Siogo

Siogo is the sixth studio album by the American southern rock band Blackfoot, released in May 1983 by Atco Records.^[1][2] It marked the debut of former Uriah Heep keyboardist Ken Hensley as a full band member, introducing prominent keyboard elements to Blackfoot's hard-edged southern rock sound.^[3] The album peaked at number 82 on the US Billboard 200 chart.^[4] The title Siogo was presented to the label as an American Indian word signifying "togetherness" or "closeness," though it was actually an acronym for "Suck It or Get Out," embodying the band's defiant spirit amid industry pressures.^[5] Produced by Al Nalli, the record features ten tracks blending boogie-infused riffs, melodic hooks, and Hensley's atmospheric keyboards, with standout songs including "Send Me an Angel," "Crossfire," and "Heart's Grown Cold."^[2] While it continued Blackfoot's tradition of high-energy rock, the incorporation of keyboards drew mixed reactions, with some fans viewing it as a commercial pivot that diluted the group's raw southern roots.^[3]

Background

Lineup changes

In 1982, Blackfoot underwent a significant lineup change by adding keyboardist Ken Hensley, formerly of Uriah Heep, to the band ahead of recording their sixth studio album, Siogo. This marked the first prominent incorporation of keyboards into Blackfoot's sound, shifting away from their established southern rock roots toward a more melodic, arena-oriented style.^[6][7] The addition of Hensley was driven by pressure from the band's label and management to evolve the sound following the relative commercial underperformance of their previous album, Marauder (1981), which failed to match the sales success of earlier releases like Strikes (1979). The label sought to broaden Blackfoot's appeal by integrating keyboards, aiming for more accessible, melodic elements to revitalize their trajectory in the evolving hard rock landscape of the early 1980s.^[6][7][8] The core rhythm section and guitar lineup remained intact, with Rickey Medlocke handling lead vocals and guitars, Charlie Hargrett on guitars, Greg T. Walker on bass, and Jakson Spires on drums. Hensley's integration extended to songwriting, where he served as co-writer on tracks including "Send Me an Angel" and "Run for Cover," contributing to the album's refreshed creative direction.^[9][10]

Pre-release context

Following the commercial breakthrough of their 1979 album Strikes, which sold over one million copies in the United States, Blackfoot faced declining sales with their 1981 release Marauder. ^{[8] [7]} In response to these setbacks and pressure from their label Atco to adopt a more commercial sound, the band sought to evolve beyond their southern rock roots by incorporating keyboards, aiming to blend hard rock intensity with progressive elements to appeal to a broader audience and avoid being typecast as a purely southern outfit. ^{[3] [5]} This decision led to the recruitment of former Uriah Heep keyboardist Ken Hensley in 1982. ^[5] The album's title Siogo originated as an acronym coined by the road crew—"Suck It Or Get Out"—displayed on a tour bus sign to reflect their no-nonsense touring ethos; however, the band presented it to Atco executives as a Native American term signifying "closeness" or "togetherness" to align with their intended theme of band unity amid these changes. ^[5]

Recording and production

Studios and sessions

The recording sessions for Siogo took place in early 1983 at Subterranean Studios and Solid Sound, both located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, with additional vocal recordings captured using The Recording Connection Mobile in Cleveland, Ohio. These sessions culminated in the album's release in May 1983.^[11][5] The inclusion of a mobile recording unit for supplementary work provided logistical flexibility, allowing the band to record vocals in a non-traditional studio environment outside the primary Ann Arbor facilities.^[11] Producer Al Nalli oversaw the sessions, guiding the integration of new keyboardist Ken Hensley's contributions.^[11] The process emphasized preserving the band's raw, live performance energy in the studio while layering in keyboards, with a deliberate focus on blending Hensley's elements to enhance rather than overshadow the core guitar-driven sound amid record label pressures for a more commercial direction.^[12][5]

