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Monster Ballads
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| Monster Ballads | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Compilation album by Various artists | ||||
| Released | June 29, 1999 | |||
| Genre | Glam metal, hard rock, pop rock, soft rock | |||
| Label | Razor & Tie | |||
| Monster Ballads chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [1] |
Monster Ballads is the first in a series of compilation albums that feature a combination of many popular and lesser-known power ballads, usually from the glam metal and soft rock genres, many of which charted in the Top 10 or Top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100. Like Monsters of Rock, it was released in both single and 2 disc versions, which were heavily promoted by TV commercials. The single disc version (containing 16 songs) was eventually certified platinum by the RIAA in 1999, while the 2 disc version (containing 35 songs) was certified gold that same year.
Original single-disc release
[edit]- "Heaven" - Warrant - 3:59
- "Something to Believe In" - Poison - 5:31
- "High Enough" [single version] - Damn Yankees - 4:19
- "Almost Paradise" - Mike Reno and Ann Wilson - 3:46
- "Is This Love" - Whitesnake - 4:42
- "To Be with You" - Mr. Big - 3:27
- "Carrie" - Europe - 4:32
- "Don't Know What You Got (Till It's Gone)" - Cinderella - 5:55
- "More Than Words" [single version] - Extreme - 4:11
- "Headed for a Heartbreak" - Winger - 5:14
- "When I Look into Your Eyes" - Firehouse - 4:00
- "Wind of Change" - Scorpions - 5:10
- "I'll Never Let You Go (Angel Eyes)" - Steelheart - 5:06
- "When I See You Smile" - Bad English - 4:21
- "Don't Close Your Eyes" - KIX - 4:18
- "When I'm with You" - Sheriff - 3:55
Double-disc edition
[edit]Disc 1
[edit]- "Heaven" - Warrant - 3:59
- "Something to Believe In" - Poison - 5:31
- "When I See You Smile" - Bad English - 4:09
- "Don't Know What You Got (Till It's Gone)" [single version] - Cinderella - 4:30
- "Love Is on the Way" - Saigon Kick - 4:25
- "Headed for a Heartbreak" [single version] - Winger - 4:18
- "When I'm with You" - Sheriff - 3:55
- "Carrie" - Europe - 4:32
- "I'll Never Let You Go (Angel Eyes)" - Steelheart - 5:06
- "High Enough" [single version] - Damn Yankees - 4:19
- "The Ballad of Jayne" - L.A. Guns - 4:33
- "Goodbye" - Night Ranger - 4:18
- "Can't Fight This Feeling" - REO Speedwagon - 4:50
- "This Could Be the Night" - Loverboy - 4:59
- "Never Tear Us Apart" - INXS - 3:05
- "Second Chance" [single version] - 38 Special - 4:35
- "Eternal Flame" - The Bangles - 3:55
Disc 2
[edit]- "Is This Love" - Whitesnake - 4:42
- "To Be with You" - Mr. Big - 3:27
- "Wind of Change" - The Scorpions - 5:10
- "More Than Words" - Extreme - 5:06
- "When I Look Into Your Eyes" - Firehouse - 4:00
- "The Angel Song" - Great White - 4:51
- "Eyes Without a Face" - Billy Idol - 4:58
- "Don't Close Your Eyes" - KIX - 4:18
- "Almost Paradise" - Mike Reno and Ann Wilson - 3:46
- "Amanda" - Boston - 4:16
- "House of Pain" - Faster Pussycat - 5:47
- "More Than Words Can Say" - Alias - 3:53
- "Honestly" - Stryper - 4:10
- "Missing You" - John Waite - 4:30
- "Only Time Will Tell" - Nelson - 4:15
- "Waiting for a Girl Like You" - Foreigner - 4:49
- "Take Me Home Tonight / Be My Baby" - Eddie Money - 3:32
- "Don't Walk Away" - Danger Danger - 4:56
References
[edit]
Monster Ballads
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
Background and Concept
Power Ballad Genre
A power ballad is a slow-tempo rock song characterized by a gradual build-up to an anthemic, emotionally charged chorus, originating in the late 1970s and early 1980s from influences in hard rock, glam metal, and pop rock.[6][7] This genre emerged as rock artists sought to convey profound emotional messages through accessible, sentiment-driven compositions, blending the intensity of rock with ballad-like introspection.[6] Key characteristics include deeply emotional lyrics centered on themes of love, loss, and heartbreak, often enhanced by orchestral arrangements, soaring guitar solos, and dynamic vocal performances that transition from soft, intimate verses to powerful, belted choruses.[7][8] These elements create a formula of constant musical escalation, fostering an expressive uplift that resonates with listeners through sentimental ploys and ecstatic releases.[7] The genre's historical evolution traces back to the 1970s, when bands like Journey and Boston pioneered softer rock ballads that influenced the broader rock landscape, setting the stage for the 1980s explosion amid the MTV era's visual emphasis on dramatic performances.[6][9] Journey's emotive style, for instance, and Boston's polished productions helped shape the template for subsequent acts, contributing to the power ballad's rise as a staple in hard rock and glam metal scenes.[9] Culturally, power ballads served as radio and MTV mainstays, tempering heavy metal's aggression with melodic accessibility to broaden appeal, frequently achieving top positions on the Billboard Hot 100—such as Boston's "Amanda" reaching number one in 1986 and Def Leppard's "Love Bites" doing the same in 1988.[9][8] This duality allowed them to humanize rock personas, connecting with audiences through shared vulnerability while maintaining commercial viability in the decade's pop-rock fusion.[6]Compilation Development
