I had a tough time finding a copy of this CD.'Heroin Hates You' was recorded at a Los Angeles gig in November, 1979. From the sound quality, I believe this may have been a soundboard recording. This is the title's first authorized release as it's been put out before as a 2-lp bootleg. So,when you get 'Heroin...', you won't get side four of the boot. Rest assure, this is still a great archive show by the Igster. The line-up for this gig included original Sex Pistols bassist Glen Matlock and The Damned guitarist Brian James. Who could ask for more? As for the tunes, most of them are good to hear played live, I liked "Real Cool Time", "Dog Food", "New Values", "Five Foot One" and "No Fun" the best. Comes with a 16-page informative booklet. One of those CD's that's nice to play after 2 am.

This was a classic bootleg documenting Iggy's SOLDIER tour as it played Los Angeles. It's from a KROQ broadcast, and though some will quibble with the dodgy mix it remains one of the best quality live recordings from this "super-group" period in Iggy's long career, thus making it a must have item for collectors of live Iggy. Less well-known is a corresponding broadcast from KSAN in San Francisco the week previous, a show I attended. As far as I know (which is not much) this show hasn't been legitimately (or even ill-legitimately) released, yet it is the superior performance. The band is tighter and rocks harder. I remember being shocked with how sloppy the playing was on Heroin when I first heard it back in its vinyl incarnation. Iggy and band played several nights at Wolfgang's, a smaller SF club run by Bill Graham. The venue hosted many great punk/new wave acts from that period. The live Television CD issued by Rhino Handmade several years ago was sourced from a radio broadcast originating from there, so here's hoping that a companion release to Heroin Hates You, one that captures Iggy in better form, will materialize at some point.

this album is fantastic! the only thing i wish it had is side 4 of the original vinyl. other than that its 1 of the best live iggy recordings ive ever heard!

First off, why five stars?

Why not...the "problematic" sound quality is actually rather good.

The concert itself is excellent, demanding listening...it's not pop (small p), it's not "radio-friendly" (ironically since it's from a radio broadcast)....but does it pull you in and make you part of that world for the hour and a quarter of its duration? It certainly does!

It is true that this release has been eclipsed a little, by the release of the excellent "Californian Hitch Hike" CD on Easy Action - from a concert around the same time (mostly from San Francisco 27th November 1979, and a little from 29th November '79).

So why this CD?

This concert, recorded at the Stardust Ballroom in Los Angeles, straight to air on Jed The Fish's programme on KROQ on 30th November 1979, is not quite in the same hi-fidelity as the above gig. The recording seems to be *almost* stereo....it's hard to tell if the soundmixers had enough on their hands mixing the sound to the venue itself or whether it's simply 'master' issues...what I do know is a stereo recording doesn't seem to have materialised so to date this is the best version we have got (sorry Easy Action...your own release of this on the Where The Faces Shine Vol 1 box set doesn't quite match up to the sound here in my opinion).

Part of me hopes a true stereo recording may surface one day, but given over thirty years have passed already, I won't hold my breath...

However, this gig really packs a punch, and certain tracks (China Girl, Real Cool Time and Knockin' Em Down In The City) are better than the versions on the aforementioned California...CD.

Moreoever, this concert is packed with bizarre, hectoring rants by Iggy...seemingly to troublemakers in the crowd, although surprisingly, Ivan Kral implies in the sleevenotes to the California CD that Iggy would actually be directing such rants at the most fervent fans in the crowd, who loved it!

It's an experience to savour...I used to listen to this concert complete, on tape, on journeys to London for record shopping in the 80's, and it made the day special.

Now, along with the California Hitch Hike CD too, I have a pair of souvenirs of two storming gigs Iggy did just before the 70's turned into the 80's, that I was too young and far away to attend, but I feel that have become part of my life.

Make them part of yours and see what you are missing!

I am a huge Iggy fan. I own all official Iggy / Stooges albums and many "unofficial" or bootleg releases. The sound quality on this CD is poor. The sound is muffled throughout and you can hear the "tape hiss" during quiet sections. However the show itself is really good. I recommend this for Iggy completists and for its historical value of a recording with Glen Matlock (Sex Pistols) and Brian James (The Damned).