Customer Reviews

So Damn Happy

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As impressive as Wainwright's work has been over the past 35 years, this live album shows that the burnish and perspective of age has only deepened the quality of his work. His songs, pose contrasts to brilliant dramatic and literary effect: humor against anger, a capella singing against spoken interjections, creating a rich catalog of emotion from which he draws. Add a devoted crowd and the effortless musical backing of long-time friends (and family), and you get a live album that perfectly frames Wainwright's mastery as a singer, songwriter and stage performer.

Wainwright's trademark humor is on full display, with his vision of Woody Allen's "Sleeper" future taken to the afterlife in "Heaven" ("There'll be lots of drinking in Heaven / Smoking, eating and sex / What you didn't do in this life bad for you / Will be totally cool in the next."). He pokes a sharp, ironic stick at file sharing ("Something for Nothing"), and revisits the tragedy of Tonya Harding ("Tonya's Twirls") in a song that, removed from its historical currency, is still surprisingly moving. Equally moving is the deeply sentimental autobiography of "The Picture," a lovely ode to his sister and their shared childhood.

Wainwright's masterful stage presence, and the fluidity with which he sings, plays and interacts with the audience is truly staggering. The product of many, many nights just like these (taped in 2002 at Largo in Los Angeles, and the Mystic Theater in Petaluma, CA), Wainwright is completely effortless in the limelight. His accompanists (Van Dyke Parks on piano, David Mansfield on violin) and guests (Richard Thompson on guitar, and Martha Wainwright on vocals) weave their way perfectly in to his colorful tapestry.

With a collection of his songs that stretches from the early 80s to the late 90s, this is a nice introduction to the last 20 years of Wainwright's writing and a singularly compelling look at his perfect showcase, the stage.

If anyone deserves a shot at happiness, it Loudon Wainwright III. Well into the fourth decade of his recording career, Wainwright continues to walk a tightrope between introspective singer/songwriter and court jester. It would stand to reason that on this (his third live album), he would not stray far from this path. He can at times be touching and poignant (the new song "Much Better Bets" or 1992's "The Picture") or he can go for the funny bone ("Tonya Twirls" and the hilarious new song "The Sh*t Song").

Of the twelve previously released songs, most were recorded since his last live album, 1992's HISTORY. The exceptions are "Westchester County" (from 1983's FAME AND WEALTH and also on HISTORY) and "The Home Stretch" with Richard Thompson guesting on guitar (from 1986's MORE LOVE SONGS).

In addition to Thompson, Van Dyke Parks provides piano on three tracks, and multi-instrumentalist and longtime sideman David Mansfield appears on about half the tracks.

There are three other new songs included here: "Something for Nothing," a song about file sharing (he seems to favor it), the funky "You Never Phone," performed with his daughter Martha, and the skewed look at the afterlife in "Heaven" where Wainwright declares "There will be lots of drinking...smoking and eating and sex." While I'm not going to plan on that, if Wainwright is there it certainly won't be boring. [Running Time - 60:11] RECOMMENDED

"It's a curious world in which Bruce Springsteen is fêted like a messiah and Loudon Wainwright languishes virtually unknown". So said legendary British DJ John Peel in 1984. Absolutely right! It was true then and is even more so now, a full quarter of a century later [OK so he may no longer be "unknown" but he definitely doesn't receive anything like the recognition his work deserves].

Loudon Wainwright is quite simply the greatest American songwriter of the past 50 years with the (possible) exception, I suppose, of Dylan - although I'd gladly take on anybody in a debate about their respective credentials. Perhaps Loudon's subject matter is not as ambitious as Dylan's, mostly sticking as it does to his own experiences - family, career, demons, loves, hates, travels, trials and tribulations. But oh, those brilliant songs - there's just so many of them...

