Customer Reviews

Here's Your Pizza

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

 

 

One of the best live CDs I ever heard. Recorded at a Florida beach club, Pizza delivers a rollicking atmosphere and terrific tunes. Forbert covers everyone from Robert Johnson to Jimmy Rodgers, adds a few of his inimitable originals, and finishes up with a not-to-be-missed version of "Sweet Pea." Outstanding from beginning to end, and highly recommended.

I just finished listening to this for the first time, and I decided to check out Amazon to see what people were saying about it. I'm not surprized to see that reviews are going from outstanding to lukewarm. If you're new to Steve's music, my advice is: don't start here. I've been a fan from the beginning, and I agree with the reviewers of most of his records here on Amazon, the guy is really an underappreciated talent. The better way to find that out is on his studio albums. I rated it with a 3 because (1) Amazon required me to give a rating, and (2) I feel that how much you'll appreciate it really will depend on how familiar you are with his music. As the liner notes say; "So here we were- singing for a small crowd that stood so far away we couldn't see their their faces clearly, so-not worrying about it-playing pretty much for ourselves, ...(we) decided to get a tape machine rolling." For guys like me that have continued to listen to his albums off and on for years this is a nice treat. It's almost like catching him live, except you can be Bar-B-Qing on the porch while you,listen. For someone not familiar with his music or looking for the production quality of his studio stuff, this would be a disappointment. Note: the last two songs are not listed on the CD, but are listed here at Amazon, except the next to the last track is "If You're Waiting On Me", not "I'm Backing Up, Boys".

I have been a fan of Steve F. for almost 25 years, and I am at a loss to understand the other two reviews raving about this CD-- I sold mine back. While Forbert is Forbert and is never awful, this is certainly NOT his best; missing the fine tuning and details of studio albums, and some weak selections
Pass and go on to other things.

If you've never seen Lil' Stevie 'Orbit live, then you can purchase this CD and experience the sound at least. I would definitely go see him in person if he comes close to you. I fell in love with his voice at first listen and we've been having this affair ever since.

From what I gather from the jacket information and this page, this album was recorded in front of a very small crowd - but the setting only seemed to turn up Steve and the band to put a lot of energy and creativity into their performances. The production values are horrible. It sounds like it was recorded on a handheld dictaphone in a pillow - but the music is great. As you can see from the 'set list' - there are a lot of covers here, but the covers seem to have been put out with more gusto than the original works. My favorites are "His Was The Sound" (a Valens tribute) and "Sweet Pea" (a redemption of an otherwise silly little pop song). This might be a must for the Forbert fan; beginners would be better off with the "Be Here Now" live album.

I just saw Mr. Forbert live for the first time Friday night, 3/3/06, at the Kent Stage in Kent, Ohio. Sharing a bill with Chris Smither.
Now that's a two-fer made in heaven.
Bought this CD after the show because i was so impressed with Mr. Forbert. i had read all the hype, career swings, etc. about him, but, folks, i'll tell you, he's the real deal. i watched him prior to the show, methodically setting up his mikes, organizing his equipment...but when he performs, he changes into a soulful, twisting, writhing, emotional artist who puts everything he's got into his songs. You can tell these are pieces of his heart and life that he's sharing.
He sets up his vocal mike so he sings UP into it, an interesting
effect.
Steve performed after Mr. Smither - some folks actually walked out after a couple of Mr. Forbert's tunes - his style is a bit different than Smither's. But after a few more tunes, i was hooked on Mr. Forbert's music and i became a fan.
This CD, recorded live - 2 electric guitars, bass, and drums is done very well, tasteful lead licks ornamenting the tunes. Some clever cover tunes pepper the set of Mr. Forbert's original tunes. This band does a great job of supporting Forbert's tunes and rocks a little on the side. You can tell Steve is having fun during this performance. However, i was very impressed with his ability to capture my devotion just performing solo with acoustic guitar, in fact, i forgot to ask him the model # of the old Gibson six string he played when i got a chance to speak to him after the show.
Listen to the last two cuts on this Pizza recording, hidden tracks, #15 and #16 which are quieter renditions of his tunes to see if that's the way you like to hear his work. It is for me.
For just solo acoustic recordings of Steve Forbert, go to his website; there's at least two there. i think that's the best way to appreciate the quality in his music. you know the record labels in his past over-produced many of his studio recordings with unnecessary instrumentation, which, i feel, subtracted from the message and character of his tunes. One must LISTEN carefully to hear the wry subtleties of his lyrics. He's no slouch on acoustic guitar, either, no matter how often he says he's not that good.
Go see this GEM of a performer. i'm glad i did. He is by no means over the hill. Catch him while he's still ascending.

This is simply the best live recording I have heard this decade (90s) and one of the top ten of all time.