Metallica : Ride The Lightning (Box Set)
GUILTY AS CHARGED,
BUT DAMN IT,
IT AIN'T RIGHT
THERE'S SOMEONE ELSE
CONTROLLING ME
DEATH IN THE AIR,
STRAPPED IN THE
ELECTRIC CHAIR
THIS CAN'T BE
HAPPENING TO ME
WHO MADE YOU
GOD TO SAY
I'LL TAKE YOUR LIFE FROM YOU..
Ride the Lightning
is the second
studio album
by the American
Heavy Metal Band
released on
July 27, 1984,
by the independent
record label
Megaforce Records.
The album was recorded
in three weeks
with producer
Flemming Rasmussen
at Sweet Silence Studios
in Copenhagen, Denmark.
The artwork,
based on a
concept by the band,
depicts an
Electric Chair
being struck by
lightning flowing
from the band logo.
The title was taken
from a passage in
Stephen King's novel
The Stand,
in which a character
uses the phrase
to refer to
execution by
electric chair.
Although rooted in
the thrash metal genre,
the album showcased
the band's
musical growth
and lyrical sophistication.
Bassist
introduced the basics
of music theory
to the band
and had more input
in the songwriting.
Beyond the fast tempos
of its debut
Kill 'Em All,
Metallica broadened
its approach by
employing
acoustic guitars,
extended instrumentals,
and more complex harmonies.
The overall recording costs
were paid by
Metallica's European
label
Music for Nations
because
Megaforce was
unable to cover it.
It is the last album
to feature
songwriting contributions
from former
lead guitarist
Dave Mustaine,
and the first
to feature
contributions from
successor
Kirk Hammett.
Ride the Lightning
received a highly
positive response
from music critics,
who saw it as a
more ambitious effort
than its predecessor.
Metallica promoted the album
on the
Bang That Head That Doesn't Bang
European tour
in late 1984,
and on its
North American leg
in the first half of 1985.
The band performed
at major music festivals
such as
Monsters of Rock
and
Day on the Green
later that year.
Two months after its release,
Elektra Records
signed Metallica
to a multi-year deal
and reissued
the album.
Ride the Lightning
peaked at number 100
on the Billboard 200
with virtually
no radio exposure
and has since
reached number 48.
Although 75,000 copies
were initially pressed
for the American market,
the album sold
half a million
by November 1987.
It was certified
6× platinum
by the Recording
Industry Association
of America (RIAA)
in 2012
for shipping
six million copies
in the United States.
Many rock publications
have ranked
Ride the Lightning
on their
best album lists,
saying it had a
lasting impact
on thrash metal.
Background and Recording
Metallica released its debut album,
Kill 'Em All,
on the independent label
Megaforce Records
on
July 25, 1983.
The album helped to
establish thrash metal,
a heavy metal subgenre
defined by its
brisk riffs
and intense percussion.
After finishing its
promotional tour,
Metallica began
composing new material,
and from September,
began performing
the songs that were
to make up
Ride the Lightning
at concerts.
Because the band
had little money,
its members often
ate one meal a day
and stayed at
fans' homes
while playing at
clubs across
the United States.
An incident occurred
when part of
Metallica's gear
was stolen in Boston,
and Anthrax
lent Metallica
some of its equipment
to complete
the remaining dates.
When not gigging,
the band stayed in a
rented house
in El Cerrito, California,
called the
Metallica Mansion,
Frontman
James Hetfield
felt uneasy about
performing
double duty
on vocals
and rhythm guitar,
so the band offered
the job to
Armored Saint singer
John Bush,
who turned down
the offer
because
Armored Saint
was doing
well at the time.
Hetfield gradually
built confidence
as lead vocalist
and kept his
original role.
Metallica started
recording on
February 20, 1984,
at Sweet Silence Studios
in Copenhagen, Denmark.
The album was
produced by
Flemming Rasmussen,
the founder of
Sweet Silence Studios.
Drummer
Lars Ulrich
chose Rasmussen,
because he liked
his work on
Rainbow's
Difficult to Cure (1981)
and was keen
to record in Europe.
Rasmussen,
who had not heard of
Metallica,
agreed to work
on the album,
even though his
studio employees
questioned the
band's talent.
Rasmussen
listened to
Metallica's tapes
before the members
arrived and thought
the band had
great potential.
Metallica rehearsed
the album's material
at Mercyful Fate's
practice room
in Copenhagen.
Before entering the studio,
Metallica collected ideas
on "riff tape" recordings
of various jam sessions.
Hetfield and Ulrich
went through the tapes
and selected the
strongest riffs
to assemble into songs.
Instruments
were recorded separately,
with only Hetfield
playing rhythm guitar.
Rasmussen,
with the support of
drum roadie
Flemming Larsen,
taught the basics
of timing and
beat duration
to Ulrich,
who had a
tendency to
increase speed
and had
little knowledge
of rhythm theory.
