Reviews (1)

Music from the heart!
In 1989 and at the age of 18 I had the wonderful pleasure to listen to Joan Baez for the first time with this album, not knowing that she has been a great artits since before I was born. I totally felt in love with her voice. This was the first, but not the last time I listen to her. With this album I started my love for her music, her ideas and her voice. "Famous Blue Raincoat" is one of my favorites and the song in Catalan, even without knowlegde of the language can make you cry."Sweet Low, Sweet Chariot" is one of the best exaples of ther greatness of voice. If you are looking for a glimpse of her great performance this is the one,but I warn you: you'll want more and more..... ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Hysterical
If you want to brighten your day, this is the perfect CD to own. You will laugh to every song and spoken word piece. Don White is a gifted writer with an incredible sense of humor.

Never laughed so hard
Listened while in the car. My wife and I had tears running down our face. Where can we purchase CD?

wonderful, irreverant humor
His style reminds me of Arlo Guthrie, but with a little more aloofness and bite. Had me laughing out loud in a carpool of adolescents on the way to school this morning! The kids even liked it, though they thought I was a dork for laughing so much. ... Read more

Album Description

Eight of the eleven songs are taken from John's last three albums, 'Grace and Danger '(1980), 'Glorious Fool'(1981) and 'Well Kept Secret '(1982). 'Couldn't Love You More' first appeared on One World (1977) but a reworked version featuring Eric Clapton on guitar also appeared on 'Glorious Fool'. 'Root Love' and 'I'd Rather Be The Devil' are the only other 1970s songs and these are reworked illustrating John's determination to move on to a fresh new sound in concert as well as in the studio.

In 1978 the film In Search of Anna was released. John wrote the theme tune 'Anna' (which is based on 'Small Hours') and some of the incidental music. 'Dealer' and 'Certain Surprise' also featured in the film along with other music by AC/DC of all people! Although 'Anna' was released as a single in Australia it has never appeared on an album or been released elsewhere. A film soundtrack was never released and this is a rare recording of a live performance of the song. ... Read more

Album Description

Recorded live in London in 1990, this double CD contains130 minutes of classic John Martyn and features Pink FloydGuitarist Dave Gilmour as guest performer.Bookletincludes full discography and features the hit single TheApprentice. ... Read more

Album Description

Two shows for the BBC from 1971 & 1972 by the folksinger/ songwriter. 23 tracks total, including 'Ev'ry Time', 'About The Children' and 'Saturday Night'. 1998 Strange Fruit release. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

One of Tom's Finest Hours
...These two concerts feature many of Tom's best known songs. If you're disappointed by the non-release so far of The Compleat Tom Paxton then this album is what you're looking for...

The tracks listed are NOT correct! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

April - Live Album
This is classic Elliott Murphy music. He does his older stuff and some of his favorites live with Olivier Durand and it sounds great. He talks about the music and you can learn some about his writing style. A keeper for every Elliott Murphy fan. I was pleased to see him keep going even though he as never gotten is popularity that is so well deserved. ... Read more

Reviews (15)

Amazingly talented man
WOW, I love Leonard Cohen and this album certainly does not disappoint. I first "discovered" Leonard Cohen when I was a teenager and purchased the Pump Up the Volume soundtrack (which features his song "Everybody Knows"). I have never looked back. Cohen is one of the greatest singer/songwriters I have ever heard. A living legend. All of his albums are great (although some can take getting used to...much like fine wine), but I think that "Cohen Live" stands out because of the variety of songs and his incredible "live" presence. For true blue fans this is an essential recording. However, if you are someone who is just curious about Leonard Cohen, I also think that this is an excellent getting-to-know-you album. Enjoy.

A "Must Have" for Cohen fans
If you're a Leonard Cohen fan, then you know all the songs by heart...And his raspy voice and difficult-to-comprehend lyrics don't really matter.

What does matter is that Cohen - with the help of a small band and some good vocalists - offers a new twist on old favorites. He even ad-libs some of the lyrics.

Since Cohen rarely appears in concert anymore, this is the closest most fans will get to hearing him live.

The bottom line is: If you're a Cohen fan, you probably love this album and will want to add it to your collection. If you're not a fan, don't bother. You won't like his voice, which is rougher live than in the studio.

My favorite Cohen album.
The lyrics. That's what we're here for- I love L. Cohen songs. Not so much his albums in their entirety (with this being the one exception), but certain songs of his... Damn. He is a singer/songwriter like no other. This CD captures performances from the early 90's, and it showcases both Cohen and his band in top form. The female background singers sound sleek and seductive, the musicians know when to take the spot and when to let Leonard do his thing- everyone knows what to do.

