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April Wine - Greatest Hits Live 2003 Audio CD

A fair review of the April Wine "Greatest Hits Live 2003" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all April Wine reviews here, or go back to the April Wine tabs.

April Wine Band: April Wine
Title: Greatest Hits Live 2003
Rating:
Release Date: 2007-05-14
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Oowatanite 2: Wanna Rock 3: Band Has Just Begun 4: Say Hello 5: Enough Is Enough 6: Before the Dawn 7: Sign of the Gypsy Queen 8: Tonite's a Wonderful Nite to Fall in Love 9: Cum Hear the Band 10: Won't Go There 11: Victim for Your Love 12: Weeping Widow 13: 21st Century Schizoid Man 14: Like a Lover, Like a Song 15: Rock N Roll Is a Vicious Game 16: Holiday 17: Bad Side of the Moon 18: All Over Town 19: Roller 20: Just Between You & Me 21: I Like to Rock 22: That's Who I Am, This Is What I Do (Bonus Studio Track) [*] 23: Strong Silent Type (Bonus Studio Track) [*]

Time for an objective review on this; seems there aren't any...
S. I want to start by saying that I'm a fan of April Wine; I have several of their albums and I went to see them at what was called "The Breakers" in Point Roberts U. A. on the Vancouver/Washington border back in 93 or 94 (can't remember). That concert was very good. I want to comment on three areas, like I normally do, with respect to this live album: Setlist, performance by the band and live recording production/sound quality.

The setlist includes most of the band's classics, but conspicuously absent are: Could Have Been A Lady, Coming Right Down On Top Of Me, Tonite and Wouldn't Wanna Lose Your Love (and probably a few more). I realize you're never going to provide everyone's favourites, but these are truly the band's greatest hits and to simply overlook them and create their own greatest hits based on what they might want to play is unfair. . . 7/10.

The recording production is big, clear and well-balanced for the most part. Pretty decent job in that respect. 8/10. Now for the part that makes this CD crumble.

The performance by the band is pretty horrible. It's not that they miss notes or anything like that (even though they sing like they're in their 50's, for sure), but it's the whole energy/vibe that is missing. Starting from the opening track, one can quickly discern that this is a band that is completely OUT OF SHAPE physically and, therefore, cannot reach any of the performance abilities they had in previous years. The tempo of almost every song is slowed right down to half speed of what it was on the studio albums. Can you say "fat old geezers"? What a contrast from bands like Black Sabbath (Heaven and Hell) or Iron Maiden who are in five times better shape than these guys are. Live recording should be played a half tempo faster than the studio releases, if anything. Definitely not slower. I want to throw this CD into the scrap heap (maybe I still will). 3/10. Overall, I give this album about 2 1/2 stars. Pretty bad.


Superb Live Collection
This band has been together for 30+ years and still sounds great. The songs included and the quality of recording are both great. Although not as well known in the States as in Canada, these guys have been doing a great job playing music for so many years. There are also two new songs, one of which "Strong Silent Type" is very catchy. For any Wine fan this is a must, however, you cannot go wrong with this CD whether you are a fan or not. .


April Wine uncorked!
April Wine, was always a ceaseless touring unit, crossing the continent countless times, and live was their true element. Nifty little surprise this one is! Whereas a lot of bands these days are touring under a moniker which will generate a few bucks, this is actually the band of the late 70's, early 80's heyday ie: Goodwyn, Greenway, Mercer, Clench and Carl Dixon (Coney Hatch) in place of Steve Lang. The last few years, they have again made a name for themselves by putting on shows across Canada that convinced the jaded that these guys can still rock with a vengeance. With a catalog of 30 (30!) years of material to draw from they have a great setlist. Much expected ie: Roller, I Like to Rock, Oowatanite, Sign of the Gypsy Queen, All Over Town and some surprises such as 21st Century Schizoid from Harder Faster and Weeping Widow from Electric Jewels. Sound is clean and loud with a great mix from Jeff Nystrom of "Fist" fame. More live albums from bigger bands should sound this good. Topped off with a couple of new studio tracks that would have easily garnered air back in the day, this is a cool find. If yer a fan, buy with confidence.


You can see a complete list of all April Wine discography, or go back to the April Wine tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.

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