Customer Reviews

Double Bill

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

 

 

"Double Bill" is an eclectic, but enjoyable collection of tunes that music fans should want to check out. Bill Wyman and the Rhythm Kings provides samplings of just about every musical style and song you can think of. It is a great CD to put on your computer at work or home while you go about your business. It also is wonderful that George Harrison makes a guest appearance on "Love Letters." His slide guitar bit was recorded in January, not long before his new bout with cancer began. That is one of many compelling reasons to purchase this.

When I sampled a few cuts on Amazon.com I was impressed by the musicanship. But having purchased the CD I'm a bit disappointed. As one reviewer here wrote, it is a good CD to have on while going about one's business. I agree. But for a Car CD or to listen to closely, I feel, while it has a high degreee of musical accoomplishment, there is a generic, studio-session-man slickness that keeps one distanced from the real essence of the music.

Furthermore, for me there are too many Georgie Fame bland vocals and too few Gary Brooker, Procol Harum vocals. I do like the female voices. I also confess a prejudice against what I would call 1940's jive music, the kind Brian Setzer plays. Therefore these selections are not as pleasing to me as the R and B and blues, and there are several of them.

So, good for a party or while otherwise engaged, but too seemless to be deeply engaging.

This is one of those cd's you keep playing over and over again, because there's so many great tunes to enjoy. Bill Wyman really has a great ear for rediscovering half-forgotten classics from the blues, swing and pop history. And of course it helps having the very best of Britain's studio musicians available who are clearly much enjoying themselves. The only reason it doesn't get my 5 stars is because Bill once again after 3 cd's of silence decided to start singing lead on a couple of songs. They are not the best songs of this album AND Bill as he well knows is no singer. Also, given the instrumental talent and the mostly jazzy renderings you would have hoped that the soloists would have been allowed a little more room to move. As it is, the instrumental solos are on the brief side and often a little tame. I hope for a 'live in concert'-album next, because that's where the steam really comes off! But with this many great songs on one album and this much talent to perform them, who's really complaining? Go on, order this one; you could do much, much worse.

This collection of old R&B, pop and early rock standards is more upbeat than any other RK release. Highly recommended if you love the other CDs and can't get enough. I thoroughly enjoy the Kings and listen to all their CDs regularly. As always, a find support cast and the kind of music you just can't find anymore.

Bill Wyman has assembled a lot of talent for this project including Albert Lee, Gary Booker, George Harrison, Martin Taylor and Wyman himself. Admitedly, at first blush, I thought there were two many Hooo! Hooo! Hooo's! for my taste, especially on the first two tracks--"Long Walk To DC" and "Hot Foot Blues". However, what I soon came to realize was that Wyman had successfully put together a rather ecclectic mix of various blues styles on one disc, stemming from Gospel to Swing and from the Delta to Chicago. If given a chance the CD will definitely grow on the listener although it will not necessarily make you want to get up and dance. On the other hand, the music is extremely polished and all performances are first rate.

At least I don't feel old listening to new Stones. This is not terrible but I would only buy it cheaply(no more than 5 dollars American for the double Cd). There is nothing original and it could be any nondescript bar band with limited talent.Daryl Jones of The Rolling Stones is a better bassist the Bill Wyman.Let Wyman sell food at his Sticky Fingers restaurant because this music just isn't that good.

Bill Wyman is doing a good job with his band The Rhythm Kings. Double Bill is the latest offering from Bill and company and it might just be the best. Pure entertainment is what the Rhythm Kings do best. Do yourself a favor and pick it up.