Customer Reviews

Is There Anybody Out There? / The Wall Live Pink Floyd 1980-81 (Deluxe Limited Edition)

5 star:		(82)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

First thing, make sure you get the "limited edition"box set & not just the regular 2-CD set. You'll be sorelydisappointed when you find out what you missed. It's worth the extra money. The hardcover book that comes with it is worth the entire price by itself. Beautiful photos + commentary from the band & set designers, etc. Second thing, I (along with many Floyd fans) have been waiting a very long time for something I haven't heard before. Sure, new Pink Floyd material would be nice, but this 2 disc set of The Wall will definitely satiate the need for a while. I know everyone's heard the album before, but you have never heard it like this. Taken from various concerts at the original Earls Court in London from 1980 and 1981, these songs are among the best I have heard them do live. You've undoubtedly heard some of the songs live on Pulse or Delicate Sound of Thunder (both also great sets), but to finally get to hear the entire The Wall album -- I can only say that it is incredible. Remember the beauty of hearing the live version of Dark Side of the Moon from Pulse? Songs like "Goodbye Blue Sky," "Young Lust," and "Mother" shine on this collection, and more popular songs played many times live -- "Comfortably Numb," "Run Like Hell," and "Another Brick in the Wall" -- well, you have to hear them to hear the differences. I'll just tell you that the guitar & keyboard solos on Another Brick in the Wall make it worth the purchase price. Buy your copy, listen over and over, and keep hoping that Gilmour, Wright & Mason get together again for a new Pink Floyd album. Or maybe they'll do like The Dead & just start putting out a kind of "Dick's Picks" collection of live shows from the past. I could live with that.

yeah, this album is awesome. Anyone who's heard any Wall bootlegs before won't hear anything new, other that the GIANT leap up in sound quality, but for those of you who've only heard the studio album, you'll notice quite a few differences (all for the better). anyway, i just have to say a few things. the only problem i have with the album is during Dave's singing parts on "Mother" there is a rather loud buzzing sound, and it's really annoying, after a few listens it doesn't bother me as much, but especially the first time you hear it, it will be very annoying. this is on a few other songs also, such as "Goodbye Blue Sky", and "Comfortably Numb", however it's not nearly as loud as on "Mother" and if you're listening to it in the car you can't even hear it. but don't get me wrong, it is still very much worth the money, especially the limited edition version, and it's easily the best live album i've ever heard. now for a couple of nitpicky gripes. "Empty Spaces" is not really "Empty Spaces", it's really the beginning of "What Shall We Do Now?", which is why it has different lyrics than "Empty Spaces", if you look at the words in the studio wall album, "What Shall We Do Now?" is in there and you can see what i'm talking about. Now the only reason this bothers me is because the only reason they split this song up is so people who don't know better will think they're getting something extra, well, you're not getting something extra, just instead of the original "Empty Spaces" you're getting "What Shall We Do Now?" split into two songs. Now, as for "The Last Few Bricks", this isn't even really a song, for those of you who don't know, this was added in to give the brick builders time to finish building the wall during the show, hence the name "The Last Few Bricks" which, by the way, was only recently named that by Roger Waters, so back when they did these shows it didn't have a name, and it wasn't even a real song. So there again, they're marketing it as a "never before released" song to make you think you're getting something extra, and while you are getting something that's not on the original album, it's hardly a new song. and just to be even more picky, the Amazon review says that both of those songs were on the wall movie, well, that's wrong, only "What Shall We Do Now?" was in the movie. ok, well i know those are just cheap complaints, but i know there are some people who care. but this album is definately worth buying, but like someone already said, definately buy the limited edition, it is very much worth the extra money.

"Is There Anybody Out There" is a excellent Floyd recording. At first, I was skeptical if this live release could do justice to the mythical reputation that the original live "Wall" shows have gained over the years. The first listen didn't strike me as anything special, but then I cranked up my stereo for the second listen, and that's when I realized that this recording is meant to be played LOUD, as loud as you can get it. The studio version of the "The Wall" was such a detailed, meticulous recording; trying to totally duplicate that sound in a live setting would have been impossible. Instead, the band turns up the volume and the bombast.

The power of songs like "In the Flesh" and "Run like Hell" is increased ten-fold in this concert setting. "Mother" becomes a stirring, emotional epic, reaching heights that were only hinted at on the studio album. The "Another Brick in the Wall Part 1/ Happiest Days of Our Lives " and "Empty Spaces/What Shall We Do Now" medleys achieve new levels of creepiness. And Roger Waters' maniacal spoken introduction to "Run Like Hell" is at once both hilarious and scary.

Much has been made of Roger Water's dominance in the writing and recording of "The Wall." He has even said that it is probably his greatest accomplishment, to which I agree. But, "The Wall" performances would not have been the same without the other members of Pink Floyd. Even with other musicians backing them up, these performances are tight and unified-all four band members, regardless of what they contributed in the studio, shine brightly.

The sound quality is excellent, considering the age of the tapes. The sound isn't as crystal clear as "Pulse," and there are some flaws (many have picked up on the buzzing noise during Mother), but they are insignificant. The limited edition is the definitive version; the book that accompanies the CDs is gorgeous- definitely worth the extra dough.

Despite all the positive qualities of "ITAOT," it should be said that this live recording doesn't replace the studio version. A budding Floyd fanatic should start with the original to get their first taste of "The Wall." For the rest of us, "ITAOT" will do nicely for now. BUT...if Pink Floyd isn't going to release new albums with any regularity (nothing against them...I mean, who can blame them for being a little lazy at this point), perhaps they can dig up some more live recordings from the vaults. The "Animals" tour, a full performance of "Dark Side" from the early '70s, a live version of "Atom Heart Mother"...maybe even an official live release from the Syd Barrett days! I'm sure they have them lying aroung somewhere...will they ever see the light of day?

