Breaking Loose (album)

Last updated
Breaking Loose
Helix breaking loose.jpg
Studio album by
Helix
Released1979 (1979)
Recorded1979 (1979)
Studio
Genre
Length36:09
Label H&S
Producer
  • R.A. "Bob" Morten
  • Helix
Helix chronology
Breaking Loose
(1979)		 White Lace & Black Leather
(1981)
Singles from Breaking Loose
  1. "Don't Hide Your Love"
    Released: 1979 (1979)
  2. "Billy Oxygen"
    Released: 1979 (1979)

Breaking Loose is the debut studio album by Canadian hard rock band Helix. Recorded primarily at Springfield Sound in Aylmer, Ontario with producer R.A. "Bob" Morten, it was released in 1979 on the band's own label H&S Records. The album features all original material, written by the band's frontman Brian Vollmer, and two guitarists Paul Hackman and Brent Doerner. It was supported by the release of Hackman's "Don't Hide Your Love" and Doerner's "Billy Oxygen" as singles.

Contents

Material for Breaking Loose was recorded over a two-week period in 1979 and featured contributions from a range of guest performers, including up-and-coming vocalist Lydia Taylor, session guitarist Peter Follett, and keyboardist Joel Wideman. Although the album did not chart, it received significant radio airplay in Canada and the United States which led to several touring and promotional opportunities. Breaking Loose was reissued for its 40th anniversary in 2019 with two bonus tracks.

Background

After five years of touring with various lineups, Helix recorded its debut album in 1979, funded by money raised by manager Bill Seip. [1] Describing the recording process in 2009, the band's lead vocalist Brian Vollmer recalled that Breaking Loose was tracked over a period of two weeks using 24-track 2-inch tape, during which time the band "ate, slept, [and] lived at the studio". [2] The album was independently released on the group's own label H&S Records, which stands for "Helix & Seip". [1] According to Billboard magazine, Breaking Loose sold approximately 10,000 units after its initial pressing. [3]

"Don't Hide Your Love", written by guitarist Paul Hackman, was released as the lead single from Breaking Loose. [4] This was followed by a second single, "Billy Oxygen", which was written and sung by guitarist Brian Doerner. [5] The latter track is credited with gaining Helix early Canadian airplay. [6] Outside of Canada, radio host Joe Anthony of San Antonio, Texas station KISS FM began playing "You're a Woman Now" which gave the band an opportunity to perform in the US for the first time. [7] This resulted in a four-date tour of the state, after which they "returned to Canada [and] were treated as stars by their rabid following", leading to their first TV interview. [8]

Following its initial pressings on LP record, Breaking Loose was released on compact disc for the first time as one half of the 1991 compilation The Early Years , alongside 1981 follow-up White Lace & Black Leather . [1] After several subsequent limited-run re-releases, the album was remastered and reissued in 2019 to mark its 40th anniversary (White Lace & Black Leather was also remastered and reissued at the same time). The new version contains two previously unreleased bonus tracks: "Let Me Take You Dancin'", which was reportedly the first song the band ever recorded; and "Sidewalk Sally", the first song to be co-written by Vollmer and Doerner. [9]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [10]
Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal 6/10 [11]

Music website AllMusic awarded Breaking Loose three out of five stars, although did not publish a written review for the album. [10] Independent writer Mike Ladano gave it five out of five, writing that "Breaking Loose isn't metal, but what it lacks in firepower is made up for in class, ambition and natural talent. [...] Though it lacks the oomph of Helix today, it's perfectly listenable." [1] Ladano added that "the only complaint I have about this album would be that some of the lyrics were a little weak". [1]

Reviewing the 2019 40th anniversary expanded reissue alongside the reissue of White Lace & Black Leather, Ladano praised the albums' mastering and wrote that "These discs are the versions to get; the expanded tracklist making them musts to the collecting fan who already own them all." [9]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."I Could Never Leave"
3:56
2."Don't Hide Your Love"Hackman3:21
3."Down in the City"Vollmer5:45
4."Crazy Women"Brent Doerner3:17
5."Billy Oxygen"Doerner4:17
6."Here I Go Again"
  • Doerner
  • Vollmer
3:31
7."You're a Woman Now"Hackman5:44
8."Wish I Could Be There"Hackman6:18
Total length:36:09
40th anniversary reissue bonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
9."Let Me Take You Dancin'"David Lodge3:29
10."Sidewalk Sally"
  • Doerner
  • Vollmer
3:39
Total length:44:02

Personnel

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Helix (band)</span> Canadian hard rock band

Helix is a Canadian hard rock and heavy metal band. They formed in 1974, and are best known for their 1984 single "Rock You". The original lineup was formed by drummer Bruce Arnold, and consisted of lead vocalist Brian Vollmer, guitarists Ron Watson and Rick "Minstrel" Trembley, keyboardist Don Simmons, and bassist Keith "Bert" Zurbrigg. However, their most well known lineup, and the one that recorded "Rock You", was the 1980s version of the band: Vollmer on vocals, accompanied by guitarists Brent "The Doctor" Doerner and Paul Hackman, bassist Daryl Gray, and drummer Greg "Fritz" Hinz. The history of the band has been marked by many lineup changes, with Vollmer being the sole constant member and only remaining member of the original lineup. Although Hackman was killed in a tour bus accident in 1992, the surviving members of the 1980s lineup reunited in 2009 for an album and have continued to tour since 2011. Watson died in 2019. Simmons died in 2021.

