Customer Reviews

Invasion of Your Privacy

5 star:		(32)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

You could take this album, Dokken's Under Lock and Key, and Crue's Theatre of Pain, and you would have the best three albums of this time period and the L.A. scene of the mid 80's. Like, Under Lock and Key, the production is terrific. Everyone knows You're in Love and Lay It Down, but every song on this album is good. You just don't find that anymore. I think this is why I like this studio effort better than Out of the Cellar because there is no filler. At some point when they were writing and recording for this album, they just got into a zone. A lot of these songs sound like they could flow right into the other without a break because they are similar in movement and tempo. Never Use Love, Dangerous But Worth the Risk, What You Give is What You Get, and You Should Know By Now are all classics. If you don't own this one, you need to do something about it. This one also makes my top 10 80's hard rock list. One other cd I would recommend that came out around the same time that wasn't from the L.A. scene is The Ultimate Sin by Ozzy.

I purchased this album on Vinyl back in September at a Used Shop in my area. I saw the shrink wrap cellophane still intact and thought the condition must be pretty good. What I found remarkable was that it was a sealed copy! For those not old enough to remember, Vinyl LP's were hemmed shut via glued cardboard edges. Yup, someone had traded it in without even hearing the record!

I'll bet the previous owner was some guy/gal lived near by (A possibility cuz of the original sticker from "Strawberries" which is a store down the road. Of course the half which says the original price was slit away.) And hopped on the CD Wave to the fullest selling their old vinyl. It's almost a full circle sort of tale cuz someone from the younger era (me;) acquired their possession.

My fandom of Ratt began when I picked up a used CDd copy of their greatest hits compilation, "Ratt N' Roll 8191" in April 2002.

I Was so entertained by this band that I wanted to dig deeper and unearth their back catalog for overlooked jewels. So I simultaneously bought this album, "The Ratt Ep", and 'Reach For The Sky" (The latter two I haven't listened to yet).

Ratt's label was Atlantic Records, and "Invasion Of Your Privacy" was the succesor to their first full length LP, "Out Of The Cellar" and was released in 1985, which was a tremendously exceptional year for the label, Phil Collins megaseller "No Jacket Required" was all the rage.

Ratt as a band never disappointed, and skeptics wondered aloofly if the Triple Platinum success of "Out Of The Cellar" would toy with the bands heads. Well that didn't happen thank goodness.

For the album cover, Ratt continue the trend of using photographs. There's an attractive girl (I normally don't go for blondes but here's an exception) slipping on a pair of socks. It took me a while to notice that there was a Searchlight on in the background and an open door to the lawn, perhaps she isn't aware? Which plays into the title, "Invasion Of Your Privacy".

The Back Cover and Liner Notes are above average. Photography was courtesy of the legendary Neil Zlozower, in fact the back cover photos are wisely arrainged. Each band member gets a snapshot, one is in the shape of a triangle while others are circles, polygons, rectangular shaped.

1985-86 was the height of Hair Metal's first phase, and Ratt's wardrobe included Bright Spandex, long overcoats, and their hair was teased up. I think this style was awesome so you won't read any complaints. In fact there was never a Hair Band from 1981-91 with a Dull image.

Beau Hill produced the album, I don't think he gets his just due for all the classics he's helmed the boards for.

"You're In Love" gets the album off to a quality start, with a Catchy guitar hook, the lightning sound effects enhance the overall experience for me. The Video was a classic stageshow teamed with classic videoclips. Big Hit.

"Never Use Love" packs a punch with a Sawblade Riff. Bobby Blotzer bashes away behind the kit with an aggresive attitude and the Stephen Pearcy's Squeal amidst the chorus is the best of the whole album.

The Other Big Hit was "Lay It Down". The moderate Tempo and Heavy Riff does a lot for me. The Topic Du Jour is sex and the verses play out like a dialog a guy would say to his girlfriend, with a slowdown spoken word portion. The Backing Bass Line has a "Galloping Horse' fell which is sounds familiar if you've listened to Iron Maiden for extended time a la moi.

Structurally speaking "Give It All" is more complicated at first listen. The riff changes 3 times within the first minute. It took me a few listens for the song to "Sink In". A soaring Lead is coupled by a verse backing which doesn't quite qualify as "Chord Bleeding' for guitarists reading. The Solo is memorable, but not because the Bass lets up which is unique in it's own right.

"Closer To My Heart" is an acoustic-flavored tune that surpasses "Back For More" off the preceding album. The Electric guitar does show up, slashing and burning. The song fades out in faster speed.

The Band sound laid-back on "Between The Eyes" which isn't bad at all. The Song "Parades" aound given it's careful pace. The Occasional Underlying Rhythm Guitar recalls the chiming of church bells in my opinion, cuz of the manner.

After Gong Adventurous routes, the Robbin Crosby/Warren Demartini Twin Guitars and Bass all converge for "What You Give Is What You Get" each instrument nearly meshes together. The Ferocious chorus buildup sticks with me.

