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{{other uses2|Saxon}}
{{other uses|Saxon (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2022}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2013}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2013}}
{{Infobox album
{{Infobox album
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| cover = Saxondebut.jpg
| cover = Saxondebut.jpg
| alt =
| alt =
| released = May 1979<ref>{{cite web|url=https://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Saxon&titel=Saxon&cat=a|title=Saxon}}</ref>
| released = 21 May 1979
| recorded = January–March 1979<br>([[Livingston Recording Studios]], [[Chipping Barnet|Barnet]], [[London]], UK)
| recorded = January–March 1979
| studio = [[Livingston Recording Studios]], [[Chipping Barnet|Barnet]], London
⚫
| genre = [[Heavy metal music|Heavy metal]], [[hard rock]]
| venue =
| studio =
⚫
| genre = [[Heavy metal music|Heavy metal]]
| length = 28:54
| length = 28:54
| label = [[Carrere Records|Carrere]]
| label = [[Carrere Records|Carrere]]
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| name = Saxon
| name = Saxon
| type = studio
| type = studio
| single1 = Stallions of the Highway / Big Teaser
| single1 = Big Teaser
| single1date = 6 July 1979<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1979/Music-Week-1979-07-07.pdf|title=Music Week|page=32}}</ref>
| single1date = March 1979
| single2 = Big Teaser / Stallions of the Highway
| single2 = Backs to the Wall
| single2date = 2 November 1979<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1979/Music-Week-1979-11-03.pdf|title=Music Week|page=36}}</ref>
| single2date = June 1979
| single3 = Backs to the Wall / Militia guard
| single3date = November 1979
}}
}}
}}
}}


'''''Saxon''''' is the debut studio album by the English [[heavy metal music|heavy metal]] band [[Saxon (band)|Saxon]], released in 1979.
'''''Saxon''''' is the debut studio album by English [[Heavy metal music|heavy metal]] band [[Saxon (band)|Saxon]], released in 1979.


==Reception==
==Reception==
{{Album ratings
{{Music ratings
| rev1 =[[AllMusic]]
| rev1 =[[AllMusic]]
| rev1Score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref name=AllMusic>{{cite web | url = http://www.allmusic.com/album/saxon-r17440| title = Saxon Saxon | accessdate = 2011-06-17 | last = Rivadavia | first = Eduardo | work = [[AllMusic]] | publisher = [[Rovi Corporation]]}}</ref>
| rev1Score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref name=AllMusic>{{cite web | url = http://www.allmusic.com/album/saxon-r17440| title = Saxon Saxon | accessdate = 2011-06-17 | last = Rivadavia | first = Eduardo | publisher = [[AllMusic]] }}</ref>
|rev2 = ''[[Martin Popoff|Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal]]''
|rev2Score = 5/10<ref name="martin">{{cite book |last1 = Popoff |first1 = Martin |authorlink1 = Martin Popoff |title = The Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal: Volume 1: The Seventies |publisher = [[Collector's Guide Publishing]] |date = October 2003 |location = [[Burlington, Ontario]], [[Canada]] |isbn = 978-1894959025 |page=241}}</ref>
⚫
| noprose = yes
}}
}}
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".<ref name=AllMusic/>
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".<ref name=AllMusic/> 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.<ref name="martin"/>


==Track listing==
==Track listing==
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}}
}}
{{track listing
{{track listing
⚫
| collapsed = yes
| headline = 2009 remaster bonus tracks
| headline = 2009 remaster bonus tracks
| title9 = Big Teaser
| title9 = Big Teaser
Line 111: Line 110:
| note22 = live
| note22 = live
}}
}}
*Bonus tracks 14-18 recorded on [[Tommy Vance]]'s [[Friday Rock Show]], transmitted 15 February 1980.
*Bonus tracks 14–18, Recorded 1980-01-23, [[Tommy Vance]]'s [[Friday Rock Show]], transmitted 15 February 1980.
*Bonus tracks 20-22 recorded live at Donington, 1980.
*Bonus tracks 20–22 recorded live at Donington, 1980.


==Personnel==
==Personnel==
;Saxon
;Saxon
*[[Biff Byford]] - vocals
*[[Biff Byford]] – vocals
*Graham Oliver - guitar
*[[Graham Oliver]] – guitar
*Paul Quinn - guitar
*Paul Quinn – guitar
*[[Steve Dawson]] - bass guitar
*[[Steve Dawson]] – bass guitar
*[[Pete Gill]] - drums
*[[Pete Gill]] – drums

;Production
;Production
* [[John Verity]] - producer
* [[John Verity]] – producer, engineer
* Robert Price – Tape Operator
* John Verity - engineer
* [[Livingstone Studios]], UK - recording and mixing location
* [[Livingstone Studios]], UK – recording and mixing location

==Charts==
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|-
! scope="col"| Chart (2018)
! scope="col"| Peak<br /> position
|-
{{album chart|UKRock|34|date=20180406|access-date=October 17, 2023|rowheader=true}}
|}


==References==
==References==
Line 130: Line 139:


{{Saxon}}
{{Saxon}}

{{Authority control}}


[[Category:Saxon (band) albums]]
[[Category:Saxon (band) albums]]
[[Category:1979 debut albums]]
[[Category:1979 debut albums]]
[[Category:New Wave of British Heavy Metal albums]]
[[Category:Carrere Records albums]]
[[Category:Carrere Records albums]]

Latest revision as of 09:13, 9 September 2024

For other uses, see Saxon (disambiguation).

Saxon
Studio album by
Saxon
ReleasedMay 1979[1]
RecordedJanuary–March 1979
StudioLivingston Recording Studios, Barnet, London
GenreHeavy metal, hard rock
Length28:54
LabelCarrere
ProducerJohn Verity
Saxon chronology
Saxon
(1979) 		Wheels of Steel
(1980)
Singles from Saxon
  1. "Big Teaser"
    Released: 6 July 1979[2]
  2. "Backs to the Wall"
    Released: 2 November 1979[3]

Saxon is the debut studio album by English heavy metal band Saxon, released in 1979.

Reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[4]
Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal5/10[5]

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".[4] 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.[5]

Track listing

[edit]

All tracks are written by Biff Byford, Paul Quinn, Graham Oliver, Steve Dawson and Pete Gill

Side one
No.TitelLength
1."Rainbow Theme"3:07
2."Frozen Rainbow"2:29
3."Big Teaser"3:55
4."Judgement Day"5:31
Side two
No.TitelLength
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
2009 remaster bonus tracks
No.TitelLength
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
  • Bonus tracks 14–18, Recorded 1980-01-23, Tommy Vance's Friday Rock Show, transmitted 15 February 1980.
  • Bonus tracks 20–22 recorded live at Donington, 1980.

Personnel

[edit]
Saxon
Production

Charts

[edit]
Chart (2018) Peak
position
UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC)[6] 34

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Saxon".
  2. ^ "Music Week" (PDF). p. 32.
  3. ^ "Music Week" (PDF). p. 36.
  4. ^ a b Rivadavia, Eduardo. "Saxon Saxon". AllMusic. Retrieved 17 June 2011.
  5. ^ a b Popoff, Martin (October 2003). The Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal: Volume 1: The Seventies. Burlington, Ontario, Canada: Collector's Guide Publishing. p. 241. ISBN 978-1894959025.
  6. ^ "Official Rock & Metal Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
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