Tag Archives: 1977

KISS – Hooligan (Song Review)

“I mean, you know how cool I am”

It might seem odd to use a song he’s not particularly known for, and didn’t write or sing, to salute original KISS guitarist Ace Frehley. But Hooligan is a great example of Frehley as a team player and how his impeccable, instinctive and characterful guitar playing elevated any song he played on. The 1977 Peter Criss vehicle probably isn’t a song that rides high in anyone’s ranking of KISS’s greatest work but I’ve always had a big soft spot for it. Criss’ hollering is infectious, I love the old-timey rock ‘n’ roll vibe and I’m a sucker for Paul Stanley’s use of capos for rhythm guitar parts. But, best of all, Space Ace wrings out a memorable and effortlessly cool guitar solo that crackles with electricity. And his soaring guitar part over the song’s climatic chords is one of KISS’ most joyous and euphoric moments. Ace, who has sadly left the planet aged 74, inspired legions of people to pick up guitars (including me) but there will never be anyone quite like this beloved, otherworldly legend ever again.

Alice Cooper – It’s Hot Tonight (Song Review)

“Damn Hot Tonight”

1977’s Lace And Whiskey is not one of my favourite Coop albums by any means but the album opener It’s Hot Tonight is one of my most beloved tracks of his. It’s got an extremely ballsy opening riff and a ton of swagger, coming across every bit as scorched and steamy as the title suggests. Maybe it’s just because of the album title and artwork but I always get a hot city noir vibe from it too. The first time I ever saw Cooper live was in Glasgow on an unusually hot night and I was thrilled when he launched into this. Seeing the great man strut his way through a huge-sounding version of this in a packed, sweaty Barrowlands was just brilliant, a peak concert-going moment for me.

Blue Öyster Cult – Spectres (Album Review)

Blue Öyster Cult – Spectres (Columbia Records – 1977)

The main feature here is Godzilla, one of Blue Öyster Cult’s most classic and fun tunes with its lumbering monster riff and witty lyrics but the songs I love most on Spectres are the ones that evoke hot, summer nights. Hells Angels ride out in the desert to a backdrop of ethereal harmonies on the elegaic Golden Age Of Leather, Death Valley Nights is sozzled noir, Fireworks is full of innocence and wonder and the vampiric masterpiece I Love The Night is dreamy and seductive. On a sweltering night, like it is tonight here in Scotland, Spectres is the perfect soundtrack. Now if only the backs of my knees weren’t so sweaty.

Scorpions – We’ll Burn The Sky (Song Review)

“Through you I was so inspired”

One of the coolest Scorpions tracks ever. We’ll Burn The Sky‘s lyrics were penned by Jimi Hendrix’s last girlfriend Monika Dannemann, who was dating the Scorpions’ guitarist Uli Jon Roth. But weirdly, it wasn’t the Hendrix acolyte Roth that co-wrote the song with her. Move over Roth… and let Rudy take over! The Scorps’ other guitarist Rudolf Schenker put the lyrics to great use as an icy, eerie metal ballad with nice dreamy bits but also lots of electric and angular metal chonk. Not to be outdone, Roth makes his presence felt with plenty of stellar shred. Classic, state-of-the-art stuff for 1977. But ‘scuse me while I… burn this guy? Did they learn nothing from Hendrix?!

Motörhead – Motörhead (Album Review)

Motörhead – Motörhead (1977)

The legendary Lemmy/Philthy/Fast Eddie lineup of Motörhead roars into life on their 1977 self-titled debut, sounding every bit the skint, pissed off, ne’er-do-wells they were. Over 40 years later Motörhead is still an impressively belligerent noise. It captures the band at the point where they were dubbed “the worst band in the world” (and couldn’t have cared less). The title track is a thunderous biker anthem and Iron Horse/Born To Lose, White Line Fever and Keep Us On The Road are low-down and mean rackets. The band’s everything-louder-than-everything-else chemistry is already thrillingly volatile but the hurried recording sessions didn’t allow much time for writing. So there’s a reliance on old songs from Lemmy’s stint in Hawkwind and songs from a formative and short-lived earlier lineup of the band. Which means Motörhead ends up more trippy, dated and ponderous than later albums where the band would truly gel: mixing their wide range of influences into a seamless Motörmusic. But it’s a great and important debut: an obnoxious, warts-and-all album that set a new standard in loud, dirty, fuck off rock n’ roll.

My copy – 40th Anniversary Edition CD…
…loads of bonus tracks and great liner notes