Once in a while I’m in the mood to listen to live musical performances. I’ve had these three concert CDs for years so I finally got around to listening to them.
Patti Austin Live at The Bottom Line was first recorded in 1978. I have the 1991 Remastered CD on Columbia Jazz. I own several Patti Austin albums and have enjoyed them all.
Patti Austin Live at The Bottom Line is a mixed bag. The songs are not the usual Patti Austin selections. I’m wondering if some of these songs were “suggested” for inclusion for this live concert. For example, “You Fooled Me,” a country western song, seems an awkward fit. My favorite song on Patti Austin Live at The Bottom Line is “Let’s All Live and Give Together.” Prime Patti Austin singing! GRADE: B
Track listing:
- “Jump for Joy” (Cynthia Biggs, Dexter Wansel) – 5:11
- “Let It Ride” (Jermaine Jackson, Michael McGloiry, Gregory Williams) – 4:08
- “One More Night” (Stephen Bishop) – 5:10
- “Wait a Little While” (Eva Ein, Kenny Loggins) – 4:27
- “Rider in the Rain” (Randy Newman) – 6:09
- “You’re the One That I Want” (John Farrar) – 3:27 Bonus track on CD reissue
- “Love Me by Name” (Lesley Gore, Ellen Weston) – 5:16
- “You Fooled Me” (Zane Grey, Len Ron Hanks) – 3:10
- Spoken Introductions – 7:09 Bonus track on CD reissue
- “Let’s All Live and Give Together” (Billy Osborne, Jeffrey Osborne) – 6:41
- Recorded at the Bottom Line in Greenwich Village, New York City on August 19, 1978
I’ve enjoyed Chicago’s music for decades and Peter Cetera was the lead singer for the group for much of that time. Cetera then went on to a solo career and scored a number of hits. Much of Peter Cetera Live in Salt Lake City from 2004 are Chicago songs. And they sound great with a symphony orchestra backing up Cetera!
Sometimes live concert CDs sound distorted or muddy, but the sound engineers for Peter Cetera Live in Salt Lake City capture the music brilliantly! What’s your favorite song in this 72-minute concert? GRADE: A
TRACK LIST:
| Cetera Overture | (6:50) | ||
| Questions 67 & 68 | |||
| After All | |||
| If You Leave Me Now | |||
| Glory Of Love | |||
| Baby What A Big Surprise | |||
| Get Away | |||
| No Explanation | 4:03 | ||
| Baby What A Big Surprise | 3:17 | ||
| Glory Of Love | 5:03 | ||
| If You Leave Me Now | 5:10 | ||
| After All | 3:52 | ||
| Restless Heart | 3:55 | ||
| Hard To Say I’m Sorry | 5:12 | ||
| Feels Like Heaven | 5:15 | ||
| Even A Fool Can See | 5:06 | ||
| Remember The Feeling | 4:46 | ||
| One Good Woman | 4:11 | ||
| Next Time I Fall | 3:55 | ||
| You’re The Inspiration | 4:21 | ||
| 25 Or 6 To 4 | 3:50 | ||
| Have You Ever Been In Love | 3:55 |
Diane and I have seen Luther Vandross twice in concert. Both performances burst with energy, excitement, and fun! Vandross’s singing on Luther Vandross Live at Radio City Music Hall from 2003 sounds just as good as the concerts Diane and I attended. Vandross sings some of his hit songs like “Stop to Love” and “Here and Now.” But there are some surprises like “Love Won’t Let Me Wait”–a cover of the Major Harris 1975 hit.
The crowd’s enthusiasm is evident throughout the concert. My only quibble is that some of these songs go on a little too long, like the 12:49 version of “Superstar.” Do you like live concert CDs? GRADE: A-
Track listing:
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | “Never Too Much“ | 4:02 |
| 2. | “Here and Now“ | 7:40 |
| 3. | “Take You Out“ | 4:50 |
| 4. | “Love Won’t Let Me Wait“ | 7:31 |
| 5. | “Superstar“ | 12:49 |
| 6. | “Stop to Love“ | 5:16 |
| 7. | “If Only for One Night“ | 5:58 |
| 8. | “Creepin'” | 5:46 |
| 9. | “I’d Rather“ | 5:28 |
| 10. | “A House Is Not a Home“ | 10:25 |
| 11. | “The Glow of Love“ | 5:44 |
Live concert recordings that are good technologically and technically are great fun…particularly jazz and bluegrass and go-go and gospel and other improvisational music recordings. But anyone who interacts well with a crowd can make for a good recording…THE LIVE KINKS, where the audience is delighted to find itself singing the lyrics of a Kinks hit or two properly in unison, is charming; The Weavers’ life albums are usually love-fests. The MC5 were never better than with KICK OUT THE JAMS, their first, live album.
