JUDAS PRIEST – ROCKA ROLLA LP – Nr MINT A1/B1 UK METAL

Judas Priest – Rocka Rolla
(Gull Records  1978  GULP1005)
Matrix No’s: A1/B1 – UK Pressing – 2nd Pressing

Sleeve in Excellent+ condition
– some wear to edges

Vinyl in Excellent/Very Good+ condition
(there are some surface marks visible on the vinyl which do give some pops/clicks but sound quality is excellent overall)

Judas Priest are an English heavy metal band formed in West Bromwich in 1969. The band have sold over 50 million copies of their albums to date. They are frequently ranked as one of the greatest metal bands of all time. Despite an innovative and pioneering body of work in the latter half of the 1970s, the band struggled with indifferent record production, repeated changes of drummer, and lack of major commercial success or attention until 1980, when they adopted a more simplified sound on the album British Steel, which helped shoot them to rock superstar status.

The band’s membership has seen much turnover, including a revolving cast of drummers in the 1970s, and the temporary departure of singer Rob Halford in the early 1990s. The current line-up consists of Halford, guitarists Glenn Tipton and Richie Faulkner, bassist Ian Hill, and drummer Scott Travis. The band’s best-selling album is 1982’s Screaming for Vengeance with their most commercially successful line-up, featuring Halford, Tipton, Hill, guitarist K. K. Downing, and drummer Dave Holland. Tipton and Hill are the only two members of the band to appear on every album.

Halford’s operatic vocal style and the twin guitar sound of Downing and Tipton have been a major influence on metal and have been adopted by many bands. Their image of leather, spikes, and other taboo articles of clothing were widely influential during the glam metal era of the 1980s. The Guardian referred to British Steel as the record that defines heavy metal. Despite a decline in exposure during the mid 1990s, the band has once again seen a resurgence, including worldwide tours, being inaugural inductees into the VH1 Rock Honors in 2006, receiving a Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance in 2010, and their songs featured in video games such as Guitar Hero and the Rock Band series.

Rocka Rolla is the debut album by British heavy metal group Judas Priest, released in 1974. It was produced by Rodger Bain, who had made a name for himself as the producer of Black Sabbath’s first three albums.

Track listing

Personnel

Judas Priest

• Rob Halford – lead vocals, harmonica
• K.K. Downing – guitar
• Glenn Tipton – guitar, synthesizer
• Ian Hill – bass guitar
• John Hinch – drums

Production

• Produced by Rodger Bain
• Engineered by Vic Smith
• Cover concept by John Pasche; photo by Bryce Atwell
• Band photographs by Alan Johnson