One Guy: One Guitar

John Sebastian is the Godfather of 'Good Ol' Time Music'. All you need is the Man himself, a couple of Electric/Acoustic Guitars and a Mouth Harp and you've got yourself a PARTY.John is really popular In Britian, and in return he Loves to tour there. This CD finds our hero, Alive & Happy in Cambridge, England Performing at the Cambridge Folk Festival in 1981 (Tracks 1-9) and again in 1984 (Tracks 10-18). Lucky for us, the BBC was there and recording the whole Deal so we have this Wonderful CD. If you look up "One Man Band" in the Dictionary you would no doubt find a Picture of John Sebastian, he is an Entertainer who knows the craft. This 'American' music, and it is Timeless, "Daydream" would not have sounded outta place if it had been Performed in the 1930's. You can easily picture a 50's Do-Wop Group belting out "Tar Beach" on a Bronx Street Corner. Woody G. could have rode the rails to "Mobile Line".This is Five-Star Music, and it is one of John's Finest Shows (2 of Em') but I am Subtracting 1 Star for Sound Quality. The Sound on that Cambridge Field more than likely Sounded Worse than these Tapes, BUT as I have Listened to lot's Of "Live BBC" CD's, this one is a Step Below the Normal Fidelity you have come to expect from the BBC. That said, the Guitar is a Bit Harsh on the Top-End and the Vocals are Mixed lower than they Could be, BUT for all you Listeners that Prefer Live Performances to stay true to the Event they are from, these tapes are No-Way 'Doctored'.I prefer "One Guy, One Guitar" over the King Biscuit CD I have been listening to for many years now.FOUR STARS

Briefly I am a huge John Sebastian fan and have been for many decades. I have all of his recordings. This recording is described in detail as 2 sets from the Cambridge folk festival in 1981.Most of the tunes will be familiar. What i miss is the stage chatter-there is some, but not much. This adds insight into the performer, flavor, humor, and intimacy to these type of recordings. Theres not much here (compared to Real Live John Sebastian, for example).I also will mention that the recordings have a 'one trick pony' aspect to the sound-ie John on acoustic or electric-solo. Its a bit lack luster. One reviewer mentioned the technical quality of the BBC live recording as below par. I didn't find this detrimental, but, I did find the performance a bit plain due to the lack of other instruments. I urge anyone to listen before they buy to see if its your cup of tea. Im sure Ill not be listening to this frequently or repeatedly.

A good CD of music heard many years ago. All those great LS hits played with feeling and good humour.

John Sebastian fans here's the CD for you. A recording taken from two live performances from the Cambridge Folk Festival in 1981. The songs include most of the classics (Daydream) and a few of the more recent tunes (Tar Beach). So sit back and enjoy a mini John Sebastian concert.

John Sebastian at his best, he great at live gigs. It is a shame he has not been to the UK recently