Search God Save The Sex Pistols with freefind
 


LIVE '76
LP / CD 4 disc Boxset & Review

Live '76 Vinyl Album Box Set (UMC SexPissLive1976LP/CD)

The weighty box opens to reveal the 4 albums in their spectacular glory. Presented in individual covers with spines, they really do look impressive.

Themed inner sleeves with relevant track listings, coupled with matching labels lend a quality feel, as does the fact that the records themselves are housed in additional separate lined dust covers.

The 12" booklet and Glitterbest 'fanzine' are done full justice by the larger size; the 'zine benefits particularly, making the text of the press cuttings easy to read. A download card is also included.

Appreciate Live'76 to the full on vinyl. A must for the collector and connoisseur.

Live 76
Live 76
12" booklet cover & selection of pages
Live 76
Live 76
Live 76
Glitterbest 'fanzine' cover & selection of pages
Live 76
Live 76
Live76
LP Sleeves
Live 76
Live 76
Live 76
Live 76
Live 76
Inner sleeve format
Live 76
Live 76
Label format
Live 76
Live 76

Live '76 Box Set Review
UMC SexPissLive1976 LP/CD

Live 76

"The best captive audience I ever played to. I bet you've all got piles from sitting down too much."

Gathering together live recordings from an era when bands in general, and young bands in particular, were hardly ever committed to tape is a tricky task, one littered with expectation and danger. For a set such as this, two main requirements - historical importance & quality - have to be balanced. It's not an exact science and is bound to draw a range of reactions. "Live 76" is a bold undertaking.

The boxset itself is beautifully designed & packaged, complete with a replica Glitterbest promo handout, making it a unique and lush item to possess.

Onto the music itself. HM Prison Chelmsford is the jewel in the crown. This particular gig, recorded by soundman Dave Goodman, seemed to be the one that Dave (RIP) himself wanted to keep under wraps in its purest form. He had overseen a release in the U.S. in 1990 and chose to overdub crowd noises, rioting and fake 'Johnny Rotten' dialogue between songs. It was a dog's breakfast. What possessed him to do this is unknown. Anyway, here it is as it should be, and it's brilliant. A strong sound quality gives life to the band's performance, and one of the best recorded early examples of what made John Rotten unlike any other performer before or since. His jibes at his "captive" audience are both confrontational and witty at the same time. The inmates pick up on this and clearly enjoy the banter. John connects with them and a potentially hostile gig is enjoyed by band and prisoners alike. It provides a fascinating insight into John's ability to manage a crowd, and at such a young age. This may be the definitive 1976 live recording of the Sex Pistols, or anybody else for that matter.

The Manchester Lesser Free Trade Hall 4th June show is one of the most talked about gigs in rock 'n' roll history, with TV / radio documentaries & accompanying book dedicated to the event. 'I Swear I Was There' was the reported cry of a generation of inspired punters who would go on to forge a Manchester music scene that would itself impact globally. Copies of this Pistols performance have circulated seemingly forever in tape trading networks in a variety of qualities, making pinning down the best one a nightmare. Whatever the opinion of the rough nature of the recording, it is listenable, and on historic grounds alone it's vital that it is included.

At the Screen on the Green, Islington gig on 29th August, the Pistols were supported by The Clash and Buzzcocks making their London debut. Another landmark gig in the evolution of punk rock. Although previously released back in 2002 as part of the 'Sex Box' collection, its inclusion here is a no-brainer. How could it be left off a '76 live collection? The warts 'n' all recording contains the excitement of a band in the ascendancy, their natural - almost casual - aura of chaos evident when John breaks a tooth on his microphone during No Lip, then asks "can you find my tooth.. it fuckin' hurts". It could only be the Sex Pistols.

Burton On Trent 76 Club 24th September, is by far the most commonly available recording in this collection. It has seen the light of day on numerous bootlegs and semi-official releases, often chopped up with re-arranged set lists, and even incorrectly labelled as other gigs. Now, for the first time in an official capacity, you know what you've got. The disc also boasts an excellent sleeve at long last; 'Double Diamond' brewery artwork, in honour of Burton's finest produce. It's also a quality recording. I'd not listened to the show for a long, long time, and had forgotten how well the Pistols' sound had been captured on this particular evening. A hard working, focused unit, putting across their brand of music to a still largely unfamiliar audience; but an eager crowd who are sensing something new. And judging by the reaction, they are quickly catching on.

While the very nature of Live '76 makes it nigh on impossible for the collection to be faultless, there is no denying it is a damn fine retrospective of what made the Pistols so important & challenging way back in 1976. A good looking one as well. Buy it.

Review by Phil Singleton



 

Universal Music Index >

©Phil Singleton / www.sex-pistols.net 2016
All rights reserved. Not to be reproduced without permission

God Save The Sex Pistols ©Phil Singleton / www.sex-pistols.net 2016


Although every attempt has been made to ensure the following listings are as accurate as possible, errors may have occurred. Please e-mail any additions and/or corrections.
Errors that may have occurred will make it obvious if an attempt is made to copy the above piece of work. Do not publish elsewhere and claim authorship. You have been warned.


God Save the Sex Pistols

God Save The Sex Pistols ©Phil Singleton / www.sex-pistols.net