Rooted in the campy theatrics of Alice Cooper and the sleazy hard rock of glam rockers the New York Dolls, Kiss became a favorite of American teenagers in the '70s. Most kids were infatuated with the look of Kiss, not their music. Decked out in outrageously flamboyant costumes and makeup, the band fashioned a captivating stage show featuring dry ice, smoke bombs, elaborate lighting, blood spitting, and fire breathing that captured the imaginations of thousands of kids. But Kiss' music shouldn't be dismissed -- it was a commercially potent mix of anthemic, fist-pounding hard rock driven by sleek hooks and ballads powered by loud guitars, cloying melodies, and sweeping strings. It was a sound that laid the groundwork for both arena rock and the pop-metal that dominated rock in the late '80s.
Casablanca
Paul Stanley – rhythm guitar, vocals, lead guitar on "The Oath"
Ace Frehley – lead guitar, vocals, bass guitar on "The Oath", , backing vocals
Gene Simmons – bass guitar, vocals,
Eric Carr – drums, percussion, backing vocals,
With
Bob Ezrin – keyboards,
Allan Schwartzberg – drums on "I", additional overdub
B Side the Oath
"I" is a song by the American rock band Kiss from their 1981 studio album Music from “The Elder”. It was the album's second single.
Today in 1978 The Doors released the album An American Prayer
Los Angeles, California Psychedelic rock, blues rock, acid rock
Status:Split Up
Years active 1965–1973
The Doors, one of the most influential and controversial rock bands of the 1960s, were formed in Los Angeles in 1965 by UCLA film students Ray Manzarek, keyboards, and Jim Morrison, vocals; with drummer John Densmore and guitarist Robby Krieger. The group never added a bass player, and their sound was dominated by Manzarek's electric organ work and Morrison's deep, sonorous voice, with which he sang and intoned his highly poetic lyrics.
Elektra
1969 readings
Jim Morrison (R.I.P. 1971)– vocals, spoken word (recorded on March 1969)
1970 readings
Jim Morrison (R.I.P. 1971)– vocals, spoken word (recorded on December 8, 1970)
The Doors
Ray Manzarek(R.I.P. 2013) – keyboards, piano bass
Robby Krieger – guitar
John Densmore – drums
Additional personnel
Arthur Barrow – synthesizer programming on "The Movie"
Reinol Andino – percussion
Bob Glaub – bass on "Albinoni – Adagio"
Jerry Scheff – bass
Poetry, lyrics and stories by Jim Morrison; music by Ray Manzarek, Robby Krieger, and John Densmore.
Side one
No. Title Length
1. "Awake
Ghost Song
Dawn's Highway
Newborn Awakening"
7:10
2. "To Come of Age
Black Polished Chrome
Latino Chrome
Angels and Sailors
Stoned Immaculate"
8:41
3. "The Poets Dreams
The Movie
Curses, Invocations"
3:28
Side two
No. Title Length
4. "World On Fire
American Night
Roadhouse Blues
Lament
The Hitchhiker"
11:59
5. "An American Prayer" 6:52
An American Prayer is the ninth and final studio album by the Doors. In 1978, seven years after lead singer Jim Morrison died and five years after the remaining members of the band broke up, Ray Manzarek, Robby Krieger, and John Densmore reunited and recorded backing tracks over Morrison's poetry (originally recorded in 1969 and 1970). Other pieces of music and spoken word recorded by the Doors and Morrison were also used in the audio collage, such as dialogue from Morrison's film HWY: An American Pastoral and snippets from jam sessions.
The album also includes a composite live version of "Roadhouse Blues," splicing together performances at New York City's Felt Forum and Detroit's Cobo Hall, both captured during the Doors' 1970 Roadhouse Blues Tour. This version of the song later appeared on the In Concert compilation.
Today in 1978 Alice Cooper released the album From The Inside
Detroit, Michigan Rock, hard rock, heavy metal, proto-punk, shock rock, experimental rock, glam metal
Status:Active
Years active 1963–present
Alice Cooper is without a doubt one of the most influential showmen in the history of hard rock. Enough cannot be said about the man -- suffice to say that virtually every band who has ever adopted a horror/theatrical approach, from Marilyn Manson to King Diamond to too many others to mention, they all ultimately are influenced by Alice Cooper. The band formed in Arizona in the late sixties, fronted by one Vincent Furnier, who had already started cultivating his controversial stage persona though he hadn't yet changed his name. They went through several names, among them the Earwigs, the Spiders, and the Nazz, before finally settling on Alice Cooper. While the exact origin of the name Alice Cooper is debatable (there seem to be numerous explanations), it's clear that the band adopted the name before Furnier did, instead of the other way around as one might expect. Finally properly christened, the band rose to worldwide stardom in a few short years, thanks to memorable anthems such as "I'm Eighteen", "Under My Wheels", "Billion Dollar Babies", and of course the anthem to end all anthems, "School's Out", combined with a highly controversial and unpredictable stage show. By 1973, though, the rest of the band had had enough, and thus Alice Cooper the band became Alice Cooper the solo artist, and his larger-than-life persona continued to grow.
