Cut the Fat - Number 4
Saturday, August 7, 2010 at 12:01AM 
The hits keep coming, friends. We're counting down seven records that are a little too heavy for their own good. Yeah, we're ditching the dud tracks and keeping 'em lean and mean.
Everyone knows I'm a big LA Guns fan. These days, I tend to side with Tracii Guns' version of the band but once upon a Glam time, both Tracii and Phil Lewis were actually in the same band (can you imagine that?!) and made some awesome tunes. One of the most awesomest of awesome Glam records is Cocked & Loaded. The album features my favorite LA Guns track "Malaria" and also "The Ballad Of Jayne" and "Never Enough." Now, I wouldn't be talking about Cocked & Loaded if I didn't think there was one less-than-perfect track.
What has to go? "Showdown (Riot On Sunset)." I just think the tune is a little less inspired than the rest and we all know Cocked & Loaded is LA Guns' masterpiece.
Cocked & Loaded track listing:
Letting Go
Slap In The Face
Rip And Tear
Sleazy Come Easy Go
Never Enough
Malaria
The Ballad Of Jayne
Magdalaine
Give A Little
I'm Addicted
17 Crash
Showdown (Riot On Sunset)
Wheels Of Fire
I Wanna Be Your Man
Agree? Disagree? Thoughts?
Reader Comments (17)
It's funny you mention Malaria, because I feel its the WEAKEST on the album.
Stacey Blades is great but Tracii is one of the greatest guitarists I've ever seen, and I've seen Jimmy Page, Keith Richards, Dicky Betts, Frank Zappa, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Alvin Lee and Buddy Guy, among others.
Guns has that little something extra you can't quite put your finger on. He plays fast, but he's got his own distinct style. He blows away Slash, who I've seen way too many times (8?). Besides Tracii co-wrote most of the L.A. Guns stuff, did he not? Blades is merely a "hired GUN", no pun intended...
I saw Tracii like 6 times in small clubs including the Country Club in L.A. BEFORE the first album even came out!
He was the talk of the town!
He is a killer Axe man, bar none.
Check that video that's out from back in the day. Blazin'!
That said, these guys are like Ratt...
"Lotta Filler. Less Killer."
I could do without most of this album including "The Ballad of Jayne".
What I do like on it is:
"Never Enough", "17 Crash" and "I Wanna Be Your Man".
Tracii's playin', however, is killer on all of it.
My post was not serious IN THE LEAST! :-)
First Def Leppard, now L.A. Guns.
Still, I did enjoy The Guns at M3 with what's-his-name on guitar, who I found to be quite competent. They were quite excellent, actually. Phil's got a crazy man with Kweens. He should get an equally crazy guitarist and do some new material. Or get Tracii back, hahaha!!!
Sarcasm works on the internet, just not on my brain early Saturday morning and particularly on this site where far more knowledgeable Glam Metal Heads like yourself eat me for breakfast on a regular basis.
Really, Kenny, I'm surprised you don't like "17 Crash"?
Stabbed again!
Hey, man, did you ever check out Aviator?!
Email me, bro! I got a lot more to tell you about!
Cheerz 'n Jeerz!
I believe I mentioned at M3 that LA Guns wasn't good enough for it to matter which version you see. I have seen Phil's several times, and all of Tracii's various versions, and I have enjoyed them all equally. This was their best album, actually the only one I ever knew they had, so there ya go.
As for Phil v. Tracii, I was always partial to Tracii as well but having seen both and interacted with both after the show, Phil's version is by far the better group. Bummed me out on some levels but it was across the board: more interested in putting on a show, accessible, energetic. Phil's band is one not to be missed.
That said, you can't beat Tracii's shredding as he is one of THE greatest of the L.A. Strip scene, bar none!
All you have to do is hear one of his leads to be reminded who is the REAL L.A. Guns!
Hell, it's his last name in the band's name, kidz, Come on!
Luke's right, Phil and the boys are nice, but it's Tracii who is the extra-terrestrial here!