Customer Reviews

Party

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

It could be that Iggy was a bit shook after James Williamson had walked off the studio recording of "Soldier," when David Bowie had appeared in the studio to help out with the album. It was a real dream of Iggy's to have each included on the album, but unfortunately Williamson's ignorance got in the way. Despite Williamson's walk out, Pat Moran did an above average job fill-in in for Williamson, and the album was a big success for Iggy. Now, Iggy had his sights set on a pop album. It wasn't easy for him to make a pop album. Remember, Iggy was the one that gained his popularity with The "outrageous" Stooges. His trademark had been to appear on stage shirtless, and was one of the first to be comfortable enough to jump into the crowd. I believe his goal had been, ever since he had formed The Stooges, was to make a full circle in his musical career. To make early punk albums, and then turn to pop. This idea really hit full swing when he found out his great friend David Bowie shared the same ambition. (That word happens to be a track on the album "Soldier.") "Party," I don't believe, is a true pop album. Iggy knew that as long as he was signed to Arista Records, he was not going to get the coverage and support he needed to make a very popular album. This would have to wait until 1986 when he was signed to A&M, and where he collaborated with David Bowie to make "Blah Blah Blah." "Party" starts with a delightful and fun track called 'Pleasure.' 'Rock And Roll Party' is another fine track that leads into the oddly named 'Eggs On Plate.' The name of this song reminds me of a lyric in a Brian Eno song, off the album "Another Green World." It's the lyric, "Perhaps my brain(s) are old and scrambled, oh my!" Although the word "egg" is not uttered, scrambled is and I think Iggy have found some motivation in that strong Brian Eno lyric. 'Sincerity' is a song where Iggy is found pleading with his girlfriend to stay. 'Houston Is Hot Tonight' talks of the 'Rock And Roll Party.' Tracks 2, 3, and 4 all center on the same idea and topic. They all also deal with action and consequence. An idea Iggy has not always grasped. 'Pumpin' For Jill' is Iggy being a slave. Although not a work slave, if you know what I mean. 'Happy Man' is one of favorites on "Party," along with the following track, 'Bang Bang.' 'Bang Bang,' which was later covered by David Bowie on this 1987 album "Never Let Me Down," is a very sincere and simple song. I'm sorry to say that Bowie's version is not near as sincere and simple as Iggy's, although still good. 'Sea of Love' is just an excellent love song. From the lyrics to the tune, you can't go wrong with 'Sea of Love.' 'Time Won't Let Me' is a very successful cover of a timeless classic. Again, each of the bonus tracks included on "Party" are superb choices and would have been a perfect fit for the original cut.

The best of his Arista LPs "Party" may seem like watered down Iggy on the surface (ie "accessible" melodies; that lame cover "sea of love") but check out the lyrics: "Sooner or later, baby, I'm gonna bruse you just like a tomato", "When I walked into the rock n roll club I found myself with the usual bums", "who left that [...] door half open!" Despite the "listenible" almost mainstream music this was Iggy's most bitter album until "Beat Em Up".

That's not just an attention grabber, I swear. This is my favorite album. Many reviews on here from punk rock purists sell this album as one of Iggy's quick money making albums, or the new wave sell out album. What I think separates this album from others is its spontaneity. Some will argue Iggy just wasn't trying. I find similarities to surfer rosa/come on pilgrim; quintessential punk rock. The honest truth is if you are a weirdo and you know it, buy this album. Those songs you sing when no one is around and you think to your self, "if someone heard me singing this, they would think I'm crasy!". Well guess what, Iggy made an album out of it. And he made it great!

If you want vintage dirty-hard-garage band-rock Iggy from the Stooges, you may be disappointed by this album. If you think you can get into some vintage Iggy mixed with 80s New Wave, I think you'll enjoy this album as much as I do. Great stuff.

This is a GREAT ALBUM!! The music of the 80s pretty much Sucked! This album is from 1981, just the begining of the 80s when the "new wave" movement was in full force. Filled with horns and an upbeat tempo, some may consider this commercial music. I bought this album on vinyl when it was released. Trust me there was not a radio station I heard broadcasting this. He was poking fun at "new wave". This is one of Iggy's best albums. The lyrics are hilarious! If you want punk anger turn to "Raw Power", it's a great CD. If you want to have a lighter but still rocking good time then buy this Cd, It's definately one of his best! It was was the perfect anti commercial new wave album. It poked fun at "punk's" ugly stepchild "new wave", some people didn't and still don't get it.

