Samson "Live At Reading '81"

Samson were a British heavy metal band formed in 1977 by guitarist and vocalist Paul Samson. They are best known for their first three albums with future Iron Maiden singer Bruce Dickinson, then known as "Bruce Bruce", and drummer Thunderstick (real name Barry Graham Purkis), who wore a leather mask and performed on stage in a metal cage. Drummer Clive Burr was also a member of the band, both before and after his tenure with Iron Maiden. Dickinson's replacement on vocals, Nicky Moore, performed with Samson throughout the mid-1980s and again from the late 1990s onwards. Samson were a part of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal.

Live at Reading 1981 was the second live album released by Samson. This was recorded in 1981 at the Reading Festival, with singer Bruce Dickinson, just before he left the band to join Iron Maiden.

Live at Reading '81 has been issued on CD numerous times, including editions by Raw Fruit (UK, 1990), Grand Slamm (US, 1990), Repertoire (Germany, 1990), Jimco (Japan, 1990), Bruce Dickinson's short lived Air Raid label (UK, 2000), Castle Music (UK, 2001), and Dissonance Productions (UK, 2017). The Castle and Dissonance versions include 3 bonus tracks, "Red Skies", "Turn Out the Lights" and "Firing Line", 2-track recordings from a June 1981 rehearsal for the Shock Tactics tour. "Red Skies" and "Turn Out the Lights" were subsequently recorded with new vocalist Nicky Moore for the band's 1982 studio album, Before the Storm.

The song "Gravy Train" was re-worked and appears as "I'll Be 'Round" on Before the Storm.

Track list

1. "Big Brother" - 6:14
2. "Take It Like a Man" - 4:10
3. "Nice Girl" - 3:21
4. "Earth Mother" - 5:06
5. "Vice Versa" - 5:27
6. "Bright Lights" - 2:54
7. "Walking Out on You" - 9:11
8. "Hammerhead" - 3:36
9. "Riding with the Angels" - 5:22
10. "Gravy Train" - 7:24

All titles composed by Samson/Thunderstick/Aylmer/Dickinson

Track 1 by John McCoy/Paul Samson

Track 9 by Russ Ballard

Track 10 by Samson/Aylmer/Dickinson

Recording information:

Recorded at the Reading Festival 1981, Bruce's last Samson concert and Mel's first.

Originally produced & recorded for transmission on The Friday Rock Show, BBC Radio One.

Remixed in '90.