"Got Me On The Line" brings us to the home stretch, Stephen Pearcy can tell a relationship story the way DMX or Francis Ford Coppola Would tell a Crime Story. Yeah that's the lyrical empasis. Juan Croucier's Bass Line improves the already-there Catchy hook.

One ASpect of this album desrving of mention is how some tunes immdiately flow into the next one, for instance "You Should Know By Now". This song should be required music for parties. Every element perpetuates an Uplifting/Good Time atmosphere. The high pitched intro riff, and lyrics such as
"Don't you know it's nothin' new/ Don't you get in my way, get in my way", followed by a break down section where only the chorus and Drums with a Cowbell tossed in! Get Out the Booze - Seagram's Gin and 151, and hope noone stops the party with Gun Shots ringing out as described on Gangsta Rap albums, this one's a keeper.

"Dangerous But Worth The Risk" - A splendid closer if there ever was one. The Best Part is when Stephen sings "I...Know it's True". The Steady drive doesn't let up til the very end.

I still miss the late great Guitarist Robbin Crosby a lot. He is gone, but not forgotten as his music will forever live on. I recommend "Invasion Of Your Privacy" wholeheartedly

This is Ratt's very best album without a doubt. All the tracks are strong both lyrically and musically. If you buy only one cd by Ratt this is the one I reccommend most. No disappointments with this one.

This one is not as solid as Out Of The Cellar, but has quite a few classics like "You're In Love", "Lay It Down", "You Should Know By Now", "Give It All", and "What You Give Is What You Get".

Songs like "Between The Eyes", "Got Me On The Line", and "Closer To My Heart", and for me even "Dangerous But Worth The Risk" are borderine on filler material, although each has parts that I like...they are not songs I ever get too excited about hearing when I put this disc in.

And I know we are not supposed to talk about price on here, but 4.97?? Wow, I think I paid about 12 dollars back in the day to get this one fresh off the rack, and now it's under 5 bucks?

For what it's worth these guys were near the front of the so called hair metal/bands of the very early 80's, and even though they may be considered cheesey or a guilty pleasure today, they were around before it got ridiculous in the mid to late 80's with clone bands and cookie cutter rock...so for the price I say go for it. And really for what is featured on this CD, you won't be sorry...this is the good stuff from the era.

This to me is Ratt at their very best, I cant find one bad song on here, all of them are good. The songs that desearve a lot of attention are 'Your In Love', Lay It Down', and 'What You Give Is What You Get'. It is worth all the money, so get this one as soon as possible, you'll be glad you did.

I bought this album on vinyl when it first came out in 85.I was in 6th grade,I pulled out the cd the other day and popped it in my car and it still rips over 20 years later,hard to believe its been that long!With this album Ratt makes a musical progression from the triple platinum "OUT OF THE CELLAR" and puts out another great effort although its not as focused as thier debut,it was again a multi-platinum success.Tough,melodic,catchy with great hooks are the trademarks of Ratt.This album delivers more of the same from the awesome "Lay it down" to "Your in love" and "Between the eyes".Overall not quite as ballsy as thier first but still a very good cd.Ratt stands the test of time!

This was the first CD I heard of Ratt, after I had heard the "Point break" soundtrack "Nobody rides for free". If you like 1 track of the album, you will probably like the entire album. It is very energetic from the beginning till the end. It doesn't have a balad, but some tracks like "Lay it down" have lyrics that could attract a wider audience. The guitar riffs and Pearcy's voice are excellent. This is their best album in my opinion. "Out of the cellar", which is often rated their best, has only a few good songs and the album is not as consistent. "Dancing undercover" would match the most with "Invasion". If you like a different rock tune, then this is the one!

While Ratt's debut album is also a favorite of mine, I believe that this album is their best. Not one bad track on it. Closer To My Heart is my favorite song. I never in 10+ years have gotten tired of it. If you like 80's metal this album is a must have.

The cassette was excellent, and now the C.D. lives on in my collection.
Amazon delivered as they promised. The product arrived quickly and in wonderful condition.
If you are looking to update your 80's collection Amazon is the place to do it. They really have wonderful deals on their 80's C.D.'s .

It's amazed me, in retrospect, that heavy metal was able to produce some great love songs without the melodies sounding sappy and the lyrics gooey. They could even use the word "love" without rolling your eyes (well, that was the case for me).

"Invasion of Your Privacy" is not only Ratt at their best, but a great representation of 80s metal. The first three cuts - You're in Love, Never Use Love, and Lay It Down - are my favorites and never fail to bring a smile to my face as it gets me to thinking I was only 9 years old when I heard them for the first time (and on wonderful vinyl!). I'm just shaking my head thinking this album is over 20 years old! Time sure does fly!

Truth be told, I wasn't a mega-Ratt fan, but I loved this album and it's on my short list of albums to add to the collection. - Donna Di Giacomo