The Great Radio Controversy

Last updated

The Great Radio Controversy
Tesla The Great Radio.jpg
Studio album by
Tesla
ReleasedFebruary 1, 1989 [1]
Recorded1988
Studio Bearsville (Woodstock, New York)
Genre
Length59:18
Label Geffen
Producer
Tesla chronology
Mechanical Resonance
(1986)		The Great Radio Controversy
(1989)		 Five Man Acoustical Jam
(1990)
Singles from The Great Radio Controversy
  1. "Heaven's Trail (No Way Out)"
    Released: January 1989
  2. "Hang Tough"
    Released: April 1989
  3. "Love Song"
    Released: August 11, 1989 [1]
  4. "The Way It Is"
    Released: March 1990
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [6]
Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal 7/10 [7]
Kerrang! Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [8]
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [9]
Sounds Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [10]

The Great Radio Controversy is the second studio album by American hard rock band Tesla, released in 1989. The album's sound has been described as "glam metal to play inside the cab of a tractor-blusey denim and downright wholesome". [3]

Contents

The hit singles "Love Song", "Heaven's Trail (No Way Out)", "Hang Tough" and "The Way It Is" received considerable airplay on MTV's Headbangers Ball and rocketed the band to stardom. The album was certified double platinum by the RIAA on July 23, 1998. [1]

The album is titled after the controversy about the identity of the inventor of radio. It is posited that Serbian engineer Nikola Tesla (whom the band is named after) is the true inventor of radio, while the Italian Guglielmo Marconi took the credit and is widely regarded as having the title. The album's inner sleeve recounts this story.

Critical reception

Kirk Blows of British newspaper Music Week gave positive a response to the album. He said that the album musical material will "satisfy even the most fastidious rock fan", and that "there's plenty of light and shade here too, all conveyed with an overwhelming air of confidence from a band set to expand on their promising base". [11]

Spin wrote, "This is hard rock's call to the Party, and it will compel anyone with a butt to wiggle and huff and leap around playing air to all eight solos." [2]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Hang Tough"Jeff Keith, Tommy Skeoch, Frank Hannon, Brian Wheat4:21
2."Lady Luck"Keith, Skeoch, Hannon, Wheat3:39
3."Heaven's Trail (No Way Out)"Keith, Skeoch4:41
4."Be a Man"Keith, Hannon, Skeoch4:20
5."Lazy Days, Crazy Nights"Keith, Skeoch4:26
6."Did It for the Money"Keith, Skeoch, Hannon4:25
7."Yesterdaze Gone"Keith, Hannon3:43
8."Makin' Magic"Keith, Skeoch, Hannon, Wheat5:03
9."The Way It Is"Keith, Skeoch, Hannon, Troy Luccketta5:14
10."Flight to Nowhere"Keith, Skeoch, Hannon, Wheat4:43
11."Love Song"Keith, Hannon5:20
12."Paradise"Keith, Hannon, Wheat4:59
13."Party's Over"Keith, Hannon, Skeoch4:24

Personnel

Tesla
Production

Charts

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada) [19] Gold50,000^
United States (RIAA) [20] 2× Platinum2,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Accolades

PublicationCountryAccoladeRank
Rolling StoneUS50 Greatest Hair Metal Albums of All Time [4] 11
L.A. WeeklyUSChuck Klosterman's Favorite Hair Metal Albums [5] 18
Martin PopoffUSThe Top 500 Heavy Metal Albums of All Time [21] 415

See also

Related Research Articles

<i>Skid Row</i> (Skid Row album) 1989 studio album by Skid Row

Skid Row is the debut studio album by American heavy metal band Skid Row, released on January 24, 1989, by Atlantic Records. After signing with manager Doc McGhee, Skid Row signed with Atlantic and began recording its debut. The album was recorded in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin with producer Michael Wagener, and received mixed reviews upon its release. The band toured behind the album mainly as an opening act, supporting Bon Jovi and Aerosmith in 1989–1990. The album peaked at number six on the Billboard 200 and was certified 5× platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in 1995 for shipping five million copies in the United States. It generated four singles: "Youth Gone Wild", "18 and Life", "I Remember You" and "Piece of Me", all of which were accompanied by music videos and received heavy rotation on MTV. The album's commercial and critical success made Skid Row a regular feature in rock magazines and brought the group nationwide popularity.

