Greatest Album Bombs- Part 1 (w/Martin Popoff)

[@timbutler6447]

3:30 ZZ Top- Recycler 8:09 KISS - Music from "The Elder" 11:58 New York Dolls - Self Titled Debut 17:45 Toto - Isolation 22:34 Aerosmith - Nine Lives 29:12 Asia - Alpha 34:32 Hagar Schon Aaronson Shrieve - Through the Fire 39:15 Yes - Union 43:47 Judas Priest - Ram It Down 49:20 Whitesnake - Slip of the Tongue

[@maryschuldt8975]

Pete, love your show. I've been watching since 2019, and have collected a lot of albums you've recommended. Keep on doing what you're doing ! Thanks !

[@sabyrk]

That Yes Union tour was badass, though! In Bill Bruford's documentary, he says that Rick Wakeman used to jokingly refer to that album as "Onion" because, he would say, "it'll make you cry."

[@santiagodelgado875]

I discovered this channel because of Martin Popoff and enjoyed this conversation a lot. Cheers to both of you!❤️

[@MK-gv7qr]

Peter Frampton I'm in you was a pretty big bomb after Frampton comes alive.

[@nelsonmaud1]

I was gonna mention that but there's song on it I really still like but was a bomb

[@timlapalme7027]

Yup, I’m In You my pick for greatest bomb ever!

[@allornadaaccordingtojack7601]

Agreed, I thought it was a monumental bomb.

[@ruipedro4195]

Greatest Album Bombs- Part 1 (w/Martin Popoff) Martin Popoff 5- ZZ Top - Recycler (1990) 4- New York Dolls - New York Dolls (1973) 3- Aerosmith - Nine Lives (1997) 2- Hagar Schon Aaronson Shrieve - Through the Fire (1984) 1- Judas Priest - Ram it Down (1988) Pete Pardo 5- Kiss - Music From "The Elder" (1981) 4- Toto - Isolation (1984) 3- Asia - Alpha (1983) 2- Yes - Union (1991) 1- Whitesnake - Slip of the Tongue (1989)

[@diannecarpenter7718]

Thank you, “Pete” and “Martin”for your opinions, about the greatest album bombs. I enjoyed listening and watching to this conversation. I will tune in next time. All the damn time. 🎤🎸🎵🎹🥁

[@Danimal77]

Ram It Down (1988) has 2 EXCELLENT songs: Ram It Down and Blood Red Skies, 1 great song: Hard As Iron (criminally underrated) and 2 good songs: Heavy Metal and I'm a Rocker (very catchy).

[@ScottyKirk1]

Blood Red is one of their heaviest songs! Love that one!

[@christianman73]

This is fairly outside of the music usually covered on SOT, but in 1980, Earth, Wind, & Fire (who, at their best, were an *incredible* funk/soul/R & B/jazz band!) released a double album titled "Faces." Even many of their fans didn't buy it-- and they seriously missed out, because that album both *rocks and grooves* and is lyrically thoughtful too. "Faces" is the great "lost" EWF album, but it should be rediscovered!

[@jazzpunk]

I hear ya...

[@treff9226]

Incredible album!

[@jp1194]

The Cult - Ceremony Awesome album with a lot of hype that went right to the cut-out bins.

[@j.j.4150]

Great show as always. Though, I would argue, that any album that went platinum, no matter how much albums before that made more, is immediately disqualified from being considered a "Bomb".

[@snowdog202]

Agreed

[@robsmith1400]

Upon release, I thought "Isolation" was going to break the record for most Top 40 hits on an album....pop/rock perfection. I was WAY off but the cd never gets too far from me.

[@kurtbaughman1349]

Two Words: Hot Space

[@matthewclark9652]

When The Raspberries album "Fresh" peaked at # 36 on Billboard Top 200 Album Charts in January 1973, their classic next album "Side 3" went to # 128 in October 1973.

[@svencarter580]

Been away from the channel for a period. Great first video back. Loads to catch up on. Superb work again chaps!!

[@christianman73]

'"New York Dolls" is one of the greatest rock albums of the '70s, or of *any* decade. The fact that it wasn't commercially successful may partially be due to just how "proto-punk" it is, musically-- a *truly* wild, rocking, and very fun, album! It's so untamed and invigorating! Todd Rundgren captured the raw, rocking sound of the band without watering it down or polishing it up too much. A classic album!

[@jimmycampbell78]

I need to check that out. My view aligned with Martin’s in the sense that I know the New York Dolls, I know the band and I perceive them as a famous influential band- and then I realise I don’t know any of their music. They’re on the list but I got the new Maiden today to listen to 😉

[@christianman73]

@@jimmycampbell78 New Maiden *definitely* must be heard! I've been a fan since '83 and still love 'em! :-) The Dolls were not a metal band in any way, but still great, in a very different way. Hard rocking, barroom-bluesy wildness, with a punk edge, before punk really existed. Good stuff!

