As requested, here’s the funk-tastic heavy LIVING COLOUR debut “Vivid [digitally remastered +5]“, one of the best rocking albums from 1988, certified double platinum by the RIAA.In 1988, few metal bands were comprised of all black members, and fewer had the talent or know-how to inject different musical forms into their hard rock sound (funk, punk, jazz, soul, rap) – but N.Y.C.’s Living Colour proved to be an exception.
The group’s music has held up over time, thanks to its originality, execution and distictive sound. This remastered reissue sound million bucks, appending five worthwhile bonus tracks: “Funny Vibe (Funky Vibe Mix),” a cover of the Clash’s classic “Should I Stay or Should I Go?,” a live version of “Middle Man,” a remix of “What’s Your Favorite Color?,” and a hot live version of “Cult of Personality.”
Living Colour leader/guitarist Vernon Reid spent years honing his six-string chops, and was one of the most respected guitarists in New York’s underground scene. He couldn’t have done a better job selecting members for his new rock band — singer Corey Glover, bassist Muzz Skillings, and drummer Will Calhoun — as their now-classic debut, ”Vivid”, proves.
Though the album was released in mid-1988, it picked up steam slowly, exploding at the year’s end with the hit single/MTV anthem “Cult of Personality,” which merged an instantly recognizable Reid guitar riff and lyrics that explored the dark side of world leaders past and present (and remains LC’s best-known song).
The album was also incredibly consistent, as proven by the rocker “Middle Man” (which contains lyrics from a note penned by Glover, in which he pondered suicide); the funky, anti-racist “Funny Vibe”; the touching “Open Letter (To a Landlord)”; plus, the poppy rock of “Glamour Boys.”
Add to it an inspired reading of Talking Heads’ “Memories Can’t Wait,” the Zeppelin-esque “Desperate People,” and two complex love songs (“I Want to Know” and “Broken Hearts”), and you have one of the finest hard rock albums of the ’80s – and for that matter, all time.
01 – Cult Of Personality
02 – I Want To Know
03 – Middle Man
04 – Desperate People
05 – Open Letter (To A Landord)
06 – Funny Vibe
07 – Memories Can’t Wait
08 – Broken Hearts
09 – Glamour Boys
10 – What’s Your Favorite Color?
11 – Which Way To America
BONUS TRACKS:
12 – Funny Vibe (Funky Vibe Mix)
13 – Should I Stay Or Should I Go
14 – What’s Your Favorite Color (Theme Song) (LeBlanc Remix)
15 – Middle Man (Live)
16 – Cult Of Personality (Live)
Corey Glover – vocals
Vernon Reid – guitars
Muzz Skillings – bass
Will Calhoun – drums
Mick Jagger – harmonica on track 8, backing vocals on track 9
Chuck D – rapping on track 6
Flavor Flav – social commentary on track 6
The Fowler Family – additional backing vocals on tracks 2 and 5
Dennis Diamond – carnival barker on track 8