Breaking Loose (album)

After five years of touring with various lineups, Helix recorded its debut album in 1979, funded by money raised by manager Bill Seip.{{cite web |url=https://mikeladano.com/2015/06/15/review-helix-breaking-loose-1979-hs/ |title=Review: Helix – Breaking Loose (1979 H&S) |last=Ladano |first=Mike |publisher=Mike Ladano |date=June 15, 2015 |accessdate=October 19, 2021 }} Describing the recording process in 2009, the band's lead vocalist Brian Vollmer recalled that Breaking Loose was tracked over a period of two weeks using 24-track 2-inch tape, during which time the band "ate, slept, [and] lived at the studio".{{cite news |url=https://bravewords.com/news/helix-new-album-artwork-release-date-confirmed |title=Helix – New Album Artwork, Release Date Confirmed |work=Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles |date=October 4, 2009 |accessdate=October 19, 2021 }} The album was independently released on the group's own label H&S Records, which stands for "Helix & Seip". According to Billboard magazine, Breaking Loose sold approximately 10,000 units after its initial pressing.{{cite magazine |title=New On The Charts: Helix |magazine=Billboard |volume=95 |issue=44 |publication-date=October 29, 1983 |location=New York City, New York |publisher=Billboard |page=24 |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/80s/1983/BB-1983-10-29.pdf |access-date=October 20, 2021 }}

"Don't Hide Your Love", written by guitarist Paul Hackman, was released as the lead single from Breaking Loose.{{cite magazine |title=Phonodisc to distribute Helix's Breaking Loose |magazine=RPM |volume=33 |issue=15 |publication-date=July 5, 1980 |location=Toronto, Ontario |publisher=RPM |page=16 |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/CANADA/RPM/80s/1980/RPM-1980-07-05.pdf |access-date=October 19, 2021 }} This was followed by a second single, "Billy Oxygen", which was written and sung by guitarist Brian Doerner.{{cite web |url=https://canpopencyclopedia.home.blog/h/#Helix%20(2) |title=Helix |publisher=The Canadian Pop Music Encyclopedia |accessdate=October 19, 2021 }} The latter track is credited with gaining Helix early Canadian airplay.{{cite book |last=Popoff |first=Martin |author-link=Martin Popoff |title=Riff Kills Man! 25 Years of Recorded Hard Rock & Heavy Metal |isbn=978-0969770701 |publication-date=1993 |location=Toronto, Ontario |publisher=Power Chord Press }} Outside of Canada, radio host Joe Anthony of San Antonio, Texas station KISS FM began playing "You're a Woman Now" which gave the band an opportunity to perform in the US for the first time.{{cite book |last=Vollmer |first=Brian |author-link=Brian Vollmer |title=Gimme an R!: The Story of Brian Vollmer, Lead Vocalist of Helix |isbn=978-0973984903 |publication-date=2005 |location=Brantford, Ontario |publisher=Ball Media }} This resulted in a four-date tour of the state, after which they "returned to Canada [and] were treated as stars by their rabid following", leading to their first TV interview.{{cite news |url=https://bravewords.com/news/helixs-brian-vollmer-reminisces-about-debut-album-we-sent-a-letter-to-bob-seger-to-produce-the-album |title=Helix's Brian Vollmer Reminisces About Debut Album – "We Sent A Letter To Bob Seger To Produce The Album..." |work=Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles |date=January 9, 2019 |accessdate=October 19, 2021 }}

Following its initial pressings on LP record, Breaking Loose was released on compact disc for the first time as one half of the 1991 compilation The Early Years, alongside 1981 follow-up White Lace & Black Leather. After several subsequent limited-run re-releases, the album was remastered and reissued in 2019 to mark its 40th anniversary (White Lace & Black Leather was also remastered and reissued at the same time). The new version contains two previously unreleased bonus tracks: "Let Me Take You Dancin'", which was reportedly the first song the band ever recorded; and "Sidewalk Sally", the first song to be co-written by Vollmer and Doerner.{{cite web |url=https://mikeladano.com/2019/06/28/reviews-helix-breaking-loose-white-lace-black-leather-2019-expanded-editions/ |title=Review(s): Helix – Breaking Loose, White Lace & Black Leather (2019 Expanded Editions) |last=Ladano |first=Mike |publisher=Mike Ladano |date=June 28, 2019 |accessdate=October 19, 2021 }}

