In Concert: Merchants of Cool [LIVE]

Bad Company

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 21, 2002)
• Original Release Date: May 21, 2002
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Live
• Label: Sanctuary Records
• ASIN: B000066NYG
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #34,471 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Track Listings

1. Burnin' Sky

2. Can't Get Enough

3. Feel Like Makin' Love

4. Rock Steady

5. Movin' On

6. Deal With The Preacher

7. Ready For Love

8. Rock & Roll Fantasy

9. All Right Now

10. Bad Company

11. Silver, Blue & Gold

12. Shooting Star

13. Joe Fabulous

14. Saving Grace

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Formed from the ashes of Free, Bad Company was an immediate success in 1974. With guitarist Mick Ralphs's bluesy grind perfectly complementing singer Paul Rodgers's ardent testifying, they combined the blues with stomping rock to create some fine good-time music. And, like so many good-time bands, they couldn't let the party end, re-forming with varying lineups throughout the next two decades. Merchants of Cool, a live album selected from gigs in Denver and Anaheim in 2002, sees them at their strongest in years. With Rodgers and drummer Simon Kirke from the original outfit and guitarist David "Bucket" Colwell, now a member of more than 10 years' standing, they're supremely tight, running through a succession of hits like "Can't Get Enough," "Feel Like Makin' Love," "Burnin' Sky," "Rock and Roll Fantasy," and Free's immortal "All Right Now." Mostly, the songs are well-honed and urgent, free from indulgent solos, but Rodgers--whose voice has always been Bad Company's main attraction--leaves too many choruses to the crowd. Two new studio tracks--an attack on the music biz called "Joe Fabulous" and the limp "Saving Grace"--recall the band's worst work of the mid-1980s. --Dominic Wills

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Bad Company Still Fresh, July 25, 2003

By	"[e-mail]" (Tacoma, WA United States) - See all my reviews

Let's face it, Bad Co. without cooler than hell singer Paul Rodgers just ain't Bad Company. This recent live reunion(featuring drummer Simon Kirke as well), shows his voice and the band's blend of soul and rock has aged well. The absence of original guitarist Mick Ralphs is a letdown, but his place is filled admirably by longtime sideman "Bucket" Colwell. Rodgers smokey voice is in full form on "Rock Steady" and "Burnin' Sky." On other songs, like "Rock And Roll Fantasy" and the Free classic "All Right Now" he lets the crowd take the chorus. Most of the time on live records this kind of thing is corny, but here the crowd is so loud you can still hear every word. The two added studio tracks are throwaways, detracting from this great live record that could have been longer;considering the wealth of quality material Bad Company possesses.

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Paul Rodgers Is The True "Voice Of Rock", July 5, 2002

By	"The Woj" (Downers Grove, IL) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

Quick and to the point. Paul Rodgers is one of, if not thee best rock vocalist ever. That said the lead guitar on this album flat our sucks. No lead fills or solos on "Feel Like Making Love"? You'll know I'm right when you listen to some of the songs and are waiting...and waiting...and waiting for those classic Mick Ralph's lead fills. Especially on "Making Love".
Let's hope Bad Co recruits a guitarist who will be able to fill Ralph's shoes.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Paul Rodgers' Bad Company, December 15, 2003

By	AVEEK CHATTERJEE (Jamshedpur, India) - See all my reviews

First of all, folks, it's not & cannot be a Bad Company album without Mick Ralphs on guitars. It's now clear that, Paul Rodgers wanted some fast bucks & so he encashed Bad Comapny name (Free name also?, as 2 original Bad Co. memebers on this disc are also founding members of Free). So, the duo (Rodgers & Kirke)could even record soem Free songs too like Fire & Water and Wishing Well. That could pay much better, I must say. Anyway, this album gets *** only because of Rodgers' superb vocals which is as fresh as it was in his Free days. His vocals on Ready For Love, Shooting Star & Rock Steady are superb. But the guitarist David Colwell should have stayed a Bad Company sidekick as he proves on this disc here a rhythm guitarist of his standadrd is just not at par to handle these mighty classics. All his solos sound bizzare & dull & with the help of the bassist Jaz, he was able to rape the Free classic All Right Now completely ! All Right Now really demanded the melodic bass playing of Andy Fraser. Rodgers tried hard to subside his bandmates' inability but failed somwetimes. Of the new studio tracks, Joe Fabulous, though, is catchy. Rodgers, too, could sing Can't get Enough alone, not with crowd. I'll remember this disc for Rodgers' beautiful singing which I always enjoy, but for heaven's sake, please bring back Mick Ralphs & Boz Burrel to rescue Bad Co.!!!