Based on gigs you've been at or heard recordings/live albums of, which has been The Fall's best year of live performances?

Although I was a fetus at the time I've yet to hear a bad gig from 1982 :)
I've not heard all years listed, though.

Heard some amazing 1983 gigs recently. An intersection of stuff from Hex, Room To Live, and Perverted By Language. I'm especially fond of Toronto (Larry's Hideaway) 21 Apr 1983.

1983 is high on my list too, though past two years aren't bad either.

I will also go for 1983, though some gigs from 1986 have recently been knocking me out. And ones from 1999 mature with age.

82-83 is probably the best I've heard them recorded, but the two back-to-back gigs at Slim's in San Francisco in 93 were the best I've heard in person. I've never heard recordings of either of those shows, though, so I have no idea if they were really that good or if I was just happy.

Reminds me - I've only seen two myself, but the Middleton gig from earlier this year is the best gig I've ever been too :) (Ok, I've not been to many - Dont bother with live music unless it's an album of the stuff)

2004 cause thats when i saw them.

1982..... :applaud:

I've read a review of Band on the Wall from 1982 that year..... Apparently it was a corker ;)

I've not heard any duff gigs from 1997 yet :o

Although 83 would run it a close second, naturally ;)

86, by a million miles, at least to these ears!

86 was indeed a good year.

Any bad years out there?

1976.

1981 - 1st Fall gig NELP October , so no contest really :)

After the highs of 1981–1983, 1984 seems to lack intensity. You could blame the new 'pop' direction or, if you were less charitable, Brix.

Happily, they got the intensity back by 1985.

84's still got two votes so far though....
What year did you plump for Stephen?
And, to use your trick, why? :P

Might just be the gigs I've heard but I find the 84/85/86 period can be turgid. I like the material from the period but gig wise there doesn't seem to be much, I don't know, contrast? Light and shade maybe? To be honest though I do think it is just the recordings I have.

I find the early gigs have a fascinating charm and a beserk energy. I love the gigs with unreleased material on them or radically different versions.

1983: the spooky intensity and hypnotic power of the songs and the performances.
Second best year: 1981 – always witty and vital.
Of the last decade: 1999 – something very engaging about those shows: maybe the sound of Mark realizing The Fall have survived another crisis and transcended it.

As I have only a few live albums, and no live tapes, I have to go by the gigs that I've been to. My vote went to 83. I saw them 6 times that year. Thrice they were great, and thrice they were amazing. The Camden gig on cup final day (21/5) was one of the few times I've seen them supported by a good band, but The Fall blew them off the stage.

The gig in Stevenage in October was extremely tense. All through the show a group of teenagers sat along the front of the stage and thought that they were being rebellious by gobbing at the band. The atmosphere was sizzling. The band were electric.

Other great years that I've experienced are 1982, 1986 and 2005.

How is this year bearing up?

Yesterday's was the bollocks! :D

Brighton and both London gigs will be better....I know that saying this doesn't mean it'll happen, but I live in hope -_-

I voted 1994, though it was the second time I saw them in Toronto. The '93 Opera House gig was alright - it had a rather humorous small picket fence and story-book house backdrop - but '94 seems to stick moreso in my mind.