VINYL

The second full-length studio album by legendary American Glam/Blues Metal band.
Probably the best Cinderella’s album. With "Long Cold Winter", Cinderella started to move away from the Glam Metal music of their previous album and into a more Blues Rock-oriented direction, akin to early 1970s Rolling Stones, Aerosmith, Humble Pie, Bad Company and Deep Purple.
The album is simply excellent to listen to from beginning to end, and even the track listings for this album are flawless. Tom Keifer's vocal performance cannot be rivaled by any other singer, and his talent is shown on every song of the album. Each and every song on this album is great!
The album features four singles, which all charted in the US. "Don't Know What You Got (Till It's Gone)", which was to be Cinderella's highest-charting single, reached No. 12, "The Last Mile" reached No. 36, "Coming Home" reached No. 20 and "Gypsy Road" hit No. 51, a year after the release of the album.
Album reached No. 10 in the US and became double Platinum for selling 2 million copies in the US by the end of the year, just as their debut album "Night Songs" had done earlier. It was later certified triple Platinum.
Mercury/PolyGram Records, Inc., 1988 (834 612-1). Made in Holland. First press. Embossed Cover. OIS. Used (cover/disc): EX+/EX.


Tracklist:

Side One
1. Bad Seamstress Blues / Fallin' Apart At The Seams 05:23
2. Gypsy Road 04:05
3. Don't Know What You Got (Till It's Gone) 05:56
4. The Last Mile 03:25
5. Second Wind 03:57

Side Two
6. Long Cold Winter 05:22
7. If You Don't Like It 04:13
8. Coming Home 04:55
9. Fire And Ice 03:19
10. Take Me Back 03:16

Total playing time: 43:51 min.

The second full-length studio album by legendary American Glam/Blues Metal band.
Probably the best Cinderella’s album. With "Long Cold Winter", Cinderella started to move away from the Glam Metal music of their previous album and into a more Blues Rock-oriented direction, akin to early 1970s Rolling Stones, Aerosmith, Humble Pie, Bad Company and Deep Purple.
The album is simply excellent to listen to from beginning to end, and even the track listings for this album are flawless. Tom Keifer's vocal performance cannot be rivaled by any other singer, and his talent is shown on every song of the album. Each and every song on this album is great!
The album features four singles, which all charted in the US. "Don't Know What You Got (Till It's Gone)", which was to be Cinderella's highest-charting single, reached No. 12, "The Last Mile" reached No. 36, "Coming Home" reached No. 20 and "Gypsy Road" hit No. 51, a year after the release of the album.
Album reached No. 10 in the US and became double Platinum for selling 2 million copies in the US by the end of the year, just as their debut album "Night Songs" had done earlier. It was later certified triple Platinum.
Mercury/PolyGram Records, Inc./PGP RTB, 1988 (220426). Made in Yugoslavia. First press. OIS. Used (cover/disc): EX/EX.


Tracklist:

Side One
1. Bad Seamstress Blues / Fallin' Apart At The Seams 05:23
2. Gypsy Road 04:05
3. Don't Know What You Got (Till It's Gone) 05:56
4. The Last Mile 03:25
5. Second Wind 03:57

Side Two
6. Long Cold Winter 05:22
7. If You Don't Like It 04:13
8. Coming Home 04:55
9. Fire And Ice 03:19
10. Take Me Back 03:16

Total playing time: 43:51 min.

