Top-10 albums that no keg party should be without!
By Thom Copher
‘Ello, kiddies. Summertime is finally here which brings us to a favorite seasonal activity: hanging out, having some choice beverages
and listening to righteous tunes.
Now, back in the day, the rhythm of this whole exercise hinged on slapping an album... remember, that 12-inch slab of vinyl... onto
a turntable and jamming out while doing 12-ounce curls. It’s a time-tested formula: ya need tunes to make the brews groove. So,
here's my Top-10 list of crucial compilations for events where the most profound statement is a belch.
Honorable Mention - Ted Nugent's Amboy Dukes: Tooth, Fang, and Claw - I have to throw in one which doesn't quite make the
list but has all the ingredients. T, F & C was The Nuge's last "pre-solo" effort and is a tour-de-force in guitar heroics. Later-day
faves "The Great White Buffalo" and the mesmerizing instrumental "Hibernation" foretold of future loin-cloth-wearing escapades
while Sweaty-Teddy's cover of the Chuck Berry tune "Maybelline" gets the motor runnin'. (Alright, this'll make it a Top-11 list. But,
who's counting after about the third beer, anyway?)
By Thom Copher
‘Ello, kiddies. Summertime is finally here which brings us to a favorite seasonal activity: hanging out, having some choice beverages
and listening to righteous tunes.
Now, back in the day, the rhythm of this whole exercise hinged on slapping an album... remember, that 12-inch slab of vinyl... onto
a turntable and jamming out while doing 12-ounce curls. It’s a time-tested formula: ya need tunes to make the brews groove. So,
here's my Top-10 list of crucial compilations for events where the most profound statement is a belch.
Honorable Mention - Ted Nugent's Amboy Dukes: Tooth, Fang, and Claw - I have to throw in one which doesn't quite make the
list but has all the ingredients. T, F & C was The Nuge's last "pre-solo" effort and is a tour-de-force in guitar heroics. Later-day
faves "The Great White Buffalo" and the mesmerizing instrumental "Hibernation" foretold of future loin-cloth-wearing escapades
while Sweaty-Teddy's cover of the Chuck Berry tune "Maybelline" gets the motor runnin'. (Alright, this'll make it a Top-11 list. But,
who's counting after about the third beer, anyway?)
#10) Ramones: Ramones Mania - O.K., "best-of" sets aren't supposed to make an appearance; but
this is the Ramones, for cryin' out loud. Only the choicest cuts about adolescence, sniffin' glue,
lobotomies and how high school sucks. Gabba, gabba, hey!
#9) Slayer: Reign in Blood - Quite simply, Reign is the most brutal 28 minutes of tuneage ever laid
down in one set. From opening track "Angel of Death" to closer "Raining Blood," Slayer attacked
religion, sexual deviance, and the Nazis... all remaining true to its Devil-may-care roots. If this one
doesn't make you shotgun a Milwaukee's Best and crush the can into your forehead, nothing will.
this is the Ramones, for cryin' out loud. Only the choicest cuts about adolescence, sniffin' glue,
lobotomies and how high school sucks. Gabba, gabba, hey!
#9) Slayer: Reign in Blood - Quite simply, Reign is the most brutal 28 minutes of tuneage ever laid
down in one set. From opening track "Angel of Death" to closer "Raining Blood," Slayer attacked
religion, sexual deviance, and the Nazis... all remaining true to its Devil-may-care roots. If this one
doesn't make you shotgun a Milwaukee's Best and crush the can into your forehead, nothing will.
#8) Aerosmith: Toys in the Attic - The band’s sober-era releases are highly
identifiable and have been packaged as radio-ready. But ask any rocker to name a
song from “Toys” and he or she can probably name seven of the nine, including
“Walk This Way” and “Sweet Emotion.” This defined Aerosmith’s 70s sound.
