5 comments about Eric Clapton's Rainbow Concert.

1. I picked this disc up on a whim, with a preconceived mind set that it would be a nostalgic, one time listen. Wrong. Very wrong.
   I don't know how this one slipped through the cracks, and was impressed enough to write my first review.
   The original release had only six tracks (vinyl limitations ?), and included all three Winwood led tunes. At the time, this only served to lead listeners to believe that Clapton was not up to form at the time (physical and emotional addictions), and that the concert was only a mercy deal on Townshend's part.
   The entire set, released 22 years later, reveals that this could indeed be Clapton's strongest live release. One only has to listen to the range and accuracy of his vocals on the first two tracks, Layla and Badge, as compared to countless later releases, to realize that he was more than capable of showing a confidence in his lead voice that he always denied having, and sadly to say, affirm that he has been on cruise control ever since. His currently predictable guitar lines and hook riffs are absent, and although most of these tunes were only several years old at the time, he switches them up a notch (Blues Power, Let it Rain and even Bell Bottom Blues)and seems to be taking chances that only someone genuinely into their playing and developement would have. Nothing feels scripted. He had something to prove, maybe to us, maybe to other players, but most likely to himself. It is hard to believe that this set was followed up with "greatest hits" such as "I Shot the Sheriff", "Lay Down Sally", etc., and countless other covers and "re-interpretaions" of the blues masters. Don't even get me started on the unplugged deal. Meanwhile, back to the disc at hand:
   Most "star" line ups of this caliber don't live up to expectations, but this one does for all involved (OK, maybe not ReBop). The late Grech's bass lines and tone are more varied than on any other recordings, Winwood's keys and vocal support are subtle but essential, and it also pains me to say that Wood's slide work is also more out front and impressive than anything he has done in the Stones. Both drummers can be heard locking down a unit that probably wasn't rehearsed too much on changes, making everything flow. I'm not 100% sure, but I think that it's even Townshend himself taking a rock a billy lead on Bottle of Red Wine ! It doesn't have a feel like either of the other guitarists, and I think even die hard Who freaks would be hard pressed to find him doing a comparable break anywhere else to compare it to. Let me know if I'm wrong.
   
   In all, maybe it's time for Clapton to take another break from recording and performing, although this time for healthier reasons, and regroup. Let him rediscover HIS passion, hang up the Armanis, stop the endless "I've got to pay to tribute and remind you of my blues influences" (we know...we know), make a new generation of believers, and remember why we started to pay attention to him in the first place...maybe...just maybe.



2. I know the history of this concert, but just the pairing of this group is so fun and exciting for the listener.the remastered cd from 95 is the one I own. The only other thing I hope for is this entire concert on dvd-hopefully the artists will agree to release it some day



3. I was really surprised by this cd it is a very good recording especially being a live concert I really like the version of Laya. The artists were the best of the time so that is why it is so good, you do not get top artists getting together like that any more.



4. I an a huge Clapton fan, who had this album in the 70's. Needless to say I misplaced it somewhere along the line, I was so happy to purchase this CD it is better than I remember, one of my favorite CD of all time. Everyone needs to own this CD.



5. This is one of the many reasons I continue to invest in CD's after their early 80's
   Inception. Firstly sound-quality has leaped in dynamics, and of course "expanded" and "remastered" certainly IS a benefit to the longer play format.
   
   And this along with titles like "Live at Leads", and Dylan's "Bootleg" series makes these releases even more valuable for everyone not just collectors and
   rarity-philes.
   
   I remember first finding this in the LP Vinyl cutout bin 35 odd years ago (along with the Blind Faith album) and immediately spotting Jesus/God playing a Strat. But the songs seemed a bit scattered and I couldn't't see the "flow" potential. And of course where was "Layla"?
   
   But just like "Live at Leads" we are certainly blessed by the re-representation of the "Big Picture". And see what and hear what didn't make the grade at the time. This is Clapton's saving grace album and cheers for Pete Townsend for piecing Eric's puzzle back together. 461 Ocean Boulevard was yet conceived and we all were still yet to absorb fully Derek's Dominoes.
   
   In retrospect reading the recent reviews of Led Zeppelin '07, this concert started off a bit ragged. "Layla" does turn out to be a tragedy... But the building momentum and surety comes on as the concert develops. Cheers to Townsend for NOT sounding "WHOish" and bless his heart for putting the show on in the first place. But Ronnie Wood, contrary to his entertaining bio, does NOT at all mirror even closely the fluid "slide" of Duane Allman. But still certainly a great document of Eric's resurrection.

5 comments about Extended Versions.

1. I just saw the Foreigner concert here in California. They were awesome. The new singer sounded a lot like Lou Gramm, and the band members are excellent musicians. Mick Jones still is rocking hard, even though he is in his sixties! This CD, recorded in Las Vegas in 2005, represents the concert I saw last month. It's a very strong set list of all their greatest hits from the past 30 years. If you liked Foreigner in the past, check out this CD. The recording quality is great, the band is really tight, and the crowd adds even more excitement to an already excellent show. Some may say this is not really Foreigner because of new members in the band, Mick Jones being the only original member, but I don't care. I'm glad Foreigner is still touring. Buy this CD. You won't be sorry!



2. One of my most memorable moments of my life was being front row center at a Foreigner concert in the 80's. Hearing that amazing sound up close and personal was mind blowing and they quickly became one of my favorite bands through the years. I happened to catch them on a New Year's Eve special and saw how the band is all new with the exception of Mick Jones, founding member. I didn't expect to hear what I did. The sound was just as fabulous as I remembered and their new lead singer has a powerful sound that takes Lou Gramm's vocals to a new and stronger level. This CD has many of the songs you probably already own on a Foreigner album but is still worth picking up. The live songs and new voices will make you fall in love with them again.



