1985 - October: Scorpions "World Wide Live"

What the Riff?!?

While we may think of the German band the Scorpions as an 80's metal band, they started much earlier - way back in 1965. Things didn't really come together for the group until the 1978-1992 personnel lineup of Klaus Meine on lead vocals, Rudolph Schenker on rhythm guitar, Mattias Jabs on lead guitar, Francis Buchholz on bass, and Herman Rarebell on percussion. By the time that the live album entitled World Wide Live came out in 1985, the group had established itself as an international commercial success.

Recorded during their 1984 world tour, "World Wide Live" showcases the band at their best, and is a testament to their skill as live performers. The album was produced by Dieter Dierks, and was initially released as a 2-LP vinyl set, a cassette, and a VHS of tour footage showing off the band's stage presence. Folks, you got your money's worth when you originally purchased this album!

From the high intensity of rockers like "Big City Nights" and "Rock You Like a Hurricane," to the raw emotion of ballads like "Still Loving You," the Scorpions deliver a performance that connects with their audience. Hearing the live versions gives you a sense of the band in a way that is hard to capture from the studio arrangements.

Lynch leads this journey back to 1985, when the Scorpions were rocking the world like a...well...they were rocking the world.

Big City Nights
This song from "Love at First Sting" leads off side two of the first LP. Schenker and Meine composed this one, as they did with many Scorpions songs. This homage to night life in the city was released as the third single from their studio album, but failed to chart.

No One Like You
Originally appearing on their 1982 album, "Blackout," this track deals with infatuation and desire. Despite its only reaching number 65 on the Billboard Hot 100, it is one of the songs that established the Scorpions as premiere hard rockers of the 80's.

Still Loving You
Long before the hair metal ballad became a trope, the Scorpions demonstrated their ability to handle a slower song while still maintaining intensity and raw emotion. The lyrics are of a guy struggling to convince the girl he has lost to give their love a second chance.

Rock You Like a Hurricane
The Scorpions' signature song first appeared on "Love at First Sting" the year before this live album was released. It reached number 25 on the Billboard Hot 100, a rare Scorpions song to break the top 40. The track leads off side three of the album. The risqué video would be a prime exhibit of the PMRC in their quest for more parental control over child access to music videos.

ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:

Crazy by Patsy Cline
A film called "Sweet Dreams" chronicles the life of country music star Patsy Cline, and was in American theaters in this month.

STAFF PICKS:

Whole of the Moon by The Waterboys
Wayne gets the staff picks started this week with the best-selling song from an overlooked British-Irish rock-folk band. Cerebral and artsy, with lyrics like "I saw the crescent, you saw the whole of the moon," the song is about individuals with rare depth. The Waterboys reformed in 2000, and can still be seen touring, primarily in Europe.

Lay Your Hands On Me by The Thompson Twins
Rob brings us a song from the British group that has neither members named Thompson nor twins. It went to number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100. Thompson Twins member Tom Bailey has said that the song takes religious ritual as a metaphor for the connection between artist, performer, and artist.

It's Only Love by Bryan Adams and Tina Turner
Bruce's staff pick is the sixth and final single from Adam's amazingly popular album "Reckless," and also appears on Turner's "Tina Live in Europe" released in 1988. Loaded with melancholy and anger from a breakup, the song encourages the jilted lover to remember - it's only love. This song went to number 15 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Money for Nothing by Dire Straits
Lynch features a signature song from Mark Knopfler and Dire Straits, with a strong helping of Sting to boot. This Grammy Award-winning track was a staple of MTV, and spent three weeks atop the US pop charts. The lyrics are a conversation between two working-class men as they watch music videos.

INSTRUMENTAL TRACK:

Tears In a Prophet's Dream by Celtic Frost
This Swiss heavy metal bands instrumental takes us out for this week's podcast.

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