From 1986's "Lives In The Balance", the title track:

"For America":

"In The Shape Of A Heart":

"Lawless Avenues":

Classics:

"Doctor My Eyes":

"The Pretender":

"Running On Empty":

"Stay/The Load Out":

"The Rebel Jesus":

Rod Stewart had most of his biggest hits in the 70's, but he also had a lot of great songs in the 80's as well. The ageless Rod Stewart is now 71, may he have a few more hits in him. First up his songs that were big hits or became very popular in the 80's, then a selection of some of my other favorites of his songs.

"Tonight I'm Yours (Don't Hurt Me)":

"Just Like A Woman":

"Young Turks":

"Passion":

"Infatuation":

"Some Guys Have All The Luck":

"Love Touch":

"Forever Young":

"Downtown Train":

"Lost In You":

"My Heart Can't Tell Me No":

This song is pure joy: "Almost Illegal":



 The mostly pre-80s Stewart discography: "Reason To Believe":



"Maggie May":



"Tonight's The Night (Gonna Be Alright)":



"You're In My Heart":



"Hot Legs":



"Do Ya Think I'm Sexy":

themusicaddict