Customer Reviews

Permanent Vacation

5 star:		(30)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

This album is almost as good as Done with Mirrrors. As is it ranks as the third best of Aerosmith's comeback records.
If you're wondering, in order they are:

3)Permanent Vacation
2)Done with Mirrors
1)Pump

It was all downhill after Pump. With 1993's Get A Grip they became a corporate hit-making machine, churning out Sappy MTV inspired drivel. And one ends up asking themself "Are these the same guys who sang Back in the saddle?" As a native Bostonian it's sad to say, I used to be proud of these guys, now I see 'em on stage with Britney Spears and just shake my head in shame. Although I will say this, they're still a pretty decent live-act.

Oh yeah! (No pun intended) I forgot, I was reviewing Permanent Vacation. Following the unjust commercial failure of Done with mirrors, the boys headed up to Vancouver to work with Bon Jovi Producer Bruce Fairbairn (R.I.P) to help give their sound more apeal. And they used outside writers to spruce up their songs. It works for the most part, this album here is still undoubtedly Aerosmith at the Core, yet it had a slight commercial twist. And the band members at least co-wrote all the tunes, in other words you won't have syrupy garbage like "I don't wanna miss a thing."

The album starts off with "Hearts done time" one of the all-time great Aero openers. Some have called this song boring, but I disagree, it's got Joey Kramer's bombastic drumming and Steven Tyler's patented screams at the end. The next track "Magic Touch" features a prominent Twin Guitar crunch with a nice Joe Perry Solo. I believe these songs are vastly overlooked and underrated in the Aerosmith catalog, they never show up on the compilations. "Ragdoll" is the hit we all know by heart. It displays a too-funky-for-it's-own goo guitar lick and an enchanting horn section. Mr. Tyler's verses are chock full of swagger. Plus, ya gotta love that video ;)

The fourth track is "Simoriah" which I never hear mentioned at all. Probably because it's not an excellent song, granted, I like the Guitar arrangement that kicks it off, but it sounds a bit dated. "Dude looks like a lady" is strong of course. I've heard this song was written about Motley Crue's Vince Neil, though I'm not sure.

"St. John" and "Hangman jury" are two tracks that are criminally overlooked and underrated. The former displaying some heavy duty Rocks-era riffing and clever lyrics. "Hangman jury" revels in the bands roots. It's very bluesy, Steven Tyler's on the Harmonica. The song builds up slowly and then the duel guitars carry it home. "Girl keeps coming apart" is decent. I didn't like it at first but it's since grown on me. It has a catchy hook, if not careful, you'll singit all day.

Following that is the song that I never cared much for "Angel". It takes you to Velveeta-land. Brush your teeth after listening, it drips with syrup and sap. Given Aerosmith's great history of tear-jerking, heartfelt ballads, like "Dream on" "You see me cryin" and "Home tonight", Simply put, this one doesn't stack up and is a big letdown.

The title track is enjoyable, it has a carribean flavor with steel drums in the background. Their cover of the Beatles' "I'm down" is pulled off with ease. Closing the album is an instrumental "The movie" with a great Tom Hamilton bass line, with Brad Whitford, Joe Perry and Joey Kramer giving it their all, and similar to Cal Ripken, Ironman Steve Tyler sits one out.

In closing this album is just a notch below Pump and Done with mirrors, you should still pick it up. The songs that didn't make it onto the Radio are very good.

BAND: Steven Tyler (vocals, piano, harmonica), Joe Perry (guitars), Brad Whitford (guitars), Tom Hamilton (bass), Joey Kramer (drums & percussion).

THE DISC: (1987) 12 songs clocking in at approximately 52 minutes. The digitally remastered version released in 2001. Included with the disc is a 10-page booklet containing band photos, song titles/credits, song lyrics, and thank you's. Recorded at Little Mountain Sound Studios, Vancouver BC, Canada. Label - Geffen.

