Judas Priest: Unreleased Studio Tracks
Judas Priest undertook an exhaustive campaign to re-master their back catalogue in 2001. Each release included bonus tracks. Scattered among live cuts were unreleased studio recordings. Join us, as we revisit the lost tracks of Judas Priest!
RACE WITH THE DEVIL
“Race With the Devil” is the sound of vintage Judas Priest! Recorded during the Stained Class sessions, this cover song is the only seventies track to surface under the reissue campaign. Originally recorded by The Gun, this tale of fleeing from the devil was a perfect fit for a band named Judas Priest.
FIGHT FOR YOUR LIFE
“Fight For Your Life” is an early incarnation of “Rock Hard Ride Free.” This version was recorded while creating Screaming for Vengeance. Left off the album and subjected to a re-write, the song was reborn and released on Defenders of the Faith.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkVTbyY3ayA
ALL FIRED UP
Judas Priest found themselves in a creative upswing during the mid-eighties. The band planned to release a double album titled Twin Turbo. Ultimately, that project was paired down to a single record. Subsequently, the bulk of unreleased studio tracks were recorded during the Turbo sessions. First up is a rocker, aptly titled “All Fired Up.”
PRISONER OF YOUR EYES
Turbo was divisive as hardcore fans turned away from the commercial leanings that won favor with the MTV generation. “Prisoner Of Your Eyes” is a tender ballad that could have infiltrated radio had it been included on the album.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlH7O6cffrM
TURN ON YOUR LIGHT
“Turn Out Your Light” is yet another ballad conceived for the aborted Twin Turbo album.
RED, WHTE, AND BLUE
When reflecting upon Turbo in the wake of its 30th anniversary, Rob Halford commented on the album’s “particularly American” vibe. The band was conscious of this American influence when penning “Red, White, and Blue.”
HEART OF A LION
“Heart of a Lion” is yet another song written for Twin Turbo. This song was not included in the 2001 re-masters. “Heart of a Lion” would not see an official release until the Metalogy boxset in 2004.
THUNDER ROAD
Judas Priest continued their creative streak when writing Ram It Down. “Thunder Road” is another casualty of excess material, yet holds up to any track from Ram It Down.
FIRE BURNS BELOW
Ram It Down serves as a transition from the overly commercial Turbo to the blistering intensity of Painkiller. Ultimately this acoustic driven ballad was deemed unworthy of Ram It Down. “Fire Burns Below” was subsequently relegated to the vaults.
LIVING BAD DREAMS
Painkiller brought Judas Priest into the nineties with a renewed energy. Destined to become a classic album, Painkiller marked the end of an era when Rob Halford left the band. Fortunately they left one song in the vaults from those historic sessions. “Living Bad Dreams,” remains the final unreleased track of Judas Priest!
