Customer Reviews

All Hits at the House of Blues

5 star:		(27)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

In 2002, Raphael Saadiq released what seemed to be one of the year's most-antcipated albums: "Instant Vintage." It was adored by critics, but all of nine people bought the album, and Saadiq was soon released from his label at Universal before winning a Grammy nomination. No doubt, the experience must have been frustrating for the former member of Tony! Toni! Tone!, but it apparently didn't hurt his career much, if at all. He may not sell as many records as he used to, but his talent for songwriting and producing remains intact. On his debut for his Pookie label, Saadiq releases a double CD which is a live performance at the House of Blues in Los Angeles. The mood and flavor of the concert is warm and intimate, as Saadiq cruises through many of his hits with the assistance of Joi, Tony! Toni! Tone!, D'Angelo (somebody call a search party for him), and DJ Quik among others. It'd be hard to pick out favorites on Disc 1 since all the performances are very good, but I have to single out "Let's Get Down," "It Never Rains," "Missing You" (performed by Joi), and the excellent "Anniversary." For me, disc 2's twin peaks are the velvet-smooth joint "Uptown" with Leslie Wilson and the kickin' "Be Here" with D'Angelo. These are two discs of groovilicious soul that nod back to the old school, a near-forsaken era when music was conceived with heart and emotion. Those who have followed this talented musician since the late 1980s won't be disappointed with this CD. It's a tight album that will have you hooked from the first note.

Live soul is a forgotten art...but Raphael Sadiiq is on a mission to revive the genre.
For fans of R's group Tony! Toni! Tone!, this represents a great reunion journey, as a good number of songs (but, unfortunately the classic "Feels Good" is missing) that the band made famous are here. The live version of "Anniversary" is as beautiful as the original, and "It Never Rains In Souther California" sound a little funkier than before.
For Lucy Pearl fans, there is the great track "You", but again, the omission of "Dance Tonight" is glaring. With Joi stopping by to sing on a few tracks (and doing a great job on "Missing You"), and DJ Quick also involved, the great vibe that Lucy Pearl put out could have easily been captured.
The newer material, particularly "Instant Vintage" songs "Excuse Me" and "Body Parts" sound excelent in a live setting - Raph's voice is clear and right in tune, and some backup work by D'Angelo really makes this material sound great. Sadiiq really shines when given a chance to stretch out instrumentally, and his instrument playing (and accompanying musicians) is right up there with The Roots.
This likely won't win new fans for this incredibly talented musician - but it a great project for fans of any of Raphael's previous incarnations - and a good holdover while we wait for this guy to put out the masterpiece we all know he has in him.

THE ALBUM IS HOT FROM START TILL FINISH.IT FEATURES
THE WONDERFUL AND TALENTED JOI.
A REUNION WITH TONY TONI TONE'
AND SEVERAL OTHER GUSET APPEARANCES.
THE SONGS ARE GREAT, I LOVE THE LIVE MATRIAL FROM HIS
FIRST ALBUM, MORE SO THAN THE MATRIAL ON HIS FIRST ALBUM
GO COP HIS NEW ALBUM RAPHAEL SAADIQ AS RAY RAY AND ALL HITS @ THE HOUSE OF BLUES YOU WONT BE DISAPPOINTED WITH THESE SELECTIONS.

This double disc is awesome, well worth the price!!! My car's CD player is constantly playing disc #2. I love all the songs on it along with the majority of songs on disc #1. My favorites would be "Still Ray" and "Be Here". The climactic ending of "Be Here" with the guitar riffs, etc. is great and I love the musical arrangement and words of "Still Ray". Raphael knows his music and I hope the whole world gets a chance to know him, if they don't already.

Having been lucky enought to have been in the crowd at the House of Blues when the CD was recorded, I couldn't wait to get it. The CD captures the energy that was in the house that night. Raphael is a great songwriter and musician. Every song is right on hit. Joi was a pleasant surprise and a nice prelude to the Tony Toni Tone reunion. Nobody wanted the reunion to end, but that night was about Saadiq and the amazing talent that he is. Instant Vintage was a soulful and funky album. But the live CD blows it away! With the help of all the guests that appeared, Devin the Dude, Tony Toni Tone, DJ Quik, and D'Angelo this CD is self became an Instant Vintage!! Cant wait for the DVD!! Be sure to check out D'Angelo's stage dive at the end.