3. I went to see the Legends of Rock show with Alice Cooper and Foreigner in December 2007 when they came to Riga, Latvia. Although it mostly meant seeing AC live, it was actually Foreigner that took the stage by force and never let me go during or after the show. They simply blew my mind that night while AC couldn't hold a single note right.
   
   But enough about that. The sound of the CD is great, the band is rocking hard, you can feel the audience going crazy, and the song list contains Foreigner's best material. Most of the songs sound much heavier compared with studio recordings and some of them are real gems. Starrider, Dirty White Boy, and Juke Box Hero (with Led Zeppelin's Whole Lotta Love as a part of it) make you wanna listen to them over and over again. On top of all that, I Want To Know What Love Is heard so many times before sounds fresh and very heartfelt here with audience singing along throughout the song.
   
   In a word, it's hard to find a better Foreigner CD out there. It is and feels GREAT to listen to. Highly recommended.



4. 
   
   I saw them a month ago in Oregon.
   They were great.
   The CD is just what I wanted.



5. Not bad! My highlight would be "Juke Box Hero-Whole lotta love" and "Head Games" Mick's guitar solo's throughout are great and I love the lil solo ad libs he does here and there.
   Kelly Hansen does the songs justice. He has the range and depth to wrap himself up in these songs. Live these guys sound great and it clearly shows that on this recording. Highly recommend you purchase this and turn up your stereo nice and loud.

5 comments about Reckoning.

1. the guys really tapped into something special during these sets. The music comes alive and the sound quality is phenomenal.This is One album I return to again and again, and i always come away with a deeper appreciation of the talent and genius of all the guys in the band. Cassidy is one of the best, but then all the songs on here have a little something extra that makes it so listenable and truly enjoyable on many levels. One album I would have in my stranded on an island survival pack.



2. Whenever you think of what your "favorite" album is, it's always a very tough, or basically impossible, decision. This album consistantly tops my list. Every track shows the Dead at their best; heartfelt vocals, beautiful solos and instrumental work, a set list that seamlessly blends original and traditional material.
   
   Critics of the Dead will often complain of miscues due to the live performance, excessive "diddling", or sub-par recording quality. You'll have to stop complaining with this album. Was it edited? Who cares.
   
   If you're a fan of acoustic, folk, country, or classic rock and roll, you owe it to yourself to pick up this phenomenal work.



3. I dont know what you are but dont put swastikas on light shows. It offends my sensibilties. Microsoft had its' head exmained. Their video light show that plays when you listen to the music is a real outrage!
   
   Viva Toledo!



4. This was my first Dead album (live or studio), and I still enjoy it. I love American folk/old country music, and the Dead were great practioners of this music (check out their studio work on American Beauty and Workingman's Dead). Their live stuff usually concentrated on long jams (some of which were wonderful, others not so good), but here (and on Dead Set, a companion piece to this album), they concentrated on great arrangements and singing with soul and depth. There are a lot of wonderful songs here, such as Dire Wolf (better than the studio version), George Jones's The Race Is On, Dark Hollow, the hilarious, wonderful Monkey and the Engineer, and a fine version of Ripple that concluded the original album. For those who don't really dig the Dead's long jamming (there are a lot of people who fall into this category), I suggest buying this album. I don't have the CD reissue, just the original LP, but the original LP is wonderful.



5. I had an album recording of this on cassette tape years ago. Then in the early nineties I bought a CD version, and was a little (just a little) dissapointed to discover that "oh, babe it ain't no lie" wasn't on it.
   Not only does this double CD have it, but it also has an alternate take.
   In addition to all that, I found the second disc a great addition, particulary tunes like "sage & spirit," and "heaven help the fool." This is a great buy!

5 comments about 24 Nights.

1. The premise of Eric Clapton's live double compact disc, `24 Nights,' to quote Derek Taylor's liner notes, was an undertaking "to celebrate his (Clapton's) music at the Royal Albert Hall over 24 nights with first a four-piece band and then a nine-piece and then a batch of blues giants and finally a mighty orchestra..." For any fan of rock, but especially for fans of Eric Clapton, there is lot to like about `24 Nights.'
   
   Recorded live in 1990 and 1991 at about the same time as Clapton's studio release, `Journeyman,' `24 Nights' includes classics such as `Badge,' `White Room,' and `Sunshine of Your Love' recorded with the four-piece band, blues standards `Have You Ever Loved A Woman' and `Hoodoo Man' with the blues band, `Pretending' and `Bad Love' with the more contemporary nine-piece band, and `Bell Bottom Blues' with the National Philharmonic Orchestra.
   
   As one would expect, many of the musicians with whom Clapton surrounds himself are legends in their own right. The various line-ups feature such Phil Collins, Buddy Guy, Robert Cray, Jimmy Vaughn, and Johnnie Johnson. There are quite a few names familiar to the fans of "Eric Clapton and His Band" releases and tours, including Greg Phillinganes, Nathan East, and Ray Cooper. Even Jamie Oldaker, who was a part of Clapton's bands during the 1970's and early 1980's on the studio release `Backless,' among others, is the percussionist for the `24 Nights' blues band.
   
   Each of the bands produce a sound that combines both Clapton's blues and "Cream-y" roots as well as Clapton's mature and confident style reminiscent of the more recent Clapton releases. The `Sunshine of Your Love' track is the Clapton/Bruce/Baker edition on steroids. The energetic `Pretending' and `Bad Love' jump right through the speakers, while the version of `Wonderful Tonight' featuring vocalist Kitty Kissoon is literally erotic.
   
