Recorded on December 15, 1988, during the tour for
Talk Is Cheap
,
Live at the Hollywood Palladium
is a loose, groove-laden affair, featuring the best from
Keith Richards
' first solo album as well as some
Stones
classics -- mostly tunes he took lead vocals on. Opening with
"Take It So Hard,"
the first thing that hits the listener is the lack of the gloss that was probably the only drawback to
, which is a very good thing, because while the album was still leaps and bounds more real than, say,
Dirty Work
, this live collection is loose without ever getting away from the band, and has an organic feel not present in
the Stones
' work since the early '70s. Rockers like
"Whip It Up"
and
"Struggle"
swagger, while
Sarah Dash
shines on
"Make No Mistake"
"Time Is On My Side."
Richards
even manages to get into the
reggae
groove without sounding too cliched on
"Too Rude."
is a solid live album that stands head and shoulders above most of
' live records, and is easily a must-have for any serious
Rolling Stones
or
fan. ~ Chris True