Scorpions-Blackout, 1982

Consistent is a word that perhaps best defines the career of this long time band has had. They have changed sounds a little here and there, but have had a general sound that they have maintained over the years . I think the Scorpions real prime was the period in from 1979 until 1984. This included Lovedrive, Animal Magnetism, Love at first sting and this album Blackout. Most fans of this band agree that one of their major strengths is their ability to do heavy rock songs like the title track to this album, "Now" and "Dynamite" and be able to turn right around and produce ballads like "No one like you". I think a lot of their material always had a great flow to it. It's not clunky or choppy, most of the songs come on and they just go. I don't if that came natural and they were just that strong at writing or if it really took a lot of practice to perfect that sound. I would have to think that they made a producer's job fairly easy because it just seems like he wouldn't have to touch up much on their music to make is sound good. "Blackout" is probably my favorite album as it was the first album of theirs that I really got into. I think it alternates well between rockers and ballads and manages to keep things interesting all through the album. I was fortunate enough to see the Scorpions in 1988 at Van Halen's Monsters of rock. I mainly went to see Metallica who were good, but the Scorpions played fourth of five bands and they were unreal. I will never forget how they came running onto the stage in 85 degree heat and tore into "Blackout" and they never let up for 90 minutes. Van Halen had no chance of competing with that and you could even see it in the crowd. The Scorpions ruled that day and they are still going strong over thirty years after they began.