Today continues the theme of yesterday’s post, my revisiting
a few gems by Bob Seger from the days before he became a household name.
From Beautiful Loser,
I moved on to its follow-up, Live Bullet,
which was the world’s introduction to the Silver Bullet Band.
The opening song is a “burn the house down”
rendition of Ike and Tine Turner’s "Nutbush City Limits," and that sets the stage
for the real deal of concert albums.
While Peter Frampton gets all the press for the best live
album ever, this one should be in the conversation.
Similar to Frampton, the studio versions of Seger’s early
material lack often the punch of the live takes, and a song like “Travelin’ Man” really….forgive
the unintended pun…comes alive here.
This album showcases the tour that followed the release of Beautiful Loser, and it should be no
surprise that that album is featured,
with five of it’s nine cuts represented here.
The album dips into Seger’s
earlier catalog, which sadly was never really revisited by the labels after his
mainstream success.
Everyone has heard “Turn The Page,” but few know the album
it comes from (although I’m gonna talk about it next).
Seger had seven albums prior to Beautiful Loser that are sadly unavailable even though they have many songs worth hearing, and at a minum deserve a compilation devoted to them.
Anyone from Capitol reading this?
Why this album was not the one that broke Seger is beyond me-as good as Night Moves is, this is one live album that kicks some serious butt!
Tomorrow, I'll conclude this series with a Seger album you probably have never heard of, although you have heard Seger tell you about it more times than you can count!
.jpeg)
I've heard plenty of Seger, but never live. He sounds amazing live. With so much emphasis these days on tweaking and polishing tracks in the studio, I wish there were more artists willing to just release a killer, untouched live album.
ReplyDeleteBryan-
DeleteThis is one worth owning...
LC
Of course I had this 'Live' album but it's been so long since I've heard it that I can't recall much except 'Turn The Page' - which was excellent!
ReplyDeleteI do know that I liked most of the studio tracks of the 'Beautiful Loser' album better than the live takes.
Greatest Live Album of all time? That's a good question. That would make a good Blogfest if it was kept to a low number like... pick your Top 3 only.
I'm not sure, off the top of my head, which 3 I'd select, but I'm pretty sure that earlier Todd Snider live album would be on my Top 3 list. And DEFINITELY Van Morrison's 'It's Too Late To Stop Now'.
Sheesh, I'm already down to just one more selection!
My favorite live performer was certainly Waylon Jennings, but I never found a 'Live' album that measured up to the 4 shows I witnessed in person.
One more pick, eh? Hmmm... Well, 'The Dave Brubeck Quartet At Carnegie Hall' is certainly in the running, as is Louis Prima's 'The Wildest Show At Tahoe'.
~ D-FensDogg
'Loyal American Underground'
If you host it, I'll post.
DeleteAlthough it would be TORTURE to get my list down to three.
Off the top of my head....this one, Frampton Comes Alive, Humble Pie Live At The Fillmore and Todd's Back To The Bars.
But what about Snider's Storyteller, Leon Russell Live, The Last Waltz, Little Feat's Waiting For Columbus, Springsteen's Live Box Set, Tom Petty's Live Box Set,, Deep Purple's Made In Japan, and The Who Live At Leeds?
And I haven't furrowed my brow yet.
Come to think of it, don't host this...it'd be too darn HARD!
LC
Re live versus studio...
DeleteI like the live version of "Travelin' Man" a lot better, the studio version of "Jody Girl" way better, and "Loser" may be too close to call...
"Turn The Page" and "Ramblin' Gamblin' Man" blow their studio counterparts away (in my opinion).
LC
If the live album version of 'TRAVELIN' MAN' is the same one you've posted here (1975 - Los Angeles), then I definitely prefer the studio take.
Delete>>... Leavin' my home, leavin' my friends
Runnin' when things get too crazy
Out to the road, out 'neath the stars
Feelin' the breeze, passin' the cars ...
>>... Sometimes at night, I see their faces
I feel the traces they've left on my soul
Those are the memories that make me a wealthy soul
Those are the memories that make me a wealthy soul
There's a melancholy undertone to 'Travelin' Man' that gets lost when he turns it into a heavy, rowdy rocker in concert.
I totally agree that there is no way he could have ever topped the studio version of 'Jody Girl', and I don't remember the live version of 'Beautiful Loser', but if I thought it was anywhere near as good as the studio version, I'm sure I'd remember that.
Also agree that the live 'Turn The Page' blows away its studio counterpart, and as I recall, the same goes for the live take of 'Ramblin' Gamblin' Man'.
So we are in agreement most of the time, anyway.
~ D-FensDogg
'Loyal American Underground'
I couldn't find the Live Bullet version-I think it strikes a balance between this live version and the studio version...
DeleteThis is why I need to figure out how to post my own files on the blog-too much at the mercy of You Tube.
Here's part of the Bullet version-
DeleteI think Bob slows it enough so that the emotion comes through, but punches it up enough to make it more interesting.
Maybe this is what I'll do from now on...post my own stuff on You Tube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4qouoYlxY4&feature=youtu.be
Nice try:
Delete"This video contains content from EMI Music Publishing and UMG, one or more of whom have blocked it on copyright grounds."
~ McDogg
So why are other people able to post this stuff?
DeleteI am posting a link so that people could actually buy the CD...but the label is worried about a one-minute clip.
They deserve their tanking music sales.
I used to listen to plenty of Seger from the days of the first System album and onward. He was a favorite in my circle of friends back in the 70's.
ReplyDeleteLee
Tossing It Out
Lee-
DeleteThen my post tomorrow may be an album you are already familiar with....
Larry
Well, I definitely like Snider's first live album better than 'Storyteller', but 'The Last Waltz' slipped my mind. That one would almost HAVE to be on my list... even though that fantastic version of 'The Weight' with The Staples Singers was really recorded in a studio some time after the concert and wasn't really performed during The Last Waltz.
ReplyDelete~ D-FensDogg
'Loyal American Underground'
When you start to ponder this, the list can add up...
Delete