Usually I feel that Cohen is a superb, master songwriter, but other people cover his songs and better than he does. Concrete Blonde's cover of 'Everybody Knows,' comes to mind, as does Tori Amos's spellbinding version of 'Famous Blue Raincoat.' Again, this album is an exception. He shows that he can really work his material, milk it wonderfully for every ounce of lyricism. You know the songs are his. His plaintive, monochromatic voice has always been a cornerstone of his style and it has certainly aged well. The gravelly, stark delivery really fits the ambience.

And the songs! This is a great selection of Cohen's work, hands down (I just wish there were more). And several cuts are simply the best versions (in my humble opinion) you can find of the songs in question- period. 'Dance Me to the End of Love,' is much better fleshed out here than on "I'm Your Man," (much of the studio atmosphere, the sound of Cohen's 80's albums, I think, works against him- those albums just sound ineluctably dated to me) and 'If it be your Will,' That song slays me. Always will. The live version here (track 11- and a reason in itself to buy this CD) is sooooooo much better than the one on 'Various Positions' (another 80's album that just doesn't sound good to me). 'Who by Fire,' is another standout track- with a violin that drones away in a middle-eastern, harmonic minor melody... The songs segue into each other nicely, even though they were culled from a variety of shows. I never cared for 'I'm Your Man,' or 'Bird on a Wire,' until I heard these versions.

The only songs I don't really care for are 'Everybody Knows,' (Mr. Cohen messes around with the vocal rhythm and it just sounds bad- in my opinion), and 'Heart With No Companion,' (just don't like that song). I wish 'Chelsea Hotel #2,' 'The Stranger Song,' 'Avalanche,' 'Seems So Long Ago, Nancy,' 'Leaving Green Sleeves,' 'A Singer Must Die,' 'Last Year's Man,' and 'Love Calls You by Name,' had been performed as well.

Highly, thoroughly, recommended.

Wonderful, amazing... essential!
One might not expect Leonard Cohen - a perfectionist who takes years to write songs and ages between albums - to be the type of artist whose songs really come alive in concert, but this excellent and amazing live albums proves them wholly and totally wrong. Armed with a professional and accomplished backing band, Leonard sings these songs with the amazingly deep voice that he began cultivating around the time of the I'm Your Man album, and has since taken to even further depths. Though some may prefer the bare monotone that he sang with on his early albums, I have always been fond of his later, deeper voice, and it's quite a treat to be able to hear many of his classics songs sung in this voice. It lends them a totally different character, and every song on this album is a universal improvement. The excellent backing musicians Leonard employs also improve the songs immensely by tossing in solos on the various instruments (several songs feature stunning solos on the guitar and oud), making practically every song an improvement over the earlier studio versions. Leonard and the band are in perfect form throughout. The man is really pouring his all into these songs, and several of the performances are absolutely revelatory and amazing: Joan of Arc, which features half of its vocals performed by a female singer (something the song has always called for) is indispensable; Hallelujah is an amazing performance made even more memorable by the addition of several new verses (as is Bird On The Wire); and If It Be Your Will and Suzanne are a pair of absolute classics, masterfully performed, that are truly appreciated by the audience. Every song on this album is a masterful performance, and many are the definitive versions. My only regret is that there are no songs from The Future, my favorite Leonard Cohen album. Alas, the album remains absolutely essential to any fan of the artist. I made the mistake of making this the last Leonard Cohen album I bought - not realizing that his songs really come alive when done in front of an audience - don't let the same thing happen to you: get this album today.

Classic -- Without a doubt.
Incredible performances captured with an air of intimacy and expression that pays homage to the master.

Particularly impressive is 'Everybody Knows', as well as the incredible 'Joan Of Arc'. The moody 'Hallelujah' swings along at a leisurely pace, with time for an instrumental.

This is one that I can listen to all the way through in the car.
Recommended for travelers. But bring extra batteries, if you use a portable.

Those who are intrigued, will find this is an excellent introduction to one of the great singers of the late 20th century. ... Read more

Album Description

Recorded live at venues from Pensacola, FL to Vancouver, BC; from Santa Cruz, CA to Philadelphia, PA -- Chandler and Feeney's magical musical pairing brings hilarious clarity to today's headlines. Feeney's traditional guitar stylings and powerful vocals nuance Chandler's observations both whimsical and satirical. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Did You Ever Notice That Live Is Spelled The Same As Live
I prefer the sound of studio recordings. Never really did like live albums. But there were a few that were not bad: David Bowie Live At The Tower Theatre; Grand Funk; Peter Frampton Comes Alive; and finally Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel. But as big a fan of the Vigilantes Of Love that I am, I can't say I like this record. I bought it because it had two previously unreleased songs on it and I was hoping to find, between the songs, Bill Mallonee talking a lot like he sometimes does at concerts. But I was let down; the cat got his tongue.

