Got some old vinyl out on the weekend that I hadn't listened to in years, one of the albums was Billy Squier's Don't say no. Forgot it was such a slamming album, a lot of the songs are pretty Led Zep sounding, in fact my neighbour asked me straight up if I was indeed playing Led Zep. The big hit was the Stroke, but there are other songs on there that I forgot. I think it's too bad that we mostly remember Billy for that godawful Rock me tonight video. Been trying to find Billy's debut Tale of the Tape lately with the Big Beat on it, and even the late 70's albums he did with Piper, a power-poppy band. Anyone a fan?
Posted by mamamiasweetpeaches (Member # 1715) on :
Oh yeah. I love him. I had that Dont Say No album too! Now I have his Greates Hits cd. My favorite song by him is My Kind Of Lover but he has a lot of other good ones too.
And - yes- that video for Rock Me Tonight is hysterically bad.
Posted by jdocster04 (Member # 5752) on :
I always thought he had some good songs. A friend of mine says he's gay... I don't care if he is but I think he's straight. What do you guys think?
Posted by mamamiasweetpeaches (Member # 1715) on :
I think hes straight. I heard hes married. I think THAT video is what made so many think hes gay....not that theres anything wrong with it. I love him gay straight or whatever!
Posted by Riptide (Member # 457) on :
Gay? First time I am hearing that. The Stroke was such a nasty, sleazy groove of a song. I remember some of the cooler kids in the neighbourhood would be playing that in their car when it came out while they drove around for the umpteenth time. Anyone ever see him live back then or recently?
Posted by jdocster04 (Member # 5752) on :
No never seen him live. I think he's straight. Like mama says, who cares anyway...
Rock On!!!
Posted by mamamiasweetpeaches (Member # 1715) on :
I never saw him live by himself as during the popularity of The Stroke I was probably ten years old (I remember us singing it in Moms car, having no idea the lyrics were kinda filthy- depending on ones definition of the word "Stroke"!) but he did a guest appearnace at a BON JOVI convert I was at in Jersey once and I went crazy. the people I was with must not have been fans cuz they couldnt have cared less.
Posted by HeadRusch (Member # 3755) on :
I remember hearing The Stroke the first time on the bus to school, someone brought in their cassette player (you know, this is before Ghetto Blasters were popular) and cranked it out in glorious mono.
Pretty cool song, but Squier just had that look that didn't make him right for the 80's...he was more like a leftover 70's rocker, kinda generic, he didn't really stand out in any particular way.
He will forever be remembered as the true Radio Star that Video killed with that Rock Me Tonight video.
Posted by mamamiasweetpeaches (Member # 1715) on :
yeah there are some people we like that my sister refers to as "Video Killed The Radio Star", meaning they werent good looking enough - like BILLY SQUIER and STEVE MILLER. But here we are 20 years later and I still play their albums/cds on a regular basis!
Posted by Riptide (Member # 457) on :
As for the not good looking enough angle with videos, I think it's more they didn't gave a good enough schtick/gimmick. I always think of a group like ZZ Top, who at first were really resistant against videos, but they came around to the idea and the rest is history. They took the 80's life/flashy cars/girls angle and ran with it.
