Two superb albums on one CD equal one must-own CD The studio sides on Rare Junk include covers of the jazz standard Willie the Weeper (with its familiar Hi de hi dee ho chorus) Collegiana (done jug band style) Cornbread and Lasses Tim Hardins Reason to Believe and Jackson Brownes These Days in one of its better (and surprisingly upbeat) versions Some of this stuff is so self-conscious in its humor -- Sadie Green the Vamp of New Orleans and Dr Heckle and Mr Jibe come to mind -- that its hard to believe that it was recorded with much confidence of success but it works musically capturing the vaudeville side of the bands orientation better than anything on their first two LPs Alive recorded at the LA Troubadour circa 1967 is one of the great live albums of its decade capturing the early group in top form clowning around in a loosely structured show that has them covering Buy for Me the Rain (which was already a hit) as well as BB Kings Rock Me Baby the Reverend Gary Davis Candy Man (in a version superior to the first albums studio cover) and Earl Scruggs Foggy Mountain Breakdown It is a great set the guitars mandolins and banjos glitter in the clarity of the recording and it is an honest fully representative show complete with wrong notes false starts jokes that usually (but dont always) work and the ten tracks are a vital addition to any folk-rock country-rock or even a partly serious NGDB fans collection Bruce Eder All Music Guide
Trustpilot
1 month ago
2 months ago
