1 comments about Official Live Bootleg #2.

1. If you got the Official Bootleg Get this one. Rounds out his standard works. It does duplicate House of the rising sun and you got me Floating.

5 comments about BBC Sessions.

1. THESE RECORDINGS WERE MADE LIVE IN THE BBC STUDIOS AND BROADCASTED ON THE AIR IN 1967. THEY INCLUDE SONGS FROM THE JHE FIRST FOUR ALBUMS, "THE JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE", "ARE YOU EXPERIENCED?", "ELECTRIC LADYLAND" AND AXIS: BOLD AS LOVE", AS WELL AS COVER VERSIONS OF SONGS BY MUDDY WATERS, BOB DYLAN, STEVIE WONDER, THE BEATLES, ELVIS PRESELY, A COUPLE OF SHORT JAMS, INTERVIEWS, INTRODUCTIONS AND JINGLES. GREAT RECORDING QUALITY SOUND, AND SOME BLISTERING GUITAR WORK BY JIMI. THE SECOND CD HAS MORE EXPTENDED GUTIAR SOLOS THAN THE FIRST CD. A NICE ADDITION TO ANYBODY'S COLLECTION OF JIMI HENDRIX MUSIC. I HAVE THE BBC SESSIONS ALBUMS BY THE WHO AND THE BEATLES, AND THOSE ARE GREAT AS WELL.



2. This is my favorite Hendrix live album for the same reason that Electric Ladyland is my favorite Hendrix studio album: it shows off his range better than any others. I'll grant that's not exactly a fair thing to say, because it's a compilation spanning his entire career, but as it turns out that career was quite a diverse one, so that's okay. This runs the gamut - Hendrix blues ("Catfish Blues", which served for the basis of the "Voodoo Chile" jam; "Hear My Train a Comin'", "Hoochie Coochie Man", "Hey Joe", "Hound Dog", featuring a bunch of real dogs, a manic "Killin' Floor"), funk-rock ("Little Miss Lover"; the instrumental "Driving South"), ear busting acid-rock ("Foxey Lady"; a stripped-down "Burning of the Midnight Lamp"; "Purple Haze"; "Fire"; "Love or Confusion"; "Spanish Castle Magic"), and even a few covers of contemporary covers - the famous snippet from "Sunshine of Your Love"; a fine cover of "Day Tripper"; and, best of them all, Dylan's obscure b-side "Can I Please Crawl Out Your Window?". There's even a brief set with Stevie Wonder, who guests on his own hit "I Was Made to Love Her", and jams with Hendrix on the aptly-titled instrumental "Jammin'" I prefer the blues tracks greatly - "Catfish Blues", "Hoochie Coochie Man", "Hear My Train a-Comin'" and "Killin' Floor" are probably the album's best four songs, more or less in that order. But just about everything is great - I really like the underproduced "Burning of the Midnight Lamp"; while "Foxey Lady", "Fire" and "Stone Free" are as invigorating as ever. Plus I'll always love Mitch's drumming on "Little Miss Lover". And the Stevie Wonder set is fantastic, merging two of the most fantastic musical talents of the 20th century. So I have little to no complaints about the music itself. Okay, so "Purple Haze" is disappointing. I don't think Jimi ever recorded a truly excellent live version of that song, because part of its greatness is in its trippy production, production he couldn't really recreate live. Instead, my main problem here is with the layout, so to speak. A couple songs are presented in multiple takes, and while I really enjoy "Hey Joe", "Driving South", "Foxey Lady" and "Hear My Train a-Comin'", multiple versions of the same songs that differ only superficially are both redundant and exhausting. Even with that little gripe, this is still an essential addition to the Hendrix catalog.



3. Well I've had the Ryko collection for years but I didn't hesitate too long before deciding to buy this. This is the complete version and well worth the price of admission. All great stuff recorded before the Monterey concert, which broke him in America. All the genius is there in spades. A must have!!



4. Jimi Hendrix first became a hit in Europe before he was noticed in the U.S. The BBC radio in England had a policy of airing a specific amount of live music broadcasts. This gave Jimi, along with Noel Reading and Mitch Mitchell, an opportunity to perform live in the BBC studios. Thus, this recording combines the best of a studio recording and a live recording by having the band perform live in the studio. The result is an amazing recording.
   
