For me the
live and recorded version of a song has always been a separate entity. This has
been re-enforced since the explosion of the video sharing age but every now and
again the lines blur to showcase a quality transition from stage to disc. While
you can never truly re-create the experience of standing in a cramped venue, sipping
weak beer and immersing yourself totally into the sounds of the moment, a
couple of album releases this year have crossed the floor with prestigious effect.
Following on from Birds of Chicago’s fabulous LIVE FROM SPACE earlier this
year, LIVE CHAMPS has achieved a similar job and done the next best thing to
hosting Danny and the Champions of the World in a house concert. Of course a
live album should never replace that experience of getting off the sofa and supporting
live music so this album from my perspective should be used to (excuse the pun)
champion the live UK dates for Danny this autumn.
March 6 2014 was
a special date in the calendar of Danny George Wilson and by the sound of this
double album those present in Camden’s Jazz Café were very privileged punters
on the evening. Spread across two CDs and spanning 96 minutes, it is assumed
that the entire gig was captured for posterity as Danny took the audience, and
now those owners of a shiny new CD (or download if compact and convenience is
your motive), on a Champions of the World 6 year journey. The critics (including
yours truly) drooled over last year’s STAY TRUE and Danny’s evolution into
country soul is featured here with the album contributing seven of the thirteen
tracks to the evening’s entertainment. ‘(Never
Stop Building) That Old Space Rocket’ has rarely sounded better and retains
its usual show opening slot. ‘Cold, Cold
World’ and ‘Darlin' Won’t You Come in
From the Cold’ imprint the style deeper while the expanded version of ‘Stop Thief!’ has some great extended sing
along parts.
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| Hare and Hounds Birmingham October 2013 |
Obviously
being a live album, the band had licence to expand and interpret the songs in whichever
way they saw fit with many of them taking on a greater length to cater for the
magnitude of instrumental solos which are essential to savour the true feel of
a Champs gig. Thirteen songs in an hour and half show is quite a low return in
comparison to many live gigs experienced but the sheer passion Danny and the
guys impart into each number renders the quantity meaningless. Danny never
misses an opportunity to let loose the sax and keyboard talents of Free Jazz
Geoff or the lead guitar solos from Paul Lush or some luscious pedal steel from
Henry Senior Jr. He also values strongly the contributions of bassist Chris
Clark and Steve Brookes on drums. For this gig, ex champs Hannah Lou and
Trevor Moss join in the party as ‘Restless
Feet’ brings the pre-encore segment of the album to a close.
For people
new to Danny and the Champions of the World, LIVE CHAMPS does have a feel of a
greatest hits compilation, though sadly or thankfully from the other viewpoint
without the commercial trappings. Sparkling tracks such as the absorbing ‘Colonel and the King’ and the emotional
irony of ‘Henry the Van’ highlight
the more folk rock past of Danny but the guy is such a talented artist and
soulful vocalist that he can excel in any format of roots music. Perhaps a stab
at saving country music in the UK could be a possibility in the future.
