Ram It Down

Infobox Album | Name = Ram It Down
Type = Album
Artist = Judas Priest

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Released = May 17, 1988
Recorded = 1987 Puk Studios , Copenhagen,Denmark
Genre = Heavy metal
Length = 58:12
Label = Columbia Records
Producer = Tom Allom
Reviews =
*Allmusic Rating|2|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:xbouak3k5m3v link]
Last album = "Priest...Live!"
(1987)
This album = "Ram It Down"
(1988)
Next album = "Painkiller"
(1990)|

"Ram It Down" was an album recorded and released by Judas Priest in 1988. The album was remastered in 2001, with two live tracks added.

In 1986, Judas Priest intended to record a double album called "Twin Turbos" of which half would be lighter, more commercial rock, and the other half would be similarly polished but heavier and less synth-driven. As it happened, record labels being notoriously timid about double albums, the project was split into two releases, with the heavier "Twin Turbos" material being relegated to this later album. While it largely failed to capture the metal public's approval, elements such as the more technical drumming, high speeds, and sci-fi themes prefigured their return-to-form classic, "Painkiller". Judas Priest had also done a rendition of "Chuck Berry's" "Johnny B. Goode" for the movie "Johnny Be Good", which was the only single from this album. This would be the final album involving long-time drummer Dave Holland and producer Tom Allom.

The epic song "Blood Red Skies" has been described by Glenn Tipton as ""Victim of Changes" model 1988".

Track listing

All songs written by Rob Halford, K.K. Downing and Glenn Tipton, except where noted.
#"Ram It Down" – 4:48
#"Heavy Metal" – 5:58
#"Love Zone" – 3:58
#"Come and Get It" – 4:07
#"Hard as Iron" – 4:09
#"Blood Red Skies" – 7:50
#"I'm a Rocker" – 3:58
#"Johnny B. Goode" (Chuck Berry) – 4:39
#"Love You to Death" – 4:36
#"Monsters of Rock" – 5:30

2001 Bonus Tracks

#

"Night Comes Down" (Live) – 4:33
#"Bloodstone" (Live) – 4:05

Trivia

*A tribute to the song "Blood Red Skies" from this album can be seen in the Japanese comic (Manga) "". In Book 5, during a battle scene the support character Sechs has the words "Blood Red Skies" and "You won't break me" written on the underside of her boots, a clear reference to the title and part of the lyrics.

*The song Johnny B. Goode was originally made for a video soundtrack, and the song that was supposed to replace it (which would have been a bonus track) was lost somewhere during the Halford-Ripper limbo. This is the reason "Ram It Down" is the only remastered disc with no bonus "track", just two live tracks.

*The song "I'm a Rocker" references the other Judas Priest song "Thunder Road", which can be found as a bonus track on the album "Point of Entry". In both songs the lyrics read "it's something in the blood [...] Wouldn't change it even if I could".

Personnel

*Rob Halford: Vocals
*K.K. Downing: Guitars
*Glenn Tipton: Guitars
*Ian Hill: Bass Guitar
*Dave Holland - Drums

External links

* [http://members.firstinter.net/markster/RAMITDOWN.html Extensive album info]