2 comments about B'Boom: Official Bootleg - Live In Argentina.

1. This album is a must have, along with Thrak, Thrakattak and Vrooom. Now free of a bad contract Fripp and gang have taken their writing and musicianship to the next level. Keep in mind that Indiscipline and Elephant Talk were written over twenty five years ago and have never sounded this powerful. This new double trio brings this music to a point so far removed from the original recordings as to make earlier albums nearly obsolete. The sound quality is excellent and the forcfulness of the newer compositions is breathtaking. I had the good fortune to see them on this tour and was completly floored. Having not seen the band since the early seventies it was quite a shock. Red is probably the song that most benefitted from this newer lineup and it's more recent cousins Vrooom, Thrak and B'boom will blow you away. There is a video from this tour available, recorded live in Japan, that I highly recommend. Also, I think a second video will be available shortly. Yes, there is still some of the beautiful dreamy sounds of the seventies but buy this album for the maturity of the band and the power of the music. PLAY IT LOUD!



2. This records shows the most important qualyties of this "not just fripp" band. You can check all the Adrian's guitar madness in, for example, the Elephant Talk solo, and the very impressive combination of the Mark Warr Guitar's Style of Trey Gunn with the "hey, here i'am" of Tony Levin (just take a look at Vroom Vroom's interlude before the income of the guitars). Drummers can't get down of all this enegy. Bruford and Mastelloto show a sinergy that not anyone may. I really enjoyed the Elephant Talk Intro, performed in a way that " how i'd liked to be there that night". But we're just humans, and our chance to dream is listening this CD.

5 comments about Southern By the Grace of God: Lynyrd Skynyrd Tribute Tour, Vol. 1.

1. Lynyrd Skynyrd is absolutely one of my favorite bands. They, to me, epitomize what Southern Rock/Bar Rock oughtta sound like. However, I am somewhat of a purist and refuse to listen to anything post Ronnie Van years (itssssaaaa SIN!)
   My moms bought this album back in the day, back before I knew anything about Lynyrd Skynyrd. This was my first glimpse of the band, and luckily not my last, because if this was all I knew of Lynyrd Skynyrd.. I probably never would have touched them again. This disc is lousy.
   The faults on this bit go on for miles. Ronnie Van must've been proud that he was being a tributed, but was prolly rollin' over to discover it was all a plea to make some of these survivors a little more bread.
   They should have come up with a different name... like a tribute name... Kin-of-Skynyrd (I just came up with that in two seconds.. it wasn't hard) they vowed never to use the name Lynyrd Skynyrd again in the seventies, and looky here! 20 years later and the travesty continues... less than a quarter of the original line-up left... constant quarrels between members, on who has the rights to what... real great tribute. Ronnie must be proud.
   Thats really not the main problem though. New Skynyrd sounds like a country band.. Real Skynyrd was not a country band... they were a ROCK band... and who has time to listen to the audience sing the entire Free Bird? Certainly not I. Go get ONE FROM THE ROAD live circa '74.. the only live skynyrd you need (good stuff), and leave this one for the other birds....



2. It being a LYNYRD SKYNYRD album fully justifies buying it even without reading a single review. But I feel " a well-hidden treasure" in it has been overlooked by a lot of people. Just listen to the guitar solo in the song GIMME BACK MY BULLETS. AWESOME, ASTOUNDING, I'm missing words here. SIMPLY THE BEST GUITAR SOLO IN THE HISTORY OF ROCK MUSIC. Period. I'll let you find out who the guitarist is. He's simply the best and most of you know him well unless you have spent the last 30 years on Titan.



