Originally released in February 1973, Raw Power was the third, final and most brutal record by legendary Detroit rockers the Stooges. After being dropped by Elektra in 1971 due to the poor sales of their first 2 albums, 1969's self titled debut and the 1970 follow-up Fun House, the original group had for all intents and purposes disbanded. A meeting between frontman Iggy Pop and David Bowie led to Pop signing on with Bowie's management company and heading to London with guitarist James Williamson to start writing a Pop solo album. Unable to find a suitable rhythm section, they called upon the services of Stooges members Ron and Scott Asheton, with Ron switching to bass from his previous role as guitarist. The newly renamed Iggy & the Stooges began recording in earnest in late 1972.
There is not much that can be said about this album that the title doesn't already imply. From the opener "Search & Destroy" through the finale of "Death Trip" it is a fully charged, nihilistic behemoth of slashing riffs, primal rhythms and Pop's one of a kind yelp. The new Legacy edition features a remastered version of Bowie's original mix, which is quite different from the previously reissued 1997 version that was mixed by Iggy himself. While the Iggy version brings out all of the bottom end that was lost in the Bowie mix and gives the album an overall heavier feel, which I personally like better, this version of the Bowie mix is not without it's merits. With the vocals and guitar pushed way up in the mix it has a slightly more lo-fi quality that was definitely picked up on by the early punk rockers who lay just around the corner.
Also of special interest is the bonus disc, which contains a full show from October of 1973 at Richard's in Atlanta. With Iggy in prime audience berating mode the group plows through most of Raw Power's tracks and a few until now unreleased gems. Although the playing is great throughout the show, there are hints of the troubles that would destroy the band only a few months later. It's funny to hear at one point an audience member saying "I don't think he (Iggy) likes us very much." Truer words could not have been spoken.
In most cases, anniversary reissues of classic albums are just a way for record companies to make money off a product they know will sell while offering nothing new to the consumer. Once in a while, however, a deluxe reissue will come along that is actually worth the price tag. Such is the case with the new 40th anniversary deluxe box set of the Rolling Stones classic live album Get Yer Ya's Ya's Out. Of course you get the original album remastered plus the ubiquitous unreleased tracks as well as a dvd of said bonus tracks with previously unreleased footage shot by Albert and David Maysles. But what really makes this set unique is the third disc, which contains 12 previously unreleased tracks by concert openers B.B. King and Ike & Tina Turner. This disc is almost as good as the Stones' material.
This album has long been heralded as one of the best concert recordings of all time, and, according to late rock critic Lester Bangs, possibly the best Stones album altogether. The versions of "Jumpin' Jack Flash" and "Midnight Rambler" better their studio counterparts by a long shot and their version of "Little Queenie" might even give Chuck Berry's original a run for it's money.
Although the original album was released in September 1970, which would make it a year shy of 40, the concerts themselves were recorded in late November of 1969, during the Stones' first US tour in four years. The tour came to a horrific end just weeks later at the infamous Altamont concert, documented in the film Gimme Shelter. Fortunately the performances contained here give no hint of the shambolic ones to come. And nobody in the audience got killed.
Originally released in February 1973, Raw Power was the third, final and most brutal record by legendary Detroit rockers the 
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