The third full-length studio album by legendary American Blues/Hard Rock band.
This album presents some differences in its musical style, being more oriented towards Blues/Hard Rock instead of Glam Metal and being more evidently influenced by The Rolling Stones and Aerosmith. "Heartbreak Station" contained musical muscle, healthy diversity, good lyrics, creativity; high emotional content.
The album featured three singles, which were "Shelter Me", hitting #36 in the US, the title track, which made #44, and "The More Things Change", which didn't chart.
Album hit #19 in the US and went Platinum for selling a million albums there the same year. Vocalist Tom Keifer has stated on several occasions that this is his favorite Cinderella record.
After successful albums that effectively followed contemporary Hard Rock trends, Cinderella reached back into the Stones and Aerosmith songbooks and created a sneering, raunchy Hard Rock album that was artistically their finest moment, even if it didn't reach the same commercial heights as its predecessors. But the sales figures don't matter; "Heartbreak Station" shows that Cinderella has more genuine Rock & Roll grit than most of the Metal bands of the late '80s!
Recommended for any Blues inspired Hard Rock fan!!
Vertigo/PolyGram Records, Inc., 1990 (848 018-1). Made in Holland. First press. OIS. Used (cover/disc): NM/EX+.


Tracklist:

Side I
1. The More Things Change 4:21
2. Love's Got Me Doin' Time 5:20
3. Shelter Me 4:50
4. Heartbreak Station 4:27
5. Sick For The Cure 3:39
6. One For Rock And Roll 4:28

Side II
1. Dead Man's Road 6:38
2. Make Your Own Way 4:17
3. Electric Love 5:24
4. Love Gone Bad 4:23
5. Winds Of Change 5:35

Total playing time: 53:34 min.

The debut full-length studio album by legendary American Glam Metal band.
Cinderella makes its debut in a flash of lightning and a puff of smoke with "Night Songs"! The first album by the band is easily one of best albums of all time. Why? Because Cinderella breaks new ground in many areas, and does it flawlessly. Most notably for this success is Tom Keifer, the lead singer and guitarist for Cinderella. Not only does Tom write most of the songs for Cinderella, but he also gave Hard Rock and Glam Metal a completely new meaning with his amazing falsetto! His voice has a bit of a growl to it, which at times can send chills down your spine, and also is a voice that nobody has matched.
Featuring a minor guest appearance by Jon Bon Jovi positions the band as a Pop-Metal outfit, but with Cinderella's own personality shows through at this point. 
"Night Songs" sold several million copies due to a combination of Cinderella's breakthrough single "Nobody's Fool", MTV airplay, and an opening slot on label mates Bon Jovi's tour, in support of their album "Slippery When Wet".
Leadoff single "Shake Me" failed to chart, but "Nobody's Fool" cracked the Top 20, reaching #13. Third single "Somebody Save Me" went to #66.
The album peaked at #3 on the US charts on February 7, 1987, and was certified double Platinum for selling 2 million copies there twelve days later. In May 1991, it was certified triple Platinum, having 3 million copies sold.
Cinderella takes Hard Rock and Glam Metal to a whole new level with their brand new, amazing sound. The sound of the album is great! Cinderella shows their talent in this album with each and every song! We love everything about this album, from the mind blowing guitar work, to the terrific drums, and maybe most of all, Tom Keifer's stunning vocals!!
Mercury/PolyGram Records, Inc., 1986 (830 076-1). Made in Holland. First press. Used (cover/disc): EX/EX.


Tracklist:

Side 1
1. Night Songs 4:13
2. Shake Me 3:44
3. Nobody's Fool 4:46
4. Nothin' For Nothin' 3:32
5. Once Around The Ride 3:20

Side 2
1. Hell On Wheels 2:48
2. Somebody Save Me 3:14
3. In From the Outside 4:06
4. Push, Push 2:50
5. Back Home Again 3:28

Total playing time: 36:05 min.

