BRIAN JOHNSON aND GEORDIE 12" Vinyl LP Album

- BARCLAY Records Frane

Let's face it, folks, in the early 80s, if you weren't sporting a mullet and banging your head to Bon Scott's banshee wail, you were hopelessly out of touch. But before Brian Johnson was belting out "Highway to Hell" with AC/DC, he was leading the charge with a Geordie powerhouse called, well, Geordie.

This 1981 LP on Barclay Records is a glorious reminder of Johnson's pre-superstardom days. Forget the polished production and laser-focused anthems of AC/DC. This is raw, raucous Geordie rock, marinated in the grimy, working-class spirit of Newcastle.

There's no mistaking Johnson's pipes, even under a slightly less-polished sheen. Tracks like "Hope You Like It" and "Fire Queen" showcase the raw power and bluesy snarl that would later become his trademark. The rest of the band is no slouch either. Guitarists Vic Malcolm and Dave Robson weave a tapestry of gritty riffs and soaring solos, perfectly complementing the rhythm section's driving pulse.

Production duties were split between Ellis Elias, Geoff Calver, and Martin Smith, with recording spread across Red Bus, Pye, and Lansdowne Studios. The result is a live-in-the-studio feel, capturing the unbridled energy of a band hungry to prove itself.

Now, Geordie may not have stirred up the kind of controversy that would follow Johnson with AC/DC, but there's a certain rebellious edge here. These are songs about working-class struggles, letting loose, and maybe causing a little trouble – themes that would resonate with any young headbanger.