[@joeylyons4549]

Another interesting topic. I’ve said this before. But watching your episodes has been such a great escape into someplace positive with all this Covid and other BS I’m the world. I really look forward to checking out your channel each day

[@mr.jamesvincent3519]

Some of my favorite "bombs" (in no particular order, just off the top of my head) Styx: Kilroy was Here - Aerosmith: Just Push Play - Metallica: St. Anger - Judas Priest: Nostradamus - Iron Maiden: Virtual XI - Deep Purple: House of the Blue Light - Motley Crue: Generation Swine - Van Halen: |||

[@jake6887]

Next albums deserves more love imo: Tygers of Pan Tang: The Cage Reo Speedwagon: Good Trouble Foreigner: Usual Heat Demon: The Plaque Bad Company: Dangerous Age Strangways: And the Horse Tyketto: Shine Journey: Arrival Boston: Walk On Asia: Astra Night Ranger: Feeding of the Mojo Saxon: Innocence is no Excuse Twisted Sister: Love is for Suckers 100% agree with Toto: Isolation

[@HarmonyHomeInspectionServices]

Good list. How about Golden Earring's "N.E.W.S." (1984) I remember the video "When the Lady Smiles" played once on MTV. A follow up bomb to the popular album "Cut" which had "Twighlight Zone"

[@petrilampela]

I've never been a big fan of Toto but I loved Stranger in Town as a kid and just noticed recently that the opening riff goes in six, verse is in seven, bridge in four and chorus in five. And it just flows perfectly without you even noticing the changing time-signatures.

[@davedagreat69]

The verse is not in 7, it has two bars of 4 and one of 6. The chorus is also not in 5. Also the opening riff is three bars of 4, not two bars of 6.

[@petrilampela]

@@davedagreat69 Well that's just nitpicking. I seem to snap my fingers half slower than you and that's why your 14 is 7 to me and your 12 is 6. You probably count the chorus as 4+4+2 that equals 10 and I count it in half-time compared and that's why get 5. The point still is that the time signatures change throughout the song without you really noticing. I've done classical training and music theory 40 years ago but I like to count the rhythm in a way that feels more natural to me.

[@Franz_Morhart]

Recycler went platinum-that's a massive hit, relative to ZZ Top's entire catalogue.

[@archibaldsalyards926]

I’m pretty sure the total album sales for the self titled “Whitesnake” is almost closer to 20 million copies. Maybe closer to the 16 million mark…? And this video will only help the artists get more their do! Thank you both for your love of music!!!!

[@rjm4091]

Just want to say I appreciate Martin. Enjoy his perspective. Thank you Martin!!

[@craigusselman546]

His Heavy Metal ratings guide is one of my favorite books of all time-check it out.

[@rjm4091]

@@craigusselman546 thank you

[@alciovillalobos]

I love that you always share the weather report at the beginning. :)

[@zeelias_zezito65]

Deep Purple - SLAVES AND MASTERS Jethro Tull - UNDER WRAPS Gentle Giant - GIANT FOR A DAY Genesis - CALLING ALL STATIONS Pink Floyd - UMMAGUMMA

[@sabyrk]

I love how in this clip Pete sets up his picks with a little bit of suspense.

[@johnpatterson4272]

You have to admit the KISS t-shirt and his intro to his 'Elder' send-up was kind of a giveaway for those of us who saw it coming.

[@sabyrk]

@@johnpatterson4272 Totally sword coming, but I like how he builds up his pics first and waits to show the album covers.

[@johnpatterson4272]

@@sabyrk It's a nice touch. I appreciate the way these vloggers get right into the topic. No meaningless banter that goes on for 20 minutes.

[@bobschiller6435]

I love John Wetton, but many years ago I came to that realization that what he really wanted was to be a pop star. I remember reading at the time that he was thoroughly PO'd at his record label (EG) when they didn't promote his 1980 album "Caught In the Crossfire" in the UK and wouldn't even release it in the US (it finally appeared six years later). It was more mainstream, and their rationale was supposedly that he was "too old" to be a teen idol (it's by far his best solo album IMO). When Asia happened, I immediately thought it was a direct result of this slight. He pretty much turned his back on prog from that point on, and it seems like he spent most of the Asia days and subsequent solo career trying to prove the naysayers wrong.

[@bobschiller6435]

@Blackadder I actually didn't mind that one, though it didn't really suit his vocal range. Once DB started singing the background vocals it sounded like Heep again. I think it was part of the deal he made to play on the album that he got to sing one song. Did the same with Wishbone Ash.

[@markblue5375]

HSAS was a killer record ! Some of the greatest Neal Schon guitar playing you will ever hear !