For the first time on vinyl, the debut full-length studio album by American Progressive Power Metal band.
Circle II Circle marks the recording return of former Savatage lead vocalist, Zachary Stevens, after a few years of silence. Circle II Circle was formed by Zak Stevens after his departure from Savatage, after recording four albums. But though this band is very much Stevens' personal vehicle, the bulk of 2003's debut was written with the help of his old Savatage cronies, and it is therefore no surprise that both groups tread quite similar paths. "Watching In Silence" featured guest appearances from Zachary's former bandmates of Savatage, Jon Oliva and Chris Caffery.
The writing for debut began in mid-2001, when Zak and Jon Oliva entered D.O.W. studios in Tampa to start some rough demos of their early ideas. Most songs included on the album were co-written with either Jon Oliva and Chris Caffery. It should be no surprise this sounds a lot like Savatage, considering who’s in the line-up, with the epic arrangements, moody passages, and Zak’s soaring vocals, it could have had ideas for a new Savatage album, being very much in the vein of "Dead Winter Dead" or "Wake of Magellan". The same kinds of vocal melodies, the same kinds of arrangements, the same type of lyrical themes. If anything, Circle II Circle comes across a tad less 'Metallic' and closer to the Melodic Hard Rock (think AOR) that was so popular in the early '80s.
After this record release, the entire band other than Stevens quit and eventually went on to join Oliva in Jon Oliva's Pain.
If you really dig the mellower bits on the last Savatage albums, you need to get this!
Limited to 150 copies Black Vinyl.
AFM Records/Jolly Roger Records/Blackbeard, 2003/2022 (JRR-BB023). Made in Italy. Pressed in Germany. First press.


Tracklist:

Side A
1. Out Of Reach 4:09    
2. Sea Of White 4:39    
3. Into The Wind 4:18    
4. Watching In Silence 4:25    
5. Forgiven 5:02    

Side B
6. Lies 3:26    
7. Face To Face 5:12    
8. Walls 4:28    
9. The Circle 3:30    
10. F.O.S. 6:40    

Total playing time: 45:49 min.

Tenth full-length album by legendary British Symphonic Black/Extreme Gothic Metal band.
A more reviled, deified, and overtly controversial group has yet to come from the primordial ooze of Metallic devolution. Cradle of Filth return with a new foray into a female based concept album and the formula - akin to “Cruelty And The Beast”- appears to be a winner. From 1994 till 2008 Cradle of Filth changed their style with every album they released. You cannot state that their first album resemblances “Dusk And Her embrace” or even “Cruelty And The Beast”. There is no band’s album in this time span that should be labeled as a copy cat of another, as their music progressed in such a manner that the term “Black Metal” doesn’t suit them by far. This album is yet another concept album and like their previous album, “Godspeed On The Devil's Thunder”, it is another step toward the mainstream. This album uses more tremolo picking, rather than power choral structure, however, so it is a step back toward the early days of Cradle of Filth.
180 gram Gatefold 2LP.
Peaceville Records, 2010 (VILELP300). Made in UK. First press.


Tracklist:

LP 1
SIDE ONE
1. The Cult Of Venus Aversa 07:08
2. One Foul Step From The Abyss 04:53
3. The Nun With The Astral Habit 04:54
SIDE TWO
4. Retreat Of The Sacred Heart 03:55
5. The Persecution Song 05:35
6. Deceiving Eyes 06:44

LP 2
SIDE THREE
1. Lilith Immaculate 06:12
2. The Spawn Of Love And War 06:18
3. Harlot On A Pedestal 05:08
SIDE FOUR
4. Forgive Me Father (I Have Sinned) 04:33
5. Beyond Eleventh Hour 07:16
6. Beast Of Extermination 05:32

Total playing time: 68:08 min.

First time on black vinyl, re-release of the eleventh full-length studio album by the legendary British Symphonic Gothic Extreme Metal band.
Album was released on 17 October 2006, through Roadrunner Records. It was produced by former Anthrax guitarist Rob Caggiano, and once again features narration by Doug Bradley (as with “Midian” and “Nymphetamine”). It is Cradle of Filth's second album as a five-piece, as keyboardist Martin Powell left the band in 2005. This would also be the band's final album to feature drummer Adrian Erlandsson, and the only full-length to feature guitarist Charles Hedger.
Metal Hammer called album "undoubtedly their heaviest and most guitar-dominated record in many years". Terrorizer called the album "sharp, slick, elegant, focused, catchy, accessible heavy Gothic Metal, with the dark romantic shtick still present, but reined in and more explicitly parodic".
This album is another stake in the heart of disbelievers. In praise of lust, perversion and abandon, their signature brand of symphonic Gothic/Black Metal remains without peer!!
180g gatefold black vinyl.
Roadrunner Records/Cargo Records, 2006/2013 (RRCAR 8113-1). Made in Germany. First press on black vinyl.


