Judas Priest - Rocka Rolla. 1974 England

Judas Priest's debut is an album that is usually dismissed by avid fans of the band. Primarily because of what it isn't. Rocka Rolla is no metal album, and there are few hints of their future here. But as far as dual guitar hard rock goes, Rocka Rolla is a major player in this game. Anyone who has listened to early 70s English hard rock (and you well should have since it still dominates rock radio to this day), will know the sound is heavily based in the blues. In that light, Judas Priest adds a bit more pace, and even some thoughtful introspective psychedelic numbers (The 'Winter' suite in particular, and the eight and a half minute 'Run of the Mill' might be the best track here). In this way, they are similar to Budgie's early albums. For myself, Rocka Rolla was purchased after already buying all of their albums up to that point, which included Unleashed in the East. The only exception was Sad Wings of Destiny, which is really not that far from Rocka Rolla in sound with perhaps a bit more prog thrown in. Oddly though, I wasn't disappointed at all. More like fascinated. I didn't really have a lot of examples of music like this in my collection to that point, and I heard Rocka Rolla as something unique. And "Bob" Halford (with long hair no less) is an exceptional vocalist, and he shows that off very early in his career. While I'll never likely coronate their debut and claim it's one of the best albums I've ever heard, I can honestly say that this listen represents me owning this album for 42 years straight, and I have yet to tire of it. If you're not a fan of heavy metal or what you would associate Judas Priest with, I would encourage you give this one a spin. As for metal fans, it's always best to go in with an historical perspective.

Ownership: LP: 1978 Import (USA). Single sleeve. Bought this at Peaches Records in Seattle in 1979! Really glad I never parted with this or replaced with a CD. Such memories I have. My parents and I were visiting my Aunt and Uncle for a couple of weeks, and he took me to the record store, where I bought 2 albums that day (the other was Rainbow's Down to Earth, which is long gone, but I've since picked that one back up). Took them back to their house and immediately plopped them on his stereo in the basement. I was 14. Remember it like it was yesterday. I'm marveling at the condition too. I did not care for my records like I would do only a few years later. No outer sleeve for the cover, played the vinyl on some iffy stylus'. And yet the vinyl is EX and the cover is like VG++. 42 year old record, been moved countless times around the country. Makes me wonder what other people do with their records that puts them in such bad condition. Interesting to note that it's not that expensive of a record (though I haven't seen it in the wilds for the last 3 years either). This version was pressed 4 years after the originals, which in turn are costly. According to Discogs, this was the first US pressing of the album.

CD: 200? Koch. A good one for the road (as the opener suggests), but offers little else. Keeping for now.

7//79 (first listen); 10//05; 12/23/21 (review / new entry)