4 comments about Live at the BBC.

1. This has a lot of hot tracks taken from a 1988 and a 1991 performance at London's Hammersmith Odeon, but it's not perfect. Cray spices up some staid studio performances with horns and extended guitar solos and turns mediocrities like Don't You Even Care, Night Patrol and These Things into winners. But slow tunes like Right Next Door, My Problem and Acting This Way, which are thinly-veiled bragging about his conquests, ruin the high-energy pace that was developed during the first half of the album and should have been excluded in favor of better tunes such as Porch Light and I Was Warned. A major disappointment was Smoking Gun which has a short, uninspired guitar solo and closes with 2 minutes of wind-down/applause and therefore isn't really almost 7 minutes long as the Amazon sound sample implies.
   
   All-in-all a good effort but not a five-star recording though it does offer 70 minutes to love or hate.



2. This is a MUCH better CD than Across the Pond. Both CDs capture Cray's sound very accurately, but his sound in the late 80s was richer and much more energetic than in 2006. While both CDs might be nice to have, this one is the "must have."



3. Robert Cray has always been a blues player that is not mentioned often.
   In my opinion he is one of the best blues/jazz guitar players going today.
   Having seen Robert Cray in concert 3 times now and twice opening for Eric Clapton, this is how I remember hearing him in 1987, when he had just released Strong Persuader.
   That particular night I actually enjoyed Cray more than Clapton himself.
   This is how I remember him sounding, except for there was no brass backing him up.
   It is the only time I have EVER seen an opening act for a superstar get a standing ovation and an encore. Most of the time opening acts get booed offstage.
   Crays' guitar sound has always been clean and he does not use "Woman Tone" like Clapton, Buddy Guy and others.
   The music on this CD is the finest of his career, so you get to hear him play his best songs live.
   Highlights include: Foul Play, The Forecast calls for Pain, Right next door because of Me and Smoking Gun.
   This in my mind is a much better live recording than his recent live CD, Across the Pond.
   If you like Robert Cray or if you just like blues, you need to give this a listen..................



4. I purchased Cray's 2 cd "Live From Across The Pond" and while I liked it, I didn't like the pacing of the music. Just when he works the crowd up he does a few slow ones in a row. I've seen him 2 times in the past 18 months and felt his live set suffered the same problem. This "Live At The BBC" really kicks butt! I also remember seeing these tours and loving them. Pacing and song selection is great and The Memphis Horns add a great punch to the songs. Cray and the band are simply on fire. I've always been a big fan of Cray's and finally there is a good, live CD out of him. Well worth checking out.

5 comments about The Turning Point.

1. Great classic Mayall. It's wonderfull to be able to hear this album on demand once again. If you like Mayall and this genre', this CD is a must.



2. The band on this CD is great. I saw them live when they toured promoting this CD. My problem with this recording is that Mayall is an especially lame vocalist. I also agree with the reviewer who said that the lyrics were weak. Mayall has a great ear for talent, its too bad the didn't use that ear to hire a vocalist. In spite of the lyrics, I like most of the songs; although, "Room to Move" is all flash and no substance. It's showy and fun (especially live), but the harp playing is really nothing to write home about and the song is just a recycled "Tequila" riff played over and over again.



3. When this album came out I bought it and promptly wore it out!!! This is most excellent music. Mayall was fortunate to hook up with these musicians. They forged an album of blues & jazz for a lazy afternoon on the front porch sipping iced tea and relaxing.After finding this music had been re-issued on CD I am in the process of wearing it out....



4. I defy you to remain in your seat when you listen to this remastered masterwork.
   Mayall's genius was fully apparent during the concert that became this album.



5. I bought this album when albums were albums...i.e. in the vinyl record days. I've purchased a total of three copies, since I've worn out them years later (though I prefer the warmth of vinyl). That said, I'm glad this disc is still in print.
   
   There's not a bad tune in the lot. Probably my favorites are 'I'm going to fight for you J.B.' and 'California'.
   
   This is a CD that is fresh and innovative and listenable decades later. I play it often, and it never fails to please with its ballads and its up-tempo 'Room to Move'. Some call this a jazz album, but I think it's more bluesy than jazz.
   