   The only criticism for `24 Nights' is relates to the collaboration with the orchestra. While other rock band/orchestra associations really seemed to have clicked, Clapton's effort just misses the mark. On the `Bell Bottom Blues' track, in particular, the band and the orchestra seem to be about a half or quarter note off, although `Edge of Darkness' is fairly powerful and quite a bit more on. Maybe it just took a while for the band and the symphony to warm to one another.
   
   In all, `24 Nights' is bottled lightning. Clapton's guitar riffs shoot right out from the tracks and, with the exception of the symphony tracks, the music and the musicians are tight. `24 Nights' provides just about any music fan with a great listen, while dedicated Clapton fans will appreciate both the classic style as well as the experience and the maturity of a true rock legend.



2. 24 Nights is a concert that was recorded over the period of 9 evenings at the Royal Albert Hall in London.
   During the couse of the 24 evenings he uses essentially 2 bands and a band with an orchestra.
   The fist installment is his current band at the time.
   They do songs from his latest CD. The songs include, Pretending, Bad Love, Old Love, and Wonderful Tonight.
   The second phase is a blues phase with Robert Cray and Buddy Guy playing guitar with Chuck Berrys piano player Johnny Johnson.
   The Blues tracks in my mind are the best on the CD.
   Clapton does Watch Yourself, Worried Life Blues and Voodoo Man, as well as Have You Ever Loved A Woman.
   The third phase is with an orchestra that includes Bell Bottom Blues, Hard Times and Edge of Darkness.
   The version of Wonderful Tonight is haunting. He slows the song down and with Katie Kasssons vocals the song is outstanding.
   If you like Blues or if you like EC you need to get this one.



3. Solid and powerful music. The live recording quality is A+. A reminder that EC still has it. Make it part of your collection.



4. I love live Clapton releases. This is a good release but I feel the songs are rushed and bland compared to other "live" versions. I cannot stomach the end of "Wonderful Tonight", especially if you ever seen the video of it, sounds like a cat in heat...but there are highlights including the songs released during this time period "Pretending", "Bad Love", and a nice version of "Bell Bottom Blues"....maybe this was the 24th night, I just feel the energy had left the building.



5. This is an excellent compilation taken from 24 night run at London's Royal Albert Hall in 1990. This is a great CD for hardcore Clapton fans or for the unfamiliar music lover. The sound quality is top notch and the whole band is in fine form.

   Disc one- Badge is a great opener with a cathcy little piano riff that will bring a smile to your face and get your head boppin. White Room and Sunshine kick as usual although a little more soloing from Clapton and few other insturments would of been appreciated. A fun Watch Yourself and interesting Edge round out an overall solid disc that you will leave in your player for a long while

   Disc two- Pretending is my favorite song on the whole album and this song prooves that Clapton hasn't lost contrary to what some of his fans think. He still has the ability and the drive/energy, he just displays less often which is a little unfortuante. Both Bad and Old Love are good follow ups and the rest finish suit nicely.

   Bottom Line: a great two disc set. If you are new to Clapton than go with Crossroads 2 instead but if you don't want shell out a 50 than you might want to consider 24 nights although there are decent Clapton offerings for the rookies that might be better.

5 comments about Live in Japan.

1. I have owned this CD since it came out back in 1992. I saw that it came out in a SACD/hybrid format and purchased it. The quality of the sound is so superior to the CD. It really picks up many of the nuances of the shows I couldn't hear on the CD. Clapton backs up Harrison's subtle playing. As much as many people give Harrison his due as a guitar player this SACD proves his genius as a guitar player. He may not have been as flashy as many other pickers, his licks have stood the test of time and fit in the framework of what the Beatles were. This SACD is the culmination of his career simply stated and every note pops out of your sound system. When you hear the qulity and depth of the sound of this or any SACD, I am curious why SACD/DVD Audio didn't take off like I would have thought they should have. If you are a Beatles/George Harrison/Eric Clapton fan and an audiophile, this is a must have.



2. Jesus H. Krishna - where did this forgotten gem come from?
   
   From the high water mark of "All Things Must Pass" in 1970 that served as a compendium for all of his accumulating and unused Beatles-era work, George Harrison's more recent solo output has been at its best, spotty and at worst, downright desultory. Sharing the stage with Eric Clapton and taken from his last, very abbreviated, solo tour in 1991, Live In Japan (re-released after a ten year plus absence) brilliantly showcases a reinvigorated Harrison in top form - ripping through his Beatles and solo canon with a delicate ferocity that is both moving and completely unexpected.
   
   The Beatles chestnuts are all here however, it is on some of his lesser-known solo compositions that his enthusiasm for the material really shines - in particular "Devil's Radio" and "Cheer Down." The "quiet" Beatle delivers a landmark performance that is worth every penny.



