Chris Farlowe

A very crisp band backs up the legendary Chris Farlowe on this DVD beautifully filmed at Bonn, Germany's Rockpalast. The music is wonderfully recorded, equal to the visuals with tight close-ups of the vocalist and his five-piece group as they drive through "Blues as Blues Can Get," "I'll Sing the Blues for You," "I Don't Want to Sing the Blues No More" -- you get the picture -- the '60s pop singer is a forceful and reliable blues master in the new millennium. Norman Beaker's guitar lines are fluid and consistent, a perfect complement to Farlowe's tone and presence as he dips into Michael d'Abo's "Handbags & Gladrags," a distinctly different reading than Rod Stewart's passionate cover. Nikolay Arutyunov shows up to co-sing "Stormy Monday Blues" with Farlowe, as Norman Beaker gets to stretch out on the guitar; the entire performance is an entertaining feast preserved for the ages. An up-tempo version of his Rolling Stones hit, "Out of Time," is a nice break from the battle of the blues on a DVD that gives this legend a beautiful platform. Kris Gray's liner notes are included in English and German, seven paragraphs giving a succinct overview of Farlowe's storied career. The DVD comes with a backstage interview, a video clip of "I'll Leave the Light On" and a slide show. ~ Joe Viglione, All Music Guide