Obscure labels appear to be falling over themselves to release soundboard FM broadcasts of late and cash in. Bruce Springsteen in particular may be on course to have his whole 1978 American "Darkness on the Edge of Town" tour released in its entirety at the current rate. This Talking Heads live set was recorded on their home turf at The Berklee School of Music, Boston 24th August 1979. FM Broadcast and is a useful addition to a band without a massive "live" back catalogue. It contains a great version of "Psycho Killer", a splendid "The book I read" and a lovely funky "Cities". It captures this unique group in their original four piece and at their peak during the era of "Fear of Music"

There are three problems with this album -

1. Talking Heads released one the greatest live albums/concert films ever in "Stop Making Sense" and it is hard to see how that can ever be surpassed. If you don't own that album, start there and get off this page ASAP

2. The same Berklee concert was released last year in another poor package called "Performance" with possibly one of the worse album covers ever put to print. "Boston Tea Party" mix sounds about the same but it does have the merit for retailing cheaper.

3. This is a bootleg that is readily legally available in the same quality as this recording on the web for download. Go over to Democratic Underground.com and its there a copy waiting if you so desire. "Performance" costs 13 pounds on Amazon and "Boston Tea Party" costs 11 pounds. Some will say that they love a CD in a packaged jewel case and if so go ahead and purchase. Alternatively this reviewer can only echo the words of the Sex Pistols when they asked do you "ever get the feeling you've been cheated"?

Review by Red on Black