Live at Ann Arbor & In Chicago [Live]

Magic Sam | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 10, 1993)
• Original Release Date: 1981
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Live
• Label: Delmark
• ASIN: B000004BJT
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #174,596 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A must if you like Magic Sam, April 8, 1999

By 

Paul W. Benjamin (Phoenix, Arizona) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Live at Ann Arbor & In Chicago (Audio CD)

In the summer of 1969 I had the pleasure of attending the Ann Arbor Blues Festival. It was my privilege to be exposed for the first time in my young life to some of the biggest names in blues. The most memorable moment, however, was a performance by Magic Sam, a relative unknown from the more obscure (in the blues world) west side of Chicago. Sam, backed by bassist Bruce Barlow (later of Commander Cody and his Lost Planet Airmen fame) and drummer Sam Lay, who was recruited in the wings just before the set, Magic Sam delivered the tastiest, most high-energy blues licks that I had ever heard. In particular, I Feel So Good (I Wanna Boogie) and Sweet Home Chicago had the crowd, who had formed to see James Cotton perform in the next set, going absolutely nuts. His finale of Looking Good ended with chants of "Sam, Sam, Sam" that went on for what seemed like forever while the roadies attempted to set up for James Cotton. The promoters were forced to allow an encore which was another instance of Looking Good. The crowd was left with the feeling of having witnessed something significant, the birth of a new giant in the blues world.

Sadly, that following winter, Samuel Maghett died at the age of 32.

I have told that story a hundred times and you can imagine my joy to find that there was finally a released recording of that performance. It's crude, and the lead-in stuff from Chicago in the earlier is much less interesting. Still the cuts from Ann Arbor underscore the power of the performance, something you won't find in Sam's studio work. Buy this CD and play cuts 13, 15, 16 and 17 loud. Then play them again. And again.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Horrible sound quality, fabulous music, November 28, 2004

By 

Docendo Discimus (Vita scholae) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Live at Ann Arbor & In Chicago (Audio CD)

I'm not kidding, this one is NOT for audiophiles. Considering that these performanced were taped in the 60s using ordinary tape recorders it doesn't excactly come as a surprise, but, really, the sound is awful.

The music is superb, though. Screaming lead guitar and vocals to rival Elmore James (well, almost), and powerful live renditions of some of the best songs in Sam Maghett's repertoire.
He does a riveting version of Fats Domino's "Every Night About This Time", an intense "I Just Got To Know", and a rocking "I'm Tore Down", and he plays some white-hot guitar on the instrumental "Mole's Blues".

The Ann Arbor cuts include a funky take on Freddie King's "San-Ho-Say", the slow blues "Strange Thing Happening" and "All Of Your Love", and Magic Sam's scorching take on Robert Johnson's "Sweet Home Chicago".
His guitar playing on this album has to be heard to believed, and I'm not easily impressed...I have too many blues records for that.
If only he had been recorded using some decent equipment. A "real" live recording of this concert would undoubtedly have been one of the all-time great blues records...but he wasn't, so this is all we have.

Still, Magic Sam Maghett plays some fabulous blues guitar on these cuts, even better than his studio waxings, and his vocals are sublime. Serious fans will want to hear this wonderful music in spite of its shortcomings.
3 1/2 stars. This could have been so great...!

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A gem!, January 25, 1999

By 

Jeffrey A. Hatcher (Honolulu, HI) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Live at Ann Arbor & In Chicago (Audio CD)

A great, great record! For all of us who never had the chance to hear Magic Sam live this is the closest thing to a cure. Great club/on-stage atmosphere. The dialogue between Sam and the customers is worth the price of admission. The real deal: rough, raw, hot, and a lot of fun!