[@slainteron4027]

Love He Will Understand

[@treffbennett6534]

HSAS will ALWAYS bring the rock-absolutely killer Schon riffs and solos with Hagar's stellar voice and stellar rhythm section........this album was a nice surprise for me at the time and I am now going to play it today until my drywall blisters! Great mention!

[@markblue5375]

@@treffbennett6534 Hell yeah Treff 🔥

[@stormbringercoming8105]

Totally agree. I wasn’t a Sammy Hagar or Journey fan at the time, but I loved this record. Oddly enough, Sammy Hagar fans in my town never had record. Wished they re-release this with the unreleased music.

[@mohammed.alfarsi.454]

53:14 that should be on a T-shirt 👕 "They make me mad even hearing them in my head"

[@MartyMurray]

I agree with you, Pete. I love the Hagar, Schon, Aaronson & Shrieve album. Such great playing and vocals on that record.

[@mkendra29]

Great shout-out to "Isolation," Pete. Reading his book, Lukather seems to think of this one as the odd duck in their career and that Fergie was kind of an unfortunate fall guy. Thanks also Martin for mentioning "Through the Fire." I have heard that Hagar and Schon actually did try to make a second go of it in the early 2000's but didn't really have the chemistry to come up with good songs and they aborted it. My picks: Stone Roses "Second Coming." It took them five years to follow up their amazing debut album and by then they were eclipsed by Britpop bands imitating them (looking at you, Oasis). I saw that tour - Ian Brown and John Squire were openly, drunkenly arguing on stage. Metallica "Load" - I don't think the self-titled album was a sellout, the prog metal they did on AJfA had run its course. On the other hand, with this one, I knew it was trouble when every DJ on every station I listened to in both the Bay Area and Southern California would qualify the first single to death "this is real different," "take some time to get used to it," etc. Roger Waters "Is This the Life We Really Want?" Fine album that no Floyd fan I know has been willing to touch. It's a shame as this is powerful, mature work. At the same time, maybe everything that can be polarizing about Waters - the sparse production, the nasal voice, the strident nature of his anti-war and left-wing views on and off his records - just wasn't drawing anyone in.

[@geronimo9097]

This is a GREAT topic. I love how we all have differences as well as agreements with our musical choices. I love HSAS & Big Generator; like Music of the Elder & Union. I bought Ram It Down and was disappointed as well. Music is beauty in the EARS of the beholder.😁

[@adamsmashups4839]

On the Union tour ,they did Lift Me Up,Shock to the System and Saving My Heart. When I saw the Rabin Wakeman Anderson version of Yes,they also did Lift Me Up.

[@weirdlysawbones8547]

The Union album was a letdown, but I gladly caught the tour in Toronto and was very impressed, especially with how I got to see Bruford,awake man, and Howe up on stage which I never thought I’d see at the time, not to mention witnessing the ever awesome Chris Squire.

[@briansmolik4653]

I agree with Martin's insights on The Dolls....both great albums

[@rtrout57]

This kind of a Velvet Underground scenerio.

[@jason-budney7624]

Some great choices from both Martin and Pete! Catching up on videos I missed during vacation.

[@masonmixon8031]

"IVE HAD CNN ON FOR TWO DAYS"....lol. poor guy

[@tylermorrison7051]

Say what you will about Steve Vai fitting in, but he was amazing on David Lee Roth's Eat Em' and Smile. Kudos to DLR, Sheehan, Bissonette, and Harms, as well. Definitely one of the best hard rock albums of the 1980's.

[@janpoelkamp4229]

Vai was playing with everyone under the sun in the 80’s. Any fan of his should check out what got him the attention in the first place: His work with Frank Zappa! 😎

[@mprofo.indogwetrust]

Ditto "Skyscraper"

[@hesch-tag]

Steve and bluesy just don't go together.

[@mck7646]

That DLR solo band was incredible. They crushed Hagar's VH at the time in my opinion. Wish they stayed together longer.

[@gileslesmith]

great show! love to watch you guys talking bout all those great or not so great bands of the past. there´s always something to discover that I didn´t know before!

[@fredrickhintze5744]

Glad Martin addressed the NY Dolls. Those two albums are probably in my top ten favorites. As you might have guessed, I’m a huge fan of The Dolls, Thunders, Buster,etc. I saw the original lineup only once. Memorable to say the least. They never had a broad fan base , great record sales. It was a surprise that they were even nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I don’t lose any sleep over it. They may get in eventually but who cares.I can’t deny the fact that they were hyped but a lot of us who hung out in the Village new them. Maybe the look of the band turned off a lot of folks but the music was exciting - even the cover choices were great.

[@ledzeplover58]

My thoughts exactly. Leave it to Martin to bring up some of my favorite bands and put that bewildered look on Pete's face.

[@MrCoryde]

You lost me at, I watched CNN all day. But I still watched because I love you guys.

[@kenfrederick6223]

Maybe a little beyond the purview of this channel, but I have to mention Discharge-"Grave New World". A huge stylistic change and massive bomb for the band.

