Saturday, 25 November, 1978 – Prestwich Hospital Social Club, Bury, England

Stepping Out
Bingo Master’s Breakout
Rebellious Jukebox
Two Steps Back
No Xmas for John Quays
Put Away
Mother-Sister
Like to Blow
Mess of My
Underground Medicin
It’s the New Thing
Repetition
My Condition
Industrial Estate
Futures and Pasts
Frightened

NOTES

55 minutes

Reasonable audience taping. A touch of hiss. Mark is a bit indistinct at times. Some audience chatter but not a major problem.

Home town (village) gig just down the hill from the then chez Smith. The sound of a band getting some real purpose and strength together. Accomplished keyboard playing from Ms Pawlett. Karl’s drums tend to dominate in places. Two days later they would record their second Peel session. All in all a worthwhile listening experience as the band demonstrates their abilities to the maximum.

Smith dedicates “Mother-Sister” to “Una” and says “I know you’re out there baby….”. Here is the band moving towards its first album release some two months later in a glorious tumbling riot of noise. Smith enjoys a curious familiar banter with the audience.

A simply perfect version of “Repetition” dominates the gig. The last number before an extended encore session is played with acute attention to noise lasting a memorable 6:40. I cannot remember what I was doing this particular night but it annoys me intensely that I was a mile or so down the road (probably in a pub in Broughton drinking crap lager) and I was not aware this gig was going on.

Interesting for the first known recorded version of the unreleased “My Condition” which is a keyboard driven rant replete with drum rolls, skinny guitar and squeals and squeaks from Smith. Bramah interestingly presages the riff from “A Figure Walks” part way through the song giving more than a hint that this song would eventually morph into the song from “Dragnet”.

Also first recorded versions of “Put Away” and “Underground Medecin”.

The core of “Live at the Witch Trials” is here in all its protean glory.

Essential.