Tracklist:

Side A
1. Under Pregnant Skies She Comes Alive Like Miss Leviathan 01:40
2. Dirge Inferno 04:53
3. Tonight In Flames 05:55

Side B
4. Libertina Grimm 05:51
5. The Byronic Man 05:03
6. I Am The Thorn 07:06

Side C
7. Cemetery And Sundown 05:37
8. Lovesick For Mina 07:00
9. The Foetus Of A New Day Kicking 03:43

Side D
10. Rise Of The Pentagram 07:02
11. Under Huntress Moon 06:58
12. Temptation 03:47

Total playing time: 64:35 min.

The twelfth full-length studio album by the legendary British Symphonic Gothic Extreme/Horror Metal band.
This is easily their best album since "Midian", and it might even be a little bit better than that one. The fact that Cradle of Filth were able to come back so strongly after such a massive creative slump is downright shocking. It's proof that if you're surrounded by the right people and work hard, you can do some worthwhile s**t!
If you don't completely hate this band and aren't terrified of your kult cred being diminished, "Cryptoriana" is absolutely worth picking up!!
Gatefold 180 g Double Black Vinyl.
Nuclear Blast Tonträger Produktions- und Vertriebs GmbH, 2017 (NB 3805-1). Made in Germany. First press.


Tracklist:

Side I
I. Exquisite Torments Await...
II.Heartbreak And Seance
III.Achingly Beautiful

Side II
I. Wester Vespertine
II.The Seductiveness Of Decay

Side III
I. Vengeful Spirit
II. You Will Know The Lion By His Claw
III. Death And The Maiden

Side IV (Bonus)
I. The Night At Catafalque Manor
II. Alison Hell

The fourth EP by legendary British Extreme Gothic Metal band.
Released on Picture Disc exclusively for Hot Topic sales, this EP is a sampler for the forthcoming eleventh full-length studio album, "Thornography".
The EP features two tracks from the upcoming album, one cover song from the album, as well as rare cover of the Misfits’ classic “Halloween 2”.
Roadrunner Records/Def Jam Records, 2006 (168 613 899-1). Made in USA. First press. Used (generic cover/disc): VG/NM.


Tracklist:

Side A
1. Temptation (Heaven 17 cover) 03:47
2. Tonight in Flames 05:55

Side B
3. Dirge Inferno 04:54
4. Halloween 2 (Misfits cover) 03:38

Total playing time: 18:14 min.

The seventh full-length studio album by Irish Celtic Folk/Black Metal band.
Band’s most powerful offering to date, and quite possible Cruachan’s strongest album in their already quite lengthy career!
Cruachan has created a record that fits in perfectly with what you would expect from such a release: it has an epic build-up of lyrics and guitar solos, yet created around a very easy-listenable and catchy frame, which goes for all of the many impressively played instruments. It is this organic feel and authentic package with the lyrics going hand in hand with the music, which sets the band apart from most of their peers and the conviction is palpable.
"Blood For The Blood God" is the second part of the ‘blood’ trilogy begun with 2011’s "Blood On The Black Robe" (a record, which saw the band return to their Black Metal roots), that contains several stories and myths pertaining to Celtic history, delivered in a classical Folk Metal fashion (which includes several Folk instruments; in this case an Irish bagpipe, flutes, whistles and violins).
Without a doubt one of the best Folk Metal albums of 2014, and it is good to see the band still going strong and pushing their envelope after all these years!
Gatefold double vinyl release includes bonus disc, which features:
- re-recording of a song with the same title from the “Pagan” album 2004 (Track 1);
- demo versions of songs from the “Blood For The Blood God” album (Tracks 2, 3, 4, with track 3 and 4 presented here under their working title);
- songs from the “I Am Warrior” demo (Tracks 5, 6, 7 - all three were re-recorded and used on the 2011 “Blood On The Black Robe” album).
Trollzorn Records, 2014 (TZ 051-2). Made in Germany. First press.


