Album Review – David Bowie– Welcome to the Blackout (Live ’78) (Parlophone)
Review by Geoff Jenke
On a warm and clear night, 18th November 1978, David Bowie played at Adelaide Oval. If, like me, you were there, this is the album for you. I have a copy of the set list from that show and this album is almost song for song to what he played in Adelaide.
This is the 3rd David Bowie live album to be released in just over the past year and is the best. Bowie had moved on from The Spiders from Mars era and was “straightening” out his image. He was living in Berlin and had just released two “different” studio albums in Low and Heroes, albums darker than anything he had previously released. Timeline wise, this album was recorded only a couple months after the Stage live album (released 1978) and is superior to the Stage album because the band had evolved into a hot act.
This live album was culled from two shows at Earl’s Court London, 30 June and 1 July 1978. The first CD (it was previously released as a 3 LP set) is mainly Bowie’s (at the time) newer work. Tracks from the Low and Heroes albums dominate. The set opens with the instrumental Warszawa, a dark, low key start before exploding into Heroes. The song had yet become the classic it will become but already is explosive. The Jean Genie is the sole track from the “older” Bowie catalogue. Sense of Doubt, Sound and Vision, Breaking Glass and Fame are rolled out in quick succession and are all now classic songs.
In 1978 at Adelaide Oval I am sure we wanted the older tracks and they came. CD 2 opens with Five Years (the pick of the songs at Adelaide Oval for the second half) and we also get Hang on To Yourself, Ziggy Stardust and Suffragette City amongst others. A surprising cover of The Doors Alabama Song (Whiskey Bar) works well and the closing trio of TVC 15, Stay and Rebel Rebel slam dunk the set.
So, if you were at Adelaide on that barmy November evening in 1978, crack a glass of red, sit back and relive the night.
If you were not there, this album is also for you. Bowie in fine form is always a joy and something to behold.
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