<i>Wild in the Streets</i> (Helix album) 1987 studio album by Helix

Wild in the Streets was the sixth album by the rock band Helix, released in 1987.

<i>Long Way to Heaven</i> 1985 studio album by Helix

Long Way to Heaven is the fifth studio album by the Canadian heavy metal band Helix. This album was their third for Capitol Records, and there were bigger expectations from the band after the success of the previous Walkin' the Razor's Edge. The first single was "Deep Cuts the Knife", co-written by Paul Hackman and Bob Halligan Jr. The song received heavy airplay in the U.S., gaining "double breaker" status, and in Canada was added to heavy video play on MuchMusic. Q107 in Toronto had the song riding at number 1 for several weeks on their "Top Ten at Ten". Their first tour to kick off the album was in Sweden where they became the first Canadian rock band ever to tour that country extensively. For this they achieved their first number 1 album in that country.

<i>No Rest for the Wicked</i> (Helix album) 1983 studio album by Helix

No Rest for the Wicked is the third studio album by the Canadian hard rock/heavy metal band Helix. It is also their major label debut, on Capitol Records.

<i>Over 60 Minutes With...</i> 1989 greatest hits album by Helix

Over 60 Minutes With... is the seventh album release by Canadian hard rock/heavy metal band Helix. Their first compilation, it collects music from their first three Capitol Records albums but includes nothing from Wild in the Streets (1987). It was released on cassette and CD. Along with past singles and album tracks, the compilation album also includes previously unreleased songs "Everybody Pays the Price" and "Give It To You". Also included is "Jaws of the Tiger", which had first been released in 1986 as the B-side of the "It's Too Late" single.

<i>White Lace & Black Leather</i> 1981 studio album by Helix

White Lace & Black Leather is the second studio album by Canadian hard rock band Helix. Recorded at Springfield Sound in Aylmer, Ontario with producer Lachlan MacFadyen, it was released in 1981 on the band's own label H&S Records. The release was the group's first to feature bassist Mike Uzelac and their only to feature drummer Leo Niebudek, the pair of whom replaced Keith "Bert" Zurbrigg and drummer Brian Doerner, respectively.

My Wicked Twin are a Canadian hard rock band from Kitchener, Ontario that formed in 2008. They have their genesis in an earlier band called Brent Doerner's Decibel. Revamped as My Wicked Twin, they now consist of Brent Doerner of Helix and his twin brother Brian Doerner. Brent and Brian Doerner have been playing music together since the age of 8. My Wicked Twin's first album Decibel Music released 2016 with 9 songs. In 2018 the band released Twin Turbo with 8 songs. New in 2020 the band released 3 Engines with 10 songs.

<i>The Early Years</i> (Helix album) 1991 compilation album by Helix

The Early Years was the ninth Helix album and their second compilation album, issued in 1991. It reissued all the tracks from the band's first two independent albums, Breaking Loose (1979) and White Lace & Black Leather (1981), with new cover art. This was the first ever Compact Disc release of these two albums.

<i>Its a Business Doing Pleasure</i> 1993 studio album by Helix

It's A Business Doing Pleasure was the eighth Helix studio album and tenth album altogether. It was their only release on Aquarius Records. It's A Business Doing Pleasure followed the death of lead guitarist Paul Hackman and the departure of temporary guitarist Denny Balicki. In their stead, guitarist Brent "The Doctor" Doerner returned to Helix after a 4-year absence, and Greg Fraser joined on guitar as well.

<i>Half-Alive</i> 1998 live album by Helix

half-ALIVE was the first official live album by Canadian heavy metal band Helix, following the promotional-only Live At The Marquee. It was also their 11th album altogether and featured five new studio songs. It was their only release on DeROCK Records and was recorded at various gigs throughout the 1990s.

Brian Vollmer is the lead singer and only remaining original member of Canadian hard rock group Helix. Since the band's inception in 1974, Vollmer had gone from lead singer to de facto leader of the band, weathering numerous lineup changes. Vollmer was born in Listowel, Ontario before relocating to Kitchener. He currently resides in London, Ontario with his wife, Lynda.

Deep Cuts is a compilation album by the Canadian hard rock band Helix. It is their 12th official release, and their third compilation album. It collects music from both their early indi career as well as their catalogue with Capitol Records and rare tracks.

