Live [Live]

Elizabeth Cotten | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 20, 1998)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Live
• Label: Arhoolie Records
• ASIN: B00000DBTZ
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #246,166 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Elizabeth Cotten is an American treasure., August 9, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Live (Audio CD)

Elizabeth Cotten "Live!" is a must-have experience. Not only does she play and sing many of her best songs, but also she tells the most charming, evocative, and witty stories about her life and art. Her love, kindness, and superb intelligence just shine through. We are so lucky to have these recordings.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing and Gifted Woman!!!!, March 17, 2003

By 

Rose Natalie Grullon (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Live (Audio CD)

I'm not lying when I said that I weeped when I heard "Freight Train" the first time. Every song on this CD moved me as well as her lovely storytelling. This incredible woman was 85 when it was recorded and she sounds so hip and cool. Her guitar playing was very impressive and very ahead of its time. As a musician myself, I have learned a great deal about "Cotten Picking" and melodies. This album is a must have for Elizabeth fans and for people who have an interest in true blue acoustic music :)

10 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Sweet Woman with Great Guitar Playing but bad Voice, February 20, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Live (Audio CD)

Elisabeth Cotten picks the guitar beautifully, and the fact that she plays it left-handed with righthanded stringing (Albert King style) makes the melodies unusual and special. Her guitar technique is spotless.
Problem with the CD is her singing. At age 85, she really has no voice anymore and her singing distracts from the picking. Beautiful as her voice is during storytelling in between songs, she sort of ruins the songs when she sings, especially for high notes. Also she encourages the audience to sing along with the usual subpar stadium-chant-like mumbling as result.
If you look for the Carolina guitar picking tradition without singing, I recommend Etta Baker's album "Railroad Bill", wich is strictly instrumental and also has a beautiful banjo number.