#7) Johnny Cash: Johnny Cash At Folsom Prison – One of the first great live
albums, Folsom Prison may not be rock and roll, per-se, but Cash's blend of
traditional country, rockabilly and blues was certainly the seed from which rock
was spawned. Give The Man in Black credit for being "outlaw" way before it was
stylish. From the familiar intro ("Hello, I'm Johnny Cash") to "Folsom Prison
Blues" through “Dirty Old Egg Suckin’ Dog” and “I Got Stripes,” this performance
prompts sweat and emotion. The captive-audience's response to the line "I can't
forget the day I shot that bad bitch down" ("Cocaine Blues") far supercedes 99
percent of the "Are you ready to rock, Cleveland" come backs. This baby rocks
without even trying.
identifiable and have been packaged as radio-ready. But ask any rocker to name a
song from “Toys” and he or she can probably name seven of the nine, including
“Walk This Way” and “Sweet Emotion.” This defined Aerosmith’s 70s sound.
#7) Johnny Cash: Johnny Cash At Folsom Prison – One of the first great live
albums, Folsom Prison may not be rock and roll, per-se, but Cash's blend of
traditional country, rockabilly and blues was certainly the seed from which rock
was spawned. Give The Man in Black credit for being "outlaw" way before it was
stylish. From the familiar intro ("Hello, I'm Johnny Cash") to "Folsom Prison
Blues" through “Dirty Old Egg Suckin’ Dog” and “I Got Stripes,” this performance
prompts sweat and emotion. The captive-audience's response to the line "I can't
forget the day I shot that bad bitch down" ("Cocaine Blues") far supercedes 99
percent of the "Are you ready to rock, Cleveland" come backs. This baby rocks
without even trying.
#6) Judas Priest: British Steel - Screaming for Vengeance may be the band's biggest, but
this 1980 classic cemented what is now iconic-Priest style. Party faves "Breaking the Law"
and "Livin' After Midnight" brought Rob Halford's multi-octave voice to a mass audience and
canonized the twin-guitar attack of Glenn Tipton and K. K. Downing. Deeper cuts like
"Grinder," "Metal Gods," "United" and "You Don't Have to be Old to be Wise" make this the
perfect soundtrack for all social get-togethers.
#5) Van Halen: Van Halen - A lot of bands go for broke with their first release simply
because the future may be late-night pizza delivery instead of international superstardom.
However, when said album contains "Runnin' With the Devil," "Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love,"
"Jamie's Cryin'" and two covers ("Ice Cream Man" and "You Really Got Me") which sound
like originals - not forgetting rock-solid supporting tracks - you've gotta be feeling pretty
good about the road ahead. The album also carries the legacy for ushering in Sir Eddie as the
most innovative guitarist of the post-Hendrix modern era. Non-stop fun from start to finish!
this 1980 classic cemented what is now iconic-Priest style. Party faves "Breaking the Law"
and "Livin' After Midnight" brought Rob Halford's multi-octave voice to a mass audience and
canonized the twin-guitar attack of Glenn Tipton and K. K. Downing. Deeper cuts like
"Grinder," "Metal Gods," "United" and "You Don't Have to be Old to be Wise" make this the
perfect soundtrack for all social get-togethers.
#5) Van Halen: Van Halen - A lot of bands go for broke with their first release simply
because the future may be late-night pizza delivery instead of international superstardom.
However, when said album contains "Runnin' With the Devil," "Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love,"
"Jamie's Cryin'" and two covers ("Ice Cream Man" and "You Really Got Me") which sound
like originals - not forgetting rock-solid supporting tracks - you've gotta be feeling pretty
good about the road ahead. The album also carries the legacy for ushering in Sir Eddie as the
most innovative guitarist of the post-Hendrix modern era. Non-stop fun from start to finish!
#4) Led Zeppelin: Led Zeppelin IV: The mighty Zep needed a monster, and, LAWDY
MOMMA, IV crashes through like Godzilla on a busy Tokyo afternoon! After all, any
track that contains "... a big-leg woman ain't got no soul" (from opening track "Black
Dog") is a winner in my book. Referred to by many names (IV, ZOSO and Four Symbols
are the common monikers), Zep's fourth is complete from start to finish with stellar
offerings "Rock and Roll," "Misty Mountain Hop" and "Going to California." Real points,
however, are earned with "Stairway to Heaven" which officially brought "girl-next-door"
chicks into the heavy-metal realm and forever altered the ethos of human existence. God
bless ya, boys!!
