Thomas D. (RockerBoomer) from SOUTHAMPTON, NY Reviewed on 3/30/2009...
Great LIVE album! All the hits are here. Unfortunately, Paul Rogers vocals were better in the origional Bad Company versions but this is really good musically and the vocals are not all that bad either. I saw them play live and they were very, very good. You won't be sorry if you get this CD ... regardless of reviews to the contrary.
1 of 1 member(s) found this review helpful.
Charlene C. (charlovey) from TORRANCE, CA Reviewed on 8/7/2008...
best make out cd..ever.
CD Reviews
SAD COMPANY
Jukebox Dave | RECORD TOWN, USA | 12/12/2005
(2 out of 5 stars)
"A misnomer is what you're getting here. Paul Rodgers put the "Bad" in Bad Co. with his earthbound, grit-rimmed vocals and climactic lyrical ad-libbing, but once replaced (and I use that term VERY loosely) by pedestrian singer Brian Howe, their shooting star fizzled. This concert cash-in on hits old and new is also minus the rock-steady bottom of bassist Boz Burrell, but Rodgers is the key omission. Better to check out the recent live Bad Co. offering MERCHANTS OF FORTUNE, still featuring only half the original members, but at least one is ex-Free wailer Rodgers. On WHAT YOU HEAR IS WHAT YOU GET, early Bad Co. classics FEEL LIKE MAKIN' LOVE and ROCK 'N ROLL FANTASY still rule over latter day fluff HOW ABOUT THAT and NO SMOKE WITHOUT FIRE, demonstrating how their songwriting also suffered after Paul's exit. As far as classic rock is concerned, this lifeless concert attempt will put you in pretty bad company. RATING: TWO THUDS
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BETTER IN PERSON, THAN ON DISK
Eric J. Weik | Dyersburg, TN | 01/25/2003
(2 out of 5 stars)
"Having seen Bad company live, I knew sort of what to expect from this cd, they put on a good show, with good clean sound, but not a lot of action on stage. One would think that the sound would come across on to cd. But it did not. This cd is dull. All songs are honest to the original versions, but they never come across as anything more than a different recording of the orginal. Stick with their studio recordings."
Weak, but enjoyable
Jukebox Dave | 06/16/1999
(2 out of 5 stars)
"There is a funny thing about this incarnation of Bad Co. While songs like "Holy Water" sound great, just like the studio versions, songs like "Bad Co." sound like a BAD COVER band trying to play Bad Co. I saw Bad Co 5 times between Dangerous Age and Holy Water and while the shows were great, the original songs were NOT up to par (original meaning Paul Roger songs). Paul is back!"
BRIAN HOWE'S BAD CO. BATS IN THE HEAVY HITS!
Chris | Kansas City, MO. | 12/04/1999
(3 out of 5 stars)
"Howe's voice sears through the grit of rigorous touring and burns the deaf ears of his critics leaving a smoking testament to his long stint as Bad Company's "master of ceremonies". The stand out tracks are the soulful, serpentine "Ready For Love" and the heartfelt "If You Needed Somebody". Mick Ralphs is in fine form, flexing his black & blue guitar muscle on tough rockers like "No Smoke Without A Fire" and the ever classic "Feel Like Makin' Love". Newer members, Bucket & Rick Wills, turn in solid performances, providing sturdy support for their front men. Simon Kirke whips along, nearly effortlessly, but stumbles a bit on the unimaginative "Fist Full of Blisters". His punchy grooves and country fried swing are flawless in the context of the songs but a drum solo was an unfortunate waste of 4 minutes. This live set would have been better served by the inclusion of "Electric Land", the long ignored but fierce "Fame & Fortune", or perhaps the rarely aired gem "Gone, Gone, Gone". All in all, this is an excellent recording that makes no excuses for it's rough edges, hence it's title. Howe's most impressive vocal theatrics, still don't match the magic of Paul Rodgers (sorely missed, also, are Rodgers' piano contributions), but here we see his voice starting to mature, at least in terms of control and range. Check out show closer "Bad Company" for proof. The more recent material faired well here, not because of it's musical strength, but because Brian Howe drove it home. Play this loud, in your car, on a summer night, and you will not be disappointed. This line up was great and their work makes up a considerable portion of Bad Company's catalog. Their mark was made here, where it counts, on stage."