Rock zone (Scorpions) (LP 478-479)

Scorpions Sting In The Tail (CD, Sony Music, 2010) *** 

Scorpions Comeback (CD, Sony Music, 2011) *** 

Genre: European pop/ rock 

Places I remember: Both came from my time in the Middle East - an Al Ain music store and Dubai Mall's Virgin Mega Store

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: Blackout (Comeback); Raised On Rock (SITT)

Gear costume: Winds Of Change (always great hearing this); Tainted Love (both Comeback)

Active compensatory factors: Appropriately, I developed a thing for Scorpions during my stay in the Middle East (2009 to 2012). We did come across a few of the real thing in the desert and around an oasis in Al Ain. 

As for the German rock group: there was something great about blasting their brand of hard rock while driving to and from the school where I was advising.

Sting In The Tail is the band having one last hurrah (almost) in 2010 as they subsequently said their goodbyes during a farewell tour. My only quibble: even though it's only got 12 songs, it feels too long (a common problem in the CD years).

Comeback is the actual last hurrah and on the surface sounds a dubious proposition: one last visit to the studio to re-record their high points and pay tribute to bands and songs that had inspired them (Beatles, Stones, Kinks, T Rex, Small Faces, Soft Cell). 

The redone songs sound great and of the uneven cover versions Tainted Love is massive and a perfect fit for them. On the whole this is a worthy package.

Where do they all belong? Concludes the European section of my CD collection.

All night long (Scorpions) (LP 200)

Scorpions Tokyo Tapes (CD - EMI, 2001) ***

Genre:  German pop/rock

Places I remember: King's Recording (Abu Dhabi) 

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: Fly to The Rainbow (some great Hendrix inspired guitar from Ulrich Roth)




Gear costume:  In Trance

Active compensatory factors: Although reissued in 2oo1, this originally comes from 1978. 

I picked up a lot of this kind of thing in the Middle East while living there from 2009-2012. Strange, but they seemed to have a thing for hard rock/metal acts like Scorpions. Had to be aimed at the expat market, but who knows.

I played this and other Scorpions albums a lot as I pootled to Al Foah each day to go to work at Ali bin Abi Taleb school. Great times and the hard rock sound of Scorpions suited the manic motoring.

Makes less sense to me ten years later on an nearly autumn afternoon in Maungaturoto, I have to say.

As you know, I have a thing for double live albums. Every band worth its salt produced a double live in the seventies and Scorpions, a quality rock band, were no exception. 

Recording a live album in Japan was also a no brainer in the seventies. Scorpions went over well, if this double live document is anything to go by. Weird.

Where do they all belong? Jump forward to the 2010 version of the band and their failed bid to retire gracefully which lead to a rejuvenated Sting In The Tail.

She sells sanctuary (The Cult)

After those pastoral album covers it's natural that we introduce a human component into the frame/garden of delights, as seen in the following best of relationship covers.

Let's be clear - sex sells! The Scorpions' and Ohio Players' covers prove that on their loansome.

Placebo - Sleeping with ghosts