Though still eminently recognizeable, by the mid-80's Alice's popularity had dwindled somewhat, with his albums being less memorable (does anyone remember anything about releases such as Dada or Zipper Catches Skin?), though his stage show still went down a storm. His recording output waned in the 90's, not unexpectedly, but just when one might have forgotten what he could do, along came 2000's Brutal Planet, a surprisingly heavy effort that showed Alice successfully combining his classic style with a modern approach. Since then he's gone back to his roots, as his last two albums (The Eyes Of Alice Cooper and Dirty Diamonds) are clearly based in 70's rock. Nowadays he's less the outrageous personality though he's still in the public eye (among other things, he's well documented as a more than competant golfer). His legacy in the rock world is quite secure.
Warner Bros.
Alice Cooper - vocals
Dick Wagner - guitar
Davey Johnstone - guitar
Steve Lukather - guitar
Jay Graydon - guitar, synthesizer programming
David Hungate - bass
Dee Murray - bass
Rick Schlosser - drums
Dennis Conway - drums
Michael Ricciardella - drums
Rick Neilsen - guitar
1. From The Inside (3:55)
2. Wish I Were Born In Beverly Hills (3:38)
3. The Quiet Room (3:52)
4. Nurse Rozetta (4:15)
5. Millie And Billie (4:15)
6. Serious (2:44)
7. How You Gonna See Me Now (3:57)
8. For Veronica's Sake (3:37)
9. Jackknife Johnny (3:45)
10. Inmates (We're All Crazy) (5:03)
Total Time 39:06
From the Inside is the eleventh studio album by Alice Cooper, released in 1978. It is a concept album about Cooper’s stay in a New York sanitarium due to his alcoholism. Each of the characters in the songs were based on actual people Cooper met in the sanitarium. With this album, he saw the addition of three former members of the Elton John band: lyricist Bernie Taupin, guitarist Davey Johnstone and bassist Dee Murray.
The lead single from the album was “How You Gonna See Me Now”, an early example of a power ballad, which reached #12 in the US' Hot 100 chart. A music video was also created for it. The ‘Madhouse Rocks Tour’ in support of From the Inside lasted from February to April 1979 and saw all songs from the album as regular parts of the setlist except “Millie and Billie”, “For Veronica’s Sake” and “Jackknife Johnny”. Since 1980, however, songs from From the Inside have rarely been performed live, with the only cases being “Serious” on the 2003 ‘Bare Bones’ tour, “Wish I Were Born in Beverly Hills” on the 2005-2006 Dirty Diamonds Tour, “Nurse Rozetta” on the ‘Descent into Dragontown’ and ‘Theatre of Death’ tours, and “From the Inside” between 1997 and 1999 and on the late 2000s ‘Theatre of Death’ tour.
The album is also notable for having been used to form the characters and storyline when Alice Cooper was featured in a comic book, Marvel Premiere #50.
The album's cover image features the opening manner of doors leading into a hospital waiting room. The doors feature Cooper's face
This was one of three Alice Cooper albums to be reissued in 1990 by Metal Blade Records on CD and cassette. The other two were Muscle of Love and Lace and Whiskey. All three albums are now out of print.
Today in 1975 The Kinks released the album Schoolboys in Disgrace
Muswell Hill, London, England Rock
Status:Active
Years active:1964–1996, 2018–present
Although they weren't as boldly innovative as the Beatles or as popular as the Rolling Stones or the Who, the Kinks were one of the most influential bands of the British Invasion. Like most bands of their era, the Kinks began as an R&B/blues outfit. Within four years, the band had become the most staunchly English of all their contemporaries, drawing heavily from British music hall and traditional pop, as well as incorporating elements of country, folk, and blues.
RCA
Ray Davies - vocals, guitar, piano
Dave Davies - lead guitar, vocals
Mick Avory - drums
John Dalton - bass guitar
John Gosling - keyboards
John Beecham - trombone
Alan Holmes - saxophones
Nick Newell - tenor saxophone
Pamela Travis - background vocals
Debbie Doss - background vocals
Shirley Roden - background vocals
All tracks written by Ray Davies.
Side one
No. Title Length
1. "Schooldays" 3:31
2. "Jack the Idiot Dunce" 3:19
3. "Education" 7:07
4. "The First Time We Fall in Love" 4:01
Side two
No. Title Length
1. "I'm in Disgrace" 3:21
2. "Headmaster" 4:03
3. "The Hard Way" 2:35
4. "The Last Assembly" 2:45
5. "No More Looking Back" 4:27
6. "Finale" 1:02
Schoolboys in Disgrace or The Kinks Present Schoolboys in Disgrace is a 1975 concept album by the Kinks. It was considered to be the last album by critics in what they dubbed the group's "theatrical" period, and their final release for RCA Records.
According to the back cover liner notes, the story which the album presents is as follows:
Once upon a time there was a naughty little schoolboy. He and his gang were always playing tricks on the teachers and bullying other children in the school. One day he got himself into very serious trouble with a naughty schoolgirl and he was sent to the Headmaster who decided to disgrace the naughty boy and his gang in front of the whole school.
