Aerosmith
Classics Live! Complete

THE REVIEW

I begin this review by saying that generally when I discover a new artist, I try to get what are considered the best albums, feeling a bit of skepticism towards works deemed less brilliant and also towards live albums. Well, this story went on until this "Classic Live" by Aerosmith, I confess that I bought it when I already had many of the band's albums from the '70s and not finding "Live Bootleg" it fell into my hands, and I noticed that many of the songs were classics, so it became mine.

Why this introduction? I answer immediately, because this live was the first I bought, and from that moment on, I began to think that a true artist is distinguished especially by their skill in performing in front of an audience and away from the recording studios.

Let's leave my very subjective opinion to talk about the album, which is actually a collection that combines two different "collages" of live recordings made at the end of the '70s and during the '80s, released under the name "Classic Live 1" and "Classic Live 2" in 1986. We can therefore say that it seems these recordings were made during the less fortunate period for the band, with the partial departure of the two guitarists Joe Perry and Brad Whitford. Unfortunately, the CD booklet does not precisely specify the recording date of all the songs, but in some, there are Jimmy Crespo and Rick Dufay.

Certainly, among all the live recordings by Aerosmith, this one has the rawest and thus hardest sound, but it is also marked by a terrible recording, especially that of the drums, whose sound is very "plastic" making it almost seem like a bootleg. From a technical point of view, it is perhaps the least well-played, and even Steven Tyler this time has a voice that is too hoarse except in some pieces; in my opinion, that beautiful voice was really ruined by the singer's heavy drug abuse in the '70s.

But fortunately, there are not only negatives because never like on this record will the band play with such energy and instill an insane desire to dance and move, almost causing the listener to lose their critical sense (or at least that's what happened to me). The tracklist is definitely thrilling, all the classics are there, and it's pleasing to see that real gems have been retrieved, such as "Movin Out", "Three Mile Smile / Refer Head Woman", and a song recorded in the studio, which is actually a B-side from "Get Your Wings": it's "Major Barbra".

Let's now analyze the setlist. "Train Kept a Rollin" opens the album and here we find it faster, without the initial solos and with a very energetic Tyler. The notes and high pitches of "Kings and Queens" convey unique emotions, and with "Sweet Emotion" there's moshing, notably with the long final solo. "Dream On" is recorded even worse than the others and sung poorly by a very hoarse Tyler. "Mama Kin" recovers with an exceptional performance, extremely fast and highly engaging. The two "Three Mile Smile / Refer Head Woman" are very intense. Beautiful performance of "Lord of the Thighs", extended quite a bit by guitar solos. "Major Barbra" is, as previously said, recorded in the studio, a nice ballad, but nothing more. The performances of "Back in the Saddle" and "Walk this Way" are very charged, and here the energy is really at its peak. "Movin' Out" is raw just enough and Tyler hits very high notes. The listener is hit with an electric shock from "Draw the Line" and "Same Old Song and Dance". A more hard rock "Last Child" further warms up the atmosphere, a slower but enjoyable "Let the Music Do the Talking", and the fast closer track "Toys in the Attic".

In my opinion, it is a very underrated live album, perhaps because one first looks at the recording period. But upon listening, one will realize that in terms of energy it has nothing to envy from the previous "Live Bootleg" or the subsequent mediocre "A Little South of Sanity". In terms of stars, I must say that the four given are not "full", the rating would be a 3.5.