Search - Steve Goodman :: Live Wire

Live Wire is more than just another CD

Tobias Gibson | Chicago | 08/14/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"What makes Live Wire different than any of the previously released live recordings of Steve's is that this recording is of one Concert on one night. The Easter Tapes was drawn from the 3 different radio broadcasts over a span of three years. Live Wire is from one concert at the Bayou Theater.What's more, the concert was with a complete back up band, complete with drums, electric guitar, piano, other percussions, and horns. Among the best cuts on the CD are the opener which is "You're the Girl I Love", a love ballad that Steve wrote for his wife Nancy. Probably the second best song is "The One That Got Away" which is a duet with Amy Madigan. (yes the Amy Madigan who went on to star on both Televsion and the Movies)Other songs of special note are "Men Who Love Women Who Love Men" and "Crazy Mary". This is the only commercially available release of "Crazy Mary", a Michael Smith song. As for "Men Who Love Women", this is the best version available anywhere and it is performed the way it should be, that is live.While it is true, City of New Orleans is available elsewhere, this is one of the few versions that has Steve playing lead guitar and the only one where he is backed up by a band and playing lead. Combine that with the band introduction and the expanded instrument solos and you have a rollicking good time.Of special note is the fact that this CD is one of the few to spotlight some of Steve later classics such as "Luxury's Lap", and "Hand it To You" Listening to the live versions will help you in gaining insight on the albums that they first appeared on.Of course there are some draw backs to the CD, and these come mainly from production value. The CD is mastered from a recording made almost 20 years ago. Despite this flaw, Steve's voice more than makes up for the "time warp" of technology and once he gets singing live, even if it is just a CD, he still has the ability to capture an audience and hold it for as long as he wants to. Even moreso, despite being almost 20 years old, the sound is crisp, the instrumentation is clear and the vocals ring true. Hopefully more lost recordings will surface and Red Pajamas will find this new venture profitable enough to continue treating Goodman fans as well as making a few new ones along the way.Did I forget to mention the "Roches" on Tossin' and Turnin'? A damn good version of old classic.All we now, is a Live CD with Steve and Jethro Burns."

Great Memories

David A. Silva | Elk Grove, CA United States | 08/01/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"For anyone who had the chance to see Steve Goodman live, the opportunity to hear him again is a dream come true. This set, recorded with a small combo, mixes his charm and wit as he smoothly goes from one great song to another.Diagnosed with Lukemea in 1969, he lived every day and preformed every concert as though he was celebrating what could be his last day on Earth, and the celebrations were joyous from first strum to last. This disc captures that magic.Despite the fact that this disk includes his 4th version of "The Dutchman" and his fifth of "City Of New Orleans", I for one never get tired of hearing him do either one. Fortunately we are spared "You Never Even Call Me By My Name" which is on all of his other live sets. Other highlights include "Would You Like To Learn To Dance", "Old Smoothies", the rolicking "Hand It To You", and the wonderful Michael Smith's "Crazy Mary". While his guitar playing is not as spectacular as it is on "The Easter Tapes", and as an overview of his work it is not as complete as "No Big Surprizes", as a concert disk it equals "Artistic Hair", and that is high praise indeed."

Hot Damn!

S. Rosenfeld | Baltimore | 06/19/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have been praying (and pleading) that this concert would be released. One hot summer night about 17 years ago, WHFS re-aired this concert just as I was pulling up to my rundown Baltimore rowhouse. Before the first chorus was over, I was racing up the stairs to start up my tape recorder. I played that tape into dust and fell in love with this performance and this lyric and funny man. Steve Goodman is great and "Live Wire" is Steve at his greatest."