This came out in 2002 – or at least that’s when I got it. Here’s what I said about it back then (with some minor editing):
I will say this for Judas Priest: They don’t do things halfway. Take their recent series of remastered re-releases. Some bands would put out a best-of album or a box set. Others might put out their best three or four discs. Not these metal gods. In true amps-on-11 fashion, the Priest have spent the last few months remastering and reissuing their entire Columbia catalog — 12 albums recorded from 1977 to 1990. The final four just landed in stores, complete with bonus tracks, lyrics and other goodies. Here’s one of them:
Judas Priest
Priest … Live!
The Year: 1986.
Call It: Larger than live. Even during their hair-metal period, Priest still knew how to deliver the goods live, as this two-CD set clearly illustrates — though I have to admit it’s not as heavy as their 1979 concert document Unleashed in the East.
The Essentials: The boys pull out the stops on Metal Gods, Breaking the Law, Love Bites, Freewheel Burning, Living After Midnight and more.
The Extras: This album delivers the most bang for the buck here, with three solid cuts: Screaming for Vengeance, Rock Hard, Ride Free and a slamming Hell Bent for Leather.
Most Metallic Moment: “We’ve got a fine-looking bunch of metal maniacs here tonight, oh yes!” proclaims shriekmeister Rob Halford. And I’m pretty sure he meant every word.
Reason to Buy It: To hear decent versions of all those songs from Turbo.
