Customer Reviews

Live in England/and the Music Plays On

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

 

 

In recent years, many unjustly ignored LP's of yesteryear have quietly been reissued on CD at long last. Of all the "oldies" reissues I've tried lately, the sleeper of the bunch seems to be Del Shannon's "Live in England" (in 1973). I ordered this to sort of make up for the fact that I never got to see him live (he ended his life in early 1990). But NEVER did I expect it to be so UNBELIEVABLY GOOD!

Now, I don't much favor most live albums. For example, Rick Nelson's live recordings are sometimes not as good as his studio ones (although when I saw him in KC back in the late 1970s, he was very good indeed--a shame they never recorded THAT concert). Nelson's voice generally doesn't sound quite as focused on his live recordings. To digress a moment longer, The Kinks' two live albums from the 1980s are exceptional in this regard (the one from the 60s is just fair); they were excellent; the songs in the most recent one--digitally recorded--of the late 80s actually sound MUCH better than their studio-recorded counterparts. BUT--this 1973 performance by Del--at a time when he had generally faded into obscurity--is unbelievably GREAT! Not only are his performances--and the arrangements--of his old 60's classics infinitely superior to the original renditions, but his backup band is wonderful--something you wouldn't have necessarily expected for Del in 1973 in a foreign-country live show (but he always was best-loved in England, so I read). Just as crucial, the SOUND QUALITY is so pristine and dynamic that it seems to have been recorded digitally, yesterday! What a sleeper! NOW am I glad I went ahead and ordered it; I really had been a bit lukewarm about its prospects initially. This CD actually comprises TWO original LPs, but it's "Live in England" that's the big news here. This is on an English (imported) label. [America is apparently too stupid to properly value Del; hence, we don't reissue his less common LP's domestically, nor, arguably, did we ever appreciate him to the degree that we should have. I could voice the same complaint regarding Rick Nelson's early-sixties Decca LP's and Bobby Vee's Liberty LP's; the only way for us devotees to find many such American artists' albums on CD is by gratefully ordering ENGLISH imports!]

Before listening to this live-Del CD, I suggest you take a quick listen again to the original Big Top versions of his early hits. THEN play "Live in England" and hear how much more exciting his singing and the instrumental arrangements sound! No one who ever enjoyed the originals should be without this CD. It's as good as any live album I've ever heard. What a pleasant surprise for any fan of Del!

In recent years, many unjustly ignored LP's of yesteryear have quietly been reissued on CD at long last. Of all the "oldies" reissues I've tried lately, the sleeper of the bunch seems to be Del Shannon's "Live in England" (in 1973). I ordered this to sort of make up for the fact that I never got to see him live (he ended his life in early 1990). But NEVER did I expect it to be so UNBELIEVABLY GOOD!

Now, I don't much favor most live albums. For example, Rick Nelson's live recordings are sometimes not as good as his studio ones (although when I saw him in KC back in the late 1970s, he was very good indeed--a shame they never recorded THAT concert). Nelson's voice generally doesn't sound quite as focused on his live recordings. To digress a moment longer, The Kinks' two live albums from the 1980s are exceptional in this regard (the one from the 60s is just fair); they were excellent; the songs in the most recent one--digitally recorded--of the late 80s actually sound MUCH better than their studio-recorded counterparts. BUT--this 1973 performance by Del--at a time when he had generally faded into obscurity--is unbelievably GREAT! Not only are his performances--and the arrangements--of his old 60's classics infinitely superior to the original renditions, but his backup band is wonderful--something you wouldn't have necessarily expected for Del in 1973 in a foreign-country live show (but he always was best-loved in England, so I read). Just as crucial, the SOUND QUALITY is so pristine and dynamic that it seems to have been recorded digitally, yesterday! What a sleeper! NOW am I glad I went ahead and ordered it; I really had been a bit lukewarm about its prospects initially. This CD actually comprises TWO original LPs, but it's "Live in England" that's the big news here. This is on an English (imported) label. [America is apparently too stupid to properly value Del; hence, we don't reissue his less common LP's domestically, nor, arguably, did we ever appreciate him to the degree that we should have.]