3. SOUTHERN BY THE GRACE OF GOD is a great live album from the 1987 Lynyrd Skynyrd Tribute Tour. Along with the Outlaws' BRING IT BACK ALIVE and HITTIN' THE ROAD LIVE, Skynyrd's own ONE MORE FROM THE ROAD, LYVE FROM STEEL TOWN, and LYVE 2004, Blackfoot's HIGHWAY SONG and GREATEST HITS LIVE, Molly Hatchet's LIVE AT THE AGORA BALLROOM, GREATEST HITS LIVE, and DOUBLE TROUBLE LIVE, Foghat's LIVE, ROAD CASES, and DECADES LIVE, Ted Nugent's DOUBLE LIVE GONZO! and LIVE AT HAMMERSMITH '79, UFO's STRANGERS IN THE NIGHT, UFO's STRANGERS IN THE NIGHT, Pat Travers' LIVE! GO FOR WHAT YOU KNOW, the Allman Brothers Band's AT FILLMORE EAST, Blue Oyster Cult's EXTRATERRESTRIAL LIVE, SOME ENCHANTED EVENING, ON YOUR FEET OR ON YOUR KNEES, and A LONG DAY'S NIGHT, Grand Funk Railroad's CAUGHT IN THE ACT, Humble Pie's PERFORMANCE, Johnny Winter's LIVE, AC/DC's IF YOU WANT BLOOD YOU'VE GOT IT, Golden Earring's LIVE and SOMETHING HEAVY GOING DOWN, Peter Frampton's FRAMPTON COMES ALIVE! and LIVE IN DETROIT, Cheap Trick's BUDOKAN: THE COMPLETE CONCERT, and Thin Lizzy's LIVE AND DANGEROUS, it is one of the best live albums ever. Whoever says that this is no good DOES NOT KNOW WHAT HE IS SAYING! There are songs here that are otherwise not available in live versions, and the presence of such guests as Charlie Daniels, Toy Caldwell, and Steve Morse creates a unique "family" feeling. The instrumental "Free Bird" offers proof of how hard it really was to fill Ronnie's shoes, but Johnny's vocals on the other songs prove that it could be done. You should get this album if you can find it.



4. This album is not even close to the classic live album "One More From The Road" (the 2 cd deluxe edition is outstanding). So, if you do not own that album, get it now and pass on this. If you're a die-hard Skynyrd fan (your not a fan if you can't even spell Lynyrd Skynyrd) this album is a pretty decent listen. The band plays fairly well and Rossington's guitar is in fine form. Heck, you might even play this 3 or 4 times. After that, however, you'll just keep goin' back for Ronnie and the real thing. Bring on those mules!!!!



5. as [inexpensive] as it's been sold here on amazon, this live album from '87 rocks and is a worthy and inexpensive addition to any collection...rock on...

4 comments about Cosmic Dancer.

1. I had confused this record with The Slider - otherwise I doubt I would have purchased it. Stuff recorded elsewhere, bad sound quality... Unless you are intent on owning everything ever recorded by T.Rex, don't waste your money.



2. A couple alternate takes and a lot of pretty grotty live tapes. The package doesn't really tell the buyer what to expect -- from a casual glance it appears to be a "greatest hits" compilation.

   That's probably exactly what the producers intended.




3. There are a lot of T-Rex compilations about so I ordered this and the Very Best of Marc Bolan & T Rex, thinking I would pretty much get all the T-Rex tracks I liked, unfourtunatly what I didn't realise is this contains alternate takes and live versions of the tracks, and for me they just don't cut it, the studio tracks are the version that didn't get used ( wonder why ?) and the live tracks lack the energy of the studio originals that made them so special.

   I would only recomend this if you are a Fan and have everything else by T-Rex, otherwise steer clear.




4. In case you overlooked T. Rex until you finally reacted to Cosmic Dancer playing for the opening credits of the movie Billy Elliot, you can be sure that the same era T. Rex is here in resplendant form, and the disc will be a great introduction to the band, and maybe all you'll ever need. Jeepster rolls along brilliantly, Cosmic Dancer is dreamy, and of course, Bang a Gong is here in the right context, and won't seem antagonistically good next to the usual selection you find it beside on the Best Of CD's. This is the one T. Rex CD that successfully steps outside its era, and is enjoyable to anyone who is not attracted necessarily to Glam Rock, but the idiosyncratic lyrics and delicious beats.

4 comments about Extended Versions.

1. I saw Todd Rundgren Live many years ago and this CD sounds just like the concert. Brings back many memories and is put together nicely without excessive concert background yelling and commentary. The long extended hits play back to back with ease. It is not an "unplugged" concert, still the background harmonies and instruments. I recommend this CD to Todd Rundgren fans.



