No comments about Live at the Blue Note.

1 comments about Live! At Double Bayou Dance Hall.

1. This live set by the late Pete Mays has Pete on vocals and kinda weak sounding.He was too sick to play his guitar but hes pictured on the cover holding his axe.His band sounds like any local blues band and the set list is even more typical. Kansas City Im Ready Blue Shadows Honky Tonk Things I Used To Do Just A Little Bit Down Home Blues etc. and what else but Sweet Home Chicago .Somebodys cashing in on Petes death with this cd. Pete was an experienced Texas guitar slinger may he rest in peace

5 comments about Live "Now Appearing" at Ole Miss.

1. I thank the above reviewers for identifying the source of the extraneous cartoon sounds, which caused me to return the CD pressing way back when because I thought there was an engineering problem.
   Yes, these unwanted visitors come close to wrecking some classic renditions.
   The set is loaded with Soul, however, the kind that connects with the audience and jumps back to inspire the star and his band. Live at The Regal is probably the favorite King live set, but it has some curious tracking. This Ole Miss experience is apparently *the* complete show, and King displays his mastery of making music and making the people happy. The screams from the crowd are somewhat surprising, as they are the kind of sound you might expect to hear in a Teddy Pendergrass or Luther Vandross excursion.
   B. B. actually sounds a bit surprised, himself.
   As usual the material is first-rate, and done with care, although King's vocals sound a little tired and his playing a mite heavy at times - he makes Lucille work hard for the University attendees.
   Good versions throughout, the medley and "Guess Who?" being highlights, although personal favorite, the originally unreleased single side, "You Know I Love Me", has a very tough time getting off the ground. And it's not the wind chimes and boomerang noises to get in the way, this time.



2. If you like BB King, this album won't leave you wanting. It's got a lot of songs, and he is in his prime. Get it if you can find it. I had a hard time finding it. Since losing my original copy, it's been hard finding it in stock.



3. This was an album my dad happened to have in his large record collection--curious, I pulled it out & began listening to it. This was more than a few years ago. Of course I'd heard of B.B. King at the time, but it was with this album that I seriously gave his music--and the blues in general, for the matter--a listen for the first time. It wasn't long before I understood why this guy is considered the King of the Blues. This 2 CD live album, originally released as a double LP in 1980, conclusively demonstrates B.B.'s winning enthusiasm & charisma in a live setting.
   
   He weaves in highly entertaining spoken monologues into the "Blues Medley" on disc 1. They're filled with self-depreciating wit and humor, and they brilliantly complement the songs themselves. B.B. sounds completely natural and unforced and puts his winning humbleness on full display.
   
   B.B.'s got a wonderful, full & rich guitar tone going throughout the album, & his playing, though a tad stiff at times, is mostly terrific anyway. The instrumental "When I'm Wrong" is a perfect demonstration of the kind of soulfulness he captures with his guitar playing.
   
   He's also in incredible peak form vocally on here, singing with great power but without the overslick highness you occasionally encounter on earlier recordings, or the overly weatherbeaten vocals that begin to creep in another decade down the line.
   
   On "I Got Some Outside Help", a song about being cheated on, B.B. starts by delivering a terrific guitar performance, and then proceeds to unleash a riveting, perfectly phrased vocal, and the result is cathartic. "Never Make A Move Too Soon" is given a great, crisp, driving uptempo treatment that contrasts with the slyly laidback studio version from his 1978 "Midnight Believer" album. The feel-good "Rock Me Baby" and the swinging, uptempo, upbeat "Caldonia" are irresistible. The tender "Darlin' You Know I Love You" with its strong vocal and soulful song-ending guitar solo, is undeniably charming, as is the brief version of "Guess Who" which B.B. uses as a tribute to his fans. The 10+ minute, mostly instrumental version of "The Thrill Is Gone" is great as well--his guitar work is so supremely enjoyable, & the backing musicians are so solid & sympathetic to the material that it's arresting even as it runs on for over 10 minutes.
   
   Despite all the great performances, there is some bad news with this album that mars it considerably. The album credits include the 'Sweetenings Percussion & Rhythm' of Nana Vasconcelos on percussions & Jon Jones on rhythm guitar, and presumably, between the two of them, they're responsible for subsequently overdubbing all kinds of ridiculous noises onto the album, including the 'boing'-y sound on "Darlin' You Know I Love You", the "woo"s that run throughout "Rock Me Baby", and the aimless, rambling, shockingly tasteless guitar on the verses of a drastically flawed version of "Hold On" (it appears on his 1978 "Midnight Believer" album in a strong studio version). In addition to this, on the opening & closing tracks, you get a hilariously obnoxious announcer who does a forced-sounding B.B. imitation near the beginning of the album. There is also some distracting noise that crops up on the "Blues Medley" and "Three O'Clock In The Morning" as if they were having some technical difficulties during the performance.
   
   The ridiculously inappropriate noises that plague "'Now Appearing' at Ole Miss" are indeed a crime. If you took out the 4 or 5 weakest tracks here, subtracted the ridiculous overdubbed annoyances, polished up the recording quality just a hair, and slapped it all onto 1 CD, it'd make this one of the best CDs of all time. As it is, I still treasure the album dearly and have an undeniable soft spot for it--B.B. King is frequently spotlighted at his absolute best here, which is saying a LOT. Try to snap this up at a reasonable price.



4. I've seen BB in concert four times (twice near the time of this recording), and he is always a lot better in concert than on his studio recordings. This is a recording of a concert, however later they "sweetened" it in the studio, adding a bunch of junk that seriously detracts from the performance. If you can listen past the "sweetener", it is great. If it weren't for the "sweetener" that was added, this would be at least a 4 star CD.



