PiL
- New York, Palladium, USA
April 20th, 1980 (3 reviews)
Review #1: Original version
Running Order:
1. Fodderstompf / Jam
2. Careering
3. Annalisa
4. Attack
5. Low Life
6. Death Disco (sing-along version)
7. Death Disco
8. Memories
9. Public Image
10. Another
11. Poptones
12. Poptones (sing-along version)
Running Time:
60 minutes (approx)
Sound Quality:
(7) Low Gen Audience Recording
Tape Gradings Explained here
review by Scott M
Notes:
In his 2001 'Perfect Sound Forever' interview Keith Levene stated this
gig was broadcast on NY radio. Although this has never been confirmed,
one of the kids singing during 'Death Disco' does make mention of
the radio, so it is possible a different recording exists. However,
this recording is certainly not a radio broadcast. It's maybe also
worth mentioning how similar parts of the 'Fodderstompf' jam are
to Wobble's 'How Much Are They?'...
Review:
Another average recording from the US tour, pretty much of
similar quality to the other bootlegs from the time. Muddy, a little
hissy, and unfortunately warbley and too high in places. Levene once
described this gig as a "stinker", maybe from his personal
point of view, to me the band sound on good form. A decent set with
noteworthy crowd sing-along versions of 'Death Disco' & 'Poptones'.
'Another' also features sing-along sections. 'Death Disco' starts as
a kind of sub-'Fodderstompf' instrumental jam where the crowd are encouraged
to sing, clearly they don't recognise it and begin to sing "we
only wanted to be loved", eventually the sing-along gives way for
John to come back in. For the second version of 'Poptones' John assembles
what he calls "a choir" on stage before declaring he's finished
for the night and wants to hear New York sing...
As well as problems with sound quality the recording has other imperfections. Most notably the cut in 'Another' where the taper has flipped the cassette during the middle of the song! There are also cuts, before and after 'Public Image', the cut at the beginning misses the first few seconds of the track. It's possible that at some point a trader has tried to edit the cassette to fit more tracks on one side... There is also a further cut in the first version of 'Poptones.'
In his 2001 'Perfect Sound Forever' interview Keith Levene claimed that after he and Lydon left the stage Wobble and Atkins continued playing, however there is no evidence of this, so it is possible this recording is not complete. Despite Lydon's disappearance Levene appears to play right until the end of the set... Update: The third recording of this gig, reviewed below, also includes an instrumental jam of 'Bad Baby'.
Despite the problems with the recording this is probably still a 'must-have' for big fans of the early line-up.
PiL - New York, Palladium,
USA
20th April 1980 #2
Review #2: Edit Upgrade
Running Order:
1. Fodderstompf / Jam
2. Careering
3. Annalisa
4. Attack
5. Low Life
6. Death Disco
7. Memories
8. Public Image
Running Time:
46 minutes (approx)
Sound Quality:
(8) Quality Audience Recording ?
Tape Gradings Explained here
review by Scott M
Notes:
Upgrade recorded from a different source. Either a quality audience recording
or possibly from a radio broadcast? 'Annalisa' & 'Attack' have fade-outs.
No encore.
Review:
This is a huge upgrade from the previous recording, and definitely taken
from a different source. Although it compares to a high quality audience
recording it is possible it's actually taken from the mythical
NY Radio broadcast? There are no station ID's or DJ comments but evidence
to support this may come from the fact the gig has been slightly edited.
A couple of tracks appear to have fade-outs, and the encore of 'Another'
& 'Poptones' is missing. There may even be a little interference/crackling,
but this could just be my overactive imagination!
