'Live' albums - who needs 'em? Lord Crowley of Pop begs to differ...

I've always had an aversion to 'live' albums, which stretches back to when my love affair with music first started.

Personally, I lay the blame at the door of the prog-fancying double and triple set, nearly all of which were major disappointments that ended up at the back of my collection.

Cherished possession: The Who's Live at Leeds set

But the few I do like to re-visit are cherished possessions: albums like 'James Brown Live At The Apollo', 'The Who Live At Leeds' and a beaten up casette copy of 'Georgie Fame's R & B Live At The Flamingo', a classic recording (strangely still unavailable on CD for some reason) of the original Modfather letting rip at THE mod hangout on Wardour Street back in 1964.

All these albums share the same characteristics. They positively fizzle and crackle with excitement and atmosphere, and paint a wonderful picture of what it must have been like to BE there. The roar of the greasepaint, the smell of the crowd - that sort of thing.

fine fettle

Another album I'm going to add to that small-but-essential list is Paul McCartney's new release, 'Back In The World' (Parlophone), a double CD collection that captures Mr Thumbs-aloft and his rockin' new band as they criss-crossed and tore up America last year.

Macca's new tour will arrive at Earls Court in April

The set-list reads like a wish come true for any fan of Macca. Featuring over 20 Beatle songs, with a smattering of vintage Wings and solo hits to boot, it really is a groovy snapshot of a tour that's due to hit the UK over four nights at Earls Court Arena in April.

Highlights I hear you cry? Well, this week (but it'll probably read differently next week) my current Mac faves are 'Getting Better', 'Every Night', 'Back In The USSR', 'Let 'Em In' and 'Your Loving Flame'.

Also extremely entertaining to watch is the accompanying DVD 'Back In The US', which boasts over 3 hours of Paul and band strutting their stuff on stage and overflowing with fascinating behind-the-scenes footage.

It's great to see and hear Macca in such fine fettle - I just hope I've got half his energy when I'm 64!

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email me direct at:yourlondon@bbc.co.uk

more music
gigs this week
music out this week: choice cuts
his lordship's interview vault

useful links
The Who: fansite
Paul McCartney: official site
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