Customer Reviews

Eighty Eight

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is, perhaps, the greatest live recording ever from one of the greatest, most underated bands in the world. Ever since I saw them live in the early 90's, I have been a 77's fanatic. Words cannot describe their musical genius and unique sound. To listen to "Mercy Mercy" alone is worth the price of this CD. The way they intertwine the classics of rock into their own tunes (live) is a joy to hear. The first time you experience it is remarkable. If only I could go back and hear this disc again for the first time and rediscover it's magic. Get this...and all the other discs by this band before they aren't available anymore. Pay any price. It's worth it.

This special album exemplifies all things that live recordings should be--energetic, surprising, and passionate. Rather than just reviewing their catalog, Michael Roe and company took this opportunity to introduce fans to unreleased material and deliver powerful new arrangements to some of their classics. Initially intended as a follow up to their legendary Island release, 88 shows how much better a band can be in front of an enthusiastic audience than in the fanciest of studios or with the highest paid producers.

A great live album, containing some of the best old 77s material compiled into one jam CD. This album is garage/blues rock at its finest. Songs like 'I Can't Get Over It' and 'The Lust the Flesh the Eyes and the Pride of Life' make my top playlist still. For a CD made in a chaotic time in 77s history (just after the collapse of Island Records), they hold their own very well. With three 12 minute jam songs, 77 minutes of tightly packed material, and lots of shredding guitar solos, 88 is truly a masterpiece.

This is one of the best live recordings available by any band in any genre. "Roadhouse blues" serves as a good general description of the music on "88", but it's infinitely more than that. The Seventy Sevens start from a blues foundation that blossoms into catchy, captivating tunes performed with the kind of passion, integrity and virtuosity that makes one ask, "How come they never hit it big?" "88" will knock your sox off. Buy it!

It's hard to put in words the emotion and passion that this Album evokes. I find myself singing along to every song and soaking up Mike Roe's lyrical poetry. Seeing the Sevens in concert is an event to behold and this release captures the feel rather effectively.

If you have ever heard of the Seventy Sevens, this is the best CD to start with. Before this, they were a growing young band, and after this they have moved simultaneously in multiple directions. 88 is a great foundation for a 77's collection. (Which after listening to it, you'll want to build!)

I had known of the Seventy Sevens since my dad met Mike Roe while mastering his album at Ralph Stover's studio. He told me they were a prog band, and finding their EP and Mike Roe's 7&7iS album at a flea market confirmed this. A few months later, at the same flea market, i found 88. I had no idea the 77's were a blues band, and was surprised by their fantastic guitar work on the album-because their EP lacks complex lead guitar work. All in all, a five star album.

Every reviewer here gave this Live album by The 77's five stars, and praised it to high heaven. They're right folks, this is one memorable album, just excellent in every way possible. Passionate, creative, energetic, with excellent audio quality. The musicianship and singing of Mike Roe and the rest of the band is way up there. The style of music? Hard rockin' blues. Classic American music, all the way. This is my favorite album in the enire catalog of The 77's. I feel it has more stylistic consistency and unity than their other releases; the band smokes throughout. It's just a shame that an album this good is heard by so few. (I first got into The 77's after seeing them at the Cornerstone festival in the Chicago IL area over two decades ago.)

I have all the 77's' releases, and I've seen them twice in concert already. This album captures the spirit of their live performances. Mike Roe and company do a spectacular job with all the tracks on this one, especially "Mercy Mercy" (a whopping 11 minutes long!). This is live blues-rock at its finest! I can't wait for their next release!

one of the very best live cd's i've ever heard.A very underated band that should be more well known.One of my favorite cd's ever.