Search - Delbert Mcclinton :: Live

Live the blues...

DanD | 06/27/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The only other Delbert McClinton album is own is "Room to Breathe." A good CD, yes; this one, though, really got me hooked. This is the blues, with country, rock, and pop thrown in...a mixture of music that melts into one flawless sound, glued together by Kevin McKenree's keyboard, Rob McNelley's guitar licks, and McClinton's gravelling voice and harmonica.From the opener "Old Weakness," you know you're in for a treat. Other classic bluesy rockers include "I'm With You," "Giving It Up For Your Love," and "Smooth Talk," while "I've Got Dreams to Remember" and "Don't Want to Love You" are moving ballads.Delbert McClinton is a man who can sing. And "Live" showcases that singing--and his backup band--like nothing else can. If you do not own this album, I sincerely believe you should. I don't know if it's a good retrospective or not, but I DO know that as a two-disk album, it's damn good. It's the blues, baby...the blues and everything else."

Absolutely Fantastic Two Disc Set!

Joseph Roche | Northeast PA | 11/12/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Haven't heard the Delbert sound? Buddy, you're missing out!Right from the opening riff of "Old Weakness (Coming on Strong)" to the last encore, Delbert and his band are sizzling on this live two disc set recorded in Europe on his 2003-2004 world tour. I caught this lineup in Harrisburg, PA and am still hearing those tunes in my head a month later! The disc brings the live vibe right into your own CD player.The band is smoking. Rob McNelley (www.robmenelley.com) is the guitar man (Check out his disc "On" - I bought it at the show, you can buy it at his website, but that's a whole other review!). His musical ability makes me want to get the old Les Paul out of the case and start playing again. Kevin McKendree makes that old Wurlitzer organ scream, and the horn section of Don Wise (tenor sax) and Terry Thomson (trumpet, keyboards) sound much fuller than two horns ought to sound. And don't forget Delbert's contribution here with his blues harmonica licks that I wish I could emulate. (Did you know he taught John Lennon to play the harp?)Delbert's voice seems to be only getting better with age. He has that tone that can only be achieved through bad luck and hard work, and the combination here is simply magical. Why isn't he more popular than he is? Maybe it's that bad luck thing. Ha had a ten year stretch where every label he recorded under went bankrupt. Also, his music is hard to categorize. If you took Rock and Roll, Country, R&B, and Blues and mixed 'em all together you still wouldn't have it. I found this disc in the Country section of my local music store, where I would almost never look normally. So, you have to be looking to find him. Anyway, I'm sort of glad he's not more popular. He tends to play small venues, and tickets are generally available for a while. So even if you don't get to the box office the second seats go on sale, you can still get great seats! I've only gone once, but mark my words, I'm going again!Delbert has his own unique sound that must be listened to in order to appreciate it fully. This disc set fits that requirement. It is a nice mix that seems to span his entire career. If you don't have a Delbert CD, get this one. If you already have one (who has only one?), this is a nice companion. The live versions of the songs off the Grammy nominated "Room to Breathe" disc are worth owning, and the songs repeated off "Live from Austin" are significantly reworked to give them new life (not like they needed it!)Some of my favorites? "Leap of Faith" springs to mind. It is a rolling tune that sounds like it comes out of a southern Baptist church. "When Rita Leaves" is another favorite from the Grammy winning "Nothing Personal" album. But then, almost every song is one of my favorites.I love it. If you are anything like me, you will, too!"

DELBERT'S STILL THE MAN!!

Gregory C. Berryhill | Cochran, Ga United States | 10/28/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have seen Delbert perform 'live and in living color' 4-5 times. Each time, I come away feeling like I've been to a blues/honkey-tonking/rocking 'revival'. I feel the same after listening to this newest release. I have all of Delbert's cds, but have always told folks that you have to see Delbert and his band live to really appreciate the true performers/entertainers/master musicians that they are. Yes, I have Delbert's last 'live' cd, "Live From Austin", and it was great. This release; however, is more polished sounding, especially, the vocals. Delbert choice of songs for this release offers a good variety of his arsenal of songs. He could easily do a 'live' 4 cd release with all of his songs. Thanks, Delbert, for great songs, a great band, & a great performance. Keep on keeping on!!"