The Last of the Best [Live]

Paul DeLay, David Vest | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 12, 2007)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Live
• Label: Criminal Records
• ASIN: B000QUTS1Q
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #82,905 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Good Thing

2. Trouble No More

3. Look What You've Done

4. Brave Woman

5. Life Is Just a Struggle

6. Life's Highway

7. All Cried Out

8. Come Down

9. You Got Me So Bad, Baby

10. Could We Just Shoot Your Husband

11. Can't Stand Your Evil Ways

12. Lost in a Dream

13. Asked for Water (She Gave Me Gasoline)

14. You'll Be Mine

15. Try Not to Kill Me

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wow!, June 18, 2007

By 

Joe Martin - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Last of the Best (Audio CD)

I will be the first to admit I am not a big fan of live recordings.
More often than not, the live stuff can not match up with the studio stuff.
And this is the first time I have ever posted anything on something I have bought from Amazon.
Do have to add my order showed up about a week before I expcted it. (Which is a whole lot better than some of the other sites I have orderd from).

But back to why we are here, this CD will take your breath way.....Really!
If you like Blues, this CD is a must have.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A glimpse of the uncrowned king's genius...., September 4, 2007

By 

Mike (Ewe-tah) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Last of the Best (Audio CD)

I often said that Paul Delay's music was under appreciated in his lifetime, and that like many greats, his genius would only be widely realized when he is gone.

Unfortunately, that time has come much too soon. I was present at 2 of the shows these tracks come from, and was fortunate enough to see the Paul Delay Band live countless times while living in the northwest, including them playing a private function for my friends and family.

These performances give you just a sliver of the real live experience, just a glimpse of the man Paul was. The band is as cohesive as ever, and as much as I missed the last iteration of the Paul Delay band (heard on Heavy Rotation), this mix might just be better. Peter Damann delivers tasty work whether or not the spotlight is on him as he always has. David Vest brings something a little Dylan-esque to the mix along with his killer piano work. Dave Kahl provides the heartbeat, and drummer Jeff Minnick is exactly what he needs to be with the stellar performers up front - steady and unobtrusive. These guys are a band, not a star (or two) and a backup ensemble.

When Paul apologizes for "All Cried Out" being "...not a nice song" you get just a hint of what a character he was and his power for making the audience smile. In all the times I saw Paul and the band live he never failed to charm the audience, and he never failed to be gracious and kind to everyone he spoke to, his bigger than life stage presence giving way to a soft spoken gentleman who was genuinely interested in talking with his fans.

There are great covers on this CD, and some of the original work that showcases Paul Delay as a lyricist, not just a guy coaxing incredible sounds out of a harmonica. Paul and the band played traditional blues and they played their own brand of the blues- tinged with jazz and other musical influences, and the result is as unmistakable as Paul's harmonica work. Argue the merits of "traditional" blues all you want- but there is no argument that Delay was a pioneer in many senses.

One has to wonder if in some sense Paul wasn't taken early because he got a second chance in life - or if the causes of him needing a second chance didn't have something to do with his death. Regardless, this CD serves as the best available snapshot of Paul live- the power he had to bring joy or pain to the stage, the ability to twist your stomach into knots and then bring you a laugh. It doesn't replace being there in person, but snapshots never do.

RIP Paul.

Also check out The Other One, Paulzilla!, Take it from the Turnaround (which includes Paulzilla and The Other One), Ocean of Tears, Nice & Strong, Delay does Chicago (panned by some but it contains some gems), and Heavy Rotation - all should be available on CD. Also check out David Vest's Way Down Here and Serves Me Right to Shuffle - both contain Paul's amazing harmonica work and backing vocals. Listen for Paul's fills you young musicians, and how he plays off the lead, he was masterful.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Paul DeLay "Last of the Best", February 20, 2009

By 

olecat (nor cal) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Last of the Best (Audio CD)

I only had the priviledge of seeing Paul Delay live once, but this cd seems to capture the spirit of his performance well. It's not as polished as his studio albums and his harp playing may not be as flashy but DeLay on a bad day was still better than 90% of todays harp players.The band rocks and it's definitely a must have for DeLay fans.