"Past Lives" - Black Sabbath
Although perhaps not as blatant as the licensing of Pete Townshend's publishing empire to sell things like allergy medicine and Hummers ("The Who Sell Out" indeed), this still smells suspiciously like the harbingers of doom are padding their coffers for retirement and, as far as Ozzy Osbourne is concerned, that day won't come a minute too soon.
This two-disc set combines 1980's UK-only "Live At Last" with a second disc of nine previously unreleased live tracks, all recorded by the original Sabs lineup (and really the only one that matters). The packaging is dicey (nice photos but pedestrian liner notes and no date or venue information for the second disc) and the sound quality is spotty, but it's still a treat to hear authentic 70's chug like this by a band at the peak of its power.
Before Paul Weller hired a brass section, started wearing ski sweaters, and trying to sing blue-eyed soul, The Jam were three angry young men who played loud fast songs with loud fast words, with a decidedly British slant. This three-disc set compiles Peel sessions and live tracks dating from 1977-1981, when The Clash weren't the only band that mattered.
