Customer Reviews

Live

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This recording is a one night sample of the hudreds of nights each year for the past 30 years plus that John Hammond pours his heart and soul into his vision of keeping pre-war blues alive. His renditions of songs that are 60 to 70 years old make them fresh and vibrant, full of raw emotion and to this author are the epitome of "Blues Power".

If you are new to John Hammond, don't be fooled by what you hear in this collection...there are not three or four musicians here, it is John-solo. He alternates between six-string, twelve-string, and throws in some searing slide on National steel guitars all the while blowing harp, stomping his foot, and singing like it will be his last chance ever to perform the music he adores.

If you are looking for the best live recording of country blues, get this. If you have ever had the chance to see John Hammond live, get this. If you ever do have a chance to see him live, do not miss it. It will be an experience a blues fan will never forget.

A few years after this CD was released, I was lucky enough to see John Hammond live from a second-row seat at a small theater outside of Chicago. That performance included many of the songs included on this CD, and this recording is faithful to what John delivers live: pure, raw, honest blues that, once heard, will inspire you to see him live. Once you see him live, the experience will stay with you for a lifetime.
All Hammond needs to mesmerize an audience is a guitar, a harmonica and his voice. For proof, listen to his incredible version of "One Kind Favor," which is my personal favorite on this release.

What a sad day when a CD of this caliber is over 46,000 on the Amazon sales list.

And how sad it is that I've spent most of the night already writing reviews for another website that I cannot give it the credit it is lengthily due.

Let me say this:

If you own any Leo Kottke, Robert Johnson, John Fahey etc. etc. and you don't own this... shame, shame, shame!This recording is one of the greatest LIVE fingerstyle acoustic blues CD's EVER recorded. Simple as that.

Buy it and tell me what you thought, Thank me later!

Peace.

These cd represent John live without a band,just his guitar,dobro and voice which he use's as an instrument.These are sitting on the front/back porch, train station blues.Covering all of the original blues artist Willie Dixon,Muddy Waters,Robert Johnson and playing true to their oringinal feel and adding his own sense of emotion to them.I just came back from seeing John live,had the distinct pleasure of meeting him and talking to him. He is a perfect gentleman and a genuine american artist who will be remembered along with John Lee Hooker,Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters and all of america's great blues artist.If you truly love real blues, not the fabricated stuff that fills the airwaves. Buy any John Hammond cd or Charlie Musselwhite cd. They are about the only true blues musicians left.

Fantastic,from the begining until the end...!!This cd will be ever under rated with only five stars.It's a superb album,what clarity,what emotional moments,and...what repertoire...Willie Dixon;Charlie Patton;Robert Johnson;Sleepy John Estes....Really
a primorous work!Those people who were at the theater that night, are rare lucky people.No more coments....only adrenaline
and i agree with the others reviewers...All of the bluesfans needs this album like few others.This is really BLUES,a MUST HAVE!! blues album!!! OHH!! GREAT!