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(Originally finalized on February 25, 2024)
Preface: This week's theme is a simple one - songs that feature tolling bells. I had to do a little bit of digging to fill out the list. But in the end, I had more than enough!
Monday: Metallica - For Whom The Bell Tolls [Ride The Lightning, 1984]
Comments: We start with the song whose title best captures the essence of this theme. As more of a blues/rock than a metal fan, Metallica is a bit of a stretch for this music log, yet is in no way out of place among the likes of Iron Maiden and AC/DC, who also appear on this theme.
Tuesday: Iron Maiden - Hallowed Be Thy Name [The Number of the Beast, 1982]
Comments: From Metallica we jump to Iron Maiden, another hard rock/metal band that came to prominence during the '80s. Here's another song that features tolling bells, hailing from one of the band's most iconic albums, The Number of the Beast.
Wednesday: AC/DC - Hells Bells [Back In Black, 1980]
Comments: Likely one of the first songs a lot of people think of when asked to name a song that features tolling bells, this has long been one of my favorite AC/DC hits. From the seminal album Back In Black, it has a great riff, a rolling rhythm, and a pounding energy.
Thursday: The Rolling Stones - The Lantern [Their Satanic Majesties Request, 1967]
Comments: For our next song, we take a 180 and spin the clock back to The Rolling Stones' brief psychedelic period during the '60s (you could be forgiven for forgetting it), with The Lantern from Their Satanic Majesties Request.
Friday: John Lennon - Mother [John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band, 1970]
Comments: To contrast with the Stones we have this song about parental abandonment from recent Beatles emeritus John Lennon's first solo album with Yoko Ono - an experiment in primal scream therapy.
Saturday: Elton John - Funeral For A Friend/Love Lies Bleeding [Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, 1973]
Comments: Rounding out the theme is this grim and plodding epic from Elton John's magnum opus. Clocking in at over 11 minutes, it's not one of his most radio-friendly songs, but it's one of the better ones in my opinion.
Sunday: Pink Floyd - High Hopes [The Division Bell, 1994]
Comments: Although Time from Dark Side of the Moon features a lot of chiming clocks, this concluding track from the band's last formal studio album even better represents the theme. As we say our goodbyes for this week, I'll leave you with the haunting tones of the Division Bell.
Honorable Mention: Black Sabbath - Black Sabbath [Black Sabbath, 1970]
Comments: The only reason this song didn't make the cut, as one of the most memorable - and one of my favorite - songs that feature tolling bells, is because I already used this song on another theme, and I had enough songs not appearing elsewhere that I wanted to showcase. But certainly, Black Sabbath's titular song from their self-titled debut album would top any list of tolling bell songs, and would fit right in place alongside Metallica, Iron Maiden, and AC/DC.