Eagle Records – [Release Date: 26.01.15]

Around eighteen months ago I reviewed Jeff’s ‘Live In NYC’ and questioned whether the world needed yet another Jeff Healey Band live album – given that there had been four releases of live and out-take material in the previous three year period.

The answer then was a resounding ‘yes’ as not only was it a great gig but it was also recorded shortly after the release of his debut ‘See The Light’ album at the very beginning of his career – an album that, in all truth, he never really matched.

So, now we are being asked the question again.

This set was recorded at the end of Jeff’s 1993 tour of the ‘Feel This’ album in his home town of Toronto – although ‘set’ is probably a misnomer as the band played several nights at the venue and it sounds from the crowd volume levels as if the best takes have been cherry-picked.

These performances stray from Healey’s usual power trio format with the inclusion of a three-song acoustic section together with the addition of keyboards (courtesy of Washington Savage) and a pair of backing singers (Mischke and Toucu).

Unfortunately, it is these add-ons that despite adding a little texture to the band’s blues-rock template also detract from the brilliance of Healey’s playing, and the question has to be asked – why would you do that?

The two backing singers in particular are vexatious to the spirit as they sound like a couple of karaoke banshees roped in from the adjoining bar, and the keyboards are, rather like Jeff’s long-time backing band, at best, frankly workmanlike.

However, such is the power of Healey’s playing, these little irritations stay just that – little irritations.

There is no doubting that Jeff Healey was a match for any blues/rock guitar player you could mention and he proves it here with a series of jaw-dropping solos of such ferocity it was likely that ‘The Horseshoe Tavern’ probably needed re-painting in the days following.

All the Healey classics are here – ‘Baby’s Looking Hot’, ‘I Think I Love You Too Much’, ‘Roadhouse Blues’, etc. plus the acoustic versions of ‘That’s What They Say’, ‘You’re Coming Home’ and the rather cloying ‘Angel Eyes’ which, despite the best efforts of the banshees to ruin them, are rescued by Healey’s virtuosic playing.

And talking about virtuosic playing, check out Jeff’s versions of ZZ Top’s ‘Blue Jean Blues’, the Fabs’ ‘While My Guitar Gently Weeps’ and his staggering fretwork on BB King’s ‘The Thrill Is Gone’ – just amazing.

So what is the answer to the question – do we need yet another Jeff Healey live album?

The answer is, on this occasion, yes, as Healey’s playing is just so good – but do we need any more? Probably not, as most of Healey’s live repertoire is drawn from a fairly shallow well and I fear that the bucket has hit the bottom.  ****

Review by Alan Jones

Album review (Live From NYC)

---

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.

Next session: Sunday 19 January

Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio

---

David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 1 December 2024.

UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 3 December 2024.

How to Listen Live?

Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)

Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.

More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com

---

Power Plays w/c 9 December 2024

In this sequence we play ‘The Best of 2024′ GRTR! reviewer selections

Featured Albums w/c 9 December 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2024 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2024 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2024 (Singer Songwriter)

---

---

Popular (last 10 days)

---