In 2020, Gang of Four made a large number of 1979-1995 live recordings available to stream on Spotify and purchase on Amazon.com.
This Spotify playlist curates the 1979 recordings - one version each of the 20 songs represented on that year’s tapes. It’s the bootleg I’d have chewed my leg off (paid $20) for back around 1979.
The first 12 tracks are the complete 2/24/79 Nashville Ballrooms, London set, which is the earliest, best sounding, and most amazing of the tapes. It documents the band four months after the release of their initial single and ahead of the recording of their first album.
Eight songs that weren’t in the February London set are picked up from two other dates.
2/24/79 Nashville Ballroom, London (full set)
- I Found that Essence Rare
- 5:45
- Anthrax
- Elevator
- Hold Up My Weekend
- Armalite Rifle
- It’s Her Factory
- Glass
- Damaged Goods
- Ether
- At Home He’s a Tourist
- Return the Gift
8/25/79 Toronto - The Edge
- Contract (early show)
- Not Great Men (early show)
- Guns Before Butter (late show)
- Rosanne (late show)
- Can’t Stand My Baby (late show)
11/22/79 Bournemouth Town Hall
- Blood Free
- Natural’s Not In It
- Information