I'd have to agree with you on "Seconds Out" being the better live album, but I believe that Bruford only played on one or two of the songs on the album.
I think Sabertooth in #59 explained Bonds' year best. All the stars alligned that year. Kind of like Roger Maris who never hit more than 39 HRs until 1961, and never came close afterwards.
Maybe, but hitting 49 home runs in 1987 is a lot different than hitting 49 in 1997, or even now. For a variety of reason power numbers went up in the 1990s. I'm not saying steroids had nothing to do with it, I'm only saying that there were other factors such as dillution of pitching, smaller stadiums, players actually training like athletes, maple wood bats, etc.
First of all, Mark McGwire was skinny as a rail his first few years with the Athletics. He hit 49 HRs which showed that any alleged steroid use had little factor.
Second, Bonds hit 37 HRs in the strike shortened 1994 season and was on pace to hit in the mid-50's while he was also a skinny rail.
The dillution of pitching due to expansion has as much to do with increased home run totals as anything. The same thing happened in the early 1960's when baseball expanded.
I think the deeper question is, if a judge erected a statue of Jimmy Buffett at his local courthouse, would it need to be removed using the Moore precident?