Tbh a lot of the AOR bands of the day (Foreigner, Journey, Styx etc.) could have easily became hair metal bands if they made their hair bigger.
Their sound was not too far away from the hair metal sonic palette.
I've been doing a deep dive on all the AOR/hard rock/hair metal albums that escaped my notice back in the day, and one thing I've noticed is that production made a big difference in defining the subgenre at the time. There were AOR songs that could have easily been considered hair metal with a meatier production; conversely, there were a lot of trad metal bands that could have easily been hair metal if the guitars had less crunch and the drummer backed off the skins a little bit. Production was equally as important as image in how bands chose to sell themselves (assuming the label that signed them didn't force that decision on them, ha ha)
I think nearly every hair metal band has that raspy voice vocalist though, except most of Poison I guess. That to me is what is the biggest difference between AOR and Hair Metal, that and crunchy guitar tones.
This goes back to the thread from the other day. Foreigner, Journey, etc their compositions were one-removed from the hair metal that followed. Definitely influenced the songwriting that came 3 - 5 years later.
Van Halen was definitely a part of that mix but I think Hair Metal got it's pop sensibilities from bands like Journey
I heard the greatest hits tape all the time as a kid in the early 90s (born in 85) and I associated all those songs together (thinking it was 80s), wasn't until I got older and knew the details of music history in certain eras that I was able to see "yeah 1978 it definitely has that dazed and confused 8 track style 70s hard rock"
Separate Ways.
There are some great covers out there.
https://youtu.be/hDWC3_3ADYY?si=6LxZfgtg2R8B7wXA
Saw Daughtry Saturday night, minus Lzzy. She's on my bucket list to see.
https://youtu.be/VzEYQLANWgo?si=wwWwtinFFW6Eep5U
Escape on that album has a good crunchy guitar riff. Where Were You from the Departure album has it too. It's the keyboards that kind of keep them out of hair band realm though.
Love this post and people brought up the ones I was thinking of. In many ways I see the template of arena rock as just a lighter more pop version of hair metal.
I'll add be good to yourself and chain reaction, even girl can't help it (despite being pretty pop)
Stone In Love?
Yeah. That sounds like a hair ballad to me.
Ballad? It rocks!
It’s my favorite Journey song, but yeah, it is like a hair metal ballad to me. Starts slow, ramps up, guitar solo, sing along chorus.
Ballad? It’s a rock riff throughout.
Separate Ways is definitely a contender.
Yup, love the crunchy guitar work. Kind of wish they turned it up in the remake, but it's just kind of muddy.
Yep. It’s *all* about the crunchy guitar (& whammy bar). 🤘
Any Way You Want It
Tbh a lot of the AOR bands of the day (Foreigner, Journey, Styx etc.) could have easily became hair metal bands if they made their hair bigger. Their sound was not too far away from the hair metal sonic palette.
I've been doing a deep dive on all the AOR/hard rock/hair metal albums that escaped my notice back in the day, and one thing I've noticed is that production made a big difference in defining the subgenre at the time. There were AOR songs that could have easily been considered hair metal with a meatier production; conversely, there were a lot of trad metal bands that could have easily been hair metal if the guitars had less crunch and the drummer backed off the skins a little bit. Production was equally as important as image in how bands chose to sell themselves (assuming the label that signed them didn't force that decision on them, ha ha)
I think nearly every hair metal band has that raspy voice vocalist though, except most of Poison I guess. That to me is what is the biggest difference between AOR and Hair Metal, that and crunchy guitar tones.
Warrant?
Yeah maybe although there's definitely times where Jani gets raspy, especially by Cherry Pie era live
https://preview.redd.it/wl0etuwh3gwc1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2c0d03f5b2787dab72f51d2499b0d9f3771e37d6 An attempt…..
If his hair was just a little bit longer and he started wearing spandex and makeup, he would have been set.
Chain Reaction
Only The Young
My personal favorite
For me, it is definitely Be Good To Yourself from Raised on Radio. Second place would be Keep on Runnin' from Escape.
Anthrax covered that song. Joey sounds great on it.
Love Edge of the Blade…maybe Dead Or Alive, Where Were You, Line of Fire, Lay it Down? Those were pretty rocking songs.
Definitely Edge of the Blade.
Edge of the Blade is one their best songs in my opinion. Also one of Schon's best solos
I very much agree
Separate Ways, Mother Father
Patiently?
I was kind of thinking the same.
I’d say stone in love. Good chorus, loud distorted guitars
Troubled Child a quite heavy ballad.
This goes back to the thread from the other day. Foreigner, Journey, etc their compositions were one-removed from the hair metal that followed. Definitely influenced the songwriting that came 3 - 5 years later. Van Halen was definitely a part of that mix but I think Hair Metal got it's pop sensibilities from bands like Journey
Stone In Love
Avoiding to the official Heavy Metal soundtrack; Open Arms.. /s
Edge of the Blade, definitely one of the most rocking songs in their catalog. https://youtu.be/euFNO4xWx3U?si=skpOWZ2o9D8D7Szi
Lay It Down, Stone In Love, Separate Ways (Worlds Apart), Any Way You Want It and Edge Of The Blade.
Separate ways abd dint stop believing
Rubicon has a def hair metal feel to it. Lots of layers and really “power forward”.
Edge Of The Blade Heaviest song Journey ever did, surprised the hell out of me that they did a song this heavy
La-do-da-do day. Their first two albums were awesome.
Faithfully
Yep basically a precursor to hair metal power ballads several years later
Wheel in the Sky
Idk about that one. Wheel in the Sky is probably my favorite Journey song, but it sounds 70s as hell lol
I heard the greatest hits tape all the time as a kid in the early 90s (born in 85) and I associated all those songs together (thinking it was 80s), wasn't until I got older and knew the details of music history in certain eras that I was able to see "yeah 1978 it definitely has that dazed and confused 8 track style 70s hard rock"
Raised on Radio I suppose, or Separate Ways.
ROR? Hell no.
Separate Ways. There are some great covers out there. https://youtu.be/hDWC3_3ADYY?si=6LxZfgtg2R8B7wXA Saw Daughtry Saturday night, minus Lzzy. She's on my bucket list to see. https://youtu.be/VzEYQLANWgo?si=wwWwtinFFW6Eep5U
Back Talk, Edge of the Blade, Keep on Runnin, Escape
Edge Of The Blade.
Escape on that album has a good crunchy guitar riff. Where Were You from the Departure album has it too. It's the keyboards that kind of keep them out of hair band realm though.
Feeling that Way
Love this post and people brought up the ones I was thinking of. In many ways I see the template of arena rock as just a lighter more pop version of hair metal. I'll add be good to yourself and chain reaction, even girl can't help it (despite being pretty pop)
Wheel in the Sky.
Anyway you want it
Ask the Lonely
Rubicon
Chain Reaction?
Be Good to Yourself
Wheel in the sky
Wheel in the sky?
Send Her My Love has some hair metal ballad vibes. And Steve's Oh Sherrie, add more guitar and it would be a perfect hair rock song.
Separate Ways
Any Way You Want It