I think Raphael should adopt that nomer after this release. I am a big fan of Tony Tony Tone and when I saw their medley of hits I was taken from there. But what I found when I listened was an array of old hits and new ones from "Instant Vintage". Highlights are the catchy chorus of Charlie Ray and Excuse ME. I just wish Calvin Richardson and D'Angelo Baby Momma Angie Stone were there to take part. (Angie i love Mahogany Soul and u were great in the Fighting Temptations u gots skills!). Ask of You is a treat, because its not even on an Tony album its from the Higher Learning soundtrack. But its so sexy and soulful as it was almost a decade ago. Joi "Star Kitty" comes in and rocks it. I wish she had sung a slow jam so I could capture the raw essence of her spectacular voice. This cd has opened me up to her. LAy Your Head on My Pillow along with all the Toni jams are great and sound just as good as ever. Another surprise was the Lets get down that was a minor hit a few years back. Blow the dust of that one. But I have to admit even tho the second cd has 7 songs i blast that one much more!!! STILL RAY and that tuba what more can I say. Blind Man is a nice jam and has a very good message. I love Different Times... and Ledisi is off the change she overshadowed Saadiq she stole the show on that one. I would like to hear T-Boz on the original. Uptown....I have never heard of Leslie Wilson I thought it was a girl. he cam out blazing..sometimes i skip to his part just to hear is scratch, soulful preacher-like voice. The cd ends with the jam session with D'Angelo on Be Here. I love the second cd. But its a great collection.I jus wish I was on the Saadiq wagon all along.

Being a Tony Toni Tone fan like I am basically requires that anytime Raphael Saadiq and Dwayne Wiggins release a CD of any kind that a must buy is guaranteed. Raphael Saadiq's 1st solo effort, "Instant Vintage" spent a whole lot of time in the heavy rotation playlist. Although the CD could be played track by track my favorites included "Body Parts", "Be Here" w D'Angelo, "Still Ray", "Excuse Me" w/Angie Stone & Calvin Richardson, "Tick Tock" and "Skyy Can You Feel Me". With "All Hits At The House Blues" you get superb live performances of Raphael Saadiq's solo tracks and a medley of memorable jams that he had with Tony Toni Tone. Devin The Dude, from Rap A Lot Records joins in on "Just A Man" from the Baby Boy soundtrack and from Devin's 2nd CD, "Just Trying To Live", and he gives an excellent performance alongside Raphael Saadiq. Singer Joi, who just signed to Raphael's Pookie Entertainment joins in as well with two tracks: "Copycat" and "Missing You". She also gives an excellent performance. I was pleased that Raphael also included memorable songs that aren't on "Instant Vintage" such as "Still A Man" from Tony Toni Tone's "House Of Music", "Ask Of You" from the Higher Learning soundtrack, and "Get Invloved", the track he had with Q Tip. One thing that I didn't understand though was how he included "You" from the Lucy Pearl CD and not tracks like "Dance Tonight" and "Without You". Tracks 10-16 is the medley with Tony Toni Tone. The group gives a stellar performance but you can't help but feel a little cheated since all the songs are cut short. However, this definitely does not cut the quality of this live CD. Disc 2 includes songs that primarily come from "Instant Vintage". "Still Ray" is worth the price of the Live CD alone as Raphael Saadiq demonstrates why he has been in the game as long as he has. Ledisi and Goapele put feeling into "Different Times" which featured T Boz on the "Instant Vintage" CD and you can never go wrong with D'Angelo live on "Be Here".

Overall, if you are a fan of Tony Toni Tone and Raphael Saadiq, you can't afford to pass up on this live collection of his songs. I would have loved to here "Skyy Can You Feel Me" and some other Tony Toni Tone tracks live, but hey you don't always get what you want. I look forward to hearing new material from Raphael Saadiq in the future.

Ok. Listen. This is arguably the greatest concert CD I've ever heard! This is TRULY INSTANT VINTAGE! I'm just gonna rant...The band is tight and very disciplined.

The Godfather of Neo Soul hit the mark one mo' 'gin.

Joi, KILLS "Missing You"...(Her CD <"Star Kitty's Revenge"> was kinda subpar, but she has a GREAT live voice!)

Ledisi RIPS it on "Different Times"

The Tonies were tight, and they NEED a reunion CD, dagnabbit!

Alan Leeds was the tour manager, the long-time tour manager for Prince and he was Maxwell's tour manager on his UHS tour...Leeds is one of the best in the business.

Raphael's command over his band is truly remniscent of Prince's command over his touring bands.

Best moment - When D'Angelo came out and duetted with Ray Ray on "Be Here" -- BOMB! I get goosebumps everytime I hear the crowd realize who's walking out on stage and lo and behold -- IT'S D' HIMSELF! Classic moment! And then D' proceeds to RIP IT UP! I love it! D', came back, big balla!

But, good people of Amazon, get this CD, it's well worth it.

Raphael Saadiq has such a unique voice. It is cool, mello, smooth, and unforgettable. As soon as I got this CD I popped it into the car CD player and went straight to "ALL I ASK OF YOU" from the Higher learning movie. I then went to "Anniversary" and then from there I hit every track and every tune. Hearing this CD reminds me how much I miss the unique sound of the Tonys. The only problem I have with this CD was that listening to it made me wish I could have been at the House of Blues to hear it live.

10 stars! How can you even rate such a talented artist like Saadiq? These live sessions are amazing. Just breath taking, if you are a fan or Saadiq as a solo artist or Tony Toni Tone' as a group you won't be disappointed with this live album disc. Gotta love the live version of "Blind Man" my favorite song of all time and "Ask you" a def. classic is also included. [Two discs, with 23 tracks of beautiful music, only the best for Mr. Saadiq]