Best tune on "British Steel" by Judas Priest

Released- April 14, 1980.
Recorded-January–February 1980 at Startling Studios, Ascot, England; United Kingdom.
Produced by Tom Allom.

Rob Halford – vocals, K. K. Downing – guitar, Glenn Tipton – guitar,Ian Hill – bass guitar, Dave Holland – drums

Breaking The Law
Rapid Fire
Metal Gods
Grinder
United
Living After Midnight
You Don't Have To Be Old To Be Wise
The Rage
Steeler

I liked Dave Holland in Trapeze, but would have preferred Les Binks to stick around. This is where the rest of the neighborhood climbed on board the JP train and I was looking at what else was at the station, so-to-speak.

Best tune..."The Rage"

Another impossible task.

I picked "Rapid Fire." My dark horse pick is "The Rage."

Steeler. The energy level on that track is infectious and I always liked how present the recording sounded, the original LP sounded like the band was playing in your living room just a few feet away.

Runners up would be the other under-played tracks: The Rage and You Don't Have To Be Old To Be Wise.

I'm pretty much completely burned out on the rest of the album.

I went with the Rage, just beating out Grinder.

Grinder. Simple, heavy, grinding tune. It just works.

I remember reading interviews (probably Ram It Down-era) where Rob Halford would name British Steel the best Judas Priest album. I thought that was cool because most artists would say their current album was the best. Not sure if later Priest albums have topped it. It's a good solid album, but some tracks just plod along

Back in the day, I'd probably vote for "You Don't Have To Be Old to Be Wise", but, the more I listen to the album, the greater appreciation I have for "The Rage." That last line Halford sings just kicks. Looks like a lot of you agree, so, another vote for "The Rage."

I'm completely in agreement with Witchfinder. Rapid Fire followed by The Rage.

I'm not burned out on this record, I completely love it as much as the ten year old me that bought it. Special nostalgia factor for Living After Midnight, the song that made me buy it 

Boris2008 wrote:

I'm completely in agreement with Witchfinder. Rapid Fire followed by The Rage.

Same here.

I was at this very Lowell show - front row - with a motorcycle black belt friend -
had a black hoodie sweat shirt on -that had DIO printed in white -
Dio had died recently, from what I remember, and heard Halford spoke well of him -
anyways, when the curtain dropped -
I had a evil smile with my fist held out shoulder hieght -
I felt he was immediately singing right at us -
it was incredible - stage was super intense - loud - obviously
I swear when he sang ' 2nd to none ' the final time - at me -
I could of reached out and touched him - lol -

Glower wrote:

I swear when he sang ' 2nd to none ' the final time - at me -I could of reached out and touched him - lol -

That sounded so

Without a doubt, my vote goes to Grinder!

When I hear that song, it sticks in my head for hours.

Rapid Fire over Grinder.

You don't have to be old to be wise...love this track. I bought my first copy of this way back on 8 track tape..then I got the vinyl and now the remastered cd...

Tons of great tracks on this one, but I'm glad to see all the love "The Rage" is getting. That's the song that took me from, "Eh, 'Breaking the Law' is ok, I guess," to "Holy crap, this band kicks!"

That intro is probably one of the weirdest things I've ever heard a mainstream metal band throw into one of their songs and it still makes me smile.

"You Don't Have to be Old to be Wise" > Rapid Fire (by the smallest of margins)

This is probably the most overplayed record in the Priest catalog for me.

I loved "Breaking the Law" and "Living After Midnight" back in the day but they've been run so far into the ground that I never need to hear either one of them again.

I never liked "United" much but as I understand it, neither does the band (they admit that it was a half-assed attempt at coming up with a Queen-style arena anthem ala "We Will Rock You").

That leaves us with the so-called "deep cuts" that were never singles or radio/live set favorites, and out of those I guess I'd have to go with "Grinder."

I went with Steeler, but could have chosen Metal Gods, Grinder or The Rage too. Sort of tired of Living After Midnight and Breaking the Law. I like United. I know a lot of fans hate it, but it's not so bad. It's a sing-along anthem.

I despise sing-along anthems.

James B. wrote:

Glower wrote:

I swear when he sang ' 2nd to none ' the final time - at me -I could of reached out and touched him - lol -

That sounded so

Well, at least it wasn't Morrison singing "Touch me "
Never knew they had that flag guy icon -
this site has it all covered !

Grinder is probably my favorite, never liked United, it just sounds boring compared to most of the band's other songs.

Livin' After Midnight for me. I don't care HOW overplayed this song is on Classic Rock radio, I will never tire of it and the opening drums.

Never been one of my favorite Priest albums, but there's great stuff here. 

Went with Grinder just over Metal Gods. I also really like Livin' After Midnight but I could live without Breaking the Law and United.

S.D. wrote:

Steeler.  The energy level on that track is infectious and I always liked how present the recording sounded, the original LP sounded like the band was playing in your living room just a few feet away.  

Runners up would be the other under-played tracks:  The Rage and You Don't Have To Be Old To Be Wise.  

Is anybody surprised that "United" is the only song that nobody has voted for?

The whole album is great...but "Grinder" is just killer.