Happy 40th Anniversary to The Ramones - Too Tough To Die

Happy 40th Anniversary to The Ramones Too Tough To Die, which was released on this date in 1984.

Some thoughts about the record and a few tunes after the jump.

Happy 40th Anniversary to Bruce Springsteen's Born In The U.S.A.

Happy 40th Anniversary to Bruce Springsteen's Born In The U.S.A.

Full Show Friday: Black Flag - "Live 84" (Live at The Stone, San Francisco, CA 1984-08-26)

We search the murky back waters of youtube to find full concerts and post them to the site weekly, come back every seven days to help us celebrate Full Show Friday's. These shows are of varying quality and may not be here for long so enjoy them while you can...As always, please support the artist every which way, but especially by seeing them live (if they are still playing)...This week...Black Flag!

Captured at the heights of the bands prowess, here comes Live 84 from Black Flag.

Some of the best video and live sound from this era of the band. Full set list below. Enjoy!

[0:00:00] The Process Of Weeding Out [0:08:41] Nervous Breakdown [0:10:55] I Can't Decide [0:15:45] Slip It in [0:21:48] My Ghetto [0:22:55] Black Coffee [0:27:45] I Won't Stick Any of You Unless and Until I Can Stick All of You! [0:32:16] Forever Time [0:34:31] Six Pack [0:37:00] My War [0:40:33] Jealous Again [0:42:32] I Love You [0:45:50] Swinging Man [0:48:47] Three Nights [0:54:45] Nothing Left Inside [1:01:07] Fix Me [1:02:00] Wound up [1:06:07] Rats Eyes [1:10:21] The Bars

Album Review: Dr. John - Solo Piano Live In New Orleans 1984

Dr. John

Solo Piano Live In New Orleans 1984

*** out of *****

With Jazzfest on the horizon, the Tipitina’s Record Club looks to a past late night Festing show for their most recent release. Dr. John’s Solo Piano Live In New Orleans 1984 was recorded on the paddle boat SS President, cruising the Mississippi River after a day of music at the Festival that year. 

The brief vinyl outing was captured at an odd time in Dr John’s career. He had left yet another label and had just released the solo studio album Dr. John Plays Mac Rebennack, as he was searching for a new path and wouldn't find it for some time.

“Dorothy” an original tune from that album starts this live show as Mac shows off his underrated piano playing. He also delivers his original, “Such a Night” with a gorgeous, classically influenced intro, this set however is more to pay homage to the great New Orleans piano players who came before him, while establishing the good Dr. right in that very same category.

The opening tune dipped into “Junko Partner” and the run to close side A of “Qualified” > “Sick and Tired” > “Goodnight Irene” are all musical tips of the cap to James Booker whose influence is everywhere on this night, along with David Bartholomew. They aren't alone though as Dr. John gives Lloyd Price’s classic “Stagger Lee” an injection of some new lyrics. While Mac’s playing is top notch, his voice this evening is harsher than normal, especially starting out, before things warm up.

Professor Longhair himself gets some love as Dr. John delivers a fairly tame cover of “Tipitina” while the set ends with Mac mixing up his classic “Mama Roux” with two songs from the criminally underrated Huey “Piano” Smith as he seamlessly transitions into “Rockin' Pneumonia And The Boogie Woogie Flu > Don't Ya Just Know It” to wrap up the short show.

For those who have never heard Mac Rebennack’s solo piano work this release will be eye opening, for longtime fans it is fun to hear some classics in this sparse setting. Dr. John’s Solo Piano Live In New Orleans 1984 is an excellent capturing of a long gone night where a New Orleans icon paid tribute to the past with classical piano flourishes.

____________________

Support the artist, buy the album and peep some video below:

Tipitina's Record Club · SAMPLER - Dr. John

Full Show Friday: Violent Femmes - Live 1984 Lyceum Theater

We search the murky back waters of youtube to find full concerts and post them to the site weekly, come back every seven days to help us celebrate Full Show Friday's. These shows are of varying quality and may not be here for long so enjoy them while you can...As always, please support the artist every which way, but especially by seeing them live (if they are still playing)...This week...Violent Femmes!

