Weekend Spin

Weekend Spin- Scorpions: Blackout (1982)

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Kick your ass to heaven
With rock’n roll tonight
I’ll make this night a special one
Make you feel alright
Shoot my heat into your body
Give ya all my size
I’m gonna beat the beat tonight
It’s time to break the ice..
 
Just like that those zany Scorpions delivered one serious shot across the bow in the form of Dynamite which comes from the super classic Blackout album.
 
Released back in 1982 Blackout was my first introduction to the Scorpions. American rock mags like Circus were featuring the adds for the album so it shows that Mercury Records was in full swing at getting behind this album and it worked.
 
Scorps went into headliner mode with this album and never looked back.
 
Obviously being 15 yrs young back in 82 the cover was the selling point before I had even heard a stitch of music from these guys. Also, I had seen on the adds that opening for the Scorps on there North American Tour that summer was Girlschool and Iron Maiden. So I figured it would not be too much of a gamble in buying this album.
 
Boy, I hit the jackpot on this one! 
 
All 9 songs are brilliant. Scorps dug deep on this one. The playing is top-notch the production (handled by Dieter Dierks) is stellar. I have to add that the guitars of Matthias Jabs and Rudy Schenker are so good as each player does not get in the other’s way. 
 
 
That pic posted above is a great live-action shot of the Scorps. (from the inside sleeve of the album)
 
Case in point check out the two tracks on Side 2 that being Arizona and China White. Arizona the guitars are back and forth as is China White which when you listen to it the Marshalls had to have been cranked to 11 during the recording session! 
 
Jabs solo’s on the title track basically, the whole album is noteworthy as Matthais just goes for the throat come solo time. I have no idea why people don’t give this dude credit. 
 
Considering Klaus Meine almost lost his voice during the making of Blackout is impressive as well. Don Dokken who was kicking about in Germany at the time when this album was being recorded supposedly laid down some vocals just in case Klaus had to be shut down.
 
I would love to hear those tracks.
 
Course it never came to that as the Scorpions released this record and hit American/Canadian Gold and Platinum with Blackout.
 
 

38 thoughts on “Weekend Spin- Scorpions: Blackout (1982)”

    1. I agree with you 110% HMO. Jabs is on fire on those releases. There were so many players in the 80s that he didn’t get his due as his playing is better than a lot of guys from that era.

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      2. Your right, Jabs added to the song didn’t play a zillion notes a second like some guys we know. lol
        Love his playing on Dynamite once that solo hits as I’m surprised Herman The German never passed out trying to keep up with that pace. lol

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  3. Great album. I remember MTV playing a couple of videos from this album and I was blown away. Then they released Love at First Sting and I was sold. Bought that one first then went back to get this one later. The 80’s for me were big with the Scorps.

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    1. Some stellar work from the Scorps back than. They are the reason I bought Accept’s Balls To The Walls album as they opened that door for many a German act after.

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  4. Nice observation about the guitarists staying out of each other’s way, Deke – I imagine in some groups, battling egos would be competing for listener attention and end up playing over each other & nobody (listener included) wins!

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    1. If you ever need some great pump up music to push you in your jogs over that last mile or two stream this album. Blackout is produced and mixed really well. Like I said the amps had to be turned up to 11 when this record was recorded!

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  6. I thought I only know the Hurricane song by them… but no… No One Like You….damn I forgot about that song. I remember cruising with that song playing…. Also I knew “You Give Me All I Need”…. Dude has some great pipes on him. What a singer.

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    1. Considering how close Klaus came to having to shut it down is impressive. Give Side 2 a stream or a spin. Arizona and China White are two belters!
      How Arizona was never a single is beyond me.

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      1. I just heard Arizona on youtube…that was the last one. It does have a commercial ring to it and a good riff.
        I just read their Wiki…I didn’t know they went back to 1965…and he joined in 69…dam. I forgot about another song they did….Wind of Change. I knew more than I thought.

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      3. lol… hell the bands I know best are older!
        Dude you will have to excuse my ignorance on some of these bands…but this is the reason I blog…to learn.

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      4. Me 2 Max, that’s why with some of my purchases that i’m on the fence about I’ll wait to one of the blog guys post a review as they are true fans who pay for there ROCK! Guys like Ladano and John Snow will not steer you wrong!
        For the most part! lol

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    1. Had to show some love to those Side 2 tracks. China White is so heavy yet the tempo is slow. That is brilliant! Shows that you can be chill yet heavy in a song.

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  9. One of, if not my favourite, Scorpions albums! Funny enough I was playing Scorpions this weekend too.

    I like these weekend spins. It’s fun to know what my friends are listening to. Peak Scorpions?

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    1. Thanks Mikey I enjoy writing these up instead of doing a full re-review. The next two Weekend Spins are not neccesarily huge sellers but are still cool listens.
      This was the Scorps peak, I would say between 82-85 they were huge. This one and Love At First Sting are both very good albums but I would give Blackout the edge.

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