   Also fun is Mayall's introduction of the band to the audience. Also fun is his reaction to the audience pleading with him to continue playing, followed by 'Room to Move'.
   
   Highly recommended. Really, a must have.

5 comments about At Newport.

1. This album is so good it should be mandatory listening before any young punk even thinks about playing guitar.
   
   Great songs, great recording, even greater artist.
   
   Buy it, play it and share it with folks who think rock and roll started with Elvis...



2. Recorded and released in 1960, Live At Newport is one of the most beloved albums in the Muddy Waters catalogue, and is considered by many to be one of the greatest blues records of all time. To be honest, I'm not really sure why. Don't get me wrong: It is by no means a bad album. In fact, some of the performances found here rank among Muddy's very best: The legendary, show stopping rendition of "I've Got My Mojo Working" is a total barn-burner, with its fiery vocals, grinding pianos, and surging rhythms. "Tiger In Your Tank" raves with a similarly infectious abandon, and "Baby Please Don't Go" is tight and muscular.
   
   Sadly, too much of this album is devoted to unspectacular, standard-issue blues. "I've Got My Brand On You" is an uninspired combination of generic songwriting and soulless instrumentation, while "I Feel So Good" doesn't deliver an ounce of the enthusiasm that its title promises. "Soon Forgotten" and "Goodbye Newport Blues" are slow burners that simply don't burn- the music is free of the tension that marks the best slow blues numbers. Perhaps the biggest dissapointment is "Hoochie Coochie Man." In its studio incarnation, "Hoochie Coochie Man" is simply one of the greatest blues songs of all time. On this record, however, it's bland and unentertaining, devoid of the raw sexuality and smouldering passion that made the original such a classic.
   
   So, there you go. An incredibly dissapointing album from a great performer.



3. Newport 1960, the mecca of a yearly festival of live Jazz that crossed over the greats of the day, and I do mean Greats,into a larger audience where the money and acclaim justifiably started to flow was not lost on this wonderful blues-man who with the likes of jazz men like Cannonball Adderley, Chet Baker and others did a lot of good for inspiring groups like the Stones and others whose homage to Muddy is clear.
   Creating rock and roll from pure live excitement from albums like this and another legend's stellar album, BB King's Live At The Regal LP are benchmarks for much that followed.
   As to this wonderful CD, great sound, nice notes, mono studio bonus tracks found on the live portion makes this a worthwhile companion with historical importance while not forgetting the contributions made by Middy's band of pianist Otis Spann,the harmonica of James Cotton, an artist in his own right,and a special treat, the inclusion of the poet Langston Hughes within the proceedings.



4. This is Muddy Waters rocking out! He is in fine voice, a force of nature, with a hard driving band. Forget the labels, this is joyous rock n' roll.



5. According to the liner notes from this one, Muddy had a tough time with Blues festivals. First he was too electric and loud. The next year he was too acoustic and quiet. From the sound of this one, he finally got it just right.
   
   This is not a barn-burner. Oh, it has plenty of energy, but if you're looking for the jolt found on his Blue Sky-era recordings, you're going to be a bit disappointed. This is smoother blues. Not mellow, but not as rowdy. Remember, the younger Muddy Waters was trying to find wide-acceptance of his misic. (It is a shame he didn't find that until the last few years of his life)
   
   The song selection is fantastic. "Tiger in your tank" is fun. "Got my mojo working" is a foot-stopmper. But, my favorite is "Goodbye Newport Blues", which was allegedly penned on the stairs to the stage and ad-libbed by the band. But, what a band to have ad-lib!
   
   This one is must for those who want to move beyond blues/rock.

5 comments about Stages.

1. Wow. Ruthie Foster is a rare true musical genius. The only thing better than this album was seeing her in concert. People couldn't stop talking about it in my area for weeks.



2. Ruthie Foster shows the full range of her musicianship on this remarkable recording, which captures not only her rich voice but her wonderful sense of humor and love for music that stretches over a broad range of genres. Whether playing on a tango theme or drawing from her wonderful dip bag of folk music, Ruthie never fails to please the listener, especially on this album.



