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Rating: December 24, 1982, Christmas Eve.
In New York, they decided to organize a series of bone-crushing concerts at a little venue... yeah, right! None other than the CBGB, practically an institution.
As always, a more-than-brief introduction for those unfamiliar with this collective: the Bad Brains are four cheerful Rastafarians, considered among the key groups of the Hardcore Punk genre from the Washington D.C. scene, naturally the first wave. The basic recipe was to alternate purely Hardcore Punk tracks with Reggae; over the years, they also managed to experiment with Heavy Metal and Funk, among other things. Extraordinary, right?
In February 1982, their self-titled debut album was released, with which they managed to "break open the doors" of Punk, as already suggested earlier. A milestone.
This is to give an idea of where we are on the timeline, namely at the dawn but also at what can later be defined as the best years of the Bad Brains, without a doubt.
The concert was opened by Minor Threat (who certainly need no introduction) and The Young And The Useless (known to most for being the first group of a certain Ad-Rock from the Beastie Boys, who also had the opportunity to cut his teeth playing alongside other historic groups, such as Ramones, Hüsker Dü, and Dead Kennedys).
As you may perhaps guess, most of the tracklist is occupied by songs from the self-titled album, but there is also plenty of space for well-defined versions of gems that would be part of future albums and some pieces that remained unreleased until the release of this album (only in 2006).
Among the many to mention, there are obviously great classics like "Banned In D.C.", "Right Brigade", and "Supertouch/Shitfit" from the self-titled; "I And I Survive", "Rally 'Round Jah Throne", and "The Meek Shall Inherit The Earth" from the future "Rock For Light," one of the quartet's peaks of greatest splendor. Noteworthy is an excellent "All Rise To Meet Jah".
Listening to it alone, we notice that the quality somewhat lacks when they tackle the faster and more violent songs, culminating in total chaos of the instruments and the singer H.R.'s schizophrenic vocals when he approaches this type of compositions.
For this very reason, it would be ideal to accompany the listening with watching the video, something of almost vital importance when faced with performances of this caliber: it’s crucial to carefully observe the movements of the members, particularly H.R., who dances, jumps, spins, and occasionally throws in a somersault.
A beast that periodically transforms during the Reggae/Dub-flavored tracks, morphing into an angelic, sensual, and reflective creature.
An explosiveness and warmth that were able to captivate an audience composed of the most varied personalities present.
At first, it seemed like just another date, yet during those evenings (and particularly this one) lives were changed: we’ve all heard the (funny) story about how we were all conceived while the notes of Marvin Gaye and his "Let's Get It On" or "Sexual Healing" were playing in the background... well, a myriad of Hardcore Punk bands were born after witnessing the Bad Brains concert, some born from purely fortuitous encounters. But this is a fact.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Big Takeover (02:57)
No one dared to show for that shower,
When nobody turned out to be clean,
Was not even touched by the water,
Just another Nazu scheme,
The Bit Takeover.-Chorus
All throughout this so called nation,
Prepare yourself for the final quest,
Your world is doomes with our own interrogation,
Just another Nazi Test
Chorus
So understand me when I say,
There's no hope for this U.S.A.,
Your world is doomed with our own interrogation,
Just another Nazi test.
04 Supertouch/Shitfit (02:30)
Some people look at me and talk about me like a clown,
They just don't realize it's just my simple way to get down,
I've got that supertouchm
Chances are I've got too much,
I've come to let you see,
That you also can be free,
It seem that everytimes we all try to go underground,
The stinkin troopers them they think that we are foolin around,
We have had about enough,
Now we're gonna get real tough,
It happens everyday that's why we got P.M.A...
People just pretending - thats a let down,
Undercover lover - that's my heart now,
Struggle just in livin - that's the realm of,
Accept me as I'm not - and that's a shitfit,
My best ain't good enough for you,
My test is what you gonna do,
Ain't no any kind of way,
Love was lost in yesterday,
Now we've felt this,
So you'll get yours now,
Everybody's livin,
And nobody's givin,
And nobody gives a damn,
You must understand me,
The end is surely comin,
Prepare for the final plan,
People just pretending - that's a let down,
Undercover lover - that's my heart now,
Struggle just in livin that's the realm of,
Accept me as I'm not and that's a shitfit.
08 I and I Survive (05:43)
Why must all the people keep on shooting and robbing. Why? Why must must all the people keep on killing and fighting. No, not I. I and I will would never try. No, not I. I and I would never try. And why must the rich man keep on hoarding all his money. And why must the this poor man, my living ain't very funny. No, not I. I and I would never try. No not I. I and I would never try, try to live that way. And what did Jah show them. I and I survive. They tried to stop this nation. But I and I survive. To chant down creation, I and I survive. And once again a nation.
09 Destroy Babylon (01:25)
Don't beat yourself upside the head. Don't beat yourself for this. Don't beat yourself upside the head, don't beat yourself for this. Oh, there is a way out. It's a natural plan, the natural. How many days do we sit around, while they keep on burying all our leaders in the ground. Organize, centralize. It's time for us to fight for our lives. Destroy Babylon. Oh there is a way.
15 Riot Squad (02:17)
You, you better get ready. You beter hold steady. Thay can't control this angry mob. They'll have to call the Riot Squad. riot Squad. They'll have to call the Riot They'll have to call the riot squad.
17 We Will Not (01:43)
Ms. Babylon your queendom is doomed, across this land you'll spread your no more gloom. Cause one ah thes days you gonna get your jilt and we'll never hae to deal with no more of your filth. We will not do what they want or do what they say. Oh no. We will not do what they want or do what they say. Oh No. Oh, Mr. Bacon, your future time is near and to the people, no more lies do they wanna hear. We read the bible and see your 666. And now we'll never have to deal with no more tricks. We will not do what they want or do what they say.
18 The Regulator (01:09)
You tell me what to say and when to say it. you tell me what to do and how to do it. And if I ask you why, yoou'll arrest me. And if I call you lie, you'll detest me. You control what I'll be, you control who I see. And if I let you you'll control me. You're the man who owns all the keys to the stores. You're the man who always wants so much more. You're the regulator.
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