Search - Billy Vera & Beaters :: At This Moment

Swingin' live date plus soundtrack bonuses

hyperbolium | Earth, USA | 06/04/2002

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Vera's 1981 live recording of "At This Moment" found fame six years later in an episode of TV's "Family Ties." It became both Vera's calling card of one-hit-wonderhood, and a shadow that obscured his diverse career of acting, music writing, and, as demonstrated here, fine live performances. This disc combines a dozen tracks recorded in 1995 (and previously anthologized on Pool Party's 1996 "Oh What a Night" release) with a half-dozen bonus cuts collected from various movie soundtracks.The live tracks show Vera & the Beaters to be a potent, sax-heavy band with a flair for the Stax sound. Their take of Vera's 1968 hit "Country Girl - City Man" (co-written with the legendary Chip Taylor) offers a funky horn chart, and Vera's co-write with Lowell Fulson, "Room With a View" is a smokey blues, highly influenced by the singing of both Johnny Adams and Lou Rawls (each of whom have covered the tune). The bonus tracks include a previously unreleased studio take of "At This Moment," as well as rarities from the films "Blind Date," "Baja Oklahoma," "Rainbow Drive" and "Desperate For Love."Though this disc seems primarily aimed at Vera's fans, it's a great spin for anyone who likes soul music (whether they've seen the Family Ties prom episode or not!). Vera's self-penned liner notes are informative in a way a third-party's could never be, and his music will please fans of the Stax sound and latter-day rock 'n' soul outfits like Wet Willie, the E-Street Band and Little Steven & The Disciples of Soul.3-1/2 stars, if Amazon allowed fractional ratings."

Classic LA club band...

J. W. Geddis | Los Angeles, Calif | 11/21/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Billy Vera's been around the music scene in LA. The best of this collection, "At This Moment" is known by nearly everyone here. Not uncommon to hear someone talking in a group and start a sentence with "What would..." and then hear the rest of the group finish the sentence by singing Vera's most famous tune complete with air guitar. Fun to listen to... funner to see."