Album Review:  The Stooges – Live at Goose Lake: August 8, 1970  (Third Man Records)

0

A legendary set from a Michigan Music Festival is unearthed, and we get to hear some of the primal raw power of the original Punks, The Stooges, in their classic line-up.

This being James (Iggy Pop) Osterberg, Ron Asheton guitar, Scott Asheton drums and Dave Alexander bass. And of course, special guest Steve Mackay saxophone.

Goose Lake was a music festival organised by the White Panthers, and featured the equally legendary MC5, along with others like the Rationals, Mountain and Screaming Jay Hawkins.

Fun House had recently been recorded. This and the debut Stooges album are the first recognisable Punk albums. Classic Rock’n’Roll and their power has not really been surpassed.

The original Fun House album was their live set at the time, and most of it was recorded live in the studio.

What condition would these tapes be in? And the band members themselves and their self-destructive lifestyles. This was the last performance of the starting four. Dave Alexander was fired after turning up too drunk to play. Does he actually play? There is bass guitar on the album.

Alexander was dead 5 years later, from complications of alcoholism.

The show starts with Loose which is one of my favourite songs on the studio album. LOOK OUT! The guitar is on point but Iggy is hesitant and not focused. The drums don’t really pick up the song and the bass guitar is barely there.

Down on the Street and the guitar starts with the familiar primitive guitar riff. Iggy is more confident and sure-footed. Bass is in sync and supports the stuttering guitar. The drums also shape up and power the song. Ron keeps his solo riff tight and judicious.

Deep in the night I’m lost in love. Iggy primed and strutting.

A roar and scream and we are off into TV Eye. A drone guitar riff which builds momentum in the song as it progresses. This is a tour-de-force for Ron Asheton and in the bridge, you hear the guitar arpeggio which opens the Sex Pistol’s Pretty Vacant.

Dirt is a blues and played at a slower tempo. The guitar squalls and cries. Scott Asheton displays his chops, providing the bottom along with rapid drum rolls and fills. The bass is there but low in the mix. Iggy is fired up now and excels with his phrasing. Theatrical shifts in pace and intensity. Do you feel it when you touch me/ Do you feel it when you cut me?

1970 and the guitar races off with repetitive rolling riffs. The drums fire off and keep things tight as Ron unleashes some fireworks in the middle. Iggy picks up on this energy in the outro.

One guy just wants to come in/ Just one guy. That is Steve Mackay, and he joins for Fun House / LA Blues.  Avant-garde free-form jazz saxophone.  The bass guitar comes forward here and lays down a fast tempo. Starts as a jam but eventually a rhythmic pattern arises. The vocals are primal and raw, and get more and more unhinged. Ron comes back in with squalls and waves of noise to match the sax. The intensity continues to build as the singer becomes possessed with screeching and wailing. General mayhem ensues as the band try to smash the place apart, take the audience by the scruff of the neck and howl like a moon-crazed beast. And still the guitar and drums keep going until it all peters out messily.

Worth the price of admission alone.

So, there you have it. The energy captured and the studio set surpassed.

For aficionados’ and mad fans like myself, who own the 7-CD Fun House Sessions by Rhino Records, you will already have acquainted yourselves with this as an essential addition.

For everyone else, give it some time. Get used to the limitations of live recording of the time. There has been an excellent job of restoring this and once your ears acclimatize, this is the legendary power of the original Stooges.

Rev Orange Peel  

Click here to watch the 13th Floor interview with Third Man Records’ Ben Blackwell

       

 

 

 

        

Rev Orange Peel
Latest posts by Rev Orange Peel (see all)