If you have yet to discover the wondrous back-catalogue of this master craftsman, then congratulations - you've just stumbled upon a musical goldmine and this CD is as good a place to start as any. Compared to Loudon's previous two live albums this set is superior to 'A Live One' and, in my view, at least the equal of 'Career Moves'. It was released in 2003 to a deafening silence of publicity and then quickly disappeared without trace. I found a dozen copies scandalously reduced to one pound at Fopp in Manchester a couple of years ago and, aghast at the sight, bought up them all to send to friends. There isn't a naff track here but highlights are the tear-jerking 'Picture', the acidic 'Tonya's Twirls', 'Cobwebs' (about my children and possibly yours too) and the irony-laden and, as always with LWIII, right-on-the-money 'Something For Nothing'. There's a lovely duet with Martha and an immaculate rendition of 'Primrose Hill' which even surpasses the original studio version. But perhaps the standout moment is the magnificent 'Home Stretch', featuring glorious guitar work by guest Richard Thompson. Every band/artist has their hard-life-on-the-road song (actually LWIII has three or four) but did anybody ever sum it up quite as profoundly as the maestro does here?

Wonderful songs. Sublime performances. A brilliant CD.

This cd is a reminder of youth but my real reason for the purchase was the song about he and his sister and the feelings it evoked when seeing the picture of them on the piano and remembering their lives. Ironically, it was introduced to me by my much younger son, proving that the music is somewhat timeless. I enjoy the entire recording but that is by far my favorite!

I first saw Mr. Wainwright at the Philidelphia Folk Festival in 1973, and though I'd been listening to him for a while, it was great to be in his presence. At the time his big hit was "Dead Skunk". And I've listened to his life as told in his songs for many years. One of my favorites is called "Homeless" which I believe is a tribute to his late Mother and is on the "Last Man on Earth" album. It rang deep and true having recently lost my Mother. A wonderful humanist who is not afraid to live up to his human mistakes and share them with other humans. Are there any left?......I like this album because you can experience some of the repore that he easily shares with his audiences. The way he engages you in his story.

This is a very entertaining live album from the most talented member of the Wainwright family. There are 17 songs that are very nicely balanced between being poignant, touching, insightful or witty. A couple of the more humorous songs are "Heaven" which paints such a pretty picture of drinking, smoking and orgies you almost can't wait to die. "Something For Nothing" is about illegally downloading songs `besides those guys from Metallica are getting too fat'. The band is basically Loudon with his guitar along with Van Dyke Parks on piano and Dave Mansfield on violin with appearances by Richard Thompson playing some really nice guitar on "The Home Stretch" and daughter Martha Wainwright singing a very funny duet titled "You Never Phone". Excellent banter from Loudon and strong participation from an attentive audience enhances the live experience.

This album is great! I discovered Wainwright by accident and am so glad I did. This could be the album to turn all your friends onto him. The tunes are quite catchy--just watch out that you don't end up with (...) in your head, 'cause others might not approve. "Tonya Twirls" is the best commentary I've heard on the former ice queen--including all those late night hosts who tried to be funny about the Tonya Harding debacle. "The Picture" is my favorite song from History--poignant and beautiful. His social commentary is both biting and hilarious. The liner notes are great--he comes across as a slightly bitter middle aged man who's still out on the road having a blast. This album deserves to be heard!

I have purchased, yes paid for, ten of Loudon's CD's. Went to his concert in Brisbane and loved the fact that live or recorded, he sounds the same. I guess I'm a true blue fan, so what else is there to say ?

This is the record your grandparents don't want their children to hear. Loudon sends another fragrant boquet of thorns with a note written about how you're getting older, and how it hurts the same way the only love you've ever known hurts. And, in true romantic form, he hands another boquet from behind his back. The funniest roses you have ever laid ears on!

Why does he do this? Build us up. Make us feel great. Then scare the living hell out of us by holding up that mirror. He really wants us to stop and remember. To remember to smell those flowers, I guess.

live folkie best-of .......half-assed-men's-lib lite from History, redundant third "Westchester County," nothing off 2001's Last Man on Earth because his label changed (again)... and there are five (out of 17) new ones...three played for laughs if you count "Something for Nothing," which is about file-sharing. Know what? The old fart's against it, although he's too sarcastic to come out and say so straight. Know what else? He may convince you.