As I heard news today of Aerosmith’s farewell tour, I thought about when I first heard of the rockers from Boston and their unlikely duet with the rap artist Run DMC.
Yet, my memories of Aerosmith transcend that initial meeting.
The years before
Aerosmith released their first single, “Dream On” in 1973, and would have a lot of success in the decade. “Sweet Emotion” in 1975 would be their first top 40 hit, peaking at number 36 on the Billboard Hot 100. A re-issue of “Dream On” that same year became their first top 10 hit, peaking at number six. They would be back in the top 10 a year later, in 1976, with “Walk this Way” going all the way to number 10.
Aerosmith released their first single, “Dream On” in 1973, and would have a lot of success in the decade. “Sweet Emotion” in 1975 would be their first top 40 hit, peaking at number 36 on the Billboard Hot 100. A re-issue of “Dream On” that same year became their first top 10 hit, peaking at number six. They would be back in the top 10 a year later, in 1976, with “Walk this Way” going all the way to number 10.
However, by the end of the decade and into the 1980s, they had begun to fade.
Then a funny thing happened to re-ignite their career.
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Aerosmith revived their career in the '80s. Source: https://www.reddit.com/r/hairmetal/comments (May be subject to copyright) |
In 1986, the rap group Run-DMC did a cover of “Walk this Way” for their album “Raising Hell”. However, this cover was a bit different. Aerosmith actually was part of the song, and the video.
“Walk this Way” went all the way to number four on the Billboard Hot 100, and introduced Aerosmith to a whole new generation of fans.
It also was the catalyst for a string of hits through the decade.
Permanent Vacation
Aerosmith released their album “Permanent Vacation” in August of 1987, and it would have a lot of staying power, producing hit after hit after hit. It peaked at number 11 on the Billboard 200 album chart, and has sold more than five million copies in the United States.
Aerosmith released their album “Permanent Vacation” in August of 1987, and it would have a lot of staying power, producing hit after hit after hit. It peaked at number 11 on the Billboard 200 album chart, and has sold more than five million copies in the United States.
Dude (Looks Like Lady)
“You’ve gotta check this song out. I love his hair”
“You’ve gotta check this song out. I love his hair”
Those were the words of Kim, one of my closest friends on 10th Kelsey, my floor in res, in the 1987-1988 school year.
So, we went out into the lounge where the TV was on MuchMusic, and the song playing was “Dude (Looks Like a Lady)”. It sounded just like the guys who had sung on “Walk This Way”, but it really did not appeal to me initially.
But, with continuous air play and moving to it at a couple res dances, “Dude (Looks Like a Lady) wormed its way into my ear.
It was Aerosmith’s first top 20 hit in the ‘80s, peaking and number 14.
And Kim was right., Steve Tyler who, at that time, I discovered was the lead singer of Aerosmith, had nice hair.
You’re my angel
Right at the beginning of 1988, Aerosmith had their second big single off “Permanent Vacation” with “Angel”. The song is a ballad, a beautiful song, and one of my favourite Aerosmith singles. It would peak at number three on the Billboard 100.
Right at the beginning of 1988, Aerosmith had their second big single off “Permanent Vacation” with “Angel”. The song is a ballad, a beautiful song, and one of my favourite Aerosmith singles. It would peak at number three on the Billboard 100.
I will always remember it for a special reason. I went home from university the summer of 1988, and quickly realized that would be my last summer on the farm. I tried to re-kindle a couple friendships with guys I went to high school with. Early in the summer, we were cruising to Lethbridge in my buddy Dave’s truck, catching up on basically the last year. We were talking about people and music. After that the conversation kind of slowed down. Pretty soon, we went our separate ways and I haven’t seen those guys since.
One of the songs playing that night, and we talked about it, was “Angel”.
Rag Doll
In May of 1988, Aerosmith released “Rag Doll”, their final single from “Permanent Vacation”. It hit number 17 on the Billboard Hot 100, but has a special memory of its own for me.
In May of 1988, Aerosmith released “Rag Doll”, their final single from “Permanent Vacation”. It hit number 17 on the Billboard Hot 100, but has a special memory of its own for me.
It’s actually two memories. When we returned home in the summer of 1988, my friend Chris Vining and I were both 18, and started going to this bar in Lethbridge called Alley Oops. We went one Friday night, and met a girl we went to high school with and her friend.
That was the first night I think I danced in a bar in Lethbridge, and one of the songs was “Rag Doll”.
Fast forward a few months, and we had moved back to Edmonton and res.Vining and I were now on different floors. One Friday night, some of our floormates from the year before, who had moved out, were back in res visiting Kim. There was a dance and we all kind of hung out. One of those people, Theresa, I knew well the year before. She asked me to dance, and the song playing was “Rag Doll”.
So, when I think of “Rag Doll”, I think of dancing.
Elevators and guns
Aerosmith didn’t miss a beat from one album to the next. It was one long continuous line of singles.
Aerosmith didn’t miss a beat from one album to the next. It was one long continuous line of singles.
In August of 1989, a new song by Aerosmith appeared on the radio. It was called “Love in an Elevator”, and continued their string of hits, peaking at number five on the Billboard Hot 100.
Interestingly, the album “Pump”, which “Love in an Elevator” was on, was released four weeks later.
Aerosmith closed out the 1980s by releasing “Janie’s Got a Gun” in November of 1989. It went all the way to number four. It also won the band a Grammy in 1990 for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal”
As the ‘90s dawned, Aerosmith was on a roll.
It was one that continued for a long time.
The years after
They kept on churning out hits including “What it Takes”; “The Other Side”; “Liivin’ on the Edge”; and “Crazy”
They kept on churning out hits including “What it Takes”; “The Other Side”; “Liivin’ on the Edge”; and “Crazy”
Then, in 1998, they had their biggest song to date, “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing”. It was from the movie “Armageddon”, and went all the way to number one, their only chart topper on the Billboard Hot 100. It is one of my favourite Aerosmith songs, along with “Angel”.
It was also nominated for an Oscar for Best Original Song, and I remember watching them perform it live on the Oscars.
Parting thoughts
Wikipedia describes Aerosmith’s sound in the 1980s with the release of “Permanent Vacation” as pop-metal. That shift is likely why they achieved the success they did.
Wikipedia describes Aerosmith’s sound in the 1980s with the release of “Permanent Vacation” as pop-metal. That shift is likely why they achieved the success they did.
They also enlisted the help of a couple Canadians, producer Bruce Fairbairn and songwriter Jim Vallance, who had a track record of success.
The result was a sound that really resonated with me. The songs were catchy, and in the case of ballads such as “Angel”, quite powerful.
More that that, they bring back memories of times in my life that were transitions from one group of friends to another.
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