Early Roxy reworked and reclaimed
The biggest flaw with this album is that it isn't longer. I'd love to hear more music from this great live unit. The song selection leans heavily on the first two Roxy albums, when Eno was part of the band.

Those numbers, here played live by the Eddie Jobson version of Roxy (Jobson was Eno's replacement), are effectively reworked versions and are great. Not necessarily better, though Do The Strand and Pyjamarama are way more energetic then the originals, just different and very well done. For me, a highlight is the expanded If There Is Something, with its beautiful instrumental passages and powerful drumming. Great music and a great complement to the studio albums.

Eccentric Rock Glory!
When I was 12 or 13 I saw pictures of Roxy Music in Creem. They seemed like a gimmick band, a circus troupe, a costume party, a joke band. Then I took a risk and bought Viva. I've been a fan ever since. Out of the Blue combines everything great about The Doors, VU & King Crimson, and yet is totally original to Roxy. Pyjamerama is more funky yet relaxed than studio version & rocks harder. Both Ends Burning is THE version of the song. I give this 4 stars because it's a single record/CD (you know there is more stuff in the can). I recommend any fan seek out 1975 bootleg from NYC with a jaw-dropping version of Mother Of Pearl & other material from Country Life through Siren. Also, the 1976 show bootlegs from Stockholm, Sweden are excellent. Some of those songs can be seen in recent DVD collection The Thrill of It All. Force this CD on Avalon fans, or people who think of Roxy as a mellow 80's euro-pop band.

Peaked Right Here
"Viva" could be called Roxy Music's "Get Yer Ya Yas Out," were it not for the fact that it is the final offering from the original Ferry-Manzanera-Mackey-Thompson-Jobson era. The music is tight, crisp, (and some reviewers here have noted that renditions of songs on the album are superior to their original "album" manifestation. I agree...) After this, Roxy, sadly, would become but a dreaded "AOR" vehicle for Bryan Ferry.

I prefer the studio versions
Not bad at all - but the studio versions are perfection. I don't think I will be listening to this much.

a band amidst greatness
I agree with many others that this is Roxy Music at their prime. I thought I'd share a couple thoughts about why. Aside from the band itself being in top form, the energy of that time came into play. Phil Manzanera was also in a band called 801 Live with Brian Eno, which kept his guitar on fire, and the bass player for the tour was John Wetton, recently of King Crimson! So that powerful bass/guitar jam in "Red" by King Crimson seems to be flowing through this tour as well. Fascinating dynamic!