Cold Chisel - The Live Tapes Vol 5: The Bondi Lifesaver

The Live Tapes Vol 5 The Bondi Lifesaver is a live album by Australian rock band Cold Chisel, released in December 2020 via Cold Chisel and Universal.

The legendary Cold Chisel have unearthed a fierce live recording from deep in their archives. Captured on two multitrack tapes on a Friday night at the arse end of February 1980, after a blinding 43 shows over 56 days, it showcases the five-piece band at a pivotal moment – just 3 days before they entered Paradise Studio in Sydney’s Woolloomooloo to record their breakthrough album East.

The 2 inch tapes had sat completely untouched in the band’s archive for just over 40 years. Nobody had listened to them because everybody forgot they existed. When they were unearthed earlier this year it started a long chain of events that have led to the release of this new live album The Live Tapes Vol 5 – Live at The Bondi Lifesaver.

Cold Chisel fans will hear early forms of seven of the songs that would be included on the East album.

The whole band is captured in killer form on Live at the Bondi Lifesaver. “I can’t believe Steve and Phil’s playing” says guitarist Ian Moss referencing the band’s bass player Phil Small and their late drummer Steve Prestwich. “They set the whole tone here – we’re just trying to keep up. Jimmy is also in incredible form, wailing and nailing everything.”

In addition to the East songs, Cold Chisel tear through songs that were already becoming classics: Khe Sanh, One Long Day, Merry-Go-Round and a steamrolling take on Shipping Steel; some rarely heard gems: Rosaline, the never-before-physically-released The Dummy; and five cover songs including Johnny Kidd‘s Shakin’ All Over and a never-before-released take on The Yardbirds‘ The Nazz Are Blue.

This triple album 3LP record set is a limited edition on 180 gram black vinyl housed in a wide single pocket sleeve with printed inner sleeves, pressed in Australia via Cold Chisel.