SirAlex's Full Review: Classics Live II by Aerosmith
(Edited 5-29-00)
This album has a great selection of 8 Aerosmith songs and is a welcome addition to anyone's music collection. Six of these songs were recorded on New Years Eve in 1984 at the gig where Aerosmith signed their record deal with Geffen Records. So, there's a bit of history to these recordings. If those songs were enough to impress record executives that the band deserved a second chance, I’m sure you’ll agree that this CD is worth the ten dollars. This album earns 5 enthusiastic stars from me. My only complaint is that the two Classics Live albums should have been released as a two CD set or on one CD. With the space available on CDs, this would have been a good strategy.
Like their first live album, Live Bootleg, Aerosmith starts Classic Live 2 with “Back in the Saddle”. This lusty cowboy song has always been a crowd favorite and serves as a great opener for the CD. Steven Tyler leads the audience in singing “Happy Birthday” to bassist Tom Hamilton before the band launches into an explosive “Walk This Way”. The first song that Steven Tyler and Joe Perry ever wrote together, “Movin’ Out” is the third song. A heavy version of “Draw the Line” closes out the first side. This was recorded live early in 1978. Even when the band was falling apart in every way, they were still a great live band.
The 1974 classic “Same Old Song and Dance” opens the second half of the album. It rocks much harder here than on the studio version. One of the band’s best songs, “Last Child” is scorching when played live. The real gem of this compilation is “Let the Music Do the Talking”. This song is a must listen as this is the only live version of this song available. The album closes with “Toys in the Attic”. This song has an awesome guitar riff and a fierce rhythm that lends itself very well to the live setting.
Buy this album. Buy the other Classics Live album, too. I can't say any more than that. These are some of the best versions of Aerosmith’s 1970s material available. A Little South of Sanity (a live compilation of the band’s 80s and 90s material) doesn’t compare to the two Classics Live albums. Rock on!!!!
Song Selection:
1. Back in the Saddle (originally on Rocks)
2. Walk this Way (originally on Toys in the Attic)
3. Movin' Out (originally on Aerosmith)
4. Draw the Line (originally on Draw the Line)
5. Same Old Song and Dance (originally on Get Your Wings)
6. Last Child (originally on Rocks)
7. Let the Music Do the Talking (originally on Done With Mirrors)
8. Toys in the Attic (originally on Toys in the Attic)
Top picks: Walk This Way, Movin’ Out, Last Child, Let the Music Do the Talking
Band Members:
Steven Tyler: vocals
Joe Perry: guitars, vocals
Brad Whitford: guitars
Tom Hamilton: bass
Joey Kramer: drums
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