Customer Reviews

Back To The Future Now Live At Arizona Charlie'S Las Vegas

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

 

 

I have been following Asleep at the Wheel since around 1976 when I first saw them. I can't think of a bad Asleep at the Wheel Album,but this is one of my favorites. Maybe it was because I WAS THERE at Arizona Charlies for this show. It was grade AAAAAAAA.

This was a reunion show where old band members of the original group came and played with the band Ray had at the time. I think the music blossoms here. I haven't purchased any of the other live albums yet, but I think this one shares with the cuts I have heard on other live albums, a kind of electricity that isn't on the studio albums. Ray Benson and the gang know how to electrify an audience, and spread the spirit of fun, and discovery like on one of the tunes not on the album where they morphed from from straight western swing into a Thelonius Monk tune. Moreover this music is made for drinking and dancing and romancing. That was what we were doing at Arizona Charlie's that night!
Get this album!

If you can't see Asleep At The Wheel perform LIVE, this is the next best thing. When I first bought this cd I must've played it at least 8 times in a row & I've turned a few friends onto it. If I had to choose 10 cd's to bring on a desert island, at least 5 would be by AATW.

Asleep At The Wheel are probably the BEST of the current western swing bands and have been around for well over 20 years. They get better with time and I always look forward to their latest works. This cd has them performing live at Arizona Charlie's in Las Vegas and past and present band members joined together for a grand time along with special guests like Tracy Byrd & even the McGuire Sisters. I hope they perform in the metropolitan area soon so I can finally see them LIVE. This album is a real treat!

Playing hundreds of gigs a year, Asleep at the Wheel performs an outstanding live show. This recording captures a very special evening. The band is at times joined by Asleep at the Wheel alumni and special guests. Ray Benson's heartfelt charm and humor is in full gear. The setlist includes perennial favorites ('Miles and Miles of Texas') and some seldom played treats ('Fat Boy Rag'). The band's studio version of 'Hot Rod Lincoln' lacks the energy and extended rockabilly improvisation of the live renditions. This is the only album that captures the rockin' humor of the song as played live. The McGuire Sisters helped the band to play their definitive version of 'House of Blue Lights;' it swings unusually hard. The mood is light, the energy is high and the sound quality is excellent. While Asleep at the Wheel has other live albums, "Back to the Future" captured a historic moment by a good incarnation of the group. If you dig Asleep at the Wheel, you will adore "Back To The Future Now: Live At Arizona Charlie's." At the time of review, about ten copies could be purchased for fewer than five bucks through Amazon's Marketplace Sellers. Go back to the future already and listen to this disc!