Run of the Mill (Judas Priest song)

"Run of the Mill"
Song by Judas Priest
from the album Rocka Rolla
Released	6 September 1974 (1974-09-06)
Recorded	June –July 1974
Studio	Island, [1] Trident, Olympic; London
Genre	Hard rock heavy metal
Length	8:34
Label	Gull
Songwriter(s)	Rob Halford K. K. Downing Glenn Tipton
Producer(s)	Rodger Bain

"Run of the Mill" is a ballad by English heavy metal band Judas Priest from their debut album Rocka Rolla . The song was the first written by guitarist K. K. Downing, soon after vocalist Rob Halford joined the band. ^{[2] [3]} Downing wrote it, in part, to display Halford's unique vocal range.^{[ citation needed ]}

The track was first recorded as a demo circa 1973, along with another early Priest song, "Whiskey Woman". This track would later surface in altered form on Priest's second album as "Victim of Changes". ^[2] Priest's manager at the time, Dave Corke, brought the demo to Gull Records, who would later sign Priest after their president, David Howells, attended a performance of the band, with Budgie at London's Marquee Club on 11 February 1974. The song was later recorded properly for their debut, Rocka Rolla, in the summer of 1974.

The song's lyrics are about a poor old man, whose "prospects" for a good life "vanished", now embattled and confused by today's society. Following the first two verses is a long guitar solo by Downing, with Glenn Tipton playing keyboards. At the end of the song, the music gets heavier as Halford shows off his vocal range by wailing the end lines. ^[4]

"Run of the Mill" was Priest's longest recorded track until "Cathedral Spires", a track from their 1997 album, Jugulator. It was also the longest track co-written by Rob Halford, Glenn Tipton, and K. K. Downing prior to "Lochness", a track from their 2005 album, Angel of Retribution.

Although Priest has not performed the song since the mid-1970s, many fans and critics consider it to be one of the highlights of the album and a classic early Priest track.^{[ citation needed ]}

Personnel

• Rob Halford – vocals
• K. K. Downing – guitar ^[5]
• Glenn Tipton – guitar, synthesizer
• Ian Hill – bass guitar
• John Hinch – drums

References

1. Sharpe-Young, Garry (2007). Metal - The Definitive Guide. Jawbone Press. p. 34. ISBN   9781906002015 . Retrieved 27 April 2014.
2. "The Judas Priest History". The Jugulator. Archived from the original on 30 May 2015. Retrieved 27 April 2014.
3. Popoff, Martin (1 May 2011). Black Sabbath FAQ. Backbeat Books. p. 169. ISBN   9781617131097.
4. Wagner, Jeff (2010). Mean Deviation. Bazillion Points Books. pp. 16–17. ISBN   9780979616334.
5. M. Scott, Campbell (March 2011). Walk With Me Awhile. Lulu.com. p. 340. ISBN   9781257063154.