[VardisRules]

4

What do you think about the K-Tel metal/hard rock compilations from the 80s? I know that they had mostly mainstream bands on them like Dio, Twisted Sister, and Van Halen along with some bands that wouldn't even be metal like Triumph and Rush. Every once in a awhile, a beauty would appear from somebody like Armored Saint. Anyway, I always thought they were cool in some ways. One in particular, "Masters Of Metal" got me into Y&T, Twisted Sister, and Black Sabbath's "Trashed." Even though it is "mainstream," it has a special place in my collection. All K-Tel metal compilations now have a cool 80s nostalgia attached to them. The songs on the releases are not rare, but finding the K-Tel compilations on anything other than cassette or vinyl is next to impossible. I'm sure they are not necessarily in demand for most metal hunters. It doesn't mean, however, that some people wouldn't mind having a copy of a few of the compilations if they were made available to them.

Anyway, this post has two purposes. I would like to hear your thoughts on the K-tel compilations. Also, I have a bunch of lossless cassette and vinyl rips of many of the K-tel releases. I have not posted them mainly because the songs on the releases are not rare. I want to see if there is any demand for them, before I post them here. I recorded them based on the nostalgia factor alone.

I have lossless rips of the following:

Crazed-An All Out Metal Attack
Masters Of Metal
Masters Of Metal Strikeforce Vol. 1
Masters Of Metal Strikeforce Vol. 2
White Hot Masters Of Metal

Let me know what you think on both accounts.

[canadaspaceman]

I missed out on those comps probably because by then I was buying full length albums by a band.

Some of the K-Tel rock records I had from the late 1970s / early 1980s would be pretty cool.
Later I would learn they would usually have the shorter, radio-edit single version of a song, which made me feel kind of cheated, haha.

[Phylo]

I never picked up the K-tel stuff. Same as Candaspaceman, I spent most of my money on the full albums back then. But I did pick up this one... www.discogs.com/Various-Metal-Killers-Kollection/release/627090

Always enjoyed the mix of bands on it. Made for good background listening while drinking.

[VardisRules]

I've already uploaded the above titles that I mentioned on Mega awhile ago. I'm just trying to figure out if these titles are something the members here would be interested in having.

[TadakatsuH0nda]

I really like a good v.a. compilation in general, and while I wasn't around when the K-Tel compilations were coming out, but if they bother to throw in even a couple obscure bands, it's that much more exciting to try. A compilation series I'm a big fan of is the Japanese label Rock House Explosion's Heavy Metal Force I through V. They included no-name bands at the time only, and then years later you look back at it and see Japanese legends such as Anthem and X Japan with such humble beginnings. I can't describe the feeling, but it's just so cool to see them contributing free tracks and promoting themselves before they became successful. I'd love to try those K-Tel comps.

[canadaspaceman]

Took a peek on Discogs for the track listing. All good starter albums for anybody new into harder rock / heavy metal.
That White Hot Masters Of Metal took the ONLY good song from Slade's otherwise boring album "Keep Your Hands Off My Power Supply", and they included probably my fave Zebra song too.
Except for Rush's "Distant Early Warning", these are all songs I play a lot to this day!

[VardisRules]

As I said, the songs aren't hard to find, but finding the compilations themselves in any format other than cassette and vinyl is difficult. I'll post them later today.

[akira]

Compilations are good for bands' introductions, but the best are those with special versions of the songs from singles or maxis or with songs that are unavailable elsewhere.
These compilations are pretty nice, so thanks for posting them!!

[VardisRules]

I totally agree with Akira. Rare versions of songs on compilations are what make the compilations special. There aren't any rare songs or rare versions on these compilations. They're more special for nostalgia reasons. The K-tel compilations were an 80s staple.

[guruofdeals]

I just looked over all your uploads and although I didn't download - because I already have all of the songs on some sort of format (LP, cassette, CD - that I BOUGHT) already, I just wanted to point out that if you didn't grow up in that era, those compilations are a great entry point to the (especially) early 80's to mid 80's bands. Back then, making your own 'mixed tape' was the rage, so K-Tel capitalized on that and were pretty successful. Thanks Vardis!

[VardisRules]

You're very welcome guruofdeals. You make a very good point. They are pretty nice starter albums for someone, who wasn't raised in the 80s. They can give those individuals a taste of what hard rock and metal was like back in the day. I also have almost all of the songs on these compilations on actual CDs by the artists themselves. I actually just bought the cassettes and vinyl of these purely for the sake of the 80s memories that they provide. Since the late 80s, I've probably bought somewhere around 8,000 CDs. Over the years, I traded most of them while keeping the music that I really wanted. I have probably around 500 discs, 120 records, and about 30 cassettes at this point. I still buy music every week, as I now have the money to afford what I want. I always cull my CD collection, however, just keeping those titles that I want factory-pressings of for the artwork, liner-notes etc..

[Xzalter]

I collect comps, yes please put them on here - have to look but I think I have both Masters Of Metal versions...?

