Live Stiffs Live

Live Stiffs Live
Live Stiffs Live
Live album by various artists
Released	17 February 1978
Recorded	3 October – 5 November 1977
Venue	University of East Anglia, Leicester University, and Lyceum London
Genre	Rock, new wave
Label	Stiff
Producer	Tim Summerhayes, Mick Crickmer
Stiff Record Compilations chronology
Music for Pleasure re-issue cover

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	^[1]
Christgau's Record Guide	B+^[2]

Live Stiffs Live is a live album released in 1978 by Stiff Records.^[2] It compiles concert performances by several of the record label's artists recorded during the "Live Stiffs Tour", which ran from 3 October to 5 November 1977.^[3]

Songs

Among the recording artists featured on the album are Elvis Costello and the Attractions, Ian Dury & the Blockheads, Nick Lowe, Wreckless Eric, and Larry Wallis. The album opens with tour MC (and later Clash road manager) Kosmo Vinyl calling audience members away from the bar and introducing the first act as "Nick Lowe's Led Zeppelin". The final cut of the album is a performance of Ian Dury's hit, "Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll" performed by all of the tour's artists and crew.

Release

The album has various names from Stiffs Live Stiffs, Stiffs Live and Live Stiffs. The correct name of the original Stiff Records release on 17 February 1978 was Live Stiffs Live.^[4] The album was later re-issued on Music for Pleasure (MFP 50445) as simply Live Stiffs.^[4]

The album entered the UK Albums Chart on 11 March 1980, eventually peaking at number 28.^[5]

Live Stiffs Live was later released by Demon Records on CD in 1994 (Demon 621) and re-released in 1997 (Edsel 621 & Diablo Records 851).^[6]

Critical reception

Reviewing in Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies (1981), Robert Christgau wrote:

"Elvis the C provides a brand new existentialist pronunciamento, 'I Just Don't Know What to Do With Myself,' but the real threat there is Nick Lowe's 'Let's Eat,' which garnishes a hot-and-greasy Mitch Ryder organ pump with lyrics like 'I wanna move move move move move my teeth' and 'Let's buy two and get one for free.' Filling out the good side are 'I Knew the Bride' (Lowe's answer to 'You Never Can Tell'), Larry Wallis's 'Police Car' (grand theft automatic), and two cuts by Wreckless Eric that seem unlikely to be eclipsed by their studio versions. Unfortunately, Costello's live 'Miracle Man' and the three Ian Dury performances were eclipsed before they came out."^[2]

In a retrospective review, AllMusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine said "the entire record captures the wild, careening spirit of Stiff — it's fun, trashy rock & roll."^[1]

Track listing

Side one

"I Knew the Bride" (Nick Lowe) - Nick Lowe's Last Chicken in the Shop - 3.25
"Let's Eat" (Lowe) - Nick Lowe's Last Chicken in the Shop - 2.44
"Semaphore Signals" (Wreckless Eric) - Wreckless Eric & the New Rockets - 3.25
"Reconnez Cherie" (Eric) - Wreckless Eric & the New Rockets - 3.45
"Police Car" (Larry Wallis) - Larry Wallis' Psychedelic Rowdies - 3.59

Side two

"I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself" (Burt Bacharach, Hal David) - Elvis Costello & the Attractions - 2.27
"Miracle Man" (Elvis Costello) - Elvis Costello & the Attractions - 3.56
"Billericay Dickie" (Ian Dury) - Ian Dury & the Blockheads - 4.24
"Wake Up & Make Love with Me" (Dury) - Ian Dury & the Blockheads - 3.32
"Sex Drugs Rock & Roll & Chaos" (Dury) - All artists - 5.41

Personnel

Nick Lowe's Last Chicken in the Shop (side one, tracks 1 & 2)

Nick Lowe - bass, vocals
Larry Wallis - guitar
Terry Williams - drums
Pete Thomas - drums
Dave Edmunds - guitar
Penny Tobin - keyboards

Wreckless Eric & the New Rockets (side one, tracks 3 & 4)

Wreckless Eric - guitar, vocals
Davey Payne - saxophone
Denise Roudette - bass
Ian Dury - drums

Larry Wallis' Psychedelic Rowdies (side one, track 5)

Larry Wallis - guitar, vocals
Nick Lowe - bass
Penny Tobin - keyboards
Terry Williams - drums
Pete Thomas - drums

Elvis Costello & the Attractions (side two, tracks 1 & 2)

Elvis Costello - vocals, guitar
Steve Nieve - keyboards
Bruce Thomas - bass
Pete Thomas - drums

Ian Dury & the Blockheads (side two, tracks 3 & 4)

Ian Dury - vocals
John Turnbull - guitar
Charley Charles - drums
Norman Watt-Roy - bass
Chaz Jankel - guitar
Mickey Gallagher - keyboards
Davey Payne - saxophone

References

^ ^a ^b Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. Live Stiffs Live at AllMusic
^ ^a ^b ^c Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: S". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved March 13, 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
^ Balls, Richard (2000). Sex & Drugs & Rock'N'Roll: The Life of Ian Dury (1st ed.). London: Omnibus Press. pp. 176–184. ISBN 0-7119-8644-4.
^ ^a ^b "Stiff discography". Stiff Records. Archived from the original on 2011-07-16. Retrieved 2010-01-24.
^ "Stiffs Live Stiffs". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 2018-02-22.
^ Allmusic Review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine Retrieved 25 February 2009

[AM-1] Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. Live Stiffs Live at AllMusic

[CG-2] Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: S". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved March 13, 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.

