Additional information
Twisted Sister: Dee Snider (vocals); Jay Jay French, Eddie Ojeda (guitar, background vocals); Mark Mendoza (bass, background vocals); Kenneth Harrison Neill (bass); Tony Petri (drums). Producers: Steve Bramberg, Eddie Kramer, Mark Mendoza. Compilation producers: Jay Jay French & Mark Mendoza. Recorded at Mediasound and Electric Lady Studios, New York, New York; Bolognese Studios, Merrick, New York between 1978 and 1981. Includes liner notes by Jay Jay French & Martin Popoff. Twisted Sister was one of the prime movers on the East Coast hard-rock/heavy-metal scene in the '70s, with a sound that was a blueprint for the metal explosion in the '80s. When Twisted Sister was formed in 1972 by lead vocalist and guitarist Jay Jay French, it was a glam band that played covers of Mott the Hoople and David Bowie tunes. All that changed in 1976, when Dee Snider joined and the band took a metallic turn. The first two songs on this collection "Come Back"(a fast and furious rocker of lost love) and "Pay the Price"(featuring the skin bashing of second drummer Tony Petri), set a blistering tone. "Rock N Roll Saviors" is an anti-disco anthem, with a guitar sound that clearly influenced early Iron Maiden. "High Steppin" is a more traditional rock & roll tune, while "T.V. Wife" and "Can't Stand Still" (the latter written and sung by French), clearly show the earlier glam sound of the group. "Lady's Boy" has an accessible swing feel to it, while "Leader of the Pack" is an early version of the song that appears on COME OUT AND PLAY. It is interesting to note that this earlier version contains handclaps and piano.
