What Came Next...

Episode 66: Jon Anderson - Song of Seven

After departing Yes during the sessions for the follow=up to 1978's Tormato Jon Anderson took his songs with him.  They formed the backbone of his second solo album, Song of Seven, in 1980.  The album is a hodgepodge of different styles, ranging from the folksy stuff he wanted to do with Yes to more progressive music.  Unfortunately, it doesn't make for a satisfying follow-up to Olias of Sunhillow. 

Episode 65: Frankie Goes to Hollywood - Liverpool

Frankie Goes to Hollywood were declared to be the new Beatles, blasting out of Liverpool and taking the British music scene by storm in 1984 and the U.S. by drizzle in 1985.  However, band in-fighting, conflicts with their record company and a general disinterest on the behalf of their lead singer delayed the release of a follow-up to 1985's Welcome to the PleasureDome.  When it did arrive the attention of the record-buying public had gone elsewhere.  

Episode 64: Grand Funk - Shinin' On

After the success of 1973's We're an American Band Grand Funk Railroad (or simply Grand Funk) maintained producer Todd Rundgren for their 1974 album Shinin' On.  Although it gave them another number one song with their cover of "The Loco-Motion" it didn't measure up in quality to the predecessor.  The signs of the upcoming burnout were there but they still managed to produce a decent album. 

Episode 63: AC/DC - Ballbreaker

After a series of lackluster albums in the second half of the 1980s AC/DC came roaring back in 1990 with The Razors Edge.  It gave them a top-40 hit with "Moneytalks" and revitalized their flagging career.  It was a while before the next album came out and, when it did in 1995, Ballbreaker sounded like it came from a band and singer that were worn out.

Episode 62: Gin Blossoms - Congratulations I'm Sorry

Gin Blossoms scored a surprise hit with their second album New Miserable Experience.  However, that success was bittersweet.  Most of the songs were written by Doug Hopkins who was fired from the band while making the album due to his increased unreliability due to his alcoholism.  A&M Records made things worse by making him sign over his royalties despite the fact he played on the majority of the release.  Hopkins committed suicide in 1993 so, despite a top 10 hit from the soundtrack to Empire Records, it was a while before another Gin Blossoms album came out.  When it did the title pretty much said it all. 

Episode 61: Peter Gabriel - Us

Peter Gabriel achieved his biggest solo success in 1986 with the album So.  Not only did it produce some of the most memorable music videos of the decade, but it also produced some of the best songs.  It took a number of years before the proper follow-up, Us, was released in 1992.  By then things had changed but, in many ways, Gabriel had not. 

Episode 60: Guns n' Roses - Use Your Illusion I & II

After the runaway hit that was Appetite for Destruction Guns n' Roses kept themselves both on the chart and as the targets of controversy with the stop-gap G n' R Lies in 1988.  The real album to follow their smash debut was actually two: Use Your Illusion I and Use Your Illusion II, released on September 17, 1991 at midnight.  With over four standard albums' worth of music the band remained radio staples throughout the early 1990s.  However, the sheer volume was both welcome and overwhelming. 

Episode 59: Ozzy Osbourne - Bark at the Moon

The death of Randy Rhoads during the tour for Diary of a Madman was a severe blow to Ozzy Osbourne, especially after the success of that album.  Jack Blades replaced Rhoads on guitar for the live recording, Speak of the Devil, but it was Jake E. Lee that was brought in to be a permanent part of Ozzy's band for Bark at the Moon.  However, behind the scenes, there was always Sharon, making sure her husband got all the credit and the band that did the heavy lifting got shafted.  Despite this the album still manage to do well and added a pop sheen to Ozzy's image. 

Episode 58: Asia - Alpha

Progressive rock music had dwindled in popularity as the '70s came to a close.  Still, Asia was able to score a major hit with "Heat of the Moment" from their 1982 debut album Asia.  Their record label wanted more and wanted in quick and the result was 1983's Alpha, where the band tried to copy the hitmaking formula, but failed at making as engaging an album as their first. 

Episode 57: Buggles - Adventures in Modern Recording

Although only a minor hit in the U.S., "Video Killed the Radio Star" topped the charts in a number of countries, and Buggles' 1979 The Age of Plastic became a hit in many countries.  It was popular enough that Trevor Horn and Geoff Downes, the two main members of the band, were asked to join Yes for their Drama album in 1980.  When Yes broke up the plan was to make another Buggles album, only Downes got recruited into Asia.  Horn went ahead anyway, using demos and new songs, to create the second and last album by the band.