COMMENTS: Two years prior, "Done With Mirrors" (1985) marked a comeback of sorts for Aerosmith. The Toxic Twins were supposedly sober and ready to take America by storm, again. Decades later, the band is still on top of the world - giving us fresh music and selling millions of albums. Looking back, the late 70's and early 80's were a rough period for Aerosmith. Jack Daniels was the beverage of choice for band members, drugs, infighting, and ultimately guitarists Joe Perry and Brad Whitford went their separate ways. 1985 saw them back in the studio - wanting to cut an album, wanting to rock & roll... and "Done With Mirrors" proved they could still do it. With "Permanent Vacation", Aerosmith proved they were still a hit making rock machine. "Vacation" was professional, slick, and polished. 12 fabulous songs filled with catchy hooks, modest tongue-in-cheek humor was present again, and a few huge hits to boot - "Dude (Looks Like A Lady)", "Rag Doll" and "Angel" - marking their return to form! As much as the hits received major airplay, the deeper album cuts were simply gems... the 1-2 punch of openers "Heart's Done Time" and "Magic Touch" get the album off to a rocking start. Perry's blistering guitar work on "Simoriah" and the title track. Ultra cool swaggering songs "St. John" and "Hangman Jury", their first Beatle's cover "I'm Down", as well as the closing instrumental "The Movie". Thoroughly listenable - every track. As much as "Permanent Vacation" saw the band gelling again, it was a welcome comeback for one of America's all-time legendary bands. Classic disc (5-stars).

The first album from the now "sober" Aerosmith and the beginning of their huge comeback that has continued to this day. Some people look at this album as a sell-out due to the influx of outside writers and the general polished sound of the album. Personally I think it rocks. The band sounds rejuvenated and there is a lot of great material to be found on this disc. The album spawned the huge hits "Rag Doll", "Dude Looks Like A Lady", and the lame "Angel". Overall most of the rest of the songs are good to great Aerosmith. "Hangman Jury" is cool. "Girl Keeps Coming Apart" has a nice Joe Perry guitar solo. The title track is a nice rocker and they even throw in an instrumental called "The Movie" which works quite well too. Overall I think this was a great comeback album.

How can you people not like this album? It's great. This is the kind of stuff I grew up with. "Angel" is my all-time favorite ballad. And although "Dude" doesn't have the best tune and lyrics, [it's great]. Some people enjoy songs like that. If you don't like this album, hey, I understand that; but I love it, and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys 80s rock.

This was the second outing since they cleaned up their act and came off the drugs and opted for clean living.This album opens with the track Hearts done time,you get a Steven Tyler scat scream just telling you,you've come to the right place.As I'm sitting here writing this I have it on in the back,I just have to keep stopping to listen,you forget how much these guy's have influenced hard rock over the past 30 years.This album is still as fresh today as when it was released in 1987.This album has the classic tracks of Dude Looks Like a Lady,Ragdoll and Angel,these set the standards for many bands to follow.Then they come out with a Lennon and McCartney number,the way they play I,m Down really pays credit to it's writers,as for the other tracks on the album there isnt a bad one amoung them,lets run through the track listing.
1 HEARTS DONE TIME.
2 MAGIC TOUCH.
3 RAG DOLL.
4 SIMORIAH.
5 DUDE(LOOKS LIKE A LADY).
6 ST.JOHN.
7 HANGMAN JURY.
8 GIRL KEEPS COMING APART.
9 ANGEL.
10 PERMANMENT VACATION.
11 I'M DOWN.
12 THE MOVIE.
What can I say tracks like Dude,Ragdoll,which will rock your socks off, Angel will have you crying like a baby,St.John will have you pulling out a blues harp and wishing you in the Mississipi delta with all your wowes,then Permanent Vacation takes you to a tropical paradise.This even has Whale song on the first track,they thought of every thing.This is a must to the collection of any true hard rock fan trust me these guys know how to rock and have a good time. 10 out of 10

One of Aerosmith's greatest albums. Well written and produced and contains a long list of modern classic tunes. Anyone into music in the 80's hairband-era, can appreciate the higher caliber of sound that Aerosmith could continue to put in, despite over a decade of playing, partying, recording and touring!
One for the ages.

