While the sleeve states that this comes from 1990 there’s no question it actually hails from 1991. For one thing the musical focus of the concert is upon assorted tracks from Jackson’s 1991 album Laughter & Lust (at the time, a bit of a commercial comeback for the songwriter, who’d been relatively hitlist since 1982’s Night And Day). Plus, the material – judging by the pristine, pro-recording sound quality – appears to be taken from the audio portion of the official Jackson concert video, Laughter & Lust Live, recorded in Sydney on Sept. 20, 1991, and subsequently issued in ’93. It’s possible that Livewire simply goofed, but it’s also possible that the label was being deliberately deceptive so as not to unnecessarily draw the wrath of the copyright police.
That aside, it’s a superb collection of tunes and, as suggested, the sound is flawless. (Further evidence that this comes from the video soundtrack: the presence of occasional, very subtle between-song edits that were probably in the film itself.) Some of the high points include late ‘70s hits such as “Look Sharp,” “I’m The Man” and “Time” – not to mention a smokin’ reading of the great pre-Buckingham-Nicks Fleetwood Mac tune, “Oh Well.” Jackson’s band is outstanding throughout, and the singer himself is inspired.
Speaking of the band: Livewire, for some reason, decided to use live photos of Jackson’s current touring band, the Look Sharp and Volume 4 guys. So it’s somewhat off-putting to view that quartet while listening to Jackson introduce (between tracks 14 and 15) the Sydney band, which featured six players. Another complaint worth airing is that while the official video includes a song called "Jamie G." coming after “Oh Well,” that number was dropped for Livewire’s CD. (“Oh Well” is additionally mislabeled on the sleeve as “The Shape I’m In.”) Somewhat sloppy, if not altogether inexcusable, since there was plenty of space on the disc to include the tune. -- OSWALD
