"You've Got Another Thing Comin'" by Judas Priest

Song#:  1235
Date:  11/06/1982
Debut:  90
Peak:  67
Weeks:  7
Genre:  Hard Rock



Pop Bits:  Formed in 1969, this British band moved away from their original blues-based sound towards hard rock that culminated in their 1974 debut LP, "Rocka Rolla." Featuring lead singer Rob Halford's nearly operatic voice, the band slowly gained a following over the course of four more albums. Their dark brand of metal was far more popular in the UK than the US, but that began to change with their more streamlined 1980 effort "British Steel" (#34). With an ear towards a more commercial sound, they reached their apex with 1982's "Screaming for Vengeance," which yielded this lone pop chart entry for the band. The song also hit #4 on the Mainstram Rock chart. The song's success helped the album become their biggest success in the US reaching double-platinum status.

ReduxReview:  I've never really explored the Judas Priest catalog, but I certainly know this song. How can you not? It's a rock radio classic. This is the one that put them in the same league as AC/DC and other major hard rock band. It may have been their only successful single, but it was a doozy. And they didn't need much after this to remain popular.

ReduxRating:  7/10

Trivia:  Double Shot!  1) In 2006, VH1's list of the Greatest Metal Songs include this song in the #5 spot. The band was surprised by the song's popularity. The album was finished but there was room for one more song. So they placed this tune on the LP's second side never thinking it would catch fire.  2) The band was famously put on trial as defendants in a 1990 civil suit that involved the suicide attempts of two young men. In 1985, the two men were intoxicated when they shot themselves. One instantly died, the other lived but killed himself three year later with painkillers. The men had been listening to Judas Priest at the time. One family contended that the song "Better By You, Better Than Me" contained a subliminal message that said "do it" and that prompted the men to commit suicide. After a three week trial, the judge ended up dismissing the case stating that if a subliminal message did exist, it was not responsible for the actions of the men.

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