SirAlex's Full Review: Pandora's Box [Box] by Aerosmith
Back in 1991 a three CD compilation of one of the most important bands in rock and roll history was released. It was called Pandora’s Box and chronicles Aerosmith’s career with Columbia records from 1973 to 1982. This set has everything that an Aerosmith addict requires, their best songs, unreleased songs, demos, and several live tracks. There is also a very thorough booklet featuring dozens of pictures, lyrics, a story behind each song as told by the band, and a comprehensive history of Aerosmith’s early years. Although I own all of Aerosmith’s albums, this is one of my favorite releases by the band. I highly recommend it for every fan of Aerosmith or rock and roll in general.
Disc 1
Song Selection:
1. When I Needed You (originally released as single by the band Chain Reaction)
2. Make It (from Aerosmith)
3. Movin’ Out (alternate version, original version found on Aerosmith)
4. One Way Street (from Aerosmith)
5. On the Road Again (previously unreleased)
6. Mama Kin (from Aerosmith)
7. Same Old Song and Dance (from Get Your Wings)
8. Train Kept a Rollin’ (from Get Your Wings)
9. Seasons of Wither (from Get Your Wings)
10. Write Me a Letter (live, studio version found on Aerosmith)
11. Dream On (from Aerosmith)
12. Pandora’s Box (from Get Your Wings)
13. Rattlesnake Shake (live, previously unreleased)
14. Walkin’ the Dog (live, studio version found on Aerosmith)
15. Lord of the Thighs (live, studio version found on Get Your Wings)
Top picks: One Way Street, Train Kept a Rollin, Seasons of Wither, Dream On, Rattlesnake Shake
Songs to skip: When I Needed You
This CD is a good representation of the band’s first two albums, plus some live tracks from before they were famous. “Rattlesnake Shake” is a brilliant ten-minute live jam. This song and “Walkin’ the Dog” were recorded live in 1971. So, nearly thirty years ago the band still was able to catch that live groove. “One Way Street” is still one of my favorite Aerosmith songs and features one of my favorite guitar solos of all time. There’s also a few classic Aerosmith tunes such as “Dream On”, “Train Kept a Rollin’”, and “Same Old Song and Dance”.
“On the Road Again” features some interesting guitar interplay between Joe Perry and Brad Whitford. This blues influenced rocker is very reminiscent of the material on the band’s first album. Most interesting to note on this CD is the first song. “When I Needed You” is a Steven Tyler composition dating back to before he helped form Aerosmith. It was recorded with his old band, Chain Reaction way back in October of 1966!
Disc 2
Song Selection:
1. Toys in the Attic (from Toys in the Attic)
2. Round and Round (from Toys in the Attic)
3. Krawhitham (previously unreleased)
4. You See Me Crying (from Toys in the Attic)
5. Sweet Emotion (from Toys in the Attic)
6. No More No More (from Toys in the Attic)
7. Walk This Way (from Toys in the Attic)
8. I Wanna Know Why (live, studio version found on Draw the Line)
9. Big Ten Inch Record (live, studio version found on Toys in the Attic)
10. Rats in the Cellar (from Rocks)
11. Last Child (alternate version, original version found on Rocks)
12. All Your Love (previously unreleased)
13. Soul Saver (previously unreleased)
14. Nobody’s Fault (from Rocks)
15. Lick and a Promise (from Rocks)
16. Adam’s Apple (live, studio version found on Toys in the Attic)
17. Draw the Line (remix, original version found on Draw the Line)
18. Critical Mass (from Draw the Line)
Top picks: Krawhitham, Big Ten Inch Record, All Your Love, Walk This Way, Sweet Emotion, Last Child, Lick and a Promise
Songs to Skip: none
This is my favorite CD of the three in the set. Disc 2 features some of Aerosmith’s best songs from one of their most successful periods of time. It contains the hits “Sweet Emotion”, “Walk This Way”, and “Last Child”. The version of “Last Child” is particularly good here, and it contains a guitar solo at the end of song, which is missing from the album version (this version is similar to the one heard on A Little South of Sanity). Four of my favorites are on here, “No More No More”, “Rats in the Cellar”, “Lick and a Promise”, and “Critical Mass”.