Heading back to 1984 for a live show from the Violent Femmes in London at the Lyceum Theater. 

Pro Shot, Pro Sound, set list below, enjoy:

TRACKS 1."It's Gonna Rain" 2."Prove My Love" 3."Country Death Song" 4."Spiritual" 5."Confessions" 6."Faith" 7."Gimme the Car" 8."Black Girls" 9."Add it Up" 10."Blister in the Sun" 11."Kiss Off" 12."Kiss Off" (reprise)

Full Show Friday: The Go-Go's - Wild At The Greek - Live 1984

We search the murky back waters of youtube to find full concerts and post them to the site weekly, come back every seven days to help us celebrate Full Show Friday's. These shows are of varying quality and may not be here for long so enjoy them while you can...As always, please support the artist every which way, but especially by seeing them live (if they are still playing)...This week...The Go-Go's!

This week we focus on The Go-Go's from 1984 when they were one of the biggest bands in the world.

Pro Shot, Pro Sound, Enjoy:

The Masters: Bruce Springsteen - Top Five Studio Albums

RtBE loves listening to new music and prides itself on keeping tabs on up and coming artists but in 2019 we are also going to have a monthly spotlight on legendary artists who we really love. We are calling this series The Masters. It will focus on the best albums, live records, transcendent shows and other odd ways we appreciate the artists and their contribution to music, culture and our formation.

For October The Masters focuses on Bruce Springsteen

The next "new Dylan" Bruce Springsteen had high expectations and early in his career searched for his own sound which would be solidified in the mid 70's as Phil Spector  inspired grandiose rock and roll that goes for it every time.

An artist who recently pulled back the curtain on his craft, Springsteen famously said he never worked a day in his life but yet can craft a song like "The River" or "Factory" which cuts to the heart of a working man. Poetic, bombastic, country tinged and inspired by that sweet soul music, Bruce's sound is his own yet he inspired tons of others. It is impossible for RtBE to listen to Thin Lizzy and not hear Springsteen B-sides and for that matter half of E-Street went over the top with Bat Out of Hell.

The Boss remains an artist striving for the sound, his newest record went all retro-pop country, he is willing to experiment and take chances and his best successes rank up there with the greatest in rock and roll history. He became meticulous in the studio and it shows on the five albums we selected below so let's not waste any more words.

As a reminder these lists are to start conversations not end them, with that in mind let's see all that heaven will allow...

Full Show Friday: The Dubliners Live 1984

We search the murky back waters of youtube to find full concerts and post them to the site weekly, come back every seven days to help us celebrate Full Show Friday's. These shows are of varying quality and may not be here for long so enjoy them while you can...As always, please support the artist every which way, but especially by seeing them live (if they are still playing)...This week...The Dubliners!

With St. Patrick's Day being yesterday we will use that as an excuse to post a full show from The Dubliners from their home town back in 1984. Full setlist and info is below. Raise a pint, enjoy the pro shot, pro sound (with a weird tape issue, but who cares) and sing along.

Enjoy:

Recorded at the National Stadium, Dublin.
The Dubliners:
Ronnie Drew: Guitar, Vocals
Barney McKenna: Banjo, Vocals, Mandolin
John Sheahan: Fiddle, Whistle, Background Vocals, Mandolin
Seán Cannon: Guitar, Vocals
with
Jim McCann: Guitar, Vocals
Eamonn Campbell: Guitar, Mandolin, Banjo, Background Vocals
Paddy Reilly: Guitar, Vocals

Songs & Tunes:
Fairmoye Lasses and Sporting Paddy — Instrumental
McAlpine's Fusiliers — vocals - Ronnie Drew
Banks of the Roses — vocals - Seán Cannon
Come Back Paddy Reilly — vocals - Paddy Reilly
Four Green Fields — vocals - Jim McCann
The Town I loved so well — vocals - Ronnie Drew
Selection of Reels — Instrumental
The Crack was 90 — vocals - Paddy Reilly
Carrickfergus — vocals - Jim McCann
The Midnight Oil — Instrumental featuring - John Sheahan
Marino Waltz — Instrumental featuring - John Sheahan
Molly Malone — vocals - Jim McCann
Lovely Rose of Clare — vocals - Paddy Reilly
Finnegan's Wake — vocals - Ronnie Drew
Rose of Allendale — vocals - Seán Cannon
Selection of Reels — Instrumental
I Loved the Ground — vocals - Jim McCann
Fields of Athenry — vocals - Paddy Reilly
Dicey Reilly — vocals - Ronnie Drew

Grateful Dead in Saratoga Part II: 6-24-1984

Ahh back to Saratoga for this Monday morning Grateful Dead entry, and some historic playing in a historic town.  

