SAXON saxon CAL110
Please see Online Shop for current stock availability
Artist = SAXON
Title = saxon
Label = CARRERE
Catalog# = CAL110
Barcode = none
Release = UK
Year = 1979
RPM = 33rpm
Disc Size = 12"
Number of Discs = 1
Mono/Stereo = stereo
8trk,
*Search SAXON on Online Shop
*Search SAXON on Blog
* Search SAXON on YouTube
1 comment
The Dawn of the Eagle: Saxon’s Self-Titled Debut (CAL 110)
Today’s entry takes us back to the very beginning of one of the most enduring careers in heavy metal history. We are looking at the 1979 UK pressing of the self-titled debut album by Saxon, released on the Carrere label with the catalog number CAL 110.
Released in 1979, this album arrived just as the New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM) was beginning to coalesce. While Saxon would soon become the genre’s biker-leather champions with their next album Wheels of Steel, this debut offers a fascinating, slightly different sound. Produced by John Verity, it captures a band transitioning from 70s hard rock and glam influences into the heavier sound that would define the next decade.
The tracklist is diverse and surprising to those who only know their later hits. It opens with the atmospheric, almost progressive duo of Rainbow Theme and Frozen Rainbow, showcasing a melodic depth. However, the seeds of their future speed metal dominance are sown in the fast-paced Stallions Of The Highway, a track that remains a fan favorite. Other tracks like Big Teaser and Still Fit To Boogie betray their rock ‘n’ roll roots.
CAL 110 is a piece of history. Featuring the classic lineup of Biff Byford, Paul Quinn, Graham Oliver, Steve Dawson, and Pete Gill, this original UK pressing represents the first step of the Barnsley band that would go on to influence Metallica and countless others. It is a raw, honest, and crucial artifact of the pre-explosion NWOBHM era.