Tracklist:

Side A
1. Crom Cruach 01:06
2. Blood for the Blood God 05:49
3. The Arrival of the Fir Bolg 06:27
4. Beren and Luthien 05:47
5. The Marching Song of Fiach Mac Hugh 03:22
6. Prophecy 04:52
Side B
7. Gae Bolga 04:04
8. The Sea Queen of Connaught 07:27
9. Born for War (The Rise of Brian Boru) 05:52
10. Perversion, Corruption and Sanctity - Part 1 05:51
11. Perversion, Corruption and Sanctity - Part 2 04:32
Running time: 55:09 min.

Side C
1. Pagan (2014 Version) 04:19
2. Prophecy (Demo) 04:52
3. Sea Queen (Demo) 06:30
Side D
4. Marching Song (Demo) 03:28
5. I Am Warrior (Demo) 05:12
6. Pagan Hate (Demo) 05:13
7. Voyage of Bran (Demo) 04:18
Running time: 33:52 min.


Samples: https://cruachan1.bandcamp.com

Virgin Records, 1983 (V 2285/205 730). Made in Europe. Used (cover/disc): EX/EX+. 

 
Tracklist:

Side A:
1. Karma Chameleon    4:11
2. It's A Miracle 3:25
3. Black Money 5:19
4. Changing Every Day 3:18
5. That's The Way (I'm Only Trying To Help You) 2:46
    
Side B:   
6. Church Of The Poison Mind 3:29
7. Miss Me Blind 4:31
8. Mister Man 3:36
9. Stormkeeper 2:47
10. Victims    4:56
    
Total playing time: 38:18 min.

The third full-length studio album by legendary American Pop singer.
CBS Records Inc./Epic Records, 1989 (EPC 462499 1). Made in Europe. Pressed in Netherlands. First press. OIS. Used (cover/disc): EX+/VG+.

 
Tracklist:

Side One:
1. Intro  0:27
2. I Drove All Night  4:11
3. Primitive  3:48
4. My First Night Without You  3:01
5. Like A Cat  3:23
6. Heading West  3:54 
    
Side Two:   
7. A Night To Remember  3:43
8. Unconditional Love  3:55
9. Insecurious  3:31
10. Dancing With A Stranger  4:11
11. I Don't Want To Be Your Friend  4:21
12. Kindred Spirit  1:16
    
Total playing time: 39:41 min.

The first full-length studio album by legendary American Pop singer.
CBS Inc./Portrait Records, 1983 (FR 38930). Made in USA. First press. OIS. Used (Cover/Disc): EX+/NM-.

 
Tracklist:

Side 1:
1. Money Changes Everything  5:02
2. Girls Just Want To Have Fun  3:55
3. When You Were Mine  5:07
4. Time After Time  3:59
    
Side 2:   
5. She Bop  3:43
6. All Through The Night  4:29
7. Witness  3:38
8. I'll Kiss You  4:05
9. He's So Unusual  0:45
10. Yeah Yeah  3:17
    
Total playing time: 38:00 min.

The second full-length studio album by legendary American Pop singer.
CBS Inc./Portrait Records, 1986 (OR 40313). Made in USA. First press. OIS. Used (Cover/Disc): EX/NM-.

 
Tracklist:

Side 1:
1. Change Of Heart  4:24
2. Maybe He`ll Know  4:24
3. Boy Blue  4:45
4. True Colors  3:46
5. Calm Inside The Storm  3:54
    
Side 2:   
6. What`s Going On  4:38
7. Iko Iko  2:10
8. The Faraway Nearby  2:59
9. 911  3:15
10. One Track Mind  3:39
    
Total playing time: 37:54 min.

