Customer Reviews

Righteous Anger

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

On many 1980's album reviews, you'll hear me say I remember hearing the songs as a young kid. Not so here. In early '99, at the ripe old age of 17, I was walking home from school and found this abandoned tape literally on the side of the road. I took it home with me and heard an old recording from a rock station in my area.

"Modern Day Delilah" came on and I did a search to see who did it. It sure sounded alot like solo Don Henley with a slightly harder rock edge, but I didn't remember him singing that. Miraculously, I found a used casette of this full album at a garage sale a week or two later and have loved it ever since.

1. Delilah -- The afforementioned song was the only hit I know of, and a dang good one! Poppy keyboard and guitar based medium rocker with guts. Lyrics about a backstabbing girl, which were just as good as any of the time.

2. I Know Who You Are -- There are only two clunkers here, and strangely enough, so early on, this happens to be one of them. Another mid tempo rock song, but has no real hook or catchy verses and sounds a bit paranoid.

3. What the Big Girls Do -- If this had actually been a hit single in its time, I wouldn't be surprised, because it sure is catchier than [heck]! A teeny bit more hard rocking than MDD, but a perfect, melodic pop/rock party anthem about a teenage girl who likes older guys.

4. Don't Do That -- Remember how I was saying there were two clunkers? This is the other one, but it's marginally better. Still, it's a mid tempo, almost country-ish tune that just doesn't seem to go anywhere.

5. Others Only Dream -- The piano based, slightly rocking and emotionally sung power ballad is another highlight and a lost treasure. Boy, he really sounds like Henley here, but that's a good thing, since I like him too.

6. The quiet ballad is offset with the title track, which is bordering on hard rock. It almost sounds like it could be Def Leppard or another pop/metal band doing it. As it says, a somewhat angry relationship tune. It's sugary, fun anger though, as opposed to the whiny, unmelodic, noisy screaming anger of today's third rate nu-metal bands.

7. The Cure Will Kill You -- A more experimental and more serious track in the form of this mid tempo rocker with some saxophone usage.

8. You've Been Lied to Before -- Sounds like a less good version of 'MDD', but still not bad at all. Just a more generic mid tempo AOR rocker.

9. Heart Over Mind -- This one has grown on me since the almost 5 years ago that I got this album. Another power ballad a bit softer than 'OOD'. Not quite as catchy, but equally melodic and touching.

10. All American Boy -- The fun returns here with the humorous, hard rocking pop tale of a popular and fun all American boy, who has beer can tops, parties and girls.

I have to say, I really don't know how this slipped through the cracks. My tape says it came out in 1984, which was just right for this style. It would've been right at home on the charts alongside Survivor, Foreigner, Van Halen, Bruce Springsteen, and even the guy's vocal twin, Don Henley.

Basically, it's a cross between medium pop/rock, AOR and hard rock. If you enjoy the above mentioned bands and you see this anywhere, don't hesitiate to pick it up! You might never get the chance again.

Title track is a good rock tune. Others only dream is a cool slow song. This is a rock group not many know about. This music grows on you like fine wine. I have been looking for this album for a long time.

I've been looking for this one for YEARS!! I've worn out two tapes, and only wished I could get it on cd. The title track Rocks! This is typical 80's, if you like 80's music, you like this album. Modern Day Dehlila was the only hit, but all the other songs are great. My favorite would be the title track, next All American Boy.

Good album. If you like 80's music, and good lyrics, I would buy this on Lp for a few bucks. CD if you can find it under 10. You know, I grew up in the 1980's (age 13 to 23), and I don't remember Van Stephenson. I have several friends great at naming that tune, but they were all at a loss. Recently, I heard the song on the radio ..... Modern Day Delilah, and it sounded really good. To be honest I couldn't date it, but the voice sounded familiar. My guess was Don Henley had cut a few numbers with Jefferson Starship just before becoming the Starship........ All kidding aside. It is a good album, with "Modern Day Delilah" standing out as the hit. I personally liked "Heart Over Mind" real well also. I believe from reading other reviews, his other album may be as a whole the better of the two.

I can't give a review on any of Mr. Stephensons rock albums but I did have the pleasure of remembering that fine contemporary release, Modern Day Delilah. I never heard much about Van Stephenson over the years after the release of that song. When I typed in Modern Day Delilah I found out who performed that song. I was only 12 in 84 but I remember that song well. It was quality all the way around.