   First of all, the quality of the recording is fantastic, especially considering the technology back then. The sound is crisp and clean. Second, the band is having a lot of fun playing and it comes through in the performances. Third, because they performed live to tape, there are no overdubs, studio effects etc. so you get to hear the band in its purest form. I own many Hendrix albums, but this is the one I listen to most often because the performance are so fresh sounding. Highly reccomended!
   
   Before the Hendrix family got the rights to Jimi's recordings, select songs from the BBC studio recordings were previously released on a single CD, called Radio One. However, this recording contains the complete sessions, including all songs and the DJ chatter, and so is a better, more complete recording than Radio One. The BBC Sessions also contains a very informative booklet. Get it, its worth it.



5. Never heard this before, just great stuff. How is it this guy's leftover tapes are just mind bogglingly good compared to others' pinnacle albums. If you like blues, you'll love this....

No comments about Live '89.

No comments about Live with Lou Reed.

5 comments about Joe Cocker Live.

1. this is a tremendous cd. it's all of the favorite joe cocker songs, joe's raspy, so well known voice, backed by a big sounding band, big horn section. this is a must have.



2. Who doesn't love the heart & soul, raspy voiced Joe Cocker? Add the terrific band and accent the good ol' rock-n-roll piano work and it's all good. I've enjoyed this cd for years, and will enjoy it for many more.



3. Back when I was in the Bar business ,I had this CD put on our juke box . Anybody who loves "live" music will enjoy the unbelievable live concert sound captured and re-mixed by the producers of this release.
   Wild Bill



4. Well, in short...good sound, good vocal performances from Joe Cocker, several good songs (and a few really forgettable ones as well). All good, but not great, unfortunately.

   The arrangements seem a little over-blown at times, robbing the music of its R&B-grit, but that is a minor complaint.
   "Joe Cocker Live" is a good live album. It just doesn't feel all that necessary, mainly because these extremely conservative live renditions of songs like "Shelter Me", "Unchain My Heart" and "When The Night Comes" are barely distinguishable from the originals, adding nothing whatsoever to the studio cuts.

   A little more recklessness would have been nice.




5. Fantastic,magnificent,this is one of the best "Live"performances one musician ever released.This phenomenal stage presence of Joe Cocker,with one of the most passioned voice i've ever heard in my life is enriched with this gig band,and with the presence of The Memphis Horns,perfectly background vocals,the double Levine/Stainton on keyboards,transformed that audience in a privilege!!All the entire cd is excited,full of great energy.That kind of energy we only could find when great musicians get on the stage!!!This is a must have cd for those that love good music,with rare intenses heart feelings,registered on that magical iluminated night at Memorial Auditorium,Lowell Massachussets!Great,Great,Great!!!!!!

5 comments about Woodstock Diary.

1. I ordered the disc for my boyfriends birthday I recieved an email that it may not get here until weeks later I recieved it the day of THANK YOU.



2. Some hot tracks here! Unlike the mellowed out album "Woodstock 2," this 3rd general Woodstock album brings back some of the fire of the first album. "Love City" is intense soul, with Sly at his rockin' best. "Somebody To Love" is unrecognizable until it hits the chorus, but it totally cooks, with Grace Slick's soaring voice sliding in and out of the rock guitars. "Southbound Train" has a very powerful rock sound, with terrific guitar sustain on the lead solo. Other tracks didn't impress me nearly as much--a lot of cover tunes, ballads, and sleeze. "Blackbird" is sweet with all its vocal harmonies. "If I Were A Carpenter" has Tim Hardin's voice breaking constantly, maybe intended, maybe not, but very distracting nevertheless. However, I definitely recommend this album for its high points.



3. In 1994, for the 25th anniversary of the Woodstock festival, this budget CD was released, as well as the brown-covered boxed set (which I will not review here). WOODSTOCK DIARY came and went with little fanfare, but is worth seeking out, as it contains several tracks that can be found nowhere else. Most of the music is very good, especially the pair of Joe Cocker tunes (Let's Get Stoned and I Shall Be Released), Richie Havens (I Can't Make It Anymore), Janis Joplin (Try and Ball & Chain).