Production team

Al Nalli served as the lead producer for Siogo, marking his fourth consecutive collaboration with Blackfoot after helming their albums Strikes (1979), Tomcattin' (1980), and Marauder (1981). As the band's manager and a key figure in their transition to Atco Records, Nalli oversaw the sessions to deliver a refined sonic quality that highlighted the band's musicality while preserving their raw southern rock energy. His production approach polished the mix, balancing the gritty hard rock elements with melodic accessibility to create a more commercial edge.^[13][14] In line with Atco's directive for a radio-friendly sound amid shifting industry trends away from extended southern rock jams, Nalli guided the album toward concise, hook-driven tracks that retained the band's heavy tone without overpolishing it into generic arena rock. This contributed to Siogo's distinctive blend of aggression and catchiness, exemplified in songs like "Send Me an Angel" and "Teenage Idol." Most songs were written by band members and Ken Hensley, with "Send Me an Angel" co-written by Hensley and external songwriter Jack Williams, ensuring the material stayed rooted in the group's vision under Nalli's direction.^[3] Engineering duties were led by Pat Schneider, who handled recording at Subterranean Studios in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and mixing at Electric Lady Studios in New York. Assistant engineers included Arnie Rosenberg, Robert Bene, Will Spencer, and Gary Hellman, whose work ensured precise separation of instruments and vocals. Mastering was performed by Bob Ludwig at Masterdisk, resulting in a clear, dynamic sound that has been highlighted for its enduring quality in subsequent reissues and remasters.^[2][15]

Composition

Musical style

Siogo exemplifies Blackfoot's core genre of southern rock infused with hard rock elements and progressive touches through keyboard integration. The album maintains the band's signature gritty guitar riffs and rhythmic grooves reminiscent of Lynyrd Skynyrd, while adopting a polished 1980s arena rock sheen that emphasizes accessibility and anthemic choruses.^[16][17] A key stylistic shift in Siogo marks a departure from the raw, guitar-dominated sound of Blackfoot's earlier 1970s albums toward more melodic and layered arrangements. This evolution incorporates keyboard solos and vocal harmonies, adding depth and commercial appeal without diluting the hard rock foundation. The inclusion of former Uriah Heep keyboardist Ken Hensley introduces progressive rock infusions, blending organ textures with the band's southern-fried aggression to create a hybrid style akin to heavy AOR.^[17][18][19] Instrumentally, tracks on Siogo feature searing guitar leads that interplay with synth-like keyboard overlays, forging a gripping hard rock base tempered by melodic hooks. This combination yields a punchy production that balances visceral energy with refined harmonies, distinguishing the album as a bridge between the band's rugged origins and broader rock appeal.^[19][18][17]

Lyrics and themes

The lyrics of Siogo predominantly revolve around themes of loneliness, relationships, and resilience, weaving personal struggles into the album's hard rock framework. In "Send Me an Angel," isolation is vividly portrayed through the narrator's nocturnal wanderings and plea for a compassionate lover to mend his "broken dreams and an empty heart," underscoring a deep yearning for connection amid solitude.^[20] Similarly, "Crossfire" delves into relational strife, depicting a protagonist ensnared in emotional conflict and jealousy, declaring himself "caught up in a crossfire" and ignited like a "live wire" by betrayal and lingering passion.^[21] Songwriting credits on Siogo are largely collaborative efforts led by Rickey Medlocke and Ken Hensley, marking a shift influenced by Hensley's integration into the band following his time with Uriah Heep.^[9] A notable inclusion is the cover of Nazareth's "Heart's Grown Cold," originally penned by Zal Cleminson, which Blackfoot reinterprets with their signature intensity while preserving its core narrative of love turning indifferent and cold.^[9] The album's lyrical approach favors straightforward rock narratives that convey emotional depth without relying on explicit Southern rock imagery, fostering a more universal resonance for listeners. Three co-writes involving Hensley—such as "Send Me an Angel," "Run for Cover," and "Sail Away"—highlight melodic hooks that intertwine motifs of longing and unity, reinforcing the record's ethos of togetherness amid adversity.^[9]

