Head On (Samson album)
Encyclopedia
Head On is the second album by British heavy metal band Samson
. It was released in 1980
. The cover art features the band's masked drummer, Thunderstick
. This is the first album with future Iron Maiden
-frontman Bruce Dickinson
on vocal duties, although some reissues of the debut do feature alternative bonus versions of songs, redone with Dickinson vocals.
The instrumental "Thunderburst" is credited as co-written by S. Harris
. The track is in fact a version of "The Ides of March", the opening track on the Iron Maiden album "Killers" which was released the next year.
Samson (band)
Samson was a British hard rock band formed in 1977 by guitarist and vocalist Paul Samson. They are best known for their first three albums with future Iron Maiden singer Bruce Dickinson, then known as "Bruce Bruce", and drummer Thunderstick , who wore a leather mask and performed on stage in a...
. It was released in 1980
1980 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1980.-January–March:*January 1**Cliff Richard is appointed an MBE by Elizabeth II.**The Zorros audition drummer Greg Pedley....
. The cover art features the band's masked drummer, Thunderstick
Thunderstick
Thunderstick, real name Barry Graham Purkis, is an English drummer who wore various masks and used to perform on-stage closed in a cage. He was in the popular cult-band Samson which his name is most associated with....
. This is the first album with future Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden are an English heavy metal band from Leyton in east London, formed in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. Since their inception, the band's discography has grown to include a total of thirty-six albums: fifteen studio albums; eleven live albums; four EPs; and six...
-frontman Bruce Dickinson
Bruce Dickinson
Paul Bruce Dickinson is an English singer, songwriter, airline pilot, fencer, broadcaster, author, screenwriter, actor and marketing director, best known as the lead vocalist of the heavy metal band Iron Maiden....
on vocal duties, although some reissues of the debut do feature alternative bonus versions of songs, redone with Dickinson vocals.
The instrumental "Thunderburst" is credited as co-written by S. Harris
Steve Harris (musician)
Stephen Percy "Steve" Harris is an English musician and songwriter, known as the bassist, occasional keyboardist, backing vocalist and primary songwriter of the British heavy metal band Iron Maiden, which he founded in 1975...
. The track is in fact a version of "The Ides of March", the opening track on the Iron Maiden album "Killers" which was released the next year.
Track listing
All tracks by Dickinson, Samson, Aylmer, Thunderstick except "Thunderburst" by Dickinson, Samson, Aylmer, Thunderstick and Steve HarrisSteve Harris (musician)
Stephen Percy "Steve" Harris is an English musician and songwriter, known as the bassist, occasional keyboardist, backing vocalist and primary songwriter of the British heavy metal band Iron Maiden, which he founded in 1975...
- "Hard Times" 4:42
- "Take It Like a Man" 4:09
- "Vice Versa" 4:44
- "Manwatcher" 3:37
- "Too Close to Rock" 3:36
- "Thunderburst" 2:06
- "Hammerhead" 3:40
- "Hunted" 3:00
- "Take Me to Your Leader" 3:49
- "Walking Out on You" 6:36
Personnel
- "Bruce Bruce" DickinsonBruce DickinsonPaul Bruce Dickinson is an English singer, songwriter, airline pilot, fencer, broadcaster, author, screenwriter, actor and marketing director, best known as the lead vocalist of the heavy metal band Iron Maiden....
– vocals - Paul SamsonPaul SamsonPaul Samson was a British guitarist, closely associated with the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal.Born Paul Sanson, after a period in several obscure bands, Samson formed his own eponymous outfit, Samson, in 1977, consisting of Chris Aylmer on bass guitar, and Clive Burr on drums...
– guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with... - Chris Aylmer – bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
- ThunderstickThunderstickThunderstick, real name Barry Graham Purkis, is an English drummer who wore various masks and used to perform on-stage closed in a cage. He was in the popular cult-band Samson which his name is most associated with....
– drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....