EUROPE "The Final Countdown" LP NM/NM 1986

$

20

The Final Countdown Review by Doug Stone

One of the most glorious launches in history, the title track for the thrice-platinum The Final Countdown is so bombastically brilliant, such glorious garbage, that this nuclear hair assault could only spew from the vacuous '80s. But the full-tilt follow-up "Rock the Night" rules also: "You know it ain't easy/Running out of thrills." "Carrie" comes off a consummate butane ballad. Meanwhile, the rest of the disc packs so much power that Swedish superheroes Europe get away with all the processed pretension. In fact, the lofty ambition of "Danger on the Track," "Ninja," and "Cherokee" (each as tasty as its title) combines with heated drive and hot delivery to meld The Final Countdown into a unique portrait of propulsive prog and a worthy addition to any hard rock collection. This is the story; this is the legend told by Teutonic guitars and predictable keyboards ringing pure and hurtling through each and every convention perfectly. The quintet's big-boy Epic inaugural, The Final Countdown deftly combines the Valhalla victory of Europe's heroic debut with the American poodle pomposity that devoured the band. You could live without The Final Countdown, but why?

Europe (2) – The Final Countdown

Label:

Epic – FE 40241

Format:

Vinyl, LP, Album

Country:

US

Released:

1986

Genre:

Rock

Style:

Hard Rock, Glam, Heavy Metal

A1 The Final Countdown 5:09

A2 Rock The Night 4:04

A3 Carrie

Written-By – Mic Michaeli

4:29

A4 Danger On The Track 3:45

A5 Ninja 3:47

B1 Cherokee 4:12

B2 Time Has Come 4:00

B3 Heart Of Stone 3:46

B4 On The Loose 3:08

B5 Love Chaser 3:28

Mastered By – Bob Ludwig

Producer, Recorded By, Mixed By – Kevin Elson

Recorded By, Mixed By – Wally Buck

Written-By – Joey Tempest

Produced for Elson Music Vision, Inc.

Recorded and mixed at Powerplay Studios, Zurich, Switzerland; Soundtrade Studios, Stockholm, Sweden; Mastersound Studios, Atlanta, GA; Fantasy Studios, San Francisco, CA.

Mastered at Masterdisk, NY

GOLDMINE GRADING

MINT ---- It should appear to be perfect. No scuffs or scratches, blotches or stains, labels or writing, tears or splits. Mint means perfect.

NEAR MINT ---- Otherwise mint but has one or two tiny inconsequential flaws that do not affect play. Covers should be close to perfect with minor signs of wear or age just becoming evident: slight ring-wear, minor denting to a corner, or writing on the cover should all be noted properly.

VERY GOOD PLUS ---- The record has been handled and played infrequently or very carefully. Not too far from perfect. On a disc, there may be light paper scuffs from sliding in and out of a sleeve or the vinyl or some of the original luster may be lost. A slight scratch that did not affect play would be acceptably VG+ for most collectors.

VERY GOOD ---- Record displays visible signs of handling and playing, such as loss of vinyl luster, light surface scratches, groove wear and spindle trails. Some audible surface noise, but should not overwhelm the musical experience. Usually a cover is VG when one or two of these problems are evident: ring wear, seam splits, bent corners, loss of gloss, stains, etc.

GOOD ---- Well played with little luster and significant surface noise. Despite defects, record should still play all the way through without skipping. Several cover flaws will be apparent, but should not obliterate the artwork.

POOR ---- Any record or cover that does not qualify for the above "Good" grading should be seen as Poor. Several cover flaws.