[@gwts1171]

I just re-listened to this a few days ago. Still makes me cringe. :)

[@HarmonyHomeInspectionServices]

You lost me at watching CNN. I came here to here about the big album bombs. Scroll to 2:21

[@OutOnTheTiles]

Great episode guys! ✌️🇨🇦❤️

[@jeffmazzei8520]

Thank You Pete another great show today !

[@carle9924]

I have always loved the Elder, that being said. Dynasty, Unmasked and The elder are my favourite Kiss albums 😅

[@rightchordleadership]

I’ll have what you’re smoking! 😄

[@christianman73]

I loved all three of those albums, when they were released, and I love them, now, decades later. I was very much a fan of the early hard rock sound of Kiss, but I loved it when they experimented musically too. They are very underrated as songwriters. The big stage shows, with the theatrics, were cool and fun, but the songs kept me returning to them as a fan.

[@guillaumechabason3165]

Odyssey Save your love and Easy as it seems are my favourites songs of these three masterpieces..

[@larsschneider2378]

The Elder has always been one of my faves as well, one of the prime examples of people hating it due to its reputation - like, you have to hate it because apparently everyone else does. And Dynasty is another misconception, the "disco" album...yeah, because 2 of the tracks are somewhat disco-influenced. But X-Ray Eyes? Save Your Love? Some of the heaviest Kiss-stuff up to that point. Great album.

[@Geerladenlad]

They're quite good compared to the newer albums.

[@ilj1259]

The Cars - Door To Door Journey - Raised On Radio Bad Company - Rough Diamonds Genesis - Calling All Stations Kiss - Unmasked

[@thomaslycan8893]

Toto got a new singer for “Isolation”. Thats a big reason why it flopped. Pete does make a good point about skipping years in the 80’s. Late 70’s arena rock was still selling in 1982 but not in 1984. Except for Foreigner. They actually did have a great comeback in 1984.

[@tatedavis2016]

Led Zeppelin- Presence (Still sold very well, but was a bomb compared to Physical Graffiti’s album sales) Uriah Heep- Conquest Foghat- Boogie Motel Steppenwolf- Skullduggery Van Halen- III Kiss- Creatures Of The Night (the diehards were into it, but I think most of the public had moved on.)

[@malco49]

the dolls were great , bought both albums on release , saw them live back then once in south jersey and once in philly . great both times .

[@guywoznicki7847]

Just like to add to the analysis of the failure of the Toto follow up. Back in those days (70’s & 80’s) we used to wait until we heard something from the album before we bought it, even if it followed up a smash. If no single appeared we may have asked around a bit. If nobody heard it, nobody bought it. I’d also like to add that I loved the Cars first 2 albums and then heard the single Running to You and passed on the 3rd album. Years later I got a used copy for $1 and was amazed at how good it was. That stupid lead single might be why the record bombed!

[@kiplambert64]

Au contraire, back in the day I pretty much bought albums sight unseen , based on the artist/band..Radio hits were irrelevant...

[@cgarner1964]

Cool show as always Pete I also never missed an episode of forgotten classics. The underrated bands show was cool . Martin the Hounds are super cool blast from the past.

[@liquidvizionsmadferit]

Queensryche - Operation: Mindcrime II It deserved to bomb. It's not even in the same universe as the original masterpiece. Metallica - St. Anger and Lulu. I'm not the the biggest fan of Load and Reload. But I like some stuff on those and could combine the songs I like and make one decent album. But those other two... I couldn't give you nothing. There are obviously others but those 3 stick out for me.

[@cuttynichols]

Just the mention of Saint Anger brings the thought of a garbage can snare drum straight to my head.

[@treffbennett6534]

How shameful to desecrate one of the all time masterpiece albums, Operation Mindcrime is flawless, musically and thematically, with the blatant cash grab that is Mindcrime II......never fails to shock me as to just how little respect and dignity these artists show toward their OWN material-especially genius music that captivated everyone who heard it......WTF????? Megadeth-Risk had a special ability to suck AND blow at the same time (the board game RISK was far more dangerous.....) Lulu made me poo poo. St. Anger featured Oscar The Grouch's trash can, which Lars apparently thought would make a great snare drum..... ......"and NO SOLOS FOR YOU, KIRK HAMMETT, THEIR JUST TOO EXCITING AND EAR CATCHING-WE CAN'T HAVE IT" !!!! nice picks, brother!

[@michaelbeaule1966]

I know this is a sensitive topic, but I appreciate the fact that Pete never bites for the political. I noticed that Martin can jump on a soapbox from time to time but I appreciate Pete not touching that and sticks to the topic at hand which is appreciating music.

[@chrisman3965]

100% same. Sad to know Popoff is a climate change nut. Still enjoy his music commentary though. Stick to the music and I'm good.

