The 30-year-old Samson 45 “The Fight Goes On,” w/ the flip side containing a version of “Riding With the Angels” sung by then vocalist Nicky Moore, is a good one for any hard rock collection.

Samson
“The Fight Goes On” ‎
12″, 45rpm Single
Polydor – POSPX 680
UK
(1984)

It’s a great sensation opening up sealed vinyl when it’s decades old. In this case, it was a 30 year old copy of the Samson single “The Fight Goes On” w/ the flip side containing a version of “Riding With the Angels” sung by then vocalist Nicky Moore. Plus a live version of “Vice Versa.” Going price: five bucks. Not too shabby.

One of the chosen singles from the Don’t Get Mad — Get Even full-length, “The Fight Goes On” is not a bad song. It’s only crime is being written in the ’80s when large record companies (like Polydor) put the pressure on hard rock bands (like Samson) to write big choruses and Bon Jovi-ish lyrics about couples madly in love against all odds. Ironically, songs like “The Fight Goes On” weren’t commercial enough. The song still has a Samson toughness to it, with Paul Samson quality guitar leads and fills, and, of course, vocalist Nicky Moore very apt at bellowing out modern day blues.

But the real “get” of this single is the Nicky Moore-fronted version of “Riding With the Angels” on the B-side. “Riding With the Angels” is a damn fine Russ Ballard rock song which Samson perfected to hard rock/heavy metal with Bruce Bruce (Dickinson) on vocals. The Moore version is not as good as either aforementioned rendition but certainly damn smart. As far as this piece of vinyl is concerned, this will be my repeater track.

“Vice Versa” wraps up the vinyl, a live recording with Moore. Moore was always a quality singer, but Bruce Bruce had that certain personality in his voice that turned good songs into great ones. Unfortunately that transition did not happen here.