What a great CD! I have had a couple of previous bootlegs over the years, but this just flat out sounds better. Of course this album is also gorgeously remixed, which none of the bootlegs are.

I am a bit disappointed with a couple of the choices, however. For example, Comfortably Numb has never sounded better, until Gilmour's rather perfunctory final solo ends with a whimper rather than a bang. Also, certain tracks sound virtually identical to the studio release. That said, the version of Run Like Hell released here is alone worth the price of the album, a true skin-crawling pleasure. Ditto the assorted Another Brick in the Wall, In The Flesh, and Mother.

Bottom line: A splendid live album. Considering that it comes from tapes that are over 20 years old, it is even more remarkable.

I just received and listened to this live disc of Floyd's "The Wall", and I still get the same feelings that I did in 1979 when the album first came out. And back in those days, I listened to it over and over and over...I even had an artist friend of mine re-create the album inside cover, complete with all the animation drawings, on my living room wall. I had turned it into a pool room/party room, and my friends and I had some incredible times in that room. Or so I've been told. Anyway, most of the people I read on this review page say exactly what I feel. Some bemoan the fact that there isn't a DVD of this concert. But back then, what did you do? If you were like me, I would "get my head right", turn off the lights, and then turn my stereo up just short of distortion, and let my imagination and Floyd do all the work for me. Yes, it was a dark and disturbing place that Roger took us all to, but I'm quite sure that we could all relate to it, especially if you were working on your own Wall, as I'm sure we all were, if you'll just think about it. Anyway, what I can't understand is the negative reviewers of this piece of rock mastery. What are you expecting? If you didn't like the album, or the movie, or anything else that Floyd did, why do you even bother listening to this in the first place???You either love Pink Floyd, or you don't, and that's it. There isn't much of an in between. Therefore, suffice it to say, if you are a lover of anything Floydian, you must have this in your collection. If you don't really care about Floyd, this is not going to sway you. But if you know someone that doesn't have an opinion, say a younger person, this isn't really what they need to be weaned on. A novice should be started on "Dark Side of the Moon", "Wish You Were Here", and "Animals". If they like that, then move on to the earlier stuff, then unleash "The Wall". And that my friends, is my humble opinion.

I just got my copy of the limited edition today and I'm listening to it for the second time while I'm writing this. The quality of the recording is fantastic; at times, it's easier to hear the lyrics here than on the studio album. It goes without saying that the addition of "What Shall We Do Now", which I've always loved in the Wall movie, makes this album a must have for fans. In other aspects, hearing "In The Flesh," which addresses the band vs. audience theme of Roger's and know that there is actually an audience there gives a whole new dimension to the song. Treat yourself to the limited edition- the book that comes with it, which holds the CD's, is a definite collector's item, with pics and written takes on the Wall from all the band members as well as the production team. All in all, it's an excellent rendition of The Wall.

Wow! I've been a Pink Floyd fan for many years and have listened to a few bootlegged shows of Pink Floyd, but NOTHING can compare to Is There Anybody Out There: The Wall Live. This is a CD which can be listened to without pause; every song is necessary in order to understand the story behind The Wall. Roger Waters' magical lyrics shine in each song and Dave Gilmour's blazing guitar work has never been better. Listening to the solos in Comfortably Numb and Mother made me feel like I was watching Gilmour playing a-top the wall. If you've never heard of Pink Floyd, purchase this album. If you're already a Floyd fan, purchase this album. I highly reccomend the limited edition box set - it comes with a hardcover booklet with pictures and commentary from Waters, Gilmour, Wright and Mason. A must in any music collection.

I too was waiting for a live album with Dave Gilmore and Roger Waters and this one does not disappoint. I love the live version of "Young Lust", its so much better than the studio. The harmonies in "Comfortably Numb" give the song much more feeling than on the studio album. I also thought the extended guitar parts on "Mother" are sweet. All and all, I like the live version as much or maybe alittle more than the studio version.

As far as the sound quality goes, I found it to be very good on some parts and not so good on others. For example, both "Comfortably Numb" and "Mother" have a weird buzzing sound during most of the song that I think draws you away from the song. On the other hand "Run Like Hell" and "Young Lust" sound awsome, better than any live recording I have heard. I just wish that they could have used a different Master for both "Comfortably Numb" and "Mother" since they are two of my favorite songs.

Despite the couple lapses in sound quality this album gets FIVE BIG STARS FROM ME!

In general, studio albums sound better than live concert albums, and this is no exception. There are many reviews here that say this live version is better than the studio version of "The Wall." While this sounds excellent, and it is natural to be very enthusiastic about a live performance as great as this one, I strongly disagree that it makes for better listening than than the studio album. I would rather listen to "The Wall" anyday! However, this is a superb live concert recording and it is well worth having because the concert event for The Wall is legendary in rock annals, and, after all, this is Pink Floyd - and they sound great! It's very good to hear Roger Waters giving it his all, and David Gilmour's guitar solos on "Mother" and "Comfortably Numb" are the very stuff that rock guitar legends are made of.

I always love reading 1 star reviews. They have NO idea how hard it was in 1979 to recreate what was done in the studio. Using tape loops were incredibly difficult as well as the multitrack instruments. The Floyd delivered the goods on this tour!!!!! As for MLOR, Pulse, the Division Bell, and Delicate Sound of Thunder... They are good in their own right but the songs you really want to here were mostly written by Roger.