   Sly & The Family Stone's "Love City" is a great track from their celebrated set. The other Amazon.com reviewer on this page is incorrect regarding this track. "Love City" was NOT the set opener but the set closer...BEFORE the famous encore. Sly DID in fact lead the crowd to a "higher" chant to Love City, left the stage, then came back to do Dance To The Music/Music Lover/ Higher/I Want To Take You Higher." Believe it or not, the higher chant was already a well-established routine in the Sly Stone set long before it was done at Woodstock. Most of the people already knew and expected it by August of '69, and was ready to do it whenever Sly asked them to.

   There are many nice rarities here, and the liner notes are informative. Of course, I am another one who wishes that more Woodstock performances were released than what has been offered on this single CD. I wanted to get more music from Richie, Tim Hardin, Mountain, Ten Years After, and especially Canned Heat. Maybe more CDs like this for the 35th and/or 40th anniversaries? Let's hope so!!! By the way, the opening song in Sly & The Family Stone's Woodstock set was "M'Lady."




4. This CD does have a few good qualities. CSN's "Blackbird" was played with great harmony and clarity.The version of the Ban's "The Weight" sounds a little better than the studio version, due to more vocals and a reedy organ. The two cuts from Joe Cocker were superb- not to mention the only other songs played in his set- with gritty and loud vocals, along with a supportive backup band. Janis played her heart out with pure energy as usual in the two songs here.
   
   This is the only good qualities I observe- with the exception of Mountain and Tim Hardin. Various songs were overdubbed with announcements and extras which are not made in the proper time as they were actually made. For example: in this CD, Grace Slick says her opening announcement and then the band takes off playing "Somebody to Love." "Somebody to Love" was the song actually played second to the last one- "White Rabbit."
   
   
   It would also be nice if there would had been more selections fron Sly and the Family Stone besides one track. Though a good song, I wish there was more. Hopefully, in time, more material will surface.
   
   In my opinion, music, especially classic rock and live complications, should be heard as THEY WERE PLAYED- IN THE ENTIRETIES OF THE SONGS. Studio "touch ups" just make good music sound bad and takes away the purpose of enjoying live recordings like music from Woodstock. Furthermore, it would be nice if music from the Incredible String Band, Sweetwater, CSN with Neil young, the Who, and Blood Sweat and Tears would be in a complication or box set of unreleased performances. I hope that rock/classic rock fans will agree.



5. This CD has a few tracks that were not available on Woodstock I, II or the boxed set. This in itself might persuade you to buy it. I still think that it's a missed opportunity though, as they could have released just previously unreleased tracks (there are plenty more in the vaults).

5 comments about Eagles Live.

1. I really like this CD alot; The live venue gives some of their catalog a little extra punch! Hard to believe half of these are live since they are so right on the money--it's almost like listening to a studio album at times. Nice addition of some lesser known Eagles tunes like Seven Bridges Road, Saturday Night, and All Night Long; Plus the addition of Life's Been Good only helps. great sound and great playing all across the board. The extended sax solo at the end of The Long Run is one of the best sax solos I have heard in a long time. A great look at a talented band in their earlier days. A must have for fans! Joe Walsh and Don Felder tear it up guitar-wise...or as much as you can tear it up in an Eagles song!



