LAKE "LIVE LAKE"

Artist: Lake
Album: Live - On the Run
Company: CBS
Catalog: 88 594
Year: 1984
Genre: rock
Grade: *** (3 stars)
Condition: VG+ cover / VG+ LP
Comments: double LP; gatefold sleeve
Quantity available: SOLD
Price: $40,00 (SOLD)


A band being allowed to release a double album, live collection has frequently been a sign their record label has lost interest in them as a viable commercial property  ...   And having released five increasingly less successful studio sets for CBS/Columbia, that pretty much seems to have nailed the situation Lake found themselves in with the release of 1982's "Live On the Run".  A 17 track, double album set, the collection pulled together concert material drawn from 1979 and 1980 tours.  For hardcore fans, most of the performances featured the original lineup, but at least a couple of the songs ('Rocky Mountain Way' and 'Glad To Be Here') featured the Lake MK III line up with bassist Heiko Effertz, keyboardist Frank Hieber, and guitarist Achim Opperman.  Probably not a major surprise, the collection was heavily focused on material from the first four studio LPs with "Hot Day" notable underrepresented.  From a marketing standpoint that was probably a pretty smart move since those albums featured what most folks would say was the band's classic work.  At the other end of the spectrum the emphasis on classic tunes meant there wasn't much that was new, or unexpected.  In fact covers of Steely Dan's 'Black Friday' and Joe Walsh's 'Rocky Mountain Way' were really t he only surprises.  While I have no idea how much post-production work went into the set, by and large the performances were pretty impressive.  Scottish lead singer James Harrison-Hopkins didn't have the most dynamic voice, but when he stuck to the range he was comfortable with the results were good.  The rest of the band were equally impressive with Conti getting an occasional opportunity to stretch out beyond the confines of his studio work.  None of the songs were radically different from the original studio versions which would probably please long standing fans.    

 

"No Time for Heroes" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) On the Run   (James Hopkins-Harrison - Detlef Petersen) - 4:24

Kicked along by Geoffrey Peacey and Detlef Petersen's gurgling synthesizers, 'On the Run' opened the album with one of Lake's classic tunes, but at least to my ears this version was simply a bit too fast ...  James Harrison Hopkins sounded like he was having a hard time holding on as the rest of the band rolled through the song at a double time pace.  On the positive side Alex Conti turned in a blazing guitar solo.  rating: *** stars

2.) Red Lake   (James Hopkins-Harrison - Detlef Petersen - Geoffrey Peacey) - 4:58

I'm not sure where 'Red Lake' fits in the Lake discography (it was a new song to my ears), but it sounded a bit like a cross between Steely Dan and Pablo Cruise.  Again, Conti turned in some nice fretwork.  rating: *** stars

3.) Hopeless Love   (James Hopkins-Harrison - Detlef Petersen) - 4:28

'Hopeless Love' was probably the best song on the "Paradise Island" set, capturing Hopkins-Harrison and company at their best ...   in this case a highly commercial melody with one of Hopkins-Harrison's best vocals and some of the band's sweet harmony vocals.   rating: **** stars

4.) The Final Curtain   (James Hopkins-Harrison - Detlef Petersen) - 4:53

Another track from the "Paradise Island" LP, 'The Final Curtain' was a pretty, mildly Gospel-tinged ballad.  The song was also notable for giving bassist Martin Tiefensee a shot at the spotlight.  rating: ** stars

5.) See Them Glow   (James Hopkins-Harrison - Detlef Petersen) - 4:25

Unusual for a live track, 'See Them Glow' was presented in a tighter, more focused arrangement.  Almost a minute shorter than the original studio version, Hopkins-Harrison and company seldom sounded as good.   CBS should have tapped this as a single.   rating: **** stars

 

(side 2)
1.) Black Friday   (Donald Fagen - Walter Becker) - 6:29

As mentioned, the band's cover of Steely Dan's 'Black Friday' stood as the album's most intriguing performance.  Hardly the best Dan cover you've ever heard though Alex Conti turned in a blazing guitar solo, it was still a blast to hear their rocked-up version of the song.   rating: **** stars

