(also known as "Crazy Nights") is the fourth single by Japanese
heavy metal band
Loudness
In acoustics, loudness is the subjectivity, subjective perception of sound pressure. More formally, it is defined as the "attribute of auditory sensation in terms of which sounds can be ordered on a scale extending from quiet to loud". The relat ...
, from their 1985 album ''
Thunder in the East''. Written by lead vocalist
Minoru Niihara
is a Japanese singer. He is the original and current lead vocalist of the heavy metal band Loudness.
His first band was Earthshaker, in which he played bass and sang. His vocal style was influenced by blues singers, but he adapted quickly ...
and guitarist
Akira Takasaki
is a Japanese musician. He is best known as the lead guitarist and sole constant member of the heavy metal band Loudness. He is also the guitarist of the band Lazy, with which he first rose to prominence in the 1970s.
Career
He started his ...
and produced by
Max Norman
Max Norman is a British record producer and recording engineer active since 1973. He produced many acclaimed heavy metal releases.
While Norman was resident engineer at Ridge Farm Studios in London, Ozzy Osbourne was recording his debut sol ...
, the single was released by
Nippon Columbia
, often pronounced ''Korombia'', operating internationally as , is a Japanese record label founded in 1910 as Nipponophone Co., Ltd. It affiliated itself with the Columbia Graphophone Company of the United Kingdom and adopted the standard UK C ...
on December 1, 1984, in Japan and by
Atco Records
ATCO Records is an American record label founded in 1955. It is owned by Warner Music Group and operates as an imprint of Atlantic Records. After several decades of dormancy and infrequent activity under alternating Warner Music labels, the com ...
on November 1, 1985. The song was the band's big break in the American metal scene and has since become their signature song.
The chant of "M-Z-A!" featured in the song came about when Norman asked Niihara to come up with something to sing over the main riff between the chorus and next verse. "M-Z-A!" means nothing, and it was intended to be replaced with another line in post-production. When Niihara couldn't come up with anything to replace it, the "M-Z-A!" chant survived.
Loudness has re-recorded the song in their self-cover albums ''
RockShocks'' (2004) and ''Samsara Flight'' (2016).
Track listing
Personnel
*
Minoru Niihara
is a Japanese singer. He is the original and current lead vocalist of the heavy metal band Loudness.
His first band was Earthshaker, in which he played bass and sang. His vocal style was influenced by blues singers, but he adapted quickly ...
– vocals
*
Akira Takasaki
is a Japanese musician. He is best known as the lead guitarist and sole constant member of the heavy metal band Loudness. He is also the guitarist of the band Lazy, with which he first rose to prominence in the 1970s.
Career
He started his ...
– guitars
* Masayoshi Yamashita – bass
*
Munetaka Higuchi
(December 24, 1958 – November 30, 2008) was a Japanese musician and record producer. He is best known as the original drummer of the Heavy metal music, heavy metal band Loudness (band), Loudness, but first rose to prominence as a member of La ...
– drums
Cover versions
*
Therion covered the song on their 1999 album ''
Crowning of Atlantis Crowning may refer to:
* Crowning, the second stage of childbirth
* Coronation
* Mystery of Crowning
The Mystery of Crowning is a ritual component of the sacrament of marriage in Eastern Christianity. Variations of the crowning ceremony exist i ...
''.
*
HammerFall
HammerFall is a Swedish power metal band from Gothenburg. The band was formed in 1993 by ex- Ceremonial Oath guitarist Oscar Dronjak. They have released thirteen studio albums.
History
Early days (1993–1996)
HammerFall was formed when g ...
covered the song as a bonus track on the Japan release of their 2002 album ''
Crimson Thunder
''Crimson Thunder'' is the fourth studio album by Swedish power metal band HammerFall. It was the first album the band worked on with producer Charlie Bauerfeind.
The cover art was created by Samwise Didier, who is also known for his ''Warcr ...
''.
*
Children of Bodom
Children of Bodom was a Finnish melodic death metal band from Espoo. Formed in 1993 as Inearthed, the final line-up of the group upon their split in 2019 consisted of frontman Alexi Laiho, drummer Jaska Raatikainen, bassist Henkka Seppälä, ...
covered the song as a Japanese edition bonus track on their 2013 album ''
Halo of Blood''.
See also
*
1984 in Japanese music
References
External links
*
*
{{authority control
1984 in Japanese music
1984 songs
1984 singles
Japanese heavy metal songs
English-language Japanese songs
Atco Records singles
Nippon Columbia singles
Songs about rock music