Hero, Hero
Hero, Hero is a compilation of early Judas Priest recordings, issued in 1981 by Gull, the label the band had left behind. It arrived between British Steel and Point of Entry, and it gathers material from the group's first two albums: all ten tracks from Rocka Rolla, six from Sad Wings of Destiny, and a different version of "Diamonds and Rust".
The appeal lies in the sound. Rodger Bain remixed the Rocka Rolla songs and "Diamonds and Rust" in 1981, while the Sad Wings of Destiny tracks were left as they were. That makes it a curiosity for collectors who want to hear the band's beginnings in a different light. The band's management has been clear that it is no substitute for a new record, so treat it as a footnote. Later CD pressings varied, with some European editions reordering the tracks and US editions using the original Rocka Rolla mixes.
Hero, Hero: tracklist and credits
17 tracks · 1:13:29Tracklist
- Disc 1
- 1PreludeGlenn Tipton2:03
- 2TyrantRob Halford and Glenn Tipton4:26
- 3Rocka RollaDowning, Halford, Tipton4:00
- 4One for the RoadKenneth Downing and Rob Halford4:40
- 5Victim of ChangesAtkins, Downing, Halford, Tipton7:40
- 6Dying to Meet YouKenneth Downing and Rob Halford6:15
- 7Never SatisfiedAl Atkins and Kenneth Downing4:50
- Disc 2
- 1Dreamer DeceiverAtkins, Downing, Halford, Tipton7:45
- 2DeceiverDowning, Halford, Tipton2:46
- 3WinterAtkins, Downing, Hill2:10
- 4Deep FreezeKenneth Downing1:40
- 5Winter RetreatKenneth Downing and Rob Halford2:50
- 6CheaterKenneth Downing and Rob Halford3:00
- 7Diamonds and RustJoan Baez3:15
- 8Run of the MillDowning, Halford, Tipton8:22
- 9GenocideDowning, Halford, Tipton5:47
- 10Caviar and MethsAtkins, Downing, Hill2:00
- Produced by
- Jeffrey Calvert, Judas Priest, Max West, Rodger Bain, Jeffery Calvert, Geraint Hughes
- Recorded at
- Rockfield Studios, Basing Street Studios, Trident Studios
- Recorded
- 1974–1977
- Mixed at
- Morgan Studios
- Engineered by
- Jeffrey Calvert, Dave Charles, Chris Tsangarides, Vic Coppersmith‐Heaven
- Label
- Gull
- Length
- 1:13:29
Line-up
- Kenneth Downing · electric guitar
- Ian Hill · electric bass guitar
- Glenn Tipton · piano, electric guitar
- Alan Moore · drums (drum set)
- Rob Halford · lead vocals
- John Hinch · drums (drum set)
From MusicBrainz and Wikipedia. Only what the sources record is shown.
More from Judas Priest
Full discography →
The best of 1981
All of 1981 →
More on Gull
The label →Releases and pressings
How we know the release date only year precision available
| Source | Date | Note |
|---|---|---|
| MusicBrainz | 1981 | |
| Wikipedia infobox | 1981 | |
| Wikidata | 1981 |
10 editions
| Date | Country | Label | Barcode | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | XW | MNRK Heavy | other | |
| 1981 | IT | Gull | original | |
| 1987 | DE | Line Records | other | |
| 1989 | AU | Possum Records | other | |
| 21 August 1990 | JP | Metal Mania | 4988004022166 | other |
| 2000 | CA | Transluxe | 789055780524 | other |
| 2002 | JP | Victor | 4988002423965 | remaster |
| 25 January 2012 | JP | Victor | 4988002615049 | remaster |
| 14 July 2014 | JP | Victor | 4988002676026 | other |
| 23 April 2022 | US | MNRK Heavy | 634164662516 | other |
Cover art sources
coverartarchive · upscaled: major: best source 1000x1000, upscaled to 1500 (x1.50)
| Source | Size | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| coverartarchive ✓ | 1000×1000 | upscaled: major: best source 1000x1000, upscaled to 1500 (x1.50) |
| fanarttv | 1000×1000 | upscaled |