Customer Reviews

Live And Uncensored / Live And Outrageous

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Having discovered this recording on its original vinyl release 23 years ago, one must say that it still holds up even in today's ever changing climate of music. Now that I have replaced all her recordings on CD it is high time one of her more ardent fans speaks up about her great work.

Millie is raunch and soul. No one has ever come close to her caliber, not even Madonna with all her outrageousness.

Millie's vocals can careen softly around ballads,wrenching tears from one's eyes, to literally firing up the passion of those who have endured a love gone wrong. Her banter between the songs simply elevate her talent beyond being a mere singer. She is a down home love doctor in her own right. Her humorous anecdotes simply resonate with people from all backgrounds because at one time or another we have all been in situations that she so poignantly describes.

If one wanted to discover this brilliant artist, this is the CD that I point them to. One listen of this great artist in a live setting, and people are instantly hooked and will simply buy all the other CD's without having heard one song off of it.

Although my taste in music has markedly changed over the years, the hardcore fan in me will always seek out any recording from Ms. Jackson because she is truly an entertainer worthy or our consumer dollars and she never fails to entertain.

If you do not have any of this talented artist's work in your collection, you are certainly devoid of one of the best entertainers of all time.

This album sets the standard for live performance in all its power. Millie Jackson, never one to fit in any mold/cast, displays a remarkable showmanship in this live set that I have been searching for for years. It is witty, thought-provoking, hilarious, poignant, definitely true-to life, and in some places downright raunchy. It is a BLAST!!Millie shows you what live performance should be. Her rapport with her audience is remarkable and her live versions of her standard hits all are fresh and sparkling! Master showman, strong songs, excellent performances. Millie never claimed to have the most melodious voice around. But she can claim the title of the "Hardest Working Woman in Show Business" as this outing so aptly reveals. It is also an excellent vehicle to introduce those who had not had the opportunity to hear her in her heydey in the 70s. This covers a wide spectrum of her repertoire and is most enjoyable. The symphony will leave you in stitiches!

BEFORE THEIR WERE UNKNOWN ARTIST(S) SUCH AS FOXY BROWN AND LIL' KIM, MILLIE JACKSON IN HER OWN BIG WAY, LET HER AUDIENCES KNOW, THAT THEY WERE NOT ALONE, IN THE MANY ORDEALS IN THE BATTLE OF THE SEXES. RAUNCH, FUNK, SOUL, PASSION AND ALL THE OTHER BULL**** TO THE SIDE, MILLIE STOOD FOR THE WOMAN WITHOUT TAKING ANYTHING AWAY FROM THE MAN. LIVE AND UNCENSORED SHOWCASED HER MANY VOCAL TALENTS AS WELL AS PUT A SMILE ON YOUR FACE WHEN SHE TOUCHED ON A SUBJECT, YOU WONDERED, "HOW IN THE HELL SHE KNEW YOU I WAS GOING THROUGH THIS?" ANY NOVICE LISTENER WOULD IMMEDIATELY KNOW THAT THIS ARTIST IS ONE OF A KIND AND A LEGEND WHO WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN, ESPECIALLY BY THOSE WHO KNOW WHAT MUSIC IS ALL ABOUT.

She is not only a great singer - she can sing and shout with great pitch, and I consider her raspy growl as enjoyable as the voices of Etta James, Gladys Knight, Irma Thomas, and even Aretha Franklin - she is also a comedian who, whether in song or addressing the audience, can be as funny as Mo'Nique, Sheryl Underwood, Sommore, Margaret Cho, Wanda Sykes, and maybe even Redd Foxx. These live recordings showcase both her vocal and comedic range.

LIVE AND UNCENSORED (with "Live and Outrageous" as a "bonus CD") consists of 25 songs on 2 discs, comprised of 1979's "Live and Uncensored" (tracks 1-17 on disc one & tracks 1-7 on disc two) and 1982's "Live and Outrageous" (tracks 8-15 on disc two). Discs packaged in flip-open black jewel case; total running time: 137:35. Booklet includes musician personnel, songwriting credits, one grainy black & white photograph, a Los Angeles Times quote, and location of the live performances. Sound quality is excellent.

"Live and Uncensored" was recorded at the Roxy Theater in Los Angeles; "Live and Outrageous" was recorded at Mr. Vee's Figure 8 in Atlanta. Backing vocalists at the Roxy performance are credited as: Ray, Goodman & Brown; Pure Gold; Brandye; Lonnie Youngblood. Backing vocalists for the Atlanta performance are Carol Bigger, Yvonne Hodges, and Vicki Hampton. Recording dates are not provided.

