Customer Reviews

Spliff Radio Show

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

 

 

I was first exposed to Spliff in 1980 while I was stationed in Germany; I noticed posters for the Spliff Radio Show Live, and eventually my curiosity led me to purchase the original CBS album. Had I known it was such an explosively fun tribute to radio, I would have caught that concert while I had a chance; to this day it remains one of my most profound regrets.

Spliff was an offshoot of musicians who backed up the great Nina Hagen during her early German rock recordings; of those, "Unbehagen" is highly recommended. But this was their debut, and they chose to display their enormous talent and stylistic diversity by parodying American (and perhaps European as well) rock radio, along with DJ Rik DeLisle, at the time working for American Armed Forces Radio in Berlin (thanks Paul!). Not only do they feature dead-on versions of power pop, punk, disco, reggae, and heavy metal (among other styles), but they do it with respect, virtuoso musicianship, and ample humor. Songs extolling the 'holy trinity' of sex, drugs, and rock 'n roll are interspersed with 'commercials' touting such virtues as higher learning (Wysocki College for the Totally Dumb) and air travel (Stoned Airlines to Jamaica: "Arrive with a head full of steam when you get there") as well as clever little jingles ("keep your feet on the ground, and keep reaching for the charts" - are you listening, Casey Kasem?). In a way, it's an 80's update of "The Who Sell Out".

This is a great, fun, strong record; I regret that Spliff has not done more English material. But this is a loving tribute, very well-done, to a genre that we have all made an integral part of our lives for many years. Do yourself a huge favor and buy this great CD while it's still available!

The German group Spliff performed the Radio Show concert back in 1980(?) at various venues in Germany. I was fortunate enough to catch the show, and to this day it is the most fun and memorable concert experience I've had. Spliff is a talented band that subsequently released a number of heavy rock albums with German lyrics and a wacky German sound. Radio Show was done in English, and it chronicled the rise, fall, and rebirth of a mythical rock star. Each song tells the story of a step on the way. The music is purposely derivitive of various 70s styles, yet is clearly unique to Spliff. I personally give it five stars, but that's because I have the memory of the concert (and the general fun I was having at the time). By today's standards the production values are a little weak, and the sound is a tad dated. None-the-less, it is a worthwhile and enjoyable experience, "and if you listed, really listen, at least I can say I told you so..."

I transferred this from vinyl to mp3, and can't tell you how great it sounds. There are other reviews on here, but I picked this up when I was in Germany in 7th grade, around 1982. A kid on my German soccer team suggested it.

As others have said here, there is a wide variety of music, power pop, almost rockin' disco, reggae, punk/new wave, and an 8-minute song that ends the album called "Rock is a Drug". I also enjoyed Spliff's "85555" and "Herzliechen Gluckwuensch" quite a bit, although those were more "Neue Welle" music, which there was nothing wrong with.

The album goes from song to song as if you were listening to a radio broadcast, and there are some sweet jingles and commercials in there as well. The production sounds great, and I always thought it did, even in the 80s.

I recently listened to this all the way through, and it's still solid.

heard this album back in high school in 82. loved the querkyness of it.still brings a smile on my face.

This album is just plain fun. It is rougher than their highly polished "Schwarz auf Weiss" and "85555," but a grand romp!

Play it LOUD when you are working overtime.

The Radio-show never reached the USA. Sorry for the musicians... and th public. Was a great show and a great record available ( this one ! ) to going on that again and again. Feat. Reinhold Heil ( the composer from German film-maker Tom Tykwer ) and Potsch Potschka ...