2. Greatest band of all time! What else can I say. Wish it was a DVD!



3. The Eagles' seventh album Eagles Live was released in November of 1980.
   By 1980, The Eagles were going through a schizophrenic time. The band had another chart-topping album out of The Long Run but inner tensions between drummer Don Henley and guitarist Glenn Frey reached fever pitch. The strains of keeping up with success were taking a toll on messieurs Henley, Frey, Don Felder, Joe Walsh and Timothy B Schmit.
   Before splitting up, the band decided to release a live album recorded from its 1979/80 Long Run Tour with some tracks recorded from the pre-release tour in support of Hotel California from November, 1976.
   The 1980 portions consists of spirited versions of "Hotel California" which is arguably better than its studio counterpart with Don Felder's excellent Gibson double neck guitar and Joe Walsh's Fender Telecaster work, a rocking "Heartache Tonight", a soulful "I Can't Tell You Why", a soul-tinged "The Long Run" featuring some excellent alto sax work from Phil Kenzie (whom played on Al Stewart's Year of the Cat and Time Passages albums), a laid-back unplugged "Saturday Night', a stellar "Life in the Fast Lane" and the closing extended rocking "Take it Easy" which is better than its studio counterpart with some excellent guitar work from Walsh at the end.
   The 1980 portion also included the band's take on two of Walsh's solo tracks "Life's Been Good" (arguably better than the original) and the then new track "All Night Long" which buried the sterile sounding version on the Urban Cowboy Soundtrack. Lastly, it featured the acoustic "Seven Bridges Road" which was a country number the band would play in rehearsal (see the 1977 Hotel California concert film for proof) and would be the band's last hit for 14 years.
   The songs recorded from 1976 featured "New Kid In Town" and "Wasted Time" which were at the time the performances were recorded unreleased, an unEarthly version of "Take It To The Limit" with original bass player Randy Meisner hitting an A flat to F Sharp near the end and given a STANDING OVATION for it. Lastly, "Doolin-Dalton Reprise II" was an orchestral interlude to "Desperado" which was a good version.
   Eagles Live upon release hit #7 on the album charts and quickly hit Platinum status. Millions have been sold since then (I helped the cause when I was 8 when my folks got me this on cassette as a Christmas present and then on CD and now the remastered CD).
   Recommended!



4. The Eagles Live cd is and always has been a Complete Rip-Off! Warner Brothers has been raking it in on the Eagles catalog for decades and has only continued the tradition with the remasters (see my review of Hotel California). This is the original version from way back in 1989. They did not have 80 minute cd's back then, only 74 minute discs. That I understand , but this has also been remastered and released AGAIN on 2 discs! There is absolutely NO EXCUSE for this to have been released on 2 compact discs except that it allows Warner Brothers to demand a higher 2 cd price!
   
   I vowed to NEVER buy this release, even though I own all the other standard Eagles remasters. They do sound much better, so it is worth it to me. But, you get NOTHING NEW. Same ol' booklets, same standard gray jewel cases, etc.
   
   HERE's The GOOD NEWS - I just bought this at a local SAM's Club for only...$12.88. I could not believe the price. And, it is the newer remastered version in a standard double slim jewel case. It says right on the back, "remastered by so and so at Sterling Sound 1999".
   
   I do hope that sometime in the near future, Rhino records or Universal Chronicals will put out a "Deluxe Edition" of this release with more tracks from that era and fill up those 2 compact discs. Until then...



5. This is a fine recording of a great band. However I cannot recommend it and hence it only gets 2 stars.
   
   The reason for this is that you might have thought that with an album cover which says EAGLES LIVE this would actually be a live a album. But no its not, in fact if you read the credits you'll find that there are overdubs added. So it should be called EAGLES LIVE (EXCEPT FOR THE OVERDUBS WHICH WE ADDED AFTER THE CONCERTS). Now if they called it that I probably would have given it 4 stars.
   
   Shame, because the recordings are good, but if I wanted a studio quality recording, I'd have bought the original studio albums. Live is live, it can't be almost live unless its advertised as such!

5 comments about An Evening with the Allman Brothers Band: First Set.

1. timeless songs, timeless voice, great musicians, the allman brothers band - need i say more?



2. Now that's what I'm talking about! Warren Haynes is the man! Dickey's pretty good, too! So let's get as much footage of them jamming as humanly possible. Because the chemistry between Dickey and Warren is just perfect. Listen to their playing on "Southbound", my favorite take of that song, for an example. Or "Blue Sky". See, you have to be pretty good guitarists to pull of "Blue Sky", and that's how I'd describe both of our heroes. The setlist leans heavily towards Shades of Two Worlds, and for the most part they do a fine job recreating my favorite of their '90s albums: "End of the Line" is one of their few straight-ahead rock songs, and it's quite satisfying; the jamming on "Get on with Your Life" and the always epic "Nobody Knows" is comparable to what happened live during the classic years. There's even a brief acoustic set: while Dickey Betts' age shows on the disappointing "Midnight Blues" (a Blind Willie McTell cover), Gregg's ragged vocals give "Melissa" extra weight. It's also interesting to note that they skip over a lot of the warhorses - there's no "Whippin' Post", "Trouble No More", "Mountain Jam", "You Don't Love Me", "Statesboro Blues", "In Memory of Elizabeth Reed" or "Stormy Monday" here, though they do provide yet another elongated version of "Dreams". Now, you can call me a purist if you want, but there is no replacing Duane on that track. Dickey and Warren do their best, but it's a letdown. A slower "Revival" fares much better, with the group sinking into one of those "unstoppable Allmans grooves". You know, for a group that's supposed to be "past it", the Allmans do a fantastic job here overall.