Many of the songs segue into the next, and some are done as medleys. The first few tracks do just this. "Keep the Home Fires Burning" momentarily goes into the Blues song "Rock Me Baby"; her rap (monolog set to music), "Logs and Thangs", momentarily goes into The Jones Girls' "You Gonna Make Me Love Somebody Else". Then she sings an up-tempo version of "Put Something Down on It" that segues (in a separate track) into Rod Stewart's "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy". She later pairs her ballads "What Am I Waiting For" and "I Still Love You (You Still Love Me)" in a beautiful fashion.

Millie's live "raps" (or monologs), as one might expect, are much more raunchy than the ones recorded in the studio - and hence more blunt, more "real", and even funnier. The "..... U Symphony", which some may recognize from the documentary film "Wigstock", is Millie's self-proclaimed foray into "classical music" and features her "directing debut" of a chorus singing the f-word to a Beethoven/Bach-inspired melody. Her introduction to the song includes a "shout-out" to celebrity attendees the Pointer Sisters and Millie's hilarious commentary regarding her fans and detractors.

There isn't a bad song in the bunch. There is her extended analysis of the absurdity of daytime dramas, "The Soaps"; her versions of "Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time)"; and Kenny Rogers's "Sweet Music Man" (Be warned that while given a separate track, she only sings 51 seconds of "Hurts So Good" at the end of "Sweet Music Man"). Disc one ends with "Give It Up", where she comments about how "women's lib ...and the gay movement" has taken over, and a funky version of "A Moment's Pleasure".

Her 1982 performance begins with "Passion", which is followed by "A Horse or Mule"; the latter is a short monolog where she discusses how her commercially unsuccessful Country music album (1981's "Just a Lil' Bit Country") led to her recording another live album. She seems less playful and more aggressive (even hostile) here, but she is still funny, even when her comments are of a racial nature (as on "I Had to Say It", which concludes with what seems to be an impromptu homage to the funky music of James Brown). She also ups the ante in regards to profanity, which some of us appreciate. The set includes a rendition of Lionel Richie's "Still".

I only wish there was a video of her performances!

This is a must-have for Millie Jackson fans. I only wish there were more than two live albums. With good music and funny commentaries, this CD is enjoyable on multiple levels.

Music: 5+ stars
Packaging: 1 star

This is Millie doing what she does best--telling it like it is.
I have been a fan for awhile and she always seems to amaze me.
She is definitely an entertainer worth having in your collection.
If you think her recordings are something, wait 'til you see her
live. This recording shows you just what Millie is capable of.

This album is a joy to listen to again and again. I think the Symphony (Disc 1, Track 7) is the funniest thing on record and is unsurpassed in the history of comedy. The Soaps is another highlight, while on Disc 2 my favourites are A Horse Or A Mule, Lovers and Girlfriends and I Had To Say It, in which Millie does a very funny send-up of the burgeoning Rap movement. The atmosphere of this album is not only funny, it's also very uplifting and a certain cure for depression. Highly recommended to those who like passionate, heartfelt music and have a raunchy sense of humour. The backing is superb throughout, with a perfect rapport between Millie and the band.

I purchased this album over 20 years ago after leaving church. I still have the LP to this day. I'm glad that the CD is available. Millie's performance has brought laughter into the household and at work. A certain symphony came in handy as the "background" music for my answering machine.

Keep up the excellent "Reverend" Millie. You have a lifetime fan.

Classic Millie. I don't think its so much raunchy as it is honest. This album is a collection of the tribulations of life and Millie's cute ancedotes for fixing it. Buy this album for:

1. The Symphony. Now all you have to do is buy her record and put it on. Look at somebody when they XXXX you off and say a symphony to you too.

2. The Soaps. Just because you know Jill had to go waaaaayyyyyyyyyy cross town. In those po' black folk neighborhood to get waaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyy to the Brooks' house at 12 oclock at night.

3. All The Way Lover Reprise. XXXXX might bite, don't do that.

4. Give It Up (The original beef song between her and Linda Clifford). What you gonna do if you don't give it up. Listening to Linda Clifford say when you hot you hot, and when you not you not. What you gonna do if you don't give it up. Let it dry rot???

5. If Lovin You Is Wrong, I Don't Wanna Be Right. Because the terrible thing about being in love with a married man is that you can't see him when you want to and that might get to you sometime.

6. Logs and Thangs. Just because there is a different type of log in the fireplace. A longer log than yours that burns for hours and hours.

Now that I got your attention. Listen to the album UNcenSORED and coast.

I love her music. She knows how to tell stories and she does it well. This is by far the most energetic album released by Millie Jackson, after all it is a live album. Every songs from the moving ballads to the fun, uptempo dance tracks are a joy to listen to. The next best thing would be to see Millie Jackson live! If you like Madonna, you are sure to enjoy this album. I also recommend music by Millie Jcakson's daughter, Keisha Jackson.

I just recently learned who Millie Jackson was. She is something else and this CD is a very good example of her style. She holds nothing back and it makes for very good entertainment.