Release and promotion

Album release

Siogo was released on May 25, 1983, by Atco Records, a subsidiary of Warner Music Group operating as an imprint of Atlantic Records.^[22][1] The album marked Blackfoot's sixth studio effort and was positioned as a comeback following the relative underperformance of their previous release, Marauder (1981), which had peaked at number 48 on the Billboard 200, with high production values aimed at broadening market appeal. The original format was a vinyl LP consisting of two sides with a total of 10 tracks, running approximately 41 minutes in length.^[1][23] Later reissues included CD editions, such as a 1997 remastered version and a 2022 release by Music on CD, preserving the core tracklist while enhancing audio quality for modern listeners.^[9] The album's packaging featured standard artwork designed by Bob Defrin with photography by Jim Houghton and Lisa Tanner, prominently displaying band imagery to evoke their rock 'n' roll intensity; no significant controversies arose surrounding the release.^[14]

Singles and touring

To promote Siogo, Blackfoot released "Send Me an Angel" as the lead single in 1983, a melodic track written by Ken Hensley and Jack Williams that targeted album-oriented rock (AOR) radio play.^[16] The single received moderate airplay on AOR stations but did not achieve significant mainstream chart success.^[24] A music video was produced for "Send Me an Angel" to support its rollout during the early MTV era, though visual promotion remained limited compared to later years.^[25] "Teenage Idol" followed as a second single, further emphasizing the album's more accessible, keyboard-driven sound aimed at expanding the band's audience beyond southern rock.^[26] Following the album's May 1983 release, Blackfoot launched the Siogo tour, a North American run that showcased material from the record alongside earlier hits like "Highway Song" and "Train, Train."^[27] The tour highlighted the band's new lineup with keyboardist Ken Hensley, integrating his contributions to emphasize a evolved, more layered rock style in live settings.^[2] Key dates included opening slots for ZZ Top on their Eliminator tour, such as the July 16 show at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan, where Blackfoot delivered high-energy performances to larger audiences.^[28] Atco Records supported these efforts with targeted radio promotion for melodic cuts like "Send Me an Angel," seeking to position Siogo for broader commercial appeal amid shifting industry trends away from pure southern rock.^[16]

Reception and legacy

Critical reception

Upon its release in 1983, Siogo received mixed reviews from critics, who were divided over the band's evolution toward a more commercial hard rock sound. Some praised the polished production and melodic hooks that made tracks like "Send Me an Angel" stand out for their accessibility and energy.^[19] In a contemporary assessment published in The Georgia Straight, journalist Steve Newton noted that Ken Hensley fits well in the group without overpowering the guitars, and commended the album's opener for its "red-hot chord blasts and searing lead licks."^[19] Others, however, criticized the shift to a slicker aesthetic as a dilution of Blackfoot's raw Southern rock roots, viewing it as a label-driven compromise aimed at radio play that sacrificed the gritty intensity of earlier albums like Strikes and Marauder.^[3] Period press often portrayed the effort as a "has-been" attempt to recapture past success post-lineup changes and commercial pressures, with reviewers expressing disappointment in the diminished raw energy despite appreciating Hensley's contributions to songwriting and texture.^[3] Retrospective but era-contextualized evaluations, such as AllMusic's three-out-of-five-star rating, acknowledged Siogo as a solid hard rock record that reflected the polished trends of the early 1980s, though it lacked the breakout acclaim of the band's prior work.^[1] The album garnered no major awards or widespread critical endorsements, underscoring its polarizing immediate reception.

Commercial performance

Siogo experienced moderate commercial success following its May 1983 release, peaking at number 82 on the US Billboard 200 chart after debuting at number 185 and spending 13 weeks on the listing.^[4] In the United Kingdom, the album reached number 28 on the Official Albums Chart, where it charted for three weeks.^[22] It also attained a peak of number 36 on the Swedish Albums Chart (Sverigetopplistan).^[29] Sales figures for Siogo were modest in comparison to Blackfoot's prior breakthrough album Strikes (1979), which achieved platinum certification in the US, and the record received no such certifications itself. Despite this, the album has maintained steady sales through reissues, bolstered by the band's enduring cult following in Southern rock circles.^[30] The lead single "Send Me an Angel" garnered notable airplay on album-oriented rock (AOR) radio stations but failed to secure any major chart entries, peaking only at number 66 on the UK Singles Chart.^[31] Overall, Siogo represented a commercial decline from the Strikes era, a shift attributed to the band's move toward a more commercial AOR-influenced sound—exemplified by the addition of keyboards—and reduced support from their label Atco Records, which had grown less enthusiastic about Southern rock.^[32]

