Description
Ian Hill has hand signed in green ink the front cover of the Judas Priest LP “British Steel.” British Steel is the sixth album by Judas Priest, released on 14 April 1980. It saw the band reprise the commercial sound they had established on Killing Machine however; this time, they abandoned many of the dark lyrical themes which had been prominent on their previous releases. British Steel was recorded at Tittenhurst Park, home of former Beatle Ringo Starr, after a false start at Startling Studios, a recording studio located on Tittenhurst’s grounds. Digital sampling was not yet widely available at the time of recording, so the band used analog recording of smashing milk bottles to be included in “Breaking the Law”, as well as various sounds in “Metal Gods” produced by billiard cues and trays of cutlery. It was released in the UK at a discount price of £3.99, with the advertisements in the music press bearing the legend “British Steal”. Songs “Breaking the Law”, “United”, and “Living After Midnight” were released as singles, while the track “Metal Gods” earned the band members their moniker.