3. ...then you owe it to yourself to buy this album. You won't miss her on stage again: expect goose bumps, and maybe some damp eyes, just listening to the CD. This is one of the best live recordings -- of anyone -- that I have heard. Buy it now, as the first in your collection, and you can tell your friends later: "Ruthie Foster? Oh yeah, I know her music!"



4. Ruthie Foster is THE BEST pure singer I have ever heard. When she sings Walk On and/or Oh Susannah - chills...
   I absolutely LOVE HER - not only her singing but her guitar playing also. Check out/download her video at Kerrville from the internet and see her perform. A genius who can sing anything: blues, folk, whatever. I LOVE her - she is my favorite singer. Both her Stages and Runaway Soul albums- whew!!
   Wish she would perform on national TV...



5. A couple of weeks ago on a stiflingly sultry afternoon at the Texas Book Festival I heard in the distance this incredible voice singing the old Curtis Mayfield song, "People Get Ready." I moved quickly toward it and caught the last two minutes of Ruthie Foster's one hour set at the Entertainment Tent. In those two minutes, the gritty spirituality of her bluesy gospel rendition of that classic gave me the chills, and, I confess, watery eyes. She shook me. I told my wife that she was the greatest singer I had ever heard, and I'm not sure that I would qualify that even now. I ordered two of her CD's as soon as I could get to the internet and Amazon.com. The studio produced "Runaway Soul" is truly great, and I highly recommend it, but "Stages" is as close to perfection as any human has a right to expect. I agree with the other reviewer. It's the best live CD I own, with the possible exception of "James Brown at the Apollo!" Her rendition of "Oh, Susana," is revelatory. Foster discovers beneath the hokey joy of the tradition tune a transcendently beautiful lament. It is a shockingly insightful performance. Haunting. I could go on and on about other great numbers on the CD, but won't. Just buy it and enjoy it.

5 comments about In the Beginning.

1. I've actually owned this CD for a number of years, and it's a favorite I come back to again and again. This is the true sleeper hit for the SRV fan that might be familiar with his studio albums and some videos. This is what you give them when they are ready for the "next step" of delving into the mastery that is Stevie Ray Vaughan. I saw a review that said it was "too raw." Ha ha, doesn't that immediately sell you?! This recording is from Austin in 1980, a full three years before Texas Flood, but you wouldn't know it from how blistering a young Vaughan is. It's all there In the Beginning. What an awesome pun. Anyway, I enjoy this album also for the airy sort of summery live quality it has. It really comes off as a fantastic recording from right in the room, without the polish of the studio. I'm a huge SRV fan, and I have a great deal of fondness for this album. It might just be my favorite.



2. A strong live effort from a still young and less-than-famous Stevie Ray Vaughan, In the Beginning hints at greatness to come. Much of the album focuses on SRV's harder rockin' blues side, but it's on the soulful, slow blues of "Tin Pan Alley," underneath Vaughan's incredible guitar work, that his abilities really shine. For me, these slower blues numbers that really allow a player to pour out emotion into the music, and to take it slowly or play faster over the slow beat, are the ones where talent really shines. It's really an incredible rendition, and alone makes this album one worth owning.
   
   Of course, it's not all about "Tin Pan Alley," and a rockin' performance of "Love Struck Baby" is also memorable.
   
   Great SRV!



