Permanent Vacation - Aerosmith

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Definitely a cut above the rest
Lyrics	Sublime
Quality and consistency of tracks	A couple of weak links
How does it compare to the artist's other releases	Good
Value for Money

Advantages:	Aerosmith's career gets back on track
Disadvantages:	Some songs sound a bit dated

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

The album Permanent Vacation was released in August 1987 under the label Geffen Records. It is Aerosmith's 9th studio album. It was produced by Bruce Fairbairn and recorded at Little Mountain Sound Studio, Vancouver, BC,Canada.

Aerosmith consists of these 5 band members:
Steven Tyler: Vocals/ Harmonica/ Extra Percussion
Joe Perry: Lead Guitar/ backing Vocals
Tom Hamilton: Bass Guitar
Joey Kramer: Drums/ Percussion
Brad Whitford: Guitars

Aerosmith and RUN DMC's remake of Aerosmith's 1975 classic track 'Walk This Way' (from the album 'Toys In The Attic') ended in success. The band members of Aerosmith were absolutely delighted with their popularity once again being born.

The album 'Permanent Vacation' was eventually put together in an attempt to keep that popularity. (No means was it a rushed album however - there are tons of out take tracks for this album, and it is a great shame a number of them didn't get placed on this album).

Aerosmith's intended come back in 1985 with the album 'Done with Mirrors' failed. Aerosmith needed to do more than just create another record, they needed to change the way they made music. Permanent Vacation marks the birth of the "new" Aerosmith. Outsiders co- wrote songs on this album. Aerosmith couldn't do it alone, so A&R man John Kalodner brought in outside writers to work with them.

Permanent Vacation is sometimes denounced because of its exaggerated overproduction. It is true that the album does sound slightly dated. However, it should be noted that at the time, it was the height of the eighties hair-metal era.

The album is nicely designed. The cover shows a range of images representing a vacation. Images such as hula dancers, flower necklaces, spiders and then there are symbols representing rock, such as cigars, packs of cards and guitars. The cover nicely represents the fusion of the vacation theme with the rock. The booklet holds lyrics to all the songs and is nicely presented. The back of the album states the tracks and their play times (which are actually wrong!).

I will now go in to detail for each of the 12 tracks on this album.

Hearts Done Time, Duration: 4.42
Written by Joe Perry/Desmond Child

The album opens with a few seconds of silence. Soon, the sound of whales fades on, soon followed by some siren sounding effects. The rock soon kicks in as Tyler lets off one of his trade mark screams of 'Yow- yow- yow!' as the guitars crank up. The track is basically about a man who has his eyes set on women that has a lover, but when her lover goes out, he attempts to seduce her. The lyrics are easy to pick up and follow along with and the guitar work is exceptional. The bass on the lines 'Now she's mine!' is fantastic and it really makes this track a great opener for the album. It is also a good start for the 'New' Aerosmith.

Magic Touch, Duration: 4:37
Written by: Steven Tyler/Joe Perry/ Jim Vallance.

This is one track that is cast aside as commercial and stupid - even by Steven Tyler himself. It is a good track, and full of rock power, but does sound rather dated now days. I actually like the chorus to this though, and even though it may be dated, the instrument playing can not be knocked. As much as I like the track - it has fallen as a victim to overproduction which restrains it to appealing to newer modern audiences.

Rag Doll: Duration 4:25.
Written By: Steven Tyler/ Joe Perry/ Jim Vallance/ Holly Knight.

This song starts off with heavy drums beating away, shortly the guitars start up and the bass and guitar build up to the singing, which starts on the chorus of: "Rag Doll, living in a movie, rag doll, daddy's little cutie, so fine, they'll never see you leaving by the back door'.
This sleazy song speaks of New Orleans and also of prostitutes. At first I didn't like it, not because I was turned off by the lyrics (which are actually quite funny, and catchy!) but I just couldn't get in to it. However, it has grown on me and it is one of my favourite tracks on the album. The song combines rock with its close counterpart Jazz. Trumpets also sound in this track and make it sound a touch sleazy as Tyler sings the suggestive lyrics.

Rag Doll was the 3rd single from the album released (May, 1988) and reached peak chart position: #17.

Simoriah: Duration: 3:22
Written by Steven Tyler/Joe Perry/ Jim Vallance.

This is another track Steven is not fond of, although I don't think it is that bad really. Jim Vallance co wrote songs for Bon Jovi, and Jim thinks he pushed Aerosmith in to much of a 'Bon Jovi' direction when he wrote this and 'Magic Touch'. The electric bass is fantastic on this track and the lyrics are quite strange: ‘Walkin’ the line of a razors edge, take it as far as she goes, a slice of the sky on a silver wedge, higher and higher we go'. This track would have been great as an instrumental alone. Although it isn't a major hit, it is a fast paced rock song and not as dated as Magic Touch is. My favourite line from the track has to be the fast line: 'Ladies in black put a spell on me, feels like my heads goin' round and round and round and upside down! Ladies in white ain't my cup of tea!'.

Dude (Looks Like A Lady!) : Duration 4:25.
Written by: Steven Tyler/ Joe Perry/ Desmond Child.

