Great episode! For some reason , I had temporarily lost touch with the hard rock/metal genre around 1984-1985 but Perfect Strangers brought me back and then I wound up discovering most of the albums on your list. I still haven't heard Merciful Fate after all these years. I guess it's time.
Eeeeesh....in 1984, I was 20!! I had first heard of Quiet Riot in 1981 or 1982, at a local record shop. He had a customer that got him to order the imports from Japan and became a fan himself.
When I think of 1984, I think back to religiously reading EVERY monthly issue of Hit Parader and Circus magazines. Back then I could name every member of bands like Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Dokken, etc....even though none of those bands ever musically grabbed me. But I always read those mags from cover to cover. And there was ALWAYS a KISS article in there somewhere, which is why I was buying. This was also right about when I was first getting into Motley Crue because Shout At the Devil was still fairly new. I remember seeing that in a record store, thinking the cover was spooky looking, along with the group shot on the back. These guys look like KISS! Bought it without having heard a single song and have been along on their ride ever since. This was also a great year for MTV. Heaven's on Fire, Round and Round, We're Not Gonna Take It, etc. That "Music Television" channel actually played MUSIC back then. Can you imagine? Not hard rock or metal, but an honorable mention for me: Joan Jett & the Blackhearts 'Glorious Adventures of a Misspent Youth.' Always a fun and interesting listen with you guys.
That;s awesome you got into Don't Break The Oath. I do not think there has been any album as good since. And I like Melissa more as well. Cool shirt, Jason!
Great episode! 1984 was a loaded year for rock and metal, but may I add one more... THE WORKS from Queen. I will defend it as being their strongest album from the eighties. And I would love to see you guys do a deep-dive of those first three albums from W.A.S.P... Those albums were absolute beasts! Take it easy, gentlemen! (*That button-up ANIMALIZE shirt is one of the ugliest things I've ever seen with the muscle t-shirt being a strong second!)
