Tesla is an American hard rock band from California that has been active since the mid 1980s. They are a highly underrated rock band with a very strong catalog. Tesla’s classic lineup features Jeff Keith on vocals, Frank Hannon on guitar, Tommy Skeoch on guitar, Brian Wheat on bass, and Troy Luccketta on drums. Here are their ten greatest tracks:
1. “Modern Day Cowboy” Mechanical Resonance (1987)
2. “Love Song” The Great Radio Controversy (1989)
3. “What You Give” Psychotic Supper (1991)
4. “Little Suzi” Mechanical Resonance (1987)
5. “Hang Tough” The Great Radio Controversy (1989)
6. “Edison’s Medicine” Psychotic Supper (1991)
7. “The Way It Is” The Great Radio Controversy (1989)
8. “Song and Emotion” Psychotic Supper (1991)
9. “Mama’s Fool” Bust A Nut (1995)
10. “Heaven’s Trail” The Great Radio Controversy (1989)
…and of course Tesla’s cover version of “Signs” on Five Man Acoustical Jam is one of the best covers of all time. The band that wrote the hit song in 1971 is Five Man Electrical Band…get it?
By the way, Tesla’s last studio album Forevermore was released in 2008. This band is still writing great music. The title track and “The First Time” are classic Tesla songs that would make it in Tesla’s Top 20 for sure.
I think the band Tesla like the inventor is way underrated. The band was heavy and had very deep lyrics. They like many bands of the late 80’s and early 90’s had to deal with the wrath of VanHalen, which was heads and tails above the rest period. Then came Nirvana. Enough said. Now rock is dead. Rap now rules the airwaves. I may be now going in to old guy mode but hear me out. Rap is all about hype, and incorporating/mixing in past hits into their music to give it validity in my opinion. Sure the lyrics are great their about real life or not. But every time I see a rap act on TV, or live it’s boring it’s just a rapper and his bitches just grabbing them selves. There’s no rhythm, nobody plays an instrument. Dam I have no talent and neither do rappers why can’t I steal money. Sorry my bad, make money. Rappers make Nirvana look talented. Dave Grohl is very talented even if I don’t like the Foo fighters. So who’s the next metal act to change things? Unfortunately a very good band like Black Tide will be old men when the cycle changes back to heavy metal. How bitter will they be, and what could have been if the timing was right. In the end I rank Tesla top 50 all time, and top 20 from the late 80’s and very early 90’s.
I have been to so many Tesla venue’s it’s unreal and with very few exceptions they are without a doubt one of the best rock bands ever I hope that I can get to see them one more time before my life is over