{{Album ratings

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1Score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/breaking-loose-mw0000114744|title=Breaking Loose – Helix: Songs, Reviews, Credits|publisher=AllMusic|accessdate=October 19, 2021}}

| rev2 = Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal

| rev2Score = 6/10{{cite book|last=Popoff|first=Martin|author-link=Martin Popoff|title=The Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal: Volume 1: The Seventies|publisher=Collector's Guide Publishing|date=October 2003|location=Burlington, Ontario, Canada|isbn=978-1894959025|page=[https://archive.org/details/collectorsguidet0000popo/page/136/mode/2up 137]}}

}}

Music website AllMusic awarded Breaking Loose three out of five stars, although did not publish a written review for the album. Independent writer Mike Ladano gave it five out of five, writing that "Breaking Loose isn't metal, but what it lacks in firepower is made up for in class, ambition and natural talent. [...] Though it lacks the oomph of Helix today, it's perfectly listenable." Ladano added that "the only complaint I have about this album would be that some of the lyrics were a little weak".

Reviewing the 2019 40th anniversary expanded reissue alongside the reissue of White Lace & Black Leather, Ladano praised the albums' mastering and wrote that "These discs are the versions to get; the expanded tracklist making them musts to the collecting fan who already own them all."

{{Track listing

| title1 = I Could Never Leave

| writer1 = {{hlist|Paul Hackman|Brian Vollmer}}

| length1 = 3:56

| title2 = Don't Hide Your Love

| writer2 = Hackman

| length2 = 3:21

| title3 = Down in the City

| writer3 = Vollmer

| length3 = 5:45

| title4 = Crazy Women

| writer4 = Brent Doerner

| length4 = 3:17

| title5 = Billy Oxygen

| writer5 = Doerner

| length5 = 4:17

| title6 = Here I Go Again

| writer6 = {{hlist|Doerner|Vollmer}}

| length6 = 3:31

| title7 = You're a Woman Now

| writer7 = Hackman

| length7 = 5:44

| title8 = Wish I Could Be There

| writer8 = Hackman

| length8 = 6:18

| total_length = 36:09

}}

{{Track listing

| collapsed =

| headline = 40th anniversary reissue bonus tracks

| title9 = Let Me Take You Dancin'

| writer9 = David Lodge

| length9 = 3:29

| title10 = Sidewalk Sally

| writer10 = {{hlist|Doerner|Vollmer}}

| length10 = 3:39

| total_length = 44:02

}}

{{col-begin}}

{{col-3}}

Helix

• Brian Vollmer – lead vocals {{small|(all but track 5)}}, production
• Brent Doener – guitars; vocals and bass {{small|(track 5)}}; production
• Paul Hackman – guitars, backing vocals, production
• Keith "Bert" Zurbrigg – bass, backing vocals, production
• Brian Doerner – drums, backing vocals, production

{{col-3}}

Guest musicians

• Peter Follet – guitar
• Joel Wideman – keyboards
• Wayne Smith – percussion
• Lydia Taylor – backing vocals
• Valerie Hudson – backing vocals
• Doug Varty – backing vocals
• Richard Zuiceuicz – backing vocals
• "Dennis" – backing vocals

{{col-3}}

Additional personnel

• R.A. "Bob" Morten – production
• Declan O'Doherty – engineering
• Dan Donovan – engineering assistance
• Bob Doble – engineering {{small|(track 5)}}
• George Marino – mastering
• Robert Yendt – art direction
• Roger Psutka – photography
• Rose Janovich – photography

{{col-end}}

{{reflist}}

• {{discogs master|890583|Breaking Loose}}

{{Helix}}

Category:1979 debut albums

Category:Helix (band) albums