Live - October 26, 1992: The Olympia Theater, Paris France

Leon Redbone | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 23, 2005)
• Original Release Date: 2005
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Rounder / Umgd
• ASIN: B000A6T2MG
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #152,182 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #77 in Music > Jazz > Traditional Jazz & Ragtime > Ragtime

Track Listings

1. Sweet Mama, Papa’s Gettin’ Mad

2. Ain’t Misbehavin

3. She’s My Gal

4. Goodbye Charlie Blues

5. Up a Lazy River

6. Csardas

7. Polly Wolly Doodle

8. Please Don’t Talk About Me When I’m Gone

9. Waitin’ On You

10. Think of Me Thinking of You

11. Mabel,” “Sugar

12. Big Time Woman

13. Love Letters in the Sand

14. Piano Interlude

15. I’m Going Home

16. Diddy Wa Diddie

17. Play Gypsy Play

18. The Whistling Colonel

19. Gotta Shake That Thing

20. So Relax

Editorial Reviews

One of the most enigmatic and distinct interpreters of classic American song, Leon Redbone shines brightest in concert, where his wit and spontaneity breathes new life into his eclectic repertoire. Previously unrelased, Live at the Olympia features 21 songs, including such favorites as "Ain't Misbehavin'" and "Up a Lazy River." Recorded in concert in Paris in October of 1992 with a tight-knit supporting band.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Songs from the hit parades of yesteryear are timeless crowd-pleasers, October 25, 2005

By 

J. Ross "a-music_fan" (Roseburg, OR USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Live - October 26, 1992: The Olympia Theater, Paris France (Audio CD)

Playing Time - 70:59 -- Recorded live at the Olympia Theater in Paris, France on 10/26/92, Leon Redbone "Live" is a splendid treat for fans of the eccentric performer who presents music from the traditions of early jazz, blues, ragtime and folk. Appearing on the music scene in Toronto about 1970, Redbone built himself a strong cult following, and his stage persona is one of odd appearance but swinging music presented without much expression. Antics like the Woody Woodpecker theme make their way into "Ain't Misbehavin." While some of the words are a little hard to make out in a piece like "She's My Gal," Redbone shows he's got a knack for scat. He's also a phenomenal whistler ("The Whistling Colonel"), and that gets the appreciative crowd clapping along.

The album is well-packed with 71 minutes of music featuring twenty-one songs. He dishes up some memorable interpretations of "Polly Wolly Doodle," "Diddy Wah Diddy," "Sugar," "Up the Lazy River," and "Relax." Sadly missing are some of his best and campiess oldies like "Lulu's Back in Town," "Lazybones," as well as some favorites like "Champagne Charlie" that was featured on his 2-CD 1985 live album on the Greene-Stone label. Redbone has also been known to cover country (like "Lovesick Blues" or "Your Cheatin' Heart") and even Dylan ("Living the Blues"). Dylan, along with well-known musicians like Bonnie Raitt and Maria Muldaur, have been huge supporters of Redbone over the years. Of special note on this live project are the Hungarian "Csardas" and Irving Berlin's "Marie." In the former, though, liner notes are unclear as to who the guest female vocalist is.

Guitarist and vocalist Leon Redbone deserves to be remembered as much more than a novelty act. Although his distinctive visual image has been described as "part Groucho Marx, part Vaudeville entertainer," Redbone is an excellent musician from the true vine. This particular concert also includes Scott Black (cornet), David Boeddinghaus (piano), and Frank Vignola (guitar). The stellar quartet is tight, and their arrangements don't show any subtle missteps. A fun-filled "Shake That Thing" gets the band (and crowd) shouting out the response. The audience takes to old standards like "Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone," as well as quick paced romps through novelty numbers like "Waitin' on You" and "Big Time Woman." Leon already sings with a deep, gruff voice so my only complaint with this album is its fidelity and our inability to understand all the lyrics. There's no doubt that Redbone is an American treasure, and a generous live album is second best to seeing him live. He's no joke, and his repertoire of songs from the hit parades of yesteryear are timeless crowd-pleasers. (Joe Ross, Roseburg, OR.)

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Leon REALLY Live!, May 7, 2009

By 

Mr. Ken "Ken" (Rochester, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Live - The Olympia Theater, Paris France (MP3 Download)

I've followed Leon for many years but never have heard him live. This CD is great for all the reasons the other reviewer mentioned. The only fault is a less than perfect engineering of the recording. The fidelity is great, the ambience is crisp, but the placement and volume on the various players seems to "wander" a bit, but then maybe the players did. But the "faults" are minor and infrequent. If you want a studio recording ambience then you should stick with those.

Overall, I still give it a 5 star! It has the vitality of a live recording and it really shows in many of the cuts. It is a pleasant alternative to "sterile" studio recordings.

If you're a Leon fan, as I am, I can't see how you would have a problem with this.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Live CD!, February 24, 2007

By 

romanysoup (Drums, PA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Live - October 26, 1992: The Olympia Theater, Paris France (Audio CD)

Leon Redbone Live-Oct. 26,1992: The Olympia Theater, Paris...This is a great live CD for both longtime fans & those new to Mr.Redbone's music. A great introduction for anyone buying their first Leon Redbone work.
I've been a casual fan of Leon Rebone since seeing him perform as a musical guest a number of times on SNL during the 70's & 80's. I bought this CD for myself & then liked it so much, that I bought another copy as a gift to another fan in my family.