Customer Reviews

Natalie Live

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Many people tend to forget that long before Natalie Cole sang her father's songs and performed mostly standards, she was one of the top female artists in R&B during the period of 1975 to 1982. I can remember that Natalie was the singer that we girls in junior high just loved and imitated the most. Known for her searing vocals and sassy homegirl style, she captivated audiences worldwide and was raking up Grammys and all kinds of awards on the regular.

If you own any of Natalie's work from this period, then you totally understand exactly what I mean when I say that she was definitely the QUEEN of the R&B charts! This live 2-CD set is proof of that. NATALIE LIVE! takes us back to 1977-78 and is an uplifting, heartfelt and soulful experience. This is without a doubt, one of the very best live albums I've ever heard, if not THE BEST. The energy of Natalie's performance can be felt going right though you. At times you feel like you're in the midst of a rousing gospel revival. Natalie performs her hit songs ("This Will Be", "I've Got Love On My Mind", "Our Love", "Mr. Melody", "Sophisticated Lady", "Inseparable", to name a few), plus other famous tunes by artists that she admired: Utilizing a similar arrangement that Sly Stone used in his cover of "Que Sera Sera", Natalie brings fire to that song in a way that Doris Day could never imagine. She totally rips up "Cry Baby" and "Something's Got A Hold On Me" in an enviable style that Janis Joplin and Etta James would be proud of. The Beatles' hit "Lucy In the Sky With Diamonds" is taken for a spin here, with Natalie breaking it down in the middle and Lord, can you feel it! The original Cole songs "I'm Catching Hell" and "I Can't Say No" are so emotionally moving, I can't help but get a lump in my throat when I hear these songs, and forget about hearing them live...the tears are sure to flow! "Lovers", a lively jazz piece complete with Ella Fitzgerald-like scatting, is sort of an unrealized prelude to the kind of material Natalie would be doing later in her career.

Anyone who is a TRUE Natalie fan needs to have this in their collection. And if you only knew Natalie from "Unforgettable" and other material like it, be prepared for a real treat. No matter what she's singing now, Natalie Cole is STILL the diva with soul!

This is a hard to find CD. I remember buying this double album when it came out, I think in 1978. It was recorded in 1977 at the Universal Ampitheater, Los Angeles. This is my favorite album by Natalie, I've been a fan ever since. You even get to hear her chat with the audience between the songs. My favorite is when she says "Just for you, because you're so wonderful, and because we're having so much fun. You know this is my last performance for a little while. I have some business to take care of" Here she's talking about being pregnant and having a baby soon. Then she goes on to say, "From here on in we're gonna let our hair down" And boy does she. Natalie rocks on this CD - Please find it and buy it now. It's great.

Natalie Cole, an artist with great vocal skills, put together one of the best live albums of the 70's; in this, her fifth album, Cole branches out to show the many styles of music, she's capable of singing. She covers standards by Janis Joplin, Doris Daye, and The Beatles. The excitement of the audience, the great sound and backing of her band and singers, as well as Cole's powerful and skillful voice, makes this, still one of the best live albums in musical history.

First, I have been after this treasure for a very long time! I love the "soulful, goin' to church vocals" of Natalie. I'm a singer and Natalie was a strong influence on me! I just have one wish...I sure wish I could afford this album! Please put it back in print. Peace!

I don't think I have ever heard a live album this real. Play this CD the correct way and you'd swear you were there. Natalie may never match the power she supplies here. "I'm Catching Hell" sounds amazing. No background singers can touch Sissy and Anita. The arrangements are great. The pace of the concert is perfect. Natalie connects with the audience from the first note to the last. You will never regret buying this CD.

I just received this CD on yesterday and i can't stop playing it.It sounds just as good now as it did then. This is a replacement CD for my album which was stolen from me. I thought i would never be able to replace it but i went to amazon.com and found it. Thank God/Thank Amazon!!!

From 1975 to 1978 Natalie Cole released a string of strong selling well crafted R & B/Pop albums. This era's nadir was 1978's "Thankful" album, and it's breakout hit "Our Love".
Her partnership with Chuck Jackson and Marvin Yancy yeilded a unique, and distinctive sound for Natalie without reliying on her father's legacy.

This live set showcases her polished stage persona, and takes you on a journey with such diverse cuts as "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds", "Que Sera Sera", "Party Lights", the beautiful ballad
"Inseprable", and the gospel punch of "Something's Got a Hold of Me" and "Be Thankful".

The final tracks were recorded just as her mega hit "Our Love" was riding the top of the charts, and her extended read of this hit caps a great live album.

It was not long after this albums release that Natalie's personal deamons came back to haunt her, and send her career in to a decline, as we know she came back and them some!, but she never focused on R & B again, like she did during this era.

Natalie is truly a versitale singer. Everyone knows "Unforgettable" With her father and how special that was as is "Stardust", "When I Fall In Love", and "Take A Look" But it was this that put Natalie on the map. Gems like Inseparable, I've Got Love on My Mind, and Our Love is truly where Natalie reigns supreme. This album helps to solidify Natalie's place in soul music and the girl can scat too. Natalie not mentioned enough when you talk about soul legends such as Aretha Franklin, Patti, Chaka, etc. Natalie is truly one of the greatest. I wish Natalie would do more of her soul music these days instead of the jazzmataz stuff. I would love to see her in concert and sing live Our Love, Inseparable, and the ultimate live song "I'm Catching Hell (Living Here Alone) There has NEVER been a song like that one and Natalie is the only one that can do it. Go back to your roots Natalie sing the songs that made you famous!!

This is Natalie in her prime and @ her best! Back n the day you had to have a live album! They had some classic's like The Spinners live,Teddy live, EWF Gratitude, just to name a few. Then you had Natalie live you played this until it couldn't play no more! What i like about this cd is how she takes control & has the crowd eating out of her hand! If you want to hear some good live singing (no sampling)Then i recommend you check this cd out you will not be disappointed!

Wow! What can I say about this live set from Natalie Cole. This project shows that this woman can do anything: Pop, R&B, Rock, Jazz and Gospel! And it's all live! This, along with Sylvester's LIVING PROOF, are two of the best live recorded albums ever recorded. All I can say is if you love you some Natalie, as I do, get this CD! Thanks to the reissue folks who love good, real, classic R&B, we now have NATALIE LIVE! back for your listening pleasure!