Friday, 23 October 1981 ~ Manchester University

This was my first Fall gig and, in retrospect, what a good one. The venue is now known as The Academy (where The Fall last played in October 2005
Good quality audience tape. Vocals very clear. Some hiss. I received this CD in a trade ~ many thanks Clayts
CD > EAC > FLAC Front End (Level 8)
Once again, why write a review, when it has already been admirably done by young Bob Eccles. Visit his site frequently at http://falllivehistory.blogspot.com/

1.	Tune up (0:39)
2.	Slates, Slags, etc. (08:02)
3.	Fortress (1:40)
4.	Middle Mass Explanation (1:07)
5.	Middle Mass (4:48)
6.	Fantastic Life (6:47)
7.	New Face in Hell (7:35)
8.	Look, Know (5:28)
9.	Jawbone and the Air Rifle (4:01)
10.	Hip Priest (8:05)
11.	Lie Dream of a Casino Soul (3:27)
12.	Just Step Sideways (3:32)
13.	Winter (9:10)
14.	Encore Call (0:39)
15.	Draygo's Guilt (3:18)
16.	Who Makes the Nazis? (5:34)

Total Gig Length = 74:03

Containing one of the two available live recordings of "Middle Mass Explanation" this is an essential recording. Smith is on fine form throughout dealing with a boisterous crowd at Manchester University with aplomb.

A muscular "Slates" kicks it off with MES not appearing until well into the song - but when he does it is with perfectly delivered bile. A short but savage "Fortress" leads to "Explanation" where Smith deals with a heckler with a perfectly delivered put down. "Middlemass" itself is jaunty and swings perfectly into a manic "Fantastic Life" which echoes its progenitor with a definite central pulse.

"New Face in Hell" is delivered at quite a pace and the twin drum line powers it along. The kazoo part from the album is played on the keyboard. "Good evening we are the swinging scones" I believe Smith intones - the kazoo enters and repeats the part previously played on the keyboard (murdered some 30 seconds before by agents of government allegedly) - Smith explains he doesn't go in for this conspiracy stuff before launching into a rapid fire delivery.

An early version of "Look Know" and a chunky "Jawbone" precede a tension packed version of "Hip Priest". Similarly short and sharp versions of "Lie Dream" and an early take on "Just Step Sideways" are delivered before an interlude of pure farce leading to an amazing version of "Winter" where Smith is barracked by and barracks back at a section of the audience which is clearly not enjoying the gig. The vast majority of the audience is clearly enjoying the gig given the warm applause at the end of "Winter".

An absolutely captivating gig demonstrating the power of a band playing at a provincial university where clearly some members of the intelligentsia haven’t quite understood what The Fall are about. Before the encores Smith sings with some irony "That was disgraceful...come on kids" before an intense and speedy "Draygo's Guilt" finishing with a mid paced "Nazis".

The alleged ‘classic’ Fall line-up – according to those look back bores

Mark E. Smith – Vocals
Craig Scanlon - Guitar, Backing Vocals
Marc Riley - Guitar, Keyboards, Backing Vocals
Steve Hanley - Bass, Backing Vocals
Paul Hanley – Drums
Karl Burns – Drums