Iggy must have been in a great mood when he recorded this material, because Party is so much fun! The only song that is dark and disturbing is "Bang Bang," and even that doesn't reach the depths of darkness that surround Soldier. Iggy used a lot of horns on this album, so a good half of the songs sound ska!

To be brief, I am a fan of Iggy Pop, but this cd just didn't cut it for me... somehow it lacks the vision, attitude, and artistry of albums such as Soldier and New Values, or Zombie Birdhouse. I just thought I should put my 2 cents in. I listen to those albums constantly. This one I sold back to my local used cd shop.

Oh Boy, does this album ever bring back good memories to mind. In the early Eighties, I was really getting into a lot of the New Wave music back then. Bands like DEVO, Talking Heads, Adam and the Ants, The B52's, The Cars, and The Plasmatics (Not really New Wave, but still a great band.). And while Iggy is known as the "Godfather of Punk", his Eighties work fit right in with all the New Wave sounds.

I was first introduced to the music of Iggy Pop from a classmate of mine in High School who turned me on to his albums, Lust For Life, and The Idiot, which are two excellent must-have classics. So, by the time Party came out, I was already a fan.

This album is phenomenal in every sense of the word. It features some of Iggy's greatest songs ever, in my opinion. Songs like Houston Is Hot Tonight, Wow, what a track! The guitar riff in this thing is awesome, and the lyrics by Iggy are some of the best ever, "My brain is tired of the wind. Chicago winters, just do me in. They`ve got a Moonman, on the telephone. Project X, Hey, Houston control." Of course Iggy makes it sound so much cooler.

Anyway, if you are looking for something different, give this album a try. In fact, all 3 albums that Iggy did for Arista are must-haves, those being, Soldier, New Values, and Party.

Standout tracks are, Pleasure, Eggs On Plate, Sincerity, Houston Is Hot Tonight, Pumpin' For Jill, and Sea Of Love.

The final album in a three-record deal with Arista Records, Iggy Pop delivered a curve ball by going the frat party route.

The June 1981 release finds Pop tackling a pair of pop classics - Sea of Love, Time Won't Let Me - and The Uptown Horns getting funky on four numbers; Pleasure, Sincerity, Houston is Hot Tonight and Happy Man.

Rock and Roll Party takes its cue from AM radio of the 1960s, though Pop still has room for his tongue-in-cheek frolics with Pumpin' for Jill and Band Bang.

Produced by Thom Panunzio and Tommy Boyce, there are two bonus tracks; Speak To Me and One for My Baby (and One More for the Road). Though the music goes pop, there is a performance art eccentricity that is pure Pop.

I never found the Stooges material all that distinctive, mining the same territory as the MC5 with that muddy late sixties sound for hippies gobbling seconals. Nevertheless, there were some memorable tunes to be found. Then Iggy went solo. In spite of the ferocity of tracks like "I Got A Right", his personal life seemed to get in the way of putting his career over the top; the original production values on "Raw Power" were nearly unlistenable.

But things took a turn for the better with 1977's "The Idiot" and "Lust For Life". The first was a landmark, the second followed in its wake with a few good tracks. Next up was the strong "New Values", followed by "Soldier", two more of Iggy's best albums ever. Then the streak came crooning to a halt with "Party".

"Bang Bang" is the cherry to be plucked from this album. Bowie's cover in 1987 pales in comparison to this Tommy Boyce production that delivers quite possibly Iggy's most accessible rocker ever. As for the rest of the album, the horns work about as well as they did on The Doors' "Soft Parade"...which is to say, they don't. I've heard pop albums that effectively used the horns to give a punchier sound, or to fill out the sound, but here they just sound mushy and cluttered, as though the producer had some friends he needed on the payroll.

For my taste the only keeper is "Bang Bang" but in all fairness, the first three tracks aren't bad. At times you might think they almost sound like leftovers from the previous knockout, "Soldier". It spirals down until you reach the end of the album where there's no reason for the covers of "Time Won't Let Me" or "Sea Of Love". They don't surpass the originals and they don't reinvent them.

Iggy certainly had it in him to deliver a great pop album but to really knock the ball out of the park I get the impression that he needed one or two more killer songs and a change in some of the members of his team. I get by just fine with the old vinyl copy (with "Bang Bang" dubbed to the hard drive) so I can't say whether the bonus tracks are worth downloading.

The folks who handled the cover art did a great job of packaging Iggy to match his purpose for this album. It looks festive and Iggy comes as close to approximating Nick Gilder as he ever would. Titling it "Party" was a good move in pursuit of that goal. The next album, "Zombie Birdhouse" was thin as well. Pity that this album didn't take two years so the best moments of "Party" and "Zombie Birdhouse" could be combined into one consistent album.