Television had a brief three year run that left a legacy of one of the most brillant debut albums in rock history ("Marquee Moon") an adequate follow up ("Adventure") a brillant 1975 45 only "Little Johnny Jewel" and for those of us who saw them live memories of a great live act. This album "The blow-up" has been floating around since 1979 in at least four diffent forms. While this album is one of the better documents of a Television concert it has always sufferred from a poor mix and fair to poor sound. Having said that this verson should be considered strongly for purchase by any serious Televison fan who does not own the prior versions or for guitar freaks.

My original interest in this album stems form the fact that I saw the final show at The Bottom Line of Televisions' farewell 1978 tour. Suffice it to say it was the greatest live show I have ever seen. Therefore I have always searched with limited success for a great document of this tour. The original version was a 1979 bootleg on Arrow records which contains half of the current CD. The next three versons an ROIR tape and two CD's have all been the same and sound the same. In fact all three mislabel the opening cut "The BLow-Up" when in fact it is a cover of The Thirteenth Floor Elevators' "Fire Engine".

Now to this version. It contains 13 songs recorded as best I can tell from at least differnt 1978 concerts with "all tracks selected by Tom Verlaine". Disk two has far better sound which is lucky because it opens with the absolute highlight of the package and most Television concerts an amazing 15 minutes of "little Jonny Jewel" which is not on either of the two Television Cds. The two guitar breaks should convince most that Verlaine is a world class guitarist. Other highlights include a cover of "Satisfaction" which contrary to the Amazon review is not ordinary. Listen carefuly to the first solo which is Lloyd. Live he would do un-worldly things with his guitar strings on this the final encore. Other highlights from the first poorer sounding disk include a first rate cover of "Knockin on Heavens Door" and a fine version of "Aint that Nothin' form "Adventure". Note to all. Do not give up when you hear the sound on the opening cut. It gets better as the CD goes on.

Someday Electra will correctly re-master the first two cd's and perhaps even mix and clean up this live album. Maybe even collect an anthology of "LJJ",the early Neon Boys 45, the Eno produced demo tapes, the two cd,s and the many unrelleased tracks including "Double Exposure". Until then this CD "The blow up" as imperfect as it is, is all we have to document one of the most original and exciting live bands ever.

If you havent heard Television and want to learn the origins of todays and tomorrows rock, than buy this record. Everyone seems to only mention Tom Verlaines work, but its the virtuosity of the guitar interplay that occurs between Richard Lloyd and Tom Verlaine (2 geniuses of the guitar) that make this band extraordinary (and Tom Verlains haunting vocals).

I am amazed by their last studio effort in '92 which almost surpasses Marquee Moon and Adventure. I saw them live in '92 at Roseland in NYC and was amazed how fresh and new this band still sounded. No other band compares. Kudo's to Bono for mentioning Television and Patti Smith as their main influences during this years rock and roll hall of fame. I wish other bands would admit their ideas were borrowed if not stolen from these legendary bands and composers.

Catch them while you can and buy their albums!

The whole show must have sounded great live, but on this cd it reaches greatness only in parts. However,it is worth owning just for those transcendental moments alone. If you've already heard Television's two studio albums, and love the sound of an electric guitar, the 14+ minute version of Little Johnny Jewel will astound you. I didn't think it was humanly possible to do what I've heard here with a mere guitar or two. Since the original studio version of LJJ is very hard to find, and this is the best live version of the song available, well, need I say more? The other amazing moment on this 2-cd set is Television's version of Bob Dylan's "Knockin' on Heaven's Door." This is the most exciting cover of that song I've ever heard, partly because Television make it sound as their own composition. The other songs are good to hear if you're a real fan, but most of them are marred by a poor recording quality. Coincedently, the two songs mentioned above, besides being superior performances, are also clearer in recording quality also, and are alone worth getting the 2-cd set. (Hint: try E-bay)

"Blow UP" an apt title for the exlosiveness of this live document. Around for Years as a "boot" (arrow) then cassette only (roir) Many different COVER PHOTOS same content. And what CONTENT !!! Many songs do "*sound better* on the LP/CDs" (Marque Moon, Adventure) BUT thats not the point.Point is Verlaine and Co. Played "looser" with "risk" and experimentation as a live unit. Recorded after two Brilliant (and polished) studio offerings this is Television RAW. Hell, I would pay the asking price simply for the 16- min live version of TV's First single "Little Johnny Jewell". Verlaine as madcap freak guitar genious !!! Think of the great solos Hendrix - Watchtower, Quine - betrayal, Fripp- "babys on fire"... and on... Then play "little Johnny Jewell" The atonalisms of Thelonious Monk, The Modal Phrasings, of latter day Coltrane, the quirkiness of Quine, Sharrok, and Ulmer..and so much more. As a Musician for 30+ years I still revisit the cathardic, anrgy, "in the zone", eyes rolled back beauty of Verlaine's solo's for wonderment and inspiration. Think of this...Thats ust track four disc two ! My God. While in my opinion the REST of "Blow - UP" falls short of "L.J.J." Ya gotta say "how the hell could it NOT?" The Rest of the (Discs (2)) songs are not "the cake that holds the icing" not by a long shot. Marquee Moon, Satisfaction, Heavens Door, Ai'nt that nothin', serve as further Havens for Verlaines Ugly-beauty-Guitar-angst. While Prove It, Foxhole, See No Evil, etc. showcase the BAND and thier intricate but "free-Loose" interplay. If you love guitar this is the record for you. i WOULD FURTHER tell how essential this CD is BUT ...writing this has me in a fit to PLAY the CD...

Yes, it's historically important. But does it (this collection of recordings) hold up on its own as a valid musical experience?

Well, many of the tunes are inferior to the LP versions. BUT - the 15-minute "Little Johnnie Jewel" - WHOA! It's Television at their finest, and goes well beyond the original song. A massive groove and a massive performance. The versions of "Knockin' On Heaven's Door" and "Satisfaction" are suitably sloppy, and worth hearing also.

So, Television fans need a copy of this.