Turbo was the album that caused a lot of long-time Judas Priest fans to scream for vengeance (or, at least, to not buy the album). With all the hair taking over the moneymaking side of metal in the mid-1980s, Priest decided to try to cash in with a more commercial and synthesizer-driven sound. Turbo does not sound like Poison, but it is more radio friendly than the often harsh and brutal Defenders of the Faith. Most fans did not like Turbo because it did not sound enough like Judas Priest. I remember reading a letter in a rock magazine where a fan admitted to crying when he first heard the album. Well, it's not that bad. In fact, some of the tracks here are pretty good and one is incredible.

"Turbo Lover" is a very cool track. The synthesizers make it sound like a futuristic motorcycle cruising down the highway and the guitar solo is awesome. "Locked In" is very commercial but darn catchy which was accompanied by Priest's most creative music video. "Reckless" is another catchy track that does not become a syrupy commercial song like some of the tracks here. "Hot For Love" is also pretty good but the chorus seems disjointed. The guitar break demonstrates how bands like Iron Maiden were influenced by these metal statesmen. The best track, by far, though, is "Out in the Cold." It is an amazing, powerful ballad and one of my all-time favorite Priest songs. It is worth the price of the album alone!

In my opinion, Turbo's main flaw is that it didn't go further in its experimentation. It becomes very commercial with tracks like "Parental Guidance" (an obvious knock on the PMRC who criticized the track "Eat Me Alive" off their previous album), "Private Property," and "Wild Nights, Hot Crazy Days." "Parental Guidance" sounds like a song written by a bunch of teenagers, not by metal veterans well into their 30s and maybe even pushing 40. "Rock You All Around the World" is one of those "all hail us" songs that I do not care for. Despite these tracks, Turbo is not the complete bust a lot of fans claim it to be. Turbo was actually planned to be a double album called "Twin Turbos." When that plan was scrapped, many tracks were left off. Some found there way on Ram it Down like the title track, "Hard as Iron," "Monsters of Rock," and "Love You to Death." The first two were virtually complete at the time of Turbo. It is difficult to imagine what a double Twin Turbos album would be like as Ram it Down is so much different than Turbo. It may have helped fans accept the synthesizers if half the album gave them the more typical Priest sound. It probably should not be the first Judas Priest album you buy, but it is not a complete bust. "All Fired Up" is a good extra track and the brilliant "Out in the Cold" is worth two stars alone!

I recently pulled this record off the shelf and gave it another listen after owning it for many years. It surprised me how well a lot of it stands up once you look past the obvious exploration of the 80s synth sound.

Half of the songs on this album would be eminently listenable if they weren't burdened with the ignominy of being found on the Turbo album. The title song is a track that captures the essence of Judas Priest's music: a memorable vocal delivery, sexual innuendo, and a dark vibe that belies the playful title.

Other tracks include the power ballad "Out in the Cold", which is vintage Priest once the overlong synth intro is out of the way. The two tracks "Reckless" and "Locked In" would have been right at home on another Priest album such as Defenders. The rest of Turbo is a mixed bag of 80s fluff metal that meets with some middling success.

I never bought into the guys in Priest being the flag-bearers of teenage rebellion, and obviously not many other people do either. Still, the moments on Turbo where Priest is not trying to identify themselves with the youth movement are enjoyable, and it's a shame that an album with 4-5 good songs gets dismissed in an era where modern bands put out 1-2 hit song albums padded by 8-9 filler tracks.

I bought the tape of Turbo the day it came out, as would any other normal Priest fan, I mean, Priest was a promise of quality right? Riding home in my friend's truck, we eagerly popped it into the tape deck....then...some ghastly blip-blip-blip noise not unlike Flock of seagulls rasperried out of the speakers. My mouth dropped open...I fast forwarded...then again...then I placed it carefully back in it's case and chucked it out the window. (True story) If you have never heard Priest before (hard as that is to imagine), I recommend British Steel or Defenders of the faith to any 30-ish guitarists who want to hear how it's done. I recommend Jugulator if you are 15 to 25 and think that Priest is over the hill. I'm afraid I can only recommend Turbo to 30-ish women who used to be 16-ish girls who liked Loverboy.

I've heard people say that there is no such thing as " selling out " This album is living proof that you indeed can sell out. How do you sell out ? You alter your sound so it reaches a larger audience . More often than not its a sweeter, less aggressive, radio (or MTV) friendly sound . Its target audience is usually younger and more female . There are actually a few good songs on this - Reckless, Locked In , Out in The Cold and even the title track isnt bad --- that is if your name happens to be Def Leppard or Bon Jovi . I find the song Parental Guidance to be particularly offensive -- " We dont want no , no, no no parentel guidance here " - If your name happens to be Twisted Sister this song is a work of art , if its Judas Priest ... its a joke . If you do like this album and some of the 80s priest stuff , try getting your hands on Stained Class , Sin After Sin, Sad Wings' and even Hell Bent'--thats the real Priest - dont settle for Priest lite

I don't know how anyone could NOT LIKE THIS ALBUM. It totally rocks...Turbo Lover is the best Priest song ever, and Out in the Cold is stunning as well. I love the pop-approach they took to this album, I love their glammy look during the tour, Rob looks hot, this whole album is just sexy and fun. ENJOY IT!