Elly Roberts reviews
Boz Scaggs:
Greatest Hits Live (DVD & Double CD)
Distributed by
Mailboat Studios (CD) & Coming Home Studios (DVD)
CD: 
DVD:
- Released: 11/10/04 (CD) / 01/11/04 (DVD)
- Cat. No: GCD4001 (CD) / CHS10029 (DVD)
- Price: £11.99 (CD) / £12.99 (DVD)
- Rating: 10/10
- DVD Extras: Booklet with credits, Photo gallery, Behind the scenes
documentary, Special bonus track
Track listing:
1. Lowdown
2. Slow Dancer
3. Heart Of Mine
4. It All Went Down The Drain
5. Harbor Lights
6. Jojo
7. Ask Me ‘ Bout Nothin’ But The Blues
8. Breakdown Dead Ahead
9. Look What You’ve Done To Me
10. I Just Go
11. Georgia
12. Miss Sun
13. Lido Shuffle
14. Runnin’ Blue
15. Loan Me A Dime
16. We’re All Alone
Double-delight for genuine music lovers as American singer-songwriter Boz Scaggs
has a simultaneous release on DVD (Coming Home Studios) and CD
(Mailboat Records) of his Greatest Hits Live.
Released on 11 October, this wonderful concert finds Scaggs on top form as
he plays an intimate concert at the Great American Music Hall in San Francisco
on 27 August 2003.
Born William Royce Scaggs on 8 June 1944 in Ohio, he struggled to make an impact
in his formative music career. Eventually, he hit a purple patch with a
brief excursion into the British singles charts in late 1976 through to the
end of 1977 - sadly he hasn’t charted since.
His stunning album Silk Degrees (5 million seller, and one of my all-time
favourites) spawned most of his best known hits – Lowdown, What Can I Say,
and Lido Shuffle. They are in reality only the tip of the iceberg, because
he’s been consistently releasing excellent albums since 1966.
Over the years, his eclectic range of music has drawn music luminaries like
Carlos Santana, David Paich, Steve Lukather, Jeff Porcaro (all Toto members),
Nathan East (Eric Clapton’s bassist), Booker T Jones, Duane Allman, Victor
Feldman to contribute to his studio work. He’s very difficult to pigeon-hole,
but to get that kind of talent on your side you simply have to be respected.
Now comes this sophisticated gig where he draws on material from albums Silk
Degrees, Boz The Ballade, Middle Man and others making this his first ever
live DVD. Grammy award-winning Scaggs and his 8 piece band tackle jazz,
blues ballads and pre – Fun Lovin’ Criminals urban jazz – soul. His blue –
eyed soul voice is highly distinctive on record, and it sounds even better
live.
Melt at his brilliant Harbor Lights, dance to Lido Shuffle, get sad to
Loan Me Dime – there’s something here for everyone. There simply isn’t a bad
song on this collection and I guarantee you’ll enjoy it whether you’re
watching the DVD or listening to the CD – from the funky baseline of the
opener Lowdown - you’ll be hooked. Speaking of the performance, Scaggs says,
"It’s not every night or just any band that can pull off this song list."
The DVD, directed by Lawrence Jordan, also features behind the scenes
footage including rehearsals and back stage dialogue, a photo gallery, and
bonus performance of Harbor Lights by Boz’s Jazz Quintet.
This is a far cry from the days he wandered around Europe as a street singer
in the early ’60 – he learnt his trade well – and it shows . Absolute CLASS.
Review & concert pics copyright © Elly Roberts, 2004-2010.