Blue Murder

Blue Murder | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
• Original Release Date: April 25, 1989
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Geffen Records
• ASIN: B000000OR9
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (64 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,573 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

42 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the great lost metal groups, October 21, 2003

By 

George Dionne (Cape Cod, MA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Blue Murder (Audio CD)

After playing with Tygers of Pan Tang and Thin Lizzy, guitar virtuoso John Sykes got the gig of a lifetime. In 1984 he joined a reformed Whitesnake line-up, a position he originally declined. John did some guitar work on Whitesnake's Slide It In album in 1984. Impressed by his work, Whitesnake made Sykes a full member and in 1987 released their self-titled album. The album prominently displayed Sykes masterful guitar work on such tracks as "Still of the Night" and the re-worked "Here I Go Again". Whitesnake found themselves with their most successful album to date. There are conflicting reports as to Sykes departure from the group, he either left or was fired depending on what you read. However, Geffen records were certainly a fan of John's work in Whitesnake. So much so they offered him a record contract of his own. With the help of Tony Franklin and Carmine Appice, Blue Murder was born in 1989.

Sykes performs double duty on their self-titled debut, handling guitars and vocals. Both are pretty smooth on the albums opening track "Riot". You can take the man out of Whitesnake but you can't take the Whitesnake out of the man. That's evident on "Sex Child". Sykes parallels the work he did on "Slide it In". There's no sexual innuendo or metaphor here, Blue Murder cums right out it says it (that's not a misspelling!). Sex child / we're gonna slip and slide / I'm gonna come inside / girl. "Valley of the Kings" is an eight minute epic that displays all the member's strengths. Appice sets the pace with a pounding drum beat and Franklin plays in sync with Sykes guitar work. Sykes and company throw in a couple of blues-influenced tracks, among them is the acoustic lead "Jelly Roll". "Ptolemy" is a nice blend of blues & metal. "Out of Love" is the group obligatory power ballad. Blue Murder's debut album wouldn't be complete without an eighties metal staple. Nope, it's not a song about gypsies, it a song named after the group. Blue Murder is the best track on the album. It has that perfect metal sound which defined that era.

Bottom Line:
Whitesnake should be crying Blue Murder! It's clear that John Sykes was influential in the success of the eighties version of Whitesnake. Sykes took that talent and displayed it prominently with Blue Murder. The album is loaded with guitar heavy, metal anthems as well as smooth blues tracks. Sykes sounds a little like David Coverdale, but that doesn't take away from his vocal talents. The songs are simple, memorable, and a blast to listen to. It's too bad Blue Murder weren't more successful. Definitely a must for eighties Whitesnake fans. I won't even hold it against the group that they dressed like pirates on the back cover.

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best late-80's metal album, February 15, 2005

By 

It's Me, "Really" (Houston) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Blue Murder (Audio CD)

This album was lost in the shuffle of late-80's metal guitarist solo projects, but it shouldn't have been. Sykes proves himself to be a wonderful vocalist (although not a great lyricist), and the Tony Franklin/Carmine Appice rhythm section makes this the most adventurous trio of its era. Almost prog-metal, its a real shame that this band didn't have a chance to continue. I still enjoy listening to this music after fifteen years, so they must have done something right.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A lost and forgotten 80's hard rock gem, May 22, 2000

By 

R. Gorham "RCG2" - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Blue Murder (Audio CD)

THE BAND: John Sykes (vocals, guitar), Tony Franklin (bass), Carmine Appice (drums & percussion).

THE DISC: (1989) 9 songs clocking in at approximately 52 minutes. Included with the disc is a 10-page booklet containing song titles/credits/times, song lyrics, 1 band photo, and thank you's. Recorded at Little Mountain Sound Co, Vancouver, BC. Label - Geffen.

COMMENTS: If there ever was an underrated band that never reached their much deserved stardom, it was Blue Murder. Three incredible musicians forming a "super-group" - John Sykes (formerly of Streetfighter, Tygers Of Pan Tang, Badlands/UK, Thin Lizzy and Whitesnake), Tony Franklin (The Firm, Whitesnake, Don Dokken, Derek Sherinian... *Franklin is/was credited with the introduction of the fretless bass to the world of rock/metal), and Carmine Appice (Rod Stewart, Stanley Clark, Ozzy, Ted Nugent, Vanilla Fudge, King Cobra). England's John Sykes is an amazing guitarist - and he shreds with the best of them. His rhythm guitar work, as well as his solos are simply amazing here. Franklin is an innovative bassist - and his playing here is perhaps the most intriguing part of this album. Appice has always been a very heavy drummer (minus his days of wearing sailor outfits with Rod Stewart's band). "Jelly Roll" was the biggest hit to come from this album. "Riot" and "Blue Murder" were smaller hits also making it to the FM-airwaves briefly. As good as these tracks were, the other deep album cuts provided a full rock experience (no filler)... with "Valley Of The Kings" and "Billy" being my favorites. This disc may be hard to find, but it's worth the search. This is classic 80's hard rock at it's finest (5 stars).