3. George and the gang sound great it's nice to have a first class live show form George. It needs to come out on dvd.



4. From producers Spike and Nelson Wilbury, backed by Eric Clapton and a band of talented session musicians... George Harrison, Live in Japan!
   Perhaps the best thing about this concert tour and the album made from it, apart from the musicianship and songwriting, is the date on which it was performed: December, 1991. Not only was the Dark Horse at the top of his game, but he also had free range of what would be just about the entirety of his solo discography, not to mention all those Beatles tunes. Everything from, "Don't Bother Me", to "Cheer Down", was in the running, and Harrison was able to sort out the cream of the delicious crop, the best of a bumper harvest of musical actvity. Things start on an energetic note (literally as well as figuratively) with, "I Want to Tell You", from, "Revolver", recorded with the Beatles. The band kicks in full swing (including some, er, interesting keyboard licks) and then the vocals start; we all recognize the tune and the lines of the third verse ("... feel hung up and I don't know whyyyyy!") sooth us with their catchiness... and then the guitar takes over. The moment when George begins the solo (yes this song now has a substantial guitar solo worked into it) is when the hypnosis settles in- and it doesn't lift until the moment the crowd roars its approval of the concluding cover of Chuck Berry's, "Roll Over Beethoven".
   Yes, this album is THAT great for Harrison-Heads. Each song plays to its full potential, showing off not only Harrison's melodic and lyrical prowess, but also the skills of the band, and in particular, three great guitaritsts: Harrison, Clapton, and Andy Fairweather Low. Guitar solos, often adding symetry, always adding beauty, outline almost every song, and in that respect they might as well ALL be called "highlights".
   There has been some arguing on this site about who played which solos, but to me its obvious in most cases: Harrison and Clapton in particular have very distinctive tendancies and styles in their solos, and as far as I'm concern, Concert for George (though a great show) has proven that NO ONE could play those slide bits like George... and you bet your Beatles memorabilia collection he lets loose here. Some highlights in no particular order...
   . The aformentioned opener, "I Want to Tell You", with its enchanting guitar work, and the energetic follow-up, "Old Brown Shoe", with its ever-imaginative lyrics.
   . "Taxman", has to be one of the THE moments of the evening: a brilliantly played, expertley written and bitting tune about tax-paying... aided by some lyrical updates, circa 1991.
   . Dark Horse without the "Hoarse".
   . "Something", and even the otherwise unremarkable, "If I Needed Someone", get a boost in the ratings due to some magic from the guitar wizards, especially Clapton to who waxes tender during the instrumental segments of both tunes, often exploring and ad libbing as George takes the original gorgeous guitar parts.
   . "Give Me Love (Give me Peace on Earth)", serves as the selection from my personal favorite of George's solo offerings, "Living the Material World", while, "What is Life?", an "All Things Must Pass" classic, rocks more than it ever did before, liberated by producers Spike and Nelson W. from the Phil Spector treatment.
   On disc 2, the selections from George's (then) recent material score points in the album's favor: "Devil's Radio" (including George's verbal coda, 'Devil's radio; don't be a broadcaster!'), and, "Cheer Down" (then George's most recent solo single, from 1989 and used in the film, "Lethal Weapon 2", thanks to a bizare connection with Eric Clapton and Silver Pictures, prove themselves highlights while, the titular track from, "Cloud 9" lays down its funk agreeably. (In additon, "Got my Mind set on You", which rounds out the first disc, rocks with all the fire of its studio counterpart as George revives the great songs and composers of the '50s and '60s.)
   . No matter what anyone tells you, "Here Comes the Sun", is rendered gorgeously here.
   . "Isn't it a Pity", and particularly, "While My Guitar Gently Weeps", serve as the finale section of the concert and are most effective (again, the solos are more-or-less beyond description, especially as George and Eric go at it together during the last section of, "...Guitar...").
   ."Roll Over Beethoven" rounds out the show in the best way possible: with plain old rock 'n' roll fun! One wishes they'd keep, "rockin' in two by two"!
   . For the curious (ammend that to the curious and lazy) the show also includes: "Piggies" (with an amusing coda), "All Those Years Ago", and the 1970 mega-hit, "My Sweet Lord", all performed sincerity and great qualit of musicianship as per the standards of the album.
   The album also includes photos, liner notes (actually excerpts from Harrison's book, "I Me Mine", for the most part) on the various songs, as well as the customary production credits, track listings, ad nausem All these (particularly the photos) are nice touches for all the Harrison-Heads out there (myself included). In fact, the ONLY thing missing from this release is... a DVD! Don't get the Wild One wrong, the performances released on DVD so far (all five of 'em, no less ) are greatly appreciated and enjoyed, and I still enjoy watching them from time to time, but I cannot be the only one (in fact I've done enough review-reading on Amazon by itself to be SURE) who wants a full DVD covering the shows played in Osaka and Tokyo in December, 1991. We know tapes exist since we've gotten all sorts of bits 'n' bobs through the various DVD releases, and even if EVERYTHING weren't intact, I'm sure many Harrison fans would love to have all there is in the best possible quality in one place! But I digress.
   This gets 5 stars as an album of beautiful music, as a document of the one-and-only George Harrison performing live in concert, and as a darn fine piece of rock 'n' roll entertainment... it'd probably get a few more were the entirety of the video portion intact!
   --The Wild One.
   NOTE: this review is dedicated in memory of the following: George Harrison, Spike Wilbury, and Nelson Wilbury.



5. Well, I bet alot of you didn't know that I had a poetic side. While I am certainly no Cyrano De Bergerac - I have courted many a lady to the words of classic poetry. For example; "Do not go gentle into that good review, Old Seers should burn and rave at close of day", "Metamorpho is truth, truth Metamorpho", "I'm noteworthy! Who are you? Are you - noteworthy - too?". And ad infitum etc. etc. Not to brag - but I have many degrees and have been exposed to the finest schooling the metaphysical universe can offer. I even graduated from Notre Dame. Does the name Quazimodo ring any bells? I thought so.
   
   All this, of course, qualifies me to write the following review. (And not much more! You forget I can read your thoughts!). In any event, this selection is really a wonderful remembrance of our friend George Harrison. How I miss him and his music. Listening to this makes me miss him even more. But it is a fine reminder of so many great songs he left the world. This was missing from my collection for a long time. But, I finally acquired it and it is an essential addition, especially if you have a considerable Beatles accumulation.
   