Now at the age of 33 I am seriously considdering getting this album and maybe the other album offered with it. I never put it together that Van Stephenson of Blackhawk fame was the same guy who impressed me with his hit single MDD. I am a huge fan of Blackhawk and I am sure Van played a big role in the success of that band. I think it really showed great versatility to move to country and do so well. Blackhawk to me is one of the best all time country bands along side Shenandoah, Restless Heart, Diamond Rio and Alabama.

(One could only imagine what would be if he had returned to his rockin' roots. The industry lost one of its greatest.)

I agree with the above comment up to a point. If cancer had not stricken Van, I think going back to rock may have been a real posibillity. It seems Blackhawk had run it's course and the logical choice would be to conquer rock again. We can only imagine. You gotta know that heaven is great with all those music stars playing.

The artist known as Van Stephenson has been a mainstay in music for many years. From the 80's, as a take no prisoners rocker, to the 90's as a strong backing force in the country act BLACKHAWK. Sadly enough, the music world lost a great performer, as Van Stephenson lost his battle with cancer a few years back. One could only imagine what would be if he had returned to his rockin' roots. The industry lost one of its greatest. We will truly miss you!!! "Rest in Rockin' Peace"

I have liked this album since I was in high school(1987), and have been looking for it for years since my tape wore out. Modern Day Delilah is one of my favorite songs.

The late Van Stephenson was a brilliant songwriter for many artists- so much so, that he was given a chance to shine on his own.
His first offering- the LP "Righteous Anger" shows his lyrical fluidity, and genius. Put out in 1984, this album had 2 moderate hits.

"Modern Day Delilah" is a marvellous song, for its musical content, as well as being something of a satirical outake on hair & hair stylists, in a decade where hair was indeed a big deal. This song reached within striking distance of the Top 20, for 1984.

"What the Big Girls Do" made the Top 100. It showcased the harder, edgier side of Stephenson's work. This song would have made a brilliant party anthem of the 1980s.

Other songs that stand out, but are less acknowledged include the 'perfect for Halloween' set "I Know Who You Are (& I Saw What You Did)", the experimental "The Cure Will Kill You", and the title track. This album was widely underestimated by both the critics & the American public, who seemed locked in the pattern of buying cutesy, pop-oriented fluff, or only looking to epic supergroups of the day.

As with so many underestimated artists, Van Stephenson was deemed only a moderate success. His subsequent albums didn't register in the charts, and he moved back into the realms of songwriting, until he joined Blackhawk in the 1990s.

This album showcases a man with woderful talent, who died way too soon. As a musician myself, I know that his music will find its way into my play rosters, one way or another.

It's doubtful that you'll find any of Van Stephenson's songs on 80s hits compilations (even "Modern Day Delilah," which was his biggest song) but that doesn't mean that these aren't quality songs. With the exception of maybe two songs, this album rocks pretty hard and represents tight song-writing and solid musicianship.

While "Modern Day Delilah" is the best known song, this album has a lot more to offer. Outstanding songs are "Righteous Anger," "Heart Over Mind," "What the Big Girls Do," "You've Been Lied To Before," and "Modern Day Delilah" (of course). Unlike a previous reviewer, I really enjoy "I Know Who You Are (And I Saw What You Did)." It's actually one of the best songs on the album and it's completely in keeping with the album's subject matter.

"Cure Will Kill You" sounds musically and lyrically out of place. "Others Only Dream" is a nice ballad I suppose, but it's a bit too sentimental for my taste.

I suppose it's fair to see this as a concept album, since almost all of the songs revolve around the topics of disappointment, anger, frustration, and sadness in relationships. What makes the album enjoyable is that it truly sounds that Stephenson has first-hand experience with the subject matter. None of the emotions here sound insincere or false, unlike some of the canned music which has become so prevalent nowadays.

In short, a worthy album which unfortunately has not gotten the attention it deserves.

Sounds very reminiscent of Bryan Adams and Journey. Is the lead singer from Black Hawk (country)? Too bad Van died from skin cancer in the late 1990s...

Uncertain how popular or successful this was, but great by all means. My first purchase on Amazon two years ago (just before I graduated from college).

Suspicious Heart is great too, but some songs are slower in bpm from my taste. That won't matter to the rest of the world. Highly recommended 1980s soft to hard rock!