As the title indicates, this live album is one concert recorded in one night at one location. But that's not a hundred percent true, only because at the beginning of the cd it starts off with seventeen seconds of a very old acoustic Southern blues song that was sampled in, fades out, and then you're Live at the 40 Watt with the vigilantes. (The liner notes don't reveal who that old recording is. It's not VOL. It sounds like it might be from 1949. Or perhaps it's Woody Guthrie)

The other reason this isn't an entirely live album is due to the last song, "The Ballad Of Russell Perry." This is a studio recording (recorded in England), and isn't available on any other cd. It's a great song that tells a classic, American baseball story. It involves just one acoustic guitar, one Mandolin, and Bill's voice. It's the best song on the disc because of it's superior studio sound compared to the rest of the live songs. The contrast makes it sound so crisp, clean, and clear.

One interesting tid bit about this particular Vigilantes concert is that they've included a keyboard player (Randall Bramlett from Steve Winwood's band), which, if you're a VOL concert fan, you know keyboards are rarely or never seen on a VOL stage.

Speaking of instruments, it must be said that Kenny Hutson does a great job with the mandolin on "The Opposite's True." Live song or not, Kenny goes to town on those strings. That's probably one of the few good things about live recordings, the musicians have the opportunity to stretch out their performance without being locked into the studio time-length of the song. And nobody does it like Hutson (except maybe Billy Holmes).

The other song that was unavailable elsewhere, at the time "Live At The 40 Watt" was released, is "It Could Be A Lot Worse." This song was later included on "Audible Sigh."

The liner notes to "Live At The 40 Watt" include some commentary written by the singer, song writer, guitarist and leader of the Vigilantes of Love, Bill Mallonee. You also get the lyrics to It Could Be A Lot Worse and The Ballad Of Russell Perry (but not the other songs).

Great Live, Great In the Studio, Just Plain Great
It's amazing how good VOL sound live, but generally speaking even great live bands don't make great live albums. This is not true of VOL, and this album is proof. They are quite able to duplicate their excellent studio sound in concert, or maybe it's the reverse, either way they sound fantastic. I needed only see them once to be convinced that I needed to buy all their albums. Live Bill's emotional connection to his music just pours out. Sound wise they are fine folk rock, similar to Sister Hazel, Gin Blossoms and The Counting Crows. Any of their albums is worth owning, and this one, which features tracks from a number of the studio albums, is a great starter. Standouts include "Could Be A Lot Worse', 'Avalanche' and 'The Opposite's True'. I also highly recommend VOL's studio albums TO THE ROOF OF THE SKY, BLISTER SOUL and AUDIBLE SIGH

By far my favorite band!
I listen to a wide variety of music but the Vigilantes of Love have earned the place as my favorite band! The most disappointing thing about this live album is that it is not a double CD! Every cut is a real treat, capturing the intensity and passion that this band bleeds out their pores. The are definetely the most underrated band in America. "Avalanche" is great on the studio release but is phenomenal live as are all the cuts. This album is full of smart lyrics and great music. Buy this album! ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Spare and Pure
Aquella Noche was my introduction to the music of Tish Hinojosa so many years ago, and it has remained one of my favorites ever since. On this CD, Tish and two backup musicians provide spare and pure cover to her own material and that of other musicians who have inspired her.
Hinojosa's voice is simply angelic and if you haven't heard it, you can't imagine what you are missing. I really like some of her cover songs, particularly Atahualpa Yupanqui's Tu Que Puedes, Vuelvete and Paul Simon's melancholy Carlos Dominguez. Tish lovingly covers those as if the lyrics poured from her own heart. And her cover of the traditional La Llorona is spellbinding!
I also like her own songs which convincingly relate her own hopes, dreams, and experiences. Listening to her words is like peering into her soul. Anos, Meses, y Dias and Samba San Pedro are two cuts which bare her romantic and her sentimental side.
Having been a fan of Hinojosa for more than 10 years now, I must also tip my hat to the simple yet fluid crystalline guitar and mandolin of her (now long-time) collaborator Marvin Dykhuis. He and Hinojosa work so well together I can't imagine anyone else permanently taking his place.
My recommendation is that this is an album which should be in every real music lover's collection, so buy it now while it is available again.

lovely album
Warm and sweet, even when it's sad.
Simple, compelling folk music from one of my favorite Latin artists, this is a really nice cd for a car trip or a rainy sunday.