Second European re-release of the sixth full-length album by cult Norwegian Black Metal band.
It was recorded in 1995 and released in 1996 on CD and LP by Moonfog Productions. LP has different artwork than CD.
This album is rather the best and most diversified Darkthrone record since “A Blaze In The Northern Sky”. This album is no doubt Black Metal with some Euro Thrash touches. It’s harsh, it’s midtempo or it’s just Thrash. Also the sound is the best in their history. But don’t expect some kind of power sound. We talk about Darkthrone, probably the weirdest band in the world! Individual and somehow original, these are the keywords.
The lyrics were provided by some famous members of the Norwegian Black Metal scene. Guys like Garm (Ulver), Ihsahn (Emperor), Carl Michael (Ved Buens Ende) or Satyr (Satyricon) are responsible for the sick lyrics. Normally is Fenriz the author of their lyrics. But this time, the band’s drummer hold himself back and apart from the guest lyricists, Nocturno Culto wrote some lyrics too.
This album belongs to the biggest classics in the history of this Darkthrone! It’s a must for all, who want to know, how Black Metal without any flourish has to sound too!!
Limited to 2000 numbered copies on 180g vinyl. Issued with an double-sided printed innersleeve. 
Peaceville Records, 1996/2011 (VILELP329). Made in EU.


Tracklist:

Side 1:
1. Earth's Last Picture     5:13
2. Blackwinged     4:30 
3. Gather For Attack On The Pearly Gates     4:53
4. Black Victory Of Death     4:01

Side 2:
5. Majestic Desolate Eye     3:07 
6. Blasphemer     4:01
7. Ravnajuv     4:20 
8. The Serpents Harvest     5:43

Total playing time: 35:44

The second EP by legendary American Hard Rock singer.
Warner Bros. Records Inc./WEA International Inc., 1985 (925 222-1). Made in Germany. OIS. Used (cover/disc): VG/VG.


Tracklist:

Side A:
1. Easy Street 3:45
2. Just A Gigolo / I Ain't Got Nobody 4:39

Side B:   
3. California Girls 2:50
4. Coconut Grove 2:52
    
Total playing time: 14:06 min.

Compilation album by legendary British Hard Rock band.
Rare unofficial Soviet compilation.
Picture sleeve with text in Russian and English.
Melodiya, 1990 (C60 26033 007). Unofficial release. Made in USSR. Used (cover/disc): EX+/EX+.
 

Tracklist:

Side 1
1. Black Night 03:25
2. Fireball 03:21
3. Space Truckin' 04:29
4. Child In Time 10:14

Side 2
5. Strange Kind Of Woman 03:47
6. Speed King 04:57
7. Highway Star 06:04
8. Smoke On Water 05:37
Total playing time: 41:54 min.

