Best Fall Live Album at eMusic?

It seems I should retire the word 'Seems.'

I think I downloaded most of these in a last minute spree right before eMusic changed from unlimited downloads. Can't honestly say that any of them have changed my life, so I'll leave it to others to sort through. I'd avoid Seminal Live, personally.

Worth noting, though, that a couple of these (e.g. Live at the Witch Trials) are filed under live performances because they have the word "live" in the title.

"In a Hole" is possibly the best one, it certainly was received as such at the time.

"Totales Turns" is fine also.

Er, what are the options? What's eMusic?

Mark G speaks the truth, to which I'd add A Part of America Therein, 1981 (which on CD at least comes with Slates)

Yeah, I'd add that one, true enough.

Basically, it really comes down to recording quality.

I'm sure there's a web page that quantifies all those albums.

The options are here: http://www.emusic.com/artist/The-Fall-MP3-Download/10563224.html

I don't think "A Part of America..." is an option, which is too bad 'cause I like it a lot too.

Out of those I'd go Liverpool 78, Seminal Live, Live to Air in Melbourne

Speaking as a Fall fan who has and has heard everything, the non-LP cd I return to the most is rarities "bootleg" Backdrop.

I think they have actually legitimately released that these days.

classic Fall live: In A Hole, A Part Of America, and that one in Iceland with the long one-word title that I can't remember.

But Live At The Witch Trials is better than any of those!

ah but Live at Witch Trials is a studio rec

Live in Reykjavik is an unusually high-fidelity recording from '83, between Room to Live and Perverted by Language, before Brix joined. If you like the corrosive, draggy stuff like "Tempo House" it'll suit you.

I actually am quite fond of Seminal Live — the studio outtakes are arguably better than much of I Am Kurious, Oranj, and while the keyboard sounds of the live performances are somewhat cheesy, the album as a whole is rather fun — great for tidying up (although I feel that way about a lot of albums).

SemLive was a bit "short Change" in it's original LP version, but fine in the cassete (and eventually, CD) formation.

def worth it for "Pinball Machine" and the Grundy live intro

sexyD, I was riffing off of dlp's comment about how LATWT is mislabeled by eMusic as a "live" album and therefore theoretically fits the thread question.

I also support the full-length "Seminal Live" as a choice here.

The Iceland record is called Austurbaejarbio.

i'm thinking of looking for the legendary chaos tapes...is it worth it?

(I think the deluxe Castle reissue is called Live in Ackham 1980 or something...)

Not sure what exactly is available on emusic but so much depends on which period of the band is your favourite.

Fall in a Hole is, as has already been noted, a great starting point as the vrsions on that are, for the most part radically different to the studio versions. Also contains the track 'Backdrop' which is one of the best Fall tracks EVER live or studio. The John Cale keyboard parts (courtesy of Mark Riley) really emphasise the tension of that whole tour. The sleevenotes are brilliant too.

A close second is Totale's turns, which, once again, is represemtative of the early, Riley period as is The chaos tapes or Live at Acklam Hall.

Of the mid period, The Live version of Kurious Oranj "I am as pure as oranj" is wonderful, though scarce now as it's been oop for a number of years. The ReykJavik live album is also oop print but great for clarity and captures the Hanley/Scanlon Fall at a point just before the Brix years.

Others worth condidering include A part of America therein which was, and possibly still is, available as a doublepack with the astonishing Slates 6 track. The live tracks on Seminal are decent enough but that period and after is better coverd by The 27 points.

Live 77 is an interesting curiosity, representing as it does the earlyiest punk incarnation of the band, playing, I think, their 6th ever gig. The The sound quality is appalling but the spirit communicates well enough.

There are others worth getting but, as a general rule of thumb, avoid anything on Voiceprint or with Smith flicking the V on the cover.

i already own in a hole and 1981 therein and totale's turn...love all of them...i figured chaos tape was not essential so didn't buy it, but plan to get it soon just cause...

i also want the reykjavik one too.

Liverpool 78 is great but adds little to the studio versions. Between song banter is good but not as good as Acklam Hall.

Backdrop is pretty essential, mainly for Plaster on the hands and the "In a hole" version of Backdrop and it has, as suggested earlier, received an official release.

I have it from a very good source that the John Peel 50th birthday recordings are likely to be made available in the very near future as part of one of the reissued late 80's albums, due to be issued as doublepacks in early 2009.

thx!

When are the Smurfs going to have a joint gig with the Fall?

I noticed 'Room To Live' was listed in the live section too, though it's mostly studio stuff IIRC. Pretty essential.

xpost lol Bimble the phrase comes from some writing I was doing on the Clean...

I noticed 'Room To Live' was listed in the live section too, though it's mostly studio stuff IIRC. Pretty essential.

Listed in the live section of what?

Ah sorry, was reading too far upthread.

eMusic's listing of albums by The Fall.

papal visit is live isn't it?

Papal Visit! Jesus Christ, don't even get me started on that track. Holy shit.

I think it's just MES mucking about in the studio with other, overdubbed versions of himself.

There's some really great bootleg comps on DIME right now from their 80s tours, get 'em while they're hot.