Customer Reviews

Nitty Gritty Dirt Band: Live 25 Anniversary Package

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Until my tape of Live Two Five wore out, I listened to it constantly. I think the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band enjoyed making this record, and it showed.

The highlights are numerous. My favorite cut is "Mr. Bojangles". Jeff Hanna sang great on NGDB's 1970 version, which is on the band's Uncle Charlie album. The song in my opinion sounds even better live. In addition to Hanna's singing, Bob Carpenter's stellar piano and accordion work highlights this track. Another older Dirt Band tune which is featured is Jimmy Ibbotson's "Ripplin' Waters", which originally appeared on NGDB's 1975 album Dream. This is a well-written, excellent song which in my opinion is often overlooked. On the live version, the Dirt Band plays all of their instruments except the accordion. Also, Ibbotson and Hanna both do some fine lead guitar work on this one, and Carpenter contributes a piano solo which had me mentally exclaiming, "Awesome!" the first time I heard it. The live version of "Ripplin' Waters", in my opinion, sounds better than the original studio version--and the original was a great song to begin with.

A third highlight is "El Harpo", an instrumental featuring Carpenter on piano and Jimmie Fadden on harmonica. Fadden's harmonica is heard frequently on Live Two Five, but on "El Harpo", a rollicking, bluesy number, he especially shines. Carpenter and Fadden practically outdo themselves on this one.

Besides the three previously mentioned songs, the Dirt Band does a lot of their other classic hits, among them "High Horse", "You Ain't Goin' Nowhere", "Fishin' In The Dark", "Long Hard Road", "Cadillac Ranch", and "Partners, Brothers and Friends". They sound to me as if they are really enjoying themselves.

I have been a Nitty Gritty Dirt Band fan ever since I was in college in the 1970s. The guys in the Dirt Band make excellent music and have fun doing it--and when they get on stage, as they did when they made this record, they are awesome. From start to finish, Live Two Five is a great album.

If I were to list my Ten Favorite Live Albums of all time, "Live Two Five" would be on that list. Recorded in Red Deer, Alberta, Canada on March 13, 14 & 15, 1991. We find The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, at the top of their game, in-front of a happy crowd that are soakin' all this Music in. During their 25th year Anniversity, they are out on tour, business as usual. But what business this is: "Mr. Bojangles","Make A Little Magic", "Fishin' In The Dark","You Ain't Goin' Nowhere" , "High Horse", "Dance Little Jean", "Ripplin' Water" and "I've Been Lookin'. Sixteen Songs here, and everyone of them...Great. With only four players on stage, Jeff, Ibby, Rob and Jimmy, they pick up and play 12 different instruments and do they play, oh yeah! With a 'Short' version of: "Ripplin' Waters", that clocks in slightly under 11 Minutes, everyone solos here, Harp, Acoustic Guitar, Piano {Majestic Piano!}, Electric Guitar and Bass Guitar right into a big,BIG finish..This is incredible music.

This Band is 'Tagged' as a Country Group, but I like to call them a Band that plays: "American Music". I say that because I can hear: Rock, Pop, Jazz, Bluegrass, Blues, R & B, Classical, Ragtime AND Country music being played here and it's ALL Good.

I can't say enough about this CD, I have a lot of The Nitty Gritty on Disc, and this one called: "Live Two Five" is by far my favorite of the bunch. This CD was a big deal for me in 1991 and it is still a big deal today. I have sat in that NGDB Audience three times, and by the end I was standin' there Whoopin' it up with eveybody else, these Guys are great, and this is the CD to own.
FIVE STARS !!!

I got this cassette at one of their concerts and played it until it wore out. It helped me through some tough times in my life...I listened to it each night when I went to bed and their songs, especially 'Stand a Little Rain', helped me face each new day. If you haven't made the Dirt Band a part of your life, this collection is a great place to start. A must-have!

Until my tape of Live Two Five wore out, I listened to it constantly. I think the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band enjoyed making this record, and it showed.

The highlights here are numerous. My favorite cut on the record is "Mr. Bojangles". Jeff Hanna sang great on NGDB's 1970 version, which is on the band's Uncle Charlie album. The song in my opinion sounds even better live. In addition to Hanna's singing, Bob Carpenter's stellar piano and accordion work highlights this track. Another older Dirt Band tune which is featured is Jimmy Ibbotson's "Ripplin' Waters", which originally appeared on NGDB's 1975 album Dream. "Ripplin' Waters" is a well-written song, but I think it's often overlooked because it wasn't played a lot on the radio. On the live version, the Dirt Band plays all of their instruments except the accordion. Also, Ibbotson and Hanna both do some fine lead guitar work on "Ripplin' Waters", and Carpenter contributes a piano solo which had me mentally exclaiming "Awesome!" the first time I heard it. In my opinion, the live version of "Ripplin' Waters" sounds better than the original studio version--and the original was a great song to begin with.

A third highlight is "El Harpo", an instrumental featuring Carpenter on piano and Jimmie Fadden on harmonica. Fadden plays his harmonica frequently on Live Two Five, but on "El Harpo", a rollicking, bluesy number, he especially shines. Carpenter and Fadden practically outdo themselves on this one.

