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| Articles: 1984 Articles |
Aaron, Lee - 1984 Metal Queen
 | | She really wasn't the Metal Queen.. surely? I can say that safely after 25 years, and know that I can get away with it. |
Adams, Bryan - 1984 Reckless
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'Reckless' as an album, is voted by many as being one of the best of the AOR genre. The fact that it went on to sell by the bucket-load has produced two interesting trains of thought. The first: his success has probably seen the fickle AOR community turn away from him. Very much like the 'tall poppy syndrome'. The second: because of his success, some of his quality albums are still overlooked.
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Adrenalin - 1984 American Heart
 | | The first comparison (and last?) is that the basic sound adheres to is early 80's Survivior. The tone is very much in the vein of 'Eye Of The Tiger', a glut of AOR anthems, with a midwest, American heartland feel. |
Airrace - 1984 Shaft Of Light
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Back in 1984 this Airrace album was considered a breakthrough AOR album in British music circles, as finally good 'ol Blighty' had something to compete against the likes of Foreigner, Journey etc. However, in retrospect the band probably ended up sounding more like an imitation of their heroes rather than something earth shatteringly new or original.
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Alaska - 1984 Heart Of The Storm
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I still remember the day I first laid my hands on this album, such was my anticipation and excitement! After having heard the Alaska track The Sorcerer on the MFN compilation Hell Comes To Your House I just knew I had to have this album, and when I got it I played the thing ad nauseum for the remainder of the day.
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America - 1984 Perspective
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The duo of Gerry Beckley and Dewey Bunnell traversed the somewhat unfriendly waters of 1980's radio commercialism with this 1984 set 'Perspective'. After reaching major success with their excellent 1982 album 'View From The Ground', the pair dived even more so into AOR territory. While a boon for die-hard AORsters, it severely alienated their long time fans.
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Anthrax - 1984 Fistful Of Metal
 | | A tragedy this would prove to be - is that this is the only slab of vinyl from this version of Anthrax. |
April Wine - 1984 Animal Grace
 | | 'Animal Grace' got a pretty rough deal from fans and critics alike when it came out. Upon reflection it's well produced (Mike Stone) with abundant hooks and melodies. |
Armored Saint - 1984 March Of The Saint
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Here's one L.A band that should've been huge, but for some reason, they missed their boarding call on the voyage to success.
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Autograph - 1984 Sign In Please
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Autograph could be viewed as a typical 80's rock band, but were blessed with the nuance of being able to mix up hard rock aggression with AOR sensibilities.
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Baby Tuckoo - 1984 First Born
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On the back cover they certainly look like a happy go lucky bunch of rockers, and thats definitely the way their music is conveyed on vinyl. Entertaining, but serious too.
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Bad Boy - 1984 Electric Eyes
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After a superb 1981 album (Private Party), Bad Boy took 3 years to release a follow up. During the hiatus, former Cheap Trick lead vocalist Randy 'Xeno' Hogan joined the ranks, and you'd have every right to expect a strong and consistent album ... wrong.
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Ballard, Russ - 1984 Russ Ballard
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By the time 1984 had rolled around, this UK artist had already moved into AOR territory, hovering on the same ground as fellow UK rockers Charlie and John Verity. The sound? Primetime radio oriented AOR of the most American kind - perhaps the UK's answer to Balance?
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Barclay James Harvest - 1984 Victims Of Circumstance
 | | Overall a very strong AOR statement from BJH and a twin album with 'Ring Of Changes', this could arguably be called their commercial zenith. |
Battle Axe - 1984 Power From The Universe
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Riding the tail end of the NWOBHM movement, the band formed in 1983, originating from Geordie land in Sunderland. Battleaxe were signed to MFN almost immediately, on the basis of several compilation tracks on a sampler album 'Roxcalibur'.
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Beau Coup - 1984 Beau Coup
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To my mind the acid test of a really great AOR record is the ability to transcend the genre and win over non AOR aficionados. If this is the case then Beau Coup's debut released in 1984 on the obscure Agora label passes the litmus test with flying colours as it even managed to impress the missus who's not known for her love of all things pink, fluffy and AOR.
