Stained Class (Album)

Overview
Stained Class is the forth studio album by British heavy metal band Judas Priest, and is the first to feature Les Binks.

Writing
This is the only Judas Priest album on which all contemporaneously current members of the band received song writing credits.

Recording
All of the songs on Stained Class, except "Better by You, Better Than Me", were recorded at Chipping Norton Studios. Advision Studios, Trident Studios and Utopia Studios are also credited in the album's booklet. The album was mixed at Trident Studios and Advision Studios London.

The inclusion of "Better by You, Better Than Me" was because of a request from the "powers that be", asking the band to record a cover for a possible single. Original producer Dennis MacKay was not available to record the song as it was after the initial recording period and had prior commitments. James Guthrie was called in to produce the track, and it was recorded at Utopia Studios.

Promotion
"Better by You, Better Than Me" was released as a single in January 1978.

Tour
Judas Priest headlined their shows in Europe and Japan on this tour. Some of the shows in the U.S.A. were special guesting, and some were headline shows.

Controversy
In 1990, Judas Priest were taken to court in Nevada, over an incident in which two young men, attempted to commit suicide, apparently after listening to the Stained Class album. One of the young men was successful, but the other survived, only to die of a drug overdose some time later. The trial would last 4 weeks, and the court sided with Judas Priest by the end.

Band
Ian Hill - Bass

Les Binks - Drums

K.K. Downing - Guitars

Glenn Tipton - Guitars, vocals

Rob Halford - Vocals

Production
Produced by Dennis MacKay (all except track 3), James Guthrie (track 3 only) and Judas Priest

Engineered by Neil Ross (Trident Studios), Ken Thomas and Paul Northfield (Advision Studios)

Artwork
Original Design by Roslav Szaybo

Original Photography by Ronald Kass

Additional
Managed by Bill Curbishly and Jayne Andrews

Remaster
Re-Masters Cover Concept by Judas Priest

Remastered by Jon Astley

Design and Artwork by L-Space Design

Remastering Co-ordination by Jayne Andrews