By 1979, Aerosmith were in a state of flux. Following a bust up between singer Steve Tyler and leader guitarist Joe Perry, Perry quit the band with immediate effect, midway through recording the Night In The Ruts album. With work still to be done to finish the record, long-time writing partner Richie Supa filled in until Jimmy Crespo joined as Perry's permanent replacement. Marred by band infighting, substance abuse and increasing pressure from their record label to score their next hit, Night In The Ruts was eventually released on 1st November 1979. Despite comparatively slow sales - the album would not go Platinum until 1994 - critics and fans praised the record as a return to the band's roots in its capacity as a more focused, hard rock sound than its predecessor, Draw The Line. Throughout the rest of 1979 and 1980, the group toured North America in support of the album, albeit in smaller venues than they were used to. This recording - captured at The Boston Club on the 3rd December 1980 and broadcast to the surrounding area by local FM radio - proves that despite all obstacles, Aerosmith were still fully capable of performing a dynamic show. Playing numerous cuts from the new album as well as older classics like 'Walk This Way,' 'Rats In The Cellar' and 'Big Ten Inch Record,' the sheer energy exhibited by the band clearly demonstrates that the spark was still alive, which no doubt played an integral role in their revival as the 1980s progressed.
