Live [Live]

Fabulous Thunderbirds | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 9, 2001)
• Original Release Date: 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Live
• Label: Sanctuary Records
• ASIN: B00005OW5Y
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #146,274 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars T-Birds "ALIVE", November 9, 2001

By 

Bergman Jonas (Sweden) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Live (Audio CD)

Kim Wilson is a true master bandleader, arranger and producer. He usually saves the more bluesy material to his "Blues Review" band while the more rock-oriented material gets airplay with this, the institution of blues-infused rock&roll. This is the first live album this ultimate live band has ever made and it also brings a lot of expectations. The material ranges from the rockier "Tough Enough" and "Wrap it up" to more straight blues in "Where were you" and T-Bone Walker's "Hustle is on". This concert was originally produced for a live web-cast and it shows in the strict discipline of the arrangements. The usual flair for improvisations are replaced by tightly orchestrated arrangements where every detail has been placed to receive the ultimate output. The side-effect to this is that it sounds slightly more rehearsed than a usual concert by this fabulous outfit. The backing consists of Kid Ramos, Gene Taylor, Stephen Hodges, Willie Campbell and background singers/organ/horns on some songs. As time constraints has been imposed it lacks that nth degree of fluidity that is so apparent on Kim Wilson's solo outing "Smokin Joint". Kim's wonderful harmonica playing is only heard on 3 songs and has been mixed down very low in the mix. Despite these shortcomings, this is a treat for all fans of the band and a welcome addition to the catalogue. The sheer power of the proceedings is evident and when the band rocks - they certainly rock! Kim's vocals, as always, amazes with that smooth but powerful delivery that never fails but comes out at best in the more bluesy material. There has been quite some time since the band was in the studio and it is overdue to hear this fantastic band in this setting, as the last year's studio efforts have been true studio experiments with studio musicians. This is a rocking tour-de-force that stands as an example of what a tight band this really is. I cannot see how the band members could be any better: Gene's barrelhouse piano, Kid's stinging guitar or Willie's steady basslines and they are definitely a band to catch live, especially since the catalogue of songs are so vast. I will look forward to the next outing and will put this one to my conclusive list of Fabulous Thunderbird recordings!
One interesting fact in regards to the current lineup of the T-Birds is that all current members used to play with James Harman, and can be heard in studio settings on "Extra Napkins" and "Mo Napkins" - absolute must-hears!!

11 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Sorry, but this is disppointing at best, June 16, 2002

By 

DrDanny "drdanny" (Sunnyvale, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Live (Audio CD)

I don't know what album the other reviewers are listening too, but it can't be the one I've got. I'm a HUGE Kim Wilson fan, I just love Kid Ramos to death, and the T-Birds have always been in high rotation in my house. But this? This is "Kim Wilson and the Contractual Commitments featuring Kid Ramos"

Seriously, if you want live Kim Wilson, get "Smoking Joint" if you want live T-Birds, get "Different Tacos" and any of Ramos' solo albums are way better than this. (And if you enjoy hearing Gene Taylor play 8-to-the-bar octaves, there's no hope for you, so buy this...)

I'm giving this 2 stars only because I like Wilson's voice, and Ramos does his usual crack job on most of it.
But T-Birds?!?? No way, man.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars T-Bird blast, November 6, 2003

By 

Mitchell Lopate (Adak, Alaska) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Live (Audio CD)

The California Geoseismic Institute must have sworn The Big Quake had hit LA when these guys hit the stage and let loose on "The Things I Used to Do." David "Kid" Ramos romps-there's no better word-on guitar behind the bulldozer drumwork of Steve Hodges, Willie Campbell's relentless bass, and Gene Taylor's cracking piano. However, it's Kim's love of singing that makes him the perfect lead vocalist: he can hold a phrase in his voice like Aretha Franklin until the dials jump on their own (check it out on the aforementioned "Things"), and there's that great baritone barrel chest to support it. Even better, when he grabs the harmonica and starts to pump, it literally buzzes like a giant barber's electric shears. Whooo, you can feel it right down to your shoes! This is what a house party should look and sound like.