THUNDER IN THE EAST

Thunder in the East, released on 21 January 1985, was the first Loudness album issued worldwide. It opened the multi-album international contract with Atlantic Records — the first ever signed by a Japanese band — which had followed from their overseas shows in 1983. Max Norman produced. Known for his work with Ozzy Osbourne, he would stay with the band for three albums, through Lightning Strikes and Soldier of Fortune. The opening track, "Crazy Nights", became the Loudness song best known to English-speaking audiences. The album reached No. 74 on the Billboard 200 and stayed on the chart for nineteen consecutive weeks, a result no Japanese rock band had achieved before. On the US tour that followed, supporting Mötley Crüe, Loudness became the first Japanese band to play Madison Square Garden.