This track is one of Aerosmith's more known tracks. Its comical lyrics speak of a man that picks up women to find she is actually a transvestite hooker! One of the lines that subtly hints to it being a man is this: ' Then she whipped out her gun and tried to blow me away!', if that isn't enough to convince you that is what song is about, then look at the chorus: Dude Looks Like A Lady. Couldn't be clearer! Aerosmith sure are good at filing their songs with smut and disguising it as something innocent. The track opens up with fluctuating guitars and soon becomes a fast tempo rocking track. Tyler's screams of "Dude Look Like A Lady!" as well as "Do me, do me, do, me, do me!' are fantastic and I still wonder how he manages to pull such screams off. This track can be heard during the montage scene on 'Mrs Doubtfire'.

Dude (Looks Like A Lady) was the albums first single and released in September 1987. It reached peak chart position: #14.

St. John. Duration: 4:11.
Written By: Steven Tyler

It has just occurred to me that this track was written by Steven Tyler alone. This track is very bluesy -rock. It appears Steven really wanted to get a blues style track on to this album as he was not too pleased about the couple of overproduced tracks. This track could easily be stuck on to an earlier Aerosmith album and get a good reception. This track begins with finger clicking and makes me think of the Pink Panther theme - but this is much rockier and no trumpets. The instrument playing just gives an whole 'sneaking about' feeling to it. The chorus of ' St John, St John be cool, St John, tell the people, they follow you , they follow you' is very catchy and pleasing to listen to. It is one of my favourite tracks and often over looked by many people. No one can say Aerosmith do not stay to their blues roots with this track.

Hangman Jury: Duration: 5:31
Written by: Steven Tyler/ Joe Perry/ Jim Vallance.

This is another blues track which fuses with rock. It begins with acoustics and a harmonica segment, as well as croaking frogs and creaking chairs. It creates a Western Cow boy feel and speaks of sitting in the shade to continue to enhance that imagery. The bass/ drums and electric guitar eventually kick in after a slower softer start. Steven also starts to sing slightly more aggressively. The track is about a guy who is basically sick to death of his lover taking him for a fool so he shoots her in the heart. My favourite section from the track is the following portion of the track: "Whatchya do with a gun that’s loaded? Shot her dead and her heart exploded, tell me now baby don't you worry, like lying to a hangman jury'. I love the way the music sounds much more evil and menacing as that part of the track is sang to emphasise the event at hand while maintaining that Western feel.

Girl Keeps Coming Apart: Duration: 4:12
Written by: Steven Tyler/ Joe Perry.

From the word go you can tell this is going to be a fast track. Drums beat at a fast rate, harmonica sounds and guitars play. The tracks about a girl that will do anything to get what she wants, but her lies are now becoming sloppy and she is easily being caught out. It sounds a tad out dated music wise, but even so it is still a fun track to listen to that will get you in a good mood. This is another track fused with jazz and trumpets are present during the catchy quick chorus.

Angel: Duration: 5:09
Written by: Steven Tyler/ Desmond Child.

This power ballad slows down the album, as well as changes the tone, especially considering the speed of the last track. This power ballad is a nice song and my favourite bit has to be the guitar work at the start. Steven Tyler likes the song but thinks it is over played; meanwhile the bass player Tom Hamilton hates the track. If it comes on I don't skip it however, has it is a nicely done track, the guitar solo is great. The album just suffers due to the passage of time.

Angel, the albums second single, released January, 1988 and reached peak chart position: #3.

Permanent Vacation: Duration: 4:48
Written by: Steven Tyler/ Brad Whitford

The track creates a really jungle feel by including tribal noises, bird whistles and monkey noises. A plane 'flies' by as Steven says "bye!". The track is about someone that needs to get away from they are, but can't get there. It's a great track and I am impressed with how jungle effects have been placed along side rock music. The chorus is very catchy and the guitar solo is exceptional. It isn't the hardest rock song, but it sure is a good example of rock.

I'm Down: Duration: 2:20.
Written by: John Lennon/ Paul McCartney.

This cover song is short and fast. Lyrically speaking it's nothing special, it consists mainly of "Don't you know that I'm down, I'm down, I'm really down'. This track used to be played live often as an encore at Aerosmith concerts. As the track speeds up slightly more towards the end Tyler's screams get louder and faster and that is probably my favourite bit.

The Movie: Duration: 3:57
Written by: The whole band 'Aerosmith'.

This is an instrumental track. It's gives off a heavy rock vibe, and there is a Celtic voice present at one point which I think ruins the track slightly. Although mid way through the song the music builds up and wipes away the annoyance of the voice. The song is only played live if a technical problem arises. People could call this a filler track, it is true probably, but either way it's a nice rock ending to the album. It leaves you wondering what Aerosmith have in store for us next.

Overall, time has left finger print marks over various parts of it. However, it is an interesting album to listen to, even if it's just to hear how various effects have been incorporated in to rock. Blues/Jazz elements are still present in the album which is fantastic considering Aerosmith had to change their music style to reflect the times. This album, along with all the Aerosmith albums, is one to listen to if you want to be put in a good mood as there are some funny lyrics, as smutty as some sound, you will just laugh at it them. Either way this is the album that re - launched Aerosmith's career.