Search - Willy Deville :: Live in Berlin

A Beautifully Aging Pirate

C. Calabro | Sunland, Ca USA | 04/25/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If I was wealthy, I'd own everything with this man's name on it but "Live in Berlin" might be my favorite record. It is intimately produced; you can hear Willy's sniffs, giggles, finger snaps and guitar thumps. It's like being in his living room. Some highlights are "Spanish Harlem" where his brain slips into a special "handsome" gear and he flirts wildly with an unsuspecting microphone. His phrasing is deliberately reluctant and results in a super erotic delivery, which may be why I occasionally walk into walls while listening to him. (that's ok, Willy, I'd take a bonk on the head for you anytime). "All By Myself" has a tasty little breakdown after the 1st solo. There is a fierce ache to "Night Falls" and excruciating restraint in "Heaven Stood Still" where even the tough guys in the audience are momentarily humbled. "Who's Gonna Shoe Your Pretty Little Foot?" is a great treat and "Let It Be Me" could wrench loose a rusted bolt. Willy can tug at your heart like nothing else. Seth Farber (piano) is a treasure and master of finesse and with the ever-present David Keyes flawlessly manhandling an upright bass, it's no wonder Willy seems fearless. This feels like one of those moments that will never be duplicated again. I can't imagine Willy ever being in better voice. What a rare and perfect listen!"

Willy DeVille in yet another incarnation

Ralph Jas | Delfgauw, the Netherlands | 11/12/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have been a fan of Willy DeVille from the get go: Mink Deville was one of my favorite bands, with their unique brand of romantic rock 'n' soul (for want of a better description). When he went solo it was even more difficult to label him, with such different recordings such as 'Horse of a different colour' and 'Loup Garou'. And now the band has been brought back to its bare essentials: a piano player, a bass player (the big acoustic bass, not a bass guitar) and Willy's voice, occasionally accompanied by dobro or acoustic guitar and the odd accordeon. It must be said that his singing has never before had the impact it has on this recording. The joy each song brings to him is clearly felt, and the recording technique brings the trio right in your very own living room. It may be true that the voice is somewhat eroded by time and various substances, but his heartfelt rendering of this eclectic bunch of originals and classics more than makes up for that. This is Willy at his most intimate, almost as if performing especially for you. One of his best recordings, and thank the producer with the vision to make this a double album. You just cannot get enough of it.The bonus tracks by the original Mink DeVille band are a nice touch.A must-buy."

Divine Deville

R. J MOSS | Alice Springs, Australia | 06/05/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I'm in consent with the chorus of admirers for this double CD. Herein is one of the soul ballads great exponents. It's a consummate coverage of the genre, self-penned highlights of a studded career and ourageously powerful coverage of various masterworks. By track 4, disc one, when Willy launches into The Drifter's, 'Spanish Harlem', you know you are in the midst of something very special. My roll call of the great expressive gravel vocal pathways has The Wolf, Van Vliet, Waits, Roger Chapman, Van Ronk, James Dickerson(Free Beer), and, not least, the late Dylan material. Just as a youthful Dylan yearned for the maturity of mentor, Woody Gutherie's pipes, so has Willy sought the light from great 50s and 60s crooners like Ben E King and Clyde McPhatter. And like Dylan, the years have enriched Willy's reach and emotive integrity. He fits his material as never before. No one trawls the valleys of his vowels with more seductive breathiness than Deville. I came in on him with, 'Le Chat Bleu' in the late 70s, where he'd mastered the big ballad, replete with that 50s resonance, castenets included. In Berlin, he reworks Fred Neal's, 'Shake Sugaree' in an unparalleled manner. 'Hound Dog' is just as good. Then so is,'You Better Move on'. His treatment makes you forget the originals. There really isn't a loser amongst the selection. And the coda is an absolutely marvellous version of Dylan's, 'Billy'. You might have as good a soul/blues/rock disc at your disposal, but you will not surpass this set. Amazon might be the best place to acquire this. Certainly in Australia, Willy rarely rates save at the savagely discounted basement bins...and Live in Berlin??? Forget it!"