Various Artists: Hollywood Rocks- Audio Companion

Return with me now to the big-haired Hard Rocking 80's where hair spray and lipstick were in abundance and spandex pants were as far as the eye could see – and I am talking about the guys! Yes, "Hair Metal" was one of those offshoots of the doomy thunder originally created by Black Sabbath and had been tempered to sharpened steel by bands such as Judas Priest. The scene in L.A. was like no other when it first hit us as literally band after band was popping up and securing major label record deals. It was a memorable time for those who lived it, and a historical point of reference for those who found religion based on some of the groups it launched. Resulting from this boom in music the world got Poison, Ratt, Motley Crue, W.A.S.P., Dokken as some of the bigger and more popular names while also making some room for the popular but not as famous King Kobra, D'Molls and Pretty Boy Floyd. It also features contributions from bands whos names you might only recall from interviews with musicians who came from that particular band before joining one who got mega famous. One such band which seemed to be the group many sprang forth from was London and Steeler. London giving us members of Motley Crue while Steeler Yngie Malmsteen. This boxed set was released as the audio companion to the book that bears the same name. Hollywood Rocks is a colossal volume loaded with band promotional photos, images of band flyers, ticket stubs and club marquees along with comments from the widest variety of Glam Rock personnel you could imagine. The coffee table book was over 200 pages and considered an encyclopedia on the genre of the time. The CD Boxed Set gives you four disks with 78 tracks that feature unheard tracks, demo recordings and live music from the biggest bands from the scene at this time. It is pretty hard to review something as massive in scope as this given the fact that there is so much to absorb but when you consider that you are getting rare tracks from some of these bands earliest incarnations as well – it makes this a worthwhile investment at any price. It also comes with a comprehensive book that gives you a great amount of background on every group that is featured on the CD's. If you were an "Old School" fan who knew many of these facts before you will enjoy the refresher course, and if you were a novice please consider this your educational tool to help you get up to speed. The disks are broken up into different parts of the decade for easier reference and some bonus goodies include a backstage "all-access" laminate as well as a button. All in one cool box.

CD1: Hollywood Rose, Hellion, Mickey Ratt, Plain Jane, Candy, Steeler, Dokken, Virgin, Black 'N Blue, The Jonses, The Zeros, Quiet Riot, Armored Saint, Nitro, Bitch, Demolition Galore, W.A.S.P., Saigon Saloon, Xciter.

CD2: Poison, Lizzy Borden, Paul Black & L.A. Guns, Stryper, Great White, China, Hardly Dangerous, Skull, L.A. Guns, Harlow, Decry, Mondo Cane, Faster Pussycat, Rough Cutt, Tuff, Odin, Salty Dog, Sound Barrier, Warrant, Rock City Angels, Sea Hags.

CD3: Kell, Jailhouse, Lions & Ghosts, Cherry St., Junkyard, China, Bang Tango, Black Cherry, King Kobra, Mororcycle Boy, Kery Doll, Slut, Cats In Boots, Philip Lewis, Angora, Stars From Mars, The Hangmen, XYZ Project, Kills For Thrills, D'Molls.

CD4: Electric Angels, Burning Tree, Jeyboy, Big Bang Babies, Love/Hate, Syanide Kick, Darling Cruel, Rebel Rebel, Rat, Spiders & Snakes, Tommi Gunn, Sin, Yesterday's Tear, Pretty Boy Floyd, Blackboard Jungle, London, Lypswitch, Fizzy Bangers, Alleycat Scratch.

Suffice it say if any of these bands held a special place in your music history heart then this is something you need to own. This was Rock & Roll Pomp and Circumstance, Glamour and Glitz, Sleaze and Sin all in one. This is a fun walk down memory lane or Sunset Boulevard depending on your location as you remember what the area gave to millions of fans.

Added: November 27th 2006
Reviewer: Ken Pierce
Score:
Related Link: Cleopatra Records
Hits: 2417
Language: english

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