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Iron Maiden / The Number of the Beast / The Number of the Beast (5) / Mar 1982

sablespecter's Album of the Year for 1982 (RDF: 87.5%)

Well, this is where it all started for me! That's in terms of concerts and my Maiden obsession. When I saw them open for Scorpions at my first concert it was a bit frightening and thrilling at the same time. I won't claim to have a photographic memory of it nor can I remember everything they played since I didn't even know who they were at that point, but I do remember being especially enthralled when they played today's selection. With that forboding intro and that line, "six-six-six! The one for you and me!" I couldn't wait to get ahold of this. And I've never looked back. I still have every copy of this album that I have purchased over the years, even including the totally worn-out, squeally cassette that never left my car for so many years.

The only track that I never got into all that much is the album opener, Invaders. …

This is a overview of one of my favourite ever albums, Tango in the Night by Fleetwood Mac.


http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/84/Fleetwood_Mac_-_Tango_in_the_Night.jpg

Tango in the Night is completely contrasting to any other album made by Fleetwood Mac before or since, in the sense that it's got heavy use of synthesisers, and shows the band following pop trends that were around in the 1980's but combined with Lindsey Buckingham's obsessive production and the experimental nature of his work, the album is so sleek that it's stood the test of time far better than other albums of that period.

Big Love
One of my favourites off this album. Lindsey Buckingham's guitar playing and vocals are shown off to beautiful effect, and the percussion is spot on. A really moody, sexy track, and we cannot forget the 'uhh, ahh's' throughout the song. (A nice fact, ha - Lindsey used a pitch changer to give the illusion of a woman doing one half off the groans, when really it was just him.)
…

Buckingham Nicks / "Crystal" / Buckingham Nicks (5) / Sep 1973

Artist: Buckingham Nicks
Original Album: Buckingham Nicks
Track: Crystal

(No known preview available for this cut...see below for where you can hear the remake!)

Day 4 of the SotD Fleetwood Mac Legacy...

Yesterday I mentioned that as Bob Welch's involvement with Fleetwood Mac ended in December 1974, two more artists were added to the fold that brought them all into the superstar era. In September 1973, Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks put out their duo album under the moniker of their last names. It wasn't well-supported by Polydor and was generally a flop, but it was enough to catch the attention of Mick Fleetwood. Lindsey's guitar chops were exactly what had been needed ever since Peter Green departed for more quiet avenues, while Stevie brought a wealth of songwriting and vocal talents.

So on New Year's Eve 1974, Lindsey and Stevie were invited to join FM…

I began listening to music in earnest around the age of eleven. It became a passion, an obsession, one that would last throughout the rest of my life. Not coincidentally, this is about the time cable television, and with it MTV, entered our home. For better or worse, MTV helped shape my musical tastes during my late childhood more than anything else.

After months of saying it would never happen, my Dad subscribed to cable tv. I don't recall much pressure for it coming from my mother or me but I could be mistaken. It thrilled me nonetheless, movie channels and MTV fascinating me most of all. Movies? On tv? With all the curse words and everything!? Cool! I raced to get up as early as possible on weekend mornings so I could catch an R-rated movie without my parents knowing. Often I ended up watching something dull and unappealing to an eleven year old, though a bit more interesting than the national anthem followed by the farm report. It's sometimes hard to recall how important movie ratings…