Tesla - Mechanical Resonance [Mini LP SHM-CD]{Japan 09' Remaster UICY-94113}
Part "1" and last installment of a Japanese five-album TESLA SHM-CD Cardboard sleeve (mini LP) series featuring albums "Mechanical Resonance," "The Great Radio Controversy," "Five Man Acoustical Jam," "Psychotic Supper," and "Bust A Nut."
"Mechanical Resonance is the debut album by the American rock band Tesla. It was released in 1986."
I actually bought this when it first came out in 86', and in the same year, along with The B-52's "Bouncing Off The Satellites", Def Leppard's "Hysteria", Metallica's "Ride The Lightening" & "Master Of Puppets", Cinderella's "Night Songs", Bon Jovi's "Slippery When Wet", Alan Parsons Project "Guadi", Steve Winwood's "Back In The High Life" and Boston's "Third Stage", A really great year for Music but widely remembered due to a very trying time in my life at that time. Married only 2 1/2 yrs, I went through my first (and only) divorce, broken hearted, I found solace in burying my head into these albums. They got me through!
I've been a fan of Tesla ever since! ;)
Released December 8, 1986
Recorded 1986
Genre Hard rock, heavy metal
Length 53:28
Label Geffen Records
Catalog No. UICY-94113
Number of discs 1
Label/Distributor Universal Music
Release Date 2009/04/03
Availability Out of Print
Track listing
1. "EZ Come EZ Go" (Frank Hannon, Jeff Keith, Troy Luccketta, Tommy Skeoch, Brian Wheat) - 3:32
2. "Cumin' Atcha Live" (Hannon, Keith, Wheat) - 4:25
3. "Gettin' Better" (Hannon, Keith) - 3:20
4. "2 Late 4 Love" (Hannon, Keith, Luccketta, Skeoch, Wheat) - 3:50
5. "Rock Me to the Top" (Keith, Skeoch)- 3:38
6. "We're No Good Together" (Hannon, Keith, Luccketta) - 5:15
7. "Modern Day Cowboy" (Hannon, Keith, Skeoch)- 5:19
8. "Changes" (Hannon, Keith, Luccketta, Skeoch, Wheat)- 5:02
9. "Little Suzi" (Jim Diamond, Tony Hymas)- 4:55
10. "Love Me" (Hannon, Keith, Wheat)- 4:15
11. "Cover Queen" (Hannon, Keith)- 4:32
12. "Before My Eyes" (Hannon, Keith, Luccketta, Skeoch)- 5:25
Song information
* "Cumin' Atcha Live" is generally the first song played at concerts by the band. It is featured in the video game Grand Theft Auto: Vice City.
* "Gettin' Better" was released as the second single from the album on February 10, 1987. The B-side was "Rock Me to the Top".
* "Little Suzi" is a cover of the Ph.D. song "Little Suzi's on the Up" and was the highest charting single from the album.
Charts
Album
Chart (1986) Peak position
The Billboard 200 --> 32
Singles and album tracks
Year Single Chart Position
1987 Modern Day Cowboy Mainstream Rock Tracks 35
1987 Little Suzi Billboard Hot 100 91
1987 Little Suzi Mainstream Rock Tracks 22
Band
* Jeff Keith: Lead Vocal
* Frank Hannon: Acoustic & Electric Guitars, Keyboards, Mandolin, Backing Vocals
* Tommy Skeoch: Acoustic & Electric Guitars, Backing Vocals
* Brian Wheat: Bass, Backing Vocals
* Troy Lucketta: Drums, Percussion
________________________________________
Review by Eduardo Rivadavia AllMusic Guide
Sacramento's oddly named Tesla (a moniker inspired by renegade inventor and pioneering electrical engineer Nikola Tesla) took the side door to '80s hard rock success, sneaking up on the charts and into the bedrooms of none-the-wiser glam metal consumers with their rock-solid debut, Mechanical Resonance -- itself titled after one of Nikola's better-known experiments, and a fascinating case study in musical compromise if ever there were one. Essentially, the album was partitioned into two quite different halves, with side one predominantly tailored to seduce the aforementioned music fans via radio-friendly templates and therefore packed with mostly throwaway, cliché-ridden arena anthems like "EZ Come, EZ Go," "Cumin' Atcha Live," and the gloriously dumb "Rock Me to the Top," boasting few surprises but plenty of testosterone. Yes, a few hints of Tesla's substantial songwriting intelligence can be glimpsed within the gritty strut of "Gettin' Better" and the bluesy balladry of "We're No Good Together," but most of the band's more mature and accomplished songs are saved for Mechanical Resonance's revelatory side two. Here, lead guitarist Frank Hannon really takes charge and establishes himself as the band's de facto difference maker, beginning with an epic of Led Zeppelin-like class and complexity in "Modern Day Cowboy," which was built upon a lopsided riff so irresistible that not even its finger-twisting complexity could keep it from becoming one of their most popular standards. This was followed by another pair of eventual fan favorites doubling as good examples of Tesla's creative range, since the wintry drama of the piano-laced "Changes" stood in stark contrast to the upbeat summer vibe of "Little Suzi." And finally, as though the aforementioned detours didn't proffer enough food for thought, Tesla even flirted with art rock on the odd rhythms and clever economy of "Cover Queen," before concluding with the desolate sobriety of closer "Before My Eyes." Given all these qualities and contrasts, it's no wonder that Mechanical Resonance stood out as one of the 1980s' most eclectic hard rock albums, and provided a formidable introduction to one of the era's most underrated American bands.
Tesla - Mechanical Resonance (1986) [FLAC] {Japan UICY-94113}
You've saved the best for last IMO, I absolutely LOVE this album :D
ReplyDeleteThank you very much for all 5 of these SHM's ;)
Your very welcome QS. :D
ReplyDeleteI really love the rest of their albums probably just as much if not more in some cases. One band that actually get's better with age. And Yes, I will always regard their debut as their swansong and most memorable. Info regarding "Bar 7" in the shout box if you want it ;)