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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Three live albums that capture synth pioneer Gary Numan at the peak of his powers, Living Ornaments '79, '80 and '81 - the first two recorded at Hammersmith Odeon, the third an epic ‘farewell’ to the fans staged at Wembley Arena – are triumphant testaments to entertaining rock largesse.
Nothing wrong with ’79, exactly – within, there’s fine takes on early Numan staples "Cars", "Are Friends Electric?", and "M.E". But it’s the other two that ought to be big news for Numan fans. ’80 will spark the plugs of the obsessives: over double the length of the lacklustre ten-track effort that first emerged in the Spring of ’81, it completes the full performance using some recently rediscovered, digitally remastered footage taken direct from the mixing desk. Meanwhile, ‘81 is probably the pick of the bunch. Blessed with an expansive sound, and captured shortly before Numan started to lose control of his unstable muse, it sees him survey the landscape of Replicas, The Pleasure Principle, and Telekon with imperious poise and immaculate showmanship. The only regret is that you can’t see the elaborate stage-set. --Louis Patterson
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I feel compelled to write a review solely based on the review that "dav" wrote regarding this recording. This is the ultimate Numan collectable and serves to complete the documentation of Gary's early touring career from "The Touring Principle" (LO '79), "Teletour" (LO '80), and "Wembley Final" (LO '81) shows.
Living Ornaments 80 is perhaps the best of the three.
Why?...
Although LO '79 is slightly superior in sound quality and dynamic range and LO '81 contains a more varied setlist, the inclusion of a very rare soundboard recording from an alternate show is worth it's weight in gold. I commend Steve Roper (a fan) and Steve Webbon (Beggar's Banquet godhead) for making this recording available to the rest of us.
Now on to the sound quality... 9/10
What do you get for your 10 quid / 19 bucks?
Is this some kind of shoddy bootleg? NO, hardly.
This recording is clearly a soundboard recording of a vocal monitor mix. This is probably Gary's stage monitor that was recorded to check after the shows to verify cues and evaluate the band performance. The vocals are very much in the "front" of the mix and the audience levels are subdued. There is very little in the way of tape hiss and only minor occassional distortion from Gary's mic levels - keep in mind that this show was not recorded for the intent of a mass release. No RAK mobile or multitrack recording gear. This is what makes this a "true" live album. There are no re-recordings or overdubs. If you don't enjoy this recording, you most likely would have left the show early. Inclusion of "Telekon" and "Stories" are rare live gems.
Illegal?
Hardly. I'm certain BB owns these recordings and that Gary will collect royalties on this release just as Bauhaus has on the "Shadow of Light" DVD release. Does Gary like it? Who knows? Only Gary can tell us. Given the fact that he has focused largely on his newer material lately ("Sacrifice" - "Jagged") and doesn't go for the nostalgia kick, probably not. Does this invalidate the recording? - No. Still, Gary appreciates the fact that many of his fans have been with him for 25+ years (hence the "Mini Teletour" scheduled for Dec '06).
Micromusic?
Who owns this thing anyway? Clearly Steve Webbon and Beggar's owns the audio (LO '81 is a direct dub from the video master). Still the video has not been released on DVD. Presumably Gary owns the video rights, unless Copolla and Zoetrope Films still owns it. Who knows? I appeal to whoever owns it, please release this on DVD before the 25 year old masters get "lost" or deteriorate further. At least come forward and say "I own it and will release it or never release it."
Thanks,
A Fan
BTW: Please support Gary by purchasing his latest albums and seeing one of his live shows. You will be blown away!!!
Living Ornaments 80 is perhaps the best of the three.
Why?...
Although LO '79 is slightly superior in sound quality and dynamic range and LO '81 contains a more varied setlist, the inclusion of a very rare soundboard recording from an alternate show is worth it's weight in gold. I commend Steve Roper (a fan) and Steve Webbon (Beggar's Banquet godhead) for making this recording available to the rest of us.
Now on to the sound quality... 9/10
What do you get for your 10 quid / 19 bucks?