   George was always the shy and quiet component of the Beatles. So, I suppose it took a little urging for him to go out on tour. Enter Eric Clapton (he does get around on my reviews, doesn't he?) and his excellent band and off to Japan they go. I don't know if Harrison would have done this without him, but be glad he did because this is a stellar live recording.
   
   Expertly done, we have fine songs from George's whole career up until that point. He conjures up some of his best Beatle tunes ("Taxman", "Something", "Here Comes the Sun", "While My Guitar Gentley Weeps" etc.), adds selections from his excellent "All Things Must Pass" c.d. ("My Sweet Lord", "Isn't it a Pity", "What is Life" etc.) and extras from his other albums (Devil's Radio", "All Those Years Ago", "Dark Horse").
   
   To my mind, George was the most "reflective" of the Beatles and that is why he remains on such a high plain in my mind. He knew there was something else beyond here (well, there is you know). And I can see him now happy, knowing his was right, and riffing along with Lennon. OK, I'll stop. But you should know wise Seers can envision these things.
   
   In all, an accomplished backing band enabling Eric to relieve George of some lead guitar duties. It all works and is a wonder to hear. This is recommended if you love 60's pop and especially moreso if you loved the Beatles. In closing, we really miss you George. Thank-you for this.
   
   Metamorpho said to
   a mouse, that
   he met
   in the
   house
   'Let us
   both listen
   to Harrison:
   I will
   educate you -
   
   cheers - Metamorpho

5 comments about Jimi Hendrix : Live at Woodstock.

1. I grew up in the Woodstock era and was actually stationed in nearby West Point after my Viet Nam tour. So this collection or documentary "The Road to Woodstock" directed by Bob Smeaton also holds a piece of me history.
   
   I must say I almost did not watch this film as the front have was a packed with sound bites of people doing just what I did in the first paragraph of this review; they spent too much time telling how great they were and then some antidote about Jimi.
   
   Hang in there you will be carried away. This is as close to live as you are going to get. Jimi is one of those performers that when let lose can perform rings around his formal recordings. Some times I think it is an acquired taste. I have to confess besides his adaptation of "Starspangled Banner" I was taken back more by "Hey Joe" written by Billy Roberts. Of course everyone has their favorites.
   
   No mater how you look/listen to it this production deserves a place in your collection.
   
   Electric Ladyland



2. By 1969 the whole hippie thing was starting to fade but this was the last gathering of all of them at WOODSTOCK This is hendrix at woodstock. This to me is a histroical concert ecspecially during Jimis electrifying star spangled banner which really defined what america was going thru at that time this album rocks it has voodo chilid with jimi playing it with his teeth(AMAZING) this album litterlay proves that jimi hendrix is the greatest guitarist of all time. This is hendrix at his best in concert rock on
   R.I.P. JIMI HENDRIX



3. A nice collection of Hendrix highlights from Woodstock.....not too many of these sort of Woodstock Highlights for individual artists exist to my knowledge...this one is a real keeper.



4. Now that a double dvd of Jimi's Woodstock gig has been released, remixed by Eddie Kramer (including a 5.1 surround mix), there's not much need for this CD, especially since the dvd set is cheaper. Just beware that the older single dvd release bears the same title as the new one; "Live At Woodstock".



5. As I am listening to Jimi Hendrix from any of his cd's I am always amazed in some way. His guitar skills are awesome and really nobody will ever be like him again. Over 50 percent of this cd is a guitar solo which really is all chopped up and spread throughout all the songs. "Star Spangled Banner" track is a perfect example of his guitar skills. "Jam Back at the House" is also very cool because of how he changes every minute and goes into a complete different solo. Also, the songs are much longer. The regular album songs that are only 3-5 minutes on his other cd range from 5-13 minutes on this 2-disc set. "Voodoo Child" is over 13 minutes long and its played faster then the album version. Overall all the songs are great and this would be a awesome set to add to your Hendrix collection.
   
   I don't know why the editorial review and also the little booklet say that this is not his best performance, his guitar wasn't tuned for this, or they weren't good because none of them knew what they were playing. I thought it was a awesome performance. As Jimi puts it he was just jamming. I thought that was a cool line. It was like he didn't care if the audience left or what they thought, because he was just jamming.
   
   TRACK LIST/RATING
   DISC 1
   1.Introduction-(2:21)-10/10
   2.Message to Love-(7:21)-10/10
   3.Hear My Train a Comin'-(9:49)-10/10
   4.Spanish Castle Magic-(7:05)-10/10
   5.Red House-(5:24)-10/10
   6.Lover Man-(5:11)-10/10
   7.Foxey Lady-(5:06)-10/10
   8.Jam Back at the House-(7:44)-10/10
   DISC 2
   1.Izabella-(6:42)-10/10
   2.Fire-(3:42)-10/10
   3.Voodoo Child (Slight Return)-(13:40)-10/10
   4.Star Spangled Banner-(3:43)-10/10
   5.Purple Haze-(4:23)-10/10
   6.Woodstock Improvisation-(3:59)-10/10
   7.Villanova Junction-(4:28)-10/10
   8.Hey Joe-(5:52)-10/10

5 comments about The Fillmore Concerts.

