Search - Aerosmith :: Classics Live

Memories of early concert fan.

S. Johnson | California, USA | 04/19/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Well the first time I bought classics live was on cassette in 1979. It was the first year I drove a car and put in my first car stereo with a cassette deck. I first saw Aerosmith at Day on the Green in the summer of 1978. I remember how Steven Tyler and Joe Perry seemed to dominate the stage and reach out to the Audience. The closing was Dream On and I don't think Steven Tyler was all together in his mind, I think the reefer smoke from the audience had gone to his head. I really enjoyed the other bands who opened the show, but by the time Aerosmith got through their first set, fans were ready to go home after being in the sun all day."

CLASSICS LIVE

Jonathan W. Cardwell | Cape Girardeau, MO | 02/13/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This CD features Aerosmith at their most slick-sounding and consistently rhythmic; the opening "Train Kept A Rollin'" is their most moving version of this song (it's also featured on Get Your Wings and Live Bootleg among others) and the next song "Kings and Queens" - along with #4 "Dream On" - is melodic and melancholly. "Sweet Emotion" is superbly performed, perhaps not any more so than any of their other versions (from Toys In The Attic or Live Bootleg or a half dozen other albums...) but, as said before, it's the most slick sounding version in their career back catalogue. The "side 2" (as is on the cassette version - which was the 1st type I bought...) isn't quite as good, and if you've listened to this CD a few times already, you might find tracks 5-8 pretty boring actually. But it's good kickin' noise to have in the background if you can't stand the oh so terrible silence (whatever!)...; in my opinion "Major Barbara" falls short of the expectations prompted from the lyrics...unless you have a photographic memory, you might go back to that song thinking it's gonna be a tragic-weepytype song, but you'll be disappointed (if you have any taste, that is...). I agree with one or more reviewer(s), that CL#2 is quite better...I'll review that another time."

Sentimental rating, but there are unique, legendary things h

Brad | 02/21/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The MP3 songs sound great, but my copy of this on cassette has long since vanished, so I couldn't tell you how the digitized versions compare (at least until my purchase of the old vinyl version arrives). I remember picking this one up in the $3 bargin bin back in '86, and it's one of those tapes that stuck with me until cassette players became obsolete in the early 90's.



As far as I know, you can't find the amazingly good song that is "Kings And Queens" anywhere else. And if you're at least a 70's Aerosmith fan, how sad for you, that you've been denied that tune for this much of your life, if you haven't heard it.



I'm not so sure I'd consider their performance here "sloppy," other than some hard to hit notes and off-key singing briefly at times, by Steve.



The versions here are excellent, energetic, raw, and recorded in their prime when these songs were at the peak of their popularity, versus the over-done classic rock radio staples they are today (at least as far as Sweet Emotion and Dream On are considered).



Joe Perry and Brad make this album what it is, they are tight and perform to their usual standards. But here you get to actually listen to them play, versus listening to them being funneled through various digital effects and dubs you do today in their older age.



I guess I'm a big fan of Mama Kin, Lord Of The Thighs, and prefer the older classics like Dream On and Sweet Emotion, so this one appeals to me. And there is nothing wrong with Three Mile Smile/Reefer Headed Woman, or Major Barbara either, fun, catchy, but complex hard rock-blues at it's finest. Again just some rare tunes you don't hear very often, or can't find anywhere today by them, from their best era.



It sounds great and like most Live Aerosmith, a great party album.







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