Is this some kind of shoddy bootleg? NO, hardly.
This recording is clearly a soundboard recording of a vocal monitor mix. This is probably Gary's stage monitor that was recorded to check after the shows to verify cues and evaluate the band performance. The vocals are very much in the "front" of the mix and the audience levels are subdued. There is very little in the way of tape hiss and only minor occassional distortion from Gary's mic levels - keep in mind that this show was not recorded for the intent of a mass release. No RAK mobile or multitrack recording gear. This is what makes this a "true" live album. There are no re-recordings or overdubs. If you don't enjoy this recording, you most likely would have left the show early. Inclusion of "Telekon" and "Stories" are rare live gems.
Illegal?
Hardly. I'm certain BB owns these recordings and that Gary will collect royalties on this release just as Bauhaus has on the "Shadow of Light" DVD release. Does Gary like it? Who knows? Only Gary can tell us. Given the fact that he has focused largely on his newer material lately ("Sacrifice" - "Jagged") and doesn't go for the nostalgia kick, probably not. Does this invalidate the recording? - No. Still, Gary appreciates the fact that many of his fans have been with him for 25+ years (hence the "Mini Teletour" scheduled for Dec '06).
Micromusic?
Who owns this thing anyway? Clearly Steve Webbon and Beggar's owns the audio (LO '81 is a direct dub from the video master). Still the video has not been released on DVD. Presumably Gary owns the video rights, unless Copolla and Zoetrope Films still owns it. Who knows? I appeal to whoever owns it, please release this on DVD before the 25 year old masters get "lost" or deteriorate further. At least come forward and say "I own it and will release it or never release it."
Thanks,
A Fan
BTW: Please support Gary by purchasing his latest albums and seeing one of his live shows. You will be blown away!!!
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
The material and the performance of the band is first class, with the only minor criticism being Gary's vocals being a little bit strained on the final track We are Glass, but I think we can forgive him for that!
What is interesting is the quality of the source tapes and mastering process.
The first 10 tracks are a straight re-mastering of the original vinyl release. This has worked well but not quite the standard of the Living Ornaments 79 CD release.
The re-mastered mixing desk recording of the whole concert captures Gary in an atmosphere quite unique and unlike other of his live recordings. The live atmosphere of the vocals and music is captured excellently, though the audience noise is not very prominent. You can tell at times it is a mixing desk recording as the clarity and dynamic range does not always reach the heights of Ornaments '79. Though having said that '80 captures an atmosphere that 79 does not have!
An essential part of any Numan collection. Though if those original tapes of the '80 concert are ever found, then a re-mastered release '79 style would still be very worthwhile.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
This is a CD of two halves.
The first 10 tracks comprise of the original Living Ornaments 80 album originally released in 1981.
Here we find the early Numan we're all so fond of, in all his charismatic and slightly quirky glory. A synthfest of songs from Gary Numan's astonishing breakthrough period that kicked open the doorway to the 80's and made the man a star.
Need I mention the sheer atmospheric quality of "Down in the park" "Are friends electric?" "We are glass" and the like?
For those of you who are unaware of such class and tend to lump Numan in with the more lightweight synth pop of the time, it wasn't just about "Cars".
I'd advise you to check out the likes of "Replicas" "The Pleasure Principle" and "Telekon" as soon as you can. Or, indeed these first fantastic 10 live tracks who's arrangements and sound quality at times eclipse the high standard of their studio counterparts. This is a great selection of live takes.
For those of you who weren't so big into Numan as us addicts, you will almost certainly find that behind the white face powder, plastic boiler suits and withdrawn paranoia, there was also a superb songsmith at work. Probably the biggest reason that Numan remains a cult to this day.
Which brings us to the second section of this double CD.
Living Ornaments 80 was indeed such a fine release that since the repackaging of the Living Ornaments albums started a while ago, Numanoids have exitedly been anticipating the day when the full 1980 set list would be released.
Alas, the original mobile studio multitrack was never found!
