Customer Reviews

Live From Across the Pond

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This isn't a review of the album, it's a review of Ted Drozdowski's (?) editorial review. I just heard Cray open for Clapton in Dallas a few nights ago. I didn't hear Cray downplaying his "incendiary" guitar abilities on stage, either in this album or the recent concert, as Drozdowski contends. B.B.King says he plays in "sentences." Cray is similar--but with longer, more complex sentences. Still, though, sentences. The contrast was startling when Clapton came out and played his melodic paragraphs. Neither is better. They're the unique voice of the respective artist. Cray is so smooth that the transition from vocal to guitar solo is seamless. He's always "incendiary," but it's often a slow burn.
Oh, and BTW, Cray doesn't have a "whammy bar." He plays a Strat with a hard-tail bridge (i.e., no tremelo).

Prior to the release of Robert Cray's breakout recording, "Strong Persuader," I happened to listen and record off the radio a live broadcast of the 1982 Long Beach Blues Festival among whose highlights was a young Robert Cray. One could hear a definite Albert Collins influence even if Cray's guitar playing didn't quite have Collins' fretful sound. Yet Cray's serpentine guitar playing had its own charms. Over two decades later, Cray remains one of the few blues acts to break through and reach a pop audience in that period. After many studio albums, Cray and his Band has just issued "Live From Across the Pond" from shows at Royal Albert Hall where he was opening for Eric Clapton. He perhaps has left behind the Jesse Fortune number "Too Many Cooks," but still performs "Phone Booth," and several songs from "Strong Persuader," including "Right Next Door (Because of Me)," "I Guess I Showed Her" and "Bad Influence," along with other numbers that he has added over the intervening years such as "Poor Johnny," and his anti-Iraq War number "Twenty" from his recent studio recordings. Perhaps because of his success, Cray has been criticized by some for the clean sound. Some would accuse his music of being antiseptic, although the performances here belie that claim as Cray does invest quite some passion into his performances. Cray's clean, urbane delivery of songs and his guitar playing should be viewed as more of style than relating to the substance of his performances. This music comes off much more successfully than the heavy metal sound of some blues rockers and comes off as a nice summing up of what he has meant musically for over two decades. A very nice release that will please his fans and even some who have shied away from his more recent work.
A footnote to the above review i my 4 stars should be viewed as a conservative rating (after all Amazon does not allow half stars) and not reflecting anything about this disc.

This is a very good double live album well worth the purchase. If you have all the other cds this one will be played just as much. It is a little different in sound to the originals beceause its live making it sort of different. Most live albums are played a couple of times and thats it but this one is different and you will keep playing it. Not a waste of money at all.

I bought this cd for my husband and he generally doesn't like live albums, however he loves this one and has really enjoyed. We both really like Robert Cray and this is a great album.

I had been eagerly awaiting a Robert Cray live disc when this beauty popped out at me at a Border's store. To be honest, at first I was disappointed. The first track 'Phone Booth' had the kinda funk groove that put the original studio version to shame. But after that, I struggled with the rest of the recording.

Thank heavens I stuck with the two disc set. This is the Cray lineup at its best live.

Throw away 'I Was Warned' as too noisy and 'Back Door Slam' as uninspired. But, the rest of the album shows a working band on the road giving its all opening for Clapton at the cavernous Royal Albert Hall.

I'm a fan of Robert Cray's from the earliest days (yes, I'm that old <g>). His shows don't have the same energy they did years ago, but hey we all age. If you are a fan, you probably already have this, but if you're on the fence, I wouldn't call it a "must have." But it you are someone who is adding Cray to your library for the first time, this would be a good choice. Because it covers the spectrum of his career and allows you to hear what it's like when you see him live. My only criticism of this recording is with regard to the drums. The sound of the cymbals on the overhead mics is really annoying. Every time they are hit, all I can hear is the doppler effect swishing and it's very distracting. Either these mics should have been set further back into the mix, or the original sound guy should have positioned these mics higher up. When I listen at a low volume, the sound is tolerable. But when I turn it up, I can usually only listen for 3 or 4 songs before those cymbals drive me nuts. But I have more sensitive ears than most folks and I'm probably in a tiny minority of folks who will notice this. But I had to mention it, because for this big fan it really does ruin the show!

Ted Drozdowski in the Amazon.com Editorial Review above says, "Overall, this set will please Cray's die-hard fans, but is unlikely to lure new listeners." Well, my colleague just gave me this CD to listen to as she was appalled that as a long-time lover of the blues that I had never heard Cray before. Sorry, Ted, I have to say this set both lured and hooked this new listener. I'm thoroughly grooving to this excellent live concert and superb artist--great to chill to in a dark quiet room or rock out to while driving. --Jonathan Sherman

Live from Across the Pond Typically not a huge fan of live CD's, this seems to be very well engineered. A good mix of driving beats, great song writing with soulful ballads. I'm a true fan of Robert Cray's BB King inspired style. Continues to become more soulful at his craft. I don't think you'll be disappointed. Highly Recommend.

I was fortunate to have seen Robert Cray's band live about 18 years ago give o take and still sounds as good if not better with age Recommended .

I saw Robert Cray on this tour and have seen him more than 10 times. We just him opening for Clapton last month. Sadly, his live shows get duller every year. He seems to be stuck playing these mid-tempo songs from his playbook that just aren't that interesting. Phone Booth and Our Last Time are slowed down to the point where they have lost whatever charm they once possesed. Songs such as Bouncin Back, Consequences, Picture of a Broken Heart, or Survivor would have made a much stronger playlist.

There are some bright lights on this album: I Was Warned and Time Makes Two are riveting and intense. It is time for Cray to get some new collaborators as he and his longtime band have settled into a deep and somnambulent rut.


There are many better ways to enjoy Cray's music than this. I strongly recommend Strong Persuader and I Was Warned as the best ways into his songbook.