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Billy Satellite - 1984 Billy Satellite
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In my opinion, this is one of the best true AOR albums ever released. It's got everything really. Even now when I review it years later, it still sounds as fresh now as it did then.
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Black Angels - 1984 Black Angels [EP]
 | | Probably not essential listening, feel free to add Black Angels to the history of Swiss hard rock. |
Black N Blue - 1984 Black N Blue
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Supposedly this is the kind of band Metallica and Anthrax were trying to wipe out. If they took a closer look these guys were just as heavy in their own right. It's just unfortunate they look as menacing as a group of 12 year old schoolboys on the album cover.
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Blackfoot - 1984 Vertical Smiles
 | | Despite moving into a full-on AOR style on 'Vertical Smiles', critics, long time fans and the general public weren't buying.. Especially sad considering the album provides the kind of crystal clear AOR that was succeeding all over the place. |
Body Electric - 1984 Body Electric
 | | Signing to Attic Records this debut from Body Electric appeared in 1984 and those looking for an extension of the Straight Lines form of pure AOR may have been slightly disappointed. It's AOR through and through, but more high-tech, although there are some definite gems. |
Bombay - 1984 Bombay [EP]
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Bombay was the third leg of the treble for guitarist Rick Fowler, following stints with Ziggurat and Fortnox.
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Bon Jovi - 1984 Bon Jovi
 | | Looking back on it now, all things considered, this album quite easily ranks as one of the finest melodic rock albums ever made. Personally, if the band broke up after this album I still would have been a happy man. |
Boss - 1984 Step On It
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Musically it's very much in the mould of fellow rabble rousers Icon, Krokus and especially Def Leppard, whom of course the band would later pay homage to as BB Steal when Boss split.
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Box, The - 1984 The Box
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All their records are worth owning and while it's not their best work, The Box debut is as good a place as any to start our coverage of this wonderful Quebec band.
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Brainfever - 1984 Capture The Night
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The consensus is that Brainfever should have made it bigger, but with the huge glut of metal bands lurking behind them, there was surely only so much room. This is often a notch above the ordinary, and I can to a degree identify with the claims that Brainfever were unlucky.
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Bronz - 1984 Taken By Storm
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Back in the heyday of the 80s, some people in the UK music media wrote this band off before they even got started.
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Bullet - 1984 No Mercy
 | | The breakthrough of The Scorpions into the heavy metal mainstream was a boost for the West German scene in general, allowing a slew of similar acts the chance to emulate the success of Klaus Meine and company. One of those was early 80's headbangers Bullet. |
Burn (Sweden) - 1984 Burn
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'Burn' is worthy of being attained otherwise, there's enough pure excitement to rank it as an obscure classic and it is one of those albums collectors of rare hard rock and metal get excited by.
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Carey, Tony - 1984 Some Tough City
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This is an album that demands to be heard. Carey captured a real sense of emotions, whether it be despair, desperation or love. This album runs Springsteen into the ground in terms of bleak urban landscapes.
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Celestium - 1984 Sanctuary
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A fascinating album this one. More of a project album than anything but superb AOR nonetheless. If you can imagine spiritual themes (hence the Celestium handle) played in a style of I-Ten (I suppose that influence was obvious) and a less bombastic Arcangel then you've got the picture!
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Channel - 1984 Channel
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Musically the band ply a high-tech style of AOR that has crossover potential. Very commercial, with a good production. On their rockier moments they sound like an AOR version of King Kobra. When they tone it down, they sound like The Police, The Outfield and Novo Combo all rolled into one.
Rock Candy Records reissue (April 2009).