[@downpeninsula]

Is climate change political ?

[@michaelbeaule1966]

@@downpeninsula ummm yeah.

[@AndI0td763]

@@chrisman3965 I haven’t heard anything about that, how’s he a climate change nut?

[@mainzergirl9610]

​@@downpeninsula That's all it is.

[@xpindy]

A hardcore prog guy, I was very "meh" about the "Asia" album when I first heard it on the radio- when I actually bought the album (on cassette, which meant I didn't really care about it) and got to the interior songs, my feelings grew- when the album became so popular, I was won over (I was overjoyed that the general public would find out what "real" music was- albeit thru baby steps). The battle of balance between prog and pop is partly what sunk Asia. But a big part of the problem was Wetton's demons (alcoholism, which he addresses very well in some later work= solo and with Asia)- I saw the band on the Don't Cry tour and I thought the concert was terrible- I remember telling my girlfriend at the time "Something is really wrong with this band." Wasn't too long after that Greg Lake was brought in to replace Wetton on the tour. When the original band reunite, my daughter dragged me to the show and I was shocked at how good it was- saw them many times after that. One thing, though- the band never did "Don't Cry" in it's "hit" arrangement in later years- until Howe left the band. Kind of think that was a touchy subject. Love Wetton and if God told me I could have anyone's singing voice- I'd say "John Wetton or Greg Lake- surprise me." (Only because if you asked God for Sinatra"s voice, God would shrug his shoulders and say "Don't you think I wish I had his voice, too?"

[@peterdelaney7061]

Pete - Would like to hear your take on a common factor to many of the albums that were so formulaic and contrived. That is John Kalodner. He was the man behind the scenes on so many of those late '80s corporate recordings. His fingerprints are very evident

[@kennbrown4638]

This was a one and done type thing. The 1978 soundtrack to the Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band. The hype was kinda strong. The performers included The Bee Gees, Peter Frampton, Aerosmith, Alice Cooper, Earth, Wind & Fire, Steve Martin, Billy Preston and George Burns (whose career was resurrected during this time period). George Martin produced the album. And, of course, it was Beatles' songs. But talk about laying an egg. It was a platinum plus return , meaning 4 million copies were returned by retailers.

[@AndrewCapobianco2014]

The final scene is a Mash of Celebs - Saw this at movies, was a Big Bomb

[@kennbrown4638]

@@AndrewCapobianco2014 Saw it three times. Loved it. Probably one of the hundred who did. Damn near killed the careers of the Bee Gees and Peter Frampton.

[@treffbennett6534]

Oh, great pick! This whole debacle should be chapter one in the book " WHAT WERE THEY THINKING? " I believe if you see the soundtrack for sale and offer to "take it off their hands" YOU get cash and prizes. I use it to "remove crows" from their five a.m. meetings in trees outside my window.....AERODYNAMIC!

[@AndrewCapobianco2014]

@@kennbrown4638 If you have HBO Max, check out the Bee Gees Documentary, Great Stuff, Great Footage of a Forgotten Time

[@iainholmes2735]

To paraphrase, a success has a thousand parents, but failure is often disowned. But, I have also noticed that some albums undergo a revision, and grow in acclaim over time.

[@tanvirchoudhury122]

Songs of innocence - U2. Their partnership with Apple was an absolute PR disaster as Bono's indulgences caught up with the band. Slip of the tongue - Whitesnake. Overblown, micro-managed and though it had some great tracks (sailing ships, judgement day), it was couple of years too late. Goodnight LA - Magnum. A desperate attempt to conquer America and nobody cared. Crush - Bon Jovi. Came out around the same time as Maiden's Brave New World and compared poorly. They saw a million faces and bored them all.

[@davidl570]

Barf Jovi has ALWAYS bored me! Also, even David Coverdale doesn't like Slip of the Tongue. Can't blame him in the least!

[@lexpeters735]

Big Generator by Yes following up 90125 was such an anticlimax in general song quality and creativity.. Secondly Fleetwood Mac's Tusk after the success of Rumours. Everyone expected Rumours ll. In the record shop I worked in at the time, I would quietly warn my regulars to listen to Tusk before buying. Most didn't heed my warning and were very disappointed.

[@Wayner71]

It was interesting to find out how disunified 'Union' really was.

[@kimberlywalker3970]

Prince - Under The Cherry Moon Led Zeppelin - Presence (Compared to Physical Graffiti) Guns-N-Roses - Chinese Democracy Nirvana - In Utero

[@kevinb7126]

In Utero imo was awesome some super heavy stuff on there .

[@michaelbaucom4019]

Kansas: Drastic Measures Supertramp: Free As A Bird Not just in terms of sales, but stylistically too. Kansas went from being prog/hard rock to a bad version of Foreigner. Supertramp, after the very good Brother Where You Bound album, a jazz-rock/ prog album, then went to a synth-pop/Kenny G style jazz/dance music album. Yuck

[@ericwincentsen587]

"Stranger in Town" was a top-40 single at the time and got some decent airplay. One of my favorite Toto songs. I have yet to go through their catalogue, but look forward to it.

