Customer Reviews

Live

5 star:		(30)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The year is 1978, and it is ten minutes before I have to be
in senior year high school home room. I am out in the school
parking lot in my lemon yellow Cutlass, listening to music.
I'm listening to Frank Marino and Mahogany Rush Live. My best
friend Trace is next to me in his jeep, blasting out the same
cassette. Across the parking lot, Billy L. is also playing this
cassette at top volume. In my high school class, in my social
circle, this was THE album to own. We had all gone to see

Aerosmith that year and Mahogany Rush opened for them and blew them, and us, away. Aerosmith seemed so stale and formulaic after we had seen Mahogany Rush almost tear the roof off the
auditorium. They were just amazing, so exciting and fast and loud and hard, savage, and cool. So then about ten of us went out the next day and bought this cassette and listened to it
constantly. The music here is just awesome, starting with a
blistering The Answer (which has a guitar solo that should make

Eddie Van Halen weep) and finishing with an astonishing version
of Purple Haze. I got to see Mahogany Rush a few more times in concert and they were always great. They always embarassed the
headliners. I saw them open for Nazareth and after Mahogany Rush,
Nazareth basically put me to sleep. After seeing Marino stalk the stage, Nazareth just seemed so tame and timid. So, when I
listen to this CD, it just always brings back so many memories of being young, sitting or standing in a hot, crowded auditorium
with my friends, watching Marino work out on his guitar as
Jim Ayoub played his drums as hard and fast as he could. Purple
laser lights pierce the clouds of pot smoke that envelope us, and
damn, we didn't even know at the time that we were having the
time of our lives. Now I'm a middle aged workaholic father of two
and experiences like that are probably behind me for good. But,
I can still listen to this CD and snatch a little of that feeling
back again.

This is an amazing live set from Frank Marino. He combines epic scorch, hot lava fluidity, and extreme speed into an intoxicating package. The highlights are numerous. Marino burns through a bevy of styles. Propulsive rock ("The Answer", "A New Rock & Roll), cool funk ("Dragonfly") searing blues ("I'm A King Bee/Back Door Man") majestic prog-rock ("World Anthem") psychadelic whammy-bar abuse ("Electric Reflections Of War"), and a high-tech rendering of "Who Do You Love" where Marino unleashes an avalanche of notes over the venerable Bo Diddley beat. A strong version of Hendrix's "Purple Haze" closes out the set. Marino is a great guitarist who is underappreciated. Not only is he a stunning technician, he is a master of a variety of styles. What separates Marino from most of the shredders who followed him is his mastery blues and jazz. Compared to the shredders who would come to dominate rock in the 80's, he is a paragon of musical eclecticism.

Few live albums by any band / guitarist can match this live recording for conviction and blistering raw guitar sound. From start to finish it captures one of the most monsterous sounding arena rock bands, that routinely embarrassed the big name headliner acts they often opened for in the 70's and 80's. From the opening firecrackers going off and the deep "Ladies and Gentlemen.....and Frank tearing into "The Answer", this album screams guitar god! Dragonfly almost brings tears to my eyes every time I hear it, and there may not be a heavier and more wilder medley as Talkin bout' a Feeling / Electric Reflections. Frank cooks on old cover tunes "I'm a King Bee" and "Jonny B. Goode" and closes with a incredible rendition of Jimi's Purple Haze. Frank Marino is a amazing guitar talent, and if you like rip roaring, guitar oriented rock and roll....this disc just may be the end all.

In 1977 I saw Frank and Mahogony Rush open for some bigger acts and after his set they didn't have a chance. Blue Collar rock and roll at its best! I remember just being transfixed as he ripped through Purple Haze. Frank didn't need any cosmetic things, such as fancy sets, elaborate light shows, or flashy uniforms to really get the crowd into it. Nope, Frank just made sure his axe was in tune and then would let you have it. In fact I recall that the show was supposed to start at 7:00 PM, I had arrived thirty minutes early, and I'm glad I did because he started just minutes after I entered the arena. The place was only about half full as people were still walking in;
yet it didn't seem to bother or detract from his performance in any manner. I knew I was watching a Pro who knew what he was doing and was doing it for the "right" reasons. How often do you go to a show these days and get floored by anyone? This record will satisfy those people who like no nonsense rock and roll played extremely well without any "fluff." I hope that there are still quite a number of people like that out there. If the "1977" version of Frank Marino were playing "live" today there is not one act or person who could "honestly" claim to belong on the same stage. Put this on and imagine yourself or anybody else having to top it. It's just another solid and honest effort turned in by one of America's best guitarists. That's all Frank ever seemed to give you and I wish that more "artists" still could or would deliver the same thing.

I first picked up this album when I was a young teen. What first pirked my interest (shamefully so) was the album cover and it mentioned the radio station in my city at the time on the back cover. Man am I glad I did pick it up! I think that this live album is one of the top live hard rock albums of all time along with Ted Nugent Double Live Gonzo. I recommend this album to any and all head bangers who want to know how it was done in the seventies with feeling!!!

I first heard "Live" in 1979 and was immediately blown away by Frank's zen-like performance. This band is like Robin Trower on speed--gutsy solos, tight arrangements, and unadulterated hard R & B.

I saw Frank Marino & Mahogony Rush live in El Paso, Texas in 1978. I did not expect much becasue I never heard any of their albums before, but had saw this album in a records store and thought Mahogony Rush was an odd name for a band. The were playing with Rick Derringer and blew him totally out of the building. They played this album from start to finish. Wow what a concert experience. Only Black Sabbath (with Ozzie in 1979) and Page and Plant's Walking Into Clarksdale Tour match it for in live performances that I have been a witness too. This album is awesome from start to finish.

This album is one of the 10 greatest rock and roll live albums of all time.....period.

Another guitarist picking up the torch from Jimi Hendrix (along with Robin Trower and countless others), Marino weaves classic guitar riffage in and among some of the best (and possibly funkiest) rock of the era.

The whole thing starts off with the best one-two punch on record, "The Answer" a BIG power trio (although I think that his brother plays uncredited rhythm guitar) punch in the gut that "announces his presence with authority".

Then comes "Dragonfly". This song is a slower funk based tune that surely has been overlooked by the hip hop community, for it could easily be rapped over due to it's sly, pulsing funk groove.

These two song should be heard in sequence to get the full amazing effect.

From there he moves to more traditional blues tunes, but still manages to either funkify or just out jam the originals.

I haven't heard "Johnny B. Goode" played with such enthusiasm since, "Johnny Winter And" did it a 8 years earlier.

This disc just makes the listener wish that they were at the show, which pretty much sums up why I'd want to buy a live disc in the first place.

If you are a fan of rock guitarists, and don't have it, get it.

This is most definitely, a must have.

Frank didn't (or wouldn't) fit into the sterile corporate mold that dictated who and what was played on the radio. This live recording still burns to this day. Rock, Jazz, Blues, Funk. He covered it all. The live interaction between Jimmy, Paul, and Frank was unbelievable. Just ask Ted Nugent.

8-track,caset.album. Now with the advant of cd's. The time is right,and the price ain't to tight. Here is what we need now. Not only is this greatest live album ever.(tight even with Johnny Winter and /LIVE) Here is the only way to improve on Frank Marino & Mahogany Rush Live. How about this, just an idea. tell me what do you thing about. "FRANK MARINO & MAHOGANY RUSH LIVE; THE COMPLETE CONCERT". Maybe? Anyway I love this one with all my heart. I hope you will to.