Two favorites: https://youtu.be/f7_b_jyRVRc The Staple Singers: Freedom Highway and…
Light in Babylon: “Hinech Yafa”: https://youtu.be/MZS5EYAidrQ
Todd, many of the live albums from the 1960s and 1970s tend to be murky or full of distortion.
Todd, on the flip side, I’ve heard many bad live albums by several groups. I’ve never cared for The Rolling Stones live CDs.
Yes, they have perhaps the worst track record (so to write) among the most influential rock bands.
Todd, The Rolling Stones are touring again, but I’m not sure they’ll get the audience they had 10 years ago.
I know little about Patti Austin and have always found Luther Vandross dull . Chicago has always been on my top ten dislike list, Right up there with Styx, Cinderella, Poison, Reo Speedwagon. Kiss. I do like a good live album. Mc5 (i was there at the recording), Kinks, Roxy Music, The Who, Springsteen, among many others have all done great live recordings.
“25 or 6 to Four” was the Chicago song we played in my junior/senior high school band in New Hampshire, so that was a bit fun.
Todd, when Patrick and Katie were in the High School band, Chicago songs showed up on every Spring Concert set list.
Present for the KICK OUT THE JAMS concert is an enviable experience, I suspect.
Steve, I have all of Springsteen’s live recordings and you’re right: they are very good! Somewhere around here I have live recordings of the Kinks, The Who, and The Pretenders. When I find them, I’ll listen to them and do another live music post.
I recognize some of the Chicago songs and a few sung by Patti Austin. I may have seen her perform once in Ann Arbor. But none of the Vandross songs ring a bell.
Meanwhile, our Borders (I was Office Manager for a couple of years) never had a concert as desirable as a set by the Bangles (lead guitarist Vicki Petersen was the sexiest at that point, but her sister and drummer–though playing guitar at this gig–Debbi was the one who smiled at me when I saw them in concert at the 9:30 Club in DC in ’84): https://youtu.be/BBbFAA67qQE (Jane Weidlin was and remains my Go-Go’s great crush).
And only got to see the Max Roach Philadelphia-based quartet…with the Uptown String Quartet, with my friend April’s cousin in it, and Roach’s daughter Maxine, as well…once before they were done…but we have the recordings…https://youtu.be/fub7bCayAHU
Yes to some live CDs:
Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band, NINE TONIGHT
Harry CHapin, GREATEST STORIES LIVE
Linda Ronstadt, LIVE IN HOLLYWOOD
Roy Orbison, BLACK AND WHITE NIGHT
LOVE FOR LEVON (two CD tribute concert for Levon Helm)
Have never cared for Peter Cetera.
I was present also for Bob Segar and the Silver Bullet Band, Live Bullet album recorded at Cobo Hall, Detroit. Spirit was the opening act.
Steve, the Bob Segar concert here pre-Pandemic sold out before I decided whether I wanted to change our schedules and attend it. I wish I’d acted faster!
Jeff, I have the Seger, Ronstadt, and Orbison live CDs. I’m considering LOVE FOR LEVON although something tells me that I own it…but can’t find it.
I wasn’t too active the last days – we had a visitor from the USA!
The grandson of my wife’s sister (20 years young) is in Hungary with his father and he had fond memories of us, our visit to Nashville and the last time he was with us as a child …
He stayed with us a few days and we had nice discussions, like us he’s not a Trumpista and sees many horrible developments in the USA during the last years – similar to Hungary. An unhealthy lifestyle e g …
Back to the topic:
I love (some) concert CDs and DVDs Chicago (especially when they were still called CTA), Springsteen and my favourites:
Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Guitar Festivals with so many great Rock and Blues musicians.
Wolf, I own some but not all the CLAPTON CROSSROADS CDs. Yes, the Chicago Transit Authority got chopped down to just Chicago.