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"A Collection Of Metal" is a compilation of hits, from 1979 to 1988, by the legendary English band Saxon. The group, led by the charismatic vocalist Biff Bruford, is one of the bands that initiated the NWOBHM in England, achieving enormous success worldwide. Thanks to albums like "Wheels of Steel," "Heavy Metal Thunder," and "Strong Arm of the Law," Saxon has become a metal legend, as demonstrated by their fantastic concerts and their latest album "The Inner Sanctum," which they still perform today.
This CD confirms all of this, just think of tracks like "Motorcycle Man," "Denim and Leather," "Rock the Nations," and "Play It Loud." The only flaw is the absence of hits like "Princess of the Night," "Heavy Metal Thunder," "Strong Arm of the Law," and "The Eagle Has Landed." It starts with the classic "Strangers in the Night," an authentic, solid song with a melody and pathos that only Saxon can create. The guitar work is also very interesting, with many great solos and a magnificent performance by Biff. The following track is the beautiful "Rock'n'Roll Gypsy," another jewel of NWOBHM and specifically Saxon, a song that’s not very fast, catchy, with a good riff, and very engaging in the chorus. It continues with the classic "And the Bands Played On," which starts with a guitar that vaguely recalls some sounds of Thin Lizzy, then proceeds with a very upbeat and pleasant rhythm, with a performance by Byford that adds an extra touch of originality to this Saxon anthem. The following "Back on the Streets" and "Ride Like the Wind" are true AOR metal gems, consisting of simple yet heavy guitar parts and catchy, airy choruses reminiscent of bands like Def Leppard.
After these two exceptional tracks, we move on with the "old" "Big Teaser," characterized by lively rhythms where one can sense some influence from bands like early AC/DC, UFO, or the already mentioned Thin Lizzy. The continuation of the song is linear and interesting, with a catchy chorus and an excellent performance from the rest of the band. "I Can't Wait Anymore" and "Broken Heroes" are excellent AOR ballads, catchy and full of melody, where Biff Byford manages to give his best thanks to his magnificent vocal range. The ninth track, "Raise Some Hell," is the only song that doesn’t convince me that much and perhaps could have been avoided, maybe replacing it with a more famous and beautiful track. However, the following is the stratospheric "Denim and Leather," an exceptional song with its immortal chorus and unmissable for any respectable metalhead. This is the true recipe for making a great metal track - a simple yet effective riff, a singer like Byford (if you think that's little), and a lot of energy and aggression. "Rock the Nations" is another hit of the band, very aggressive and heavy, but as always rich in melody and elegance. The path continues in the spirit of history and fury, "Motorcycle Man," devastating in power and impact, a true testament to the grandeur of the Saxon sound, that is, a lava flow of violence, speed, and pride. Truly a steamroller like few others, which embodies the "so fuckin wild" spirit of metal in just over three minutes. "Everybody Up" and "Rock City" represent the more street-level and commercial side of the group, fast and relentless rhythms, the vocalist’s aggressive voice, and fast guitar solos that make these tracks interesting to listen to.
"Set Me Free" is a rather technical track, steady and catchy, where in some instrumental parts one can vaguely recall the Maiden of the first two albums, while the last song, "Play It Loud," is much more convincing, more incisive and determined than the previous ones and is another Saxon success that fittingly closes this beautiful collection of hits by the legendary Saxon.
Tracklist and Lyrics
01 747 (Strangers in the Night) (03:44)
We've got a 747 coming down in the night
There's no power, there's no runway lights
Radio operator try to get a message through
Tell the flight deck New York has no lights
There's no power what do we do?
747 coming down in the night
Try to get a message through
We were strangers in the night (*)
Both on separate flights
Strangers in the night
Going nowhere
This is Scandinavian one-o-one
Flight from Hawaii coming out of the sun
Kennedy should be in sight
We can't see a thing here in the night
Navigator says we're on the flight path
There's no radio, no sign of life
This is Scandinavian one-o-one
For God's sake, get the ground lights on, because
(Repeat *)
There's a 747 going into the night
There's no power, they don't know why
They've no fuel, they've got to land soon
They can't land by the light of the moon
They're overshooting, there's no guiding lights
Set a course into the light
Scandinavian one-o-one
For God's sake get your ground lights on
(Repeat *)
03 And the Bands Played On (02:48)
Just before dawn in the cold light
We came out of the night
A great expectation from the man who ran the show
Will it rain, will it snow, will it shine, we don't know
Are there clouds up in the sky
We sat in the sun, woah-oh-oh
And the bands played on
And the bands played on
And the bands played on
See the people, feel the power
There was sixty thousand there
Just like thunder the crowds began to roar
Where you there, did ya know, did ya see all the show
There was magic in the air
We sat in the sun woah-oh-oh
And the bands played on
And the bands played on
And the bands played on
See the rainbow shining brightly
Shooting rockets to the sky
Making music and it rolled on through the night
You could hear on the air rock n' roll everywhere
We were strangers in the night
We sat in the sun woah-oh-oh
And the bands played on
And the bands played on
And the bands played on
And the bands played on
And the bands played on
05 Ride Like the Wind (04:27)
It is the night, my body's weak (*)
I'm on the run, no time for sleep
