Customer Reviews

Live in New Orleans

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

Heavy Nostalgia....

I remember when this came out like it was yesterday. My father had bought the cassette tape and played it nonstop the summer of 1981 in our tiny ass Ford Fairmont. I bought a cassette tape of this concert of my own in 1985 and finally wore this thing out about three years ago. I am ABSOLUTELY delighted that this concert has been released on CD and DVD. I bought the DVD last year and watching these songs being performed live simultaneously brought me home and taught me something new.

Frankie Beverly is an R&B songwriter of the highest caliber. This disc is chock full of classics, and the songs are performed with the highest degree of inspiration, passion, and musicianship. The 1970's (and this disc has that 70's feel) certainly was the high point for live performance of many kinds, and the easy rapport Beverly has with the audience is something that is sorely lacking in today's mass marketed, over-hyped, often stupid live shows (it's probably because the "musicianship" of contemporary artists is so pathetic).

An absolute classic, well worth the money, and simply excellent. Thank goodness they had the sense to record themselves in their prime. They all look so young! And that suit Frankie has on!

Alright, now that I've praised this CD to the rafters, let me whine about the fact that this CD is an "abridged version of the album." What is UP with THAT? Frankie, you need to fix that ASAP. Don't edit out the MC, don't edit out the crowd noise, leave in the ENTIRE original, please. It's what made the experience of the first time so grand. I have no problem whatsoever paying for an extra CD--this should have been a two CD press to begin with.

I agree with the other writers that this is an excellent album by Maze.But I was also upset that they abridged the C.D. issue of this classic.They cut the INTRO,they cut the song YOU,and they cut one of my favorite songs on the album HAPPY FEELINGS.I wish they would put the album on C.D.the way it was originally released,UNABRIDGED!!!Because when Earth,Wind and Fire and The Commodores put their albums on C.D.'s they didn't cut them!!!So if they correct this problem,let me know I'll be the first to buy a copy!

I THINK IN HONOR OF THE 30th ANNIVERSARY. THEY SHOULD RE-ISSUE THIS CD IN IT`S ORIGINAL ALBUM FORMAT (2-CDS & EXTEND FORM DVD), WITH PROCEEDS GOING TO A RELIEF FUND IN NEW ORLEANS. TO ME THIS IS THE BEST LIVE R & B PERFORMENCE EVER.

I first discovered Maze in 1981 while I was on my way to college in Louisiana. My cousin gave me a tape to listen to while I drove. I was hooked by their smooth R&B style and inspirational lyrics. Then during my first semester in college, they performed at our homecoming. Their musical style is almost like a spiritual awakening. It's so nice to listen to them anytime and I don't have to worry about offensive language. They are simply timeless and universal. When I finally meet my future husband, we will dance to Frankie Beverly & Maze.

Maze is probably the greatest band that the masses in America still don't know about, in spite of their unbelieveable staying power of over 23 years! To me, "Live in New Orleans" is a Frankie Beverly classic, that even has a leg up on Earth, Wind & Fire's "Gratitude", as far as great live albums go. The CD is disappointing only in that it cheats us out of a couple of songs and affects the real flow of Maze's performance. I've seen Frankie and the fellas in person about 7 or 8 times in L.A., and no matter what type of music dominates the air waves, their style and sound still bring out the best in live audiences. The rappers and hip-hoppers can only sit back, scratch their heads and wonder how Frankie can keep cranking out the same songs from back in the day and still turn out a live stadium. It's quite simple...they are for real, and they are sincere musicians who take their craft seriously. Their musical excellence is further evidenced by the fact that several of the Maze band members, like Ron Smith, Wayne Linsey, & Michael White, have done some great jazz recordings over the years too. There's still nothing better than hearing the "Live in New Orleans" versions of "Joy & Pain", "Feel That You're Feeling" and "The Look in Your Eyes". I recommend this CD to anyone who still enjoys fresh R & B, the way it ought to be!

Several songs missing on the CD. I own the orginal cassette tape and the tape is better more live songs and several regular recordings.

I have heard this album in its original state on the LP/Vinyl version when it came out in 1981, and might I say, that was one of the best Maze albums of all time. What I cannot believe is that some of the songs that were on the album are not on neither the CD or the MP3 version. I was getting ready to download this classic album onto my i-Pod when I discovered that the "Introduction" and a couple of other songs that were present on the LP/Vinyl version were missing from the CD/MP3 version.

For this reason, I decided against downloading it to my i-Pod. What Frankie Beverly needs to do is re-release CD, and make it so that it is EXACTLY like the original album. If and when he does that, then I'll consider buying the CD then (and then uploading it to my i-Pod).

What a shame Frankie...... You really messed up a REALLY great album.

What a shame.

This is the BEST live album I have ever heard - I got the vinyl double album years ago and still have it in my collection (I thank the posters who honestly state that the cd is edited and therefore not one that I'd add to my collection).

Frankie Beverly is one of the most underrated singer/songwriter/ performers ever in my book and even though he is pushing 60 yrs of age, he still puts on a better show than the slew of tween & twenty-something r&b male singers of today's generation. The band is TIGHT and whenever they perform in Philly, I am there with bells on!!

The great thing about this group & this album is the rapport that Frankie has with the crowd; the call & response portions where he lets the audience "sing" in his place and truly the energy that I as a listener can hear & feel just listening to this album.

I'm sure fans of this dynamic group already have this album in their collection and although I'm disappointed that the cd wasn't mastered directly from the album version, "newbies" still can't go wrong in adding it to their collection. This group really is the platinum standard of what an r&b band should be!!

Please re-release this cd unabridged.....I just heard the song "you" and nearly lost my mind because it sounded so good. I'm hoping in the very near future I can obtain this cd in it's original format as it would be worth every penny.

I searched high and low for this album and when i finally received it i felt very cheated becaused there are several songs that are not on this project that are on the original. this is probably no big deal to the average listener but to someone like myself this is a serious problem. if anyone has or knows where i can find the album with all of the original songs please let me know. krysmith31@yahoo.com