Twisted Sister – Club Daze Volume 1: The Studio Sessions (1999)
Type: Compilation album
Artist: Twisted Sister
Released: 1999
Recorded: 1978 – 1981 (early studio recordings)
Genre: Heavy metal / glam metal
Label: Spitfire Records
Producers: Jay Jay French & Mark Mendoza
Club Daze Volume 1: The Studio Sessions is a compilation of rare early studio recordings by American heavy metal band Twisted Sister. It gathers material the band recorded before their first official album (Under the Blade), showcasing their formative years on the club circuit in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
Tracklist
All songs credited to Dee Snider unless otherwise noted:
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Come Back – 6:30
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Pay the Price – 4:28
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Rock ’n’ Roll Saviors – 4:37
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High Steppin’ – 2:45
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Big Gun – 4:02
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T.V. Wife (Jay Jay French) – 4:01
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Can’t Stand Still (French) – 3:45
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Follow Me (French) – 3:52
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Lady’s Boy – 4:20
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I’ll Never Grow Up, Now! – 4:11
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Leader of the Pack (Ellie Greenwich, Shadow Morton, Jeff Barry) – 3:54
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Under the Blade – 4:29
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Shoot ’Em Down – 3:43
Tracks 1–8 were recorded in 1978, tracks 9–12 in 1979, and Shoot ’Em Down in 1981.
Credits
Twisted Sister Line‑Up (Various Periods):
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Dee Snider – lead vocals
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Jay Jay French – guitars, backing vocals
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Eddie “Fingers” Ojeda – guitars, backing vocals
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Kenneth Harrison Neill – bass (tracks 1–8)
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Mark “The Animal” Mendoza – bass (tracks 9–13)
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Tony Petri – drums (tracks 1–12)
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Joey Brighton – drums (track 13)
Production:
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Produced by Jay Jay French & Mark Mendoza
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Digital mastering by Denny McNearney
Overview & Context
This compilation brings together unreleased studio versions of songs Twisted Sister wrote and recorded during their early years playing New York clubs. Some of these tracks would later be re‑recorded for Under the Blade and other official releases; others remained rare until this release.
The recordings reveal a rawer, less polished sound than the band’s later major‑label albums, reflecting their development from gritty hard rock roots toward a heavier metal style.
Cover Art Description
The cover art typically depicts the punk‑rock attitude of Twisted Sister’s early career — often using old band photos, vintage typography and gritty visual elements that evoke their mid‑1970s club days. (Based on official release imagery and packaging for the compilation.)
Reception & Legacy
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Club Daze Volume 1 is considered a collector’s item for Twisted Sister fans, providing insight into the band’s formative phase.
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It highlights the evolution of several songs that would become staples on later albums, like Under the Blade and Shoot ’Em Down, in their earliest recorded forms.
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The raw production and early songwriting give a historical snapshot of the band’s transition from New York club act to mainstream metal success.
Fun Facts & Trivia
🎸 Pre‑Debut Recordings: The tracks were recorded before Twisted Sister’s first official album (Under the Blade), offering fans a rare look at their club circuit origins.
📀 Origins of Classics: Some songs like Under the Blade and Leader of the Pack appear here in early versions that differ significantly from their later studio releases.
🎶 Three Songs by French: This compilation is notable for including multiple early tunes written by guitarist Jay Jay French, marking the first time non‑Snider compositions appeared in an official Twisted Sister release.
📜 Raw Sound: The recordings have a more punk‑ish and unpolished vibe than later albums, reflecting the band’s early influences and DIY recording approach.
Did You Know?
👉 Club Daze Volume 1 was released as part of a broader effort in the late 1990s to reissue and archive Twisted Sister’s early catalog, alongside later collections and live albums.
👉 The compilation was followed by a live counterpart, Club Daze Volume II: Live in the Bars, which showcases early concert recordings of the band.
Download Twisted Sisters Albums from Amazon
Twisted Sisters Full Discography by Labels
More Albums:
Twisted Sisters - Under the Blade (1982)
Twisted Sisters - You Can't Stop Rock 'n' Roll (1983)
Twisted Sisters - Stay Hungry (1984)
Twisted Sisters - Come Out and Play (1985)
Twisted Sisters - Love Is for Suckers (1987)
Twisted Sisters - Big Hits and Nasty Cuts (1992)
Twisted Sisters - A Twisted Christmas - Live (2007)