3. I first heard of SRV in the winter of 1982. There was a terrible movie on cable called "Cat People"; the only noteworthy thing about it was a David Bowie song called "Putting Out Fire With Gasoline" with some incredibly incendiery guitar playing. Came to find out a young Texas blues guitarist named Stevie Ray Vaughan played guitar on Bowie's entire "Let's Dance" album. Soon Vaughan and his band Double Trouble had some product out, the "Texas Flood" album, and a new hit single, "Pride and Joy." My friends and me caught him live at Bill Graham's nightclub, The Stone in San Francisco around May of '83. I stood on a chair against the wall behind my table and watched his hands all night. He did "Love Struck Baby," "Pride and Joy," "Mary Had A Little Lamb," "Texas Flood," "Testify," "Wham!" and on and on. But when he played "Manic Depression" and segued into "Third Stone From the Sun," my jaw must have hit the floor and stayed there. We knew he had that Johnny Winter southern gunslinger thing down but we had no idea he played Hendrix or that he played Hendrix so well. I saw Stevie play many times after that but nothing ever matched the energy and connection of that first time. His material got better and more varied and his band grew more professional over the years but nothing compares with that first time around on a national tour with a new record blasting out of everybody's radio (and for me "discovering" somebody new that was that good). So anyway, onto the cd review:
   Years before I had ever heard of Stevie RAY Vaughan, there were people living in and around Austin, Texas who could experience Little Stevie Vaughan nearly every night, burning down local blues clubs with his rhythmm section, Double Trouble. This cd is taken from a recording made on one of those nights, a midnight show recorded on two-track, and simulcast on Austin radio station KLBJ-FM. Vaughan and DT rip through nine frezied tracks in about 45 minutes here, three SRV originals and six covers of old blues and r&b numbers. They open with a rousing rendition of Freddie King's "In the Open," Stevie growls his way through Eddie Jones' "Guitar Hurricane," and plays incredible harmonics during Otis Rush's "All Your Love I Miss Loving." Stevie burns the house down during an eight minute "Tin Pan Alley" that puts the version on "Coudn't Stand the Weather" to shame. Then they roar through "Love Struck Baby," Howlin' Wolf's "Tell Me," a very funky version of Willie Dixon's "Shake For Me," and "Live Another Day," which was called "I'm Crying" on the "Texas Flood" release. All these songs are so much better than the cleaned up versions recorded in the studio a couple years later for national release. Both the guitar and vocal are so much rawer and more spontaneous, maybe because of the excitement of playing live in front of the awestruck audience, or maybe because by the time they got to the studio they had been playing the songs so long they were going through the motions. And Stevie's playing is great too, because in this power trio format that Double Trouble had until 1985, Stevie has to fill up the sound with his guitar. In the studio he can use overdubs (hello Jimmy Page), but live he has to play rhythm and lead, and he and Hendrix were the two best at embellishing hot lead licks while still keeping his chord pattern. As far as whether you should buy this cd, well, it depends. If you don't have any other SRV discs and you're mostly pop-rock oriented, forget about it. Buy the Essential set and you'll have most of his radio hits and a few good live blues tracks. But if you just want to hear a hot guitar player killing his audience with the best r&b a white man has ever played, this is the one to get. I just wish there was more.



4. If you like rockin blues this is for you! Stevie pulls out all the stops and just plain wails for the entire album. Tin Pan Alley is the standout track, which although is slower than the rest, rocks with seering vocals and a blistering extended guitar solo where Stevie truly shines. The stripped down sound jumps out at you and makes you realize what a raw talent Stevie truly was. The passion and energy on this live disc is unbelievable and lacking on a lot of blues albums. Buy it and prepare to be dazzled.



5. I'm a huge SRV fan and enjoy Stevie's early more pure blues work more then his later more rock influenced music (which is still great). I was excited that a live album from his early period was put out, but became disappointed after repeated listings. My disappointment stems more from the band then from Stevie. This is the Layton\Shannon Double strouble we have come to love as Double Trouble. This album features Jackie on base it is just no comparison. Steve could be Stevie because DT was so GOOD. To understand how great and tight Doubel Trouble is just listen to Texas Flood. This is for hard core SRV fans only. Better live albums can be found in Live at Carniage Hall and Live at Montreux are much much better.

5 comments about Wait for Me.

1. This is one of the best female blues records you will ever here. The band is incredible; the girl is an angel!!! Wonderful soul that reaks of Al Green, as well as, good old funky blues and vocal showcase songs!! BUY THIS RECORD!!! YOU WON'T BE SORRY!!!



