'' is a
Heavy Metal album by
Judas Priest , released on April 14 1980 (see
1980 In Music ). The album was remastered in 2001, with two bonus tracks added. It is one of their most popular recordings and is widely regarded as one of the band's best efforts, along with ''
Sad Wings Of Destiny '', ''
Stained Class '', ''
Screaming For Vengeance '' and ''
Painkiller ''.
"
Breaking The Law ", "United", and "
Living After Midnight " were released as singles.
The album was recorded at
Tittenhurst Park , which was the home of the Beatle
Ringo Starr .
Sampling did not yet exist at the time of recording, so the band recorded the sounds of smashing milk bottles to be included in "Breaking the Law", as well as various sounds in "Metal Gods" produced by "trays of cutlery" and "
Billiard cues."
The bonus track "Red, White, and Blue" was written sometime during the earlier years of Priest's career. It was recorded at Compass Point Studios in
Nassau in July of 1985. Judas Priest explains this track in the remaster booklet as follows:
:"This is a great song which was written as an anthem for audience participation AKA "United" or "Take On the World" and although a little
Tongue-in-cheek , it is also very patriotic and may bring a tear to your eye! We felt that the end tag of Rule Britannia was very fitting for a British band especially on an album entitled British Steel."
The second bonus track, a live performance of "Grinder", was recorded during the U.S. British Steel tour in 1980.
'' that ''British Steel'' was probably the album that really defined heavy metal, because it, according to him, did away with the "last shards of blues" that had otherwise been characteristic of the genre. He said, "Even the title... how does it get more metal than that?"
''All songs by K.K. Downing / Rob Halford / Glenn Tipton ''
# "Rapid Fire" – 4:08
# "Metal Gods" – 4:00
# "
Breaking The Law " – 2:35
# "Grinder" – 3:58
# "United" – 3:35
# "
Living After Midnight " – 3:31
# "You Don't Have to Be Old to Be Wise" – 5:04
# "The Rage" – 4:44
# "Steeler" – 4:30
#
"Red White & Blue" – 3:42
# "Grinder" (Live) – 4:49
- Billboard (North America)
