Fall Live At The Witch Trials CD

The long, strange saga of the Fall, arguably the UK's first post-punk band, begins with LIVE AT THE WITCH TRIALS. The group's 1979 debut album was recorded in-studio (despite its title) during a single day, fully capturing the urgency of both the times and the music. Punk poet Mark E. Smith and his ragtag crew had actually been playing in one form or another since '77, so their sound here is surprisingly mature.

Nevertheless, there are some obvious differences between WITCH TRIALS and the style the Fall would develop over the next few years. While the jagged, angular guitars, herky-jerky rhythms, and apocalypse-now lyrics are all in place, there's more of a link to the past; a number of the songs are built around what could almost be conventional blues-rock riffs, and the Ginsberg-goes-to-Manchester frenzy of Smith's best-known material hasn't quite been reached here. Still, this is bold, striking stuff, new territory being gamely charted out by the band, who could never have guessed how seminal WITCH TRIALS would become. This expanded, two-disc edition also features no less than 38 (!) bonus tracks, including singles, compilation cuts, and concert and radio recordings preceding the album session. These generous additions make this a Fall collector's paradise.

Nevertheless, there are some obvious differences between WITCH TRIALS and the style the Fall would develop over the next few years. While the jagged, angular guitars, herky-jerky rhythms, and apocalypse-now lyrics are all in place, there's more of a link to the past; a number of the songs are built around what could almost be conventional blues-rock riffs, and the Ginsberg-goes-to-Manchester frenzy of Smith's best-known material hasn't quite been reached here. Still, this is bold, striking stuff, new territory being gamely charted out by the band, who could never have guessed how seminal WITCH TRIALS would become.

2004 expanded deluxe reissue of 1979 album features 41 tracks including 30 bonus tracks. Disc one contains 10 of the bonus tracks, 'Bingo-Master's Break-Out', 'Psycho Mafia', 'Repetition', 'It's A New Thing', 'Various Times', 'Dresden Dolls', 'Psycho Mafia', 'Industrial Estate', 'Stepping Out', & 'Last Orders'. Disc two is a bonus disc containing 20 extra tracks, featuring 8 BBC session tracks, 'Rebellious Juke Box', 'Mother-Sister', 'Industrial Estate', 'Futures & Pasts' (BBC Session 6/15/78), 'Put Away', 'Mess Of My', 'No Xmas For John Quay', 'Like To Blow' (BBC Session 12/6/78), along with 12 tracks from Liverpool 1978, 'Like To Blow', 'Stepping Out', 'Two Steps Back', 'Mess Of My', 'It's The New Thing', 'Various Times', 'Bingo-Master's Break-Out', 'Frightened', 'Industrial Estate', 'Psycho Mafia', 'Music Scene', & 'Mother-Sister!'. Includes expansive booklet & housed in a slipcase. Castle.

Includes bonus tracks.

All tracks have been digitally remastered.

U.K. issue features eight bonus tracks.Q (5/02 SE, p.137) - 3 stars out of 5 - Included in Q's "100 Best Punk Albums" - "...The Fall's splenetic riffs echoed punk's disdain for profeciency....These songs about junkies, paranoia and time travel rallied any kind of consensus, particularly one based on liberal idealism..."
Q (5/02 SE, p.137) - 3 stars out of 5 - Included in Q's "100 Best Punk Albums" - "...The Fall's splenetic riffs echoed punk's disdain for profeciency....These songs about junkies, paranoia and time travel rallied any kind of consensus, particularly one based on liberal idealism..."
Mojo (Publisher) (3/03, p.76) - Ranked #46 in Mojo's "Top 50 Punk Albums" - "...Stop-start DIY rock that rejoiced in its anti-professionalism, it was the quintessential independent record..."
Mojo (Publisher) (3/03, p.76) - Ranked #46 in Mojo's "Top 50 Punk Albums" - "...Stop-start DIY rock that rejoiced in its anti-professionalism, it was the quintessential independent record..."