Merseytrout [Limited Edition]

Recorded live in Liverpool, England in 1980.
This hefty 21-song set was recorded live in 1980 in Liverpool, England and released for the first time twenty years later. This was Beefheart's last European tour and his Magic Band was comprised of most of the same players who appeared on ICE CREAM FOR CROW and its predecessor, DOC AT THE RADAR STATION. These younger players were well versed in the classic early releases from a decade prior. They're as capable with such thorny numbers as "My Human Gets Me Blues" and "Veteran's Day Poppy" (both from TROUT MASK REPLICA), as they are with then current fare such as the masterful and daunting "Sheriff OF Hong Kong." The sound quality is good, capturing the room ambiance and audience excitement. Some edits at the end of songs are abrupt, but this remains a fine document of Beefheart's final fling with touring and the music business.