3. An Evening With The Allman Brothers Band (1992) was recorded in 1991-92 at shows in Boston, MA., Macon, GA., and at New York City's Beacon Theater. This was during The Shades Of Two Worlds period, and the album features three songs from that album, including the opening song, End Of The Line. It sounds great, not much different from the studio version, but what really jumps out and grabs you immediately is the exquisite sound on the album. Produced by At Fillmore East producer, Tom Dowd, the sound is clean and crisp, and you just couldn't ask for better. Other At Fillmore East connections are harmonica player Thom Doucette, who was brought in to play on Southbound and Midnight Blues, and Gregg's organ solo on Get On With Your Life, which is an almost note-for-note flashback to his Stormy Monday solo on At Fillmore East, and is really quite enjoyable. Dickey Betts takes center stage and sings lead vocals on this funky version of Southbound and the classic Blue Sky, and he and Warren Haynes trade fantastic guitar solos on both. The guitar playing from both of these guys on this album is sure to please any Allman Brothers fan. The band does a nice two-song acoustic set, that includes the slide guitar laden Midnight Blues, and a solid version of Melissa. Gregg Allman's legendary singing voice is at it's soulful, growling best on this album, and is one of the many highlights of the epic Nobody Knows. Dickey and Warren are in top form on this, too, and at over fifteen minutes long, this take blows the studio version out of the water. Dreams also sounds great and has lots of trademark ABB guitar and Gregg's vocals are right on the mark. The set closes with a warm and energetic rendition of Revival. Every song in the set is fun, interesting, and well performed. The packaging is really nice, too, with lots of great photos of the band and crew. This was a good place in time for the Allmans, and it really shows, in the music and in the pictures. No, An Evening With The Allman Brothers Band isn't At Fillmore East, and that's just fine, because in 1992, this was right where the ABB was supposed to be, and if you ask this long-time Allman Brothers fan, it just couldn't have been any better!



4. With Haynes on lead and Woody on bass, An Evening with the Allman Brothers Band including the 2nd Set is an evening that brings you back to the time when Duane was on lead and Oakley on bass and they were Live At the Fillmore East. Get all three CDs and you can stop adding to your ABB collection because I have always thought these were definitive. Nobody Knows and Sailing Across the Devil's Sea could have been played by the orignal band and you would not notice any difference in the sound. The rhythm section smokes, the guitars growl and whine, and Gregg's voice, while older, is still darn near perfect for the material.



5. The Alman Brothers live CD with a different sound to it .

5 comments about Live Bites.

1. This album is their 3rd LIVE album. 1st being "Tokyo Tapes" (1978), and the 2nd "World Wide Live" (1985). What a band! At this point in their careers, they've done it all. But this album proves that they simply love doing what they do best. Killer guitars, great instrumental (Concerto in V), and Klaus's voice is on the money! I totally recommend getting the import, as it has 2 additional live songs, (Ave Maria No Morro, and Hit Between the Eyes). However, you miss out on the in-studio single (Edge of Time), I think it's a fair trade off. Great album, great band, and these guys are STILL rocking. Their newest album, "Humanity-Hour 1" is arguably their finest since "Crazy World" (1990). Even though the Scorpions got there recognition over the years, I don't think they TRULY got the recognition they rightfully deserve. They have to be the greatest and most deserving band that has yet to be inducted in the rock n' roll hall of fame. But I know that it will happen ! ! !



