Search - Hawkwind :: Live in 1979

Worth Getting for Hawkwind Fans

Eric DiStefano | 11/18/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I delayed getting this one because someone made reference to it being covered in "Complete 79." Well, I did not do a side-by-side check for duplication, but the production quality is significantly higher than Complete 79 (which I still also recommend because it has so much more). Glad I got it. Complaints about early cut-of of Silver Machine are unfounded; I thought it an acceptable message that they were done playing that tune for a while. Besides, crank the explosion up a bit and enjoy the rumbling thunder."

Hawkwind - 'Live '79' (Griffin)

Mike Reed | USA | 06/30/2005

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Not as good as their 'Complete '79' 2-CD import(see my review).This 'Live '79' is more or less an edited version of the 'Complete '79' although I doubt the two releases come from the same gig.'Live '79' is more polished sounding.Vocalist/frontman Bob Calvert(R.I.P.)does a good job with these tunes.Two I liked the best were "Spirit Of The Age" and ex-Gong member Tim Blake's "Lighthouse"."Brainstorm" is okay,but it shouldn't be played without Nik Turner.Something I even had a chance to ask current HW drummer Richard Chadwick about(Dave Brock wasn't available at the time)is what's the deal with "Silver Machine" being snipped off after a few minutes?"

Not an essential Hawkwind live album.

R. Recchia | blodgett mills, ny | 10/17/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Of all the live albums that Hawkwind have released (which almost outnumbers their studio albums!), I would have to say this is one of their weaker ones. It is a very good SOUNDING live album. The band sound very energetic and inspired, and I really admire Tim Blake's synthesizer work. The main problem is that the studio versions of most of these songs are much better than these live versions, particularly.....



....." Master of the Universe ", which like most live versions of this song is taken too fast. I don't care for Bainbridge's bass playing on it, but even worse is Brock's vocal...and I usually love Brock's singing! Better off with the original studio version from In Search Of Space. I don't like Brock's singing on " Brainstorm ", either....it is almost enough to make me miss Nik Turner!



The album does get off to a great start, however, with Steve Swindell's high energy, heavy , nearly punk hard rocker " Shot Down In The Night ". I love Dave Brock's vocal on this and Bainbridge's bass playing and I love the song's vocal melody and overall energy. Tuneful, powerful, GREAT! The version of "Motorway City", isn't that bad, though I prefer the studio version from Levitation...I think it has much better drumming on it....Simon King, as good as he is, is no Ginger Baker!



The rest of this is just so-so. They've done much better. For live albums, you are better off with Space Ritual Live, The Business Trip, California Brainstorm and Palace Springs."