"Rock You" is a hard rock song written by Bob Halligan, Jr., and the first track from Helix's 1984 album Walkin' the Razor's Edge. It is best known for its call and response refrain of "Gimme an R, O, C, K." It peaked at number 27 on the RPM Pop Chart in Canada, although it received much higher levels of play on Canadian rock radio stations, but no national rock track chart exists for Canada for this time period.

<i>B-Sides</i> (Helix album) 1999 compilation album by Helix

B-Sides is a compilation album by the Canadian hard rock band Helix. It is their 13th official release and their fourth compilation album. Despite the title, it actually consists of no B-sides. It was released in conjunction with the 25th anniversary of Helix and featured a reunion of surviving members of the "classic" 1980s lineup on three tracks. It also compiled previously unreleased tracks from 1989 to 1998. As a bonus, it included two unreleased songs from the Helix independent years.

Live! in Buffalo is a live album by Canadian hard rock/heavy metal band Helix. It was recorded on September 29, 1983 in Buffalo, New York. It is their 14th official release. It includes several songs that were road-tested versions of new tracks that were written for 1984's Walkin' the Razor's Edge, but were yet to be recorded. It also features the song "Hot on the Heels of Love" that has never been released in any other form.

<i>Rockin in My Outer Space</i> 2004 studio album by Helix

Rockin' in My Outer Space is a CD released by hard rock/heavy metal band Helix on May 24, 2004. It is Helix' 9th full-length studio album, and 15th official album release. It is also their first studio album since 1993's It's a Business Doing Pleasure, an 11-year gap and the longest gap between studio albums in Helix history.

<i>30th Anniversary Concert</i> 2004 video by Helix

30th Anniversary Concert is a DVD release by Canadian hard rock band Helix. It is a live concert recorded on July 17, 2004 at the Brantford, Ontario Sanderson Centre. It is a complete concert and it features appearances from band members past and present to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the band. The concert is interspersed with interviews, studio recordings and photo montages.

Paul Wayne Hackman was a Canadian guitarist who performed with the rock band Helix from 1976 until his death in a road accident. Among the hits which contain his playing are the #32 Canadian single "Rock You" and the #20 mainstream Canadian rock single "Deep Cuts the Knife", which he co-wrote with Bob Halligan Jr.

Smash Hits...Unplugged! is an acoustic studio album by the heavy metal band Helix. It was released in November 2010 via the band's official site and at shows, with a wider release via EMI in January 2011. It is composed of acoustic versions of Helix hits from albums past as well as a new cover version of "Touch Of Magic" by the late Canadian singer, James Leroy. It is the first studio recording by the current Helix lineup of vocalist Brian Vollmer, guitarists Brent Doerner and Kaleb Duck, bassist Daryl Gray and drummer Greg Hinz. It also features guitar performances by ex-member and co-producer Sean Kelly. It is Helix' 13th full-length studio album and 22nd album released overall.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Ladano, Mike (June 15, 2015). "Review: Helix – Breaking Loose (1979 H&S)". Mike Ladano. Retrieved October 19, 2021.
  2. ↑ "Helix – New Album Artwork, Release Date Confirmed". Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles . October 4, 2009. Retrieved October 19, 2021.
  3. ↑ "New On The Charts: Helix" (PDF). Billboard . Vol. 95, no. 44. New York City, New York: Billboard. October 29, 1983. p. 24. Retrieved October 20, 2021.
  4. ↑ "Phonodisc to distribute Helix's Breaking Loose" (PDF). RPM . Vol. 33, no. 15. Toronto, Ontario: RPM. July 5, 1980. p. 16. Retrieved October 19, 2021.
  5. ↑ "Helix". The Canadian Pop Music Encyclopedia. Retrieved October 19, 2021.
  6. ↑ Popoff, Martin (1993). Riff Kills Man! 25 Years of Recorded Hard Rock & Heavy Metal. Toronto, Ontario: Power Chord Press. ISBN   978-0969770701.
  7. ↑ Vollmer, Brian (2005). Gimme an R!: The Story of Brian Vollmer, Lead Vocalist of Helix. Brantford, Ontario: Ball Media. ISBN   978-0973984903.
  8. ↑ "Helix's Brian Vollmer Reminisces About Debut Album – "We Sent A Letter To Bob Seger To Produce The Album..."". Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles . January 9, 2019. Retrieved October 19, 2021.
  9. 1 2 Ladano, Mike (June 28, 2019). "Review(s): Helix – Breaking Loose, White Lace & Black Leather (2019 Expanded Editions)". Mike Ladano. Retrieved October 19, 2021.
  10. 1 2 "Breaking Loose – Helix: Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic . Retrieved October 19, 2021.
  11. ↑ Popoff, Martin (October 2003). The Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal: Volume 1: The Seventies. Burlington, Ontario, Canada: Collector's Guide Publishing. p.  137. ISBN   978-1894959025.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.