For a very brief moment, Quiet Riot was a rock & roll phenomenon. Famously described as the first heavy metal band to top the pop chart (a claim that greatly depends on one's exact definition of heavy metal), the Los Angeles quartet became an overnight sensation thanks to their monster 1983 smash album Metal Health. But Quiet Riot's road to success had in fact been long and arduous, and when their star power subsequently began to fade, their fall from grace was ironically accelerated by the man who was most responsible for taking them to the top: singer Kevin DuBrow. Unable to suppress his infamous motor mouth from assaulting many of Quiet Riot's peers, DuBrow gradually alienated his fans and fellow musicians, and in the face of plummeting record sales, faced the iniquity of being fired from his own band. The dust eventually settled and DuBrow was able to resurrect Quiet Riot in the 1990s. The band would never be as lucrative as they were in their heyday, but DuBrow and company remained active until DuBrow's tragic death in late 2007.

The story of Quiet Riot begins with vocalist Kevin DuBrow and guitarist Randy Rhoads, who started the band in 1975 after disbanding an earlier project named Violet Fox, and completed their first lineup with bassist Kelli Garni and drummer Drew Forsyth. The band thrilled audiences packing the L.A. nightclubs, but found it difficult to land a record deal during the disco-dominated late '70s. Eventually securing a contract with Columbia Records in Japan, they recorded two moderately successful albums -- a 1978 eponymous debut and 1979's Quiet Riot II. Both albums have little in common with what both Quiet Riot and Randy Rhodes would later produce during the 80's.

The band's debut is a sort of mixed affair. It is mainly a pomp rock album with heavier leanings. The album isn't necessarily bad, but it really sounds directionless. Tunes such as "It's Not Funny", "Ravers", and "Get Your Kicks" have high energy and certain potential, but they desperately lack that spark that would make later QR songs classics. Rhodes' guitar playing is dynamic, but not up to the level that would be showcased on the "Blizzard of Ozz" and "Diary Of A Madman" albums, which would soon make him a legend. This album, along with the band's second, to this day have not been officially released in the US. I recommend it as a download to hear the roots of Randy Rhodes and Kevin DuBrow, but the lasting power just isn't present on this album. For diehards only.

The band's second effort is markedly an improvement from their first. Full of almost commercial rock music, the album flows well, even though you are still left empty after hearing it. QRII features what is the band's second recorded Small Faces cover "Afterglow (Of Your Love)". The first being "Tin Soldier" from their debut. I have never heard the original "Afterglow" so I can't really comment on a comparison, but the QR song is pretty good. In fact, I can't say there is a song on this album that I despise. The songs have a real melodic edge to them that really appeals to me personally. As for my favorites, I really enjoy "Inside You", "Killer Girls", "You Drive Me Crazy", and the original recording of "Slick Black Cadillac". The band sounds more experienced on this album, although this album was recorded almost immediately after the first. The album's cover is at the very least questionable with the manly football players and Randy dressed in baby blue polka dots. Also featured on the cover is bassist Rudy Sarzo, however he did not play on this album. The bass parts were recorded by Kelly Garni before he left the band. After this album, Randy Rhodes would be the second band member to leave the fold when he was persuaded to join Ozzy Osbourne's new band "Blizzard of Ozz". Rudy Sarzo soon followed suit. Quiet Riot would remain stagnant for the next few years with a swinging door of personnel and a switching of monikers to DuBrow while they continued to be a part of the LA music scene. But Kevin DuBrow looked to reform the QR band and in 1982 he would do just that with a little help from producer Spencer Proffer.......