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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A top-notch live album, May 9, 2005
'86-97 Live' is a great live effort by the band Warrant. This live release was recorded on the tour for the 1996 studio album, 'Belly to Belly.' The precise show was November 22, 1996 at Harpos in Detroit, MI. The line-up here includes core members Jani Lane (vocals), Jerry Dixon (bass) and Erik Turner (rhythm guitar). They are supported by Rick Steier on lead guitar, Bobby Borg on drums and Danny Wagner on keyboards.
There are sixteen tracks in all, including an unlisted intro. Considering it is the new cd they were promoting at the time, it is natural to see four cuts from 'Belly to Belly.' Every studio album Warrant had put out to this point gets represented, including 'Dog Eat Dog' (two songs) and 'Ultraphobic' (one song). As expected, the big hits are all here. Due to the inclusion of newer material, you don't see too many album tracks mined from the first two releases Warrant did, on Columbia. '86-97 Live' gives the listener a more complete retrospective of the career of Warrant. It shows the group had a lot more than two good albums (or songs) in their arsenal.
This is a suitable alternative to having a set list heavily relying on two albums from the past, without ever looking forward to the present (or future). The safer approach would have been to pack on songs like "Bed of roses", "Big talk" or "Blind faith" but the band didn't want to take the easy way out. Meanwhile, die-hard fans who have been with Warrant through thick and thin reap the benefits by hearing fresh new cuts (from 1996) and lesser played, more recently released material (from 1992 and 1995).
The album was issued on a renegade label, CMC International (now owned by Sanctuary Records). The packaging here is excellent, with a collage of photos (mostly old ones featuring departed members). A complete discography, to that point, which includes band lineups, release dates and the label for each release is included in the sleeve. While most fans buying this know what albums Warrant has released, it is still a nice surprise to see them listed inside, who played on them, what year they came out and on what label.
Now to the music. Warrant is in fine form during this show. The band plays with a lot of energy and Jani Lane is very animated during his stage raps. The high water marks include the extended drum solo by Bobby Borg which closes out "Family Picnic" and leads into "Machine Gun." Borg's drumming is top-notch throughout the show and his departure was felt by Warrant on later releases, which featured inferior drummers. The new songs taken from 'Belly to Belly' go over very well in a live setting and blend in better than expected with the popular tunes. These newer cuts include "AYM", "Feels good", "Indian giver" and "Vertigo." As you might guess, the show closer is "Cherry Pie" and Warrant turns in a blistering, extended version of this hit song. The track listing here is perfect. Having this album taken from one show is good, for the sake of continuity. Everything here flows very smoothly.
There isn't a lot to be disappointed about here, but a few things could be brought up. Jani Lane curses excessively throughout this live album, to the point where it sounds contrived. Lane even curses during "I saw red" and "Heaven", two of their power ballads. A couple of the songs are severely shortened. "Heaven" and "Sometimes she cries" are reduced to two-minute versions and missing entire sections from the original studio cuts. Warrant just breezes right through these two staples of their catalog as part of a medley. The last thing is that the intro to the concert is not listed as a track. "Down Boys" is the first cut listed on the rear of this album, but it doesn't really start up until track two.
If you are a fan of Warrant, you will be very pleased with this set, '86-97 Live.' It is their only official live album to date, which makes it all the more an essential purchase.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
I know a secret that I just can't tell..., September 24, 2002
This album is not the disaster that everyone seems to make it out to be. Most of Warrant's classics are present here, as are some new tunes. I've seen Warrant live twice and I'll have you know this live album brought back some great memories. I won't go track by track, but I will tell you my favorites. Uncle Tom's Cabin is a bad ass rock song, hands down my favorite Warrant song. Cherry Pie, 32 Pennies, and DRFSR are all great live, as are their ballads. The guitar work is awesome on this album, its nice to hear some deviation from the studio versions. The drumming also injects new life into the songs, as many of the beats and fills are spiced up. Some people are complaining that they don't do the full versions of some songs. Quit your damn whining and enjoy this kickass, energetic live album!
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Another great live album from another underrated band, January 28, 2005
First of all, let me start off by saying that I am a big music fan, and I really like live albums. I also have a big CD collection, and there is one band who, even though they had success in the late 80's through the early 90's, they were still a bit underrated. That band was Warrant. They should have been bigger than they were. So while there is a good collection of Warrant albums still out there, it is great to see that Warrant has released a live album-"Warrant Live:1986-1997". A lot of the songs on here are songs that originally appeared on Warrant's first three albums("Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinking Rich", "Cherry Pie", and "Dog Eat Dog") and some stuff that was more recent at the time this album was released are included here also. Warrant classics such as "Cherry Pie", "Down Boys", among others, are on this album, which proves that if you like Warrant,then you will like this album. There are only a few things I was dissapointed about after I heard this album, and other than the facts that this album is missing the Warrant classics "Bed of Roses", "Mr. Rainmaker", and "Sure Feels Good To Me" and the fact that Warrant did not do the full-length version of every song that was recorded live for this album, this is still very good, and it remains an album Warrant fans or fans of live albums should check out. Also, if you enjoyed this album, here are a few other live albums I recommend you check out:
KISS-The "Alive" trilogy
Slaughter- "Eternal Live"
Aerosmith-"A Little South of Sanity"
Guns 'n Roses-"Live Era 87-93"
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