Second Heat
1987 studio album by Racer X
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Second Heat is the second studio album by American heavy metal band Racer X, was released on February 11, 1987, through Shrapnel Records.[1]
| Second Heat | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Cover art by Guy Aitchison | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | February 11, 1987 | |||
| Recorded | November–December 1986 | |||
| Studio | Prairie Sun Recording, Cotati, California | |||
| Genre | Heavy metal | |||
| Length | 35:51 | |||
| Label | Shrapnel | |||
| Producer |
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| Racer X chronology | ||||
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The sound has drawn comparisons to Van Halen and Judas Priest.[2]
Critical reception
In a contemporary review, Rock Hard defines Second Heat "a thoroughly convincing piece of work, which can also boast an unusually impressive production" and predicted that Paul Gilbert would be "the first Shrapnel guitarist, who will make a name for himself beyond the circle of guitar freaks."[5]
Andy Hinds at AllMusic considered Second Heat superior to its predecessor and described it as having "some of the most amazing dual-guitar work ever recorded" thanks to the addition of second guitarist Bruce Bouillet in accompaniment with Gilbert. The rhythm section of drummer Scott Travis and bassist John Alderete was also praised as being "one of the most formidable around." Highlights listed included "Hammer Away", "Living the Hard Way" and the instrumental "Scarified". However, criticism was directed at the band's cover of "Moonage Daydream" by David Bowie: Hinds dismissed it as a "backdrop for (you guessed it!) more shredding" at the expense of "all the charm and subtlety of the original".[3] Canadian journalist Martin Popoff found the album "hobbled by the rudimentary, cloddish, New Jersey rock club tones" and cited as the "most memorable thing about this album" the cover of Judas Priest's "Heart of a Lion", "apparently given to the band by Halford without Downings's or Tipton's knowledge."[4]
In 2005, Second Heat was ranked No. 480 in Rock Hard magazine's book of The 500 Greatest Rock & Metal Albums of All Time.[6]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Sacrifice" | Jeff Martin, Paul Gilbert | 4:03 |
| 2. | "Gone Too Far" | Martin, Gilbert | 2:55 |
| 3. | "Scarified" (instrumental) | Gilbert, Scott Travis | 2:40 |
| 4. | "Sunlit Nights" | Martin, Gilbert, Bruce Bouillet | 3:35 |
| 5. | "Hammer Away" | Martin, Gilbert | 3:44 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6. | "Heart of a Lion" (Judas Priest cover) | Glenn Tipton, K.K. Downing, Rob Halford | 4:04 |
| 7. | "Motor Man" | Martin, Gilbert, Bouillet | 3:46 |
| 8. | "Moonage Daydream" (David Bowie cover) | David Bowie | 3:30 |
| 9. | "Living the Hard Way" | Dave Gonzales, Gilbert | 3:33 |
| 10. | "Lady Killer" | Martin, Gilbert, Bouillet | 4:01 |
| Total length: | 35:51 | ||
Personnel
Racer X
- Jeff Martin – vocals
- Paul Gilbert – guitar
- Bruce Bouillet – guitar
- Juan Alderete – bass
- Scott Travis – drums
Additional musicians
- Mike Mani – keyboard (tracks 4, 6)
Technical
- Steve Fontano – producer, engineer
- Dino Alden – assistant engineer
- George Horn – mastering at Fantasy Studios in Berkeley, California
- Mike Varney – executive producer
- Dino Alden – coordinator
- Guy Aitchison – cover art