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Charlene - 1984 Hit And Run Lover
 | | Reading Charlene D'Angelo's Wikipedia page makes for some interesting reading. the former Tamla Motown folk/pop/rocker turned 60 a few weeks back, but for most of the readership here, they'll be asking 'Charlene who?' |
Chateaux - 1984 Firepower
 | | While there were plenty of duds roaming the NWOBHM scene in the early 80's it would be safe to say Chateaux were certainly not one of them. |
Chilliwack - 1984 Look In Look Out
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By 1984, the Canadian outfit Chilliwack was down to one core member.. Bill Henderson. An original member of the band since the late 60's, Henderson released 'Look In Look Out' but really it should've been rebadged as a solo album, as he was literally the last man standing...
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Clark, Gene - 1984 Firebyrd
 | | Gene Clark was a former member of The Byrds. This album is a culmination of songs from his early 80's band Firebyrd, which previously featured the Andes brothers Mark and Matt. |
Colour Radio - 1984 Colour Radio
 | | From Milwaukee Wisconsin, Colour Radio were a new wave/melodic pop quartet who formed back in 1982. |
Coup, The - 1984 Coup De Grace
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A sort-of star-studded line-up for The Coup, but beyond that, not much is known about this 1984 one-off release..
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Craft - 1984 Craft
 | | The band Craft are in fact The Enid in a different guise, with an album concept base around signs of the Zodiac. |
Crane, Stephen - 1984 Kicks
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This is a highly under-rated major label AOR release which includes a stellar cast and was produced by Toto's Steve Lukather, together with Jai Winding.
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Dads, The - 1984 The Dads
 | | What I hear is a cool power pop band with similarities to Candy, Elvis Brothers, Romantics and The Plimsouls and I really can't complain. |
Dakota - 1984 Runaway
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When we talk about West Coast style rock, a few names spring to mind. For me, Dakota are right up there, and this their second album from 1984 'Runaway' is a legend of that West Coast genre.
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Dalbello - 1984 WhoManFourSays
 | | 'Whomanfoursays' is not an album based solely on the AOR template but is typical of its time with heavy use of synth and 80's production techniques while the music is jagged, at times abrasive, filled with dark layers of mood, shade and really comparable to no one. |
Dandy, Jim - 1984 Ready As Hell
 | | Black Oak Arkansas's Jim Dandy goes solo.. Looking like Thor and sounding like Queensryche.. Among other things.. Strange but true.. |
De Young, Dennis - 1984 Desert Moon
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If you're a die-hard Styx fan, or looking for something completely off the wall, then this one's for you.
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Deep Purple - 1984 Perfect Strangers
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After an aborted reunion a couple of years earlier, Deep Purple Mk 2 (1969-73) finally completed the deed in 1984 when what was considered their greatest lineup announced plans for a new album and tour.
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Dianno - 1984 Dianno
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After his sacking from Iron Maiden in 1981, Paul Dianno finally regrouped in 1984 with his new band, the impressively titled 'Dianno'.
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Dokken - 1984 Tooth And Nail
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One of my favorite albums from 1984 is this sophomore set from Los Angeles rockers Dokken. Impressing me no end with their debut Breakin The Chains (the original Carerre release I must say, not the rebadged Elektra version), the band have shedded their skins and matured into a class act for this album.
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Dragon - 1984 Body And The Beat
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This album marked a rebirth for New Zealand's legendary rockers, after imploding in the late 70's. Dragon reformed, allegedly to pay off debts they had incurred in the 70's. The reunion was an amazing success. Dragon embraced a melodic rock approach in keeping with the times, yet still retaining the sound that propelled them to stardom all those years ago.
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Duke Jupiter - 1984 White Knuckle Ride
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It really is a pity that Duke Jupiter's recording career stopped after 1985, just when they'd released their two finest albums.
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Electric Eels - 1984 Electric Eels
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If Montrose began the North American hard rock and metal revolution with their amazingly advanced debut in 1973 then the forgotten Electric Eels weren't far behind. This is an unbelievable statement from 1974 that is so far ahead of its time in the whole heavy metal stakes.. that this could easily be 1984. Actually.. it is ...