Aquella noche
After hearing Tish sing "Estrellita" on NPR the clarity of her voice followed me for a year before I got the CD.That one song is worth the price of the CD.Many of the other songs do not have the same hauntingquality, although Tish sings them well."Reloj" disappointed me. The words of the song are not the original ones, and the words that aresung do not make as much sense as the original ones.

Simply the Best!!!
Tish Hinojosa is my favorite singer/songwriter. I highly recommend this and all her other albums.

Aquella Noche
A live acoustic set sung entirely in Spanish (the between song banter isin English) shows Tish in her best element.It's a wonderful recording andshows of Tish's voice and songwriting to great advantage.It's a must havefor Tish fans and for anybody who appreciates transcendent singing andsongwriting... in any language.For some tracks from this session notincluded here, also get: The Best Of The Sandia: Watermelon... ... Read more

Album Description

2001 live release for the Scottish folk singer/songwriter,1983. 11 tracks including 'Glorious Fool' & 'Anna'. 2001. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Lindisfarne fans, rejoice!
This is one of those discs that legitimizes the "unplugged" trend of the 90s. This album, featuring acoustic performances by Alan Hull and longtime cohort Kenny Craddock, recasts classic Lindisfarne tracks aswell as highlights of Alan's solo career into warm and intimate newdirections. "United State of Mind," from Alan's"Pipedream" album was always a great song, but here it isrevelatory, and even old warhorses like Lindisfarne's "LadyEleanor" get a new lease on life in this outstanding recording, takenfrom shows in London less than two years before Alan's untimely death.

If you've ever been a fan of Lindisfarne or Alan Hull, buy this discwhile you still can. You won't be disappointed. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Ok..So it isn't the best
I bought this cd to just have allll of Laura. By the way..I do have a copy of the Bottom Line Performance..was there when it was recorded..what an evening. This cd reminds me of some early performances I caught in the 70's..small venues like college auditoriums with just Laura...no band...and in those days a perfectly tuned Steinway that would inspire her really wail. I am listening to the music as I write and it has that wonderful intimate quality that Laura could create. How likely is it that someone would purchase this cd as their first Laura cd? Doubt it. But well worth a listen if you are a fan......

Radio to Remember
I found this CD to be a delight. It must be listened to in the context that it was a recorded for radio, just Laura, her keyboard, those incredible songs, and that voice that can touch the heavens with ecstasy or plunge to the shattering depths of despair in the blink of an eye. The version of "Let It Be Me/Christmas Song" particularly reads well in this intimate setting over the Acoustic Christmas CD recording. I also found some great nuances in "Lite a Flame." For Nyro fans, don't expect a new revelation with this recording, but enjoy sitting down in your living room and let Laura play live for you this one last time.

Aw C'mon It's Pretty Good!
I pretty much disagree with the negative sentiment of the reviewers for this disk. Is it Laura Nyro's best? No. But the flow of song to song is gentle. It's a great dinner lp. Light some candles and enjoy some intimacy. This disk will calm you and make you miss her.

Lost Her Talent
This CD is terrible. Listening to it makes me very sad because Nyro was one of the brightest talents around when she first started out. Stick with her early albums or her greatest hits. This album consists of poor remakes and lousy new songs which don't come close to her best.

Not the best, but still very good.
"Live on Mountain Stage" captures Laura Nyro past her peak as a songwriter, but with her passing 3 years ago, it's still wonderful to have any new performance on cd.

Aside from the awful synthetic piano sound (it makes Laura's music sound like, gasp, new age!) several of the songs really stand out. I especially like the reading of "And When I Die", "Let It Be Me/The X'mas Song" and "Japanese Restaurant" which is a delightful and humorous narrative.

The arrangements are somewhat sparse and uninspired. They do take some use getting use to if you're a long-time Laura fan, but all in all, this album is worth having. However, steer clear of this one if you're a first time Nyro listener. Start with "Eli and the 13'th Confession" or "New York Tendaberry". ... Read more

Album Description

Limited edition release featuring one disc with four tracks recorded for a BBC Session with Nicky Campbell on April 3rd, 1989 by the Scottish folk rockers & nine tracks recorded live at the Royal Concert Hall in Glasgow, Scotland in 1996, plus 'Long Distance - The Best Of Runrig' added as a bonus, which contains 17 of their greatest. All tracks on the first disc are digitally remastered. A combined total of 30 tracks. Double slimline jewel case. 1999 release. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Fantastic Introduction to Celtic Folk Rock!
Even if you think you only "might" be interested in this musical genre and/or Runrig, try BBC Session/Long Distance. You'll be convinced. There are several duplicate tracks on this two disc set,but they are all worth listening to twice. What a shame that this great band doesn't get more air play in the States. They deserve much greater exposure. Production values are excellent and the "live" tracks very well done. It is all I can do to stay in my seat when "Loch Lommand" gets going and "Alba" makes me want to book the next flight out;"Rhythm of My Heart" rivals Rod Stewart. The vast majority of the material is original and thoughtfully written. There is some real poetry here. I only hope that I get an opportunity to enjoy Runrig live someday, for now these CD's will have to do.

