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 Yellowjackets
Live Wires
Label: GRP
Catalog Nº: GRD-9667
Year Released: 1992
Producer(s): Yellowjackets
Credits: Russell Ferrante, keyboards; Jimmy Haslip, bass; William Kennedy, drums; Bob Mintzer, saxophone, bass clarinet and EWI. With: Michael Franks, lead vocal on "The Dream"; Take 6, vocals on "Revelation"; Brenda Russell and Marilyn Scott, background vocals on "The Dream"; Paulinho Da Costa, percussion; Steve Croes, Synclavier; Vince Mendoza, string arrangement on "Geraldine".
Track Listing:
- Homecoming {Ferrante} [5:35]
- Bright Lights {Bob Mintzer} [6:53]
- The Dream {lyrics: Michael Franks/music: Ferrante/Haslip/Russo} [5:08]
- Freedomland {Ferrante} [6:26]
- Downtown {Ferrante} [4:51]
- Claire's Song {Ferrante} [7:41]
- Geraldine {Ferrante} [7:21]
- The Spin {Ferrante/Haslip/Russo/Kennedy} [9:47]
- Wildlife {Ferrante/Haslip/Acuna} [9:26]
- Revelation {lyrics: Lorraine Perry/music: Ferrante} [6:24]
A lot of live albums are a waste of time, and an attempt to cash in on artists' popularity by recycling songs you've already heard before. Luckily, Live Wires offers us more than just hurried run-throughs of songs we've already heard. First, guest vocalist Michael Franks adds lyrics to "Local Hero" (from Politics), renamed "The Dream". Second, the 'Jackets are joined by powerhouse vocal group Take 6 for a supercharged version of "Revelation". "The Spin" is more dizzying than its original take, here featuring Bob Mintzer on bass clarinet. Likewise, "Claire's Song" is much more energetic in its new rendition here, and check out the frantic jackrabbit take on "Downtown". It is interesting to observe how the Yellowjackets sound has evolved over the years. The only new track not available on any previous Yellowjackets album is Bob Mintzer's "Bright Lights". The sound of this on CD is a good remote recording, and benefits from a good clockwise twist of the volume knob! It also displays quite well the ability of the Jackets to "kick it out" in concert.
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