Search - Eddie & Hot Rods :: Live & Rare

Moderately Appealing Odds And Ends

Eric R. Last | San Bruno, CA United States | 09/10/2004

(3 out of 5 stars)

""Live And Rare", from 1993, collects 11 tracks from 3 different sources. First, there are 6 tracks from the 1985 EP "One Story Town", which were recorded live in concert in France that same year. These are by far the best tracks on this collection. The 1985 edition of the Hot Rods featured only 2 original members from the band's late 70's heyday, but they acquit themselves admirably on Hot Rods classics like "Do Anything You Wanna Do", "Quit This Town" and "Teenage Depression", as well as turning in a very appealing cover of the Nils Lofrgren/GRIN song "Moon Tears". Next up are "Fought For You" and a cover of Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Hey Tonight". These studio recordings were originally released in 1983 as a 45 RPM single. They are only marginally interesting. Finally we have 3 tracks from the mid 70's which were demos that pre-date their debut album recorded for Island Records. These demos are not very well recorded, and though they may interest the fanatics, they don't do much for me.



Note: In 1994, a year after this collection appeared, another, similar collection, "Ties That Bind (Further Live And Rare Temptations)", was released by DOJO Limited in England. "Ties That Bind" recycles some of the same tracks, specifically three of the live "One Story Town" songs, as well as the "Hey Tonight" B-Side."