Living Loud
Living Loud
℗ 2004 Liberation Records TOCP-67537
No longer The Meek it seems, despite all the studio tapes bearing that former name. Possibly the obvious appellation of 'inheriting the earth' seemed a little too grandiose a statement. So now it's Living Loud, more to the point and just as fitting. Messrs Daisley, Barnes, Kerslake and Morse, with a dash of Don Airey (Jon Lord does NOT appear on these recordings), all checked their egos in at the door and came to Rock… Quite incredibly, after a two decade plus career, for those of you living outside Australia I need to explain the presence of singer Jimmy Barnes. In Oz this man is a superstar, a working class Rock n' Roll man of the people with more no. 1 albums under his belt than just about any living antipodean. Deservedly so too, this boy can really sing. Range, power, passion and gut delivery - it's all there. Jimmy Barnes fronting this album is therefore a big deal. But Jimmy Barnes singing 'Crazy Train'? Would you prefer Pat Boone? You won't 'get' this album on first spin. As Bob Daisley acknowledges, the six Blizzard Of Ozz tracks, culled from both 'Blizzard Of Ozz'; and 'Diary Of A Madman' albums, included here are "sacred ground". 'Crazy Train', 'Mr. Crowley, 'I Don't Know' - these are tablets of stone not to mess with, never to be questioned, certainly not to be 'reinterpreted'. That said, the originals are now gone, consigned to the list of the 'deleted'. These songs will divide the Rock audience into two, poles apart camps that is for certain. My opinion? If Randy's spirit happened to have been in Florida that week he would have been smiling. What you get first time around is recognition of worth, second time around the pieces start to mentally fit and what was utter confusion all starts to gel. The acceptance of these versions as a viable whole is a struggle. It is a BIG leap of imagination to bridge the gap from Osbourne / Rhoads to Barnes / Morse. However - it does work. Often these Blizzard songs have been given an extra little zest. It takes you a full 30 seconds to even recognise 'Flying High Again'. Whilst Steve Morse is faithful and obviously totally at ease with the signature riffs he also takes a few left turns on occasion. This is not sacrilege but is often imbued with a feeling that, had Randy been jamming at rehearsals, he may well have taken a similar path. With 'Tonight' I reckon they have even achieved the unthinkable in surpassing the Blizzard take. Barnes does a cracking job on this one. Nice to hear the words for a change too! Often the songs, such as closer 'Over The Mountain', appear to breathe a bit looser than the originals. This provides the listener a bit of aural expanse in which to really appreciate Daisley and Kerslake this time around. Remember that the 1980 / '81 tracks were hardly the greatest production pieces ever - a genius shining through despite a cluttered and tinny presentation, Beluga caviar in a sardine tin. Morse's solo on 'Over The Mountain' is staggering. No other word for it. Perhaps the most controversial number here is 'Mr. Crowley'. Living Loud's entrance into this tour de force is by way of a newly cathedralized organ march delivered by Don Airey, the man who came up with the very original. Barnesy does not even attempt to step into Ozzy's shoes for this, choosing to distort his vocal throughout. It's quirky but it works. Of Living Loud's own material there is much to commend. 'Pushed Me Too Hard' has a Purple-esque 'Abandon' type groove and 'Walk Away' too is very strong. 'Every Moment A Lifetime' has a lazy, laidback 'lectric ladyland riff stamped with a big fat Hendrix grin. A quite sublime piece of retro balladry built on that familiar and comfortable old Hammond bedrock. 'In The Name Of God' has a quite hypnotizing presence. Many western Rockers plumb for the obligatory dumbed down 'Kashmir' orientalism but often end up with something ersatz, daft and slightly west of Gibraltar. Living Loud though has captured all the essences, the hustle and bustle of the bazaar and with a riff to make any belly dancer get up and do her thang. The lyrics are deadly serious, the music perfectly poised. Overall, Living Loud's own material is not as riff orientated as the Blizzard cuts but is strong enough to stand shoulder to shoulder with it. My one criticism is, unfortunately, the opening song 'Last Chance'. A simplistic, 'Dirty Deeds' no frills Rocker that should not have been head of the pack. You're no doubt going to hear all kinds of posturing, verbiage and nonsense about this record in the months to come. A brave move in an industry of playing it safe. Blizzard & Barnesy is dangerous stuff, very Rock n' Roll and I like that. The bottom line is would have Randy have liked it? Of course he would. Daisley, Kerslake and Airey were there - they should know. — Garry Sharpe-Young. |
- 1. Last Chance [03:58]
- 2. I Don't Know (Daisley — Osbourne — Rhoads) [04:20]
- 3. Every Moment a Lifetime [07:12]
- 4. Crazy Train (Daisley — Osbourne — Rhoads) [05:35]
- 5. In the Name of God [03:35]
- 6. Flying High Again [05:21]
- 7. Pushed Me Too Hard [05:48]
- 8. Mr. Crowley (Daisley — Osbourne — Rhoads) [04:27]
- 9. Tonight [05:16]
- 10. Walk Away [05:12]
- 11. Over the Mountain [05:15]
- 12. Crazy Train [live] [06:21]
