Track Listing

1. Riot
2. Sex Child
3. Valley of the Kings
4. Jelly Roll
5. Blue Murder
6. Out of Love
7. Billy
8. Ptolemy
9. Black-Hearted Woman

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #13533 in Music
• Released on: 1990-10-25
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .20 pounds

Customer Reviews

One of the great lost metal groups
After playing with Tygers of Pan Tang and Thin Lizzy, guitar virtuoso John Sykes got the gig of a lifetime. In 1984 he joined a reformed Whitesnake line-up, a position he originally declined. John did some guitar work on Whitesnake's Slide It In album in 1984. Impressed by his work, Whitesnake made Sykes a full member and in 1987 released their self-titled album. The album prominently displayed Sykes masterful guitar work on such tracks as "Still of the Night" and the re-worked "Here I Go Again". Whitesnake found themselves with their most successful album to date. There are conflicting reports as to Sykes departure from the group, he either left or was fired depending on what you read. However, Geffen records were certainly a fan of John's work in Whitesnake. So much so they offered him a record contract of his own. With the help of Tony Franklin and Carmine Appice, Blue Murder was born in 1989.

Sykes performs double duty on their self-titled debut, handling guitars and vocals. Both are pretty smooth on the albums opening track "Riot". You can take the man out of Whitesnake but you can't take the Whitesnake out of the man. That's evident on "Sex Child". Sykes parallels the work he did on "Slide it In". There's no sexual innuendo or metaphor here, Blue Murder cums right out it says it (that's not a misspelling!). Sex child / we're gonna slip and slide / I'm gonna come inside / girl. "Valley of the Kings" is an eight minute epic that displays all the member's strengths. Appice sets the pace with a pounding drum beat and Franklin plays in sync with Sykes guitar work. Sykes and company throw in a couple of blues-influenced tracks, among them is the acoustic lead "Jelly Roll". "Ptolemy" is a nice blend of blues & metal. "Out of Love" is the group obligatory power ballad. Blue Murder's debut album wouldn't be complete without an eighties metal staple. Nope, it's not a song about gypsies, it a song named after the group. Blue Murder is the best track on the album. It has that perfect metal sound which defined that era.

Bottom Line:
Whitesnake should be crying Blue Murder! It's clear that John Sykes was influential in the success of the eighties version of Whitesnake. Sykes took that talent and displayed it prominently with Blue Murder. The album is loaded with guitar heavy, metal anthems as well as smooth blues tracks. Sykes sounds a little like David Coverdale, but that doesn't take away from his vocal talents. The songs are simple, memorable, and a blast to listen to. It's too bad Blue Murder weren't more successful. Definitely a must for eighties Whitesnake fans. I won't even hold it against the group that they dressed like pirates on the back cover.

Best late-80's metal album
This album was lost in the shuffle of late-80's metal guitarist solo projects, but it shouldn't have been. Sykes proves himself to be a wonderful vocalist (although not a great lyricist), and the Tony Franklin/Carmine Appice rhythm section makes this the most adventurous trio of its era. Almost prog-metal, its a real shame that this band didn't have a chance to continue. I still enjoy listening to this music after fifteen years, so they must have done something right.

Blue Murder - self-titled (Geffen)
Another CD title I haven't heard in quite sometime.First came out in 1989,as for some reason outside the two tracks "Jelly Roll" and the full throttled rocker "Valley Of The Kings",this album never did all that much for me.Some described it as heavy blues-like rock.I sort of thought of Blue Murder as like a hair band supergroup,because of it's line-up,which was:John Sykes(Whitesnake/Thin Lizzy)-guitar&vocals,Tony Franklin(The Firm)-bass and Carmine Appice(Vanilla Fudge,Cactus)-drums.As an entire CD's worth of music,'Blue Murder' barely makes the grade.Last I heard from Sykes was,when he was in a current 'line-up' of Thin Lizzy,touring with Deep Purple a few summers back.Actually,Sykes did a decent job of carrying on in the late Phil Lynott's spot.Before purchasing this CD,I highly recommend that you listen to sound clips first.