A Trip In Time
I bought Runrig's tape, Long Distance, while in Scotland, and have played the microns off it! The beauty of Scotland is revealed in this album, bringing back memories of a people and land so wonderful as to be almost inconceivable. The songs in Gaelic are so soulfully sung, it bring tears to the eyes. I still don't know the meaning but it doesn't matter. Being of Irish blood, the somewhat rebellious songs made me yearn to return to a land torn between its people, some wanting freedom, others wanting British support. I cannot recommend these 2 CD's highly enough. Even if one has never been to the Scottish Highlands, tried Haggis, or seen the battlefields of "Braveheart", these CD's will take you there, just close your eyes, put the headphones on, and let Runrig take you away. I am buying another set, just in case (God forbid) they are no longer available in the future!

Failte The Gaelic flame burns strong in Alba
If you are not already a listener to the music of Runrig then what are you waiting for. Long distance is more than a culmination of a lifetime in the world of music. Runrig are a band who are not afraid to change as they know the fans will come with them, on their latest "In Search of Angels" the sound changes again. But at the heart of every piece lies the Heartland of Scotland and the will to survive of all Celts, be they from Galicia in Spain or Shetland in the north. Without them the dream of the Scottish parliament would not be here, as they sang of in "Maymorning" "I'm alive again". But they have made such an impact, making the songs of the Heartland fashionable, such as Loch Lomond, whilst playing homage to what made the Scots people great in the "Mighty Atlantic/Mara", "Flower of the West" and "Siol Goraidh", Our indestructable will to survive.

Long live Alba and long live Runrig! ... Read more

Album Description

1998 release on the Hux label, a collection compiling allfour of her BBC Radio One sessions 1989-1995. Includes aneight page booklet alongside gems like 'Can't Stop KillingYou', 'There's A Guy Works Down The Chip Shop Swears He'sElvis' and two versions of her cover of Billy Bragg's 'A NewEngland', one solo & the other a duet with Bragg! 15 trackstotal. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Some beautiful moments!
Kirsty's BBC sessions elicits some gorgeous tunes, like "Still Life", truly one of her all-time best songs that is not on "Galore" or any of the others I've come across. "Let's Have Another Baby" is very upbeat and fun(and Kirsty's impromptu giggle in the middle always makes me smile). "Don't Come The Cowboy" gets a very fresh, very nice reworking here(it's much slower and sadder than the studio version)and Kirsty as always is beguiling on the title track, one of her best songs. I'm one of the guilty people who waited too late to discover Kirsty, but if you're like me you have a lot of catching up to do. Find this one when you can, but perhaps after you're familiar with her studio output. It's delicious frosting!

Kirsty Live
Some cool stuff here, including her singing with Billy Bragg. Track down "Galore", her greatest hits album - get this if you can't.

Get it while you can!
As a massive Kirsty fan, I must admit that this is rarely the first of her CDs that I reach for when I need a fix. In a perfect world all her titles, including the magnificent 'best of" compilation "Galore" would not only be in print, but in every music library.

Instead, all that is currently available in the U.S. is this collection of "unplugged" versions of some of her songs recorded for the BBC. It is a solid collection, but far from truly representative of her work. While I might not normally give it a full 5 star rating, I add a star to help make up for the lack of availability of more Kirsty music.

If enough people buy this, then we will get more Kirsty. BUY IT NOW!

"Kirsty Unplugged! (To great effect, too!)"
A true find -- I ordered this CD "blind" thinking it was an album of brand-new songs, but was pleasantly surprised that it was a collection of Kirsty's radio sessions, done in a mostly acoustic manner. Billy Bragg's guest appearances are among the highlights on a pair of duets: Bragg's "A New England" and a very sweetly humorous ditty titled "Darling, Let's Have Another Baby." Other standouts include "I Can't Stop Killing You" (who knew it could still be so good minus the wah-wah guitar?), a rollicking "Free World," "Bad" (still chilling even without the knife-sharpening rhythm track), and "My Affair." The production work on Kirsty's records is always rather lush, so it's interesting to hear these songs without the usual sound -- and a pleasure to note how strong they are even in their "naked" state. ... Read more