[drterror666]

I've still got a copy of Heavy on vinyl. I even remember the advert with the Tommy Vance (RIP) voice over. I think it was something like 'your mother wouldn't like it, but you will' or something like that. It's here at Discogs. There's actually some good stuff on it, like Iron Maiden, Motörhead, Diamond Head, etc., but, as usual, a load of tosh as well, like Joe Walsh and Cheap Trick. K-Tel brought out all kinds of crap!

Oh, and lets not forget Axe Attack!

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[drterror666]

OK, so I got bored and thought I would do a list of all the K-Tel Metal / Rock compilations. The header containd the title, the catalogue number, the year of release and the country of issue. They're more or less in chronological order. Enjoy!

Heavy Rock, TS 4113 (1980) Scandinavia
Gillan Running White Face City Boy
Girlschool Emergency
Motörhead Bomber
Uriah Heep Look At Yourself
UFO Doctor Doctor
Juicy Lucy Who Do You Love
Saxon Wheels Of Steel
Black Sabbath Paranoid
Michael Schenker Armed And Ready
Ian Hunter Cleveland Rocks
Ten Years After Love Like A Man
Gillan Trouble
Michael Quatro Can't Leave You Alone
Samson Hard Times
Hawkwind Shot Down In The Night

Axe Attack, NE 1100 (1980) UK
Rainbow All Night Long
Ian Gillan Running, White Face, City Boy
Judas Priest Breaking The Law
Ted Nugent Cat Scratch Fever
Scorpions Make It Real
Girlschool Race With The Devil
U.F.O. Doctor Doctor
AC/DC Highway To Hell
Whitesnake Ready & Willing
Iron Maiden Running Free
Aerosmith Sweet Emotion
Frank Marino And Mahogony Rush You Got Living
Black Sabbath Paranoid
Motörhead Bomber

Axe Attack - Vol II, CE 2120 (1981) UK
Rainbow Since You've Been Gone
Motörhead Ace Of Spades
Black Sabbath Die Young
Samson Earth Mother
Michael Schenker Armed And Ready
Rush The Trees
Scorpions The Zoo
Whitesnake Ain't No Love In The Heart Of The City
Iron Maiden Murders In The Rue Morgue
Def Leppard Rock Brigade
Ted Nugent Flesh And Blood
Gillan Mutually Assured Destruction
Blue Oyster Cult Godzilla
U.F.O. Mystery Train
Judas Priest United

Heavy, NE 1203 (1983) UK
Iron Maiden The Number Of The Beast
Rainbow Stone Cold
Motörhead Iron Fist
Girlschool Don't Call It Love
Tygers Of Pan Tang Love Potion No. 9
Ian Campbell Band Only One
Diamond Head In The Heat Of The Night
Status Quo Hold You Back
Hawkwind Silver Machine
Derek And The Dominos Layla
Joe Walsh Rocky Mountain Way
Meatloaf Deadringer For Love
Journey Don't Stop Believin'
Cheap Trick If You Want My Love
The Michael Schenker Group Dancer
Rush New World Man
Lynyrd Skynyrd Free Bird

Heavy, NA-634 (1983) Australia
Iron Maiden The Number Of The Beast
Deep Purple Smoke On The Water
Black Sabbath Paranoid
AC/DC Highway To Hell
Status Quo Rockin' All Over The World
Tygers Of Pan Tang Love Potion No. 9
Heaven In The Beginning
Southern Cross Stormy Lady
Rose Tattoo Rock'n'Roll Is King
Van Halen You Really Got Me
The Scorpions Can't Live Without You
Jimi Hendrix Purple Haze
Rainbow I Surrender
Cream Sunshine Of Your Love
Derek & The Dominoes Layla
Great Dane She Won't Go

White Hot - Masters of Metal, ‎ NU 4200 (1984) USA
Scorpions Rock You Like A Hurricane
Slade Run Runaway
Rush Distant Early Warning
Zebra Tell Me What You Want
[b]Triumph Lay It On The Line
Dio[/b] Holy Diver
Y&T Don't Stop Runnin'
Judas Priest You've Got Another Thing Comin'
Krokus Stayed Awake All Night
Black Sabbath Heaven And Hell
Twisted Sister I Am (I'm Me)
Quiet Riot Cum On Feel The Noize

Masters of Metal, NU 4370 (1984) USA
Black Sabbath Trashed
Y&T Mean Streak
Dokken Breaking The Chains
Zebra Who's Behind The Door?
Dio Rainbow In The Dark
Krokus Screaming In The Night
Kiss Lick It Up
Rainbow Street Of Dreams
Iron Maiden Run To The Hills
Rush Tom Sawyer
Triumph A World Of Fantasy
Twisted Sister You Can't Stop Rock 'N' Roll
Van Halen Dancing In The Street

Masters of Metal - Volume 2, TC-297 (1984) Canada
Iron Maiden Run To The Hills
Helix Heavy Metal Love
Triumph Never Surrender
Anvil Metal On Metal
Accept Balls To The Wall
Urgent You're Not The One
Quiet Riot Cum On Feel The Noize
Judas Priest You've Got Another Thing Comin'
Rush Limelight
Lee Aaron Shake It Up
Coney Hatch Hey Operator
Fist Thunder In Rock
Santers All Right Now

