Customer Reviews

In Concert: Merchants of Cool

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Let's face it, Bad Co. without cooler than hell singer Paul Rodgers just ain't Bad Company. This recent live reunion(featuring drummer Simon Kirke as well), shows his voice and the band's blend of soul and rock has aged well. The absence of original guitarist Mick Ralphs is a letdown, but his place is filled admirably by longtime sideman "Bucket" Colwell. Rodgers smokey voice is in full form on "Rock Steady" and "Burnin' Sky." On other songs, like "Rock And Roll Fantasy" and the Free classic "All Right Now" he lets the crowd take the chorus. Most of the time on live records this kind of thing is corny, but here the crowd is so loud you can still hear every word. The two added studio tracks are throwaways, detracting from this great live record that could have been longer;considering the wealth of quality material Bad Company possesses.

Quick and to the point. Paul Rodgers is one of, if not thee best rock vocalist ever. That said the lead guitar on this album flat our sucks. No lead fills or solos on "Feel Like Making Love"? You'll know I'm right when you listen to some of the songs and are waiting...and waiting...and waiting for those classic Mick Ralph's lead fills. Especially on "Making Love".
Let's hope Bad Co recruits a guitarist who will be able to fill Ralph's shoes.

First of all, folks, it's not & cannot be a Bad Company album without Mick Ralphs on guitars. It's now clear that, Paul Rodgers wanted some fast bucks & so he encashed Bad Comapny name (Free name also?, as 2 original Bad Co. memebers on this disc are also founding members of Free). So, the duo (Rodgers & Kirke)could even record soem Free songs too like Fire & Water and Wishing Well. That could pay much better, I must say. Anyway, this album gets *** only because of Rodgers' superb vocals which is as fresh as it was in his Free days. His vocals on Ready For Love, Shooting Star & Rock Steady are superb. But the guitarist David Colwell should have stayed a Bad Company sidekick as he proves on this disc here a rhythm guitarist of his standadrd is just not at par to handle these mighty classics. All his solos sound bizzare & dull & with the help of the bassist Jaz, he was able to rape the Free classic All Right Now completely ! All Right Now really demanded the melodic bass playing of Andy Fraser. Rodgers tried hard to subside his bandmates' inability but failed somwetimes. Of the new studio tracks, Joe Fabulous, though, is catchy. Rodgers, too, could sing Can't get Enough alone, not with crowd. I'll remember this disc for Rodgers' beautiful singing which I always enjoy, but for heaven's sake, please bring back Mick Ralphs & Boz Burrel to rescue Bad Co.!!!

First of all, this is not the original Bad Company-lineup. Vocalist Paul Rodgers has been lured back into the fold, and drummer Simon Kirke is there as well, but original lead guitarist Mick Ralphs is sorely missed.

Having said that, "Merchants Of Cool" is generally a pretty good live album, buoyed up by Rodgers' voice (I would have preferred to have him sing "Can't Get Enough" rather than the crowd).
The band performs most of their best and best-known songs, including the catchy pop-rock of "Movin' On", the ballad "Shooting Star" and the muscular rockers "Feel Like Makin' Love" and "Ready For Love", and they also try their hand at Rodgers' classic Free-hit "All Right Now".

This music doesn't sound as spirited as Bad Company did thirty years ago, though, and David Colwell is a disappointing stand-in for Mick Ralphs. But "Merchants Of Cool" is not excactly bad, and fans of Paul Rodgers might find it to their liking, although it isn't excactly the liveliest live album I have ever heard, and it doesn't really add that much to Bad Company's legacy.

The recording is great, the band it tight and the crowd is really into it. I have had the cd for about 2 months and I listen to it every other day it seems. Paul R. is dynamic, his vocal range is where it was if not better than 20 yrs. ago. Some many classics and hit songs, BAD Company rocks till this day.

I was at the Anaheim show last January and was rather impressed. True, Mick Ralphs wasn't there (I thought he would be), but the musicianship was hardly lacking. My few complaints centered on a dull reading of "Do Right Woman" (thankfully not on the album or video), and the absence of "Movin' On" (the video performance is from Denver) and "Electricland". The video would have benefited, I think, if the producers had focused on either the Denver or Anaheim show, instead of back-and-forth, since it creates a rather jarring effect; and the split-screen during "All Right Now" is distracting, at best. As for the setlist, the final song performed that evening was a rowdy, Cream-like reading of "Crossroads", with Neal Schon and Slash reprising their earlier stage cameos. A shame that it wasn't included on either the DVD or CD (why not?). Also, "Ready for Love" didn't appear 'till the beginning of the second encore, so why was it placed in the middle of the DVD and CD set? Despite these flaws, tt was a good show, and a nice way to kick off my concertgoing year (just saw my 6th show last night).

Although this isn't the original Bad Company lineup, they are darn close and extremely tight. Bucket Colwell handles the guitar parts with competent muscle and original Mick Ralphs isn't missed (he probably had his fill of Rodgers immense ego). Colwell has been a member of the band for nearly 12 years now and has a unique style and is more than competent with these tunes. Check him out on "Joe Fabulous", he really cooks. Jaz Lochrie on bass is dead-on and makes a great groove-partner for ever reliable Simon Kirke, the real heart and soul of this band. Too bad Rodgers thinks so highly of himself, this band can really rock in the classic sense of the word. Great album, DVD is even better. For the record: Simon, Jaz and Bucket are three of the nicest people you'd ever meet. True journeymen in their craft.

Merchants of Cool is a great CD. The only thing I can think of that would be better is the DVD Merchants of Cool because it has more songs and you (obviously) get to see the band and lots of interviews. This CD is the audio version of two concerts recorded specially for Bad Co's DVD of the same title.

Paul Rodgers is always best live, but a live CD is second best. Paul's voice has only gotten better over the years. If you don't react to Paul's voice on Rock Steady, Burning Sky or Ready for Love, you must be sitting in your casket already. The man has a voice like no one else's--it comes up from his soul.

Simon Kirke is just superb and also seems to be getting better and better with age. The new addition (to Bad Co) on bass, Jaz Lochrie, makes me glad I have surround sound. He tears the place up! Dave Coldwell (Bucket) keeps that famous Bad Co. feel going.

The only drawback to the CD is you don't get to hear Wishing Well with Slash and Neal Schon joining in (on the DVD and not the CD) or Paul's acoustic Seagull. The new songs, Saving Grace and Joe Fabulous are also great. Another home run for Paul Rodgers and the boys, I'd say. Buy it. Then go buy the DVD.

Paul Rodgers is still the best rock singer in the world!!! With his deep R&B and blues roots and the addition of a great guitarist and accomplished Bass player, lets not forget the hard hitting drums of his childhood friend and original Free drummer Simon Kirke!!!!! He is one of the rock legends that still has a great set of pipes. Buy this album and especially buy "Muddy Water Blues" and "Now and Live" some older work from the nineties
that is incredible.

Original lead singer Paul Rodgers returns to Bad Company for the live-plus-one CD MERCHANTS OF COOL, and the results are fabulous. Even with Mick Ralphs gone, the group goes from strength to strength, covering their old hits with pure gusto, digging up the Free classic "All Right Now", and adding the impressive studio track "Joe Fabulous" for one heck of a hard rock album. If COMPANY OF STRANGERS suggested that the band did the right thing by getting rid of Brian Howe, this one proves it. In fact, I'd ask a cute girl for a dance to this one regardless of whether she fits that "little mold" that people think she should.