Just as good as it was back in the day
R. Kyle | USA | 05/27/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"When XM started their vintage radio programs, some of the announcers were using their old vinyl to play the original music. There were so many requests to XM to find out who Batdorf and Rodney were, they were invited into the studio to record this live CD.
"Still Burnin'" sounds like the best of the 70's, John Batdorf really could be related to Graham Nash and he admits to paying homage to Stephen Stills in his guitar arrangements.
The CD is a mix of old and new. "Summer of Love" is a great example of new, written on the 40th anniversary of the summer of love to commemorate the feeling. "Home Again" was written in 1972 and its fresh beautiful mix of vocals and orchestration would still stand up to airplay today. This CD is classic and hopefully will not be listed as an overlooked gem.
If you lived in the 70s and want to remember, if you didn't and want to hear what the music sounded like, if you just plain like great vocals and instrumentation with mostly a happy and hopeful sound, give this CD a listen. It's timeless.
Rebecca Kyle, May 2008"
B & R are back and terrific!
The Soft Needle | University Heights, Ohio | 05/08/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Their "Music's here for us to love each day..." as John & Mark sang many years ago. I'm overjoyed to report that the new CD reaffirms the high place that John Batdorf & Mark Rodney hold in the world of acoustic rock and folk music. Along with two great new songs, the CD has so many of the timeless tunes by John and Mark we first experienced as youngsters or teens in the Vinyl days. These recent versions of their classics showcase once again the beautiful, intricate guitar work and the fine voices that have mellowed but stayed true over these many years.
What's certain is that, a long time ago, when we fell in love with these songs, we were RIGHT! They WERE great!! They've stood the test of time - in fact, they resonate even more now, because we're better able to appreciate the superb musicianship and also what John was saying within the tunes. These days, with the benefit of some thirty years down the road, John and Mark have experiences to make these tunes sound and feel more real - you'll hear it in the urgency of John's vocals in many of these songs. Once you hear the disc you'll agree that the lyrics and messages of love, spirituality and the joy music can bring to us originally composed by an 18 year-old mean much more now. And here's the very best part- as good as this CD is (I'd do 6 stars out of 5), John and Mark were even better in their recent concert in Kent, OH! Their guitar playing was flawless, the voices strong and harmonious, and their humor, making fun at themselves and the time they spent together, as well as beating on Tom, their great bass player, made their show so special. Enough gushing. This CD is great. If you are a fan you'll want to have this so you know you weren't dreaming when you first heard B & R in the 70s. They're back, they're fabulous, and I hope you have a chance to see them at some point, before they choose not to hit the road again."
Welcome Back, John and Mark!
Michael L. Pasqua | Southern Cal | 04/20/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I was a major fan of this duo in the 1970s and wore out the vinyl copies of the three albums released by them. Since then, John Batdorf and Mark Rodney have moved in separate directions but have, after too many years, provided us with less a return to the past but more proof that excellent singing and playing is timeless. There are live versions of old favorites and two new songs and it brings a smile to me to know that neither John or Mark have lost any skills as time passed by. Buy this and give a great listen as to what great songwriting, singing and amazing playing are all about-"Can You See Him" still gives me goosebumps to listen to the guitar interplay."
Track Listings (14) - Disc #1