Retrospective views

In the decades following its release, Siogo has been reevaluated by rock music enthusiasts and bloggers as an underrated entry in Blackfoot's discography, praised for its polished production and blend of hard rock energy with emerging melodic elements. A 2018 review on Ear of Newt described the album as holding its own against the band's earlier works like Strikes and Marauder, highlighting Ken Hensley's keyboard contributions as enhancing the guitar-driven sound without overpowering it, and recommending it to fans of "southern-fried metal" acts like Molly Hatchet.^[19] Similarly, a 2016 retrospective on 80smetalman's blog called Siogo a "great album" that was "overlooked for too long," noting its effective integration of keyboards as a subtle evolution that bolstered the hard rock riffs and solos, positioning it as a strong example of the band's "Southern metal" style.^[32] Reissues in the late 1990s and 2020s have helped revive interest, often emphasizing the album's superior audio quality within Blackfoot's catalog. A remastered CD edition appeared in 1997 via New Zealand's Electric Pow Wow label, expanding the tracklist with bonus material.^[9] This was followed by a 2002 U.S. CD reissue from Wounded Bird Records, and a 2022 CD reprint that product descriptions tout as delivering the "best sound quality of any Blackfoot release" due to its clear production.^[33][34] Retrospectively, Siogo is viewed as a transitional work in Blackfoot's evolution, bridging their Southern rock roots toward the more commercial, keyboard-infused hard rock and early hair metal trends of the 1980s. The 2016 80smetalman analysis underscored this shift, crediting Hensley's addition for introducing melodic hooks while preserving the band's heavy, riff-based foundation.^[32] A 2017 blog post on Zap Niles echoed this, observing that the album largely abandoned prior "head-bangin' Southern rock tendencies" in favor of a broader, radio-friendly appeal.^[35] Among fans, it holds cult status as an overlooked gem, with some modern commentators, including a 2023 review on Defenders of the Faith, praising its melodic depth and hooks as elevating it to one of Blackfoot's strongest efforts despite contemporary dismissals.^[17] This enduring appreciation has influenced later projects involving frontman Rickey Medlocke, who has cited the album's experimental elements in discussions of his post-Blackfoot work with Lynyrd Skynyrd.^[3]

Track listing and credits

Track listing

Siogo features ten tracks, divided across two sides on its original 1983 LP release by ATCO Records, with a total runtime of approximately 41 minutes. All tracks are original compositions by band members or collaborators, except for "Heart's Grown Cold," a cover of the Nazareth song written by Zal Cleminson. There were no bonus tracks on the initial release. Writer credits and durations are as follows, per the album's liner notes.

Personnel

Siogo marked the debut recording with keyboardist Ken Hensley as a full band member, credited prominently alongside core personnel, while Rickey Medlocke handled lead vocals on the majority of tracks.^[2] The primary musicians included:

• Rickey Medlocke: lead vocals, lead guitar, rhythm guitar, acoustic guitar
• Charlie Hargrett: lead guitar, rhythm guitar, acoustic guitar
• Ken Hensley: keyboards, backing vocals, slide guitar on "Drivin' Fool"
• Greg T. Walker: bass, backing vocals
• Jakson Spires: drums, percussion, backing vocals^[2][36]

Production was led by Al Nalli, with additional production contributions from Rickey Medlocke and Jakson Spires on select tracks.^[11][37] Technical staff comprised engineer Pat Schneider, assisted by Arnie Rosenberg, Robert Bene, and Will Spencer; additional engineering support came from Gary Hellman; mastered by George Marino.^[38][16][9] Backing vocals were provided by Michael Osborne and LALA, with no other major guest appearances noted in the liner credits.^[16][39] Art direction was handled by Bob Defrin.^[2]