~Judas Priest~ The Early Days: Part 1~Rocka...

If you are looking to find just one Judas Priest album that tops them all, I would say that you should start at the beggining of the collection and purchase the 3 -box set of their 1976 debut (yes-multiple releases). One of the first releases fom this band was the so ever powerful Rocka Rolla. The album has the best opening song that anyone could hope for that loves classic rock. One For The Road is the first kick-ass song on this CD that I purchased for a special price at Hastings. I bought the first three releases in a box set for somewhere around $16. One for the road is just one of the baddest old-school Judas Priest sonngs that they performed. This 1976 release at the start of a 30+ year -long oddesy of flaming guitar licks is one of the most exciting sets of songs out there on the market. This 33 year-old release is fantastic.

The second song is the Title piece called Rocka Rolla. the lyrics like this,"Rocka Roalla woman for a rocka rolla man, take her if you want to, if you think you can, rocka roalla woman for a rocka rolla man, Take her if you want her you can," are lyrics that will never be forgotten by those hardcore music junkies like myself.

Winter is a bad-ass song with lots of drums. The ghostly resonance of this song is trippy to say the least. The guitar solo in this one reminds me of whales screaming from the sea. The magic of this one is intense. You feel like you are one with the music amd your mind tales an interesting turn toward hyper. I am get a feeling from the song that reminds me of some horror flick. The second part of this song ends with a change-up in that it immediately sounds soft like a Moody Blues masterpiece. The song is broken into 4 parts and the last piece is fast and exciting with the addition of Harmonica for sound effects. Winter/Deep Freeze/Winter retreat/ Cheater is a beautiful segway of talent all in one piece. This alone is the in the trophy case of this release.

Never Satisfied is another song that gives you a taste of old-school rock-n-roll. The magnificent lyrics and vocals performed by a young Rob Halford is forever trapped on this CD. The strength of Robs voice is just ideal for a rock-n-roll band. After all these years, Rob still has an excellent voice. There are recent releases that also show a trace of this song. The mood from these old classic songs is fantastic. I love blasting my stereo after taking the wife to work. Alot has happened in my lifetime and this song has played hundreds of times in my lot in life. This is one I really enjoy.

Run the mill is #5 and fits perfect as the previous song slows down and echoes a sharp scream for a finish. This song is soft and like a love song. I swear that the bass in this song is a reflection of Led Zeppelin. Halfords voice is enchanting as he whispers (just hollers) this one out. This is a relaxing piece of art work, this song is. The guitar is simplified for this drum ladden song that picks up a little as it plays out. You can feel the bass of this one in your chest as it plays like a 70's song should play. This is just a beautiful exploitation of instrumental magic.

Dying To Meet You is another ecstatic piece that brings back memories. As we get older our tastes are supposed to change. This one is an excellent example of my wicked tastes. No, they (my tastes) have never changed. I still have this hard core feeling for rock-n-roll that makes me feel defiant to the norm of life. Nothing is normal about this band. It is the best band ever put together, and this song is proof. Rob reaches heights with his voice that are beyond what any vocalist has ever done. This is genuine Priest as we know it. Dying To Meet You is slow at first like Zeppelin again. The music is strange and the magnifiscent echo of the bass is brilliant. This is one hell of a piece. The band is exceptional in it's masterful performance of this one. Halford can stretch a word a half mile and his talent is exceptional in this very soft song.

Caviar And Meths is the second to last lick on this treaure chest of delights. Faster like some of the first songs on this release, Rob Halford shows us how it should be done. The guitar in this one is a little like Ted Nugent. The solo guitar licks by this band in such songs as this one is a trademark of the band and its skills. This one is another one that will just put mellow into your soul. Nothing tops a song that tells you haow it is. There are many defiant people in the worlds that choose to listen to such bands as this, that can rip you open with an instrument and lay your soul bare. This one ends really soft and slow and draws the listener in to its fade away.

The final song on this release is an example of how rock-n-roll should really sound. As I write this review and sit here with a cup of coffee, I look out the window and inhale a fresh breath. The fall is coming soon and the leaves on the trees are showing their age as I take this one in. Fast paced and with a thump that you feel rhyming with your heartbeats, this classic favorite is exceptional. Diamonds And Rust is a trademark song performed by none other than the best. I am such a Judas Priest fan that I am going to play all three CD's for this series of reviews. Fantastic, excellent, and top of the line in the rock-n-roll front. I am on to the next...