Drums were recorded
in an empty warehouse
at the back of the studio,
which was
not soundproof,
and caused reverberation.
Although four tracks
were already arranged,
the band members
were not used to
creating songs in the studio,
as they had not
done so for
Kill 'Em All.
"For Whom the Bell Tolls",
"Trapped Under Ice",
and
"Escape"
were written mostly in
Copenhagen, and the band put
finishing touches on
"Fight Fire with Fire",
"Ride the Lightning",
"Creeping Death",
and
"The Call of Ktulu",
which had
already been
performed live.
Lead guitarist
Kirk Hammett took
the album's name
from a passage in
Stephen King's novel
The Stand.
The cover art,
displaying an
electric chair
in the midst of
lightning bolts,
was conceived
before recording began.
Metallica initially
had difficulty recording
because gear
was stolen
three weeks before
the band arrived
in Copenhagen.
The band members
slept in the studio
by day
as they could not
afford a hotel
and
recorded by night,
because the studio
was booked by
other artists
during the daytime.
Because the group
was looking for a
major label deal,
several A&R representatives
from different labels
visited the studio.
At first,
it seemed that
Metallica was going
to sign with
Bronze Records,
but the deal was canceled,
because Bronze
executive
Gerry Bron
did not appreciate
the work done
at Sweet Silence Studios,
and wanted the
US edition
to be remixed by
engineer
Eddie Kramer,
and even considered
re-recording the album
in another studio.
Metallica was
put off by
Bron's failure
to share the
band's artistic vision
and decided to
look for another label
for the US release,
though Bronze
had already
advertised Metallica
as one of its bands
Ride the Lightning
is the last
Metallica album
to feature
co-writing contributions
from former
lead guitarist
Dave Mustaine,
who received credit
on the title track
and
"The Call of Ktulu".
The album also
represented the
first time Hammett
was given
writing credits.
TRACKLIST
CD 1
(Ride The Lightning)
(1984 Version)
Fight Fire With Fire
Ride the Lightning
For Whom the Bell Tolls
Fade To Black
Trapped Under Ice
Escape
Creeping Death
The Call Of Ktulu
CD 2
(Live at the Hollywood Palladium, Los Angeles, CA 3/10/85)
The Ecstasy Of Gold
Fight Fire With Fire (Live)
Ride The Lightning
Phantom Lord
(Anesthesia) - Pulling Teeth
For Whom The Bell Tolls
No Remorse
Fade To Black
Seek & Destroy
Creeping Death
Am I Evil?
Motorbreath
CD 3
(Creeping Death/Jump in the Fire EP..and More)
Am I Evil?
Blitzkrieg
Whiplash
Jump In The Fire
Seek And Destroy (Live)
Phantom Lord (Live)
Fade To Black
For Whom The Bell Tolls
For Whom The Bell Tolls (The Irony Of It All)
(Spawn Soundtrack)
CD 4
(Demos & Rough Mixes -From Lars Vault)
Ride The Lightning
(Studio Demo)
When Hell Freezes Over
(Studio Demo)
Creeping Death
(Studio Demo)
Fight Fire With Fire
(Studio Demo)
Ride The Lightning
(Garage Demo)
When Hell Freezes Over
(Garage Demo)
Fight Fire With Fire
(Garage Demo)
Ride The Lightning
(Boom Box Demo)
Blitzkrieg
(Rhythm Track Rough Mix)
Am I Evil
(Rhythm Track Rough Mix)
Blitzkrieg
(Just Vocals)
Am I Evil
(Just Vocals)
Ride The Lightning
(Vocal Mix)
CD 5
(Live at the Kabuki Theatre, San Francisco, CA 03/15/85)
Fight Fire With Fire
Ride The Lightning
Phantom Lord
The Four Horsemen
Pulling Teeth
For Whom The Bell Tolls
No Remorse
Fade To Black
Creeping Death
Guitar Solo
Am I Evil?
Motorbreath
CD 6
(Live at the Lyceum Theatre, London, UK 12/20/84)
Phantom Lord
The Four Horsemen
Pulling Teeth
For Whom The Bell Tolls
No Remorse
The Call Of Ktulu
Seek & Destroy
Whiplash
Creeping Death
Guitar Solo
Metal Militia
CD 7
(Live at Castle Donington, UK 08/17/85)
Creeping Death
Ride The Lightning
For Whom The Bell Tolls
The Four Horsemen
Fade To Black
Seek & Destroy
Whiplash
Motorbreath
Cliff Burton and James Hetfield
final uncut interview - 1986
CD 8
(BONUS)
(DVD Audio Only RIP)
(ONE TRACK)
Recorded live at
The Day on the Green Festival,
County Coliseum, Oakland,
USA, 08/31/1985
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