It would be fair to say that
David Bowie saved
Iggy Pop's skinny ass more than a couple of times. In 1976, as
Iggy made strides to get his life back on track (following the demise of the seminal
Stooges), the pair would join forces on what would arguably turn out to be one of
Iggy's best solo albums,
The Idiot. The album would initiate the first in a series of love/hate collaborations between Detroit's bastard son and the Thin White Duke. With
The Idiot in the can,
Iggy set out to tour the U.K. and America, using the future
Tin Machine rhythm section of
Hunt Sales (drums) and
Tony Sales (bass), as well as
Bowie guitarist
Ricky Gardiner.
Bowie would also volunteer his services by contributing keyboards, thus enhancing the quartet's sound. This live recording, taken from the band's gig at the Agora Ballroom in Cleveland, OH, showcases
Iggy and company in all their cookie-cutter glory. It's clear from the recording (and the album's excellent liner notes) that
Iggy looked at this tour as his chance to do right. The live music that comes out of the pairing clearly shows passion but ultimately lacks the abandon of past as well as later
Iggy tours. Although well-executed and certainly well-rehearsed, songs like the cathartic "Raw Power" and "1969" are siphoned by the politeness of it all. Some, however, do work. Tracks like "Search and Destroy" and "T.V. Eye," when broken down into these slower and more orchestrated arrangements, sound good. However, other tracks like the punishing "Dirt" and the boogie-woogie, sounded-like-a-good-idea-on paper romp through "No Fun" don't deliver on the promise made by the originals. The topnotch recording itself is right off the soundboard and sounds timeless. A worthy historical document for any hardcore Pop fan. ~ John Franck