Part of America Therein 1981 [Original recording remastered, Import]

This takes a few listens. There's a nice, quaintly American-sounding MC that kicks off the record live on the mic with the sort of classic American-MC glaze that sounds a wee bit odd in juxtaposition to The Fall. And so, justly appropriate for a man with all the English bitters to make fun of this bastard side-project gone loose from the Queen.

Then, we have a slower, building-tempo rendition of "Grotesque"(album) great, "N.W.A." Complete with the Fall's earlier dabblings in kazoo. It sounds funky. Definitely the sound of fledgling beginnings, searching things out. And this is one of the things that it takes a few listens to acclimate to. If ever, as far as the kazoo goes.

After three listens, I start catching on to the ground elements in each of the numbers, it no longer sounds offensive to album renditions, there's a good roll to all of them, and I find myself chanting out with "heart-out" as Mark E. Smith belts along, "A ses-sion mu-SI-ciaannn! ... A ses-sion mu-SI-ciaannn! ... A ses-sion mu-SI-ciaannn! ..." It's good times.

Ahh, the early years of "Scanley" Fall (Craig Scanlon/ Steve Hanley). In America! The album is curiously divided where the first half is "The North Side" - songs live in Chicago and New York - and the second half is "The South Side" - songs in Memphis, Houston and one in San Francisco - which is very cute for an Englishman. Those are eight songs, and the additional 4 bonus tracks on this Expanded Edition does a good job to round out the release and make it a meal.

This album, like the other live one "Totale's Turns" from a year before, contains some happenin' moments of Mr. Smith talking with the audience/himself to fill in the spaces, as when the band's keyboard malfunctions - "You're getting something unique." This one is not as raucous as Totale's manically free-spirited Turns, but that's not to say it isn't rockin'. It's rockin'.

Not an essential Fall album. The bulk of songs do a solid job of rendition, but not much else. Still, a good pick-up for fans. As the long write-up of liner notes in the 2004 Expanded Edition notes (not a great write-up, but info-providing), Mark spent more of his lyrical adjustments on this U.S. tour not so much making fun of the U.S. but of the faux, leather-strapped Britishness of some of his colleagues who were quite popular at the time. Notably, The Clash. There is therefore an extended-lyrics version of "Middle Mass" which quite probably is the pinnacle showing of all of the song's various releases. Really captures the spirit of the thing and goes into it on the lyrics. Top notch. "Container Drivers" (In Boston) follows up and rollicks like it's meant to be. If "Middle Mass" and likewise bonus track "Session Musician" (In New Orleans) (and the kazoo makes a return! But not till minute five!) were not tacked onto the original release here, this album would be much more just another live Fall release amongst the many. Instead, it has its points and peaks. Across the map.

If you're gonna choose between this 2004, bonus-tracks-from-the-same-tour-with-different-cities release or the earlier 1992 release without the bonus tracks but tacked to the 6-song EP "Slates" (which is also prime), I'd go for the purely tour album with the saucy bonus tracks. Good meal. This 2004 release is not so much the "Expanded Edition" as it is the "Proper Edition." The bonus not only beefs up the meat but finishes with solid send-off. (They do a good job matching up the songs with the cities, too.)

Therefore, a swell, unessential pick-up for Fall fans, and anyone else who has a special interest in 1981. Back when Ronny Reagan was still trying to pick up the pieces.

"It's the middle mass. Vulturous in the aftermath."

To think the original release ended in Memphis. ... "Mersey."

› Go to Amazon.com to see the review  3.0 out of 5 stars