I've got to ride, ride like the wind
To be free again
I was born the son of a lawless man
Always spoke my mind with a gun in my hand
Lived nine lives, gunned down ten
Gonna ride like the wind
And I've got such a long way to go (**)
To make it to the border of Mexico
So I'll ride like the wind
Ride like the wind
Accused and tried and told to hang
I was nowhere in sight when the churchbells rang
Never was the kind to do as I was told
Gonna ride like the wind before I get old
(Repeat **)
(Repeat *)
(Repeat **)
06 Big Teaser (03:54)
Out with the boys
Testing my virility
The booze and the music
Arrousing my curiousity
I moved in beside her
Asked her to rock and roll with me
Cause I have her classed
My eyes roam lecherously
Lecherously, lecherously, lecherously
She's a big teaser (Repeat)
I only see her
Very occasionally
She's leading me on
She's living dangerously
It's easy to see
She's making a fool out of me
Oh but I ain't no fool
I'll get her eventually
Eventually, eventually, eventually
She's a big teaser (Repeat)
07 I Can't Wait Anymore (04:32)
You keep me waiting, you won't answer the phone
I know you're home, but you're not alone
Stop playing games girl
You're playing with my heart
I was a fool to fall for your lies
It took so long for me to open my eyes
I was a stranger
A stranger from the start
How long must I stand out in the cold (*)
Can't you see the writing's on the wall
I been waiting
I can't wait anymore
The more I want you, the less I get
I've been alone since the day that we met
I'm trying hard girl
I'm trying to forget
I walked the streets and I stood at your door
You gave me nothing and I came back for more
You were a stranger
A stranger to my heart
(Repeat *)
I was a fool to fall for your lies
It took so long for me to realise
I was a stranger
A stranger from the start
(Repeat *)
08 Broken Heroes (06:05)
They came to fight for glory in their thousands
Young men with their dreams
They died before the guns for their country
A book of faded pictures broken dreams
Where are they now (*)
Where are they now
Where are they now
Where are they now
The broken heroes
Uncle Sam is waiting with the draft card
He says you've got to fight the Vietcong
The stations full of flags and rule Britannia
The engine pulls you out towards the Somme
(Repeat *)
The pipes are calling young men back to Belfast
The general says you march to Stalingrad
You rode into the valley with the hundred
Seven lonely graves on Goose Green
(Repeat *)
10 Denim and Leather (05:28)
Where were you in '79 when the dam began to burst
Did you check us out down at the local show
Were you wearing denim, wearing leather
Did you run down to the front
Did you queue for your ticket through the ice and snow
Denim and Leather
Brought us all together
It was you that set the spirit free
Denim and Leather
Brought us all together
It was you that set the spirit free
Did you read the music paper from the back and to the front
Did you find out where to see your favorite band
Did you listen to the radio every Friday night
Did hang around your local record store
Denim and Leather
Brought us all together
It was you that set the spirit free
Denim and Leather
Brought us all together
It was you that set the spirit free
Do you dream of playing guitar or smashing up the drums
Maybe you can learn to play the bass
You can always be a singer like me and front the band
When on the stage we wait at your command
Denim and Leather
Brought us all together
It was you that set the spirit free
Denim and Leather
Brought us all together
It was you that set the spirit free
It was you - that set the spirit free
It was you - that put us here today
It was you - that filled the concert halls
It was you - that set the spirit free
Denim and Leather
Brought us all together
It was you that set the spirit free
Denim and Leather
Brought us all together
It was you that set the spirit free
(Repeat to end)
12 Motorcycle Man (03:59)
If you see me flashing by
Do not stop me, do not try
'Cause I'm a motorcycle man
I get my kicks just when I can
Motorcycle man
Motorcycle man
I can beat your street machine
We're taking risks, that's what we mean
'Cause I'm a motorcycle man
We get our kicks just when we can
When we can
Motorcycle man
Motorcycle...
If you see me riding by
Do not stop me, do not try
'Cause I'm a motorcycle man
I get my kicks just when I can
When I can
Motorcycle man
Motorcycle man
Motorcycle, motorcycle
Motorcycle man
I can beat your street machine
I'm taking risks, that's what I mean
'Cause I'm a motorcycle man
We get our kicks just when we can
When we can
Motorcycle man
Motorcycle man
Motorcycle, motorcycle
Motorcycle man
13 Everybody Up (03:29)
On your feet, I wanna see the whole place jumpin'
C'mon baby, can you feel the heat
Move up close, the boys are out to get ya
We don't care just what you got in mind
Said everybody up, everybody up (*)
Everybody up, everybody up
Stand in line, we're about to rock you
We all know what you came here for
Stamp your feet, this place is really rockin'
Rip it off, I wanna see some move
(Repeat *)
Up all night, we've been getting crazy
Going down, 'till you're satisfied
Raise your hands, shout and let me know
I wanna see you waisted from the show
(Repeat *)
15 Set Me Free (03:15)
[Andy Scott]
[Originally performed by : Sweet]
Gagged, balled and chained
Feels just the same
Hands on the wall
Maybe you're just playin' games
Set me free
Mauled by a hound
Hangin' around
Is this for real
I don't know when I'll be found
Set me free
Set me free
Set me free from you
Taken by force
By you of course
Far from my bed
I know I'd rather be dead
Set me free
Set me free
Set me free from you
Fire in my brain
Burn me insane
Making your mark
Don't leave me here in the dark
Set me free
Call me a Saint
That's what I ain't
Inside my head
Maybe I'd feel better dead
Set me free
Set me free
Set me free from you
Set me free
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