2. What's with all the criticism of this FUN and affordable CD?
   As Todd fans know, his concerts are more about elan and joie de vivre than anything else. What does that mean exactly? Elan is: "Enthusiasm: vigor. Spirit and style: flair." Joie de vivre means: "Lively enjoyment of life." This little CD has those qualities in spades, especially enthusiasm, vigor and flair.
   .
   Sure, it has the usual assortment of bum notes and off-key singing... so what? This is a Todd Rundrgen concert, and that means it's loose and spontaneous, and darts around in unexpected directions without warning. I don't know about you, but that's what interests me about Todd Rundgren... his spontaneity... and there's lots of spontaneity here.
   .
   It's simple really... if you like Todd... you'll like this CD, because his heart, his soul, his sense of humor, and dare I say it... his joie de vivre is fully on display here. There are however... no extended versions. The longest song is about 5:00 minutes and here's how to make this CD sound even better: Instead of beginning with Track 1 which is an a cappella version of "Real Man," begin with the last Track: the "Motown Medley" and set your CD player to Repeat 1 Disc. The a cappella song sounds wonderful after the sweet cooing and sensual saxophone of the Motown songs.
   .
   When I play the disc this way, I feel like I've got my money's worth after just two songs, and yet there's still 30 minutes to go. Just imagine for a moment... really imagine the sweet sound of Todd singing "Ooh Baby Baby" while the piano tinkles softly in the background. Like I said, his heart and soul is on full display here, and this CD will easily pull you right into his world. As an added bonus, you'll get the sounds of an audience that's so out of their heads just to be in the same room with Todd, that they'll make you laugh just to hear their crazed enthusiasm. They even clap along through the a cappella song, and you can tell Todd loves it. He's got 'em in the palm of his hand. Such a FUN CD... it's almost like being there.



3. This album is a a disgrace, despite the fact that Todd is one of the most amazing live performers you could possibly see. I gave it one star because it contains the most amazing guitar work that Todd has ever released on the track "The Last Ride". However, you can get this and all these recordings in the King Bisquit Flower Hour CD from which all this music was taken. That CD offers more music, it is all in the proper context and contains liner notes and annotation.

   This is cheap for a reason. It stinks !




4. but not great. The recordings are live and the tracks are not "mixed" together to simulate a "concert". There is no liner info at all with the CD. I think the recordings vary from performances in the mid-70's to the mid-80's. The standouts are "Real Man" from the "A Capella" tour and "Couldn't I Just Tell You" from what I think is a mid-70's tour as the song is performed with the near-original arrangement and TR sounds pretty young. Oh..."Last Ride" is good too. The kicker here for fans is "Couldn't I Just Tell You". Neophytes should go for another "Best of" CD. With that said...this is indeed a fine example of how well TR can sing and play live.

No comments about Through the Looking Glass.

5 comments about Rockin' Down the Highway: The Wildlife Concert.

1. I consider three 1970's groups (Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Allman Brothers Band, and The Doobie Brothers) the originators of Southern rock. The Doobie Brothers were the gentlemen of Southern rock. These gentlemen's personalities shine in "Rockin' Down The Highway: The Wildlife Concert", a recording of an extremely fun, happy, and energetic 1996 concert for the Wildlife Conservation Society. The Doobie Brothers' support for the Wildlife Conservation Society is appropriate. Nearly twenty-five years after their first recording, The Doobie Brothers still are rockin' down the highway and their wild life continues. That's an extremely long playing record!

   This excellent recording presents The Doobie Brothers' lyrics more clearly than some of their studio recordings. Two selections: 'China Grove' (with its outstanding guitar solos) and 'Listen To The Music' (a great concert arrangement) are examples of Southern rock's best. Another 8 selections are particularly outstanding. 'Take Me In Your Arms (Rock Me A Little While)', 'Minute By Minute', and 'What A Fool Believes' feature Michael McDonald's outstanding vocals. 'Takin' It To The Streets' features saxophone solos and Michael McDonald vocals. 'Slow Burn', 'The Doctor', & 'Without You' feature outstanding guitar solos. 'Excited' features vocal and guitar solos plus a rolling arrangement reminiscent of "The Lizzies" scene in the 1979 Michael Beck cult movie "The Warriors".

