Super Deluxe Reissue Of Live’s ‘Throwing Copper’ Out Now
The topped the Billboard 200 Albums chart a year after its initial release and eventually went platinum eight times over.
The new, super deluxe edition of Live’s sophomore album, Throwing Copper, is now out via Radioactive/MCA/UMe. The new edition of the album marks the 25th anniversary of the record’s initial release
The new box set edition not only features the album with bonus tracks on 2LP black vinyl, and a 12-page booklet with an in-depth interview with the band chronicling the era of the album, but it also contains 2CDs with a 26-track line-up that includes Live’s previously unreleased, explosive eight-song performance at Woodstock ’94 on a separate disc. The 25th anniversary Throwing Copper collection will also be made available in a deluxe digital version, as well as a standalone CD.
First released on 26 April 1994, Throwing Copper cemented Live’s position as one of the most instrumentally powerful and lyrically impactful bands of the modern alternative-rock era. Throwing Copper, which topped the Billboard 200 Albums chart a year after its initial release, also features a pair of No. 1 Modern Rock singles (‘Lightning Crashes,’ ‘Selling The Drama’) and has since been certified eight times multi-platinum by the RIAA, having sold over 8 million copies.
Produced by Jerry Harrison (Talking Heads) and recorded at Pachyderm Recording Studios in Cannon Falls, Minnesota, Throwing Copper built upon the earnest sonic template the tight-knit four-piece band from York, Pennsylvania established with their compelling 1991 debut album.
“Throwing Copper is big songs, big feelings, big dynamics,” observes vocalist Ed Kowalczyk. “It was us taking the cart and throwing it way ahead of the horse, and we hoped the horse would eventually catch up. We had a ‘let’s build it and hope they come’ attitude.” Adds bassist Patrick Dahlheimer, “While touring for Mental Jewelry, the rooms were getting bigger, and I wanted our new music to fill those places and beyond. With Throwing Copper, I just knew it had to be more grand.”
From there, Live were on a roll, having scored a key slot at Woodstock ’94 on 12 August 1994, in addition to logging their first appearance on Saturday Night Live on 21 January 1995, and subsequently laying down an intimate nine-song set for MTV Unplugged on 15 February 1995 — all key signposts along the way for Throwing Copper’s ultimate ascent to the top of the Billboard albums chart on May 6, 1995.
“When you listen to it now,” guitarist Chad Taylor says of their notable Woodstock ’94 appearance, “the crowd is so loud, they literally overcome the sound of the band at times. It’s magical! As I was mixing the audio for this re-release, it was giving me chills. Because I realized it was the band is in its primal infancy — the true birth of Live.”
Without a doubt, ‘Lightning Crashes’ took both Live and Throwing Copper into the next stratosphere. “Everyone in the band felt ‘Lightning Crashes’ could be a big single,” admits drummer Chad Gracey. “That was based on, one, the greatness of the song, but also, two, the way bands at that time would build to their album’s big ballad. We thought if we could get two singles out and then ‘Lightning Crashes,’ it could be successful and huge.”
Kowalczyk humbly recognizes how Throwing Copper continues to elicit indelible, deep-rooted feelings to this day. “The fact that these songs have become part of our fans’ DNA — that this album still matters to them and there’s still such an emotional connection — that is the real accomplishment,” he concludes. “All of the other things are great, that there are all of these trophy moments to reminisce about. But at the end of the day, the process and the journey and the music transcend all of those.”
You can catch Live in amphitheatres and arenas this summer as co-headliners of The Altimate Tour with Bush. The Altimate Tour got off to an early, rousingly good start with powerful performances from both bands at the Live Nation tour launch event at The Roxy Theatre in Los Angeles on 12 March. Visit the band’s official website for more information.
Throwing Copper is out now. Scroll down to read the full tracklist and buy it here.
Live:Throwing Copper – Super Deluxe 25th Anniversary Edition:
Throwing Copper: 2CD
‘The Dam At Otter Creek’
‘Selling The Drama’
‘I Alone’
‘Iris’
‘Lightning Crashes’
‘Top’
‘All Over You’
‘Shit Towne’
‘T.B.D’.
‘Stage’
‘Waitress’
‘Pillar Of Davidson’
‘White, Discussion’
‘Horse’ (Hidden Track On Original Release)
‘Hold Me Up’ (Bonus Track)
‘We Deal In Dreams’ (Bonus Track)
‘Susquehann’ (Bonus Track)
CD: Woodstock ’94 (Disc 2; previously unreleased):
‘Iris’
‘Top’
‘The Beauty Of Gray’
‘Selling The Drama’
‘Shit Towne’
‘Lightning Crashes’
‘I Alone’
‘Operation Spirit (The Tyranny of Tradition)’
‘White, Discussion’
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