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Quiet Riot
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| By
Vinnie Apicella
On the heels of the
recent return of the classic "Metal Health" lineup and the
brand new
"Guilty Pleasures" release, the one that put 'em on the map
gets its
rightful reissue, one of the first four by the revisionist Legacy sublet
of Sony Music. and not a moment too soon! QR took their share of
hits even at the height of their fame, most deservedly so, yet their
place in Heavy Metal history goes yet unchallenged-the first Metal debut
to reach number one on the billboard charts, laying the groundwork for
the many who'd follow. An unlikely accomplishment for the originally
failed Randy Rhoads pre-Ozzy project, but one deserving of the utmost
respect amidst all of the later faded glory and frayed ends of fashion.
Soon known as much for their antics as their anthems, QR's success,
never easily attained and equally difficult to maintain, was quick to
lose momentum leaving the band in a state of uncertainty and also-ran
status before calling it a day only to reunite with the recent
reignition of eighties' Metal acts. This record had it all-the party all
nite, sleep all day and uncover excesses the so-called "hair
bands"
would become synonomous with but undercutting it all was indeed a
talented band that let it too often go to waste following their
breakthrough smash. Led by their big selling hit single "Cum On
Feel The
Noize," an original Slade work and in all likelihood, wrongly or
otherwise probably still that bands' biggest claim to fame, "Metal
Health" was a big album in many respects. Even in their finest hour
few
bands can boast of a strong album through and through, ten songs worth
of melodic dynamics, sing-along accountability and simply grooving tunes
whose only function was to get ya amped up and through the day till ya
got home. Other such arena-Rock staples including the fist-pumping title
track, possessing not quite the reach of its follow-up single but
nonetheless enough to provide the first push to their eventual six
million plus selling status-still to this day an incredible feat for a
first timer! "Breathless," "Run For Cover,"
"Don't Wanna Let You Go," in
all its out of synch glory. "Let's Get Crazy," all lend to the
credibility if not to the band's airwave ascendance. Welcome liner notes
and rare photos adorn this rebirthing of a Rock & Roll original, as
with
the latest series as a whole, including the necessary remastering finish
and extra bonus cuts including an at times bearable studio song
"Danger
Zone," that sticks one verse too long during the chorus and what of
the
backing vocals? No matter, for new or previously unheard material go buy
the new record, it's good. But the inclusion of the live version of
"Slick Black Cadillac" here puts things right to cap off this
nostalgic
requirement.
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