#3) Metallica: Metallica (a.k.a. The Black Album) – This isn’t my favorite from the
Metalli-cats, but “Enter Sandman” and a bevy of other hits retained just enough thrash to
vault the band into a mainstream market while making producer Bob Rock look like a
genius. True or not, give this one a spin, and for the next 62:31 we’re gonna party like it’s
1991!
#2) Guns 'n Roses: Appetite for Destruction - Appetite is a strange case, indeed, because
it was on the racks for about a year before it took off. However, great bands and great
albums will not be denied. "Welcome to the Jungle" is an instant classic, but follow-up
singles "Sweet Child 'o Mine" and "Paradise City" catapulted G 'n R into the stratosphere.
Grittier tunes like "It's So Easy," "My Michelle," "Mr. Brownstone" and "Rocket Queen"
are the real glue which holds "Appetite" together. Unfortunately, it could also be referred
to as "Recipe for Internal-Combustion" and begs the question: "What do you get when you
cross huge success with a schizoid front man?" You tell me.
MOMMA, IV crashes through like Godzilla on a busy Tokyo afternoon! After all, any
track that contains "... a big-leg woman ain't got no soul" (from opening track "Black
Dog") is a winner in my book. Referred to by many names (IV, ZOSO and Four Symbols
are the common monikers), Zep's fourth is complete from start to finish with stellar
offerings "Rock and Roll," "Misty Mountain Hop" and "Going to California." Real points,
however, are earned with "Stairway to Heaven" which officially brought "girl-next-door"
chicks into the heavy-metal realm and forever altered the ethos of human existence. God
bless ya, boys!!
#3) Metallica: Metallica (a.k.a. The Black Album) – This isn’t my favorite from the
Metalli-cats, but “Enter Sandman” and a bevy of other hits retained just enough thrash to
vault the band into a mainstream market while making producer Bob Rock look like a
genius. True or not, give this one a spin, and for the next 62:31 we’re gonna party like it’s
1991!
#2) Guns 'n Roses: Appetite for Destruction - Appetite is a strange case, indeed, because
it was on the racks for about a year before it took off. However, great bands and great
albums will not be denied. "Welcome to the Jungle" is an instant classic, but follow-up
singles "Sweet Child 'o Mine" and "Paradise City" catapulted G 'n R into the stratosphere.
Grittier tunes like "It's So Easy," "My Michelle," "Mr. Brownstone" and "Rocket Queen"
are the real glue which holds "Appetite" together. Unfortunately, it could also be referred
to as "Recipe for Internal-Combustion" and begs the question: "What do you get when you
cross huge success with a schizoid front man?" You tell me.
And now... drum roll... the top-ranking party album is...
#1) AC/DC: Back in Black - I'll say it right off the bat - this is the greatest
release EVER. Twenty-eight years and counting, "You Shook Me All Night
Long," "Hell's Bells," "Shoot to Thrill," "Have a Drink on Me" and the title
track are heard every single day on every single rock-radio station in the
galaxy... and the other five songs are in heavy rotation. Despite what my
wife says, this is as good as it gets - a great band that's not ashamed to play
good, simple, no-frills music.
#1) AC/DC: Back in Black - I'll say it right off the bat - this is the greatest
release EVER. Twenty-eight years and counting, "You Shook Me All Night
Long," "Hell's Bells," "Shoot to Thrill," "Have a Drink on Me" and the title
track are heard every single day on every single rock-radio station in the
galaxy... and the other five songs are in heavy rotation. Despite what my
wife says, this is as good as it gets - a great band that's not ashamed to play
good, simple, no-frills music.
| Well, there you have it. The elite albums which will power any beer blast from dusk 'till dawn. I might add that this list was compiled though extensive scientific research - I did, after all, attend WVU for 12 years. So tap those kegs and remember: crappy beer can only be made consumable by good music. Rock on, Bevis! (Thom Copher did attain three degrees from West Virginia University while conducting his research. He can be contacted at gazzrock@yahoo.com.) |