Besides the three songs I previously mentioned, the Dirt Band does a lot of their other classic hits, among them "High Horse", "You Ain't Goin' Nowhere", "Fishin' In The Dark", "Long Hard Road", "Cadillac Ranch" and "Partners, Brothers And Friends". They sound to me as if they are really enjoying themselves.

I've been a Nitty Gritty Dirt Band fan ever since I was in college in the 1970s. The guys in the Dirt Band make excellent music and have fun doing it--and when they get on stage, as they did when they made this record, they are awesome. From start to finish, Live Two Five is a great album.

One of my all time favorite cd for the open road! "Rippling Water" has carried me over many miles of the panoramic west.

This live set captures the essence of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and the connection they've cultivated over these many years with their fan base. Typically someone not enamored with "Live" albums, I found myself fully engaged by the artfully delivered performance of the NGDB captured at Red Deer. Their unique blend of country, folk, and rock is an enjoyable experience for all.

There are a lot of great songs on the disc, and picking a favorite often depends on what I'm needing to listen to in that moment. The songs are fun, inspiring, and easily turn around any frown I may have had. Some of my favorites are "Stand A Little Rain", "Dance Little Jean", "Fishin' In The Dark", and... I could list them all actually.

I've had the pleasure to experience the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band live twice in my life. Once as a young child and again in my adult years. To this day they remain two of the most memorable performances in my mind. This disc brought those memories back vividly. NGDB is great at connecting deeply with each individual during their performance while also spreading an infectious wave of fun throughout the audience. For that reason "Live Two Five" keeps a prominent place in my CD changer.

I've long been a fan of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. I can still remember "Mr. Bojangles" from the early 70's. And while pop & country radio weren't exactly kind to these guys throughout most of the 70's, they still hung with it. They had a number of musicians in & out of the band. But through it all, they remained strong, played their brand of music, and stayed true to their roots.

I love the fact that theyr recorded this show at a smaller venue in Red Deer, Alberta, Canada. They could have recorded this in a giant stadium opening up for a country headliner. But doing it this way only added the warmth of the evening. It also produced a better intimacy with the crowd as well.

Most of their popular hits are included here. Anyone who grew up to them or listened to country radio during the 80's will be familiar with the set list. My favorites from this disc are "High Horse," "Dance Little Jean," "Working Man," "Stand A Little Rain," and "Baby's Got A Hold On Me." Of course, a NGDB show isn't complete without "Mr. Bojangles." It's included here, but with a slight alteration. The last time the chorus is played, the audience sings it by themsleves without the band singing. Then, once the song is finished, Bobby Carpenter says, "Congratulations! You're on the record!" As one would expect, the crowd then goes into a thunderous roar.

One of the different sort of gems is "Ripplin'Waters." The song was written by Jimmy Ibbitson right after they moved to Colorado in 1970. It was initially intended as a sort of "postcard" to the family and friends back home in California, where they originated. This version is a bit different than the original. There are 5 solos in this song-acoustic guitar, electric guitar, harmonica, piano, and bass. Jimmy Ibbitson trades the acoustic guitar for the bass during the piano solo. In fact, Bobby Carpenter's piano solo is the best part of the instrumentals during this song. This song clocks in at over 10 minutes long. But you almost can't tell because of how well the solos flow smoothly from one to the other.

I do have a couple of complaints about this disc. First, I think they could have made it a double disc and included some songs that weren't here. What's missing is "Oh What A Love," "Down That Road Tonight," "Shot Full Of Love," "Modern Day Romance," "Fire In The Sky," and "Home Again In My Heart." This camplaint is merely a mionor one. I guess to save money to the buyers, it was more feasible making it a single disc.

My other complaint is that this was recorded during John McKuen's 15 year absence (he came back to the band in 2001. Horay!). Noticably absent is John's trademark playing on the banjo and fiddle. I think it would have added that extra texture that they've always been famous for. Without John, the NGDB had to re-work his solos with keyboards and guitar. But again, this camplaint is minor. The stellar singing and playing on this disc makes the show worth it anyway. If I were the NGDB, I'd do another live CD soon with an expanded catalog and with John playing on it. I think it's long overdue.

As another reviewer stated, no one does country rock like the NGDB. I'd also add that no one blends, rock, country, & folk like these guys do. Kudos to these guys!

Before the Eagles, Alabama, Diamond Rio, Lonestar and all other country rock bands...there was the Dirt Band. Considered by some to be the first to implement rock 'n' roll in country, these boys did it and, unlike other bands, still held true to their country roots. The only problem with this cd and the individual albums with these songs on it, is the fact that John McEuen was not with the band during this time, so the songs lack the incredible talent that he brings with the fiddle, mandolin and of course the mandolin that the albums have. Overall though this is an incredibly fun album. Without it officially being called the "Greatest Hits" album, it has all the great ballads, love songs and classic country rock that has made the Dirt Band last so long.