Customer Reviews

Dangerous Toys: Greatest Hits Live

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

After ten years together, Dangerous Toys released this (their first) live album in 1999. The full title is 'Vitamins and Crash Helmets Tour: Greatest Hits Live.' This disc is chock full of Dangerous Toys classics and some little-heard gems. Deadline Records, who doesn't have the greatest of reputations, did a truly outstanding job here. Hats off to the label and band for producing this compilation.

The liner notes and cover art are both great, both of which have come to be expected from Dangerous Toys over the years. It is explained where and when these tracks were recorded, which is a plus. These live recordings are taken from all over the place, between 1989 and 1995. For the most part, the tracks go in chronological order.

The track listing here is a good representation of the Dangerous Toys catalog and then some. You may find at least a couple songs that you had forgotten about. All four studio albums are represented with the bulk of the material being taken from the first two releases ('s/t' and 'Hellacious Acres'). It was nice to see two tracks each from the lesser known independent releases, 'Pissed' (1994) and 'R-Tist 4-Merly Known As Dangerous Toys' (1995). The song "Dangerous Toys", which closes the album is a previously unreleased track, done live, and serves as a nice treat for the diehard fan. Rumor has it that the song "Dangerous Toys", which had been lying around unused, was later adapted into the song "Demon Bell" for the 1989 movie soundtrack of 'Shocker.'

Soundwise, the recordings are a mixed bag. The later day recordings actually sound very good, but many of the earlier tracks don't have the same sound quality. Some of you may remember that this same live version of "Scared" (from Boston) was widely used on a nationally syndicated rock/metal radio show many years ago. Regardless of the sound, which delves into bootleg quality at times, the band sounds like a well-oiled machine and generally delivers with each and every song they perform. While I hate to do it, it is necessary to remove a star from the final score because this is from scattered shows and not one live set. It also doesn't help that some tracks were not mixed very well, not the fault of the band. The best way to listen to this album is on a stereo or some good headphones.

This isn't something that will serve as an introduction to the band. A new listener will want to start with one of the studio albums, preferably the self-titled debut. However, if you've already been a loyal member of the Dangerous Toys fanbase, you can't afford to pass this one up.

If you were there in the crowd (at the Back Room in Austin, Tx.)as many times as I was then this is music to your ears. I'm just now getting this and it's making a nice addition to my Toys collection. The first 7 songs are from the Boston show in Novemember 1989. Is this all from one tour? No, ofcourse not. The songs span all 4 albums from 1989 - 1995. Sound quality varies throughout. The track from the first 7 I enjoyed the most was Scared. That one felt the most like the good ol' days. They're not kidding about some songs sounding very 'bootleg'(Best of Friends for example). But it's still enjoyable and kind've like a mini-box set. And as time goes on the band seems to get more seasoned and polished (in a good way). Bootleg song or not you can tell they just kept getting better and better. Practice makes perfect. Overall, the album's quality is pretty good though.

Whether you're a fan who has some or all the studio stuff and just wants more or someone who's just getting into the band and want to check this out, you're going to be pleased. I do wish there were more songs from the 4th album :) Minor quibble. I think it's great that there's something from all 4 albums.

I am a big fan of Dangerous Toys since the release of their first album in 1989. I really enjoy their music because they seem to incorporate other styles of music that I like, for example Alice Cooper. This album includes the majority of their hits, but of course live. The live audio is raw and captures a true product of a live performance. There are no touch ups such as overdubs or what nots. The CD sleeve makes notes that the album is very raw and you get what you hear. The live recording song selections varies from approximately 1989 to 1996. I think they sound as good as any live band that I have ever heard because you get the rawness of the performance. I think they pulled off "Gimme No Lip" very well. Dangerous Toys stayed true to the recorded versions of the songs for the most part. All-in-all I think it is a kickin album that any Dangerous Toys fan would appreciate. Ckeck it out.

Great cd, although I have always thought that they are never captured well live.

DANGEROUS TOYS IS A BAND I RECOGNIZED EARLY ON WHEN THEY CAME OUT THE VIDEO TEASIN N PLEASIN CAUGHT ME HEAD STRONG AND I HAVE BEEN A BIG FAN SINCE I HAVE COLLECTED ALL THEIR STUDIO MATERIAL AND WANTED TO COLLECT THE LIVE CD FOR LAST THE CD ULTIMATE DANGEROUS TOYS GIVES YOU CLIPS OF WHAT THE FULL LIVE CD SOUNDS LIKE AND WITH THAT BEING SAID WAS A MUST HAVE IN MY LIBRARY .... THE 80-S HAD SOME GREAT BANDS FORMING AND THESE GUYS FROM TEXAS WAS SOMETHING TO BE NOTICED......

Dangerous Toys weren't exactly the most popular band in the land, but put out a few great albums way back when. And to expect a Live CD to be perfect is probably asking too much, but it does come close in places, especially during the first 5 or 6 songs which jump thump along and I love to listen to these Loud with the bass up and everything just sounds to me like a Live album.

It does have some not so great recording on it, but if you have your stereo up loud enough the sound does come through okay, it's a bit inconsistant in that it does seem to rebound a bit later on also. It kinda reminds me of the Saigon Kick Live CD which had similar perhaps issues with produciton/quality of recording, but was still enjoyable.
I say just be glad this is out there, it's a nice representation of their overall body of work and more often than not shines in some places. I prefer this version of my fave song by them "Queen Of The Nile", and "Scared" sounds good too so you get a bunch of songs from their first record in great Live recordings.

Well...I guess it was time for Austin, Texas' Dangerous Toys to finally put out a live record. Deadline Records, a division of Cleopatra, put this out in '99 & it's a pretty good record. Definitely geared toward the die-hard fans & they will want to get a copy. But also a fine live album by any standards. No overdubs. No slick production. It's all here. The blood. The guts. The whiskey. The sweat. The mic. The instruments. McMaster's vocals. Guitar sounds. Bass thumps. Drums being smashed to hell. There's a pretty good photo collage on the inside & listening to McMaster sing to the crowd "Maaan...I said Maaan...I think I've got the wrooong house" during "Teas'N, Pleas'N" is just absolutely classic. Tommy Pons turns out some more beautiful cover art & the entire cd is a pretty good representation of the band through their 4 studio records. All in all, worth your time, your $ & your ear drums. God bless rock n' roll!

This one is for the fans. I love it, but wouldn't recommend it to anyone but those who already love DT. This is like a collection of good quality bootlegs. Alot of good songs here. A back from the grave release. Let's hope the Toys will record again.