'The American victory at Saratoga was a major turning point in the war for Independence, heartening the supporters of independence and convincing France to enter in the war as an ally of the fledgling United States'. From Here.

There are a ton of great sites to read about the Battle of Saratoga and the importance of the victory on American independence, you can read about it here and here for starters, but I won't take up more time on the social studies lesson, all though it does add to the history of the location.  We have some other stuff to talk about...
 
For part 2 of RTBE Grateful Dead in Saratoga month we go to back in time to a rainy night June 24th 1984, the second time the group played at SPAC.

As far as quality goes, this show gets as A- from me, while it is a SBD, it does contain a lot of hiss on the highs, but again very easy on the ears and the playing captured is excellent for 1984 (also the sound improves greatly along with he playing for the second set).   This is the first show I am reviewing from that year, and honestly it wasn't one of the best for the Dead.  Jerry was starting to wear down which can be heard in his voice and to a slighter extent in his playing, which overall wasn't as inventive or crisp as it was in the past.  That said there is some fine playing from this wet June night.

Starting with the first "Dancing In The Streets" since 1981 signaled that the boys weren't fucking around, and it cemented what everyone felt after the last time the group played SPAC, there was a special bond that the band had with the venue.  There is a tight "Dire Wolf" and some wonky slide guitar played by Bobby on "New Minglewood Blues" and some straining from Jerry to hit the high notes of "Ramble On Rose".  The musical highlights of the first set is the fluid expressive guitar playing from Jerry and electric Keys from Brent on the pairing of "Me and My Uncle">"Mexicali Blues".  After a groovy "Hell In A Bucket" complete with raspy Weir vocals, a set closing "Deal" the crowd gets prepped for a huge second set.        

The second set sounds better from the start and opens in an unusual way with Weir getting loose on "I Need a Miracle" and the band just sounds more alive then they had in the first set.  Around the 3:30 mark in "Miracle" the band really starts going in different directions and does so in a intriguing way, all soloing yet not losing the center.  That would be a theme of this set as they segue right into "Bertha" which scoots along brilliantly.  The energy stays high for an excellent version of "Playing In The Band" which  Bobby sings with confidence and has Phil dropping powerful bass lines. 

 This is a cool version of this tune that never losses energy and allows each of the members to musically express themselves.  It is experimental, intriguing and a fun listen which flows directly into "China Doll".  While Jerry's rasp certainly added gravity to his ballads in the later years, here it sounds wounded and doesn't work so well, all though the playing is glorious with Brent using some harpsichord effects and Jerry easing into the guitar parts.

The fellas then let the drummers fire it up again with "Samson and Delilah" getting those in attendance up dancing in the rain, Bobby seems to be extra loud for this tune, and it may have been a better move to amp Jerry as Bobby seems to be playing some off kilter guitar here.  The "Drums>Space" Segment here takes up a bit of time with some wild "Space" sound effects, before the rumblings of the epic "Other One" starts up.  This is a great wandering version that doesn't even get around to the lyrics until about 4 minutes in.  A second Jerry ballad follows with the emotional telling of "Wharf Rat".  This is a solid version of the tune that relies heavily on Brent's keys and does a good job with them before the set closing rave up of "Sugar Magnolia".

Continuing the trend they started the last year at SPAC, they treat the crowd to a double encore.  This time we get them covering The Rolling Stones with "Satisfaction"

The Rolling Stones - Satisfaction (show)
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 and Bob Dylan with, "It's All Over Now Baby Blue".

Bob Dylan: It's All Over Now, Baby Blue
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You couldn't really aim much higher in the covers department and another June night finds the band making their fans happy with a fun night of tunes...until next year...