Their first two Pretty Maids albums from 1983 and 1984 hinted at traditional European heavy metal. The point of difference for the band was the bombastic keyboards which accompanied the chainsaw guitarwork
Written by: gdmonline
ARTIST: Pretty Maids
ALBUM: Red Hot And Heavy
LABEL: CBS
SERIAL: CBS 26207
YEAR: 1984
CD REISSUE: Discogs Reissue List
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Denmark
LINEUP: Ronnie Atkins – vocals * Ken Hammer, Rick Hanson – guitars * Allan Delong – bass * Alan Owen – keyboards * Phil Moorhead – drums
Additional Musicians: Billy (Heavy Bill) Cross – lead guitar * Tommy Hansen – organ (#10) * Knud (Smarthand) Lindhardt – backing vocals (#4, #5, #8, #10)
TRACK LISTING: 01 Fortuna Imperatrix Mundi (Carmina Burana) * 02 Back To Back * 03 Red, Hot And Heavy * 04 Waitin’ For The Time * 05 Cold Killer * 06 Battle Of Pride * 07 Night Danger * 08 A Place In The Night * 09 Queen Of Dreams * 10 Little Darling
WEBLINKS: Site Link
Background
Before 1987’s rather excellent ‘Future World’ came along, Pretty Maids were a fledgling HM band ready for take off.
Their first two Pretty Maids albums from 1983 and 1984 hinted at traditional European heavy metal. By that stage, the Euro scene was already well on the way to being over-saturated. Bullet belts, studs, black leather, necker-chiefs and dark sunglasses being the norm. Thank you Rob Halford!
The point of difference for the band was the bombastic keyboards which accompanied the chainsaw guitarwork. As a result, they could’ve been pigeon-holed into numerous genres, but I think we’ll settle on melodic metal instead of debating the merits shall we? You hear these traits easily on ‘Red Hot And Heavy’, a monstrous album for 1984, their first major label album for CBS.
The Songs
Going beyond the Carl Orff themed classical intro ‘Fortuna Imperatrix Mundi (Carmina Burana)’, the Maids power up the hot-rod for the bombastic ‘Back To Back’. This one totally represents 1984 like a boss.
The title track ‘Red Hot And Heavy’ is slightly reserved by comparison, while the keyboards make their presence felt on ‘Waitin’ For The Time’, which will please the melodic rockers among you, less so the out-n-out metallers!
‘Cold Killer’ returns to a metal sound, the intro voiceover is taken from a radio or TV broadcast, but I’m unsure (or have forgotten) what it refers to. The song itself has a dark vibe, and is another album highlight.
The metronome gets taken for another ride on ‘Battle Of Pride’ so too ‘Night Danger’. The latter appeared on the 1985 soundtrack to the movie ‘Demons’ WikiPedia Ref.
‘A Place In The Night’ will appeal to melodic rockers with the inclusion of acoustic elements, keyboards and a lessened metal approach. There’s a whole lot of fanfare and brass parps preceding ‘Queen Of Dreams’, the song galloping across the wasteland like a siege of Mongol hordes.
The finale ‘Little Darling’ is a song written by Thin Lizzy‘s Phil Lynott. The song appeared on a London Records compilation called ‘The Rocker (1971-1974) which came out in 1977. Lynott and producer Tommy Hansen helped assemble the song for release with the band.
In Summary
All things considered, this was an excellent release for 1984, the album in subsequent years gaining appreciation for its old-school style. For me, I do like the sizable keyboard loading from ivories man Allan Owen, and I feel this doesn’t detract from the overall heaviness and direction being pursued by the Pretty Maids.
The Pretty Maids have a some pre 1984 material about, including the 1983 EP and a ‘Live In London’ set from 1983 as well. Worth investigating.
Pretty Maids on Video
Click to go to YTM album page.
