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Rating: It's strange how some masterpieces are the result of actually troubled times. Triple platinum, "Love At First Sting" is one of the best-selling albums in the history of Rock, a whopping six million copies, and also one of the most loved by fans around the world. Apoteosis is the right term to define this record which, in my opinion, represents the peak of a glorious climb, success after success, through a series of excellent albums, for a band that never gave up or got discouraged during difficult moments. "Love At First Sting" is a global album, which was indeed crowned by a stunning world tour, where the Scorpions performed at their best, both in terms of technical performance and showmanship. This is demonstrated by the excellent "World Wide Live," subsequently drawn from this long series of live dates.
Yet behind all this, there is, as mentioned, a difficult period. After the grand "Blackout," the pressures from the record label and management on the five Teutonic musicians became unbearable. In particular, producer Dieter Dirks was convinced that the new record should far surpass "Blackout" (already a difficult feat) and insisted that the Scorpions needed to improve especially on a technical level: bassist Francis Bucholz was particularly targeted, who, on the other hand, kept saying that the problem, in his opinion, was the production. Bucholz and drummer Herman Rarebell were even asked to remain quietly at home while Jabs, Schenker, and Meine undertook the failed creative experiment for a new album at the Polar Studios in Stockholm. And so the summer of 1983 passed in a bleak way, without inspiration. The Scorpions were unconvincingly accompanied by bassist Jimmy Bain (ex-Rainbow, and then with Dio) and drummer Bob Rondinelli (then with Rainbow, later with Black Sabbath). The little familiarity with the then relatively recent digital technology did the rest: the Scorpions dropped everything and took back control, calling back their trusted rhythm section, which so far had indeed performed its role quite excellently and was brutally robbed of its role by an arrogant producer. And the album was released in no time, thanks, of course, to the amazing "return to family," the newfound motivation. And in 1984, "Love At First Sting" made history. It’s not so strange, therefore, that this wonderful record is clear proof that inspiration can either stifle or exalt creativity: from the ashes to the altars, in this case.
All the tracks on the album are true highlights, the shadows of Stockholm just a few months before are indeed light-years away. Just press play to realize it: a cascade of guitar sounds in scale hits us in the opening of Bad Boys Running Wild, one of the most played live songs by the Scorpions, indeed a banner especially live. Simplicity synonymous with effectiveness is the formula of the grand Rock You Like A Hurricane, a majestic guitar partnership of gentlemen Schenker and Jabs, with the usual screaming Meine! An anthem, the cry of a generation. Spectacular as well is I'm Leaving You, especially in the break that diversifies it from the rest of the piece (worth framing is the verse Keep in your mind till I come back to love ya). Coming Home is one of the two ballads from "Love At First Sting" that made history, sublimely divided between the arpeggio at the beginning of the track and the great Hardrock part where distortion kicks in. A rock lesson is also The Same Thrill, though the album's great single was undoubtedly Big City Nights, which has literally smashed the charts, a classic breakthrough hit. As Soon As The Good Times Roll is another poetry, as is the protest song Crossfire, with the excellent refrain to the sound of the warning "Understand...". It abhors the monster of war. And how better could the album end than with the other great ballad, the great hit, the supreme Still Loving You? Emotion, passion, anger, resentment, and despair are the sentiments evoked by this masterpiece, feelings we all have experienced in love, and that in a few lines, the Scorpions simply manage to express. The cherry on the cake, I would dare to say.
Always catchy even the cover art (but also the video of Big City Nights doesn’t joke, only women in bikinis), and in this too, the Scorpions do not disappoint at all. And as often happens in rock, the album title is taken from a phrase in one of the songs, in this case, Rock You Like A Hurricane (The wolf is hungry / He runs the show / He's licking his lips / He's ready to win / On the hunt tonight / For Love at first sting) ...and no title was more fitting for such an album: it is indeed love at first sight!
