From Good To Great!!!
Steve A | Somewhere In Rhode Island | 12/16/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Wow I was blown away by the remaster job on this CD done by Frank himself. This disc always took a backseat to the classic "Live" CD from 78...and in it's original form it was OK.
Anyway now with the killer remastering job and bonus cut this is essential to any Frank Marino & Mahogany Rush fan. Some disc's say they're remastered but don't impress. This Double Live sounds so incredible now...it's like your listening to a new album...I waiting on my remasters of Full Circle & From The Hip...if they're done as well as this CD...I'll be very happy.
Frank rules and should be looked on as one of the top guitarist of all time...screw the critic's...and their Hendrix copycat label they've given Frank throughout his career. He might have started off at 16 playing like Jimi...but now he's got style and class all his own...as he plays jazz, funk, blues and metal ...with ease...and all with his own stamp."
Impressive livealbum, watch the main guitarplayer!
J. Talsma | Amsterdam, Netherlands | 02/14/2007
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Having released already a fine bunch of albums under the Mahogany Rush banner, after the 1980 closer "What's Next" Frank Marino opted for a solo-carriere under his own name with the aid of brother Vince on rythmguitar and backingvocals but also retaining the same other bandmusicians (Paul Harwood bass, Timm Biery drums) so in fact all is just the same. In 1978 he gave us a live-album simply called "Live" (is there a better title?) which boasted his songwriting, were it not for the fact that at least half of the songs are not by his hand!, and of course the 1979 release "Tales of the Unexpected" was partially live, with 4 excellent outings, this time his compositions solely.
With the 1992 "Double Live" (now a single CD disc) we saw a fine return to form and also the "Mahogany Rush" flag again. Hot on the heels of the truelly excellent "The Power of Rock and Roll" and "Juggernaut" - a twin album, considered by me, they are so close in superb songwriting plus singing and guitarplaying by Frank, backed by a decent rythmteam (whith a change of drummers) - Marino was performing live everywhere and recorded some performances in the US (Texas, California) from which "Double Live" is taken. On vinyl four sides are now reduced to one disc only, with the extension an extra song. Strange as it might be this has nothing showcased from "The Power ...." which is a pity given the quality of those songs. On the other hand, "Juggernaut" (the album) is here presented with "Midnight Highway (spelled as "Midnite Highway"), "Free" and closers "Strange Dreams" and of course the titletrack. Even remarkable is that the 1980 fourpiece band release "What's Next" is presented heartedly with "You Got Livin", the Doors cover "Roadhouse Blues" (given his own songwriting abilities and the wealth of material at hand not really necessary, besides his playing was always more reminiscent of Jimy Hendrix than Robbie Krieger, the only thing they had in common was the use of the same type of guitar), "Rock 'N'Roll Hall of Fame" and as bonus the fuzzdriven "Something's Coming Our Way". Most songs are extended versions with plenty of room for blistering guitarwork. In "Electric Reflections Revisited" and "Sky Symphony To A Little Town" Marino demonstrates his guitarplaying abilities and creates unreal sounds with just a Gibson SG and a few devices, you can even hear a churchorgan. All in all a classic live-album.
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Whining Guitar
Thomas B. Heartt | 06/27/2010
(3 out of 5 stars)
"A friend suggested Frank Marino because I love expertly-played bluesy guitar. Marino is a little to tinny and speedy sounding for my tastes though. Reminds me a little of Carlos Santana's style, but Santana is a whole lot better."