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Eloy - 1984 Metromania
 | | AOR is certainly a genre full of surprises. Just when you think you've turned over every stone and there's nothing left to discover from the classic era, a band like Eloy can humble you in a hurry. |
Europe - 1984 Wings Of Tomorrow
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'Wings of Tomorrow' is an accomplished set of bruising melodic metal. It displays such potential in the metal area, that it's almost painful to imagine what Europe could have done with it if they had continued in a heavier vein. They could have gone on to achieve credibilty like Iron Maiden, heavy yet always with a melodic edge.
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Everest - 1984 Everest
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Crikey, how rare is this album? Canadian pompsters Everest, who appeared in 1984 on a big label, a great producer behind them, and a sound somewhere between Saga, Zon, and Genesis. A pompsters dream when you put it like this.
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Exciter - 1984 Violence And Force
 | | You could hurl every exaggerated description at this album and most of them would apply. Sitting somewhere between thrash and NWOBHM, Exciter's sound was as heavy as the Metallica's of the world, if not as refined. |
Export - 1984 Contraband
 | | Liverpool may be better known as being the origins of 60's music icons The Beatles, but for melodic rockers and AORsters, it's the low key affair that was the band Export which is of more interest to GD readers. |
Face To Face - 1984 Face To Face
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Face To Face were a very stylish female fronted band, with hints of commercial pop and AOR, somewhere in the vicinity of Toronto and Patty Smyth And Scandal.
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Fast Forward - 1984 Living In Fiction
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The music from Fast Forward is a glorious amalgam of many bands/artists from the late great eighties.. probably too many to name here..
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Follazay - 1984 One In A Million
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Just who were Keith and Adrienne Follazay? Brother, Sister? Husband and Wife perhaps? Wish I knew, but how 'bout the cover art? Eegads! Looking all gauzy, romantic and very 80's, 'One In A Million' blew by most record buyers at the time and I'm sure the cover and image had something to do with it. A shame really because this is a good album with some pretty big names supporting it. Keith Follazay voice is very reminiscent of Bryan Ferry always a plus in my book while Adrienne at times sounds incredibly like Marcy Levy throughout the record and very sexy I might add. Musically there is not a dud to be found, just solid west coast pop.
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Foreigner - 1984 Agent Provocateur
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There are three avenues which Foreigner explore on this album. Soft keyboard dominated songs, mid paced songs with restrained power and lots of melody, and the grunty rockers with vocal and guitar excess.
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Franke And The Knockouts - 1984 Makin' The Point
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There's something a bit special about these New Jersey legends, and it goes deeper than Franke Previte's golden voice. They show a genuine grasp of melodic hooks and quality AOR songs, regardless of tempo.
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Fraser, Andy - 1984 Fine Fine Line
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A nice all round album this one - by ex Free bassist Andy Fraser. Here he combines with some AOR heavyweights to produce an album brimming with excellence, along the same lines as Russ Ballard's albums of about the same vintage.
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Frazier, Rob - 1984 Cut It Away
 | | Another of the CCM/AOR brigade from the 80's is former Petra member Rob Frazier. |
Funk, Terry - 1984 Great Texan
 | | On the surface this may appear to be one of the most offbeat inclusions ever presented at Glory Daze. After all an album by legendary Texan wrestler Terry Funk would probably be met with cynicism and no doubt laughter by many.. |
Gilmour, David - 1984 About Face
 | | 1984 brought two Pink Floyd solo albums; Roger Waters' first effort 'The Pros and Con's of Hitch Hiking' and the second David Gilmour release 'About Face'. Looking at 'About Face' with Gilmour pre-dating George Michael in a short haircut, stubble and leather jacket, it's certainly a product of its time but does it hold up musically? An unequivocal yes, with a couple caveats. |
Giuffria - 1984 Giuffria
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The album was one of the best AOR albums of 1984 and remains a favorite of the genre mainly because of Giuffria's keyboard dexterity and amazing melodic content.
