While the ‘80s were filled with many Hard Rock bands that were more shiny, there were others that also offered a bit more dirt and grit in their sound. Among those was Dangerous Toys; a band which wore their Southern roots well with a heavy sound that featured catchy vocals and thick grooves. Formed in 1987, it would be their self-titled 1989 debut album through Columbia Records which put them on the Hard Rock radar. An album that went gold, it featured killer tracks including “Teas’n Pleas’n” and “Scared,” and remains a fan-favorite to this day.
A strong first impression for Dangerous Toys, they would put out three more studio albums in the ‘90s – 91’s Hellacious Acres, 94’s Pissed, and 95’s The R*tist 4*merly Known as Dangerous Toys. Sadly, this would be the last of any new material to come from Dangerous Toys, but it certainly would not be the end of the band. In fact, they have performed throughout the decades, and there has even been talks of some new music as recent as 2018. And while that long awaited fifth album has not come to fruition just yet, in 2020 the band put out a vinyl compilation called Greatest Tricks. Featuring studio recordings and live tracks, now they are going back into the vault to bring fans a polished, new edition of their Vitamins and Crash Helmets Live album.
Originally released back in 1999, the live album was the first and only ever release by Dangerous Toys, and on October 6, 2023, they reissued it on both CD and vinyl through Cleopatra Records. From a historical perspective, tracks 1 through 7 are live material that was originally recorded live at Westwood One at the Orpheum Theater in Boston, MA, on November 4, 1989. That in mind, the collection is remasters, and this gives some more power to the overall live set.
Eighteen tracks in total, the remainder of this re-released live album compiled various records that capture a range of material from Dangerous Toys’ four studio albums. Quite cool, in case you are wondering why a Greatest Hits compilation of strictly studio tracks has yet to be put out, it is because most of Dangerous Toys’ albums have been recorded for different labels; save the self-titled and Hellacious Acres, both released through Columbia. Considering all of this, it is highly challenging to collect all those studio recordings with licensing, etc.
Nonetheless, Cleopatra Records has done a fine job with this new edition of Vitamins and Crash Helmets Live. Why? Because you get a solid remastering, but moreover, have an opportunity to purchase it on vinyl for the first time. Offered in four different vinyl colors (red, orange, blue, or green), it is really a great piece to add to your collection. So, if you happened to miss the original 1999 release of this live album, now is the time to revisit it.
Furthermore, if you are curious if Dangerous Toys are still active… they most certainly are. They have some shows lined up for 2024 including one a part of the Monsters of Rock Cruise taking place March 2nd through 7th. Worth checking out, let us also hope that new music from the band emerges sooner than later. Until then, Cryptic Rock recommend picking up the remastered 2023 edition of their Vitamins and Crash Helmets Live on CD or vinyl, giving it 4.5 out of 5 stars.
){kind=link}
No comment