Customer Reviews

Live on Stage

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This CD presents 10 of the 17 tracks issued back in 1979 on the "Live!" double album; that's sad, considering the original album on vinyl (A&M SP-6007) clocks in at 74 minutes, so Universal could have released it in its entirety. "Live!" was HEAD EAST's 5th offering, recorded during the "Head East" tour (their 4th album) across the USA, and features Dan Birney, Roger Boyd, Steven Huston, John Schlitt and Michael Somerville, plus Stan Gill (keyboards) as a guest. The recording quality is alright, and the performance is honest. Not a spectacular album, but good footstompin' rock! As the band themselves said, "Get Up And Enjoy Yourself"!

Having owned every Head East recording, this is is a nice addition, at a great price!! Nice to hear John Schlitt at his best. I would have selected some different songs. I would have dropped "Take a Hand" and added the keyboard work of Roger Boyd on "Jefftown Creek". I really can't complain about the songs overall. I think its a must CD for any Head East fan.

I am a modest Head East fan. I only own the Flat As A Pancake cd and the Millenium series disc. I'm writing this review because I find all the comments about this Live disc amusing. "Why only half an album?" "What's with the wrong sequencing of songs?" "Legal issues?"!

For one thing, this kind of stuff has nothing to do with The Band. So don't get mad at them or accuse them of being greedy (like alot of Kansas fans think). This has everything to do with the record company, A&M Records, simply doing a quick money-grab for your (the fans) wallet. They know people have been wanting this 1979 Live set to be released on cd for years. So, what do they do? Release an edited version of poor quality that was obviuosly "thrown together" on one disc at a low price to entice people to purchase it.

Some people probably thought it was the complete show until they played it and began to wonder "What happened to the rest of the show?"

This reminds me of Tesla's Live cd. There are none other than four different versions: the complete 20 song, 2-disc version on Sanctuary Records; two "Extended Versions" on one disc (10 songs) on "Collectables" and BMG Special Products; and another called Standing Room Only containing 13 tracks.

The record companies justify the single disc versions as a "lower-priced" alternative to reach younger fans. At least there are all these choices. A&M Records chose to offer up only one choice until nobody is purchasing that version anymore, and then they will release a complete version and take even more of your money at a later date. Just stand by and watch.

I'm going to wait.

I heard the original Live on vinyl and recorded it to cassette tap in the early 80's. I think the other reviewers are a little to harsh on the sound quality as I was impressed with the CD tracks which for me beat the original vinyl recording.

Ditto on the comments about messing with the order of the songs. It takes from the energy of the performance. I found myself editing "Since You Been Gone" / "It's For You" / "Never Been Any Reason" back into the proper order they were recorded in sequence during one show on the "Live" album. It's a great set. I did a better job recombining them than they did cutting and pasting apart.

"Take a Hand" by Rick Springfield and "Its for You" by Lennon / McCartney won't be found on any studio album. They are both great tracks.

I'd give it 4 stars (almost 5) if they gave us all of the original tracks.

This CD is essentially half of Head East Live! What was the logic in creating this CD when the original Live album could have simply been put to CD?? All of the songs are taken directly from the Live album anyway! The song order is also strangely out of sequence: The CD begins by introducing the band, then the first thing you hear is John Schlitt asking, "Are you still warmed up just a little"? Probably not, John. You have to play a few songs first! Even though the songs sound great as they did on the Live album, there seemed to be no thought whatsoever in putting this disc together. Legal issues??? Hmmm...maybe. Buy it anyway. It's as close as you'll come to Head East Live on CD.

I bought this c.d. once, because they were such a great sounding "live" band. After hearing the first track, it was all down-hill. It sounds as if they had the recording microphones stuck under a blanket outside the venue. Do yourself a favor and don't even bother. I have been around music for over thirty-five years, and if I had to choose the number one disappointment, this is it. This "live" recording is about as far from the sound quality and song content of their "U.S.1 "LIVE" c.d. as you could get.

The music is great for just being half an albums worth from the original. Still it is Head East! If someone ever brings out a better live recording from their hayday, I will certainly buy it cause I love Head East. Saw them in K.C. 1976, and they were so good. They opened for KISS and I couldnt tell ya who I enjoyed more, they were both DAMNED good

A short one cd set of the Head East Live recording from 1979. Most of the songs here are good, and its a better choice than the dreaded Concert Classics series, but why Universal only made a one cd set out of it, insted of the complete concert is beyond me. Priced as a budget CD in the local wal marts of the world

The times that I have seen Head East, I loved their shows. So the powers that be had better release the 1979 LIVE Album.. this CD is a quick fix for all you Head East junkies.. So it will fill the bill till they re-release the live one.. We can only hope that we won't have to wait too long..

This CD is essentially half of Head East Live! What was the logic in creating this CD when the original Live album could have simply been put to CD?? All of the songs are taken directly from the Live album anyway! The song order is also strangely out of sequence: The CD begins by introducing the band, then the first thing you hear is John Schlitt asking, "Are you still warmed up just a little"? Probably not, John. You have to play a few songs first! Even though the songs sound great as they did on the Live album, there seemed to be no thought whatsoever in putting this disc together. Legal issues??? Hmmm...maybe. Buy it anyway. It's as close as you'll come to Head East Live on CD.