| Saxon | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | May 1979 [1] | |||
| Recorded | January–March 1979 | |||
| Studio | Livingston Recording Studios, Barnet, London | |||
| Genre | Heavy metal, hard rock | |||
| Length | 28:54 | |||
| Label | Carrere | |||
| Producer | John Verity | |||
| Saxon chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from Saxon | ||||
| ||||
Saxon is the debut studio album by English heavy metal band Saxon, released in 1979.
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [3] |
| Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal | 5/10 [4] |
Eduardo Rivadavia of AllMusic gave the album three stars out of five, and, in his mixed review, described it as "the quiet before the storm", in terms of the band's subsequent success, and the rising New Wave of British Heavy Metal. Rivadavia also criticized the band's then-lack of experience in the studio as well as their record label, Carrere, for not knowing "how to capture a heavy metal sound on tape", meaning that the album "only hints at Saxon's true personality, power, and songwriting potential". He also said that the progressive rock sounding "Rainbow Theme"/"Frozen Rainbow" and glam rock sounding "Big Teaser" and "Still Fit to Boogie", "suggested some lingering doubts as to musical direction", but that, overall, "the LP helped to put Saxon on the map". [3] Canadian journalist Martin Popoff judged the album "meekly recorded and timid in execution", harkening back to "too many '70s styles, ones that barely fit together" with merely hints of the "more uncompromising forms of metal" Saxon would produce in later years. [4]
All tracks are written by Biff Byford, Paul Quinn, Graham Oliver, Steve Dawson and Pete Gill
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Rainbow Theme" | 3:07 |
| 2. | "Frozen Rainbow" | 2:29 |
| 3. | "Big Teaser" | 3:55 |
| 4. | "Judgement Day" | 5:31 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 5. | "Stallions of the Highway" | 2:52 |
| 6. | "Backs to the Wall" | 3:09 |
| 7. | "Still Fit to Boogie" | 2:53 |
| 8. | "Militia Guard" | 4:50 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 9. | "Big Teaser" (Son of a Bitch demo, 1978) | 3:50 |
| 10. | "Stallions of the Highway" (Son of a Bitch demo, 1978) | 3:03 |
| 11. | "Backs to the Wall" (Son of a Bitch demo, 1978) | 3:12 |
| 12. | "Rainbow Theme" (Son of a Bitch demo, 1978) | 4:38 |
| 13. | "Frozen Rainbow" (Son of a Bitch demo, 1978) | 2:32 |
| 14. | "Backs to the Wall" (BBC session) | 3:17 |
| 15. | "Stallions of the Highway" (BBC session) | 2:47 |
| 16. | "Motorcycle Man" (BBC session) | 3:48 |
| 17. | "Still Fit to Boogie" (BBC session) | 2:46 |
| 18. | "747 (Strangers in the Night)" (BBC session) | 5:02 |
| 19. | "Judgement Day" (live, b-side "Suzie Hold On") | 5:40 |
| 20. | "Still Fit to Boogie" (live) | 2:38 |
| 21. | "Backs to the Wall" (live) | 3:25 |
| 22. | "Stallions of the Highway" (live) | 3:41 |
| Chart (2018) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC) [5] | 34 |
Saxon are an English heavy metal band formed in Barnsley in 1975. As leaders of the new wave of British heavy metal (NWOBHM), they had eight UK Top 40 albums during the 1980s including four UK Top 10 albums and two Top 5 albums. They had numerous hit singles on the UK Singles Chart and experienced success all over Europe and Japan, as well as in the United States.
Killing Ground is the fifteenth studio album by English heavy metal band Saxon, released in 2001. Killing Ground was also released as a special Digi-pack edition with a bonus disc featuring 8 classic re-recorded tracks which would later appear in Heavy Metal Thunder.
Metalhead is the fourteenth studio album by heavy metal band Saxon released in 1999. It is the first album with Fritz Randow, who replaced Nigel Glockler in 1999.
Unleash the Beast is the thirteenth studio album by English heavy metal band Saxon, released in 1997. It is their first studio album with Doug Scarratt on guitar.
Dogs of War is the twelfth studio album by the heavy metal band Saxon, released in 1995. It's the last album with Graham Oliver, before he's fired.
Forever Free is the eleventh studio album by heavy metal band Saxon released in 1992.
Wheels of Steel is the second studio album by English heavy metal band Saxon. Released in 1980 by Carrere Records, it was their first album to enter the UK Albums Chart, peaking at number 5, and is their highest-charting album in the UK Albums Chart to date. The album eventually went on to achieve gold status in the UK.
Strong Arm of The Law is the third studio album by English heavy metal band Saxon. It was released in 1980, seven months after Wheels of Steel, and debuted on the UK chart at #11.
Denim and Leather is the fourth studio album by English heavy metal band Saxon released in 1981. The album was certified Gold status in the U.K. This was the last album with the classic line up of Saxon, as drummer Pete Gill would leave the band due to a hand injury, later joining Motörhead; this was also seen as the last of their trilogy of classic albums.
Greatest Hits Live is the third live album by the band Saxon and the first Album with new Bass-Player Timothy "Nibbs" Carter. It was released in 1990 just one year after their previous live album Rock 'n' Roll Gypsies to celebrate the tenth anniversary years of the band's successful activity career since their second Album Wheels of Steel (1980), together with a VHS of the concert. This '10 Years Of Denim And Leather' concert was later released on DVD as Saxon 'Live Legends' with the extra track Strong Arm of the Law.
Crusader is the sixth studio album by English heavy metal band Saxon, released on 30 January 1984 by Carrere Records.
Power & the Glory is the fifth studio album by English heavy metal band Saxon, released in March 1983 by Carrere Records. This is the first Saxon studio album with new drummer Nigel Glockler and was recorded in Atlanta, Georgia in the fall of 1982.
Innocence Is No Excuse is the seventh studio album by English heavy metal band Saxon, released in September 1985. It was the band's first album for EMI after a falling-out with their previous label, Carrere Records, and their last with original bassist Steve Dawson.
Solid Ball of Rock is the tenth studio album by heavy metal band Saxon released in 1991 on Virgin Records. Five of its 11 tracks were written by new bassist Nibbs Carter, who co-wrote another three songs.
Rock the Nations is the eighth studio album by English heavy metal band Saxon, released in September 1986.
Destiny is the ninth studio album by English heavy metal band Saxon, released in March 1988. It is also the only studio album to feature the rhythm section of drummer Nigel Durham and bassist Paul Johnson on it.
The Eagle Has Landed is the first live album by heavy metal band Saxon and the first album featuring their long time drummer Nigel Glockler. It was recorded during the European leg of the world tour supporting the album Denim and Leather and released in 1982. The album reached #5 in the UK charts.
The Inner Sanctum is the seventeenth studio album by British heavy metal band Saxon, released on 5 March 2007. It is the first album by the band to feature drummer Nigel Glockler since 1997's Unleash the Beast. A limited edition with DVD is available too.
The Eagle Has Landed – Part II is a double live album by the English heavy metal band Saxon. It is the fourth live album by the band and the first recording to feature Doug Scarratt instead of Graham Oliver, who had left just after the release of Dogs of War.
Call To Arms is the nineteenth studio album by British heavy metal band Saxon. Call to Arms was released 3 June in Europe; 6 June in Denmark, Finland, and the UK; 8 June in Greece and Poland; 10 June in France. Previously, it was due to be released on 23 May 2011. The album was released on 27 September in North America by EMI. Current Deep Purple keyboardist Don Airey made a guest appearance on the album.
