Spinal Tap - This is Spinal Tap

There are classic records, and then there is This is Spinal Tap. No record so successfully covers the range of genres while maintaining that ecstatic headbanging fervor. It even sounds incredible on the 20-year-old cassette tape I made from the LP back then.

We do have those lighter moments reflecting back to their hippie days with "Listen to What the Flower People Say" and the even earlier 60s tune "Cups and Cakes," which they recorded as the Tinsmen (I guess that's how it's spelled). "Cups and Cakes" itself was such an influential song it must have been the inspiration for the 1971 mega-world hit "Toast and Marmalade for Tea" by Tin Tin (hmmm, similar name, too, huh?).

But the core of this amazing record is the metal - both the fast and furious ("Tonight I'm Gonna Rock You Tonight") and the leaden ("Heavy Duty"). Spinal Tap's amazing song-writing legerdemain manages to be original while paying tribute to Yes and Styx in "Rock and Roll Creation." Plus the styling of the backing vocals when they sing "rock and roll crea-SHUN" is a joy to hear. Then there's the Jethro Tull-influenced "Stonehenge" with the catchy "Where the demons dwell and the banshees live and they do live well." What a line!

I could write a book on how awesome this record is, but I will leave with a final nod to the heavy classic "Big Bottom." Although it saddens me to know that the brainy iconic David St. Hubbins would never go for me me since I don't have one. Never have. Never will. Big top maybe, but no Big Bottom. But then somehow the line "How could I leave this top" just doesn't have the same ring to it as "How could I leave this behind." Oh, well. I think Nigel's cuter anyway and at least he had the brilliance to insist on having those amps built that go to 11.

Tap did do a follow-up record called "Break Like the Wind," but I never heard it. I just don't think anything they could do would top their debut LP This is Spinal Tap. (Although if they ever get around to making that musical on Jack the Ripper they talked about near the end of the movie This is Spinal Tap I would like to hear how the final version of "Saucy Jack" comes out.)

-- May 16, 2005 (DD)

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