Live 1977

Live 1977 is a live album by The Fall, first released in March 2000. Although the sound quality is slightly poor and live documents of The Fall are plentiful, this one is of particular note as it is the earliest available recording of the group in action, apart from two tracks on the Short Circuit: Live at the Electric Circus compilation. It dates from December 1977, about six weeks after the group recorded their debut single "Bingo-Master's Break-Out!" (which wasn’t released until August 1978). It is the only release where early song "Hey! Fascist" can be heard, although it was reworked as "Hey! Student" and released on Middle Class Revolt some seventeen years later. There are also very early versions of the 1984 single "Oh! Brother" and "Cop It", later found on The Wonderful And Frightening World Of The Fall but retitled "Copped It". In addition, it is only here that the group’s reworking of "Louie Louie" can be accessed, an opportunity for cult figure John the Postman to join the group on stage. The original line-up was caught on tape just in time; this was to be Tony Friel’s last performance with the band. After a couple of short-stay replacements, the job would eventually be taken by Marc Riley.

Track listing

1. "Psycho Mafia"
2. "Last Orders"
3. "Repetition"
4. "Dresden Dolls"
5. "Hey! Fascist"
6. "Frightened"
7. "Industrial Estate"
8. "Stepping Out"
9. "Bingo-Master's Break-Out!"
10. "Oh! Brother"
11. "Cop It"
12. "Futures and Pasts"
13. "Louie Louie"

Personnel

• The Fall:
  • Mark E. Smith - vocals
  • Martin Bramah - guitar, backing vocals
  • Tony Friel - bass guitar
  • Una Baines - keyboard
  • Karl Burns - drums
• John the Postman - vocals on "Louie Louie"