THIS MAY BE THE MOST SUCCESSFUL SOPHOMORE RELEASE EVER!

I have to think about that statement but there's no doubt about this! 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". It's like buying a studio album of greatest hits and just think, it only hit #18 on Billboard.

If you're only going to have one Tesla 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. They were musicians first and showmen after. Their music was blusey and folksey and more, but it also was great rock and roll. It was basically Pop-metal sort of a cross between Guns and Roses and Tom Petty. Tesla also benefited 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

SONG / TRACK LIST and BRIEF DESCRIPTION
1. Hang Tough - 4:22 Great rock and roll with heavy guitars
leading into a medium/fast melodic song with varied tempo.other bandmembers join in choruses. Hit # 34 on the charts.
2. Lady Luck - 3:45 More of the same with a slower overall tempo and a darker attitude.
3. Heaven's Trail (No Way Out) (Keith/Skeoch) - 4:43 My favorite, hit number 13 on the charts, has a evil sounding feel in a slow to medium pace with an acoustic guitar leading into heavy twangy guitars and bass and prominent drums. Vocalist Jeff Keith is at his best delivering lyrics like:
There's no way out, no way out
Of this living hell.
No way out, no way out
Unless you walk heaven's trail.
No way out, no way out
Of this living hell, livin' hell.
4. Be a Man - 4:29 A wild distorted intro lead in, picked up by our singer and more guitars in a catchy slow mid-paced song
5. Lazy Days, Crazy Nights - 4:27 Another slow mid-paced song similar to the previous one
6. Did It for the Money - 4:27 Starts out innocently enough but don't let fool you. This song rocks withh a medium tempo and dark sounding hooks in a song about a hooker (pun intended).
7. Yesterdaze Gone - 3:45 Fast tempo hard rock. Not bad but overall my least favorite.
8. Makin' Magic - 5:07 Excellent song, medium tempo rock with great presentation with the band starting and stopping while Jeff sings through. This is a great sing along song.
9. The Way It Is (Hannon/Keith/Luccketta/Skeoch) - 5:08 A rock ballad slow medium tempo. Hit # 10 on charts
10. Flight to Nowhere - 4:47 Another Pop-rock number, with medium fast tempo, heavy guitars/drums.
11. Love Song (Hannon/Keith) - 5:25 The biggest hit, reached #7 on the charts. A very pretty ballad with acoustic guitar lead in and Jeff carrying most of the song.
12. Paradise - 4:59 The 5th song to hit the top forty, peaking at #28 Another rock ballad for the first 3+ minutes then picking tempo to a heavy blazing rock ending! Bravo!
13. Party's Over - 4:20 Catchy, Catchy, Catchy. Great mid tempo rock song with Tesla's signature instrument work and back up singing.

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?

Recommended: Yes

Great Music to Play While: Hanging With Friends