Quiet Riot - Metal Health (1983)

Quiet Riot
Metal Health
Released in 1983 by Pasha Records
Glam Metal / Heavy Metal / Hard Rock



Personnel

• Kevin DuBrow - lead vocals
• Carlos Cavazo - guitars, backing vocals
• Rudy Sarzo - bass, synthesizer
• Frankie Banali - drums, backing vocals
• Chuck Wright - bass on "Metal Health", "Don't Wanna Let You Go", "Danger Zone" ,backing vocals
• Pat Regan - keyboards
• Riot Squad - backing vocals
• Tuesday Knight - backing vocals
• Spencer Proffer - backing vocals
• Donna Slattery - backing vocals
• Spencer Proffer – producer



1. "Metal Health" (DuBrow/Cavazo/Sarzo/Banali) 5:16
2. "Cum on Feel the Noize" (Holder/Lea) 4:51
3. "Don't Wanna Let You Go" (DuBrow/Cavazo) 4:42
4. "Slick Black Cadillac" (DuBrow/Rhoads) 4:12
5. "Love's a Bitch" (DuBrow) 4:11
6. "Breathless" (DuBrow/Cavazo) 3:51
7. "Run for Cover" (DuBrow/Cavazo) 3:38
8. "Battle Axe" (Cavazo) 1:38
9. "Let's Get Crazy" (DuBrow) 4:08
10. "Thunderbird" (DuBrow) 4:43


The Album

Heavy/Glam Metal history was made with “Metal Health”. Quiet Riot launched heavy metal into mainstream with this album, which sold like lightning once it was released, and became the first Heavy Metal album to ever reach #1 on the Billboard music charts. Quiet Riot is one of the bands that defined Glam Metal. When you consider what bands they had previous to them to take inspiration from, you begin to have a new appreciation for what Quiet Riot did for the image and the genre of Glam Metal. Quiet Riot was the true definition Glam metal, no doubt about that. Quiet Riot made Metal fun; they put on crazy costumes, had wild hair styles, and their music said “Bang Your Head”….YEAAA let’s party!

Quiet Riot was not a new band at the time of this album release, in fact, they had been around for 10 years and two previous album releases, both of which were only released in Japan. The original Quiet Riot, was spearheaded by Randy Rhoades, whom left the band to join up with Ozzy Osbourne. Quiet Riot had numerous band issues after this and the band fell apart. Kevin Dubrow, frontman and lead vocalist, reformed the band with new members, and “Metal Health” was the first release with the new band. I wouldn’t consider “Metal Health” the best glam metal/heavy metal album, but it has definitely earned its spot in metal history. ”Metal Health” has three metal anthems, which is a bit excessive, otherwise the album is a fun hard-rocking classic.

The Music

“Metal Health” is one of those songs that you know is going to be good from the opening riff and Dubrow’s primal scream. This song personifies what heavy metal/glam metal is all about, including all the excesses that go with it. This song is incredibly catchy and still makes you want to “bang your head”, even 27 years after it was recorded. An awesome song!



“Cum on Feel the Noize” is a great cover of a Slade song. Dubrow seems to be singing this song without any effort, otherwise, the music is outstanding. This song was a big hit for the band, and rightly so, it is a fun rock n’ roll tune. “we’ll get wild, wild, wild” OH yea!



“Don’t Wanna Let You Go” a metal anthem. Not too bad, simple and clean, the solo by Cavazo is decent.
“Slick Black Cadillac” is a revamped song from the band’s past. This song was co-written with Randy Rhoades. A fun song with a 1950’s feel and some hilarious lyrics about a black caddy.
“Love’s a Bitch” is the second metal anthem. I like this one. This song is pseudo-anthem to me, mixing some great solo work into the song, and the vocal harmonies give the song plenty of attitude.
“Breathless” is a super fast paced song, and IMO the weakest song on the album. The guitar solo is impressive, but the vocals left me holding my breath for a new song.
“Run For Cover” begins with a scream, and a super fast riff. Another good song, with a good solo and some great drum work from Banali.
“Battle Axe” is merely Cavazo making his guitar statement. Don’t worry it doesn’t last long.
“Let’s Get Crazy” is not the best song, but not the worst. A fairly decent party song, nothing more.
“Thunderbird” is Quiet Riots attempt at a Freebird type anthem. It opens with a piano, and some soft clean vocals. This is supposed to be a tribute to Randy Rhoades. I found this song out of place on the album and sounding a bit “cheesy”. Quiet Riot just isn’t the type of band to try to sound so melancholy in this type of ballad.

My rating for overall listening pleasure 3/5.

Re: Quiet Riot ~ Metal Health (1983)

I remember the Slade song they covered, but Quiet Riot never had any impact on me...1983, I was busy playing hockey and football during this time period, and my music collecting/listening was on the back burner.

Still a very important album worthy of a in depth review Snoop, who knows maybe I'll pick up a copy eventually.

Re: Quiet Riot ~ Metal Health (1983)

I really like this album. Their version of "Cum On Feel The Noize" I stand as being a very important song in music history for it doing so much for metal. Without that song being a hit like it did I doubt that 80's metal would've been ushered in like it was and then in the early 90's "Enter Sandman" would've been too aggressive to have been a hit and so on and so on with the whole world of metal not being the same as it is today.
The fun story with that song though is that Quiet Riot didn't even want to record it. The record company wanted them to record a version of it because it was originally a hit in the UK and they thought Kevin and Slade's singer sounded similar. When it came time to record it one of the other band members (I think it was Rudy Sarzo) told Kevin "Just sing it shitty. You can do that.". The very first take of that song is what appeared on the "Metal Health" album which is why would might not think Kevin was singing with any effort Magic, because in reality he wasn't.

Re: Quiet Riot ~ Metal Health (1983)

I read that the band didn't want to record "Cum on Feel the Noize", they thought they did a crappy job once it was recorded. I think that is the beauty of the song, it just "happened". It is raw, and fun.

Too bad, though, Quiet Riot didn't do very well after this album. They had the talent, but I guess their creativity together ran its course. The albums that followed "Metal Health" never made any impact or had any success. I personally only have this album in my collection.

Re: Quiet Riot ~ Metal Health (1983)

I really like Quiet Riot's sound too, but they just weren't the most skilled songwriters really....Later on they record another Slade song "Mama Weer All Crazee Now" and that was pretty good and some time after that they covered "Highway To Hell" which I think is really really good, but as far as original material goes the only song by them after this album that I like is "The Wild and the Young" which I'm probably give a C+ at best.

Re: Quiet Riot ~ Metal Health (1983)

Easily my favorite song on this album = Love's A Bitch




Good writeup missy.

Re: Quiet Riot ~ Metal Health (1983)

Lynch said:

Easily my favorite song on this album = Love's A Bitch




Good writeup missy.

Click to expand...

Thank you!

I like that song, too.

Re: Quiet Riot ~ Metal Health (1983)

"Love's A Bitch" is probably third favorite song off this album after the two hit singles.

Re: Quiet Riot ~ Metal Health (1983)

I love Metal Health, my favorite song.

Re: Quiet Riot ~ Metal Health (1983)

I always thought Kevin sounded like Slade....probably why they ended up doing two Slade songs.

Quiet Riot, as you noted, were from the 70's with 2 albums before Metal Health and Randy Rhoads on guitar.

IMHO they were perfect for the second coming of Glam Rock/Hard Rock/Metal and I've always said that Glam Metal / Hair Metal came from the 70's anyway.

see the Dolls,Sweet,Slade,Gary Glitter, T. Rex, and a few hundred more.

Quiet Riot re-opened those doors. Glad they did....what's wrong with a good time??