5. I've had the fortunate pleasure of getting to see Mr. King twice in concert. Once in Houston, Tx and the other at BB King's Blues Club on Beale Street in Memphis, TN. He is standard that all other modern blues musicians are judged by. "Live at Ole Miss" is one of my favorite BB King CD's. Listening to this CD makes you feel like you are at a live BB King concert. Buy this CD; You'l listen to it again and again.

No comments about Watergate Blues.

3 comments about High Temperature.

1. Thanks to mbernocchi I picked up this CD, and I was pleasantly surprised. Living in Houston I have seen Forsyth's name around town at various venues, however never ventured out to check him out since his music was unknown to me. Man, have I been missing out!! This is truly some of the greatest stuff I have heard in a long time. Although his band has changed since this album, they still go all out. Forsyth has a great voice, plays an awesome harp, and his chops will surely get your attention too. This CD is worth every cent. Buy it!!



2. If you arrived here a blues "god" must have guided you. This is one of the most unknowns "awesome" blues albums ever published in the history of contemporary music. Guy Forsyth and his band decided to go public for the first time with this live recording and the result couldn't have been better. Within all the debut albums that I know this is by far the most exiting one. Not only you can feel the atmosphere, the electricity, the excitement and the feeling that must have been pervading the venue in which this record was recorded, you can even smell the sweat, the smoke and the alcohol that must have been present in a huge quantity that night in the theatre! The energy that Guy Forsyth and his band unleash throughout their entire performance is almost unbelievable. The band rocks from start to finish in an impressive sequence of original songs penned by Guy himself and covering two blues classics: "19 Years" (a.k.a. "she is nineteen years old") a Jimmy Oden song made famous by Muddy Waters and "Mr. Luck" a Jimmy Reed classic. Guy Forsyth prove here to be, despite his young age, a very mature and strong songwriter, an impressive talented slideplayer and harmonica wizard but most of all a fantastic singer and a true storyteller. While Rich Chilleri on drums and Rob Douglas on bass provide a solid and precise rhythm section, Keith Bradley on guitar share the centre of the stage with Guy Forsyth in a real "guitar" roller coaster that will take your breath away. Guy Forsyth is continuing his carrier releasing very good album (such as "Steak" that I strongly suggest you should check out), however from my point of view this is his best effort so far. Just pick it up, you will never regret it!



3. One of the best voices coupled with incredible songwriting, harmonica, and slide playing. Texas blues that not only moves but grooves. Get this along with the other Guy Forsyth CDs. Worth the investment.

No comments about Live at Biddy McGraw's.

5 comments about Live from Chicago.

1. A magnificient live performance. I should know - I was front row, center stage with my jacket lying on the stage at her feet! The show was recorded over a two night performance on Chicago's near west side. It was the most outstanding blues performance that I have ever attended.
   
   This album produces the great sound that the "Queen of the Blues" belted out those nights. When I close my eyes and listen to the recordings, I feel like I am standing there again, singing along with the music. Even better, I can actually hear my friend Rachael and my own voice at the end of "Wang Dang Doodle". If you want to enjoy listening to a woman sing the blues, this album is the one to play ...



2. I'd have liked this live album to be louder and rowdier, but there is plenty of great music here nonetheless, and a lot to be said for the lean, mean sound.
   Koko Taylor is backed by a solid combo which would have been even better if it had included a pianist and perhaps a harmonica player, but guitarists Michael Robinson and Eddie King are terrific, and Taylor herself just can't be beat.
   
   Opening with a really good "Let The Good Times Roll" and winding down with the obligatory "Wang Dang Doodle", "Live From Chicago" also includes a couple of lesser-known songs, like the slow burner "The Devil's Gonna Have A Field Day", and the wonderful "Going Back To Iuka", an irresistable mid-tempo blue shuffle with a thundering syncopated drum beat a la Howlin' Wolf.
   Slightly rewritten versions of Bo Diddley's "I'm A Man" and Willie Dixon's "Let Me Love You" are a little bit clichéd, but nowhere near awful, and Taylor's vocals falter the tiniest bit during an otherwise very good "Find A Fool, Bump Her Head", but she gets her own back with a tremendous growling performance of "Come To Mama" and a thoroughly stylish "I'd Rather Go Blind".
   
   A must-have for fans, and casual listeners should find an awful lot to like as well. It could have been just that little bit better (and rowdier), but "B+" Koko Taylor is still head and shoulders above most everybody else.



3. You wonder what kind of music gets you singing in the shower or in the car. WEll let me tell you something this is the album right here. This Woman never gets tired she is full of energy. I will tell you that that Koko did one of the best versions of WANG DANG DOODLE on here.She always stays upbeat and won't leave you dissapointed.Koko keep on with it because you make your listeners very pleased with what you do. Her growls will make you start growling sooner or later.You better buy this Album because it is a classic.



4. Such a powerful performer! I want a granny like her...
   the excelent song selection and the great sound makes this cd my favourite koko taylor's.
   Long live the queen!



5. This album proves why Koko Taylor is truly the queen of the blues. With a voice that sounds like broken glass, she can bring you waaaaaayyyyy up (Find a Fool, Goin' Back to Iuka) or way down (I'd Rather Go Blind). Her band is tight, and she drives them just right. It seems like her voice just gets better and better the older she gets. If you haven't had the opportunity to see Koko yet, this CD will inspire you to start checking the paper. Buy this album and let her show you how the blues is meant to be sung.

No comments about Shake 'Em on Down.

No comments about In Concert.

No comments about Live in Japan 1986.