Since this album was released in 1987 I have loved it, but the old tape of it was lost maybe 10 years ago and I only upgraded to CD yesterday. I was quite shocked by how this album exceeded my already high expectations. Firstly I feared an out-dated 80's production - but this is simply not true. The sound is classic blues-based rock practically from start to finish. I've struggled through the disapointment of 9 Lives, Just Push Play and even the big let down of Honkin' in recent years and somehow this band lost its appeal for me. But on PV the songs from start to finish are full of energy, great in your-face production, superb band performance and well crafted, often catchy songs.

I'm quite amazed to say it, but this is probably one of the greatest albums ever recorded, and certainly Aerosmiths'.

If you like me used to own it and wonder if it's worth reinvesting. Do so. It's as good as it was in '87.

Aerosmith made their initial 'comeback' with the album previous to this, 'Done with mirrors', which constituted a welcome return to the bluesy, gritty rock n roll decadence Aerosmith so perfectly embraced in the early 70's. Yet 'Done with mirrors', while being intriguing artistically failed to perform commercially, so Aerosmith revamped their sound and style for this release, to appeal to a wider public. Although I am far more attached to Aerosmith's material previous to this album, I still massively enjoyed this release. The inclusion of the soon to be obligatory syrupy power ballad 'Angel' seems to devalue the record, but there is a wealth of excellent material here which more than makes of for such gratuity. Despite the outside writers drafted in to imbue the songs with mass appeal, this is still a hard rocking record at its core, as showcased by openers 'Hearts done time' and 'Magic touch', two catchy hard rock numbers with huge hooks, and the standard superb quality of playing. 'Rag doll' is very different, with horns and a jaunty rhythm resulting in a funky, upbeat number which is very uplifting, and full of innuendo. Shortly we have the well-known 'Dude looks like a lady', very recognisable and still refreshing, a perfect showcase for Aerosmith's new more commercial yet no less innovative sound. Then we have 'St John' and 'Hangman jury', two superb, low tempo bluesy tunes which give the album real diversity, as well as exhibiting the bands phenomenal talent. To close, we have the jamaican flavour, with steel drums et al, of the title track, and the instrumental 'The Movie' which must count as one of the bands most ambitious compositions.
In conclusion: they may have dropped the decadence and bark of old, yet here Aersomith grow old gracefully, producing songs with commercial appeal which long term fans could still appreciate. A must for any fan, and the likeable catchy nature of much of the CD leads me to recommend it to anyone.
A great release from one of the few timeless bands out there.

In 1984 Aerosmith had gone from being one of the biggest Bands in the world to a complete Rock 'n' Roll disaster area. Sales had hit an all time low and live performances were erratic to say the least; the results of living the life of Riley to the max. The last album by the original lineup had been a patchy affair ("Night in the Ruts" 1979), after which both guitarists, Joe Perry and Brad Whitford, left the band to eventually be replaced by Rick Dufay and Jimmy Crespo. Both were very talented musicians, but their own lifestyle was never going to be a good influence on frontman Steve Tyler.

The band staggered back onto the road and even managed to produce an album, 'Rock in a Hard Place' 1982. Perhaps the least said about the better, it included a version of the easy listening classic 'Cry me a River', which was so full of pathos it nearly exploded.

But by late 1983 things had got to the point where some band members were sleeping on friends floors, Joe Perry's solo career had gone off the rails big time, Brad Whitford's new band with Derek St. Holmes had released one album to commercial indifference and critical ridicule, what remained of the Band were in tatters.