I'd say sound quality is on a par (or above) of the Rainbow recordings, and definitely one of the better 1980 recordings, though maybe just short of the LA 'Profile' bootleg LP. Audience recording or radio broadcast, either way, this is a quality recording…
PiL - New York, Palladium,
USA
20th April 1980 #3
Review #3: Improved edit of previous 2 recordings
Running Order:
1. Fodderstompf
2. Jam (How Much Are They)
3. Jam (Bad Baby)
4. Careering
5. Annalisa
6. Attack
7. Low Life
8. Death Disco
9. Death Disco (sing-along version)
10. Memories
11. Public Image
12. Another
13. Poptones
14. Poptones (sing-along version)
15. Bad Baby (inst)
Running Time:
72:31 minutes (approx)
Sound Quality:
(8) Quality Audience Recording
Tape Gradings Explained here
review by Tim Bucknall
Notes:
Pitch corrected edit of the previous 2 recordings. Making
a fully COMPLETE recording for the first time.
Review:
The
recording fades up on the first bar of 'Fodderstompf'
and it's immediately obvious that this is a good recording;
better than a 27 year old bootleg recording has any right to
be. There's a good range of frequencies, no compression or distortion and pin
sharp clarity.
The show begins with 'Fodderstompf' which after 2 minutes drifts into a Wobble/Atkins jam – sounding very much like Wobble's later released 'How Much Are They' – with some excellent frenetic drum work; bringing to mind the Human Condition.
After a bar of 'Bad Baby' the jam stops and John and Keith finally appear for 'Careering'. There's some great guitar work on top of the keyboards, I've no idea how they managed that but it sounds great. I used to think that Martin played 'Careering' too fast, but I'm now coming to appreciate these steamroller live versions, even if they lose some of the dubiness of the studio version. After a few bars, John shouts "Who knows the words?" and the air is full of crowd members yelling into the mic. John reclaims his mic and 'Careering' is jammed out and extended with some great slashing guitar and intense synth lines, (does Keith have 4 arms?)
The crowd are going mental throughout, it's clear they've never seen anything like this before. The synth drone of 'Careering' is still going as 'Annalisa' starts. Another utterly majestic performance, you can hear the sparks flying on Keith's guitar. A perfect recreation of his studio sound; maybe even more deranged!
On 'Annalisa' it sounds like John's voice may have
some kind of effect on it. The track is played at exactly
the right pace; not like the farcical sped up versions of 1983.
The guitar work gets even more crazed as the song ends.
There's a brief count in and 'Attack' rumbles in with a bar
of bass and drums,
before the heavily flanged guitar cuts in. This is definitely
superior to the 'Paris Au Printemps' version, due to the heavily effected
guitar on this version.
On 'Low Life' there's some beautiful and intentionally
discordant guitar. Keith's guitar was never more perfect than on this
tour. He drops out and it seems as though he may be having amp
trouble just before the song. A lone idiot in the audience
is shouting for Sid. 'Low Life'?
The guitar problem is fixed for the next song, 'Death Disco',
with crowd singing 'Fodderstompf' over it! More great guitar, and interestingly,
some really evil synth snaking
round the bass and drums. By this time the song has left the studio versions
far behind, and become something totally new with a twisted bassline. It morphs
back into 'Death Disco' and Keith displays what I can only describe
as Hendix-esque soloing. The song strips down to a kick drum beat
and stops to rapturous applause.
'Memories' is next, another superlative version. 'Public Image' follows
with a few little tweaks and improvs. Intentional or not they work
and make this rendition unique.
I have to say that whoever spliced these
sources together did an absolutely seamless job, I haven't heard
a single edit yet…
'Another' is the next, with Keith's springy harmonics
dancing over the rock solid foundation, laid down by Wobble and Atkins.
More audience members are invited up on stage for a "sing-song", and an
improvised drum part comes off well.
'Poptones' has a great aggressive drum and guitar intro
before the bass comes in. Obviously, this is one of PiL's best
tunes and any half decent version will sound great. Interestingly,
they repeat it again straight after. This time with an audience
member singing instead of John; it has to be said, the guy does a decent job
of mixing the lyrics with inprov.
An instrumental of 'Bad Baby' is the last track of the night. A pretty sparse instrumental with just bass and drums. Wobble varies the riff a bit, and sadly that's it for the show…
All of the shows from this tour are amazing and this is no exception, truly the peak of live PiL. Wobble's tone is beautiful and Atkins drums are sharp and precise. It's a shame the original PiL had to finish so soon after this. It seemed on this night that anything was possible.