Ray Wilson's Dynamic Comeback.
Louie Bourland | Garden Grove CA | 05/12/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"After a couple of years out of the spotlight, Ray Wilson has returned with a bang. This live acoustic setting is his very first solo album and it spans music from all areas of Ray's career. On this CD, Ray revisits his past delightfully from his days as lead singer for Guaranteed Pure ("Swing Your Bag"), Stiltskin ("Inside","Rest In Peace"), Genesis ("Not About Us","Shipwrecked") and Cut ("Sarah","Gypsy","Always in my Heart"). As you probably now can tell, Ray Wilson has had quite a career already. He also does some superb covers of Phil Collins and Peter Gabriel's solo material as well as songs by Bob Dylan ("Forever Young") and Bruce Springsteen ("Born To Run"). His acapella rendering of The Eagles' "Desperado" shows just how dynamic Ray's voice is (Eat your heart out Don Henley). For good measure, Ray also performs Genesis tracks from the earlier years of the band. His takes on "Supper's Ready" and "The Carpet Crawlers" sound eerily reminiscent of Peter Gabriel while his version of "Mama" knocks Phil Collins in the dirt (Sorry Phil).
Ray also displays a good sense of humor throughout this performance cracking jokes and stories at every chance he gets. The closing track, "The Airport Song", displays Ray's humor at his fullest singing in a mock American/Country-Western accent and even going into a brief Bob Dylan impersonation.
"Live and Acoustic" (or "Ray Wilson Unplugged" as it's also called) serves as an excellent introduction to Ray Wilson's music as well as the other bands he has sung with. Ray's talent as a vocalist, songwriter and performer should not be overlooked. So why not start here? You'll be glad you did."
Great CD, Bad Track List
Robert Creekmore | Round Rock, TX | 10/27/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Amazon's listing is for "Live and Acoustic"; here is the 2 CD track list:
CD 1
1. The Last Horizon
2. These Are The Changes
3. Goodbye Baby Blue
4. In The Air Tonight
5. Carpet Crawlers
6. Ever The Reason
7. Story (about the first gig with Genesis in front of the media performing Domino)
8. Follow You Follow Me
9. Sarah
10. Change
11. Another Day
12. Magic Train
13. Sunshine And Butterflies
14. Inside
15. Footsteps
16. I Can't Dance
17. Gypsy
CD 2
1. The Actor
2. Alone
3. Ripples
4. Along The Way
5. Biko
6. Lovers Leap
7. No Son Of Mine
8. Shipwrecked
9. Not About Us
10. Sometimes
11. The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway
12. Swing Your Bag
13. Knockin' On Heaven's Door
14. The Airport Song
15. Rest In Peace"
What a voice!...
mothermary8 | Madison, Wisconsin | 08/23/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"All I can say is "WOW, what a voice". The first solo effort from the former lead singer for Guaranteed Pure (Swing Your Bag), Stiltskin (Mind's Eye), Genesis (Calling All Stations), and Cut (Millionairhead) is not to be missed. Ray Wilson has given the acoustic treatment to several tracks from his former bands, as well as others, with excellent results. Who would have believed that Mama could be done acoustically, yet it works. It's just as dark and sinister as the original. Ray Wilson shows his sense of humor by including tracks like Swing Your Bag and the Airport Song. I'm sure nowadays a lot of people can relate to that last one! Sarah and Gypsy are outstanding but the real prize goes to the acapella version of Desperado. Wow, what a voice!"
Track Listings (18) - Disc #1