Monster Ballads was produced by Razor & Tie Records, an independent label founded in 1990 by Cliff Chenfeld and Craig Balsam, who targeted niche markets including nostalgia compilations for fans of 1980s rock music.[10][11] The label's approach emphasized direct-to-consumer marketing through television spots and retail distribution, drawing on the founders' backgrounds as music enthusiasts to curate collections that evoked fond memories of past eras.[12] The curation process involved selecting 16 tracks of hit power ballads from prominent 1980s rock acts, with an emphasis on reviving lesser-played radio classics alongside more familiar hits. This selection drew from the power ballad genre's tradition of emotionally charged, anthemic songs that defined arena rock's sentimental side.[12] No specific individual producer is credited beyond the label's oversight by Chenfeld and Balsam, reflecting Razor & Tie's streamlined compilation model.[11] Conceptually, Monster Ballads served as the inaugural entry in a planned series of "Monster" compilations, designed to capitalize on the post-grunge revival of interest in 1980s power ballads by blending popular anthems with deeper cuts for a humorous, guilty-pleasure appeal.[12] The project was conceptualized in the late 1990s amid the booming market for 1980s music reissues, as nostalgia cycles shifted toward hair metal and its ballads following the dominance of grunge.[12][10] Chenfeld noted that such releases allowed listeners to revisit the era "with a sense of humor," targeting demographics like twentysomethings reflecting on their youth.[12]Release History
Single-Disc Edition
The single-disc edition of Monster Ballads was released on June 29, 1999, by Razor & Tie as a standard CD compilation featuring 16 tracks of power ballads from prominent 1980s and early 1990s hard rock and glam metal artists.[13][14][15] This format totaled approximately 72 minutes in runtime and was produced in the United States with standard jewel case packaging.[13][16] The track selection emphasized core hits that defined the power ballad subgenre, such as "Heaven" by Warrant and "Something to Believe In" by Poison, alongside contributions from acts like Whitesnake, Mr. Big, and Europe.[13] These songs provided a concise overview of the era's sentimental hard rock anthems, serving as the foundational set for subsequent releases without any bonus tracks or additional content.[13] Distributed primarily through the U.S. market by Razor & Tie under catalog number 7930189024-2, the edition was available via major retailers and later expanded into a double-disc version in 1999 to include more tracks.[13][17]Double-Disc Edition
The double-disc edition of Monster Ballads was released in 1999 by Razor & Tie Records, expanding the compilation to two CDs featuring a total of 35 tracks across approximately 150 minutes of runtime.[17] This version followed the initial single-disc release earlier that year, providing a more extensive anthology of power ballads to address growing demand from enthusiasts of 1980s and 1990s hard rock and metal music.[13] The format shift to dual discs allowed for a broader curation, maintaining the core emphasis on emotional, arena-ready anthems while accommodating additional material. Key enhancements in this edition included the addition of 19 new tracks beyond the original 16, diversifying the selection with pop rock elements to appeal to a wider audience. Notable inclusions were Foreigner's "Waiting for a Girl Like You," which peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1981, and Eddie Money's "Take Me Home Tonight (Be My Baby)," a 1986 top-five hit blending rock with soul influences.[17] Other additions, such as REO Speedwagon's "Can't Fight This Feeling" and INXS's "Never Tear Us Apart," further broadened the scope from glam metal staples to mainstream rock crossovers, enriching the thematic focus on heartfelt ballads.[17] Targeted at collectors and dedicated fans, the double-disc set was positioned as a premium offering, reflecting its value as an in-depth retrospective.[17] While overlapping with the single-disc edition on foundational tracks like Warrant's "Heaven" and Poison's "Something to Believe In," this release emphasized depth and variety, solidifying Monster Ballads as a cornerstone compilation in the power ballad genre.[17]Track Listings
Disc One
