Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. Worried Life Blues
2. The Sun
3. A Peaceful Ride
4. Underwear
5. 6/8 Blues
6. Born In The Rain

Disc 2:

1. The Mighty SB
2. Ghouls And The Goblins
3. Widow
4. Johnny Swing
5. Good Friend
6. Untitled

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #78055 in Music
• Released on: 2006-10-31
• Number of discs: 2
• Formats: Explicit Lyrics, Live

Album Description
Michael Landau is perhaps the most widely respected session guitarist of all time having played with Miles Davis, Chaka Khan, Mariah Carey, Quincy Jones, Joni Mitchell, Diana Ross, Rod Stewart, James Taylor, The Jefferson Airplane, Seal, and a host of others.. This double CD live recording captures Michael Landau's critically acclaimed guitar ability as it was showcased at an LA club during 2006. Landau makes his instrument do the talking on this 2 CD set, performing some of the most incredible sounds and phrases ever recorded on a guitar.

Customer Reviews

A more mature Landau.....
I've been a fan of Michael Landau for a number of years now. He's another one of those west coast studio electric guitar masters who's played on a ton of albums by the who's who of popular music and is a musician's musician but still manages to evade the greater spotlight of popularity on his own. For whatever reason, the trend lately has been for guys like him and Scott Henderson (who also, coincidently, released a 2-disc live album on Tone Center records last year) to record their solo live shows to display just how talented they are. This collection is no exception. In my opinion, his previous solo studio efforts sound like a "Guitar Hero" trying to be serious, but this endeavor seems to be a bit more ambilateral. The new material (to me, at least) has a much wider scope of feeling and a more palpable appeal than his previous work. There are some interesting changes in arrangements to some of Landau's previously recorded material and his guitar playing, as always, is impressive. On the critical side, his vocals leave a bit to be desired but that is the achilles heal of a lot of instrumental "players" (me included) and it's a minor gripe because his vocal performance is, although imperfect, genuine and acceptable. If you are new to Landau's music this is a good introduction but you'll want to go back and listen to the Burning Water and Raging Honkies stuff (along with the hundred or so platinum albums he's played on) to get the whole "experience" (Hendrix comparisons always come up). I have to say also that in regards to the actual recording this is perhaps the best overall sounding record that I've heard come out of the Tone Center label. The recording, mixing and mastering were well done. If you are a new listener or a long time fan you'll dig this record.

Tone paradise
This cd is pure tone paradise. Mr. Landau is a wonderful player, and the band is fantastic (I love the keyboards work from Scott Kinsey). The first cd is more rock/blues oriented, and the second cd have a more jazzy oriented side. Both sides sound great, and Michael Landau shows why he is considered a master with a guitar in his hands. A great live fussion cd.

I Must Add This...
I have read all the reviews here and must say that I have empathy for the lukewarm ones, for I've had similar initial reactions to this and many other albums by artists for whom my expectations are exceedingly high. But after having that first reaction pass - ("It's not THAT great" or more often "It's not what I wanted/expected to hear") - it is often the case that these albums' greatness slowly creeps into my subconscious once all expectations or preconceived notions have faded and I find myself coming back to them time and time again. Such is the case here.

Those looking for blistering chops cannot deny the all-to-few moments throughout this disc where Landau turns on the afterburners, but maybe are disheartened not to find more of them. Those looking for tonal perfection or elegant songcraft may find it here, but are often turned away before doing so by the stark truth of it's loose-live-dive setting and Landau's "living-on-the-edge improvisational approach. But that, to me, seems to hold the key to this disc's staying power. It may never give enough of what you THINK you want - but if you listen, you usually come away with the discovery of something unexpected in the music. That is a pleasure all too rare.

I have many albums that are like candy - pack a big sugary rush. I like them, they have their place. I have a few that are substantial, complex and mysteriously satisfying.

This is one and my opinion of Michael Landau as a musician is all the better for it.