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Grace, Graham - 1986 Shining Knight
 | | With no less than five keyboard players, this is a synth-happy platter and with all the state of the art gadgetry and ear-numbing production values that were so common place in 1986. |
Great White - 1984 Great White
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After selling twenty thousand copies of their 1982 EP Out Of The Night, the band were picked up by EMI America, their full LP debut appearing in early 1984.
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Grim Reaper - 1984 See You In Hell
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In the US 'See You In Hell' reached a staggering no 73 on Billboard and sold an astounding 250,000 copies. Even today this is amazing, considering Reaper were far inferior to Iron Maiden who were enjoying their greatest American success at the time.
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Gruska, Jay - 1984 Which One Of Us Is Me
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Gruska became better known as the lead singer of West Coast supergroup Maxus, who released their one and only album in 1981. Ten years after his 1974 debut, Jay returned with another West Coast effort called 'Which One Of Us Is Me'. The line up listed above is incredible. Everyone turns up to play.
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Hanoi Rocks - 1984 Two Steps From The Move
 | | Myth, unfilled potential, hell raisers, darlings of the press and heartbreak. Hanoi Rocks could have been one of the reasons why Samuel Johnson in 1755 put together one of the earliest dictionaries, knowing the need to try to describe these vagabonds years later. |
Harlequin (Canada) - 1984 Harlequin
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The overall sound shifted to a more hi-tech AOR direction, coupled with a more watery guitar sound prevalent through most of the album. However, as someone once wrote about Cheap Trick's widely misunderstood album 'The Doctor', Harlequin still 'rock through the technology'!
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Helix - 1984 Walkin' The Razors Edge
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After an industrious 1983 which saw Canadians Helix debut for their major label Capitol, the band returned refreshed and ready to rumble for the second album 'Walkin' The Razors Edge'.
Contains 2 video tracks.
Rock Candy Records reissue (March 2009)
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Hill, Dan - 1984 Love In The Shadows
 | | This album really flew under the radar and if it wasn't for the Internet I probably would never have heard it or been aware of its true AOR worth. |
Honeymoon Suite - 1984 Honeymoon Suite
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I bought this album more or less the day it was released locally, and not knowing anything about them, I was soon smitten with their brand of AOR. It does have some new wave traces, due in part to Johnny Dee's vocals, but mainly the racy guitars of Grehan and luscious keyboard textures from Coburn land this smack in the middle of AOR Central.
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Hunter, John - 1984 Famous At Night
 | | John Hunter is best remembered from his time with The Hounds. For his debut solo album 'Famous At Night', the music is nothing like his previous outfit, instead John trades up to a very commercial hybrid of 80's pop and new wave/new romantic leanings. |
Icon - 1984 Icon
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A rather engaging band from Arizona, who sent heads a-spinning around the 1983/84 timeframe with an excellent full-on debut metal album.
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Iron Maiden - 1984 Powerslave
 | | This was in a way the end of the first era of Maiden and somehow I don't know if they were ever the same again. The whole package of the Egyptian artwork, the huge stage show, the metal itself and the resulting tour represented Maiden at their apex. |
Jag Panzer - 1984 Ample Destruction
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Somehow 'Ample Destruction' became one of the most acclaimed American heavy metal albums of the 1980's, which is not to say it isn't well deserved, but on reflection, and with the bonus of time, it doesn't sound unlike hundreds of other bands treading the same ground in 1984.
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Jaguar - 1984 This Time
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As their standing increased at home and in Europe, Jaguar committed a massive blunder and inexplicably transformed into a bland AOR act for 'This Time'. Quite how the band decided on such a transition within a year is unknown, but the reversal was disastrous.
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Jakata - 1984 Light The Night
 | | Criminally ignored, 'Light The Night' should be sought out by all lovers of hi-tech AOR and west coast. |
Jarrett, John (Tribe) - 1984 John Jarrett
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Unreviewed as yet.
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Jefferson Starship - 1984 Nuclear Furniture
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On this one 'Nuclear Furniture', there's no confusion whatsoever. A wonderful album, recreating the genius last seen on 1979's 'Freedom At Point Zero' some five years previous.
