SOULFULLY LIVE IN THE CITY OF ANGELS
European release date: September, 20th 2004
Summer is gone, but returning from holiday Glenn Hughes makes us find a special surprise from the CD store. This is a live album recorded in January 2004, and that's a pleasant comeback because it falls after 10 years from the legendary "Burning Japan Live" (if not considered the bonus CD of "Return Of Crystal Karma" (2000) double pack limited edition). Now we should be happy to enjoy this album not only on CD (double for the occasion, so there are more than 90 minutes of music), but also in DVD (the first official live video released by Glenn as a soloist).
The tracklist is quite interesting, and it will come up against agreements and disagreements, as always. But only one common denominator: the everlasting voice of Glenn and the heavy sound pressure expressed by this band. And everyone who has already seen Glenn performing live will agree with me. The songs obviously are the same either for the CD or the DVD, because they are taken from the same gig (recorded live at Sound Image Studio -Van Nuys, CA, on January 11th 2004). What changes among the two editions is mainly the song order. But this is only local news.
THE BAND
Glenn
Hughes: voice,
bass
JJ Marsh: guitars
Chad Smith: drums
Ed Roth: keyboards
George Nastos: guitars
Alex Ligertwood: backing vocals
Kevin DuBrow: backing vocals
As you can see, a well comeback appears among the musicians. It's all about George Nastos, an old Glenn's teammate ("Feel" and "Addiction" albums, and relative tours), and as Glenn loves to say, "George is MY funky guitarist". Nothing to say more abou JJ Marsh, than he is the current Glenn's assistant live & studio from nearly 8 years; the other musicians come from the last Glenn Hughes solo album; honourable mention to Chad Smith, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Jane's Addiction drummer, who is a real highway tractor in bringing the band on every kind of groove.
DVD TRACKLIST
1.
Can't Stop The Flood
2. Higher Places
3. Written All Over Your Face
4. The First Step Of Love
5. Seafull
6. Wherever You Go
7. Coast To Coast
8. Medusa
9. Mistreated
10. Getting Tighter
11. You Keep On Moving
The first three songs are taken from the recent GH solo production, respectively "Can't Stop The Flood" comes from "Building The Machine" (2001), the other twos from the last studio work "Songs In The Key Of Rock" (2003). Follows the track four "First Step Of Love" from the "Hughes/Thrall" album released in the past 1982, Glenn is evidently fond of this song because he often plays it live. Surprises start with "Seafull", a song that I personally love, from the legendary first band of Glenn, Trapeze. This song is really well-played, and you can enjoy the unusual presence of keyboards. "Wherever You Go" is an up-tempo taken from Glenn's last solo album SitKoR; bring it on with "Coast To Coast", another legendary Trapeze song that Glenn is really proud of and he plays it with a particular mood and deep feeling, often dedicated his late friend Tommy Bolin. Go on with "Medusa" taken from the homonymic 1970 Trapeze album, song that Glenn has already played live (for example the 2000 tour). These songs are immortal: without the evident need of profound rearranging, Glenn manages to keep them always powerful and fresh. Now it's time of "Mistreated", the glorious Purple song taken from "Burn" (1973) that Glenn performs live with extraordinary skill and passion. The acute of ...I've been losing my mind... is simply superb and it will make everyone's flesh creep, also who has already watched a GH show! The last scenes are definitely Purple, with "Getting Tighter" taken from "Come Taste The Band" (1975), as Glenn says to the audience before the celebrated guitar riff starts. Closing with a dream, Glenn says goodbye to us with "You Keep On Moving" also taken from CTtB.
CD TRACKLIST
1.
Can't Stop The Flood
2. Higher Places
3. Written All Over Your Face
4. Medusa
5. Wherever You Go
6. Seafull
1. Coast To Coast
2. First Step Of Love
3. Mistreated
4. Getting Tighter
5. You Keep On Moving
6. Healer (bonus studio track)
7. Change (european bonus studio track)
The double CD tracklist, as I already said is slightly different from that on DVD. But there are two bonus tracks: "Healer", a previously unreleased acoustic song (southern style); and "Change", a song that figures on the Japanese edition of "Songs In The Key Of Rock", in which the bass is played by the great Billy Sheehan.
Glenn is in extraordinary shape, he sings with smoothness every song. The band is really in tune and Chad Smith does a great job behind the drums. The backing vocals are effective and accurate in following the original tracks voicing. Only one note (but that's my personal opinion): when I first read George Nastos among the musicians, I should be waiting for some "Feel" (1995) song... that's a shame!
Techical notes: audio quality is extremely good. Mixing and equalization of every single instrument is excellent, after all this is a studio-live. I'd like to point out that audio has been edited by Fabrizio Grossi at Noise Factory Studios (Canyon Country, CA) and produced by Fabrizio himself for Cosa Nostra Music. The DVD is in 4:3 format and the gig has two audio tracks (PCM Stereo and 5.1 Surround). There's also a photo section and enjoyable interviews to Kevin DuBrow, Chad Smith, Frankie Banali, and really to GLENN HUGHES!
GIAMPIERO FRULLI