| | America Live CD America Discography of CDs
America Live marked the beginning of the group's history as a duo. Recorded at the last of a series of four shows at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles in July of 1977, with film music legend Elmer Bernstein conducting the orchestra and George Martin producing, the album closed out the group's original Warner Bros. contract and was mostly released for that reason, following the Harbor album and the departure of co-founder Dan Peek. Their ninth album in seven years (counting a greatest-hits compilation), it filled in a hole in the group's history and represented America surprisingly well, given the circumstances of its release. Gerry Beckley and Dewey Bunnell are both in excellent voice, and one could hardly ask for a sharper or more balanced live recording. The expected mid-'70s hits such as "Tin Man," "Ventura Highway," and "Sister Golden Hair" (all brilliantly sung, and worth the price of the album) are here, and more modestly charting but highly personal tracks like "Amber Cascades" are represented as well, along with early classics like "I Need You" and "A Horse With No Name" (the latter done with a beautifully elegant yet restrained orchestral arrangement). One does wonder, however, if there were more to this show than the 14 songs represented on the original LP, which might make for a good CD expansion someday. On the other hand, given that Warner Bros. has never seen fit to release this album on CD anywhere but in Europe and Japan, that might be too much to hope for. ~ Bruce Eder
This cut-down version of the two-man lineup's King Biscuit Flower Hour performance from 1982 is reduced to ten songs. The performance and the sound quality are both excellent, and depict the band in a more basic rock setting than their "official" Warner Bros. live album from 1977, which featured the presence of a large contingent of backing musicians. The work here is more viscerally exciting, the singing is impeccable, and the instruments have a nice, healthy, up-front presence. The absent songs from the King Biscuit release include "Here," "Love on the Vine," and "Inspector Mills." As is usual with budget-priced releases of this type, there is no annotation and no indication of the actual date or venue for the performance, or annotation of any sort. ~ Bruce Eder Live Review
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Purchase Live CD To buy, Click on price to add to cart | Frank Zappa Shut Up 'N Play Yer Guitar CDs (1981) Remastered
Live album
 $17.49   
SHUT UP 'N PLAY YER GUITAR puts the musical spotlight on Frank Zappa's solo guitar improvisations.
Although many think of Frank Zappa first and foremost as a supreme composer and satirist, many seem to overlook the fact that he was one of the greatest rock guitarists that ever lived. After all, such latter-day guitar heroes as Joe Satriani and Steve Vai (the latter was a member of Zappa's backing band in the early '80s) revered him, often listing select Zappa albums as "the best guitar albums of all time." But since he refused to play commercially acceptable music, many young guitarists are unaware of Zappa's guitar prowess.
To correct this, Zappa issued the double-disc set SHUT UP N' PLAY YER GUITAR in 1986. Instead of just compiling already-released tracks that prominently featured his guitar chops, Zappa searched through tapes of concerts from his 1979 and 1980 tours, and edited together his very best solos. Although this may be a monotonous listen for a non-guitar player or a newcomer to Zappa's work, guitar enthusiasts and hardcore fans will consider it a godsend. It's hard to pick just a few highlights, since each disc is meant to be listened to in it's entirety, but you can't go wrong with "Hog Heaven," ...
| | Complete Sandals 1964-1969: Wild As The Sea CD (2003) (Import) Australia
Live CD music
$19.99 
Legendary for their theme to the most famous surfing movie of the 60's, Bruce Brown's "The Endless Summer", the music of crack Californian instrumental outfit The Sandals complemented the scenes of two carefree surfers looking for the perfect wave. Under the guidance of surf music expert Stephen J McParland, Raven Records has brought together every known recording by the group in the 60's, almost all of which have never been issued on CD.
Liner Note Author: Stephen J. McParland.
Unknown Contributor Roles: Johnny Gibson Trio; Dan Brawner; John Blakely; Gaston Georis; Walter Georis.
Wild as the Sea: Complete Sandals 1964-1969 holds 31 tracks --77 minutes of great surf sounds from the Sandals, a low-key Ventures-like group with the distinction of having created the music for the classic Bruce Brown film, The Endless Summer. This record is an incessant party, starting with a dozen instrumental tracks which saturate the brain but are not as redundant as say, the Ramones, the nuances of the jingling-jangling guitars making for great background to any party. These vignettes mostly clock in around the two-minute mark, the vocals on "All Over Again" are pretty humorous with some very uplifting changes and harmonica. The song "Endless Summer" owes ...
| | America Silent Letter/Alibi CD (2006) (Import) United Kingdom
Live music CDs
$19.15
This two-fer from Beat Goes On features a pair of out of print LPs by the soft rock duo America: Silent Letter and Alibi, originally issued on Capitol in 1979 and 1980, respectively. Highlights among the 18 tracks include "High in the City," "Only Game in Town," "Survival," and "Might Be Your Love." ~ Al Campbell
Digitally remastered two-fer featuring two albums from America, their first albums as a duo after the departure of Dan Peek. 1979's Silent Letter was the last that George Martin produced for them, while 1980's Alibi showed the band edging towards a slick adult contemporary sound. 22 tracks total. Comes housed in a slipcase with new liner notes. BGO. 2006.
Audio Remasterer: Andrew Thompson .
Liner Note Author: John Tobler.
