Here's a Judas Priest Set

Today I learned that the first song on the first released Judas Priest Album is "One For The Road".

The Ripper - Sad Wings of Destiny, (1976)

Source

Diamonds & Rust - Sin After Sin, (1977)

Source
A Joan Baez cover. Here is hers..

Better By You, Better Than Me - Stained Class, (1977)

Source
This is the song that brought Judas Priest to court - The James Vance vs. JP court case regarding alleged subliminal messages resulting in two teens' attempted suicide, and the death of Ray Belknap. The plaintiffs lost the case. James Vance died three years later of an intentional overdose of pain meds. (Source)

Beyond The Realms Of Death - Stained Class, (1977)

Source
Truly the band's masterpiece without any doubt, this is. Rather odd that those teens were so perplexed by the last song, and its silly "Do it" sounds, but this one is so much more touching, and powerful. A very underrated rock song.


1980's British Steel was regarded as Judas Priest's masterpiece album, but I disagree. It contained the hits Living After Midnight, Breaking The Law, and United. It was rather "mainstream", and the result was SUPER publicity in the United States. No doubt it's great but they had already released some seriously good stuff by this time, and would go on to do so afterward.

This was followed by Heading Out To The Highway, and Hot Rockin' from 1981's Point of Entry - furthermore a breakthrough into the mainstream in the States and Worldwide.

But back to the good stuff.

The Hellion/Electric Eye - Screaming For Vengeance, (1982)

Source

Screaming For Vengeance was the Platinum album which also contained You've Got Another Thing Comin'.

The Sentinel - Defenders Of The Faith, (1984)

Source

Love Bites - Defenders Of The Faith, (1984)

Source

Some Heads Are Gonna Roll - Defenders Of The Faith, (1984)

Source

Then came Turbo, 1986, which spawned several more hits. The most popular of which was Turbo Lover. But the album's gem was Parental Guidance, in my opinion.

Ram It Down - Title track, (1988)

Source


Backtracking a bit.. but for a reason. Last but not least is the hit that began it all for Judas Priest, (other than the controversial Rocka Rolla). Another masterpiece:

Victim Of Changes - Sad Wings of Destiny, (1976)

Source

Once she was wonderful
Once she was fine
Once she was beautiful
Once she was mine.. she was mine

Incredible Rock Music Era 1: Sept. 1983 - Sept. 1984

What an incredible year for hard rock releases. I was in 7th grade, and transitioning my piano-trained mind from the likes of Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, popular rock like Prince, Billy Squier, and Night Ranger - to the likes of some harder bands. Def Leppard was instrumental in this transition. One of the best albums of all time, Def Leppard's Pyromania was still in my head, and going strong since its January, 1983 release, and I've just began with my first drum set. Twisted Sister's "We're Not Gonna Take It" was a highlight in my growth as a drummer, as I was featured on my set in our 8th grade band's performance of it in fall of 1984. The rest is history:

Motley Crue - Shout at the Devil - Sept. 1983


Ozzy Osbourne - Bark at the Moon - Dec. 1983


Van Halen - 1984 - Jan. 1984


Judas Priest - Defenders of the Faith - Jan. 1984


Ratt - Out of the Cellar - Mar. 1984


Rush - Grace Under Pressure - Apr. 1984


Scorpions - Love at First Sting - May 1984


Metallica - Ride The Lightning - July 1984


Dokken - Tooth and Nail - Sept. 1984


Iron Maiden - Powerslave - Sept. 1984


Queensryche - The Warning - Sept. 1984

(A preview of what's to come in another era..)

What an incredible year of rock releases, huh? Rush is really the only one who is on this list, but whose prior songs were really more prevalent than their newest release during this period. So began my backtrack to the BEST Rush, and the beginnings of Metallica, Iron Maiden, and Van Halen. Another Era will also be showing you The Cult, who has by this time already introduced their debut album, plus one. Pink Floyd and Boston were both kind-of in hiatus. Enjoy!

Classic Judas Priest - Diamonds And Rust Live