Comments & Questions about Cleveland, OH 4-20-80

[PenguinHead]

This show is currently being made available. I've downloaded and listened to the first half. Here is my question:

I've always wondered about this show. The "Live" album lists that "Not That Funny," "Go Your Own Way," and "I'm So Afraid" are from this show. Yet, in the tour list, there is no Cleveland show. The closest thing is two shows in Richfield, OH on May 20-21. The Cleveland show posted online as May 20. So is Richfield, perhaps a suburb, just being referenced as Cleveland?


Here are my comments:
Regardless...since this show was obviously recorded professionally for the impending Live album, the sound is great!!

For all the sweetening that was done on the tracks, it was nice to hear that "Not That Funny" sounds amazingly similar to the released version. The only difference is that Mick's pointless drum solo at the end of the song was wisely edited out. I haven't heard the other two songs to make a comparison.

The previous four months of touring really show this band at it's most aggressive and confident peak. This is not The Dance. This is five road warriors on fire. The songs are performed with rock and roll grit. It's great! Lindsey plays his guitar like a madman. Their performance of "The Chain" is extreme...the ending guitar jam goes on and on in maniac fashion, predating his solo on "Come."

Stevie, though, is in a very peculiar "state of mind." Perhaps she was just bored singing the songs the same way night after night, but her renditions don't enhance the performances in any positive way. She strays a lot from the recorded versions, which could be a good thing, but not here.

Her phrasing is off all over the place. Granted, she takes some adventurous chances, but it comes off as odd, sloppy and inaccessible. -- much like she did on the Rock A Little tour. And she mostly just blurts out the lyrics in a very monotone voice. She sings "Dreams" and "Sara" like you never heard before (and wouldn't want to hear again.) I'm glad she eventually abandoned this approach.

Still, I love this very energized show! So happy that it's being shared for ardent fans to enjoy. It's an amazing representation of the band at that point in time.