It's Still Living

It's Still Living is a live album by The Birthday Party recorded at the Astor Theatre in St Kilda, Victoria on 15 January 1982, and released in May 1985. The initial LP release in 1985 by the band's former manager and backer Keith Glass, on his Missing Link label, was not sanctioned by the band. The sound quality of the recording is poor and it is marred by technical glitches (mainly the sounds of the amps crackling and shorting out). In 1991 the album was re-released on the Virgin label, with the LP being released on green vinyl.

The photograph of the band was taken by Peter Milne on the Birthday Party's first trip back home after taking up residency in London. This shoot was in the studio of Victoria College in High Street, Prahran. According to the album liner notes film footage of the concert was shot by Paul Goldman and Evan English (aka The Rich Kids). The footage, however, has never been released.

Reception
Spin wrote, "Manic then droning, infused with secret pyrotechnic calm. Leader Nick Cave shrieks deeply bellowed frenzies from gloom and blues over the band’s patented rusty catcall guitar while apocalyptic Catholic images fly amok."

Birthday Party

 * Phill Calvert – drums
 * Nick Cave – vocals
 * Mick Harvey – guitar
 * Rowland Howard – guitar
 * Tracy Pew – bass

Credits

 * Engineer – Chris Thompson
 * Mixed – The Birthday Party, Tony Cohen
 * Artwork – James McDonald
 * Photography – Peter Milne