Plays Live [Import, Live]

Peter Gabriel | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 24, 2003)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Import, Live
• Label: Geffen Import
• ASIN: B00000I0WC
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (41 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #51,355 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best live production ever: no more, no less., September 6, 2001

By 

Manny Hernandez "@askmanny" (Bay Area, CA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Plays Live (Audio CD)

Yes, I am a die-hard Peter Gabriel fan, and yes, I own all his albums (just like many of the fans who have posted their comments here). But I also have over 900 CDs in my collection, and more than a few of those are live albums, and I find this one double album happens to combine things not too common in a live production:
-The track listing is flawless. It's more than fair to say that (if you happen to be a newcomer into Peter's work) you have got covered the first solo musical period of Peter Gabriel with it (1977 - 1982) except for the unfortunate absence of 'Here comes the flood' (not that I suggest at all, that you don't buy the rest of his albums -in fact, you'll be almost possessed once you listen to 'Plays Live' and find yourself going to get them all, in a way that's very hard to explain in words). If you want to listen to the best versions of the songs "Solsbury Hill," "Humdrum," "Family Snapshot" and "San Jacinto" this is the place to find them.

-The band... The band are a bunch of guys each of whom is awesome at his instrument! Tony Levin, at the bass (one of the world's best renowned bass and stick players, who happens to have played with King Crimson among others, as well); Jerry Marotta, in the drums; Larry Fast, in keyboards and synthesizers (I happened to be lucky enough to catch these first three performing together at a Tony Levin concert last year -they left me speechless); and David Rhodes doing true wonders with his guitar.

-The recording production (engineered by Neil Kernon; produced by PG and Peter Walsh). Out of all the live albums I've heard, this one stands out as the standard by which all will have to be measured: attention to detail, perfection and balance in the capture of sound (no instrument, not even PGs voice, drowns the others -notice the drums, and barely noticeable splash cymbals, as an example), and most important of all, all the emotion of the artist and of the audience are very easy to perceive and feel by listening to the album.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Play time, February 15, 1999

By 

WTDK "If at first the idea is not absurd, the... (My Little Blue Window, USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Plays Live (Audio CD)

Nice to have this in a single box, but did Geffen truly remaster this CD? After the debacle of the Beatles' White Album reissue (it was just repackaged, not remastered), one has to wonder. If Geffen has remastered this album, why not the earlier studio albums (which sound good, but could sound great using 20+ bit technology)?

The music is still the same, regardless of how its packaged. This is a fine career summation for Gabriel and one of the best live albums. Yes, there's a little bit of cheating(Gabriel admits in the linear notes that he went back and fixed a couple of bits to make the package acceptable to audiences), but it doesn't detract from the power of the performances, terrific playing (by the always underrated David Rhodes and Tony Levin) and great songs.

The material from SECURITY sounds better live than on the studio album--the performances and arrangements expand on the more tentative studio versions. The production by Gabriel with Peter Walsh (who also co- produced the SECRET WORLD live album as well). Most live albums tend to be little more than a document for the fans(most of the latter day Stones live albums), or a way to earn a little extra cash from the tour. PLAYS LIVE belongs in the same category as the Allman's FILMORE album; the live versions here present the songs away from the sterility of the studio full of the vigor that initially inspired them.

A fine addition to any collection, this is an essential Gabriel title.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gabriel at his best!, September 17, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Plays Live (Audio CD)

I own several hundred C.D.'s and have an eclectic taste in music. Out of all the discs that I have, if I had to give them all away and keep only one...Peter Gabriel Plays Live is the one that I'd keep. This is a teriffic introduction to PG's early works, and it sounds just as fresh today as it did when it was released. If you are looking for just one PG disc for your collection...pick Plays Live.