Before listening to this, I suggest you take a quick listen again to the original versions of his early hits. THEN play "Live in England" and hear how much more exciting his singing and the instrumental arrangements sound! No one who ever enjoyed the originals should be without this CD. It's as good as any live album I've ever heard. What a pleasant surprise!

I bought the vinyl versions of both of these years ago and was stunned at how great the live album was. I had most of the tracks from "...And the Music Plays On" already on another Del Shannon CD. But, after reading the reviews and getting a great deal I couldn't resist.

It is wonderful to have both on one CD and mainly to have the live album on any CD! It is a joy to listen to and is just as exciting as the first time I heard it. If you have only heard the original studio versions you don't know what you are missing. I will never forget hearing Del's version of "Crying" the first time I played the LP and it still gives me chills. I also had never heard "The Swiss Maid" and loved it.

No wonder Jeff Lynne was such a huge fan of Del's. The live album made me much more of a Del Shannon fan. His vocals and the performances will grab you or touch you. It is truly a classic! When I bought it on vinyl many moons ago I got much more than I ever expected.

This Del Shannon album was originally recorded and produced by Andrew Loog Oldham in 1967. Somehow it was decided not to release the album - maybe they were having second-thoughts about releasing an album that souded so differently from what Shannon usually did in those days. Olham's style was very British, with many tracks pretty heavily orchestrated, which was unusual for Del Shannon. Though the song-writing is rather consistent, the original album probably also lacked one or two tracks that shone over the rest. No obvious hits - In fact, two of the best tracks on this release, "Raindrops" and "The Music Plays on" were from other sessions, and not produced by Oldham.

The title track produced by Dave Edmunds and recorded in 1974 along with the re-recording of "Runaway" are probably the only really memorable tracks.

As already mentioned, the rest of the songs are decent, but in most cases forgettable - and the overall pop-psych style is likely to sound dated to fans of Shannon's early and more easy-going style.

This CD-release also contains an interesting 14 songs live-perfomance by Shannon from a 1972 Manchester gig - one extra star for this addition.

but unlike my friend below, I start at cut 15 (the studio sides)!

There was a timeless special magic in the conjunction of the careers/styles of Del, producer A. Loog Oldham, and cognoscentis' songwriter Billy Nicholls, making this a real worthwhile find! --if you like late 60s Brit. intriguingly-produced beautifully harmonic/romantic but ultimately tragic crooning and emotion sharing.* My favourite are the Nicholls-penned, some unavailable in any other form, but not a weak cut is present...and oh yeah the live material is as homey below highlighted in 2000~

PS:
Another aspect reimpressed itself on me today in listening to 'Life Is But Nothing': Shannon quotes 2 hooks from pop songs by female artists of the 60s in this lost-love torcher--the french horn melody from J DeShannon's "Wishin' & Hopin'" and the Supremes ('my world is empty w/out you' line) if you must know--causing one to wonder, did they or didn't they?, betting they did/were or why else bother? ...

It's great discovering him, a tremendous romantic crooner and writer-interpreter beloved in England, who makes me proud to be an American !

*Del's specialty ever since his early # 1 lovelorn classic "I Go to Pieces" (aka Osiris's Song :))

This is the CD release of my 2nd favorite live album of all time, "Live In England"! If anyone ever asks you what Rock & Roll is, give them this CD! Del Shannon is the artist behind the classic "Runaway" and many other great hits. This CD can't fail to make you smile. Max Crook is the man on keyboard with the haunting sound and Del has the best falsetto since Frankie Valli! "And the Music Plays On" is produced by the man behind many Rolling Stones hits of the 60's. The title song is a hit that never was, and what an anthem. I love it! Treat yourselves, folks and buy this CD!

I've never heard the studio album, but I have "Live In England" on the original LP, and it is FANTASTIC. A great band featuring Del's right hand man Max Crook on the unique Positron (an early electronic keyboard heard on "Runaway" and "Hats Off To Larry", among others). Fell in love with "Kelly", a country cheatin'ballad I've never heard before. Plenty of Del's underrated rhythm guitar. He wouldn't have been out of place in the Wilburys (or the Hall of Fame). I will get this CD ASAP.