Oriental Beat
Encyclopedia
Oriental Beat is the second studio album by the Finnish
glam punk
band Hanoi Rocks
, recorded in London
and released in 1982. Oriental Beat also opened markets in England
and Japan
, where Hanoi eventually became very popular.
for example. This album also marked the first time McCoy was not the sole songwriter, with Monroe being the second songwriter on the songs "Motorvatin'" and "Teenangels Outsiders". Many of the lyrics deal with typical rock n' roll topics like breaking the law ("No Law or Order) and teenage rebellion ("Teenangels Outsiders"). The album also features a session musician named Katrina Leskanich
singing backing vocals. There's also a legend that originally Nasty Suicide
sang the song "Devil Woman", but when asked about it Suicide replied: "you know too much".
The previous album, Bangkok Shocks, Saigon Shakes, Hanoi Rocks
, was only released in Finland and Sweden, but this album opened the doors to an international career. British music magazine
Kerrang!
released their first article about Hanoi Rocks, when they reviewed Oriental Beat. Kerrang! since covered Hanoi Rocks career in the 80's extensively.
The bands drummer Gyp Casino
-- who can famously be heard missing a beat during the song "Motorvatin'" -- was fired from the band shortly after the albums release and tour, due to his increasing heroin addiction and for being too critical of his own playing.
has called the album great, but blamed the producer, Pete Wooliscroft, of ruining the albums sound by all-around bad producing and mixing. Wooliscroft had mixed the album while Hanoi Rocks was on tour, and didn't know what Hanoi Rocks was about, so he went with a completely different style on the mixing. Sami Yaffa
had called the album "a piece of shit" in an 1985 interview. Even with these comments, the album was voted the 91st best rock album, in the "100 Greatest Rock Albums" poll by the Finnish radio station Radio Rock
. Oriental Beat beat-out such albums like Kiss
' Lick It Up
and The Doors
' Morrison Hotel
.
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
glam punk
Glam punk
Glam Punk is a music genre that mixes elements of glam rock with protopunk or punk rock ....
band Hanoi Rocks
Hanoi Rocks
Hanoi Rocks was a Finnish rock band formed in 1979, whose most successful period came in the early 1980s. The band broke up in 1985 after the death of their drummer, Nicholas "Razzle" Dingley...
, recorded in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and released in 1982. Oriental Beat also opened markets in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, where Hanoi eventually became very popular.
Background
Recordings for Oriental Beat (then with the working-title, Second Attempt for Suicide) started in late 1981, at the Advision-studio in London. The album was produced, recorded and mixed by Peter Wooliscroft who had worked with Frank ZappaFrank Zappa
Frank Vincent Zappa was an American composer, singer-songwriter, electric guitarist, record producer and film director. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Zappa wrote rock, jazz, orchestral and musique concrète works. He also directed feature-length films and music videos, and designed...
for example. This album also marked the first time McCoy was not the sole songwriter, with Monroe being the second songwriter on the songs "Motorvatin'" and "Teenangels Outsiders". Many of the lyrics deal with typical rock n' roll topics like breaking the law ("No Law or Order) and teenage rebellion ("Teenangels Outsiders"). The album also features a session musician named Katrina Leskanich
Katrina Leskanich
Katrina Leskanich is an American singer and musician, long time resident of the United Kingdom. She is best known for being the lead singer and namesake of the pop band Katrina and the Waves.-Early life:...
singing backing vocals. There's also a legend that originally Nasty Suicide
Nasty Suicide
Nasty Suicide is the ex-rhythm and lead guitarist for Hanoi Rocks between 1979-1985. Hanoi Rocks was a Finnish rock band that combined elements of punk, glam rock, rock and roll, and blues. Before his tenure in Hanoi Rocks, Suicide played guitar in a Finnish punk band called Briard in the late...
sang the song "Devil Woman", but when asked about it Suicide replied: "you know too much".
The previous album, Bangkok Shocks, Saigon Shakes, Hanoi Rocks
Bangkok Shocks, Saigon Shakes, Hanoi Rocks
- Personnel :* Michael Monroe – vocals, piano, saxophone, harmonica* Andy McCoy – guitars, backing vocals* Nasty Suicide – guitars, backing vocals* Sam Yaffa – bass* Gyp Casino – drums- External links :*...
, was only released in Finland and Sweden, but this album opened the doors to an international career. British music magazine
Music magazine
A music magazine is a magazine dedicated to music and music culture. Such magazines typically include music news, interviews, photo shoots, essays, record reviews, concert reviews and occasionally have a covermount with recorded music.-Notable music magazines:...
Kerrang!
Kerrang!
Kerrang! is a UK-based magazine devoted to rock music published by Bauer Media Group. It was first published on June 6, 1981 as a one-off supplement in the Sounds newspaper...
released their first article about Hanoi Rocks, when they reviewed Oriental Beat. Kerrang! since covered Hanoi Rocks career in the 80's extensively.
