Randall M. Benton | Ridgway, PA United States | 07/17/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is by far the most entertaining Village People album the group ever put together. The live stuff is good fun...even if "Y.M.C.A." has been played to death by every DJ, sporting event and wedding reception known to mankind. That said, "In The Navy," "Hot Cop" et al. are well done.The true GREATNESS of this one comes from the studio cuts that are simply the best tunes Village People ever released. My favorite all-time VP song (hands down) is "Rock N' Roll Is Back Again." I saw them "perform" this on Dick Clark's 'New Year's Rockin' Eve '79-'80" and was floored. I also saw them do it (another lip-synch) on the Playboy Roller Disco Party at Hef's pad in '79...and it killed! CLASSIC non-disco Village People (although the beat is still there!)The other great songs: "Ready For The '80's," (another VP Classic!)"Save Me," (Alex Briley-led ballad deluxe) and "Sleazy" (David Hodo's grimy sleazefest) have lost none of their shine in the 25 years since they were unleashed. The one down moment is the uptempo version of "Save Me" which simply sounds like filler for lack of material.Village People were all about fun. Campy and exagerated. No more - no less. I never cared that their sexual habits got more publicity than their music. This album is ALL about the music. Listen to "Live And Sleazy" and you'll hear one of the last great gasps of the dying disco phenomenon. Too bad in a way because it sure sounds likes Village People were just hitting their stride. ENJOY!"
I Remember When.....
Randall M. Benton | 10/15/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Even though the original songs were released more than 20 years ago, it still gets your heart pumping and remembering "when".... Into excercise? Put this bad boy on and pedal your bike or Nordic track yourself into a frenzy!My particular favorite is "Save Me" done as a ballad. It's not what you expect from them...Geez, I love "disco"...what ever happened to the Village People?"
Cool
Jason | Baltimore, MD | 10/20/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I was born after these guys broke up, but that doesnt mean that i dont enjoy disco. I heard this album by accident, and bought it because it's essentially a "best of" album. With great hits like "Macho Man," "In the Navy," and of course "Y.M.C.A," this CD gets you dancing. Although I'm not really a fan of the "Save Me" ballad, i can respect the fact that these six unique individuals have the ability to slow down the pace as well as kicking it with their better known up tempo disco. This CD just puts me in a good mood, so I encourage everyone, young and old, to buy it."
Makes you dance!!!!
j quig | 10/27/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"
this cd is great, makes you want to dance, i love the village people"
Live and Whatever, Just Buy It!
KRA | East End of LI | 01/24/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Following in the lines of Donna Summer's Live and More, and Millie Jackson's Live and Uncensored (see my reviews), we have The Village People's Live and Sleazy, from late 1979. Live albums became a vogue in the 1970's and the best ones helped to validate the stars and the worse show who were wannabes.
Simply put The Village people could sing, above the camp and the gay stereotypes, these Men could vocally deliver, and here they are backed by a full live band. Taped during their 1979 tour, the live section features their biggest hits, YMCA, Macho Man, and In The Navy, with 3 of their earliest songs, Fire Island, San Fancisco, and Hollywood. The directness of Fire Island, and San Francisco may have gone over the heads of their mainstream fans, but to the tribe, we understood perfectly (see my review of their first album).
The studio recordings here were supposed to transition the group from the 70's to the 80's, but a fickle public
saw the group as Disco and little else. Ready For The 80's and Sleazy both received heavy rotation on the pre-MTV show, Video Jukebox, and they are both good Pop songs (Sleazy is far tamer than it's name implies).
Rock N Roll Is Back Again was another Pop song that seemed to aknowledge that Disco was fizzling at least to the masses.
This release that we now happily have on CD, is good, sleazy, American Fun, Village People style.