2. i f you think you are going to listen to new live version of scorpions 80's hits like " rock you like a hurricane, still loving you, etc " then this CD is not for you. as i see it, every new live album must contain fresh material, otherwise your are listening the same classics over and over again, this hanppens on judas priest live albums for instance.
   
   This album has great sound and performances, do not compare it to " world wide live " this one had its glory days already.



3. My brother and I have a disagreement over which Scorpions live album is better; this or World Wide Live. I am partial towards World Wide Live. It perfectly captures Scorpions at the pinnacle of their success right after the release of Love at First Sting during their 84-85 world mega tour. In World Wide Live, the sound is rawer and you hear the echoes from the huge stadiums the Scorps were playing in at the time. Live Bites is a very good album in its own right, but it feels "less live" and more "perfect" than World Wide Live for me. The album is more polished and you can hear each one of the musicians perfectly. That is what my brother really likes about the album, the amazing quality and clarity of scorpions on this album which is in stark contrast to World Wide Live, where the sound was much rawer but the clarity is not there. It is just a difference in preference of styles. My brother has his own band and is really into high quality sound which is why he likes Live Bites more. Me, I'm more impressed by the feelings that huge crowds and stadiums in World Wide Live inspire; they make you feel like you are at a mega show.
   
   Some people would say that after the release of Love at First Sting Scorpions went down hill. I would challenge them to listen to this live album. While other than Wind of Change, the songs on this album are not as well known, that does not mean they are not good. The material on this live album is great! You also get a feel for the world audience that scorpions have played live to with songs recorded in Berlin, Munich, San Francisco, Mexico City and Leningrad.
   
   The guitar riffs on Tease Me, Please Me are good. Is There Anybody There sounds great. Scorps slowed down the song and heavily accented the beat giving the song a great feel. I also really like the inclusion of In Trance in this cd. The version is great. Another highlight of the cd is Wind of Change played live in Russia I think (Living for Tomorrow is played for sure in Leningrad). My favorite song on this cd has to be When the Smoke is Going down. I know that is a weird choice, but something about this version just makes it magnificent. I can never get enough of it. Klaus Meine's voice is fantastic, the crowd cheering gives it a great feel and even though the acoustic guitar chords are very simple, they are also quite powerful (reminds me of Acoustica). You expect the song to errupt into a hard heavy metal song any minute (like Coming Home) but that is where its greatness lies in. It never does, but it keeps you thinking it will.
   
   Overall, if you like Scorpions and/or Metal you should buy this. It is well worth your money. One final word, there are two versions of the CD, Live Bites 1988-1995 [LIVE] and Live Bites [IMPORT]. I would purchase Live Bites [IMPORT] as it is a dollar cheaper and you get one more track. More importantly the difference between the two cds is Live Bites [IMPORT] has two more live tracks while Live Bites 1988-1995 [LIVE] has an extra studio track. I haven't heard the extra studio track, Edge of Time but it can't be that good because it wasn't included in any of their best of compilations, boxed sets ect, so it probably isn't worth it. Go for the Import version where you get the two extra live songs: Ave Maria no Morro (played live in Mexico city, Klaus Meine's Spanish is not his forte, but if you know Spanish well you can understand what he is saying, meaning I don't agree with the reviewer who says he can't understand him, that reviewer just isn't a good Spanish speaker, but then I am a native Spanish speaker [born in Colombia]) and Hit Between the Eyes (played very heavy here!)



4. Too bad the band didn't include more songs from Savage Amusemnt like Don't Stop at the top or Media Overkill. "Tease Me..." sounds awesome and it's the best track on the album, however the album has very few live songs and a double album could've been better. Still enjoyable, but a album only for die hard fans.



5. Live Bites is a great compliation of live performances by the Scorpions. The musicianship on this album is superior, from Meine's smooth vocals to the combination of shreading riffs between Jabs and Rudolf Schenker. "Tease Me Please Me" is a great track that starts off the album on a great, energetic note. Such ballads as "Rhythm of Love" and "Wind of Change" really capture the crowd (and you) as you listen. The hard hitters on this cd include "No Pain No Gain" and "Alien Nation". Overall a great Live album despite not including some of their biggest hits.

No comments about Live 1969/70.