1. This double CD set is almost literally a dream come true for me. Some sixteen years ago, I was rifling through some old LPs and came across the original "At the Fillmore East", which I had bought (if I recall correctly) in my last year of high school. I thought it would be great to have this on CD, and mused about an enhanced version including "Mountain Jam", culled from the same concerts and released as a side of the "Brothers and Sisters" 2LP set. That same night I drove to a convenience store for cigarettes and decided to buy a music magazine as well. Picking up Mojo right there in the store I flicked straight to the page containing a review of The Fillmore Concerts. Spooky. This was in the days before Amazon. I couldn't find a copy in Sydney and had a friend buy it London. Worth the effort? You bet. 'Mountain Jam' is there, plus other tracks previously released only in compilations. There is a version of every song that the Allmans played at the Fillmore in March 1971. The sound is significantly improved, having been lovingly remixed and remastered under the direction of original producer Tom Dowd. Purists may quibble with 'Elizabeth Reed' being assembled from two takes. It doesn't worry me in the least. It's still The Allman Brothers, still live performance, and it's a pleasing result. This dynamite band invented a genre. They've had scores of imitators, good and bad. They inspired some great bands, but none their equal. The Fillmore Concerts is ultimate Allman Brothers.



2. As the author of the Jefferson Airplane book "Take Me To A Circus Tent" and a former radio disc-jockey, I am often asked to write and or discuss various recordings from the 60's and 70's.
   
   There are live albums and then there are historic releases when the music and the road goes on forever (If only Duane were here today). From the day the original vinyl release entered the record shops a myriad of reviewers and fans thought this to be one of the greatest on stage releases (A large percentage handing it the Gold Standard). If you feel that way with the best fidelity yet and additional tracks it got even better. For those that aren't sure see if this doesn't sway you.
   
   To watch or listen to Duane is intense and fascinating. It doesn't matter what he plays it is how. Always with impeccable style and taste. There are many musicians that may know all the guitar theory ever invented, but have you falling asleep the second they extend a song or solo. Duane has the uncanny ability to keep you salivating on every note and wanted more. You are fixated on a shorter tune with a catchy riff "Trouble No More" and lose track of time during the marathon "Mountain Jam."
   
   Duane, Gregg, and Dickie didn't have the opportunity to share the stage for endless years but even in truncated doses the spotlight still shines.
   
   
   Enjoy the music and be well,
   Craig Fenton
   
   Author of the Jefferson Airplane book "Take Me To A Circus Tent"



3. There are enough detailed reviews here for you to be informed about the content. I'm just adding that I rank this as one of the best rock, blues-rock discs of all time. It also makes the list as one of the very best live performance recordings of all time. Even if you are hardcore fan of another style you will surely appreciate this for it's expression as art. I've been listening to the Fillmore shows since the original release in '71. I keep coming back for more. This expanded edition is the ESSENTIAL now.



4. Like any self-respecting blues guitar afficiando, I believe At Fillmore East is the best live album of all time. But the best, ladies and gents, just got better. Why? For one, it adds the three brilliant live tracks from Eat a Peach: One Way Out; Trouble No More and Mountain Jam. Not enough incentive to rush out buy it? Here's more: Drunken Hearted Boy. The vocals are a bit weak, but Skydog saves the day, proving why he's Duane Allman, blowing us away time and time again: there's also a great version of Don't Keep Me Wonderin'. And, of course, those seven classic tracks that made up the original At Fillmore East, with a longer Stormy Monday.
   If you don't own the one-disc Fillmore East, buy this instead. Now, let's see the January 29th, 1971 Fillmore East show on CD! (check it out on wolfgangsvault.com - it rivals most, if not all, previously released live Allmans).



5. excelente edicion que encapsula en dos compactos toda la adrenalina y la inspiracion de un conjunto irrepetible...con una produccion asombrosa de Dowd, un booklet completo, te arrojan directamente en una vieja butaca del fillmore, aunque hayan pasado mas de 30 años !!!!!!!

5 comments about Live at Wembley Stadium.

1. Queen's Live at Wembley '86 was originally released in June of 1992.
   The album was recorded on Queen's final tour with its classic lineup at the now demolished old Wembley Stadium in London on July 12, 1986 (the band sold out two nights and could have done a few more Wembley gigs but was not available so it ended at Knebworth Park (which deserves a release for pure historical value)).
   Regardless, this is a pretty damn fine show featuring a good mix of (then) new songs (The pulsing opener "One Vision", a killer "A Kind of Magic", a stunning "Who Wants to Live Forever" and a great but short "Friends Will Be Friends") and classic ones ("Tie Your Mother Down", "In the Lap of the Gods (Revisited)", a short "Seven Seas of Rhye", "Tear it Up (with a teaser of Liar)", "Under Pressure", "Another One Bites the Dust", the pulsing "I Want to Break Free", "Now I'm Here", the acoustic "Love of My Life" and "Is This the World We Created", "Bohemian Rhapsody", "Hammer to Fall", "Crazy Little Thing Called Love", "Radio Ga Ga", "We Will Rock You" and "We Are the Champions") despite some obvious vocal overdubs (as this came out on video in the late 1980s in Europe) on "One Vision", "A Kind of Magic", "Who Wants to Live Forever" and "We Are the Champions".
   Also, there was a little jam called "Impromptu" which showcased Freddie's dynamic vocal range and Brian May's 9 minute guitar solo called "Brighton Rock Solo".
   Also, the band decided to incorporate several 50's-era tunes into one medley ("You're So Square (Baby I Don't Care)", "Hello Mary Lou" (although Led Zeppelin did it better on How the West Was Won) and "Tutti Fruitti" (which was extended on this remastered version of Live at Wembley) and also the 40s song Big Spender which was part of the first encore. Certainly it is a slicker package than Live Killers and better than Live Magic but not as great as Queen On Fire Live at the Bowl (recorded in 1982 and released in 2004) nor Queen Rock Montreal (recorded in 1981 and released in 2007).
   The Live at Wembley '86 album reached #52 on the US charts in 1992 but would eventually go Platinum with a million copies sold in the US over time.
   In August of 2003, to coincide with the DVD release of this show, Hollywood Records in the US and Canada re-released Live at Wembley '86 with a new title Live at Wembley Stadium with FOUR BONUS TRACKS including killer versions of "A Kind of Magic", "Another One Bites the Dust" and "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" from the first Wembley performance July 11, 1986 (which was better than the versions on the regular album and also overdub free) and "Tavasi Szel Vizet Arast" which was recorded at Nepstadion in Budapest, Hungary on July 30, 1986.
   This live album is recommended!