In an attempt to satisfy the craving for a full 1980 set, a high quality "soundboard bootleg" has been added in its place.
Heaven to the diehards.
Indeed, as a fan, the satisfaction of hearing these 19 songs unabridged and EQ'ed to the highest standard possible from the original cassette source is fantastic stuff.
But to the more casual Numan listeners it perhaps would have been advisable to point out more clearly on the sleeve that this is "bootleg material".
After all, however much we can go on about sound quality, differences in performances etc,ect (herein lies a bootlegs real appeal, for me anyway). It's a very rare thing in my experience to find a bootleg that makes really pleasurable repeated listening. Especially for non fans.
I don't feel that this particular recording will be the exception to the rule! Hence my "only 4 stars".
None the less it's well worth the money even without the extra tracks. And the original Living Ornaments 80 is a classic early Numan album.
So if you're thinking about it.
Go for it.
The first 10 tracks comprise of the original Living Ornaments 80 album originally released in 1981.
Here we find the early Numan we're all so fond of, in all his charismatic and slightly quirky glory. A synthfest of songs from Gary Numan's astonishing breakthrough period that kicked open the doorway to the 80's and made the man a star.
Need I mention the sheer atmospheric quality of "Down in the park" "Are friends electric?" "We are glass" and the like?
For those of you who are unaware of such class and tend to lump Numan in with the more lightweight synth pop of the time, it wasn't just about "Cars".
I'd advise you to check out the likes of "Replicas" "The Pleasure Principle" and "Telekon" as soon as you can. Or, indeed these first fantastic 10 live tracks who's arrangements and sound quality at times eclipse the high standard of their studio counterparts. This is a great selection of live takes.
For those of you who weren't so big into Numan as us addicts, you will almost certainly find that behind the white face powder, plastic boiler suits and withdrawn paranoia, there was also a superb songsmith at work. Probably the biggest reason that Numan remains a cult to this day.
Which brings us to the second section of this double CD.
Living Ornaments 80 was indeed such a fine release that since the repackaging of the Living Ornaments albums started a while ago, Numanoids have exitedly been anticipating the day when the full 1980 set list would be released.
Alas, the original mobile studio multitrack was never found!
In an attempt to satisfy the craving for a full 1980 set, a high quality "soundboard bootleg" has been added in its place.
Heaven to the diehards.
Indeed, as a fan, the satisfaction of hearing these 19 songs unabridged and EQ'ed to the highest standard possible from the original cassette source is fantastic stuff.
But to the more casual Numan listeners it perhaps would have been advisable to point out more clearly on the sleeve that this is "bootleg material".
After all, however much we can go on about sound quality, differences in performances etc,ect (herein lies a bootlegs real appeal, for me anyway). It's a very rare thing in my experience to find a bootleg that makes really pleasurable repeated listening. Especially for non fans.
I don't feel that this particular recording will be the exception to the rule! Hence my "only 4 stars".
None the less it's well worth the money even without the extra tracks. And the original Living Ornaments 80 is a classic early Numan album.
So if you're thinking about it.
Go for it.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
One of the best albums in my collection
Despite the best attempts of one reviewer to do down this CD due his dislike of the two fans most responsible for bringing it to CD, the fact that Beggars took this project on... Read more
Published on 12 Aug 2006 by Pacman
Stunning!
First of all "davros ver doddle "dav"" is talking absolute rubbish, I think all of us know exactly who this bitter person is, he wrote a book full of errors which hardly anyone... Read more
Published on 31 July 2006 by Hybrid
a big step in history of modern music
Gary Numan shows us with LO 80 what difference styls of music he was in to!The differnce between Numan and all the other electronic artists a this time was that Numan had all kind... Read more
Published on 13 Aug 2005 by Ingo Weinard
The missing link - worth the wait - only 25 years!
This is the live album all Numan fans have been waiting for since 1980 - the complete set from the excellent Teletour (and my first concert). Read more
Published on 13 Aug 2005 by A. Tomlinson
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