Live the Life [Live]

Otis Spann | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 16, 2008)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Live
• Label: Testament
• ASIN: B000003ORE
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #262,203 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Rare Live Recording Of Otis Spann, January 30, 2003

By 

Adamtron (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Live the Life (Audio CD)

This is actually a live recording, which makes it rare and unique. The sound quality is a little sketchy at the start of the CD, but something happens around the 3rd or 4th song and it seems fine from there. You have to keep in mind that this was recorded in the 60's. There is a killer version of Tin Pan Alley and Five Long Years on this CD that I think make it worth the purchase. But be aware that Muddy Waters and his band take over the 2nd half of the CD and then Otis ends up in the position of backup piano player. If you want Otis at his best, I would recommend Walkin' The Blues (the sound quality is excellent and has a few piano solo numbers), Bottom Of The Blues, and Best Of Vangaurd Years.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Some good stuff, but this one is mostly for the dedicated, December 12, 2004

By 

Docendo Discimus (Vita scholae) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Live the Life (Audio CD)

There is a lot of good stuff here, but the live portion of "Live The Life" in particular is plagued by some very mediocre fidelity.
It's not unbearable, not at all, but it does detract from the music, and there are a handful of pretty forgettable numbers here as well.

Still, serious Otis Spann-worshippers (and/or Muddy Waters-fans) will certainly want this disc in their collection. The seven live recordings which feature Otis Spann as part of the Muddy Waters Blues Band are the most interesting...Spann duets with Muddy on a six-minute "I Wanna Go Home", and sings two more numbers, including a soulful "Tin Pan Alley". And Muddy Waters himself performs the only live rendition of "I Live The Life I Love" that I'm aware of, as well as a great "Can't Lose What You Ain't Never Had".
Two good solo performances are next, and the final two songs find Spann backing Johnny Young on the acoustic "Mean Old Train" and harpist Slim Willis on a swaggering "My Baby Left Me".

Otis Spann's finest musical legacy remains his work with the Muddy Waters Band, and the LPs "Otis Spann Is The Blues", "Walking The Blues", and "The Blues Never Die", and there is certainly better live Muddy Waters available as well. But serious fans will want this one as well.