   The Doobie Brothers have polished their artistry and style for over twenty-five years. That artistry and style shines in "Rockin' Down The Highway: The Wildlife Concert". I recommend this fun live recording both for Doobie Brothers fans and also for those unfamiliar with The Doobie Brothers' music.




2. This is a great album for anyone who has not heard the Doobie Brothers before and wants to get to know the band. For anyone who has a lot of Doobie albums, this cd probably is not a good buy. The songs are simply recycled and there is no creative spin to make the cd unique. This cd is best for new fans or the Doobie obsessed.



3. Saw the Doobies Labor Day 1999 at a festival. Found this CD to be on par with that concert. This CD captures all the musical excitement that a festival setting can give. I recommend this CD to any Doobies fan or fan of music from the 70's.



4. I have this CD and the video and I highly, highly recommend both for a look and a listen to one of America's greatest, cleanest sounding and most talented rock and roll bands, who provide grand doses of not only rock but also country, jazz and blues. Buy the CD for your stereo, and the video for your television. And share both with your children so they can learn and understand what great seventies rock and roll really is. Amazon offers great prices on both the CD and VHS (and NO, I don't work for them!) Guaranteed to please.



5. Having been a Doobie Brothers fan for 20 plus years, it wasn't until 1990 that I saw them perform live. I have seen them 3 times since. I was convinced their onstage live energy couldn't be captured on "vinal" or CD. I was wrong. This is a terrific double album. Crystal clear sound, great selection of classic hits spanning the last 25 years.Even non touring ex-Doobie-Michael McDonald appears in several tunes (I guess there are no ex Doobies). Highly recommended!!!added for a few tunes.

4 comments about Greatest Hits Live.

1. 'Robin Trower Greatest Hits Live' was recorded for the King Biscuit Flower Hour in late 1977 at the 8,700-plus seat New Haven Coliseum (closed in 2002 after hosting events near Yale University for 30 years). Appearing on the nationally syndicated King Biscuit program typically meant a band was on the cusp of stardom (as was Steve Miller when he recorded a program for The Bis in 1973), or losing traction on a downhill slide. Robin Trower's career peaked with his 1974 release 'Bridge of Sighs', and his riff heavy, Jimi Hendrix-style guitar theatrics were giving way to two revolutions in the late 70's, New Wave Punk and, of course, disco. Trower and his backing band, 'Robin Trower' (now that's original!... unless 'Alice Cooper' beat him to it) deserve a meritorious service award for not giving up the ship, even keeping the wah-pedal front and center along with Peter Frampton (the only difference being that Trower actually knows how to use the thing) late into the decade.
   
   There's a little bit more than sympathy for everybody here, which probably means few will be totally satisfied with the setlist. I tend to get a bit bored when Robin spaces out on his lengthy slow blues-jams ('Somebody Calling', 'Falling Star', 'Daydream', and even 'Bridge of Sighs'), but I perk right up when he breaks into his blues-rock format ('Lady Love', 'Fool and Me', 'Day of the Eagle', and 'Little Bit of Sympathy', all four songs drawn from the quintessential 'Bridge of Sighs' disc). For those who appreciate both of Trower's personas, Robin offers 'Too Rolling Stoned', which starts out on a fast tempo, in this performance sounding half a step faster than the studio version, but breaks into an extended, slow coda. The closer, 'Further On Up the Road', is one of four tracks drawn from Trower's 'In City Dreams' (1977) disc, and splits the difference between hard rock and slow blues. Truth be told, however, Trower sounds razor sharp on all of the tracks he layed down this particular evening, and King Biscuit's recording is equally exemplary. Crowd noise, which can be an unwelcome bedfellow on these recordings, is thoroughly drowned out by the band's mega-decibel modus operandi.
   
