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Stumpage Reports
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Tuesday, May 18, 2004 :::
Double Live Gonzo Alive at Budokan
Ever since I've been listening to that stupid "Classic Rock" station on MSN Radio at work, my brain has been flooded with memories of bad music from my youth.
I've been thinking of how in the mid to late 1970's and early 1980's it seemed like every artist had to release a "double live" album. Me and my little stoner friends enjoyed them because often the music was rawer than the studio albums and sometimes you got some cool cover songs. On reflection, most of them were pretty bad, and the three best live albums ever, were all single albums.
I guess it all started in my mind with Frampton Comes Alive!, although I never had it, and never really had any desire to own it. It seems like everybody had that friggin' thing at one time. [ed. note: I'm not even going to try and explain some as guilty pleasures or the stupidity of youth, just remember we're talking about the musical tastes of a 15 year old boy doing too many bong hits and trying to fit in with his friends.]
A couple double live albums I remember we enjoyed at the time, and never had any desire to buy any of these bands' studio albums: REO Speedwagon: Live - You Get What You Play For (1977). We all owned this, but the only thing I remember listening to on it was "Riding the Storm Out." Recorded back when the band maybe still had one and half sets of testicles between them. Also, The J. Geils Band: Live! Blow Your Face Out (1976). This one was required listening at almost any party I attended in 1979-1980. The fact some of it was recorded at Cobo Arena in Detroit probably added to the appeal.
Another one me and all my friends had at one time was Bob Seger's "Live Bullet" (1976). It was recorded in Detroit, and at one point he introduced the band and where they were from. Almost all of them were local guys, and hearing him say "So and so from Royal Oak Michigan!" gave us a kick.
Other double live albums I owned, some of them I enjoyed and some I'm embarassed I ever owned:
Ted Nugent - Double Live Gonzo (1976)
David Bowie - David Live (1974)
David Bowie - Stage (1978)
Rush - All the World's a Stage (1976)
The Rolling Stones - Love You Live (1977) I need to hear this one again, particularly the "El Mocambo Side."
Genesis - Seconds Out (1977)
Neil Young - Live Rust (1979). I still listen to this one pretty often.
Aerosmith - Live Bootleg (1978)
Jethro Tull - Bursting Out (1978)
Rainbow - On Stage (1977). The first time my parents busted me with pot, I was cleaning it on this album.
CSN&Y - Four Way Street (1971)
Eric Clapton's Rainbow Concert (1973). Definitely a case of the sum being lesser than the parts.
The above brings to mind the all-star / rock festival type albums, I had these at one time or another:
The Concert for Bangladesh (1972)
Woodstock (1970) AND Woodstock Vol. 2.
The Concerts for the People of Kampuchea (1981)
M.U.S.E. (1979)
And last, we can't forget the dreaded TRIPLE live album. I had these:
Paul McCartney - Wings Over America (1976)
Yessongs (1973)
Most of the above albums were probably contractual obligations or "fleece the masses" releases. Two of my best live albums ever, Five Live Yardbirds and Rust Never Sleeps actually document the artists at key points in their careers, present original material, and don't fall into one of the above two categories.
Quote of the Day:
"It is always a simple matter to drag people along whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. This is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in every country."
--- Herman Goering.
::: posted by tom at 11:23 AM
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