Customer Reviews

Blue Murder

5 star:		(42)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

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.

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.

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).

I have owned the Blue Murder CD since its debut in 1989 and it is still one of the greatest rock recordings I have ever heard. People may not realize that the guitar playing and writing behind the sound and style of the multi-platinum Whitesnake '87 album was in fact guitarist John Sykes. But Sykes was inexplicably fired by singer David Coverdale before the band made a single video or toured in support of the album. Because of this, many fans think that Adrian Vandenberg and Vivian Campbell are the guitarists on the album but this is not the case. If you liked Whitesnake then Blue Murder is an even greater representation of that signature sound and guitarist John Sykes' amazing chops. If his guitar playing wasn't enough, Sykes will knock your socks off as Blue Murder's lead vocalist as well. With Tony Franklin's (the Firm) growling fretless bass and Carmine Appice's (Vanilla Fudge, Rod Stewart) thundering drums, Blue Murder was one of the best all-star rock bands of its era. It is a shame that the record label did not promote this CD as it did Whitesnake because it should have been at the top of the charts. This is not just another hair band of the 1980's. If you love wall to wall guitar, this CD is for you!

Let's start with the players. John Sykes is one of the most underrated players in music. He has spent time with Street Fighter, Badlands, Tygers of Pan Tang, Thin Lizzy and Whitesnake. Tony Franklin has appeared on many albums you may have in your collection. He was in the Firm(with Jimmy Page and Paul Rodgers), and played with the likes of Gary Hoey, Tony McAlpine and many others. Finally, we come to Carmine Appice. He started with Vanilla Fudge in the 60's, then on to Rod Stewert in the 70 and 80's and landed on this album. In addition, he has done many records as a session drummer and is related to Vinnie Appice of Black Sabbath and Dio fame.

Now on to the album. This is what David Coverdale's Whitesnake always wanted to be, but his ego wouldn't let him. From the opening riff of Riot, throught the ballad (Out Of Love) and back to Black Hearted Woman, this album turns and burns. I still find myself wondering how he can play that many notes and still sing(listen to the live album. He really does play it all). The topics are not original, the licks however are. Sykes plays with a sexual tension on guitar that is matched by none. The second song Sex Child is a perfect example.
The single on the record was Jelly Roll and is a classic AOR hit. To really get a feel for this record, put it in your player and turn it up. Listen to the first song as loud as you can. This is how it was intended to be heard when Bob Rock was producing it. This is Arena Rock at it's best.

A fantastic combination of musical talent!! The song writing is incredible. Sex Child, Jelly Roll, & Blue Murder rock hard. Ptolemy & Valley of the Kings are great pieces. The musicianship is unbelievable. John Sykes did a hell of a job putting this thing together. Carmen Appice is the go-to guy, not only for banging the drums, but his song writing & vocals are exceptional. Give Black-Hearted Woman & Out of Love a few listens as well. Wish these guys lasted longer. Check out Appice with Pat Travers here on Amazon.

I've had this album since 1988, and it still gets heavy rotation in my CD player to this day! The riffs and melodies are infectious, as are John Sykes' strong vocals. There's no filler in this album, as all the songs are catchy.

Riot rocks, Sex Child is sexy, Valley of the Kings is a killer epic, Jelly Roll is fun, Blue Murder as a remider to the band, Out of Love is pure cryin' beauty, Billy comes hard and heavy, Ptolemy is archaic melody, and Black-Hearted Woman finishes off a bombastic album. Check it out!

If you want to hear the real talent behind the best selling Whitesnake album from 1987....look no further. This CD is incredible. The guitar playing is fantastic....John Sykes shows that not only is he a talented guitarist but a very good vocalist as well. Tony Franklin has this incredible fat, one of a kind bass sound that is just a pleasure to listen to. Carmen Appice does a fantastic job on drums. This has to rate as one of the best rock CD's from a three piece band of all time.

If this CD was from Whitesnake, you would have heard this on the Radio non stop, it would have sold 10 million copies easy. For some of us, its a secret, but crown jewel in our CD collections. By far, this is one of the best Hard Rock CD's of the 80's. I would buy this CD over and over again. Get out your credit card and buy this now!

Blue Murder is one of the most unheard of GREAT bands and rock albums. The brainchild of guitarist/singer John Sykes(Whitesnake, Thin Lizzy, Tygers of Pan Tang)rocks with an intensity and feel that was sorely lacking in the mid/late eighties rock scene. The album had minor MTV success with the songs "Valley of the Kings" and "Jelly Roll," but lack of record company support left this album/band dead in the water after a short time. (It's a shame considering they lost tons promoting the next Whitsnake album which only had marginal success. Touche!) The songwriting on this album is second to none and it changed my view of what music really can do for the mind and soul. I recommend this to anyone who likes melodic hard rock. The guitar tone alone is worth buying this album for. It's like biting into a big, fat, juicy hamburger with the juices dribbling down your chin and all over your hands. It permeates the very essence of senses.

Along with Mr.Big and Bad Lands, Blue Murder started in the darkest era of Heavy Metal, just before Alternative took off. This album is packed with dynamic power and speed, and about-to-explode energy of John Sykes' guitar. The ex-Whitesnake guitar showed everything in guitar. Valley of the kings is the cream of the crops in the album. You won't regret buying it.