Russian edition of the twelfth full-length studio album by the legendary British Hard Rock band.
It’s the second recording by the re-formed Mark II line-up, considered as classic: Ian Gillan - vocals, congas, harmonica; Ritchie Blackmore - guitar; Roger Glover - bass, synthesizer; Jon Lord - organ, keyboards; Ian Paice - drums.
Though it was considered a disappointment upon its release (indeed, its production was much too sleek at times, and it lacked the creative daring of "Perfect Strangers"), 1987's "House Of Blue Light" has actually stood the test of time just as well, if not better, than its predecessor. This album showed Deep Purple searching for an 80s-flavored hit single, and by doing so, sounding similar to guitarist Ritchie Blackmore's other band, Rainbow.
Of the seventies Hard Rock dinosaurs that still roam the Earth, Deep Purple is one of the few with any credibility left in its crunch. "The House of Blue Light" is certainly a marked improvement over their lukewarm '84 comeback, "Perfect Strangers", and is as good as this band has ever been since its "Smoke On The Water" salad days.
"Bad Attitude" opens the album with five minutes of vintage "Machine Head" sludge - Ian Paice's thunder sticks calling the proceedings to order with a rigid goose-step beat, Ian Gillan raping his tonsils with the vigor of yesteryear. And "Mad Dog" is basically an '87-model "Highway Star," high-speed Metal fortified with Jon Lord's lusty Hammondorgan sound and the brass-knuckle guitar of Ritchie Blackmore.
The band has spiked its old hammer-and-anvil sound with a little future tech here and there: "The Unwritten Law" features subtly deployed electro-hand-claps and percolating sequencer amid its clenched-fist chorus and Blackmore's loco fretwork. But it's only when Purple turns on the retro-charm full blast that "The House Of Blue Light" really goes up in flames. "Hard Lovin' Woman" and "Dead or Alive" are both body-slam rockers in the old blitzkrieg spirit of "Speed King" and "Fireball", while Paice's sledgehammer-of-the-gods drumming and Blackmore's punch-your-lights-out chords keep "Call of the Wild", with its atypically Poppy hook, from turning into neo-Boston fluff.
"Strangeways" and a notable lack throughout the album of classic Blackmore psycho-chicken-scratch soloing, "The House Of Blue Light" is a surprisingly strong return from the tar pits. There's no "Smoke On The Water" here, but Deep Purple still has a pretty good fire going down below!!
Polydor International GmbH, Hamburg/Melodija, 1987/1988 (C60 27357 004). Made in USSR. Used.
 

Tracklist:

Side 1
1. Bad Attitude 04:43
2. The Unwritten Law 04:35
3. Call Of The Wild 04:40
4. Mad Dog 04:31
5. Black & White 03:44

Side 2
6. Hard Lovin' Woman 03:23
7. The Spanish Archer 04:57
8. Strangeways 05:55
9. Mitzi Dupree 05:02
10. Dead Or Alive 04:44

Total playing time: 50:33 min.

The twelfth full-length studio album by the legendary British Hard Rock band.
It’s the second recording by the re-formed Mark II line-up, considered as classic: Ian Gillan - vocals, congas, harmonica; Ritchie Blackmore - guitar; Roger Glover - bass, synthesizer; Jon Lord - organ, keyboards; Ian Paice - drums.
Though it was considered a disappointment upon its release (indeed, its production was much too sleek at times, and it lacked the creative daring of "Perfect Strangers"), 1987's "House Of Blue Light" has actually stood the test of time just as well, if not better, than its predecessor. This album showed Deep Purple searching for an 80s-flavored hit single, and by doing so, sounding similar to guitarist Ritchie Blackmore's other band, Rainbow.
Of the seventies Hard Rock dinosaurs that still roam the Earth, Deep Purple is one of the few with any credibility left in its crunch. "The House of Blue Light" is certainly a marked improvement over their lukewarm '84 comeback, "Perfect Strangers", and is as good as this band has ever been since its "Smoke On The Water" salad days.
"Bad Attitude" opens the album with five minutes of vintage "Machine Head" sludge - Ian Paice's thunder sticks calling the proceedings to order with a rigid goose-step beat, Ian Gillan raping his tonsils with the vigor of yesteryear. And "Mad Dog" is basically an '87-model "Highway Star," high-speed Metal fortified with Jon Lord's lusty Hammondorgan sound and the brass-knuckle guitar of Ritchie Blackmore.
The band has spiked its old hammer-and-anvil sound with a little future tech here and there: "The Unwritten Law" features subtly deployed electro-hand-claps and percolating sequencer amid its clenched-fist chorus and Blackmore's loco fretwork. But it's only when Purple turns on the retro-charm full blast that "The House Of Blue Light" really goes up in flames. "Hard Lovin' Woman" and "Dead or Alive" are both body-slam rockers in the old blitzkrieg spirit of "Speed King" and "Fireball", while Paice's sledgehammer-of-the-gods drumming and Blackmore's punch-your-lights-out chords keep "Call of the Wild", with its atypically Poppy hook, from turning into neo-Boston fluff.
"Strangeways" and a notable lack throughout the album of classic Blackmore psycho-chicken-scratch soloing, "The House Of Blue Light" is a surprisingly strong return from the tar pits. There's no "Smoke On The Water" here, but Deep Purple still has a pretty good fire going down below!!
Polydor/PolyGram Records, Inc., 1987 (831 318-1). Made in Canada. First press. OIS. Used (cover/disc): EX+/EX.


