Seems to be a soundboard but with serious recording deficits on Marks voice which is audible but distorted. Officially released on Cog Sinister COGVP114CD in 1999 as "Live 1977".
The only available full gig from 1977. The two tracks on the "Live at the Electric Circus" release being the only material commercially available from the gruppe's first year. Research advises that there are no other gigs available from the first year - where approx 18 known dates were played. So all in all a bit of a "need to have". Also notable as Tony Friels' last gig with the band. Other unique matter being the appearance of John The Postman - Manc punk icon of the time.
Also the rare "Dresden Dolls" plus the early take on "Hey! Student" as "Hey! Fascist" and an early take on "Copped It" listed as "Cop it" which is not a million miles removed from the "TWAFWOTF" version.
Amazingly also the first hearing of "Oh Brother" the opening riff of which bares a passing resemblance to "Telephone Thing" and the keyboard part played by Una not unsimilar to something Jamaican.
The other unique thing is Mark sharing lead vocal duties with John Ormerod on a completely manic and sloppy "Louie Louie" which features a ridiculously innappropriate harmonica backing and a barking mad end session which is a unique listening experience.
Putting aside the irritating "needle hits red" vocal dynamics this is captivating stuff. Given what was going down at the time this is just as refreshing, shocking and frightening nearly 30 years later as it must have been then. It makes the tired and tedious contrived show business semi-panto punk nonsense that was coming out of the capital at the time a flimsy disappointing memory of kohl and leather.
Some notable asides from the evening
"Stop F**king spitting" (Bramah) followed by "You spit in the sky, it falls in your eye" (Smith)
and the following from a spiky 19 year old MES
"John Tindall thinks the Fall are Jungle Negro Music""
"It's Christmas, Santa never comes for junkies"
"This song was written round here, it's for the people round here - Industrial Estates"
"Must have plenty of money you lot the amount of f**king beer you're throwing over here - if you don't want your drink just give it me you don't have to throw it over me"
"We have mouth trouble at the front of the stage - our saliva cannot be kept in its mouth"
"Pop people for today's people - the same old fried egg - Oh Brother"
"I don't know about you but I aint got a mother so I have to wash me shirts meself"
"Good night thanks for the water"
"Goodbye" (Friel) cut-off by Smith "No no f*ck off ...Futures and Pasts c'mon get on with it"
"This is the bass players last gig - give him a round of applause"
"Its like losing your left leg" (Bramah)
Most of the above clearly reference the penchant for audiences to ape the punk mores of the time of spitting on the bands.
This is damn good. If you like The Fall you need to get it. Despite the cruddy sound its a gem. You get a lot of the early singles and a lot of the first album - spookily not to be recorded until twelve months later - in its primal form.