   The best offerings on the disc are 'Lady Love', a perfect opening track for a concert, and 'Day of the Eagle' and 'Little Bit of Sympathy', both honed to perfection through years of touring. Only two songs are offered from discs other than 'Bridge of Sighs' and 'In City Dreams'. Track six ('Daydream') appeared on Trower's first solo album, 'Twice Removed From Yesterday' (1973), and the eleventh track, 'Messin' the Blues' (which, ironically, is solid rock), is culled from Trower's 1976 album, 'Long Misty Days'. It seems these tracks were selected to contrast Trower's heavier schtick rather than as representatives of his best work. All the numbers are credited to Trower and lead singer James Dewar, with the exception of 'Further On Up the Road', composed by Don Robey and Joe Veasey, and first put to vinyl by Eric Clapton in 1975.
   
   King Biscuit discs usually come with extensive packaging, but this disc is a bit on the light side. Bruce Pilato penned the liner notes, and is able to offer comments from Trower himself on this particular performance. Other than a couple photographs, however, that's about it. The track listings are given twice, but running times are sadly omitted. Unless you're a devoted fan of Robin Trower, or feel owning a sample of his remarkable live work is essential to your collection, I think the remastered version of 'Bridge of Sighs' is the only essential material Trower has produced. This is good, but I enjoy the "cleaner", standard studio versions more.



2. For as long a career as Trower as had, there's not a whole lot of live material to choose from, so this repackage (remix?) of the King Biscuit live album is good to own. But if this is a remix, who the heck mixed it? Bill Lordan's drums drown out Trower's guitar on most tracks. Lordan was fine in the studio, but on stage, way too much banging and clanging for my ears. On almost all of these tracks you reach a point where you just wish he play the drums straight-up and stop with all the extra beats and symbol clashes. Much prefered Reg Isodore.



3. I love Trower's music and really like hearing live recordings of my favorite artists, but I already have the King Bisuit RT In Concert. I feel like King Biscuit just repackaged it to get people like me to buy it again thinking I was getting "rare tracks pulled straight from the archives." I don't know about the re-mastered aspect of the recording but the liner notes have been edited and are skimpier than the original (which you can get thru Amazon for $80). Why not just re-issue the orignal instead? If you don't have In Concert buy this, but if you do and you think this is something different then you'll get ripped like I did. It's good to be the king.



4. GREATEST HITS LIVE is a great live document of Robin Trower in his prime. If you're starting a Robin Trower library, start with BRIDGE OF SIGHS, ESSENTIAL ROBIN TROWER, ROBIN TROWER LIVE, and this one.

5 comments about Secret World Live.

1. Peter's Live Performance is nothing short of a masterpiece using unique combination of different instruments,backup vocals, and being creative with many songs over seven minutes long. Gabriel's talent live creates a magical journey where you can really feel part of the show.
   Among favorites is: In Your Eyes, Secret World,Don't Give Up, and Steam.



2. I typically find it hard to enjoy a live album if I know the studio versions really well (and vice-versa if I knew the live versions first). But this one is an amazing exception (along with Wilco's 'Kicking Television')! "Secret World" and "Shaking The Tree" are OUTSTANDING! The energy is insane. Paula Cole sang on the Eurpean leg of this tour (damn, I wish she had been with him in Orlando '93). She's just brilliant! I know some may find this blasphemous, but I prefer her vocals on "Don't Give Up" over Kate Bush. And that's my .02. Buy this CD!!!!



3. Secret World Live is a must for any Peter Gabriel fan or someone who wants to become one. The live show accentuates his already masterful songs. It is heavy on songs from US his new album at the time but also includes such classics as In Your Eyes, Sledgehammer, etc.



4. I saw this concert on DVD and love it! I had to have the cd to listen to on the go. Paula Cole, Tony Levin and all the other musicians in this show are a great compliment to Peters vision and sound. I highly recommend it to anyone who is a Peter Gabriel fan! Buy this CD!



5. I've loved Peter Gabriel's inspiration and creativity since the early 'Genesis days' and really appreciate his eclectic field of diverse interests and influences.
   This is a killer CD. If you're put off buying it because you have the tracks imbeded in other CD collections etc- don't be. Gabriel does really well bringing fresh energy to his works in different seasons and this is no exception. It is just fantastic. Consider it a fresh interpretation of many classics and an exercise powerfully assisted by the energy of the perfomances, the vib of the audience and the not inconsequential collaboration with Paula Cole.
   The DVD is also great!

No comments about Live in Japan.

No comments about All the Way from Stockholm to Philadelphia.