PLANT, ROBERT & ALLISON KRAUSS - CD
YOUR LONG JOURNEY

LABEL:
Wardour
SOURCE:
Merriweather Pavilion, Columbia, Maryland - June 13, 2008
FORMAT:
2CD
RUNNING TIME:
71:42/41:53
SOUND/SOURCE:
Stereo Soundboard
PACKAGING:
Clear Double Slimline Jewelcase w/color insert art and professonal graphical treatment
 

Your Long Journey front

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SOUND 10 / PACKAGING 10 / PERFORMANCE 10

 
TRACK LIST:
Disc 1
1. Rich Woman 2. Leave My Woman Alone 3. Black Dog 4. Sister Rosetta Goes Before Us 5. Through The Morning, Through The Night 6. It's So Long And Goodbye To You 7. Fortune Teller  8. In The Mood incl. Matty Groves 9. Black Country Woman 10. Bon Temps Rouler 11. Shut It Tight 12. Trampled Rose 13. Green Pastures 14. Down To The River To Pray

Disc 2
 1. Killing The Blues 2. Nothin' 3. Battle Of Evermore 4. Please Read The Letter
5. Gone Gone Gone (Done Moved On) 6. "I had a phone call from Richard Cole..." 7. You Don't Knock  8. I'm A One Woman Man 9. Your Long Journey
 
REVIEW:

And a new favorite is established! This new double-CD set from Wardour captures an inspirational, special and sensational performance by Mr. Plant, Allison Krauss, T-Bone Burnett and band, in superb stereo soundboard quality. In fact the only possible fly in the ointment here is that we have mistaken an immaculate and magical stereo, digital stage/audience recording...but, it is so fantastic and intimate - with the audience distant on the tape that I will graciously defer to the label's identification as stereo soundboard.  The sound engineer is johnny-on-the-spot with the faders and dialing in a sweet balance between band and vocals within the first minutes of "Rich Woman" and it's sit back and soak it up from there!

Essentially, the whole show is a highlight but there are identifiable high points throughout and it starts with a really strange and interesting arrangement of Zeppelin's "Black Dog" - and it's here that I am able to understand that this is really the appropriate vehicle and style for Robert Plant at this stage of life. He is soooo comfortable and there's no mistaking it. The dynamic that has been sparked by the collaboration with Allison Krauss is captured more so in this beautiful live recording, than on the LP that has garnered such critical and fan acclaims.  The set moves ever-so-smoothly along to the "Fortune Teller", "In The Mood", "Black Country Woman" series of tunes with "In The Mood" a surprisingly fresh and notable performance here.  But T-Bone Burnett's enthusiastic banter between "Bon Temps Rouler" and "Shut It Tight" describes the essence of the mood being celebrated onstage as he talks about being in (Washington) D.C. during the day and commenting on some sort of "special vibe" being felt on the streets and "what a place!...this is a gas!...we should go ahead and play here for a month!...", as he raves about the Merriweather Pavillion venue for tonights' show.  Later in the show, it is T-Bone who also expresses condolences to the greater Washington D.C. area and family of NBC "Meet The Press" TV News host, Tim Russert, who had passed away suddenly from a heart attack earlier in the day...which also adds to the incredible level of sensitivity by which the  performances are interpreted.  It is quite amazing as you listen along, these musicians are absolutely 'dialed-in' and spot on with nary a waver or hint of being close to a miscue. And that's just Disc One!

As we move along into Disc Two, the momentum just picks up as we get the Tim Russert commentary from Burnett, and then it's time for a really cool moment for the insertion of a classic Plant-ism as Robert offers a perfectly timed story about his phone conversation with former-Led Zeppelin Road Manager, Richard Cole, prior to this evenings concert.  Cole reminded Robert that he (Plant) was on that very Merriweather Pavillion stage some 39 years ago as Led Zeppelin opened for The Who..."those bastards"... in 1969...and how Zep was asked to donate their evenings earnings to The Who so they could pay for new equipment to use for the next show as they had destroyed their own!  Great stuff and just another in the many arguments of why this hobby is not only fascinating, but important.  Disc Two is flawless, as is the entire set in my opinion, making this Wardour release an essential title for anyone remotely interested in this current project.  I would dare to go even further and say that if you can get by the very minimal but very country/bluegrass compositions in which Allison Krauss brings to the equation, this set is essential for any music lover or collector.  Also making this one of my top titles for 2008.  Pick it up, without hesitation. It is a sultry, smooth, and smoking cool show!


Thanks for the review. I am very much looking forward to the arrival of my copy. Now if only Robert can stop messing around with Allison and get back with the boys for a tour, ha-ha!Seriously , lets keep our fingers crossed - thanks.
Comment by Habanero4me wrote on 2009-01-09 22:46:55

Wow , you could not have been more dead-on in your review of this title Svengi. What a fantastic release of a truly wonderful concert. I can't stop listening to it. You are so right about Robert sounding very comfortable. I mean , he sounds like feet up in the La-Z-Boy beside a roaring fire with a Cognac , comfortable. Robert , Alison and the whole band sound perfect from start to finish. Speaking of perfect, the sound on this is ridiculous. This is hands down a must have title - thanks.
Comment by Habanero4me wrote on 2009-01-27 03:15:27

The best toys are the ones that are both educational and multi-purposeful.
Great Toys For Tots

 

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