OUT NOW - Saxon classic albums Innocence is No Excuse, Rock the Nations and Destiny
On the 10 August Saxon give the deluxe re-release
treatment to three more albums through BMG. This time its Innocence is no
Excuse, Rock the Nations and Destiny. As before CDs are 24-page media books
containing original lyrics, rare photos and memorabilia....featuring bonus
tracks including a selection of early demos - some of which didn't make final
track listings as we'll as B sides and live recordings. The Vinyl will be
Coloured splatter with no bonus tracks.
These were the only
Saxon albums I didn’t buy at the time of the original release back in the 80s,
as I was in the process of getting a mortgage and getting married. Though these three albums aren’t full of songs that fill the current Saxon live set there are some hidden gems.
INNOCENCE IS NO EXCUSE
Originally released on 24 June 1985, Saxon
seventh album Innocence Is No Excuse was their first for then new label EMI
after their departure from Carrere Records. This was also their last album to
feature long standing bassist Steve Dawson, who alongside vocalist Biff Byford,
guitarists Graham Oliver and Paul Quinn and drummer Nigel Glockler recorded the
album at Union Studios in Munich, Germany with producer Simon Hanhart. This
version features the B-Sides of the singles ‘Back on the Streets’ and Rock n’ roll
Gypsy plus demo versions of tracks from the album recorded at Chapel Studio,
Thorsby on the CD version.
I’ve always thought
this album would have been better if it opened with Back on the Streets rather
than Rockin’ Again, It would, to me, have given this collection of songs a
better introduction with a bit more bite. There are some good songs on here
with Devil Rides Out, Rock n’ Roll Gypsy, Everybody Up and Broken Heroes being
my favourites. The bonus tracks are the two B-Sides to the singles to come off
the album and five demo tracks which make interesting listening.
Tracklist:
1. Rockin’ Again
2. Call of the Wild
3. Back on the Streets
4. Devil Rides Out
5. Rock n’ Roll Gypsy
6. Broken Heroes
7. Gonna Shout
8. Everybody Up
9. Raise Some Hell
10. Give It Everything You’ve Got
CD Bonus Tracks
11. Live Fast, Die Young (B-side of ‘Back on the
Streets’
12. Krakatoa (B-side of ‘Rock n’ Roll Gypsy’)
13. Broken Heroes (Chapel Studio demo)
14. Devil Rides Out (Chapel Studio demo)
15. Rock n’ Roll Gypsy (Chapel Studio demo)
16. Rockin’ Again (Chapel Studio demo)
17. Gonna Shout (Chapel Studio demo)
ROCK THE NATIONS
On 13 October 1986 Saxon released their eighth
studio album ‘Rock the Nations’. Recorded at Wisseloord Studios, Hilversum in
the Netherlands by Gary Lyons. Biff Byford, who had incidentally begun his
career as a singer/bassist, recorded all the bass parts on the album, however
Paul Johnson is credited on the album as he joined before the album was
released. Rock The Nations also features the unlikely guest of Elton John on
piano on the tracks ‘Northern Lady’ and ‘Party ‘til You Puke’. This version
features radio edits of the singles from the album, some live B-Sides and three
songs recorded by the BBC from Saxon’s set at 1986’s, Reading Festival.
Now this album does have a fantastic
opening track, which really set the pulse racing, and it is followed up by the
equally exciting Battle Cry. Other great songs on the album include We Came
Here to Rock and Northern Lady. I still
don’t see the point in Party ‘til You Puke, sounds like it should be a B side
and unfortunately the lyrics to You Ain’t No Angel sound a bit dated now. The album
benefits from having a less polished production than Innocence and Destiny,
giving it more of a rock album feel. Amongst the bonus tracks are five live
recordings with the real stand outs being the three from Saxon’s set at Reading
in 1986. These really capture the excitement of the show. They have been available
before via the BBC archive series, but if you haven’t already got them they are
worth buying this CD for.
Tracklist:
1. Rock the Nations
2. Battle Cry
3. Waiting for the Night
4. We Came Here To Rock
5. You Ain’t No Angel
6. Running Hot
7. Party ‘til You Puke
8. Empty Promises
9. Northern Lady
CD Bonus Tracks
10. Chase the Fade (B-side of ‘Waiting for the
Night’)
11. Waiting for the Night (7” single edit)
12. Northern Lady (7” single edit)
13. Everybody Up (Live in Madrid, B-side of
‘Northern Lady’)
14. Dallas 1pm (Live in Madrid, B-side of
‘Northern Lady’)
15. Power & the Glory (BBC Live At Reading
Festival ’86)
16. Rock the Nations (BBC Live At Reading
Festival ’86)
17. Waiting for the Night (BBC Live At Reading
Festival ’86)
DESTINY
Saxon’s ninth studio album, Destiny was
originally released on 20 June 1988 and was produced by Stephan Galfas at Hook and
Manor studio in Berkshire. It is the only album to feature the rhythm section
of Nigel Durham (drums) and Paul Johnson (bass) alongside long serving members
Biff Byford (vocals), Graham Oliver (guitar) and Paul Quinn (guitar). Being a
fan of Christopher Cross’ song writing, Biff came up with the idea of covering
his track ‘Ride like the Wind’ as the albums lead single, after giving it a
‘Wheels Of Steel’ style makeover. Now to me the thought of Saxon covering this song
horrified me, but how wrong I was. The single got, and still does get, loads of radio
and TV air play and still occasionally features in Saxon’s live set. There are
one or two other songs of note, like Where the Lighting Strikes, Red Alert and I can’t
Wait Anymore.
The bonus tracks include a 12” mix of ‘I Can’t
Wait Anymore’ plus live B-Sides which includes good versions of Rock the Nation,
Broken Heroes and Gonna Shout and some alternative monitor mixes.
Tracklist:
1. Ride like the Wind
2. Where the Lightning Strikes
3. I Can’t Wait Anymore
4. Calm Before the Storm
5. S.O.S.
6. Song for Emma
7. For Whom the Bell Tolls
8. We Are Strong
9. Jericho Siren
10. Red Alert
CD Bonus Tracks
11. I Can’t Wait Anymore (12 mix)
12. Rock the Nations (Live At Hammersmith,
B-side of ‘Ride like the Wind’)
13. Broken Heroes (Live In Madrid, B-side of ‘I
Can’t Wait Anymore’)
14. Gonna Shout (Live In Madrid, B-side of ‘I
Can’t Wait Anymore’)
15. Ride like the Wind (Monitor mix)
16. For Whom the Bells Tolls (Monitor mix)