2. Incredible recording sound quality ! I love the background sound, cheering throughout the concert. When you're down and out, don't miss the second CD, it will restore your energy !



3. Queen has officially released five live CD's (Live killers, Fire at the bowl, Rocks Montreal, Live magic & Wembley) This one was released originally only in Europe and took some time before it ever saw an official release in the USA. The members of Queen have given varied and conflicting reasons why they never returned to the USA for a concert tour, but that's beside the point. This CD sounds good and some of their performances border on spectacular, but the songs presented here are for the most part weak. They were promoting their "A kind of magic" CD which curiously they only performed four songs from that offering. No big deal. I consider that album their absolute worse and incredibly boring CD of their catalog.
   You can tell the audiences at Wembley were certainly enthusiastic and very much appreciated their performance. The problem I have with this CD is the song selection. The tunes from "A kind of magic" are sub-par at best, but they sound edgier here. The oldies melody is a complete waste of time. With their wealth of past material to choose from why do something ridiculous like that? and did we really need yet another extended guitar solo from Brian May included again?
   This is not their best concert performance. Of all five live CD's; their best performance can be found on "Fire at the bowl" but you'll have to put up with the lame songs from "Hot Space"
   I'm sure their fans in Europe really clamored for this concert were Queen could do no wrong, but here in the USA this was unnecessary.



4. This is the greatest concert of Queen!!! All the songs are great and Freddie rocks!!!



5. This was an amazing performance by Queen, and sadly the bands second last. It starts out with One Vision, and includes some of my favorite Queenhits of all time such as the rock opera masterpiece In The Lap Of The Gods, Seven Seas Of Rhye, Bohemian Rhapsody, and Now I'm Here. They also do a smashing rendition of Crazy Little Thing Called Love, Radio Gaga, Under Pressure and I Want To Break Free, and Is This The World We Created, among others.
   Also included some tongue in cheek renditions of some old 50's hits like (You're So Square) Baby I Don't Care, Hello Mary Lou (Goodbye Heart), and Tutti Frutti.
   I wish the band had actually sung Brighton Rock, instead of making it just a guitar instrumental. I know Brian May is one of the best guitarists ever, but Brighton Rock is actually one of my favorite songs, and that's whatI wanted to hear , not just the background guitar music to the song.
   Peronally, I don't think it is quite as good as Live Killers.
   Nonetheless it was a fantastic concert, by one of the best bands ever.

5 comments about Is There Anybody Out There? / The Wall Live Pink Floyd 1980-81 (Deluxe Limited Edition).

1. While this might be a great collection of live songs comprising "The Wall" from Earl's Court, there is an unofficial video of one of the Earl's Court shows that is, IMHO, much more pleasing. Though imperfect, I have to believe that this show could be restored and officially released. It's clear that it was professionally filmed for some reason. Incidentally, though i don't know if they're credited on this CD, the Floyd had a complete backing band on this tour- a second guitar, bass player, drummer, and keyboard player. The power of some of the live songs is a result, in part, of the fact that there are, essentially, two bands playing the same song at the same time. Obviously, they've got the audio cleaned up well, if they would just clean up the video, we'd have a fantastic DVD release.



2. I you are a fan of Pink Floyd and/or "The Wall", then you will love this CD! It is really interesting to hear The Wall played live in its entirety. It's an incredible record to begin with, but the live version adds another element to it. I wish I had been there to see it! Get the deluxe version for the book that comes with it. The book tells the story of "The Wall" from each band member's perspective. Great buy!



3. Drop dead gorgeously clear live Pink Floyd doing "The Wall Live" and "Is There Anybody Out There". Definitely one of the top live albums of all time.



4. this is the best limited edition album i ever bought. great sound and well made cover.



