Lou Reed
Take No Prisoners

THE REVIEW

In Reed's solo career, we are fortunate to have various live recordings both from the immediately post-Velvet era and the early years of the new millennium. All of which are very valuable, never a lapse in style, never banal.

This 1978 double live album that I am about to review is unique in the entire Reed catalog. It’s unique because it’s different from the others. Yet, the setlist is quite predictable: it starts with the usual "Sweet Jane" and then features all the classics from Transformer ("Satellite of Love" and the indispensable "Walk On The Wild Side") as well as Velvet-era tracks ("Pale Blue Eyes", "I’m Waiting For My Man") and more recent songs like "Street Hassle" and "Coney Island Baby".

The point is in the manner these songs are staged. One could speak more of Talkin Blues than of Rock 'n' Roll. Only 4 years have passed since Rock 'n' Roll Animal, but listening to this live, it seems like centuries.

Never before has Lou been so talkative with the audience in this concert, making the music almost a background to what he says. And he says and sings it almost like a rap. It almost feels like attending a cabaret show. The sound is incredibly engaging (much closer to that of "Street Hassle") with sax and backup singers.

The versions of "Street Hassle" and "Coney Island Baby" are truly something unique with Reed's voice as strong as ever. The audience is in a frenzy, at some points the shouting is really loud (check when he mentions broadcasting from radio Brooklyn as opposed to Smith broadcasting from radio Ethiopia).

Absolutely the most beautiful Reed live along with "Animal Serenade". A gem for all the ex-VU lovers. A must-have.