Sabotage/Live

Artist: John Cale
Label: Diesel Motor
Category: Music

Average customer rating:

Format: Live
Media: Audio CD
Number Of Discs: 1

UPC: 714822930222
EAN: 0714822930222
ASIN: B000040OIQ

Release Date: 2000-07-11

Sabotage/Live

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Tracks:

Mercernaries (Ready For War)
Baby You Know
Evidence
Dr. Mudd
Walkin' The Dog
Captain Hook
Only Time Will Tell
Sabotage
Chorale
Chickenshit
Memphis
Hedda Gabbler
Rosegarden Funeral Of Sores

Customer Reviews:

Cold War Kid.......2007-04-25

Sabotage/Live is a seriously underrated album in Cale's oeuvre. Deranged, paranoid, vicious, dangerous--all these adjectives adequately sum up the songs on one of Cale's most visceral recordings. Think of the whole album as a grim obituary for the cold war era, as many of the songs--"Mercenaries (Ready for War)," "Dr. Mudd," and the elegiac "Chorale" all share a vision of nuclear annihilation. Cale's songs here are timely and--surprisingly--hardly dated at all.

Rock that actually sounds threatening.......2004-10-12

From the opening chords of "Mercenaries (Ready for War)" it's obvious somebody's there to make a point. By the time Cale and his band get to the second piece ("Baby You Know") it's obvious they're not letting up (or letting anybody off the hook easily either--anyone at CBGB that night HAD to listen). Cale's band (Marc Aaron on lead guitar, Joe Bidwell on keyboards, George Scott on bass and Doug Browne on drums) are tight and play as if they're on fire. Cale sounds as if he's trying to devour the mike. His songs are cutting-edge material that explore things we don't like to think about. He doesn't paint pretty pictures but has a sense of humour, albeit a dark one ("my rifle is my friend"?). Not all of the songs are great. The title track is more of a rant with arpeggios than a song. "Dr. Mudd" and "Walkin' the Dog" aren't bad but don't stand well alongside the best works in the set. The best here more than makes up for the weaker spots though. "Mercenaries (Ready for War)" is a chilling and brilliant work. "Baby You Know" subtly suggests an understanding that things didn't have to be grim. The lovely ballad "Only Time Will Tell" is bittersweet and haunting. Deerfrance sings this one beautifully. Her voice isn't strong but it has a ethereal quality that suits the piece. Cale put a viola line into this one that he must have been playing with his heart. "Captain Hook" is a masterpiece on all levels. The song is brilliant piece of writing. The arrangement doesn't have a wasted note and the band executes it magnificently. The lead guitar line Marc Aaron came up with really sounds threatening and ominous. That doesn't happen often enough, at least not in this age of canned product. "Chorale" (intentionally or otherwise) comes off as a sort of a "wake" celebrating the evening. It's the perfect finish.

The extra tracks are a mixed bag that offers an insight into the different styles Cale delves into. Trying to judge any of them as "good" or "bad" is impossible (not many of us really have the vision to fathom all the places where a mind like Cale's will end up). Personally, I enjoyed "Hedda Gabler" and "Memphis", could have done without "Chickenshit" and am still trying to make up my mind about "Rosegarden Funeral of Sores". It has something about it that's intensely interesting.

This live set was a breath of fresh air in 1979 and it still is now. It was well recorded, well played and the material made you think. Its content is valid for all times because it's about things that keep happening. It's raw, raunchy and not always pretty but it's musically solid on all fronts. The sound quality on the reissue is just as good as was on the vinyl.

This is a must for anyone who likes their rock with a bite, a tender heart and a deep intelligence.

Cale goes wild..........2003-03-16

If you like John Cale, and John Cale live with a punk band(and new material) then by all means get this cd! The sound is crisp. The music bombastic and John is at his sneering, nasty best. Note: this also includes the Animal EP as additional tracks.
It is...the perfect cd for the current times with a looming war with Iraq on the horizon "Mercenaries(Ready For War)" is suitably chilling, lyrically. "Captain Hook" which clocks in over 10:00 minutes is jocular. This cd sums up the FEAR, SLOW DAZZLE, and HELEN OF TROY trilogy of mad, erudite, and paranoic Cale compositions. This is a keeper.

sabotage cale's mind.......2000-07-30

this record justifies the beheading of cale's chickens and you can gob on stage and slam dance to this record with regards for your ancestors or any system of belief. keep in mind cale wouldn't want you to.....his band is vegetarian and never forgave him.

Raw and Powerful.......2000-07-22

I saw one critic characterize this as a strange decade late response to Lou Reed's "Rock N Roll Animal". Interesting thought, but whereas Reed relied heavily on Velvet Underground classics and produced a record that sounds hopelessly dated, Cale produced a vibrant and timeless recording of all new material. (To my knowledge, no studio versions of these tracks exist.)

While "Rock N Roll Animal" is a highly polished generic 70's arena rock record, "Sabotage Live" is an honest one take, no overdub blast of sonic fury, gloriously sloppy. This is so raw that Cale stumbles over the spoken word intro to the first song, then blows out his voice screaming during its climax, but just keeps going. All the worts are left in place.

Cale's voice may be shot after that first song, but no matter. His band of young unknowns plays with tremendous energy and his voice, even hoarse, is fully emotive as he delivers his left-wing diatribes. My favorites here are the opening "Mercenaries (Ready for War)", and the slow moody "Captain Hook", a haunting story of the decline of British colonialism. Other highlights are the angry avant-garde title track and Deerfrance's vocal spotlight on "Only Time Will Tell".

The sound quality on my previous edition of this album was quite good, so I assume this version will sound at least as good. (Don't actually have this new edition.) Also, the last four tracks are new for this edition, so I cannot comment on them. (I am wondering if this is the same version of "Hedda Gabler" that turned up on "Seducing Down the Door". . .)

Music Album:

Music Album

Music Album

Music

Sing, Sing, Sing ~ Benny Goodman

Violin ~ Oregon

Love Collection ~ Various Artists

Big Cat 5 ~ Terry Gibbs Dream Band

Kix ~ Kix

Mondo India featuring A.R. Rahman ~ A.R. Rahman, R.D. Burman, Vishal

Traditional Religions: Music & Songs ~ Various Artists

Singa ~ Kaira Ben

Non Mi Dir ~ Adriano Celentano

I.S. ~ Urchin Farm