<i>Out of the Cellar</i> 1984 studio album by Ratt

Out of the Cellar is the debut studio album by the American heavy metal band Ratt, released in 1984 by Atlantic Records. The album was an immediate success, with wide airplay on radio and heavy rotation on MTV of its singles, especially the hit "Round and Round". The album is certified as triple platinum by the RIAA. The album brought Ratt to the top of the glam metal scene in Los Angeles. Out of the Cellar would prove to be the band's most successful album.

<i>Pyromania</i> (album) 1983 studio album by Def Leppard

Pyromania is the third studio album by English rock band Def Leppard, released on 20 January 1983 through Vertigo Records in UK and Europe and through Mercury Records in the US. The first album to feature guitarist Phil Collen who replaced founding member Pete Willis, Pyromania was produced by Robert John "Mutt" Lange. The album was a shift away from the band's traditional heavy metal roots toward a more radio-friendly sound, finding massive mainstream success. Pyromania charted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200, No. 4 on the Canadian RPM Album chart and No. 18 on the UK Albums Chart. Selling over ten million copies in the US, it has been certified diamond by the RIAA.

<i>Winger</i> (album) 1988 studio album by Winger

Winger is the debut studio album by American rock band Winger. The album was released through Atlantic Records in 1988 and was produced by Beau Hill.

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

Tesla is an American rock band from Sacramento, California. In late 1981, bassist Brian Wheat and guitarist Frank Hannon formed a band named City Kidd, which evolved into Tesla. By 1984, vocalist Jeff Keith, guitarist Tommy Skeoch, and drummer Troy Luccketta had joined the band, forming their classic lineup that appeared on all of the albums and live shows during their initial run. The band adopted the Tesla moniker shortly before recording their first album, as another band with a name similar to City Kidd already existed.

<i>Love at First Sting</i> 1984 studio album by Scorpions

Love at First Sting is the ninth studio album by German rock band Scorpions. It was released in February 1984 by Harvest and EMI Records in Europe and Mercury Records in the US. The album contains "Rock You Like a Hurricane", "Still Loving You", and "Big City Nights", three of the band's most famous songs.

<i>Extreme II: Pornograffitti</i> 1990 studio album by Extreme

Extreme II: Pornograffitti is the second studio album by the heavy metal band Extreme, released on August 7, 1990, through A&M Records. The album title is a portmanteau of pornography and graffiti.

<i>Tooth and Nail</i> (Dokken album) 1984 studio album by Dokken

Tooth and Nail is the second studio album by American heavy metal band Dokken, released on September 14, 1984 through Elektra Records.

<i>Back for the Attack</i> 1987 studio album by Dokken

Back for the Attack is the fourth studio album by American heavy metal band Dokken, released on November 2, 1987, through Elektra Records.

<i>Under Lock and Key</i> 1985 studio album by Dokken

Under Lock and Key is the third studio album by American heavy metal band Dokken, released on November 22, 1985, through Elektra Records. The album reached No. 32 on the U.S. Billboard 200 and remained on that chart for 67 weeks. Two singles also charted: "The Hunter" and "In My Dreams", both reaching No. 25 and 24 on Billboard's Mainstream Rock respectively, with "In My Dreams" at No. 77 on the Billboard Hot 100. Under Lock and Key was certified Gold on March 4, 1986, and Platinum on April 14, 1987.

<i>Asylum</i> (Kiss album) 1985 studio album by Kiss

Asylum is the thirteenth studio album by American rock band Kiss, released on September 16, 1985. The album marked a continuation of the glam metal sound of the preceding album Animalize.

<i>Wake Me When Its Over</i> 1989 studio album by Faster Pussycat

Wake Me When It's Over is the second album by Faster Pussycat, released in 1989. The band moved away from the glam metal of their first album to a more blues-influenced sound.

<i>Long Cold Winter</i> 1988 studio album by Cinderella

Long Cold Winter is the second studio album by American glam metal band Cinderella. It was released in July 1988 on Mercury Records.

<i>Five Man Acoustical Jam</i> 1990 live album by Tesla

Five Man Acoustical Jam is a live album recorded at the Trocadero Theatre in Philadelphia and released in 1990 by the band Tesla, using acoustic guitars instead of the electric guitars for which pop-metal bands such as Tesla are traditionally known.

<i>You Cant Stop Rock n Roll</i> 1983 studio album by Twisted Sister

You Can't Stop Rock 'n' Roll is the second studio album by American heavy metal band Twisted Sister, released in April 1983 in the UK and on June 17, 1983 in the US.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Love Song (Tesla song)</span> 1989 single by Tesla

"Love Song" is a power ballad written by Frank Hannon and Jeff Keith of the rock band Tesla, originally released on their 1989 album The Great Radio Controversy. The song reached number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100. It also became a gold record.