“Krawhitham” is an incredible instrumental tune composed by Joey Kramer, Brad Whitford, and Tom Hamilton (combine the first letters of their last names to derive the title of the song). This was recording during the Draw the Line sessions when Joe Perry and Steven Tyler’s drug addictions caused them to barely leave their bedrooms. “Soul Saver” is the beginnings of “Nobody’s Fault”, which is the band’s way of showing how a song evolves. “All Your Love” is a stunning blues song that was recorded for Draw the Line but was never included on that album. “Milkcow Blues” made it to the album instead. “Big Ten Inch Record” is scorching in this live version, featuring guitar solos from both guitarists and a Steven Tyler harmonica solo.
Disc 3
Song Selection:
1. Kings and Queens (live, studio version found on Draw the Line)
2. Milkcow Blues (from Draw the Line)
3. I Live in Connecticut (previously unreleased)
4. Three Mile Smile (from Night in the Ruts)
5. Let it Slide (previously unreleased)
6. Cheese Cake (from Night in the Ruts)
7. Bone to Bone (from Night in the Ruts)
8. No Surprize (from Night in the Ruts)
9. Come Together (from Greatest Hits)
10. Downtown Charlie (previously unreleased)
11. Sharpshooter (from the album Whitford/St. Holmes)
12. Sh*t House Shuffle (previously unreleased)
13. South Station Blues (from the Joe Perry Project album I’ve Got the Rock & Rolls Again)
14. Riff & Roll (previously unreleased)
15. Jailbait (from Rock in a Hard Place)
16. Major Barbara (alternate version, original version found on Classics Live)
17. Chip Away the Stone (from Gems)
18. Helter Skelter (previously unreleased)
19. Back in the Saddle (from Rocks)
20. CircleJerk (previously unreleased)
Top picks: Kings and Queens (live), Major Barbara, Chip Away the Stone, Helter Skelter, Back in the Saddle
Songs to skip: none
There are a lot of songs to be found on this disc. It contains the hits “Kings and Queens”, “Come Together”, and “Back in the Saddle”. A few of my personal favorites are “Major Barbara”, “Three Mile Smile”, and “Cheese Cake”. “I Live in Connecticut”, “Let it Slide”, and “Sh*t House Shuffle” are all instrumental demos that became the songs “Three Mile Smile”, “Cheese Cake”, and “South Station Blues” respectively. “Downtown Charlie” is a hilarious drunken jam. “Riff & Roll” is a leftover song from the Rock in a Hard Place era that band never released. It does sound a bit unfinished, but is still a great rock song.
“Sharpshooter” is a song that Brad Whitford wrote the music to and was released on an album he recorded after he quit the band in 1980. Whitford’s songwriting partner on the album was Derek St. Holmes from Ted Nugent’s band. The song has some cliched rock and roll lyrics, but the music (particularly Whitford’s solo) is quite good. During the years 1980 and 1984 the Joe Perry Project released three albums. “South Station Blues” was the last song on their second album. The strength of the music on these two songs shows what a vital part of the Aerosmith sound the guitar duo is.
“Helter Skelter” is a previously unreleased cover of the Beatles classic. “CircleJerk” is another Brad Whitford, Tom Hamilton, and Joey Kramer composition from the period of time where drug addictions were breaking up the band.
I really enjoy this box set, and have listened to it countless times. There are very few bands that could release a box set that I would want to buy, and obviously Aerosmith is one of them. The number of unreleased songs and alternate versions of released songs make this one of those must-haves. You can trace the path their career in the 70s took, from humble beginnings to conquering the world. Also, it chronicles their break up, but as we all know the band became one of the most popular bands in the world again following their reunion in 1985. If you are a fan of old school Aerosmith, or 70s rock in general, you would not be disappointed with this box set.
Band Members:
Steven Tyler: vocals, acoustic guitar, keyboards, piano, wood flute, harmonica, and percussion
Joe Perry: lead, rhythm, slide, 6 string and 12 string guitars, 6 six string bass, vocals
Brad Whitford: lead, rhythm, and acoustic guitars
Tom Hamilton: bass
Joey Kramer: drums, percussion
Jimmy Crespo: guitars
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