After this punishment the boy turned into a hard and bitter character. Perhaps it was not the punishment that changed him but the fact that he realised people in authority would always be there to kick him down and the Establishment would always put him in his place. He knew that he could not change the past but he vowed that in the future he would always get what he wanted. The naughty little boy grew up... into Mr Flash.
Mr Flash was the name of the villain from the Kinks' rock opera Preservation (released as Preservation Act 1 and Preservation Act 2).
In 2015, Dave Davies spoke positively of the album in a Yahoo interview, saying, "Schoolboys in Disgrace is a great album. At the time, we were so busy doing it and getting it out and touring and playing it. Over a matter of three years it was gone and we were doing something else. But when you draw this into the present, it’s like, 'Oh my God, what the f— is this?!? How did we do that?' We've been very fortunate, Ray and I and the Kinks. We’ve had such a wealth of materials, ideas, and observations. We’ve been very good at following our intuition. That's something you can’t really teach."
The front cover was illustrated by Mickey Finn of T. Rex. It later appeared on NME's list of the '50 worst covers of all time'.
In 1978 the Finnish band Kontra had a number one hit with the song "Jerry Cotton" which was a cover version of the song "Jack the Idiot Dunce."
The Pigs were a garage band from Bristol. The band formed in March 1977 and disbanded in March 1978.
The Pigs were a loveable Bristol band who, like so many, were galvanised by a another local band - The Cortinas - to form and play. Unlike many others they got to record a single for posterity - the excellent 'National Front'.
As the history below recounts there were the usual highs and lows including, stabbings, playing the Roxy, the single's release and it being played by John Peel and of course realising the dream was over.
As typical a story of a band as what was happening all over the UK at the time.
It's good to see their stuff being reissued by the mighty Bristol Archive Label.
David Essex's first notable acting role was the lead in the stage musical, Godspell in 1971. Two years later, he starred in the film That'll Be The Day (1973) and recorded a major hit single, "Rock On" (which he wrote himself), in the same year. A second single, "Lamplight", also reached the British Top 10.
In the 1970s, Essex emerged as one of the UK's top performers. His biggest hits during this decade included a pair of Number One singles : "Gonna Make You A Star" (1974), a satirical look at his success; and "Hold Me Close" (1975), a cheerful singalong. He also appeared in Stardust, a 1974 sequel to That'll Be The Day; the title song was another Top 10 hit. In 1976, Essex covered the Beatles song, “Yesterday”, for the musical documentary All This and World War II.
Essex's pop idol looks gave him a strong female fan base and his British tours created scenes of hysteria reminiscent of Beatlemania. According to the Guinness Book of British Hit Singles - 16th Edition - ISBN 0-85112-190-X 'he was voted the number one British male vocalist in 1974, and was a teen idol for more than a decade'.
In 1978, he appeared on Jeff Wayne's concept album, a musical version of The War of the Worlds, as the Artilleryman. The two album set remains a bestseller.
In the same year, Essex played the character Che, loosely based on Che Guevara, in the original production of the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical Evita, and his recording of the show's "Oh What a Circus" reached Number 3. Two years later, he starred in the film Silver Dream Racer; and the soundtrack song "Silver Dream Machine" was yet another Top 10 hit in the UK singles chart. In 1985, he wrote and starred as Fletcher Christian in the West End musical Mutiny!, based on the novel Mutiny on the Bounty by Charles Nordhoff and James Norman Hall. The score produced two more hit singles, including "Tahiti," his tenth Top 10 success.
Essex has continued to perform in all areas of show business, to varying degrees of success. A 1989 sitcom, "The River", achieved good ratings. In 1991, a compilation entitled His Greatest Hits reached Number 13; a 1993 album, Cover Shot, peaked at Number 3. His autobiography, A Charmed Life, was published in 2002, and became a bestseller.
In 1999, Essex was named an Officer of the Order of the British Empire. He still tours the UK on a yearly basis and releases albums through his website. Surprisingly, despite his long and thriving British career, he remains largely unknown in the United States. "Rock On" reached Number 5 in 1974, and was his only Billboard Top 40 hit single.
The grandson of an Irish Traveller, Essex told Jake Bowers of the BBC's Rokker Radio, a programme for Gypsies and Travellers, on 30th July 2006, that he has always been openly proud of his Traveller roots, but that having moved to the US, Essex has said he feels it inappropriate for him to continue as Patron of Britain's National Gypsy Council, which works for equal rights, education, and services for Romany and Irish Travellers.
In 2005, he appeared as a guest vocalist on Saint Etienne's album Tales from Turnpike House. Also that year, he appeared in the Channel 4 documentary Bring Back…The Christmas Number One.
Essex was due to join the cast of soap opera EastEnders, in early 2006, as new character Jack Edwards. However, the role was expanded beyond the three weeks planned, and Essex was unable to commit the time. The role instead went to Nicky Henson.
A model and recording of Essex is featured in the museum of West Ham United Football Club. In the recording, he explains his reasons for supporting West Ham and his love of the team. He remains a popular, hard working and respected star, who has nevertheless not achieved a more global presence.