2. I love to listen to this while I'm cooking. It makes me feel so great!



3. I loved this CD, though I haven't heard any of her others. I am a big fan of her voice--such warmth in it, very rare these days--and thought 'Alone' was totally kickass. Also liked the spirit of songs like 'In the Garden' and the sophistication of 'Blues on a Holiday.' I do think that Derek Trucks' guitar playing is a little overrated. But this CD was well worth the price for me. I'm looking forward to hearing some others.



4. An awesome Cd. The disc opens with the Al Green influenced memphis soul number Alone, which alone is worth the price of the disc. Followed by the late Paul Pena's Gonna Move featuring some tasty slide by husband Derek Trucks. (Must be nice to call on the best slide player in the world for your CD) Other highlights include a wicked version of Don't Think Twice It's All Right and a blistering I Fell In Love. Also included are a tip of the hat to Atlanta music legend Bruce Hampton and a smoky Blues on a Holiday.
   
   Though this has been out for a year or more, if you don't own it you should get it today.



5. No Problem...that's what I like in a sale. The used CD I purchased was perfect condition and was on time.

5 comments about Muddy "Mississippi" Waters Live.

1. I am not leaving a long detailed review for this album. I just wanted say that this is an amazing set. Johnny and Bob compliment Muddy so well. I love this album. I played it nonstop for like six months. If you love Muddy Waters, or are just a lover of the blues, you will absolutely love this album. Plus the remastered quality of this recording make it a joy to listen too. I dare you to try and not move your head and stomp your feet when have this disc in.



2. As I have become more fully aware of Muddy, and the incredible impact his music had on our generation, it took me awhile to get to this recording. (I think there are at least 19 other Muddy CDs on my shelf) I am so glad I did. The re-issue here is wonderful, and Bob Margolin, who played a big part in this re-issue gives us some great background history in the nicely designed CD booklet. The first CD is top-notch live material, but as other reviewers made aware, the second CD is gold. I happen to like Johnny Winter, and am thankful that he played an integral role in bringing Muddy into a "second-coming" of his career in the late 70's. I believe Johnny truly loved and admired Muddy, and contrary to what others have written, I like Winter's presence on the first CD. However, if you are one who doesn't, he's not on the second disc at all. At any rate, this is a set that I know I will keep coming back to for many years. I highly recommend spending the little bit extra to get this 2 CD version of Muddy Live.



3. The original seven-track Muddy 'Mississippi' Waters Live" album was a nice, but ultimately inessential record.
   However, this 2003 deluxe edition (similar in design to the deluxe edition of the Allman Brothers Band's "Live At Fillmore East") restores the truncated mixes of the originally released songs, it adds another disc of previously unreleased material, and both discs have been digitally remastered. The drums and the bass may have been left a little too much in the background at times, but the vocals, the guitars, the harmonica and the piano are superbly crisp and clear, notably better than on the original CD release.
   
   Disc one has been fleshed out a little bit...the original mixes have been scrapped in favour of new and usually better ones, something which is particularly audible on the leadoff track, "Mannish Boy", which is two minutes longer than on the 1979 LP (and the original CD issue) due to the inclusion of a verse sung by Johnny Winter.
   
   Other highlights include the slow groove of "Streamline Woman", and a swaggering nine-minute "Deep Down In Florida", and Muddy's take on Sonny Boy Williamson's "Nine Below Zero" is terrific; less tense and punchy than Sonny Boy's, but solidly swinging on harpist Jerry Portnoy's wonderful riffing and a swaggering backbeat by drummer Willie "Big Eyes" Smith.
   The tight and muscular band includes Johnny Winter on several songs, but even with four guitarists the musicians manage not to step on each others toes too much, or engage in meaningless flailing...with the possible exception of Waters himself, actually. I hate to say it, and I don't deny that Muddy used to be a really good slide guitarist before the 1970 traffic accident that almost killed him, but some of these lenghty "solos" are pretty much just noise. Ugly, screeching sounds. Ugh!
   
