With it being Ozzy and Sabbath week for every metalhead out there, I really had a hard time thinking about what album I wanted to talk about here. I mean what hasn't been said about the first six albums? Even Technical Ecstasy has its fans including me. However, what about Never Say Die? The last album of the original line up and essentially the one that broke the band. I have not listened to this one in YEARS and the last few years I have been obsessed with the 80s sabbath, learning about every single member that came through, all the demos and bootlegs and things like that. But with this final swansong for the Ozzman and the original Sabbath one last time(we'll see..), I figure that lets give this one a shot after so long and see what I may have missed years ago!
Starting out with the extremely upbeat title track, we see the band come out of the gates swinging. This is definitely one of the most up tempo Sabbath tunes out there and one of the most upbeat sounding ones as well. Its quite ironic as the band was clinging to life at this point but honestly you would never think it. Next is my favorite song on the album "Johnny Blade". This song is extremely underrated as I always thought it fit the bands sound. It starts off almost with a bit of a proggy structure and some great keys supplied by the great Don Airey, but delves into a deluge of heavy riffing and ends with a spectacular jam. This song seemlessly transitions into another very underrated tune "Juniors Eyes". It opens extremely loosely with Bill and Geezer doing a mellow jam with Tonys guitars having a bit of psychadelic feel with the wah wah effect. Once it hits the chorus it really hits its full potential. Overall, a very different song for the band but I think its a great hidden track that shows a bit more of a loose side. Then we get into "A Hard Road". This song almost reminds me of the band Sweet in its structure. The backing vocals over Ozzy I think give that effect. While the main riff sounds great it is a little muddy in the production. Unfortunately it also sound a little tired in the composition with not a lot going from the main riff. "Shock Wave" opens side two and its another one with a great riff at the center and really carries the song. Its another one with a very simple composition but the band makes its way through with good energy. Its honestly got a great chorus to it. I do like how it gets loose around the solo section with Tony really going for it on his playing. Very underrated tune. "Air Dance" is a softer tune with the keys honestly being a huge highlight. Its some very nice texture but overall the song feels a bu
it lost. It almost sounds like Sabbath Santana at times and gets a little disjointed yet still has some highlights. "Over To You" sounds like it was made to be played on FM radio with how it handles a very simple driving rhythm. However. It still has little dips and dives that keep you interested with the keys popping in and out. The chorus is almost a bit psychadelic in nature as well. "Breakout" is an instrumental that honestly sounds like a filler with a plodding beat and then a deluge of horns which, hey I love horns but it sounds like Sabbath doing Chicago and it doesnt really go anywhere besides some horn soloing. If it was expanded I think it could be something really special but here it feels like just space filler. Finally, we have "Swinging The Chain" which is a slower tune with a rarity of Bill Ward singing. Personally, it feels like a weird song to end on. Mainly because its not featuring the lead vocals and because its more of a bluesy laid back rocker. Bills voice I wont lie sounds great and is heavy as hell. It does pick up into a nice jam toward the end but it doesnt sound like an album ender.
Overall, Sabbath even in their darkest days still could release an album half as good as most of anyone out there. While it does get a little stale on side two with some songs feeling a little lost, the band still has some gems here and Never Say Die is worth the listen for those alone. Black Sabbath is forever!
Rating: 6.5 out of 10
Eddie Money's career was waning slightly before he recorded his fourth solo album. After nearly overdosing, he took that as an influence for this album and released what I think is his most consistent outing. From the swagger of "Shakin" to the absolute ear worm of "Think Im In Love" all the way to the emotional "Passing By The Graveyard(Song for John B)", this album has memorable songs written all over it.
Survivor in 87/88 were in a dire situation. After continuing to create hit after hit, lineup changes were hitting the band hard just as the recordings were underway. Also, a dispute with their label led to "Too Hot To Sleep" lacking promotion which is a shame because it is an incredible album. It combines the bands perfect pop sheen with a bit of hard rocking qualities with the Stones influenced "Here Comes Desire" and "Desperate Dreams" which should have been massive. Unfortunately, this would be the last Survivor album before "Reach" in 2006 capped the band off pretty much for good in the recording world.
Rick Springfield definitely had a hot streak in the 80s and this album was another home run for him. However, I dont ever hear it mentioned a ton today which is a shame as it is a terrific piece of 80s pop rock. From the energetic title track to "Souls" and "Tiger By The Tail", this album has enough variety that keeps it an exciting release even to this day.
This album is everything great about the 80s. Huge choruses, good instrumentation and that mid 80s sheen to the production. Its hard to pick a highlight but if I had to I would say "I Belong To the Night" and "Other Side Of Midnight". FM definitely started their career strong with this one.
Aldo Nova is a name many know from his excellent debut but not as much from his 2nd release "Subject...Aldo Nova" and even less from his third record "Twitch". At this point, Aldo was trying to find a working formula and tried to go as far into radio rock territory as much as he could with this album. While it unfortunately flopped, today this album I think has a damn good track listing. The songs are extremely commercial for the time with highlights "Heartless", "If Looks Could Kill" and "Fallen Angel" being big stand outs. Aldo Nova may hate it but I love it.
A Southern Rock album this high?! You would think so with seeing the name Van Zant but it is the complete opposite. Johnny Van Zant after attempting a few albums with The Johnny Van Zant Band, rebranded to just his last name for this incredible piece of 80s rock. From the ultra sleek opener "Midnight Sensation" to the rocking "2+2" and even the catchy "She's Out With A Gun", this album is nearly perfect for what it was going for. It has become somewhat of a hidden gem that thanks to the internet has gotten more notice over the years. If only Johnny would give these songs a chance live again imstead of dragging around Skynyrd at this point. 
And we finally come to my number one. When I first heard this album nearly a decade ago, I was in awe. Right from the incredibly paced title track through the staple "Into The Night", the epic "Heroes" and "When The Rebel Comes Home" this album is a home run after another. The production is sharp and precise as well. I will always put this album up with what Journey, REO Speedwagon and Foreigner were doing at the time!