Aerosmith
The name Aerosmith, by the way, means nothing in particular; it simply was the only name that no one in the band hated. During the first decade of its career, Aerosmith was one of the most popular hard-rock bands in America, striking a flamboyant middle ground between the cool, bluesy swagger of the Rolling Stones and the more campy, glam-metal approach of the New York Dolls and Mott the Hoople. Later, after a period of drug- and alcohol-induced decline, they made a triumphant return to form in the late '80s and early '90s, winning back their fans and the heart — and checkbook — of Columbia Records, the label where the story of Aerosmith began. Actually, the band's tale starts a few years before signing to Columbia, when drummer Steven Tyler met guitarist Joe Perry at the Anchorage, a Sunapee, N.H., ice cream parlor where Perry worked in 1970. They formed a power trio with Tom Hamilton on bass, and before long, they'd added drummer Joey Kramer and guitarist Brad Whitford, leaving Tyler to fulfill the role he was born for: lead singer. With 1975's Toys in the Attic, considered by most to be Aerosmith's best album, the group achieved a new level of success, both artistically and commercially. The first single, "Sweet Emotion," was a terrific pop-hard rock crossover that led the album up to No. 11 on the Billboard charts (it eventually sold 6 million copies). As a result of this newfound success, "Dream On" was re-released, becoming a Top 40 hit the second time around. The super-funky "Walk This Way" followed it up the charts early in 1976. Operating with two replacement guitarists, Jimmy Crespo and Rick Dufay, the band released its least successful album ever, Rock in a Hard Place, in 1982. Meanwhile, Perry's and Whitford's solo projects weren't exactly lighting up the charts. Something had to be done. On Valentine's Day of 1984, Perry and Whitford visited their old bandmates backstage after a show at Boston's Orpheum Theatre. Now reconciled, they reunited for the Back in the Saddle tour, and in 1985, having signed to Geffen Records, they put out Done With Mirrors. Though it didn't sell well, it showed that the band was on the comeback trail. After its release, Tyler and Perry completed a drug-rehabilitation program, and then, in an extremely smart publicity move, they joined old-school rappers Run-DMC in the video for their cover of "Walk This Way." In 1987, with producer Bruce Fairbairn at the helm, they recorded the album that would put them back on top, Permanent Vacation. Aerosmith's best and biggest-selling non-greatest hits album since Rocks featured the hits "Dude (Looks Like a Lady)," "Rag Doll," and "Angel," and ultimately sold 5 million copies. Pump, released in 1989, did it one better, selling 6 million, driven by the Top 10 hits "Love in an Elevator" and "Janie's Got a Gun."
One Way Street (Released 1973)
Hey look yonder
What's that i see
Well that old bogus, honey
Comin' after me
I goin' told you
Was out of town
I wonder how she knowed
I was hangin' around
Say, listen babe
Don't go wastin' your time
You keep comin' 'round
You'll hear the same old line
You got a thousand boys
You say you need 'em
You take what's good for you
And i'll take my freedom
'cause lately it's been so hard
I've been make ends meet
And honey, your head's a
One way street
And i gotta go the other way
(heh, heh, heh)
I thought i knew her
My cagey lady
How come my sunshine's
Was so damn shady
She'll say she love to talk
A conversation
But i'm the one
Who makes my situation
This one way city
That i thought i knew
It's such a pity, honey
That's it for you
'cause lately it's been so hard
I've been make ends meet
And honey, your head's a
One way street
And i gotta go the other way
There's nothing over here
I never showed you
I made it pretty clear
I'm glad to know you
You know your brother spike
He's on the level
But you always lookin'
Like you're mad at the devil
Don't say i cop a 'tude
It's all forgotten
It's just you're much too rude
Your fruits are rotten
You know i work so hard to keep it alive
Now all i hear from you
Is nothing but jive
Lately it's been so hard
Now to make ends meet
And honey, your head's a
One way street
And i'm goin' on the other way
Yes i do!
And lately it's been so hard
To make ends meet
And honey, your head's a
One way street
And i really been feelin'
Like i could be movin' on
Your head's like a one way street
You're foolin' everybody you meet
I said, your head's like a one way street
You're foolin' everybody but me
I said, your head's like a one way street
You're foolin' everybody you meet
I said, your head's like a one way street
You're foolin' everybody but me...
You got to get yourself back on your feet
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