2.) Between the Lines   (James Hopkins-Harrison - Detlef Petersen) - 7:14
The rocker "Between the Lines' started out as an above par Lake rocker, but the second half of the song became little more than a jam platform for band members to show off their technical proficiency.  While having  a couple of German beers in your stomach might have upped the enjoyment quotient, stone cold somber this one was borderline plodding.   rating: ** stars

3.) Jesus Came Down   (James Hopkins-Harrison - Detlef Petersen) - 3:50

Also off the debut album, 'Jesus Came Down' has always been a personal favorite and hear they treated it to an almost verbatim version of the original studio track.   Nice.   rating: **** stars

4.) Paradise Way   (James Hopkins-Harrison - Detlef Petersen) - 5:44
I'll readily admit the "Paradise Way" album was where the band started to lose creative steam and interest to me.  I remember thinking band had surrendered their uniqueness for a bland corporate sound.  So, this version of the title track came as one of the live set's biggest surprises.  In a live setting this one displayed far more energy than the original studio take..  rating: **** stars    

 

(side 3)

1.) Rocky Mountain Way  (Joe Walsh) - 7:45

The band's cover of Joe Walsh's 'Rocky Mountain Way' was another pleasant surprise.  Again, their cover won't make you forget the classic Walsh song, but they turned in a pretty decent version.  rating: *** stars

2.) Glad To Be Here   (James Hopkins-Harrison - Detlef Petersen - Geoffrey Peacey) - 3:44

'Glad To Be Here' was one of the most commercial songs off their third set and the concert version doesn't stray far from the studio arrangement.  Hopkins-Harrison turned in one of his better performances on this track.  rating: *** stars

3.) Scoobie Doobies   (James Hopkins-Harrison - Geoffrey Peacey) - 11:20

Yeah, it was ironic in the face of Hopkins-Harrison's tragic death, but I always took 'Scoobie Doobies' as an anti-drug song and gave the band credit for be willing to take such a stance when it wasn't particularly popular.   The live version slowed the song down and inserted a truly beautiful keyboard solo and some more dazzling fretwork from Conti.   rating: **** stars

 

(side 4)
1.) Celebrate   (James Hopkins-Harrison - Achim Oppermann) - 3:55

'Celebrate' was another song that actually improved in a live setting.  The studio version (off of 1981's "Ouch!") never did much for me.  While still a bit on the pop side, Conti's guitar solo added a bit of much needed muscle to the tune.   rating: *** stars

2.) Living for Today   (James Hopkins-Harrison - Achim Oppermann) - 4:08

Written by Hopkins-Harrison and guitarist Achim Opperman, was a bit short on the lyric side - basically the title chanted over and over, but it had one of Lake's best melodies.  Very infectious.   rating: **** stars

3.) Jamaica High   (Alex Conti - Frank Hieber - James Hopkins-Harrison) - 5:05

Hum, Scottish - German band decided to incorporate reggae in their repertoire ...  Yeah, the results were about as lame as you'd expect.  Who ever thought that 10 c.c.'s 'Bloody Tourists'  would sound good compared to this ?  rating: ** stars

4.) Key To the Rhyme   (James Hopkins-Harrison - Detlef Petersen) - 5:12

'Key To the Rhyme' was another classic tune off the debut LP.  It was also one of the tracks that showcased the band's early blend of progressive and pop genres.  The live version was pretty good with Conti and the keyboardists getting a bit of spotlight time.  rating: *** stars

5.) Chasing Colours   (James Hopkins-Harrison - Detlef Petersen) - 4:12

Another favorite off the debut, the live version of  'Chasing Colours' seemed to drag a bit.  Blame Hopkins-Harrison who simply seemed to have run out of steam.   rating: ** stars

 

Clearly not a breakout set, CBS didn't even bother releasing the set in the States, explaining why it takes a bit of diligence to track down a copy. (Nice to see the company spent lots of time and money on the cover art.)  Not a big surprise, CBS subsequently dropped them Lake its recording roster.