[@jefflofgren5304]

Same type of situation as Toto-Isolation was The Tubes "Love Bomb" album. Their biggest selling album "Outside/Inside" from 83 contained "She's A Beauty" and then 2 years later Todd Rundgren produced a strange yet catchy follow-up that did NOT sell. People have said over the years that there was some evidence of band ambivalence towards the record company. Which resulted in them being dropped by Capitol Records.

[@h.m.7218]

Both Outside and Love Bomb are great albums. Outside is much less Tubesque but very good nonetheless in a classic rock way. Love Bomb is hyper creative FM rock. The hyper creative side of it is the Tubesque ( and Rundgrenesque ) side.

[@kylekirchhevel9097]

I was 16 when Whitesnake '87 came out, loved it. 2 years later, I hear Fool For Your Loving and I'm " Never mind, think I'll listen to Great White's " ...Twice Shy" album front to back for the third time this week..."

[@jasonbrandt5504]

Great episode. Would be interesting to the counterpoint to this theme - biggest surprises! Albums nobody expected to explode - but they did. Right place right ie. thing. Frampton Comes Alive, OK Computer, Tubular Bells as examples.

[@cool927]

Steve Vai can’t be blamed for Slip of the Tongue. He was basically brought in as a hired gun to play Vandenberg’s parts. He didn’t write any of the songs. Ironically, the best song from those sessions (Sweet Lady Luck) never made it on to the album but it was on their greatest hits album 5 years later.

[@Danimal77]

I've always been a fan of Whitesnake's Slip of the Tongue album. To me it was the last classic sounding Whitesnake album, with 5 great songs: Slip of the Tongue, Fool For Your Loving '89, Now You're Gone, The Deeper The Love, and Judgement Day.

[@MetalJesus157]

I like probably every song on that album except the two ballads.

[@mdarts8861]

Great show as usual. Are you any closer to doing the Kate Bush album ranking?

[@katesjanice]

Oh please. I love Kate Bush!

[@mdarts8861]

@Munro What an amazing song that is. If you like that though listen to it with the rest of the album, it really is a thing of beauty, you even get some whale sounds. All her albums are worth a listen, some are truly magnificent sound scapes, other worlds.

[@CMPProductions]

Fun show! Great discussion and factoids thrown in. Looking forward to a part 2!

[@sunsin1592]

Funny; Brendon Snyder calls "Recycler" his all-time favorite ZZ Top album. I saw them on that tour and it was a helluva show with a junkyard that kept recycling things. I think it was the last time they did big stage shows like that. Not my favorite ZZ Top album either, but fun memories of that show.

[@randycunningham7318]

My personal favorite album is also Recycler.

[@thestevec]

Travelling Wilburys Vol 3 - Some googling shows it sold well but seems largely forgotten these days.

[@rememberbeginning]

I dig that album. Well both their albums.

[@marciopainhas5828]

Had never heard HSAS. Very cool! Reminds pieces of Van Halen, UFO and Def Leppard.

[@janpoelkamp4229]

I actually do prefer Nine Lives over Get A Grip. Much better album, imo. My contribution: Blondie - The Hunter (still love it!) The Eagles - The Long Run (presumably it was) The Clash - Cut The Crap (not a Clash album imo)

[@BrianSherman-TheTVGod]

Wow...I mean, with the exception of Kitten's Got Claws, I'd say Slip of the Tongue should sit in the "masterpiece" category...with Judgement Day being in the top 10 greatest metal songs of all time.

[@MetalJesus157]

Agreed. Slip of the Tongue is my third favorite Whitesnake album after 1987 and Slide It In. I actually like Kittens Got Claws, but never cared much for Now You're Gone or The Deeper the Love. Otherwise, it's an incredible album. I might even tie it with 1987.

[@ronnienose8608]

It's interesting how people view Whitesnake. I much prefer the pre '87 material (in fact, apart from Still of The Night, I don't like the album and find the re-recordings of Here I Go Again and Crying In The Rain awful, with far too many notes played by Sykes), but despite Vai being wrong for the band I admit that there are a larger proportion of good songs on Slip Of The Tongue than '87.