   Still, that is a minor complaint, and it is just about the only one I can come up with. Well, maybe we've heard "Baby Please Don't Go" a few too many times, and Muddy himself sounds less than excited about it as well.
   Anyway, disc one is quite strong, but disc two will certainly hold the most interest for longtime fans, of course, since this material, which was recorded at the same series of August, 1978 shows as the songs on disc one, has not previously seen the light of day.
   Opening with a lenghty soliloqui by Muddy Waters, and a "Stormy Monday Blues" which doesn't quite match T-Bone's original, it features a swinging "Trouble No More", an interesting "Champagne And Reefer", and the irresistable piano-driven "Corrine, Corrina".
   This rendition of "Hoochie Coochie Man" has a lot of power as well, and the mix is one of the best on the entire album, finally bringing the bass and the drums to the forefront. And the rarely heard "She Moves Me", an early track from the Aristocrat days, is a nice inclusion, as is the slow, intense "Mad Love (I Want You To Love Me)", and Joe "Pinetop" Perkins' nimble performance of Clarence "Pinetop" Smith's classic "Pinetop Boogie Woogie".
   
   You'd think that a nine-minute "Kansas City" would likely overstay its welcome, but it doesn't, mostly thanks to the wonderful band and a couple of great guitar solos. And the album finally winds down with the great, up-tempo swing of "Everything's Gonna Be Alright" (sung in part by Luther "Guitar Jr." Johnson), and a fast, aggressive "Got My Mojo Working" with a nice, meaty harmonica solo and some superb drumming.
   
   This double-disc reissue includes an essay by Muddy-guitarist Bob Margolin, as well as Muddy Waters encouraging the audience to "smoke a little reefer, people", and it would be a nice addition to any Muddy-fan's collection. It is not necessarily better than some of the other excellent live recordings left behind by Muddy Waters (like "The Lost Tapes", "Mojo", "Chicago 1979" and of course the Newport album), mainly because it doesn't really add anything new to Muddy's vast legacy...almost all of these tracks have been issued before in equally fine live versions (musically, at least).
   But 4 1/2 stars anyway, because it's just so good! Even if there are other, less highly touted live recordings of the legendary Muddy Waters band which are just as good, or, in some cases, just a little bit better.



4. I guess I must have not read Muddys biography enough or didn't put two and two together. I thought with the Chess Box 3 CD set I have almost all of his recordings.

   But I wasn't thinking.

   Muddy got me into the Blues. Live in Newport was the first blues CD I bought.... I think probably around in 1989.

   I bought this one just now, June 2004 and I am still in love with the blues. And with Muddy.

   This album is great. I always prefered his live material... I love concerts and to feel the music as you can in this CD and to imagine to be there. Amazing. I do agree with the review of anders_pj... some arrangements and esp on the 2nd CD the obvious Champagne and Reefer influence make some of the songs not work quite as good as some other recordings.

   But all in all a must for any Muddy fans. And some which want to discover THE father of Electric Blues.




5. This is the best blues vocalist ever, and the 2nd disc with its more laid back atttiude is better. Excellent sound, excllent band.

5 comments about Burnside on Burnside.

1. I'm a young guy and just scratching the service on blues legends like R.L. Burnside. This is the first CD of his I've bought and I'm extremely happy that I purchased it.
   R.L. has an absolutely perfect blues voice. His guitar playing along with Kenny Brown is incredible. The slide guitar is one of my favorite sounds on earth and they play it to perfection throughout the album.
   My favorite songs are Shake Em' on Down, Rollin' and Tumblin', Goin' Down South, Skinny Women (which is covered by a great band named the The Black Keys they call their version "Busted"), and Bad Luck and Trouble. But my very favorite is Walkin' Blues. It's the total package. It's perfect in vocals, lyrics, emotion, slide guitar, and everything in between. I can't get enough of that song.
   The only reason I'm not giving it 5 stars is because a couple of songs are repetitious of each other and don't stand out to me.
   I would give this album a 4.5 stars but it won't let me.



2. Powerfull, driving and gets under your skin. Buy it and play it loud.
   My favourite blues album in my collection.



3. It don't get no better than this. Burnside's best. I wish I could compare it to something, but ain't nothin' to compare it to.



4. Skinny woman though... anyone heard busted by the black keys? Same song... subtly different lyrics. Black keys came out first though... I think.



