Customer Reviews

Live at the Earl of Old Town

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4 star:		(3)
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Since the only review here asks for someone to review this album. I will endeavor to do so. However, I'm far from a Steve Goodman expert, but living near Chicago for most of my life I'm familiar with his work.

This is an acoustic, mostly solo set recorded in 1978. While I initially worried about listening to a set from which nothing has seen the light of day in 28 years, the audio quality is extremely good. Nothing to worry about there.

The performance is a typical set of Goodman's songs, which usually fall into either good-natured ribbings or sentimental portraits (and sometimes a combination of the two). Songs like the one he borrows from Shel Silverstein (Three-Legged Man) also seem a natural fit for his repetoire.

Goodman apparently had robins on the brain that day as he covers "When the Red, Red Robin Goes Bob, Bob, Bobbing Along" and "Rocking Robin" toward the beginning and end of the concert. (It seems the disc runs in the chronological order of the set). He also does a fairly bluesy rendition of the country classic "Lost Highway".

Goodman doesn't address the audience much between songs, nor does he banter with Jethro Burns (mandolin) or Corky Siegel (harmonica) who show up for a few numbers.

Goodman's rendition of his own "City of New Orleans" is a very different interpretation of the Arlo Guthrie version that made it famous.

He ends with an updating of "When the Saints Go Marching In" with lyrics celebrating (usually) then-current Chicago Cubs players and the state of baseball in the city of Chicago. Goodman's enthusiasm when he stops singing and mostly shouts his battle cry of the north-side team carries the audience and the listener along with him.

Following such a celebratory upbeat climax, Goodman goes against all performance wisdom by closing with a sad, slow song. It's crazy, but it works. "Old Smoothies" a sweetly melancholy portrait of the writer and his grandparents watching senior citizens skate in an ice show, reduces the attentive listener to tears.

It must have been a great night in August of '78 at the Earl of Old Town and for those of us too young to have been there, this goes a long way to explaining the following Steve Goodman had.

I buy lots of albums, so it's rare that play one more than once after I first get it. This album is an exception, and it's one of the best live albums I've ever heard.

Friends I can't say enough about this show and its intelligent laughter.

The glorious guitar of an accurate string flicker filling the smiles in the room. you can feel the aura of the crowd and Steve all as one.

A really beautiful show and one of the best releases to date.

Grand sound that lingers through the corridors of your mind.

thanks for this new release!

always waiting for the next one!

Support Steve Goodman and Family

Buy the albums - they're ALL great!

This is a wonderful recording of what must have been a great series of shows. Steve's infectious manner and enthusiasm come through with flying colors. Some of the songs may not be as technically excellent as the studio versions, but Steve was at his best with a live audience, and the Earl was his home base. For the Steve Goodman afficianado who, like me has pretty much everything Steve ever did, this cd is a welcome addition to the collection..............Chuck Klein

The release provides an excellent example of Steve Goodman's energy and enjoyment in making and interpreting music. He conveys a joy in performing that comes out of this recording. The song selection, such as "Lincoln Park Pirates" and "Three-Legged Man" bring a smile to one's face. He has an interesting reflection on today's debate evolution vs. creation in "The Family Tree". Another interesting social commentary is found in his "Men Who Love Women Who Love Men". This release includes "Old Smoothies", which is a sentimental look at attending the Ice Capades with his grandparents in the 1950's. Something I could relate to having grown up on the Chicago area and seeing the "Smoothies" actually perform - "when the Blackhawks were on the road".

I purchased this CD in conjunction with the new biography by Clay Eals (it is MASSIVE! like the phone book! a summer reading project for sure!) I was ready to fall in love from the flat "Sout-Side" Chicago intonations of Earl Pionke introducing Steve. However, I am a mite disappointed with the sound quality. It is hard to hear what Steve says between songs, although the singing and music are quite clear. The song choices were interesting. So many of my favorites are missing, but there are also songs I had never heard before. Steve Goodman was an amazing guy. We were so lucky to have him with us, even for so brief a time.

Also recommended: the DVD Steve Goodman, Live from Austin City Limits, and More. Lots of vintage video and priceless commentary from John Prine, Kris Kristofferson, Nancy (Steve's widow), and more.

Although this was recorded live in 1978, the sound quality is excellent and Steve was at his best in his favorite hometown club with some of his best musician friends setting in. Highly recommended!

Well, how can there be NO REVIEWS for a live Steve Goodman album. It's a disgrace! Even though I never heard this record (I'm ordering it AFTER I write this), I've seen Mr. G perform several times, and, above all, he was a joy as a person and a performer. My fondest memory of him was at the old, wonderful Mariposa Folk Festival outside Toronto. Steve would go around the island looking for cool folks playing guitar under a tree somewhere, and he'd sit down with them, play some stuff together, and then invite them up on the stage with him. He was a man of the people, he loved life, he could make you laugh and cry with a song. So here's to ya, good man.

If you were a big fan of Steve Goodman's live shows you'll love this CD. For those of us that have never been to the Earl of Old Town it shows us what we've missed. For those who were lucky enough to see him there it's like a mystic homecoming. I love it!

THis is really a fun disk. Songs you dont' normally hear plus a live version of "City of New Orleans". The best of Chicago and Steve Goodman.