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Bad Boys Running Wild (03:56)
Out in the streets
The dogs are on the run
The cats are all in heart
Out in the streets
Snakes are all around you
Dirty rats are on their way
They control you and they'll make you play
Out in the night
Glaring eyes in darkness
Tigers wanna fight
Out in the night
Spiders all around you
Spinning webs and make you pray
Tie you up and you can't get away
Bad boys running wild
If you don't play along with their games
Bad boys running wild
And you better get out of their way
Out in the streets
The dogs are on the run
The cats are all in heat
Out in the night
Spiders all around you
Spinning webs and make you pray
Tie you up and you can't get away
Bad boys running wild
If you don't play along with their games
Bad boys running wild
And you better get out of their way
Bad boys running wild
If you don't play along with their games
Bad boys running wild
And you better get out of their way
Get out of their way
02 Rock You Like a Hurricane (04:12)
I was born in a hurricane
Nothing to lose and everything to gain
Ran before I walked
Reaching for the top
Out of control just like a runaway train
I never walked on the narrow path
I always wanted what I didn't have
All was not enough
Riding lady luck
Driving in the fast lane and just stepped on the gas
Cause I was raised on rock
My dad was howling but my heart was a rolling stone
Yeah I was raised on rock
My mama said I had a devil to scratch my soul
And I was raised on rock
Shoot me up baby make me high
And hit the jackpot in the heat of the night
Wanna kiss your lips
Wanna move your hips
See my desire in your laser-beam eyes
You shake me up got me spinning 'round
You know what's going up must come down
Tomorrow I'll be gone
A million miles from home
The only road I know leads out of town
Cause I was raised on rock
My dad was howling but my heart was a rolling stone
Yeah I was raised on rock
My mama said I had a devil to scratch my soul
And I was raised on rock
Growing up with the guitar men
Growing up way too fast
Follow the sound of a rock'n'roll band
This call will always last
Cause I was raised on rock
03 I'm Leaving You (04:17)
Ooh, girl, I'm leaving you
Yes, I'm leaving you
I've got to go tonight
Ooh, girl, I'm leaving you
Yes, I'm leaving you, I've got to go
I can't stay
You shouldn't feel so blue
Shouldn't feel so blue
When I go tonight
Baby, you shouldn't feel so blue
Shouldn't feel so blue, when I'm gone
I can't stay
Keep me in your mind till I
Come back to love ya
Keep me in your mind till I
Come back to take you worlds away,
to take you worlds away, baby
Ooh, girl, I'm leaving you
Yes, I'm leaving you
I've got to go tonight
Baby, you shouldn't feel so blue
Shouldn't feel so blue, when I'm gone
I can't stay
Keep me in your mind till I
Come back to love ya
Keep me in your mind till I
Come back to love ya
Keep me in your mind till I
Come back to love ya ...
05 The Same Thrill (03:31)
I remember when my teacher said:
"How you wanna make your life?"
I said: "I can play guitar
And it will be alright listen!"
When I came out of school
They said: "Which way you wanna go?"
But there was no way strong enough
Compared with rock'n roll
To get the same thrill
Anyhow I've found a job
They tried to break me with their rules
But they had no chance at all
'Cause I knew what to do
To get the same thrill like rock'n roll
I had a feeling they couldn't buy
Still got that feeling they still can't buy,
they still can't buy,
they still can't buy
Tell me the alternative
To what I'm doing, but I guess
There's no other way of life
Which is strong like this
To get the same thrill like rock'n roll
06 Big City Nights (04:09)
When the daylight is falling down into the night
And the sharks try to cut a big piece out of life
It feels alright to go out to catch an outrageous thrill
But it's more like spinning wheels of fortune
Which never stand still
Big city, big city nights
You keep me burning
Big city, big city nights
When the sunlight is rising up in my eyes
And the long night has left me back at somebody's side
It feels alright for a long sweet minute like hours before
But it's more like looking out for something
I can't find anymore
Big city, big city nights
You keep me burning
Big city, big city nights
Always yearning
There is no dream
That you can't make true, if you're looking for love
But there's no girl
Who's burning the ice away from my heart
Maybe tonight!
Big city, big city nights
You keep me burning
Big city, big city nights
Always yearning
Big city, big city nights
You keep me burning
Big city, big city nights
Always yearning
08 Crossfire (04:36)
It seems to me a nightmare becomes reality
The last days of the paradise are gone for you and me
We're living in the crossfire
And we'll be killed at first
Why cannot people that we made the leaders of the world
Understand that we don't wanna fight
Understand that we are mush too young to die
Understand no one will survive
Understand that we love our life
Can I trust the meaning of the life line in my hand
Which is as long as exciting hundred years
I could be a lucky man
But I'm living in the crossfire
Of a time that starts to burn
Why cannot people that we made the leaders of the world
Understand that we don't wanna fight
Understand that we are mush too young to die
Understand no one will survive
Understand that we love our life
09 Still Loving You (06:27)
Time, it needs time
To win back your love again
I will be there, I will be there ...
Love, only love
Can bring back your love someday
I will be there, I will be there ...
Fight, baby I fight
To win back your love again
I will be there, I will be there ...
Love, only love
Can break down the walls someday
I will be there, I will be there.
If we'd go again all the way from the start
I would try to change things that killed our love
Your pride has built the wall so strong that I can't get through!
Is there really no chance to start once again?
I'm loving you
Try, baby try
To trust in my love again
I will be there, I will be there ...
Love our love
Just shouldn't be thrown away
I will be there, I will be there ...
If we'd go again all the way from the start
I would try to change things that killed our love
Your pride has built the wall so strong that I can't get through!
Is there really no chance to start once again?
If we'd go again all the way from the start
I would try to change things that killed our love
Yes I hurt your pride and I know what you been through
You should give me a chance, this can't be the end
I'm still loving you ...
I'm still loving you ...
I'm still loving you ...
I'm still loving you ...
Still Loving You Baby
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By Federico95
I have absolutely no doubt in saying that the final solo (this time by Rudolf Schenker) is the best and most touching by the band.
Let’s forget about the previously mentioned albums and continue to dream and enjoy the notes of 'Rock You Like An Hurricane', 'Big City Nights' and 'Still Loving You.'