[3] Balls, Richard (2000). Sex & Drugs & Rock'N'Roll: The Life of Ian Dury (1st ed.). London: Omnibus Press. pp. 176–184. ISBN 0-7119-8644-4.

[Stiff-4] "Stiff discography". Stiff Records. Archived from the original on 2011-07-16. Retrieved 2010-01-24.

[5] "Stiffs Live Stiffs". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 2018-02-22.

[6] Allmusic Review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine Retrieved 25 February 2009

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v t e Elvis Costello
Discography The Imposters: Steve Nieve Pete Thomas Davey Faragher The Attractions: Steve Nieve Pete Thomas Bruce Thomas
Studio albums	My Aim Is True This Year's Model Armed Forces Get Happy!! Trust Almost Blue Imperial Bedroom Punch the Clock Goodbye Cruel World King of America Blood & Chocolate Spike Mighty Like a Rose The Juliet Letters Brutal Youth Kojak Variety All This Useless Beauty Painted from Memory When I Was Cruel North Il Sogno The Delivery Man The River in Reverse Momofuku Secret, Profane & Sugarcane National Ransom Wise Up Ghost Look Now Hey Clockface The Boy Named If
Live albums	Live at the El Mocambo Deep Dead Blue Costello & Nieve My Flame Burns Blue Live at Hollywood High
Compilations	Taking Liberties Ten Bloody Marys & Ten How's Your Fathers The Best of Elvis Costello and the Attractions The Man Out of Our Idiot Girls Girls Girls 2½ Years The Very Best of Elvis Costello and The Attractions 1977–86 Extreme Honey Costello Album (bootleg) The Very Best of Elvis Costello Cruel Smile The Best of Elvis Costello: The First 10 Years The Songs of Bacharach & Costello
Singles	"Less Than Zero" "Alison" "(The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes" "Watching the Detectives" "(I Don't Want to Go to) Chelsea" "Pump It Up" "This Year's Girl" "Radio Radio" "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding" "Oliver's Army" "Accidents Will Happen" "I Can't Stand Up for Falling Down" "High Fidelity" "New Amsterdam" "Clubland" "From a Whisper to a Scream" "Watch Your Step" "A Good Year for the Roses" "Sweet Dreams" "You Little Fool" "Man Out of Time" "Everyday I Write the Book" "The Only Flame in Town" "Green Shirt" "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" "I Want You" "Blue Chair" "Veronica" "The Other Side of Summer" "Sulky Girl" "13 Steps Lead Down" "London's Brilliant Parade" "The Other End of the Telescope" "You Bowed Down" "She" "45" "Brilliant Mistake" "Complicated Shadows"
Other songs	"Welcome to the Working Week" "Lipstick Vogue" "Senior Service" "Stranger in the House" "Girls Talk" "Riot Act" "New Lace Sleeves" "Beyond Belief" "Almost Blue" "Shipbuilding" "Indoor Fireworks" "Jack of All Parades" "Suit of Lights" "I Hope You're Happy Now" "Next Time Round"
Collaborations	Terror & Magnificence The Sweetest Punch For the Stars Lost on the River: The New Basement Tapes The Resurrection of Rust
Scores	G.B.H. Jake's Progress A Face in the Crowd
Other works / related articles	Unfaithful Music & Disappearing Ink Live Stiffs Live Now Ain't the Time for Your Tears Bespoke Songs, Lost Dogs, Detours & Rendezvous

v t e The Blockheads
Chaz Jankel Norman Watt-Roy John Turnbull Mick Gallagher Derek Hussey John Roberts Lee Harris Gilad Atzmon Davey Payne Dave Lewis Luke Gallagher Ian Dury Dylan Howe Wilko Johnson
Studio albums	Do It Yourself Laughter Mr. Love Pants Ten More Turnips from the Tip
Live albums	Straight from the Desk
Singles	"What a Waste" "Hit Me with Your Rhythm Stick" "Reasons to Be Cheerful, Part 3" "Sueperman's Big Sister" "Dance Little Rude Boy"
Related articles	Discography Live Stiffs Live

v t e Ian Dury
Studio albums	New Boots and Panties!! Lord Upminster 4,000 Weeks' Holiday Apples The Bus Driver's Prayer & Other Stories
With The Blockheads	Do It Yourself Laughter Mr. Love Pants Straight from the Desk Ten More Turnips from the Tip
With Kilburn & the High Roads	Handsome Wotabunch!
Singles	"Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll" "Sweet Gene Vincent" "What a Waste" "Hit Me with Your Rhythm Stick" "Reasons to Be Cheerful, Part 3" "Sueperman's Big Sister" "Spasticus Autisticus" "Dance Little Rude Boy"
Films	Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll
Related articles	Discography Drip Fed Fred