Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Live - Volume 1
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This album presents 10 cuts performed by superstar acts that were recorded at various Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremonies over the past 25-or-so years. The oldest cut included is a rousing 1988 take on the Rolling Stones' chestnut "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" performed by Mick Jagger and Bruce Springsteen backed by the Rock Hall Jam Band. Of all the stars appearing, Springsteen gets the most play, rockin' with Chuck Berry on the classic "Johnny B. Goode" and playing an extra soulful version of "Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out" where he exclaims "This is the important part!" right before the line about "The Big Man joined the band" and the buoyant sax parts from the late Clarence Clemons. Clemons is not the only musician represented here who has left us; a 1993 take on "Sunshine of Your Love" by Cream features not only Eric Clapton but the late Jack Bruce on vocals and bass, and the recently-departed Prince is one of the all-stars performing on "While My Guitar Gently Weeps," the George Harrison song that here also features Harrison's son Dhani, Steve Winwood, Jeff Lynne and Tom Petty. The album's quietest moment is a cover of Joni Mitchell's "Woodstock" performed by James Taylor with just acoustic guitar accompaniment; the rowdiest cut is another all-star performance, a take on "The Train Kept A-Rollin'" featuring Metallica with Joe Perry, Flea, Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page and Ron Wood. Rounding out the album are a slow and steamy "A Change is Gonna Come" by Al Green, a run-through of the fast and furious Ramones cut "Blitzkrieg Bop" by Green Day and a take on Black Sabbath's "Iron Man" by Metallica. The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductions have produced dozens of killer performances like these over the years and the good news is that this set is subtitled Volume 1, indicating that more is on the way.The performance of "Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out" can be viewed on YouTube here
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Live - Volume 1 can be purchased here
