Track Listing

1. Hang Tough
2. Lady Luck
3. Heaven's Trail (No Way Out)
4. Be a Man
5. Lazy Days, Crazy Nights
6. Did It for the Money
7. Yesterdaze Gone
8. Makin' Magic
9. Way It Is
10. Flight to Nowhere
11. Love Song
12. Paradise
13. Party's Over

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #23594 in Music
• Released on: 1990-10-25
• Number of discs: 1

Album Description
Japanese only SHM paper sleeve pressing. The SHM-CD [Super High Material CD] format features enhanced audio quality through the use of a special polycarbonate plastic. Using a process developed by JVC and Universal Music Japan discovered through the joint companies' research into LCD display manufacturing* SHM-CDs feature improved transparency on the data side of the disc* allowing for more accurate reading of CD data by the CD player laser head. SHM-CD format CDs are fully compatible with standard CD players.

Amazon.com
Their blues-influenced, grittier edge set Tesla apart from the bands that littered the hard rock landscape from the late '80s to the early '90s. The Great Radio Controversy is arguably their best album, with enough hooks to catch the listener, and good, solid songwriting. Songs like "Heaven's Trail (No Way Out)," "Flight to Nowhere," and "Party's Over" show that Tesla is at their best when tackling anthems; by avoiding the overblown riffs and musical posturing of their peers, they keep these songs from sounding pretentious. Likewise, "Love Song" lives up to its title, a straightforward ballad that doesn't drip with treacle the way most hard rock power ballads do. A solid effort all around, if somewhat dated. --Genevieve Williams

Customer Reviews

The Greatest - No Controversy!!
Awesome, Awesome, Awesome!!

I remember at the time of it's release there seemed to be some thought that this album wasn't as strong as "Mechanical Resonance". Looking back at these first two albums now, whilst the songs on the debut were more immeadiate, it's "The Great Radio Controversy" which has really stood the test of time.

Standout tracks? "Hang Tough" is brooding, moody and powerful (still love the piano breakdown piece as well); "Heaven's Trail" was a mini anthem for me as a twenty something wannabe rock star; "The Way It Is" is a perfectly weighted upbeat ballad and need anymore be said about "Love Song"; the rest of the heavy rock fraternity should have just given up on power ballads after that.

I've often thought that it's a shame that Tesla get thrown in with the other 80's hair bands. They were always more than just part of the hair metal scene and with the possible exception of Cinderella, are the only band of that genre whose material has really stood the test of time.

Just do yourself a favour and buy this album!!!

JINX , WHAT JINX?
No doubt about it! This album broke the sophomore jinx and made a big name for these boys from Sacramento with five top forty hits including, "Heaven's Trail"(No Way Out), "Love Song", "The Way it is" and "Hang Tough".

If you're only going to have one album, this is the one you want! One of the band's best albums, The Great Radio Controversy retains the typical big-sounding production and clever hooks of '80s pop-metal, but Tesla adds a grittier, bluesier edge to their music than most of their peers.

Tesla was no hair band. Their music was blusey and folksey and more. It was basically Pop-metal sort of a cross between Guns and Roses and Tom Petty. Tesla also benefitted from the very unusual sound of vocalist Jeff Keith. His voice was gravely and high pitched and couldn't have fit the music better.

You've probably seen bands where the singer didn't quite fit the music. I always felt that way about Rush. Well, Tesla's music and Jeff Keith's voice were a perfect fit. It was sorta like Sammy Hagar.

BAND MEMBERS
Frank Hannon Jeff Keith Troy Luccketta Tommy Skeoch Brian Wheat

Tesla was great, I miss them. If there were still bands like them around, maybe I wouldn't be looking to Imports for my music as much, because I don't think much of whats out there today in american music.

Tesla was also the Musician's band. There the ones that the other bands, on top and wannabes listened to. I remember once reading in an interview with Van Halen when asked who they listened to, to a man said Tesla. Now who did I say sounded a little like Jeff Keith? Sammy Hagar that's who. Conspiracy theory anyone?

Hang Tough....
"The Great Radio Controversy" is one of the best albums produced in the 80. Dynamic and exhilarating. A joy to listen to over and over again.