Poison – Swallow This Live (Release Year – 1991)
Tonight at 11:30, on July 13th 2007, Poison hits the stage as the Headlining Band on Day 2 of the Rocklahoma Music Festival.
Luckily, I saw Poison play live a few weeks ago, so I am not as broken up about missing them play live as I am some of the other bands on the Rocklahoma Music Festival. When they hit Cincinnati, they put on one of the best live shows, that I have ever seen them do, and would gladly go to see them play live again. Until that day
happens, I have a copy of Poison’s 1991 2 CD Set, Swallow This Live.
Some people don’t like live CD’s. I used to dislike them at one point in time, but I enjoy them now more than ever. There is nothing better than capturing the energy of a live show on CD. Swallow This Live does a very good job and capturing a live Poison show while they were in their prime.
Amazingly, Poison still sounded this good when I saw them live a few short weeks ago. The CD includes a drum solo by Rikki Rockett and a guitar solo by CC Deville, so it really gives you the feel of being at a live show. The collection also includes a few bonus studio tracks, So Tell Me Why, Souls on Fire, Only Time Will Tell, and No More Lookin’ Back. This doesn’t enhance the live experience, but it is nice to have a few studio tracks that weren’t available anywhere else.
After listening to Swallow This Live from beginning to end, it only made me envy those lucky folks heading to Rocklahoma today. They are bound to see a great show from Poison tonight when they close out the 2nd day of festivities.
If you don’t own Swallow This Live, pick it up! It is essential for all Poison fans.
Rating: 
Out of 10
Track Listing:
Disc: 1
1. Intro
2. Look What The Cat Dragged In
3. Look But You Can’t Touch
4. Let It Play
5. Good Love
6. Life Goes On
7. Ride The Wind
8. I Want Action
9. Drum Solo
10. Something To Believe In
11. Poor Boy Blues
12. Unskinny Bop
Disc: 2
1. Love On The Rocks
2. Guitar Solo
3. Every Rose Has Its Thorn
4. Fallen Angel
5. You Mama Don’t Dance
6. Nothin’ But A Good Time
7. Talk Dirty To Me
8. So Tell Me Why
9. Souls On Fire
10. Only Time Will Tell
11. No More Lookin’ Back (Poison Jazz)
Leave A Comment ↓
Rock of Ages,
Poison has been a touring machine in the United States. You can pretty much count on a Poison tour every summer, and the crowds seem to get bigger. I think Poison has learned that is important to put on a great live show. When they played here locally a few weeks ago, it was by far the best live Poison show that I have ever seen. I have seen a few shows with Poison, that were not very good, but the last show I saw changed my mind about the band.
Yes, they are still very popular in the USA. Much more then LA GUNS, FASTER PUSSYCAT, PRETTY BOY FLOYD, RATT etc…
I have this cd of course but just one cd, not two cd´s. Love it.
I never got this – havn’t bought any Poison album after Flesh & Blood to be honest (though have heard Crack A Smile, Hollyweird etc).
Unfortunately my live experience of Poison actually just about signalled the end of my interest in the band. They were third on the bill at the Monsters Of Rock in 1990 after Thunder and the Quireboys but before Aerosmith and Whitesnake and they were so disappointing as a live act that it sort of cemented the thought in my mind that it was okay party rock suitable for the odd play now and again but little of long term importance to the rock world.
I understand they are still extremely popular in the USA though?
Bob,
It certainly helps my opinion to have seen Poison live. I have seen them perform several times. Swallow this Live actually did not compare to the show I saw recently, but it is pretty decent. It is the only standby I can think of for all of us poor schleps that didn’t get to see them play live Friday Night.
I actually have this one, but I’m not sure why, because I was pretty done with Poison by that point. Anyway, live albums are a tough game and so many of them, even from good bands, fail in one of two ways. They’re either poorly recorded (usually the case with smaller bands) or they’re so clean that they lose the live energy (usually the case with bigger bands). There are exceptions, but Swallow This Live is not one of them. It falls prey to the second problem. It may not be the worst live album ever (that honor may go to Pink Floyd’s Pulse which sounds like it was in the studio), but it isn’t one that’s worth hearing either. I’ve never seen Poison live, but a lot of people think they’re a top live act.I hope they’re better than what’s documented here.
I wonder if the fact that you’ve seen them amkes this a better record for you. I wonder if it evokes real memories of good shows you’ve seen whereas for me, it’s the only glimpse I have of what they sound like live.