Walls Have Ears

Walls Have Ears is a “semi-official bootleg”, if that makes any sense. There are different accounts as to whether the band authorized it or not. In any case, they’ve repeatedly stated that they didn’t like the result and withdrew it from circulation. Besides the bands complaints, it was repressed numerous times and went to become one of the SY live recordings most appreciated by fans.

It is basically a collection of songs from three Sonic Youth concerts perfomed in England in 1985:
* April 28th, The Palais De Dance, Hammersmyth, with Bob Bert on drums (tracks 10-18);
* October 30th, University of London Union, with Steve Shelley on drums (tracks 1-8);
* November 8th, Brighton Beach, also with Shelley on the drums (track 9).

There are no songs here unavailable elsewhere. The weird titles are all either alternative names to album songs or other artist’s songs played through the amplifier.

It was the first ever release of Blast First sub-label Not and, the album art is decidedly indecisive about how to call the album. Printed on spine os:

this record is called ……… WALLS HAVE EARS ……. this record is called THE SONIC YOUTH SOUND EXPERIENCE ……. this record is called NOT 1 (BUT 2)

Printed on inner sleeve is:

This record is called “This time, the last time + here’s the next time”