Recording information: Air Studios, London, England ...
| | America Vinyl LP (1972)
Live songs
 $21.35 
America's debut album is a classic case of being in the right place at the right time--a world where the noisier sounds of '60s rock had given way to the gentler strains of James Taylor and Crosby, Stills and Nash. America's particular gift was to combine Taylor's singer/songwriter esthetic with CSN's ripe harmonies, and their ...
| | Tom Waits Glitter And Doom Live CDs (2009) Digipak
Live album
$14.38  
Glitter and Doom Live, a double-disc set, marks Tom Waits' third live effort in his nearly 40-year career, each one summing up his career to the point of its release. The first, Nighthawks at the Diner issued in 1975 on Asylum, is regarded by many as one of the greatest live albums of all time. The second was Big Time, released during his tenure at Island in 1986. The musical performances on disc one of Glitter and Doom Live were culled from Waits' historic sold-out tour of the U.S. and Europe. He compiled and sequenced the set himself, intending to make them sound like a single show. The material leans, understandably, on his recordings with the Anti label. There are stellar performances here, such as "Get Behind the Mule" from The Mule Variations, "Trampled Rose" from Real Gone, and a haunting version of Leadbelly's "Fannin Street" from Orphans: Brawlers, Bawlers & Bastards, to mention just three of the 17 cuts here. But he goes back to his Island albums too. For instance, there are completely re-visioned readings of "Lucky Day" and "I'll Shoot the Moon" from 1993's Black Rider, and a killer -- though equally revamped -- version of "Singapore" from 1985's Rain Dogs. Musically, the performances are flawless, as is the sound on this ...
| | Mannheim Steamroller Christmas 25th Anniversary Collection CDs (2009)
Live CD music
$14.95 
| | Dave Angel 39 Flavours Of Tech Funk CDs (2009) (Import) Import
Live music CDs
$27.59
| | Perla Batalla Discoteca Batalla CD (2003)
Live songs
$17.09
Hearing Perla Batalla's voice for the first time is an epiphany. One may go to hear the songs, but you end up feeling the joy and the pathos in the music like never before. There is a tone, a depth of emotion and a sublime expressiveness along with her transcendent voice that makes the experience unforgettable. One on hand there is that powerful vocal instrument, but on the other is her intelligence and instincts. This combination in Perla makes her singing a true gift.The seemingly effortless ability ...
| | Gege Telesforo Love & Other Contradictions CD (2007) (Import)
Live album
$32.85
| | D A D S Trio D.A.D.S Trio CD (2008)
Live CD music
$16.45
| | Anecdote Illegible Bachelor CD (2008)
Live music CDs
$10.15
| | Leviathan Riddles Questions Poetry & Outrage CD (2008) (Import)
Live songs
$13.05
| | Jon Mutchler Still Prone To Wander: An Interpretation Of Hymns CD (2008)
Live album
$14.19
Still Prone to Wander is a followup from Mutchler\'s 2001 CD, Prone to Wander, but his improvisation of these hymns is much freer and more advant guarde. This album is full of rich colors and great contrasts. The spirit and strength of some of these timeless hymns comes through in his expressive and creative playing. This album is unique and shows his comfort and skill at various styles and levels of playing. It ranges from quiet and pensive, to spirited and energetic. This is indeed something very special.From the artist’s notes on the liner:I was thrilled at how fast the music came together. Over a period of four days in early July (2008) I improvised and recorded the music you now have. Several of these tracks are first takes. I began the recording session with a little warmup improvisation. After a couple minutes it unexpectedly took on some of the thematic material of “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing.” It eventually expands into this classic hymn.My spiritual life and my music are both still prone to wander in different directions. God grants us a generous amount of freedom (which births creativity). Sometimes we exercise it wisely. Other times not. We make mistakes, but God’s grace draws us back.I’ve done no editing of material on this CD. I wasn’t striving for “perfection.” It is all improvised and done largely “on the fly” with minimal preparation. I am exceedingly pleased with what transpired. Sure, I can listen back and point to places where I might have chosen a different note, a different chord, a different dynamic. But throughout all the “wandering” that takes place in some of these renditions I always seem to make it back “home!”Martin Luther’s timeless “A Mighty Fortress is Our God” was part of a jazz improvisation I performed at my senior jazz recital at Western Washington University. That was the last time I improvised on it until this album. Luther’s themes are bold and fearless. I’ve tried to interpret his hymn in the same way. I have included two versions of it.Chris Rice’s “Untitled Hymn (Come to Jesus)” is popular right now. Like many good hymns it tells a story of struggle and dependance upon God. I suspect it will be around for a while and have included two takes on this CD.I have always liked the melody of “For the Beauty of the Earth” but I have never really played it much until I decided I needed an additional song for this CD. I kept this one very simple with an ostinato left hand staying in one position. This arrangement came together in about 15 minutes.Our church began singing “I Need Thee Every Hour” after I heard a lovely worship version of this done in slow 6/8 time at a retreat. This is the third song on this CD with an alternate version included.I happily dedicate “We Gather Together to Ask the Lord’s Blessing” to my university piano professor, Ford Hill, who had been asking me to do an arrangement of this favorite hymn. He has now challenged me to write out a set of difficult variations on the same melody. I have some ideas. He’s promised to perform it.“How Deep the Father’s Love” is one of our favorites at church. It is, if you notice, in 5/4 time and here I have done it fairly straight forward.I have been singing the chorus to Helen Lemmel’s hymn, “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus since my college days in Bellingham.” (By the way, Helen was blind when she ...
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