Trying to review a live album of Aerosmith’s such as
Classics Live!, the 1986 release from their then-former
label, is a double-edged sword. On one side, Steven Tyler and
company have yet — in my mind, at least — to release a live album
which successfully captures the true power and magic of the band on
stage.
And yet, this particular disc is one which has been maligned by
press and fans alike. Released almost as a “sour grapes” disc while
Aerosmith was trying to rebuild their reputation and lives on
Geffen (and compiled with no input from the band), this particular
album is not the abysmal mess that some would like you to believe.
Make no mistake, it isn’t gold, but it also isn’t complete
shit.
Courtesy of my friends at All Music Guide — unquestionably the
resource for rock music — we learn that the bulk of this album is
comprised of songs taken from a 1984 gig, recorded during the time
when Joe Perry and Brad Whitford were no longer in the band. So, we
have a band which was at the lowest point of their career, missing
two key members — and yet the music on this disc doesn’t sound
that bad. Tracks like “Kings And Queens” — admittedly, not one of
my favorites to begin with — and the two-fer of “Three Mile Smile
/ Reefer Head Woman” just ooze power.
If anything, it’s Tyler’s performance which is listless; more
often than not, Tyler sounds like he’s totally detached from the
music he had been performing for the better part of a decade. From
sounding out-of-tune on “Dream On” to delivering a version of
“Sweet Emotion” which sounded like he was half asleep, Tyler seems
to know that he was fronting a band on life support at this stage.
His performance doesn’t do anything to help Aerosmith’s cause.
In fairness, though, the band does sometimes try a little too
hard to drive things home. “Lord Of The Thighs” was a decent studio
track back in the days, but this live version sometimes feels like
it drags on for about three minutes too long. The extended jam
which closes the song (and the actual live material on the album)
is dull and listless.
The inclusion of a rare studio track from 1973 — “Major
Barbara” — is supposed to be an added bonus for die-hard Aerosmith
fans, I guess, but that’s only true when the material is worth
writing home about. There’s a reason some tracks never make it off
of the cutting-room floor, and “Major Barbara,” a half-baked slow
shuffle of a song, is one which should have stayed there.
For all of the criticisms, though, the bulk of the material on
Classics Live! is marginally interesting, and despite what
many have said about the disc, is still worth checking out — so
long as you’re able to check your expectations at the door.