Metal Wars, TU 1750 (1985) USA
Y&T Summertime Girls
Krokus Midnite Maniac
Helix Rock You
Queensryche Queen Of The Reich
Quiet Riot Mama Weer All Crazee Now
Bon Jovi Only Lonely
Slade Run Runaway
Mama's Boys Lettin' Go
Judas Priest Some Heads Are Gonna Roll

Masters of Metal, NE 1295 (1986) UK
Iron Maiden The Trooper
Scorpions No One Like You
Gary Moore Back On The Streets
Manowar Metal Daze
Judas Priest Deceiver
Whitesnake Fool For Your Loving
Dio Stand Up And Shout
Saxon Rockin' Again
Bon Jovi In And Out Of Love
Motörhead Ace Of Spades
Accept Fast As A Shark
Hanoi Rocks Tragedy
Black Sabbath War Pigs
Rush Spirit Of Radio

Masters of Metal - Metal Rage, ‎TU 1860 (1986) USA
Twisted Sister Stay Hungry
Rush The Big Money
Autograph Turn Up The Radio
Helix Ride The Rocket
Blue Öyster Cult Take Me Away
Stryper The Rock That Makes Me Roll
Bon Jovi In And Out Of Love
Y&T 25 Hours A Day (Live)
Judas Priest Take These Chains
Accept Screaming For A Love Bite

Metal Force, TU 1890 (1987) USA
Vinnie Vincent Invasion Boyz Are Gonna Rock
Megadeth Peace Sells
Scorpions Blackout
Accept Fast As A Shark
Judas Priest Sinner (Live Version)
Stryper Calling On You
Metal Church Watch The Children Pray
Grim Reaper Fear No Evil
Dio Hungry For Heaven
Yngwie J. Malmsteen I Am A Viking

Metal Masters, TU 2180 (1987) USA
Bon Jovi You Give Love A Bad Name
Stryper Loud 'N' Clear
Twisted Sister Come Out And Play
Yngwie Malmsteen Fire
Scorpions No One Like You
Kiss Uh! All Night
Vinnie Vincent Invasion Do You Wanna Make Love
Judas Priest Parental Guidance
[b]Grim Reaper See You In Hell
Deep Purple[/b] Perfect Strangers

Rising Metal, 631-1 (1988) USA
Death Angel Mistress Of Pain
Slayer Hell Awaits
Overkill Powersurge
Nuclear Assault Justice
Megadeth Skull Beneath The Skin
Exodus Chemi-Kill
Flotsam And Jetsam Hammerhead
Testament Over The Wall
Trouble The Assassin
Heathen Set Me Free

Metal Meltdown, TU 660-1 (1988) USA
Anthrax Indians
Scorpions Another Piece Of Meat
Stryper Sing Along Song
Accept Restless & Wild
W.A.S.P. The Manimal
Exodus Parasite
Vinnie Vincent Invasion No Substitute
Dio Don't Talk To Strangers
Lizzy Borden Me Against The World
Judas Priest Freewheel Burning

Mega Metal, 684-1 (1989) USA
Great White Save Your Love
Anthrax Caught In A Mosh
Armored Saint Raising Fear
Stryper Always There For You
Joe Satriani Crushing Day
Hurricane I'm On To You
Megadeth In My Darkest Hour
Lita Ford Kiss Me Deadly
Sacred Reich Surf Nicaragua
Motörhead Dogs

Twisted Metal, 782-4 (1990) USA
Kiss Lick It Up
W.A.S.P. The Headless Children
Alice Cooper He's Back (The Man Behind The Mask)
Lizzy Borden Love Is A Crime
Ted Nugent Yank Me, Crank Me
Twisted Sister I'll Never Grow Up
King Diamond Dressed In White
Quiet Riot Cum On Feel The Noise
Metal Church Of Unsound Mind
Ozzy Osbourne Crazy Train

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[MelodicMetalManiac95]

Vardis, do you still have these rips?

I've requested them in the request section. Thank you.

[canadaspaceman]

i have one, or two, of the Strikeforce comps.
no idea what bit-rates are on them. Will upload it later.

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[MelodicMetalManiac95]

i have one, or two, of the Strikeforce comps.
no idea what bit-rates are on them. Will upload it later.

Thank you so much, greatly appreciate it.

[canadaspaceman]

I've been changing my mind if I should buy an old LP i used to play a lot before I started buying full length hard rock albums,
but I probably have all the songs on albums I own, but mostly downloaded, except Jethro Tull.
Never really got into Tull except a couple hit songs.

Nostalgia gets expensive, for example, I spent way too much tracking down and buying every single issue of Hot Wacks Quarterly, including the rarest one, issue #1, even at the least expensive prices.

Various – The Rock Album (1980)
Label: K-Tel – TC 261, K-Tel – CSPS 1530
Country: Canada
https://www.discogs.com/release/14382309-Various-The-Rock-Album

the Canadian version is different to the American one,
and when I checked, there are also different versions depending which part of the USA it was, as different regions had their own pressing plants.