Then old time fan and managerial genius Tim Collins came along and picked up the reigns. Bridges were built and at the first meeting of all the original players and management team, it was decided that if things were going to be put to rights it had to be done properly, in other words straight. A period in rehab was diagnosed after which even alcohol was banned in the studio or backstage at the concerts.

A new recording contract was signed with Geffen Records and the band went out on the road to get used to being a band again. The first new release from the band, "Done with Mirrors" 1985, was not a success, a good album, but somehow missing that 'Aerosmith' spark. So yet again 'Aerosmith' were written off.

Fate dealt 'Aerosmith' a wonderful hand when American Rap stars 'Run MC' asked Joe Perry and Steve Tyler to join them in the studio to record a Rap version of one of 'Aerosmith's' earliest hits "Walk this way". Once this was released and was a huge hit single worldwide on the back of massive airplay from MTV, 'Aerosmith' had one more chance. However, they knew it was now or never.

The whole band relocated to the Little Mountain Sound Studios in Vancouver. The management brought in a new producer to replace Ted Templeton. Richard Fairbairn was first choice and accepted the job. Richard Fairbairn was really hot at the time having just come off producing the multi platinum "Slippery when Wet" for 'Bon Jovi'. Desmond Child and Jim Vallance were also brought to the studio to help out with the songwriting side of things.

This time 'Aerosmith' fired on all six. Preceded by a hit single in the band's own right "Dude (Looks Like a Lady)" which again got heavy MTV play listing. The album "Permanent Vacation" was a massive hit worldwide - the boys were back in the saddle.

This is Rock 'n' Roll at its best, make no mistake. Right from the opening song "Hearts done time" when Bradford and Perry's guitar battle it out mid-song, to all the hit singles, including the power ballad "Angel", which still has enough grungy Perry guitar riffs to not make you feel too wimpy as you sing-along. Steve Tyler's "St. John" is probably the sleaziest song ever recorded by the band. If this song doesn't make you swagger, nothing will. The one cover version is a storming version of 'The Beatles' "I'm Down", which thunders out the speakers with Tyler contributing a marvelously over the top Piano solo. Throughout every song Hamilton and Kramer lay down a rock solid groove, which carries you along from one to the next without skipping a beat. Album closer "The Movie " is a Joe Perry instrumental, broody and atmospheric, every home should have one.

From this point on there was no stopping 'Aerosmith', but it was close to disaster talk about living on the edge.
Mott the Dog.

Before I start I want to say the Aerosmith is the greatest band of all time. This album is "Done With Mirrors" 2. But when this was released it was there biggerst selling album to this point They had just kicked drugs and brought in outside writers to work with. Though this album is a bit commercial for Aerosmith it still rocks like you wouldnt belive! This album sponed 3 top 40 hit singles "Rag Doll", "Dude (Looks Like A Lady)", and "Angel". I dont need to say anything about those songs cause I know you have herd all 3 of those songs or you would not be looking at buying this album. "Hearts Done Time" is a great 80s rock song. "Magic Touch" is a really catchy song that you wount be able to get out of your head after you hear it the first time. "Simoriah" is a little to 80s for me but it is still a really good Aero- song. "St. John" is an amazing song, you'll have to hear to belive me! "Hangman Jury" is a really fun song, you'll wanna song along every time you hear it. "Girl Keeps Coming Apart" is a really cool song as well. "Permanent Vacation" is a song about getting clean off drugs and its a really cool song with the music of "Summertime Blues" which makes it even better, and very catchy. "I'm Down" is a Beatles song everyone has herd at least one time that Aerosmith made their own. "The Movie" is an amazingly cool instrumental that you will love even if you dont like Instrumentals. So all in all this is a great album. It may take a couple of listens to liek but you WILL like it, trust me! This is not the same old Aerosmith of the 70s so dont expect that! But this is Aerosmith changin styles and trying new things which does NOT!!!!! make them sell outs! Like I said its that greatest comeback story ever told!