The bands drummer Gyp Casino
Gyp Casino
Gyp Casino is a Swedish rock drummer. He played in Warheads and was the original drummer for Hanoi Rocks. He was replaced by Razzle in 1982...
-- who can famously be heard missing a beat during the song "Motorvatin'" -- was fired from the band shortly after the albums release and tour, due to his increasing heroin addiction and for being too critical of his own playing.
Cover art
The artwork features the band covered in paint behind a glass panel with blue and red paint-pressed hand marks on it. The artwork was originally supposed to feature guitarist, Andy McCoy's girlfriend's naked breasts painted blue and red with the legend "Hanoi Roxx" written across it. This was changed due to Castle Records view that some record shops may refuse to stock the album due to the graphic nature of the cover. The record company was also worried that potential customers may get confused by the alternate spelling of the band's name. The original cover was used as the albums back-cover.Reception
Even though Oriental Beat is considered a Hanoi-classic, many of the band members have called the album a failure. Michael MonroeMichael Monroe
Matti Antero Kristian Fagerholm , best known by his stage name, Michael Monroe, is a Finnish rock musician, and multi-instrumentalist who rose to fame as the vocalist for the glam punk band Hanoi Rocks, and has served as the frontman for all-star side projects, such as Demolition 23...
has called the album great, but blamed the producer, Pete Wooliscroft, of ruining the albums sound by all-around bad producing and mixing. Wooliscroft had mixed the album while Hanoi Rocks was on tour, and didn't know what Hanoi Rocks was about, so he went with a completely different style on the mixing. Sami Yaffa
Sami Yaffa
Sami Yaffa is a bass guitarist best known for his time in Hanoi Rocks during the 1980s. He is currently the bassist for the New York Dolls and the Michael Monroe band. He also plays guitar in his own band "Mad Juana".-Biography:Yaffa first began playing music when only fourteen years old in 1977...
had called the album "a piece of shit" in an 1985 interview. Even with these comments, the album was voted the 91st best rock album, in the "100 Greatest Rock Albums" poll by the Finnish radio station Radio Rock
Radio Rock
Radio Rock is a Finnish rock music radio station, owned by Nelonen Media, a part of the media group Sanoma.Radio Rock's broadcasting began on January 1, 2007, at 0.00, with the official spoken programs beginning on January 15, 2007. The first song that the station played was Metallica - Master of...
. Oriental Beat beat-out such albums like Kiss
KISS (band)
Kiss is an American rock band formed in New York City in January 1973. Well-known for its members' face paint and flamboyant stage outfits, the group rose to prominence in the mid to late 1970s on the basis of their elaborate live performances, which featured fire breathing, blood spitting,...
' Lick It Up
Lick It Up
Lick It Up is the 11th studio album by the U.S. band Kiss. On the day of the album's release, Kiss appeared on MTV without their trademark makeup. It was the first public appearance without makeup by Kiss since the very early days of the band...
and The Doors
The Doors
The Doors were an American rock band formed in 1965 in Los Angeles, California, with vocalist Jim Morrison, keyboardist Ray Manzarek, drummer John Densmore, and guitarist Robby Krieger...
' Morrison Hotel
Morrison Hotel
Morrison Hotel is The Doors' fifth album. It was released in 1970. After their experimental work The Soft Parade was not as well received as anticipated, the group went back to basics and back to their roots...
.
Track listing
Personnel
- Michael MonroeMichael MonroeMatti Antero Kristian Fagerholm , best known by his stage name, Michael Monroe, is a Finnish rock musician, and multi-instrumentalist who rose to fame as the vocalist for the glam punk band Hanoi Rocks, and has served as the frontman for all-star side projects, such as Demolition 23...
– vocals, saxophone, harmonica - Andy McCoyAndy McCoyAntti Hulkko , better known as Andy McCoy, is a Finnish musician. He is most famous for his role as the lead guitarist and main songwriter of Hanoi Rocks, but has also played with Iggy Pop....
– guitar, backing vocals - Nasty SuicideNasty SuicideNasty Suicide is the ex-rhythm and lead guitarist for Hanoi Rocks between 1979-1985. Hanoi Rocks was a Finnish rock band that combined elements of punk, glam rock, rock and roll, and blues. Before his tenure in Hanoi Rocks, Suicide played guitar in a Finnish punk band called Briard in the late...
– guitars, backing vocals - Sam Yaffa – bass
- Gyp CasinoGyp CasinoGyp Casino is a Swedish rock drummer. He played in Warheads and was the original drummer for Hanoi Rocks. He was replaced by Razzle in 1982...
– drums
Production
- Producer: Pete Wooliscroft
- Mixing: Pete Wooliscroft
- Mastering: Pete Wooliscroft