The Angels

Rattpoison and I sort of hijacked the Airbourne thread talking about this band. Anyone else ever even heard of them?

Here in the US, because of squabbles with the glam band Angel, they were known variously as Angel City or The Angels From Angel City on the several albums that saw a stateside release.

Well as usual, the trendy US record buying public blew it again when they passed on this band, dismissing them as AC/DC clones. And they're stateside distributor, MCA, screwed up big time by messing with the name and track listings when compared with the original Aussie releases.


Anyone familiar with this band's catalog knows that they are definitely not AC/DC clones. Some songs from their later Aussie releases actually have a Springsteen-like vibe to them.

So, anyone besides Rattpoison and I know this band?

All i'll say is this band is a hard rock legend that no fan of hard rock/metal should miss out on.

The name change could also be because of the fab american 60's girl group The Angels.

My fave albums are Face To Face, Two Minute Warning and Beyond Salvation.

"The dogs are talkin'!"

Face To Face and Darkroom are my fav albums.

Also, when I started rounding up their entire catalog, it was next to impossible to find anything. Somehow I stumbled upon the website of their Aussie label "Shock" and snapped up everything they had.

Since then, I think most of the catalog has been reissued here in the states and is much more readily available.

They also have done some covers like "We Gotta Get Outta This Place" and "Once Bitten Twice Shy".

Found some clips

Take A Long Line
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SprbGBbP1lU&feature=related

[/url]Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPFVlLfDxeA&feature=related

Coming Down
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3u19MlBpBqs&feature=related

Marseille (Just the song no video clip, one of hard rock's greatest songs)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIIZhWCtKHw

No Secrets
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yasPvuusSkU&feature=related

Quote :

Marseille (Just the song no video clip, one of hard rock's greatest songs)

Preach it brutha!!

Of course since this was the first stateside release, it also contributed to the AC/DC clone idea.

Here's another one (Dogs Are Talking):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umnMaM3Dw5g

tohostudios wrote:

They also have done some covers like "We Gotta Get Outta This Place" and "Once Bitten Twice Shy".

Isn't it ironic they covered Once Bitten Twice Shy, The Angels covering Ian Hunter covered by Great White who made a living out of covering Ian Hunter and Angels songs.

Guns N' Roses used to cover Marseilles by the Angels live and L.A. Guns has released covers of the Angels songs.

Quote :

Guns N' Roses used to cover Marseilles by the Angels live and L.A. Guns has released covers of the Angels songs.

Are these available on non-bootlegs?

tohostudios wrote:

Quote :

Marseille (Just the song no video clip, one of hard rock's greatest songs)

Preach it brutha!!

Of course since this was the first stateside release, it also contributed to the AC/DC clone idea.

Back In Black had just broke and the Angels kinda rode their coat tails, but AC/DC, the Angels and Rose Tattoo had all emerged at the same time in the mid 70's so no one could accuse them of being clones. It's just that sound became popular and the others from that boogie hard rock Australian scene got picked up.

tohostudios wrote:

Quote :

Guns N' Roses used to cover Marseilles by the Angels live and L.A. Guns has released covers of the Angels songs.

Are these available on non-bootlegs?

The Guns N' Roses cover of Marseille is not available on non bootlegs but the L.A. Guns cover of Marsielles is available on their Rips The Covers Off album.

Thanks for the info. I need to track that one down.

BTW, I'm just giving you the US perspective on what it was like when Face To Face came out here. I got that album on vinyl in college and everyone ragged on me saying it was just an AC/DC ripoff. Personally, I didn't care (just like I don't care that people say Rhino Bucket is a ripoff).

BTW, as predicted it's just you and me here.

This band is criminally unknown.

Also, notice that cover on the Marseilles clip is from the US version? The Aussie version has the logo at the bottom of the mirror.

Its a shame cause these guys should be known as a hard rock/metal standard of the late 70's/early 80's as much as AC/DC, Thin Lizzy and Judas Priest are seen as.

A more new wavey intelligent alter ego of AC/DC (sh*t i think i scared them off, no they rocked hard just listen to Marseille) with the habit of weaving a great tale in their songs.

tohostudios wrote:

Also, notice that cover on the Marseilles clip is from the US version? The Aussie version has the logo at the bottom of the mirror.

Good spot sir, one hard rock star for you.

Heres a great clip of Marseille live 1983
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gI3u6wehVWs&NR=1

I always compared them to Thin Lizzy, just the song writing and sound.

Have you heard Doc Neeson's post Angels project Red Phoenix?

It tries so hard to be an Angels album but for me it just doesn't click.

rattpoison wrote:

tohostudios wrote:

Also, notice that cover on the Marseilles clip is from the US version? The Aussie version has the logo at the bottom of the mirror.

Good spot sir, one hard rock star for you.

Heres a great clip of Marseille live 1983
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gI3u6wehVWs&NR=1

I always compared them to Thin Lizzy, just the song writing and sound.

Thank you sir.

Not that I'm really into this band or anything...

tohostudios wrote:

Have you heard Doc Neeson's post Angels project Red Phoenix?

It tries so hard to be an Angels album but for me it just doesn't click.

I remember hearing a single from it on the radio a while ago and thought is was alright. I guess the sound of it would be what you expect from a modern day Angels album.

It's a shame Doc Neeson and the Brewster Brothers are performing apart.

I've seen both versions of the Angels live, and while the Brewster Bros are good Doc Neeson is were the party's at.

Yep. I agree. I've been to The Angels site and listened to some of their recent live recordings and it's just not the same without Doc on vox.

Similarly, Red Phoenix is just missing that extra "oomph" that I was hoping for. Because of Doc's unique vox, it sounds like it wants to be an Angels album but the songs just aren't there.

Hopefully, these guys will catch the US trend of reuniting and release a new Angels album.

Hey, if Led Zeppelin can reunite, why not The Angels.

tohostudios wrote:

Hey, if Led Zeppelin can reunite, why not The Angels.

Its just as important, yeah but Doc rocks whoever he's got behind him live. One of hard rock's indelible frontmen.

I'd love to see him live.

Better yet, I'd love to have seen the Angels live in their prime.

Man, The Angels must really be legends in Australia. You're less than half my age and are carrying on a conversation about my favorite band. The band about 6 people in the US even know about.

tohostudios wrote:

I'd love to see him live.

Better yet, I'd love to have seen the Angels live in their prime.

Man, The Angels must really be legends in Australia. You're less than half my age and are carrying on a conversation about my favorite band. The band about 6 people in the US even know about.

They are. One of our greatest rock n' roll bands. Were brought up with these guys along with Rose Tattoo and AC/DC.

It's like how i find it hard to comprehend that one of my all time favs Hanoi Rocks are so big in Finland.

I mean last night on tv, the Oz version of it takes two (celebrity and professional singer duet show) one of the couples did a cover of I Never Want To See Your Face Again. It was horrible but that should illustrate the mark these guys have left on Australian music and popular culture.