Throwback Thursday – Aerosmith’s Toys In The Attic

Formed in Boston 1971, Aerosmith featured Joe Perry (lead guitar), Tom Hamilton (bass guitar), Steve Tyler (lead vocals and harmonica), Joey Kramer (drums) and Brad Whitford (guitar) – who replaced Ray Tabano. They rapidly grew a local following playing clubs. A year later they signed with Columbia Records and produced the self titled first album in 1973 which peaked at #166 on Billboard, featuring the minor hit Dream On (peaked at #59) along with Mama Kin and a cover of Walking the Dog which became crowd favorites during concerts.

In 1974, Get Your Wings was released and the band began to receive national airplay for their cover of an old Yardbird’s hit Train Kept A Rollin’ and Same Old Song and Dance. The album continued the band’s fusing blues with hard rock and also produce other favorites Lord of The Thighs, S.O.S. Too Bad and Seasons of Wither.

The 1975 release of Toys in the Attic (the title is a euphemism for being crazy) became the band’s international breakthrough behind the power of the hits Sweet Emotion and Walk This Way. Following on the album’s success Dream On was also re-released to peak at #6 to become their best charting single in the 70’s. Later, Walk This Way was covered by Run DMC in 1986 supported by a music video featuring Aerosmith’s Steve Tyler and Joe Perry playing the song on the other side of a wall that the Hip-hoppers break through, giving Aerosmith a broadened fan base that spanned genres.

Aerosmith is sometimes referred to as the bad boys from Boston and reputedly the greatest American Rock band, but despite the band’s popularity int he 70’s, it wasn’t until the band’s resurgence int he late 80’s. largely due to they crossover hits on the pop charts along with the awards won for the Walk This Way collaboration with DMC that catapulted the group into another level of stardom. They were indicted in the Rock’n’Roll Hall of Fame in 2001.

#70sMusic #Aerosmith #SteveTyler #JoePerry #RunDMC