- 13. Good Times [live] [04:54]
Участие в альбоме:
- Jimmy Barnes: vocals
- Bob Daisley: bass
- Lee Kerslake: drums
- Steve Morse: guitar
- Don Airey: keyboards
Тексты:
I Don't Know
(Daisley — Osbourne — Rhoads)
People look to me and say Is the end near when is the final day What's the future of mankind How do I know, I got left behind Everyone goes through changes Looking to find the truth Don't look at me for answers Don't ask me - I don't know How I'm supposed to know Hidden meanings that will never show Fools and prophets from the past Life's a stage and we're all in the cast Ya gotta believe in someone asking me who is right, Asking me who to follow, don't ask me, I don't know, I don't know - I don't know - I don't know Nobody ever told me I found out for myself Ya gotta believe in foolish miracles It's not how you play the game It's if you win or lose you can choose Don't confuse win or lose, it's up to you It's up to you - it's up to you - it's up to you People look to me and say Is the end near when is the final day What's the future of mankind How do I know, I got left behind Everyone goes through changes Looking to find the truth Don't look at me for answers Don't ask me - I don't know How I'm supposed to know Hidden meanings that will never show Fools and prophets from the past Life's a stage and we're all in the cast Ya gotta believe in someone asking me who is right, Asking me who to follow, don't ask me, I don't know, I don't know - I don't know - I don't know.
Crazy Train
(Daisley — Osbourne — Rhoads)
Crazy, but that's how it goes Millions of people living as foes Maybe it's not too late To learn how to love And forget how to hate Mental wounds not healing Life is a bitter shame I'm going off the rails on a crazy train I've listened to preachers I've listened to fools I've watched all the dropouts Who makes their own rules One person conditioned to rule and control The media sells it and you life the role Mental wounds still screaming Driving me insane I'm going off the rails on a crazy train I know that things are going wrong for me You gotta listen to my words Yeh - h Heirs of a cold war That's what we've become Inheriting troubles I'm mentally numb Crazy I just cannot bear I'm living with something that just isn't fair Mental wounds not healing Who and what's to blame I'm going off the rails on a crazy train
Flying High Again
Got a crazy feeling I don't understand Gotta get away from here Feelin' like I shoulda kept my feet on the ground Waiting for the sun to appear Mamma's gonna worry I been a bad bad boy No use saying sorry It's somethin' that I enjoy Cause you can't see what my eyes see (I can see it, I can see it) And you can't be inside of me, flying high again I can see through mountains watch me disappear I can even touch the sky Swallowing colours of the sound I hear Am I just a crazy guy (you bet). Mamma's gonna worry I been a bad bad boy No use saying sorry It's somethin' that I enjoy If you could be inside my head You'd see that black and white is read Flying high again Flying high again Flying high again Flying high again come on and join me Flying high again Flying high again Flying high again Flying high again come on and join me Daddy thinks I'm lazy he don't understand Never saw inside my head People think I'm crazy but I'm in demand Never heard a thing I said. Mamma's gonna worry I been a bad bad boy No use saying sorry It's somethin' that I enjoy Flying high again Flying high again Flying high again Flying high again
Mr. Crowley
(Daisley — Osbourne — Rhoads)
Mr. Crowley, what went on in your head Mr. Crowley, did you talk with the dead Your life style to me seemed so tragic With the thrill of it all You fooled all the people with magic You waited on Satan's call Mr. Charming, did you think you were pure Mr. Alarming, in nocturnal rapport Uncovering things that were sacred manifest on this Earth Conceived in the eye of a secret And they scattered the afterbirth Mr. Crowley, won't you ride my white horse Mr. Crowley, it's symbolic of course Approaching a time that is classic I hear maidens call Approaching a time that is drastic Standing with their backs to the wall Was it polemically sent I wanna know what you meant I wanna know I wanna know what you meant
Over the Mountain
Over the mountain take me across the sky Something in my vision something deep inside Where did I wander, where d'ya think I wandered to I've seen life's magic astral plane I travel through. I heard them tell me that this land of dreams was now I told them I had ridden shooting stars And said I'd show them how. Over and over always tried to get away Living in a daydream only place I had to stay. Fever of a breakout burning in me miles wide People around me talking to the walls inside I heard them tell me that this land of dreams was now I told them I had ridden shooting stars And said I'd show them how. Don't need no astrology it's inside of you and me You don't need a ticket to fly with me - I'm free. Over and under in between the ups and downs Mind on a carpet magic ride goes round and round. Over the mountain kissing silver inlaid clouds Watching my body disappear into the crowd. Don't need no astrology it's inside of you and me You don't need a ticket to fly with me — I'm free.