5. Pink Floyd's Is There Anybody Out There?: The Wall Live was released in April of 2000 in a standard version and this the deluxe packaging/slipcase hard covered book.
   The album was released to commemorate the 20th anniversary of The Wall. The album was originally slated for release in late 1999 but producer James Guthrie(who co-produced the original album) had to bake the master tapes to get the sticky glue off after sitting in storage for years. Also, the band had problems with their US record companies. The band had just inked a new distribution deal with Capitol/EMI worldwide and were set to release but Columbia/Sony in the US and Canada were initially against the album but reluctantly agreed to release the album as the band's final album with Sony in the US and Canada after the band switched labels which were licensed the music(the band have the final say on what gets released and not released).
   Is There Anybody Out There? was recorded at London's Earls Court Arena during the band's performances of The Wall in August of 1980 and June of 1981, the shows were a bona fide spectacle. More than anything, Is There Anybody Out There? captures the volume, the bombast and the grandeur of these famed performances with remarkable accuracy.
   These performances are astonishingly faithful to the band's studio versions although the band does get to stretch out on In the Flesh(pt. 1), The Thin Ice, Another Brick in the Wall(pt.1), Another Brick in the Wall(pt. 2), Mother, Goodbye Blue Sky, Young Lust, Hey You, Comfortably Numb, The Show Must Go On, In the Flesh(pt.2), Run Like Hell and Outside the Wall with either extra guitar solos from David Gilmour showing why he is one of rock's greatest guitarists or extra keyboard solos from Rick Wright or extra verses or extended musical pieces.
   The other tracks Empty Spaces, One of My Turns, Don't Leave Me Now, Another Brick in the Wall(pt. 3), Is There Anybody Out There?, Nobody Home, Vera, Bring the Boys Back Home, Waiting For the Worms, Stop! and The Trial were arguably better than its studio counterparts although remained faithful to them.
   Although they were kicked out in 1979 and 1982 respectively by Roger Waters due to his uncontrollable ego, co-founders keyboardist Rick Wright and drummer Nick Mason played better than on the studio version of The Wall, especially Rick whose Hammond Organ work buries that of its studio counterpart. Roger Waters didn't play much bass on this live album as he perfectly recreated the role of Pink and left Andy Bown to play bass in his place. David Gilmour's musical arrangements and guitar and vocals were superb as well.
   Run Like Hell is classic with Roger Waters' classic intro.
   This live Wall album also includes two unreleased tracks. What Shall We Do Now was left off the original release due to space constraints and The Last Few Bricks was a reprise of Happiest Days, Young Lust and Empty Spaces as an instrumental for wall builders to catch up to the band.
   Also, Storm Thorgerson's artwork of the four Floyd member face masks is striking and the book has recollections from the four Floyd members plus road crew and stage designers with some cool pictures.
   This live album did well for a from the vault release hitting #19 on the album charts and #1 on the Internet Album Sales chart and went Platinum in a month of its release. This live album has zero overdubs and is one of the best live albums I ever heard next to Pink Floyd's Pulse, Led Zeppelin's How the West Was Won and The Song Remains the Same 2-CD reissue, Rush's Different Stages, Queen's Queen Rock Montreal, Genesis' Seconds Out, The Who's Live at Leeds and Supertramp's Paris among many others.
   Highly recommended!

5 comments about Wings Over America.

1. I bought this album when it first appeared on the shelves many years ago and played it until I eventually wore it out. I'm a huge Beatle fan and have for the most part enjoyed most post Beatle work by the fabs individually. McCartney's work has been sporadic and ranges from the sublime Band On The Run to the ridiculous Give My Regards to Broad Street but his disc shows you what a great rock performer he really is. The band is second to none and may be the last incarnation that is a "real" band. Not a lot of synthesizers and midi here just great performances by monsters of their craft. This doesn't take away from the great band that McCartney tours with now but certainly eclipses the lounge act that he toured with in the 80's and early 90's. There are lots of great cuts on this collection and it was nice to hear Denny Laine sing Go Now as a bonus. Everyone knows these songs (with maybe the exception of Magneto and Titanium Man) and as always, McCartney doesn't play much with the original arrangements, instrumentation or vocals. The album is sonically "of its time" and this may be a weak point for some listeners but I consider it to be a certificate of its authenticity. It's hard to find and usually quite expensive but as far as live McCartney goes, I would consider it a highly recommended addition to your library.



2. If you don't recognize all of the titles in the track listing, just know this: You are in for a real treat. The hits are well done but the deep cuts are a revelation. Firstly, this band is amazing. Secondly, Paul's voice is literally at it's peak. His vocals are soulful, raw, and as good as any singer in rock music's history. Songs like "Maybe I'm Amazed" are vastly superior in this setting and lesser known tracks like "Rock Show," "Time To Hide," and "Beware My Love" will make you re-evaluate McCartney's solo career. "Soily" is nearly a heavy metal song believe it or not and is indicative of the intensity of the album as a whole.
   
   A must.



3. A glorious time capsule of Wings at the height of their popularity in 1976, this one was a HUGE seller for the band, and no doubt the entire tour was a mindblower for Paul McCartney, who reached fame he couldn't imagine AFTER having been in a little band called THE BEATLES not too many years earlier. The tracks pulled for this set aren't all perfection...as some have pointed out, things like "Silly Love Songs" and "Listen To What the Man Said" are probably better off in their studio versions.
   
   Nonetheless the versions here are eminently enjoyable in the context of the entire set, some of which harbors versions of McCartney/Wings faves that arguably transcend any others in existence. I can't listen to the studio version of "Maybe I'm Amazed" after hearing the live version. (Same as with some Peter Frampton tracks on "Comes Alive" and Elton tracks on "Here and There," oddly enough both issued the same year as WOA...1976 - good year for live records, I guess.)
   
   The album's got some wonderful highlights: "Yesterday" is one that never wears out its welcome, and you can hear a pin drop in the hall when Paul sings it. "Rockshow" is an inspired reading of the "Venus and Mars" track, "Live and Let Die" is a stunner and even "Richard Cory" is an odd, but interesting bit of cover material, perhaps the only live recording of the obscure Paul Simon song.
   
   Anyway, the only thing I'd like to hear is a big old remix of the entire album, since the dynamics are a bit limited by the original mixes and mastering. Many live albums (Kansas' "Two For the Show" and the aforementioned "Here and There" and "Frampton Comes Alive") have been very successfully remixed and yielded spectacular results and this is another landmark live album that deserves (and actually screams out for) special remixing treatment. Let's hope we get something from Paul that becomes the definitive audio version of what is still, and probably will always be, a permanent document of a truly great rock and roll band that will never pass this way again.



4. I wanted to see this tour so bad. Being only 10, I could not go. I listend to this album so much. I just gave it a listen after a long time, and it stands up to time. If you are a Paul McCartney fan, this is a must to own.



5. THIS IS THE BEST LIVE LP OR CD OUT THERE. IT IS A REAL ROCKER.