favorite favorite favorite favorite

So this week our journey takes us back to Philly in 1982. What a killer time this show must have been live. I mean that. From the opening riff of CRS you can tell right away something is just ever so slightly different this evening. Within a few tunes you can tell there is a funky little up-tempo thing that gives this performance a great feel and wonderful energy. Another surprise in the bag-o-tricks from the early eighties.



So we begin with CRS>Promised Land, and like I said earlier right away you can hear the little bit o funk throughout. Very mellow and very happening way to begin the performance. I love it when my first impression of the show is how tight the boys sound – and they definitely do here. Very nice opening combo and both Bobby and Jerry’s vocals sound very smooth this evening. Sweeet..Next up is the unlikely combo of Candyman > C.C. Rider, and even more unlikely is the fact that I really dug it. Of course Candyman(especially on a great vocal night), but CC? Really? Yes really – this has to be amongst the best versions of this little tune I have ever heard. I do not like this song and generally make no bones about it. This however, is both inspired and not overdone as usual. I think this tune is like a steak – overdone it sucks, and generally speaking Bobby leaves this one on the grill waaay too long. Tonight however, this is not the case. Shockingly good job Bob…BEW comes next, and even for being a tad quick and not so inspired, it still was enjoyable. Mama Tried>Mexicali was really the first point in the show I was not overly impressed, but hey – shit happens. These two just didn’t do it for me. They made up for it instantly though, with a fine Big RxR. These early eighties versions of this tune are starting to grow on me. Rock star Bobby pops up next with a full on LLR. Great job dude – like youre gonna have a problem getting laid after a performance like that….One of my personal favs, Jack-a-Roe comes along next and keeps this good-timey-upbeat-funked out first set a rollin… Wonderful cowboyness and great soloing by Jerome. All Over Now and Might as Well round out the first set, and both are killer. Wow, those two were good, really f’ing good. I did not even bother to write as to not interrupt the sweetness that was coming out of the speakers. That’s it for the first set and once again, I am surprised by another early eighties show. Nothing mind-blowing going on here so far, but that does not detract from the overall awesomeness of the first set. Enthusiasm, charisma, and a funky uptempo setlist make for a great listen so far.



I am going to separate the second set into two parts, as it is one extended jam. The first part, Shakedown>Sailor>Saint>Terrapin, starts kinda mundane but builds momentum rather quickly. The classic Shakedown riff is taken to the top shelf about the midway point, as Jerry and brent do some really nice extended trading. A quick note about Brent this evening – his levels are just exactly perfect. I think he sounds best when he is beneath, not on top of Jerry. There is a nice transition into Sailor which I suppose is done about as good as it could be, yet I am no judge for this tune. I almost always bump it. I have since I first bought Go To Heaven in 1989. Saint was pretty good as well and I enjoiyed Terrapin. Kinda funny – Jerry sounds a little winded during the chorus the second time around, and that is really the only time during the whole show I noticed a little possible fatigue from the fat man. Drums and Space break right into a whistle blowin “sex change” version of Truckin’ which was extremely well done. This was a small peek into the barnburning TOO that followed. I have to say, I think this TOO is amongst the best early 80’s versions I have heard as well. Hot freakin tamale right here with a sweet trasition into a tearjerking Dew. Unbelievably good right here – goosebump style. Sugarmags wound this little monster nice and tight for a gigantic finish. Baby Blue sounded unbelievably good this evening as the encore and that is that.



OK, so this one done and I loved it. I absolutely recommend this show and I think its one of the better ones from ’82 I have heard. I give this performance an A, and its just a great show. Fun as hell, uptempo first set just a lil’ funked out, and a very solid second set. I think they were very tight, and Jerry’s vocals sounded remarkable to me for 1982. A fine selction for an official release, especially if the sound is an upgrade to the Miller remaster I listened to.

- December 13, 2012Funked Out Hot Tamale