Track Listing

1. Medley: Slow Down/Bony Maronie/Knock on Wood/I Heard It Through the Gra
2. Medley: Tico Tico/Papa Was a Rascal [Medley]
3. Medley: Lawdy Miss Clawdy/Ballad at the Maple Leaf [Medley]
4. Minute Waltz
5. All by Myself
6. Save Your Love for Me
7. Junco Partner
8. St. James Infirmary
9. Gitanarias
10. Medley: Life/Wine Spo-Dee-O-Dee/It Should Have Been Me [Medley]
11. Medley: Pop's Dilemma/Irene Goodnight [Medley]

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #11763 in Music
• Released on: 1993-07-22
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Live

Customer Reviews

You would never believe it's only one man playing.
But it's true. I regret I never saw Booker live, though I was in New Orleans while he still blew people's minds at the Maple Leaf. You can't possibly accept that what you hear on this CD is live, one man, no overdubs. He could sandwich a half dozen classical composers between Fats Domino, Fess and Gershwin before you know what happened. If you have any appreciation for the piano, buy this, and its companion "Spiders on the Keys".

Booker tames the piano
This recording is a great, great treasure. We are lucky to have Booker live, and of all the booker albums out, this one is perhaps the most profound. The first two tracks are astonishing, and throughout the album, Booker fuses Chopin, Monk, Fatha' Hines, and Cecil Taylor- but it's pure Booker, that mad genius.

Musicians play the piano, but this is one case in which Booker tames the piano; he is in complete control, and as most people have stated- I, too, could swear that I hear at least 3 hands on the piano on all his recordings. Listen to "St. James Infirmary" on this record. It is one of the most diabollicaly painful, lonesome performances ever, ranking with the painful tunes of Hank Williams, Leadbelly, and Lennon.

Blown away by Booker
I first got turned on to the genuis of the mighty James Booker by a rehearsal tape with which he played with the Jerry garcia Band (1-7-76). Since then I've intended to make a Booker purchase but unfortunatly he's not the easiest performer to find in the cd bins.

Well I finally found one and boy what a find! Words cannot even begin to express the joy I get from listening to James. Genius is all that comes to mind. Definatly one of the all time greats of any genre. If you've never heard him or heard very little this cd will make you a fan for sure. Music of the gods!