<i>Psychotic Supper</i> 1991 studio album by Tesla

Psychotic Supper is the third studio album by American hard rock band Tesla, released in 1991. It peaked at 13 on the Billboard 200 and was certified platinum by RIAA on November 5, 1993.

<i>Mechanical Resonance</i> (album) 1986 studio album by Tesla

Mechanical Resonance is the debut studio album by the American hard rock band Tesla. It was released on December 8, 1986, by Geffen Records. The album peaked at No. 32 on the Billboard 200 on April 3, 1987, and was certified platinum by the RIAA on October 5, 1989.

<i>Once Bitten</i> (Great White album) 1987 studio album by Great White

Once Bitten is the third studio album by American glam metal band Great White. It was released on June 17, 1987, by Capitol Records. The album became a commercial success, selling more than one million copies and being certified Platinum in April 1988. The anthem "Rock Me" became a hit single, charting in September 1987, and is one of Great White's best known songs. AllMusic explains in their review that it brought Great White a broader audience. "Save Your Love" also charted, becoming their most famous power ballad at the time, in February 1988. "Lady Red Light" and "All Over Now" would become fan favorites and be included among 15 tracks on their later retrospective, "Absolute Hits". It was the band's last album to feature bassist Lorne Black.

"The Way It Is" is a song by American rock band Tesla. When it was released as a single in March 1990 it peaked at number 55 on the Hot 100, and 13 on the Album Rock Tracks chart.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Gold & Platinum". RIAA. Retrieved April 22, 2021.
  2. 1 2 Evelyn McDonnell (May 1989). "Spin offs". Spin. No. 47. p. 89.
  3. 1 2 Klosterman, Chuck (2007). Fargo Rock City : a Heavy Metal Odyssey in Rural North Dakota. 3M Company. Scribner. pp. 160–161. ISBN   978-1-4165-8952-5. OCLC   869442403.
  4. 1 2 "50 Greatest Hair Metal Albums of All Time". Rolling Stone . October 13, 2015. Retrieved September 22, 2019.
  5. 1 2 Westhoff, Ben (December 6, 2011). "Chuck Klosterman's Favorite Hair Metal Albums". LA Weekly . Retrieved June 25, 2021.
  6. ↑ Huey, Steve. "The Great Radio Controversy - Tesla | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic . All Media Network . Retrieved May 27, 2018.
  7. ↑ Popoff, Martin (November 1, 2005). The Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal: Volume 2: The Eighties. Burlington, Ontario, Canada: Collector's Guide Publishing. p. 353. ISBN   978-1-894959-31-5.
  8. ↑ Guy, Lyn (January 28, 1989). "Radioactive". Kerrang! . No. 223. p. 14. ISSN   0262-6624.
  9. ↑ Neely, Kim (May 4, 1989). "Tesla: The Great Radio Controversy: Music Reviews". Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on December 2, 2009. Retrieved March 22, 2013.
  10. ↑ Elliott, Paul (January 28, 1989). "Albums Reviews: Tesla — The Great Radio Controversy (Geffen)" (PDF). Sounds . Peterborough: United Newspapers. p. 40. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 6, 2022. Retrieved September 6, 2022– via World Radio History.
  11. ↑ Blows, Kirk (February 4, 1989). "Review: Tesla – The Great Radio Controversy" (PDF). Music Week . London: Spotlight Publications Ltd. p. 22. ISSN   0265-1548. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 2, 2021. Retrieved November 4, 2021– via American Radio History.
  12. ↑ "Tesla ARIA Chart History (albums) complete to 2024". ARIA. Retrieved July 26, 2024– via Imgur.com. N.B. The High Point number in the NAT column represents the release's peak on the national chart.
  13. ↑ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 9231". RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved June 6, 2024.
  14. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Tesla – The Great Radio Controversy" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 6, 2024.
  15. ↑ Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005 (in Japanese). Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. 2006. ISBN   4-87131-077-9.
  16. ↑ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 6, 2024.
  17. ↑ "Tesla Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved June 6, 2024.
  18. ↑ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1989". Billboard. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  19. ↑ "Canadian album certifications – Tesla – The Great Radio Controversy". Music Canada.
  20. ↑ "American album certifications – Tesla – The Great Radio Controversy". Recording Industry Association of America.
  21. ↑ Popoff, Martin (2004). The Top 500 Heavy Metal Albums of All Time. Chicago: ECW Press. p. 415. ISBN   978-1-55490-600-0. OCLC   705538374.
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.