[@Miler97487]

- Kiss: Music from the Elder (1981) - Kiss: Creatures of the Night (1982) We all know about The Elder, while Creatures returned the band back to their heavy rock sound and did please those buyers who stuck around and for good reason, It didn't do particularly well upon release but I do believe it did better afterwards. - Fleetwood Mac: Time (1995) - Jefferson Airplane: Jefferson Airplane (1989) I remember "Planes" getting radio airplay at the time but nothing else. I also remembered the album was hardly talked about at all. I never owned the album because I can't imagine it being particularly good - Emerson, Lake & Palmer: Love Beach (1978) - The Velvet Underground: any album Despite their vast influence none of their albums sold much of anything upon release. - David Bowie: Tonight (1984) - Bee Gees: Living Eyes (1981) It's no surprise this 1981 album bombed since this came smack in the middle of the anti-disco backlash and these guys were the biggest target. - Grand Funk Railroad: Born to Die (1976) I actually enjoy this album and I remember "Take Me" on the radio but it's clear this album didn't do particularly well because people were likely turned off by the more commercial nature of Shinin' On and All the Girls in the World Beware. - The Byrds: The Notorious Byrd Brothers (1968) Compared to what they did before it wasn't particularly a big seller but it's a great album. I guess because the album was all over the place put off buyers. I understand it did better in the UK, which seemed to be a trend for the Byrds: If they weren't doing well in the States, they were doing well in the UK. - Yes: Union (1991) No argument there. No wonder Rick Wakeman called it "Onion" because it brought tears to his eyes. - The Grateful Dead: Built to Last (1989) In the Dark gave the Dead commercial success they never experienced before thanks to "A Touch of Grey" receiving tons of radio and even MTV airplay. Its follow-up never came close in airplay or sales. The Dead stuck with performing live and no new studio albums since.

[@fuzzbubble]

Peter Frampton “I’m in You”..... HUGE flop

[@EdwardBox]

Monster of Rock. The only JP song I can't abide! Turbo, lyrics aside, has great production, hooks, arrangements, playing and writing.

[@herrdwabash]

Pete Townshend embarked on a very ambitious project in 1993 with "Psychoderelict." A big concept album with solid songs and a narrative connecting the story together with voice-actors, resembling a radio show (it was acted out on tour). In terms of album sales- a total disaster, and Pete Townshend has not done another solo album since.

[@ChimpAflame]

A second version of Pyschoderelict was later released with just the songs, removing all of the extra story-concept narrations. The songs-only version is OK, and IMHO much more recommended over the original release. I’m a huge Who fan and Pete’s solo work up thru White City is really good (White City, Empty Glass, and Rough Mix with Ronnie Lane are all A+), but I haven’t listened twice start-to-finish to either The Iron Giant and the narration-release PD. Pete did a solo tour for Psychoderelict, and it incorporated stage acts in-between the songs to bring to the story to dramatic life. Ugh! It was a challenge to sit thru all of it. Halfway through, the whole audience just seemed to be sitting there, tolerating it. The band would pick up some steam, and then it would just slam to a stop while pre-recorded voices played over images on s screen. Pete was still scratching his Tommy on Broadway itch, and it did not work on his Psychoderelict tour. The greatest-hits second half barely made up for it.

[@jimflys2]

There is no solution for a non problem

[@austinwoods466]

Martin Popoff! Great guest.

[@franciskocher200]

Nice and interesting show...Need to do another one about this topic.

[@seaoftranquilityprog]

That's why it's titled 'Part 1'...

[@FundamentalsUK]

Agree Pete about isolation, brilliant album, and does top Toto 4 imo as well 👍🏻

[@Ben12670]

The Jobriath album was probably hyped even more than the Dolls. Was supposed to be the American Bowie.

[@JohannesYtterstrom]

Toto Isolation is a worthy follow-up to Toto IV. I like both albums plenty. Fergie Frederiksen who sadly passed away several years ago was a good fit for the band on that album. Poppy but still a bit more rocking than many of their other albums.

[@h.m.7218]

- A Wizard, A True star by Todd Rundgren may be my favorite album of all time. It didn't even sell half as much as Something/anything?... - Love Bomb is my favorite Tubes album. Came after Outside Inside ( killer album too, although in a very different way... ) and the hit single "She's a Beauty". It was a commercial disaster... - Merci by Magma was considered as a "betrayal" by most Magma fans. Loved it right from the start... - Anything by The Damned is considered a failure by rock critics and it sold rather poorly after Phantasmagoria. Wouldn't say I love it but I like it very much : it's not bad by any standard. - The Gospel According to the Men in Black by the Stranglers is nothing short of a great weird pop album. Critics didn't get it and it got savaged. It bombed.

[@knightvisioniixv]

From what I can immediately recall, you are one of the small few (other than myself, of course) to have spoken positively about Magma's Merci - on this channel, and in general. I must not see eye to eye with the staunch progressive rock fans who think this album is terrible; I loved it upon first hearing it, and still do. Love most of your other picks, too.

[@h.m.7218]

@@knightvisioniixv Yeah... I guess we're not the "genuine" Magma fans. For instance, I never really got into Mechanik Destructiv Khomando, which happens to be the one critics and fans generally mention as their signature album. The other one I love is Atthak.

