Black 'N Blue "Black 'N Blue"

Black 'N Blue is an American heavy metal band from Portland, Oregon. The current members are singer Jaime St. James, bassist Patrick Young, drummer Pete Holmes, guitarist Bob Capka, and guitarist Brandon Cook. The band is best known for their song "Hold On to 18" from their eponymous debut studio album, Black 'n Blue, released in August 1984.

Black 'N Blue was formed in November, 1981 by high school friends Jamie St. James and Tommy Thayer in Portland, Oregon. Originally calling themselves Movie Star, the band later chose the name Black 'N Blue based on their 'in-your-face' sound and denim and leather look. The band got their first break in 1982 when heavy metal fanzine editor Brian Slagel heard their song demo of "Chains Around Heaven" and subsequently added the track to his first edition of Metal Massacre — an independent compilation album that also introduced newcomers Metallica, Ratt, and Malice.

Black 'N Blue moved to Los Angeles in 1982 making an immediate name for themselves in the Hollywood club scene. Within six months the band signed a worldwide recording contract with Geffen Records, releasing their self-titled debut album, Black 'N Blue, in August 1984. The Dieter Dierks-produced album included "Hold On to 18," which was released to radio and MTV and became a moderate success, boosting album sales.

Black 'N Blue is the eponymous debut album from the glam metal band Black 'n Blue. Recorded in March to April, 1984 and released worldwide the following August, the album includes the band's only song to chart as a single, Hold On to 18. In 2015, the album was ranked 28th at Rolling Stone's "50 Greatest Hair Metal Albums of All Time".

The track "Chains Around Heaven" had previously appeared on both the second and third pressings of the compilation album Metal Massacre (1982), perhaps best known for featuring the first commercially released recording by Metallica.

Track listing

Side one

1. "The Strong Will Rock" (Jaime St. James, Tommy Thayer) – 4:06
2. "School of Hard Knocks" (St. James, Thayer) – 3:58
3. "Autoblast" (St. James, Thayer, Jeff Warner) – 3:53
4. "Hold on to 18" (St. James, Thayer) – 4:12
5. "Wicked Bitch" (St. James) – 4:17

Side two

1. "Action" (Brian Connolly, Steve Priest, Andy Scott, Mick Tucker) – 3:36 (Sweet cover)
2. "Show Me the Night" (St. James, Thayer)– 4:01
3. "One for the Money" (St. James, Thayer) – 4:19
4. "I'm the King" (St. James, Thayer, Patrick Young, Pete Holmes) – 3:42
5. "Chains Around Heaven" (St. James, Thayer) – 4:00