80s GREEK COMPILATIONS VOL.I
80s GREEK COMPILATIONS VOL. I
And since we talked mostly about Greek releases from the ’80s, now let’s check out some very interesting compilations that were released ONLY in Greece.
Our story begins with one of the most historic compilations featuring Greek bands, from the legendary record shop/label Happening Records, simply titled ''Happening 82'', released in 1982. OK, this compilation wouldn’t be called purely hard rock or metal, because it includes various bands in the classic rock and new wave styles, BUT it contains 2 tracks by VAVOURA BAND (one of the heaviest hard rock bands of the ’70s and ’80s - seriously, dig up their late ’70s recordings and you’ll be blown away, I definitely need to do a tribute on them!) and one (unfortunately only one!) metal track by Heaven And Hell - ''Heaven And Hell 1''. A historic compilation!
Staying in the same year, the multinational label Vertigo released a compilation of Greek bands titled simply ''Made In Greece''. This compilation features 10 songs from 5 classic rock bands, but with a difference - it includes 2 very strong and cool tracks from the band FOXES. Now you might ask, who were FOXES? FOXES had members who, two years later, would form DOUGLAS and SPITFIRE respectively. The two tracks were ''Fast And Loud'' and ''Damned - Brain''. Also for the record, FOXES appeared again with the song ''I’m Free Now'' on the 1984 movie soundtrack ''ΡΕΒΑΝΣ'' (Revanche). A very interesting release!
Foxes - ''I'm Free now'' from the original soundtrack ''ΡΕΒΑΝΣ''. Composer of the soundtrack is the well-known Dimitris Papadimitriou.
In 1984, CBS Records released two compilations: ''Heavy Metal Wars'' and ''Heavy Metal Killers'', featuring mainstream metal and hard rock bands of the era. Nothing special about the versions of the songs - they were standard album versions, except for ''Heavy Metal Killers'', which features Ozzy Osbourne’s ''Bark At The Moon'' in a live performance!
Apparently, those compilations sold well because in 1985 we have quite a few to mention. Starting with a compilation from Greek EMI titled simply ''Heavy Metal''... haha... nice cover though! The track by the Germans FARGO, ''A Girl Like A Trigger'', is unfortunately cut short - they faded it out right at its climax… shame! Then we have the compilation (again from Greek EMI) ''Heavy n’ Rock'' featuring QUEENSRYCHE on the cover from a live show. And finally, from EMI again, the compilation ''Metalmania 2'' - the cover is incredibly cult!
Now, let’s move to a very special compilation released by Vertigo Records titled ''Mausoleum... A Metal Compilation''. There must have been some agreement with the Belgian label Mausoleum (see previous episode about their Greek pressings of OSTROGOTH, FAITHFUL BREATH) to promote their bands to the Greek audience. The compilation includes tracks from FAITHFUL BREATH, FISC, KILLER, FN GUNS, WARHEAD, CROSSFIRE, LIONSPRIDE, SAINT’S ANGER, and WILDFIRE! Very interesting compilation with fantastic cover art by the amazing artist HR Giger. I wonder if they had permission to use his work…
And to close 1985’s exclusive Greek compilations, we have a very cult release from Greek PolyGram and Bronze titled ''Hell Has Broken Loose - Heavy Metal ’85''. This compilation contains fantastic heavy metal tracks from WRATHCHILD, INCUBUS, VENOM, MOTORHEAD, MILLENNIUM, ANGEL WITCH, SPARTAN WARRIOR, and RAVEN (covering ''Born To Be Wild'' with vocals featuring U.D.O.). The songs are identical to the album versions, except for SPARTAN WARRIOR and MILLENNIUM - these are versions from the now-forgotten English Guardian Records N’ Tapes compilation ''Pure Overkill'', released in 1983!
(to be continued...)
By Steve the Filthy Dog.