It’s Turntable Tuesday because life is too short not to listen to great music! This week on Turntable Tuesday it’s time to go open a sealed re-mastered 180 gram vinyl copy of the 1981 release from Van Halen titled “Fair Warning.” Turn that TV off! Crank up your local speaker or get out there and support your favorite band! What are YOU listening to right now?
The cover of Van Halen’s “Fair Warning” comes from a painting called “The Maze” by William Kurelek. He painted this work while he was a patient in a London mental hospital in 1953. You can read more about this art from this link: https://www.aci-iac.ca/art-books/william-kurelek/key-works/the-maze/
If you would like to listen to my companion podcast you can listen here or subscribe for free on any of the streaming services you use. My podcast is easily searchable on any streaming service where you get your podcasts by searching “Andrew Talbert.” Look for the World Wide Music Media logo. I’ll talk to you on your mobile device!
April 29, 1981. This was the spring day Van Halen’s “Fair Warning” released. It was a busy time for Rock and Roll music. I was living in North Carolina and listening to FM radio as time would allow. Just think of a few of the examples of popular music from this day. Joan Jett’s “I Love Rock and Roll,” Blue Oyster Cult was singing the new song “Burning for You” and the Go-Go’s were on the charts with “Our Lips are Sealed.” By August 1, 1981 MTV came on our television sets and Rock and Roll started a new adventure. Now you could see video and listen to music. Soon all of the top artists were riding the MTV rocket to more sales of albums. Van Halen was no exception. They were already keeping the FM channels hot with their hits and now the icing was being able to see them on cable TV. It was a new day in Rock music and Van Halen was one of the trailblazers. The story was barely started at this point.
The album sleeve photo – the album was “heavier metal” but Van Halen did not like the term as the band kept the “styled” look.
This is home
Mmm this is Mean Street
It’s our home
Only one I know See a gun is real easy
(This is Mean Street) In this desperate part of town
(This is home) Turns you from hunted into hunter (yeah)
(This is Mean Street) You go an’ hunt somebody down wait a minute ah Somebody said fair warning
Lord (This is Mean Street) Lord strike that poor boy down
I will talk more in detail about this album on the companion podcast episode. Be sure to tune in and subscribe.
Until next time I’ll see you, down the road.