Search - Joe Turner :: Shake Rattle & Roll in Concert

Great music, shame about the sound

Docendo Discimus | Vita scholae | 01/09/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The annotation on this Australian 1997 release is worthless, and the sound is mediocre, lacking depth and, well, clarity.

So don't buy it, eh?

Well, if you're a casual listener just looking for "Shake Rattle & Roll" and "Roll 'Em Pete", this is not the place to start. But if you're into Big Joe Turner, you will definitely want to pick up this album.



The sound is really not state-of-the-art, and audiophile will undoubtedly wrinkle their nose at this. But the music itself is really great...Joe Turner is is excellent form, delivering powerful yet seemingly effortless renditions of some of his best songs. Over the course of an hour, Turner does a terrific, dignified "Stormy Monday Blues", a great "Shake Rattle & Roll ", a gritty "TV Mama" with a prominent (and unfortunately unnamed) guitarist who does his best to emulate Elmore James, and a tremendous reading of the juicy R&B-stomper "Hide & Go Seek". "Honey Hush" and "Chicken & The Hawk" are here as well, and the band is tight yet supple, anchored by a great (unnamed) pianist and a small horn ensemble. And there is none of the meandering which plagues some of Turner's live recordings; both he and the orchestra are totally focused.



Great stuff, and Big Joe Turner's big, smooth baritone is in top form. It still isn't enough for a fifth star, not with this kind of fidelity (or lack thereof), but it's great stuff all the same."