Live at Reading '81

Live at Reading '81 was the second live album released by Samson. This was recorded in 1981 at the Reading Festival, with singer Bruce Dickinson, just before he left the band to join Iron Maiden.

Live at Reading '81
Live album by Samson
Released	1990
Recorded	12 September 1981
Venue	Reading Festival, Caversham Bridge, Reading
Genre	Heavy metal
Length	52:49
Label	Raw Fruit
Producer	Tony Wilson
Samson chronology
Pillars of Rock (1990) Live at Reading '81 (1990) Refugee (1990)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic

Live at Reading '81 has been issued on CD numerous times, including editions by Raw Fruit (UK, 1990), Grand Slamm (US, 1990), Repertoire (Germany, 1990), Jimco (Japan, 1990), Bruce Dickinson's short lived Air Raid label (UK, 2000), Castle Music (UK, 2001), and Dissonance Productions (UK, 2017). The Castle and Dissonance versions include 3 bonus tracks, "Red Skies", "Turn Out the Lights" and "Firing Line", 2-track recordings from a June 1981 rehearsal for the Shock Tactics tour. "Red Skies" and "Turn Out the Lights" were subsequently recorded with new vocalist Nicky Moore for the band's 1982 studio album, Before the Storm.

The song "Gravy Train" was re-worked and appears as "I'll Be 'Round" on Before the Storm.

Track list

1. "Big Brother" - 6:14
2. "Take It Like a Man" - 4:10
3. "Nice Girl" - 3:21
4. "Earth Mother" - 5:06
5. "Vice Versa" - 5:27
6. "Bright Lights" - 2:54
7. "Walking Out on You" - 9:11
8. "Hammerhead" - 3:36
9. "Riding with the Angels" - 5:22
10. "Gravy Train" - 7:24

2001 & 2017 re-issue bonus tracks

1. "Red Skies" (June 1981 rehearsal)
2. "Turn Out the Lights" (June 1981 rehearsal)
3. "Firing Line" (June 1981 rehearsal)

Personnel

Samson

• "Bruce Bruce" Dickinson – vocals
• Paul Samson – guitar
• Chris Aylmer – bass guitar
• Mel Gaynor – drums

Production

• Tony Wilson - producer and engineer for The Friday Rock Show on BBC Radio 1
• Chris Tsangarides - 1990 remixes