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Judas Priest - 1984 Defenders Of The Faith
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The start to new years 1984 kicked off with the very early release of 'Defenders Of The Faith', perhaps the heaviest album the band had released up to that point in time, and what an album it was!
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Jumpstreet - 1984 Follow Her Home Tonight
 | | James Walsh is better known as a member of 70's Minnesota rockers Gypsy. Here is James' foray into westcoast/AOR territory with 1984's Jumpstreet. |
Keats - 1984 Keats
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Keats is a classy and well-produced affair that will appeal to all APP I-Ten and Charlie fans - without a doubt. In fact I would go as far to say that this is a closet classic from 1984 - an album that should be better known by all AORsters.
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Keel - 1984 Lay Down The Law
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An inspiring debut that ranks with the Icon album from that very year, both chock full of bluster and enthusiasm, and definite promise.
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Kidd Glove - 1984 Kidd Glove
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The second stage of the career of L.A guitar hero Paul Sabu kicks off with his Kidd Glove project. Already held in high regard as a melodic rock demi-god, Sabu straddles the fence between disco/pop and melodic guitar based rock. A confusing mixture for sure, but when it's played the Sabu way, it sounds pretty convincing to me.
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Kiss - 1984 Animalize
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Kiss continued with the heavier direction they had assumed in 1982, but there was an easing of more melodic numbers amongst the more frantic fare. The album was a chart success, top twenty on both sides of the Atlantic, further evidence of Kiss' rightful decision to shed the makeup.
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LaBarge, Bernie - 1984 Bargin' In
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Here's a guy who it seems has been around in the Canadian music scene forever. It wasn't until 1984 among all his other commitments, that LaBarge was able to release his first solo album 'Bargin' In'. On this album, Bernie is locked into the 1984 groove, and moving in the same circles as fellow Canuck Stan Meissner and the late Van Stephenson.
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Lake - 1984 No Time For Heroes
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Following a live release (Live - On the Run, 1982) few seem to have seen and much less heard the German band Lake returning in 1984 with the album No Time For Heroes.
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Legs Diamond - 1984 Out On Bail
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Legs Diamond comeback LP was on a par with the much heralded 70s output, with an obviously updated 80s sound, mainly in the keyboard department.
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Lennon, Julian - 1984 Valotte
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Comparisons to John Lennon are moot here. Julian was blessed with all of his father's gifts, but 'Valotte' offers something missing from his father's albums - consistency.
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Lightyears - 1984 Lightyears
 | | If you can imagine listening to the debut Prophet mixed with a dash of late 70's/early 80's Heart, then Lightyears, a band from the eternal wet of the Pacific Northwest is the closest to fit the bill. |
Lionheart - 1984 Hot Tonight
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Supposedly one of the first supergroups out of the UK during the early eighties. So many hands passed through this band it was a virtual revolving door policy on personnel.
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Little River Band (LRB) - 1984 Playing To Win
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This is the definitive AOR album from LRB, or Little River Band as most people know them. After a string of popular MOR contemporary albums, which saw them get gradually better and rockier, it culminated in a series of great albums released on the US Capitol/Pasha label during the mid eighties.
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Malmsteen, Yngwie J - 1984 Rising Force
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Malmsteen's reputation as a technical genius was well sealed by the time of this, his first recording under his own name.
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Maltese Falcon - 1984 Metal Rush
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This Danish band sum up the total metal ethos of the 1984 era and were one of hundreds of such bands on the Roadrunner label plundering the same riffs from each other.
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Manowar - 1984 Sign Of The Hammer
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Metal merchants Manowar fourth album 'Sign Of The Hammer' sees them deliver their most interesting album.
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Meatloaf - 1984 Bad Attitude
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This is probably Meatloafs heaviest work, and he managed to pull a rabbit out of his hat with this considering his commercial woes. The British seemed to love it, Modern Girl a number one hit in the UK.
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