[@knightvisioniixv]

@@h.m.7218 I've seen a few Magma fans that don't think too highly of MDK - it's actually my own personal fav (it was also the very first thing I ever heard/owned from Magma), even though I love Magma's entire catalogue. Attahk is an awesome album, too. But, yeah, Merci has a more electronic production, and some of the lyrics are in English, but I still find it to be an excellent album.

[@h.m.7218]

@@knightvisioniixv Did you ever listen to his side project called Offering ? In my opinion, Merci was in some way the first Offering album. Here's a track I love : kzbin.info/www/bejne/mXKwqKWBpNqmqZY

[@knightvisioniixv]

@@h.m.7218 Yes, was (and still am) a fan of The Offering, and agree about hearing some of the beginnings of that in Merci. Vander seemed to resurrect some of these ideas on later Magma albums like Félicité Thösz, and, to maybe a lesser extent, Zëss.

[@dlcreizdrumz3310]

I agree 100% with you, Peter! Isolation = fantastic album!

[@rogertemple7193]

the Elder by KISS was originally going to be a soundtrack to a motion picture movie as a follow up to their tv film KISS meets the Phantom by Hanna-Barbera they originally wanted it to be a more serious film but that fell through and the Elder was released before it and when it didn't happen it was still released but wasn't received by the fans and a lot of fans weren't aware of it being a proposed soundtrack it would have been a great movie if it had happened the Phantom tv movie was okay but KISS meets Hanna-Barbera was an odd mixture though."

[@63mckenzie]

To be fair to ZZ Top, it was incredible that a blues band could get any platinum selling albums.

[@jazzpunk]

Were their platinum albums "Blues"...or the MTV stuff? Ok, just looked. A couple of their earlier ones , Fandango & Deguello eventually hit Platinum; one had "Tush" & the other had "Cheap Sunglasses".

[@ScottyKirk1]

@@jazzpunk Ohhhh I hated the "Six Pack" remixes! 🤮 They touted at the time that the old mixes were not going to be available anymore! Grrrrrrrrr 😡

[@mike04574]

And rock too

[@bradhardisty1652]

What's weird is Blackie Lawless stood in for Johnny Thunders in the New York Dolls final shows. He also played in post Dolls band, Killer Kane that featured Arthur Kane and Jerry Nolan.

[@peteygemini60]

The problem with The Elder was that the record company released it with the tracks in the wrong order immediately ruining the story. The remaster is how it should've been - may not have made a difference sales wise.

[@austinwoods466]

Bob Dylan's "Self-Portrait" was an epic bomb.

[@stefandiamante]

Isolation is an amazing album. Had it been the debut from a new, MTV-friendly band rather than Toto's followup to their massive hit (and it sounds nothing like Toto IV), I think it would've been huge. That said, it goes back and forth with Hydra as my favorite Toto album.

[@bigdawg7262]

Van Halen 3 takes the trophy for this one. Every other VH album up to this one multi time Platinum and this one barely gets Gold.

[@robertheaney1685]

Guns and Rose - Chinese Democracy Black Sabbath - Technical Ecstasy Metallica - Load

[@rightchordleadership]

Good ones

[@johnmichaelwilliams6694]

Popoff and Pardo are at it again and .......Bombs Away! Hope you two will do another Part of this show if the schedule and calendar permit that to happen. An album that might be considered here is the 1989 Jefferson Airplane eponymous album. The last studio album by the band that was a 'reunion' album of sorts 17 years after the preceding studio album, Long John Silver. Somewhat of a commercial disappointment as it never certified. The album seems well done but does not really have the passion of the band shown in its albums of the late 1960s. Thanks, gents, for another great hour in the funhouse.

[@geronimo9097]

Bombs Away...GREAT title for this.👍

[@joeking5310]

Geoff Barton, very well known uk critic, loved the elder and hyped it to kingdom come, but no one else did. I think it was his album of the year.

[@iancaley2347]

I recall that. Plus he lauded Unmasked too i believe. Btw, i used to love getting Sounds, and wasn't he also instrumental in getting Kerrang up and running??

[@joeking5310]

@@iancaley2347 yes he did. Wasn't he the first editor of kerrang?

[@iancaley2347]

@@joeking5310 I believe he was. Bad mark against him though if he came up with the name! : ))

[@peteygemini60]

Rick Wakeman calls Union - Onion cause everytime he hears it he cries.

[@SCOTTLAROCK73]

I loved Ace’s 1981 costume… I’d say it’s my second favorite next to the “Love Gun” costume.

[@63mckenzie]

Completely agree with Pete about Toto Isolation. Brilliant album. Endless had massive hit all over it.

[@LarryFleetwood8675]

They released four singles from this great album; "Stranger in Town" (Oct. 84) , "Holyanna" (Jan 85), "How Does It Feel" (Feb 85), "Endless" (April 85).

[@63mckenzie]

@@LarryFleetwood8675 Change Of Heart could have been another