Disc One of the double-disc edition of Monster Ballads presents 17 tracks that capture the essence of 1980s power ballads, drawing heavily from glam metal and hard rock acts with lyrics centered on romantic yearning, heartbreak, and redemption. These selections highlight the genre's crossover appeal, many propelled to prominence by heavy MTV airplay that amplified their dramatic, guitar-driven arrangements and soaring vocals. The disc's curation emphasizes chart-topping singles from the late 1980s, expanding the original single-disc release by incorporating additional hits for broader representation, while all tracks are drawn from original studio masters to preserve their authentic production quality.[17] The track listing is as follows:| No. | Artist | Title | Original Album (Year) | US Peak (Billboard Hot 100) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Warrant | Heaven | Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinking Rich (1989) | #2 |
| 2 | Poison | Something to Believe In | Flesh & Blood (1990) | #4 |
| 3 | Bad English | When I See You Smile | Bad English (1989) | #1 |
| 4 | Cinderella | Don't Know What You Got (Till It's Gone) | Long Cold Winter (1988) | #12 |
| 5 | Saigon Kick | Love Is on the Way | The Lizard (1992) | Did not chart |
| 6 | Winger | Headed for a Heartbreak | Winger (1988) | #19 |
| 7 | Sheriff | When I'm with You | Sheriff (1982) | #1 [1989 re-release] |
| 8 | Europe | Carrie | The Final Countdown (1986) | #3 |
| 9 | Steelheart | I'll Never Let You Go (Angel Eyes) | Steelheart (1990) | #14 |
| 10 | Damn Yankees | High Enough | Damn Yankees (1989) | #3 |
| 11 | L.A. Guns | The Ballad of Jayne | Cocked & Loaded (1989) | #33 |
| 12 | Night Ranger | Goodbye | Midnight Madness (1983) | Did not chart |
| 13 | REO Speedwagon | Can't Fight This Feeling | Wheels Are Turning (1984) | #1 |
| 14 | Loverboy | This Could Be the Night | Wildside (1987) | #10 |
| 15 | INXS | Never Tear Us Apart | Kick (1987) | #7 |
| 16 | 38 Special | Second Chance | Special Forces (1982) | #1 [1989 re-release] |
| 17 | The Bangles | Eternal Flame | Everything (1988) | #1 |
Disc Two
The second disc of the double-disc edition of Monster Ballads expands on the compilation's focus on power ballads by incorporating a broader selection of tracks from the late 1970s through the early 1990s, blending hard rock anthems, album-oriented rock (AOR) staples, and pop-infused slow burns to provide deeper emotional resonance for listeners. While the first disc emphasizes mainstream radio hits, this installment highlights a mix of chart successes and lesser-charting gems, including duets and tracks with distinctive production elements that evoke nostalgia for the era's arena rock sound. Released in 1999 by Razor & Tie and Sony Music Special Products, the disc features remastered audio similar to its counterpart, ensuring clarity in the lush instrumentation and soaring vocals characteristic of the genre.[17] Key tracks underscore the disc's thematic depth, such as Whitesnake's "Is This Love," a 1987 hard rock ballad that peaked at number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100, showcasing David Coverdale's emotive delivery over atmospheric guitars.[21] Similarly, Foreigner's "Waiting for a Girl Like You" from 1981 held the number 2 position on the same chart for a record-setting 10 weeks, exemplifying AOR balladry with its synth-driven melancholy.[22] The inclusion of Eddie Money's 1986 hit "Take Me Home Tonight (Be My Baby)," featuring Ronnie Spector and reaching number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100, pays homage to Phil Spector's Wall of Sound style through its interpolation of The Ronettes' "Be My Baby," blending rock energy with retro pop flair.[23] Other notable selections include the duet "Almost Paradise" by Mike Reno of Loverboy and Ann Wilson of Heart, a 1984 track from the Footloose soundtrack that captures romantic tension through harmonious vocals, and Great White's "The Angel Song" from 1989, a brooding album cut that delves into introspective hard rock territory. The disc's curation appeals to dedicated fans by balancing ubiquitous hits like Scorpions' "Wind of Change" (1990, number 1 in multiple countries) with obscurities such as Faster Pussycat's "House of Pain" (1989), a glam metal lament with rawer edges. This variety fosters a narrative progression from yearning love songs to reflective closers, culminating in Danger Danger's "Don't Walk Away" (1990), an uplifting power ballad emphasizing perseverance. The total runtime approximates 75 minutes, allowing for an immersive listening experience.[17]Track Listing
| No. | Title | Artist | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Is This Love" | Whitesnake | 1987 |
| 2 | "To Be with You" | Mr. Big | 1991 |
| 3 | "Wind of Change" | Scorpions | 1990 |
| 4 | "More Than Words" | Extreme | 1990 |
| 5 | "When I Look into Your Eyes" | FireHouse | 1992 |
| 6 | "The Angel Song" | Great White | 1989 |
| 7 | "Eyes Without a Face" | Billy Idol | 1983 |
| 8 | "Don't Close Your Eyes" | Kix | 1988 |
| 9 | "Almost Paradise" | Mike Reno & Ann Wilson | 1984 |
| 10 | "Amanda" | Boston | 1986 |
| 11 | "House of Pain" | Faster Pussycat | 1989 |
| 12 | "More Than Words Can Say" | Alias | 1990 |
| 13 | "Honestly" | Stryper | 1986 |
| 14 | "Missing You" | John Waite | 1984 |
| 15 | "Only Time Will Tell" | Nelson | 1990 |
| 16 | "Waiting for a Girl Like You" | Foreigner | 1981 |
| 17 | "Take Me Home Tonight (Be My Baby)" | Eddie Money feat. Ronnie Spector | 1986 |
| 18 | "Don't Walk Away" | Danger Danger | 1990 |