Live and Sleazy is the first live album and fifth studio album by the Village People and features a mixture of live and studio recordings. It was released as a double LP. The album featured numerous lead singers: original cop Victor Willis on the entire "Live" disk; on the "Sleazy" disk, construction worker David Hodo on track 1, Ray Simpson (who replaced Willis as the cop) on tracks 2, 3, and 5, and G.I. Alex Briley on track 4. Horace Ott is credited as the arranger and conductor of the string and horn sections. The musicians were credited as Bittersweet.
Victor Willis had announced plans for the live portion of this album be remastered and reissued as a stand alone live album titled “Village People Live At The Greek Theatre” in 2018. Other songs left off the original release though performed on the 1979 tour include "Key West", "Go West", "Village People", and "I Wanna Shake Your Hand".
Critical reception
Cash Box called the song "Sleazy" "an amusing self-parody which, vocally, relies more than ever on the group's zealous choral work." Record World called it "great dance music."
Track listing All music composed by Jacques Morali
Live
Sleazy All songs written by J. Morali, H. Belolo, B. Whitehead, P. Hurtt
Note: The Rebound Records CD release placed the studio tracks before the live tracks.
Personnel
Village People Victor Willis – lead vocal on "Live" (album) Ray Simpson – lead vocals on "Sleazy" (album) David "Scar" Hodo – backing vocals, lead vocals on "Sleazy" (song) Alex Briley – backing vocals, lead vocals on "Save Me (Ballad)" Randy Jones – backing vocals Felipe Rose – backing vocals Glenn M. Hughes – backing vocals
Production Jacques Morali – producer Horace Ott – string and horn arrangements, conductor Michael Hutchinson – mixing on "Sleazy" side Joe Barbaria – engineer Michael Hutchinson – engineer Steve Mitchell – engineer Carla Bandini – assistant engineer Chris Fergesen – assistant engineer Derek Du Nann – assistant engineer Doug Grinbergs – assistant engineer Jon Smith – assistant engineer Matthew Weiner – assistant engineer Stephen Lumel – art direction Lynn Goldsmith – photography
Bittersweet Albert Finney – guitar Keith Starkey – bass Greg Baker – drums Chuck Kentis – synthesizer Zack Stephens – synthesizer Lawrence Killian – percussion
Additional percussion and background vocals L.Waymer – percussion C. St. Charles – percussion Ray Simpson – percussion Milt Grayson – percussion Peter Whitehead – percussion D. Andres – percussion
Charts Chart (1979)Peak positionAustralian Albums (Kent Music Report) 69Canadian Albums (RPM) 23Japanese Albums (Oricon) 80US Billboard 200 32
Certifications and sales
References