5. This cat is good. Mesmerizing beat and tempo, he has the blues in his voice and his soul. A "must buy" for the down home blues lover. This is what it's all about.

5 comments about Live from Across the Pond.

1. Ted Drozdowski in the Amazon.com Editorial Review above says, "Overall, this set will please Cray's die-hard fans, but is unlikely to lure new listeners." Well, my colleague just gave me this CD to listen to as she was appalled that as a long-time lover of the blues that I had never heard Cray before. Sorry, Ted, I have to say this set both lured and hooked this new listener. I'm thoroughly grooving to this excellent live concert and superb artist--great to chill to in a dark quiet room or rock out to while driving. --Jonathan Sherman



2. Live from Across the Pond Typically not a huge fan of live CD's, this seems to be very well engineered. A good mix of driving beats, great song writing with soulful ballads. I'm a true fan of Robert Cray's BB King inspired style. Continues to become more soulful at his craft. I don't think you'll be disappointed. Highly Recommend.



3. Dont like his politics, but love his music. Good to finally get a live CD.



4. I saw Robert Cray on this tour and have seen him more than 10 times. We just him opening for Clapton last month. Sadly, his live shows get duller every year. He seems to be stuck playing these mid-tempo songs from his playbook that just aren't that interesting. Phone Booth and Our Last Time are slowed down to the point where they have lost whatever charm they once possesed. Songs such as Bouncin Back, Consequences, Picture of a Broken Heart, or Survivor would have made a much stronger playlist.
   
   There are some bright lights on this album: I Was Warned and Time Makes Two are riveting and intense. It is time for Cray to get some new collaborators as he and his longtime band have settled into a deep and somnambulent rut.
   
   
   There are many better ways to enjoy Cray's music than this. I strongly recommend Strong Persuader and I Was Warned as the best ways into his songbook.



5. Refer to my first review of the Robert Cray Band. There is nothing to add.

5 comments about Live at Georgia Theatre.

1. I have been a DTB fan for a couple of years now. I think this live CD capture the jam band feel they always have. I read all the 1 star reviews and was disappointed they dave the CD bad review because of the IMPORT price. Now I must say if your going to give DTB 1 star for their music, it was probably better you didn't get the CD because its not your type of music.
   A great CD to buy, just dont pay the import price.



2. I love the Allman Bros. Band, I have to admit this up front. I gave D. Trucks so many chances, buying many of his cds and dvds....I have got to say that this guitarist starts off his songs with a sloooow build up that is so uninspired and while you wait for the band to get going and darn, you are routing for them to do so and guess what...nothing, de nada. The band more times than not fizzles always after a long build.....This guy does not know how to get into a groove that so so many others have done. Mr. Trucks, no offense but it may be time to put down your guitar and go back to what you may do better.



3. This music is the most inspirational I've come across in along time. It's got great colour, superb playing, drive, powerful sound...left me wanting MORE ...which is exactly what I did....



4. For fans of Trucks and The Allman Brothers this live recording needs no more recommendation, it is a great show and recording; familiar songs but done with enough variation to keep it interesting.
   
   For the casual listener there is alot to recommend here as well. A killer tight (but loose) band playing their eclectic mix of southern rock-funk-jazz-blues with passion and playful virtuosity. There is no mistaking this band's sound, the funky groove and sinuous slide. This may not be a recording for all moods (Truck's tends to sound like he's working a large power tool when he gets warmed up), but it is great for what it is. (Look online at the Hittinthenote website to order more cheaply and easily, and check out their latest SONGLINES CD and DVD)



5. Is it just me? I can't agree with those who rate the sound quality of this otherwise remarkable set. To these ears, there are too many vocals (and some flute) that sound a little off mike, and the balance between instruments is sometimes poor. Although it's not, it sounds to me like a live broadcast mix.
   
   That said, I'd walk across broken glass to see this band play.
   
   This set has a weird retail history, being touted first (I believe) as an iTunes-only release. I bought my copy for a very reasonable $9.98 from www.shopbootlegs.com, but it's out-of-stock there as at July 2007. I certainly wouldn't pay the exorbitant import price. Shop around.