Tracklist:

Side 1
1. Bad Attitude 4:43
2. The Unwritten Law 4:35
3. Call Of The Wild 4:40
4. Mad Dog 4:51
5. Black & White 3:44

Side 2
6. Hard Lovin' Woman 3:23
7. The Spanish Archer 4:57
8. Strangeways 5:55
9. Mitzi Dupree 5:02
10. Dead Or Alive 4:44

Total playing time: 46:34 min.

The twelfth full-length studio album by the legendary British Hard Rock band.
It’s the second recording by the re-formed Mark II line-up, considered as classic: Ian Gillan - vocals, congas, harmonica; Ritchie Blackmore - guitar; Roger Glover - bass, synthesizer; Jon Lord - organ, keyboards; Ian Paice - drums.
Though it was considered a disappointment upon its release (indeed, its production was much too sleek at times, and it lacked the creative daring of "Perfect Strangers"), 1987's "House Of Blue Light" has actually stood the test of time just as well, if not better, than its predecessor. This album showed Deep Purple searching for an 80s-flavored hit single, and by doing so, sounding similar to guitarist Ritchie Blackmore's other band, Rainbow.
Of the seventies Hard Rock dinosaurs that still roam the Earth, Deep Purple is one of the few with any credibility left in its crunch. "The House of Blue Light" is certainly a marked improvement over their lukewarm '84 comeback, "Perfect Strangers", and is as good as this band has ever been since its "Smoke On The Water" salad days.
"Bad Attitude" opens the album with five minutes of vintage "Machine Head" sludge - Ian Paice's thunder sticks calling the proceedings to order with a rigid goose-step beat, Ian Gillan raping his tonsils with the vigor of yesteryear. And "Mad Dog" is basically an '87-model "Highway Star," high-speed Metal fortified with Jon Lord's lusty Hammondorgan sound and the brass-knuckle guitar of Ritchie Blackmore.
The band has spiked its old hammer-and-anvil sound with a little future tech here and there: "The Unwritten Law" features subtly deployed electro-hand-claps and percolating sequencer amid its clenched-fist chorus and Blackmore's loco fretwork. But it's only when Purple turns on the retro-charm full blast that "The House Of Blue Light" really goes up in flames. "Hard Lovin' Woman" and "Dead or Alive" are both body-slam rockers in the old blitzkrieg spirit of "Speed King" and "Fireball", while Paice's sledgehammer-of-the-gods drumming and Blackmore's punch-your-lights-out chords keep "Call of the Wild", with its atypically Poppy hook, from turning into neo-Boston fluff.
"Strangeways" and a notable lack throughout the album of classic Blackmore psycho-chicken-scratch soloing, "The House Of Blue Light" is a surprisingly strong return from the tar pits. There's no "Smoke On The Water" here, but Deep Purple still has a pretty good fire going down below!!
Polydor/PolyGram Records, Inc., 1987 (831 318-1). Made in Germany. First press. OIS. Used (cover/disc): EX/EX+.


Tracklist:

Side 1
1. Bad Attitude 4:43
2. The Unwritten Law 4:35
3. Call Of The Wild 4:40
4. Mad Dog 4:31
5. Black & White 3:44

Side 2
6. Hard Lovin' Woman 3:23
7. The Spanish Archer 4:57
8. Strangeways 5:55
9. Mitzi Dupree 5:02
10. Dead Or Alive 4:44

Total playing time: 46:34 min.