As odds-and-sods albums go, Biscuits beats the puddin’ out of Coda.
Kronomyth 3.5: If it don’t bounce back, you go hungry.
I remember listening to the Biscuits EP when it first came out. It was hours before the Lollapalooza show (the first tour) in New Jersey, and Living Colour was on the bill along with Jane’s Addiction, Ice-T, Rollins Band and some other groups (Siouxsie was a no-show). We were hanging out getting ready for the show and Biscuits was the perfect thing to whet our appetites.
Years later, I picked up the full-length Japanese release of Biscuits, which is basically the EP made into a meal. On the full-length disc, the band wears its variegated rock affections on its sleeve: Jimi Hendrix, James Brown, Talking Heads, Bad Brains, Pere Ubu, The Clash, Led Zeppelin. Eclectic even by my standards, Biscuits illustrated exactly why Living Colour defied easy categorization. The only common thread was awesomeness, which runs through Biscuits as well.
The full-length version reprises the six tracks from the EP plus a bunch of live tracks and a neat remix of Love Rears Its Ugly Head. The EP featured one new original, Money Talks, plus inspired covers of JB’s Talkin’ Loud and Sayin’ Nothing and Hendrix’ Burning of the Midnight Lamp. Those three tracks are worth the price alone and would make my list for a Best of Living Colour. Also included is a bluesy cover of Al Green’s Love and Happiness that has a good flow to it. The two live tracks from the EP, Desperate People and Memories Can’t Wait, are even better than you remember.
The remaining live tracks are a showcase for an incredibly talented quartet and one of the most inexhaustibly inventive lead guitarists of all time, Vernon Reid. Corey Glover also deserves a lot of credit for singing his heart out on every song, whether it’s by Bad Brains (Sailin’ On) or Pere Ubu (Final Solution). Given that the band never released an official live album in the 20th century, Biscuits is as close as you’ll get. Any closer and, honestly, you’d probably catch fire from the heat.
At the time of Lollapalooza, Living Colour was the one band I wanted to hear the most. After all, after hearing Biscuits, how couldn’t you be hungry for more?
Original EP version
A1. Talkin’ Loud and Sayin’ Nothing (James Brown/Bobby Byrd) (4:02)
A2. Desperate People (live) (Vernon Reid/William Calhoun/Corey Glover/Muzz Skillings) (5:34)
A3. Love and Happiness (Al Green/Mabon Hodges) (5:08)
A4. Memories Can’t Wait (live) (David Byrne/Jerry Harrison) (5:09)
A5. Burning of the Midnight Lamp (Jimi Hendrix) (5:29)
A6. Money Talks (Vernon Reid) (5:00)
Original full-length compact disc version
1. Talkin’ Loud and Sayin’ Nothing (James Brown/Bobby Byrd) (4:02)
2. Burning of the Midnight Lamp (Jimi Hendrix) (5:29)
3. Money Talks (Vernon Reid) (5:00)
4. Love and Happiness (Al Green/Mabon Hodges) (5:08)
5. Should I Stay or Should I Go (Mick Jones/John Mellor/Topper Headon/Paul Simonon) (2:27)
6. Love Rears Its Ugly Head (Soulpower US Mix) (Vernon Reid) (6:13)
7. Desperate People (live) (Vernon Reid/William Calhoun/Corey Glover/Muzz Skillings) (5:34)
8. Final Solution (live) (Tom Herman/Scott Krauss/David Thomas/Tony Maimone/Allen Ravenstine) (5:31)
9. Middle Man (live) (Vernon Reid/Corey Glover) (3:43)
10. Memories Can’t Wait (live) (David Byrne/Jerry Harrison) (5:09)
11. Information Overload (live) (Vernon Reid) (6:45)
12. The Ocean (live) (Jimmy Page/Robert Plant/John Paul Jones/John Bonham) (1:45)
13. Sailin’ On (live) (Bad Brains) (1:52)
14. Type (live) (Vernon Reid) (5:42)
15. Solace of You (live) (Corey Glover/Vernon Reid) (4:23)
The Players
William Calhoun (drums), Corey Glover (vocals), Vernon Reid (guitar), Muzz Skillings (bass) with Chris Cushman (saxophone), Lyvio G (turntables). Produced by Ron St. Germain, Ed Stasium; additional production on 6 by Soulshock & Cutfather; engineered by Paul Hamingson, Ron St. Germain, additional engineering by Lolly Grodner, live 16-track recording on 7 by Dennis Thompson; mixed by Timothy Powell, Ron St. Germain, Soulshock & Cutfather, Ed Stasium.
The Pictures
Art direction by Mark Burdett/Stacy Drummond. Photography by Charles Purvis. Additional photography by Gene Ambo, Michael Lavine, Larry Busaca, David Tan, Hideo Oida, I.M. Tao.
The Plastic
Released on CDEP and CSEP on July 16, 1991 in the US (Epic, EK/ET-47988) and Europe (Epic, 468 740), and on compact disc in 1991 in Japan (Epic, ESCA 5410). Also released as promotional CDEP in 1991 in the US (Epic, ESK 4098) with unique cover. Reached #110 on the US charts.
Hello! Just discovered yr blog. Was at that show in Jersey. Were we ever that young?