In Concert: Merchants of Cool [Live]

In Concert: Merchants of Cool [Live]

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Formed from the ashes of Free, Bad Company was an immediate success in 1974. With guitarist Mick Ralphs's bluesy grind perfectly complementing singer Paul Rodgers's ardent testifying, they combined the blues with stomping rock to create some fine good-time music. And, like so many good-time bands, they couldn't let the party end, re-forming with varying lineups throughout the next two decades. Merchants of Cool, a live album selected from gigs in Denver and Anaheim in 2002, sees them at their strongest in years. With Rodgers and drummer Simon Kirke from the original outfit and guitarist David "Bucket" Colwell, now a member of more than 10 years' standing, they're supremely tight, running through a succession of hits like "Can't Get Enough," "Feel Like Makin' Love," "Burnin' Sky," "Rock and Roll Fantasy," and Free's immortal "All Right Now." Mostly, the songs are well-honed and urgent, free from indulgent solos, but Rodgers--whose voice has always been Bad Company's main attraction--leaves too many choruses to the crowd. Two new studio tracks--an attack on the music biz called "Joe Fabulous" and the limp "Saving Grace"--recall the band's worst work of the mid-1980s. --Dominic Wills

Tracks:

Burnin' Sky
Can't Get Enough
Feel Like Makin' Love
Rock Steady
Movin' On
Deal With The Preacher
Ready For Love
Rock & Roll Fantasy
All Right Now
Bad Company
Silver, Blue & Gold
Shooting Star
Joe Fabulous
Saving Grace

Amazon.com

Formed from the ashes of Free, Bad Company was an immediate success in 1974. With guitarist Mick Ralphs's bluesy grind perfectly complementing singer Paul Rodgers's ardent testifying, they combined the blues with stomping rock to create some fine good-time music. And, like so many good-time bands, they couldn't let the party end, re-forming with varying lineups throughout the next two decades. Merchants of Cool, a live album selected from gigs in Denver and Anaheim in 2002, sees them at their strongest in years. With Rodgers and drummer Simon Kirke from the original outfit and guitarist David "Bucket" Colwell, now a member of more than 10 years' standing, they're supremely tight, running through a succession of hits like "Can't Get Enough," "Feel Like Makin' Love," "Burnin' Sky," "Rock and Roll Fantasy," and Free's immortal "All Right Now." Mostly, the songs are well-honed and urgent, free from indulgent solos, but Rodgers--whose voice has always been Bad Company's main attraction--leaves too many choruses to the crowd. Two new studio tracks--an attack on the music biz called "Joe Fabulous" and the limp "Saving Grace"--recall the band's worst work of the mid-1980s. --Dominic Wills

Customer Reviews:

Sad, sad, day.......2006-02-22

I should have realised from the $11.99 price tag that this was not the best album I could buy but I went ahead and did it anyway. Ostensibly looking for the reissue of John Cipollina's Raven (which I was totally unable to find - thank you Borders) I happened upon this album.

It should be said that I have long been an admirer of Paul Rogers from the early days of Free and through the first few albums of Bad Company and I think that he has a great blues voice although I never have been fond of the drumming of Simon Kirke but that is by the by. I realise that the band has gone through numerous personnel changes but was unprepared for this.

The blurb shouts out some of the famous Bad Co. and Free tunes but an initial listen in the car sounds more like a Saturday night in Shiney Row Workingman's Club than a top class band. Rogers seems to be trying hard to gain audience participation far too much and the recording is pretty naff. You almost expect the MC to interrupt the proceedings to begin a bingo session. The great attraction of the band was the lead guitar, almost impossible to substitute for Paul Kossoff but here it is almost non-existant. Although I am sure Paul is sincere in his comments to the audience, they are not appropriate for arena rock. In fact I remember Lucas Tyson in Shiney Row club putting on a better show than this in the early 1970's.

This album is a major disappointmentbut I cannot fathom why Paul rogers would front a band like Queen for which his vocal style is paricularly unsuited. I have listened to this album a couple of times since and have felt extremely saddened by the marketing of this album given what seem to be very good fans.

Paul Rodgers Returns For A Great One.......2005-02-15

Original lead singer Paul Rodgers returns to Bad Company for the live-plus-one CD MERCHANTS OF COOL, and the results are fabulous. Even with Mick Ralphs gone, the group goes from strength to strength, covering their old hits with pure gusto, digging up the Free classic "All Right Now", and adding the impressive studio track "Joe Fabulous" for one heck of a hard rock album. If COMPANY OF STRANGERS suggested that the band did the right thing by getting rid of Brian Howe, this one proves it. In fact, I'd ask a cute girl for a dance to this one regardless of whether she fits that "little mold" that people think she should.

Bad Company.......2004-12-05

Yes It may not be the original bad company band and it is live which some people don't like but all and all this is an amazing album and i recomend it to everyone i know the sounds of pauls heart can truly be heard in the music and the screaming audience makes the songs that much better.If you like bad company you will like this album

excellent live recording.......2004-01-23

Although this isn't the original Bad Company lineup, they are darn close and extremely tight. Bucket Colwell handles the guitar parts with competent muscle and original Mick Ralphs isn't missed (he probably had his fill of Rodgers immense ego). Colwell has been a member of the band for nearly 12 years now and has a unique style and is more than competent with these tunes. Check him out on "Joe Fabulous", he really cooks. Jaz Lochrie on bass is dead-on and makes a great groove-partner for ever reliable Simon Kirke, the real heart and soul of this band. Too bad Rodgers thinks so highly of himself, this band can really rock in the classic sense of the word. Great album, DVD is even better. For the record: Simon, Jaz and Bucket are three of the nicest people you'd ever meet. True journeymen in their craft.

Paul Rodgers' Bad Company.......2003-12-16

First of all, folks, it's not & cannot be a Bad Company album without Mick Ralphs on guitars. It's now clear that, Paul Rodgers wanted some fast bucks & so he encashed Bad Comapny name (Free name also?, as 2 original Bad Co. memebers on this disc are also founding members of Free). So, the duo (Rodgers & Kirke)could even record soem Free songs too like Fire & Water and Wishing Well. That could pay much better, I must say. Anyway, this album gets *** only because of Rodgers' superb vocals which is as fresh as it was in his Free days. His vocals on Ready For Love, Shooting Star & Rock Steady are superb. But the guitarist David Colwell should have stayed a Bad Company sidekick as he proves on this disc here a rhythm guitarist of his standadrd is just not at par to handle these mighty classics. All his solos sound bizzare & dull & with the help of the bassist Jaz, he was able to rape the Free classic All Right Now completely ! All Right Now really demanded the melodic bass playing of Andy Fraser. Rodgers tried hard to subside his bandmates' inability but failed somwetimes. Of the new studio tracks, Joe Fabulous, though, is catchy. Rodgers, too, could sing Can't get Enough alone, not with crowd. I'll remember this disc for Rodgers' beautiful singing which I always enjoy, but for heaven's sake, please bring back Mick Ralphs & Boz Burrel to rescue Bad Co.!!!

Average customer rating:

paul rodgers better than ever

In Concert: Merchants of Cool
Bad Company
Manufacturer: Sanctuary Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Blues Rock | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Live Albums | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Hard Rock | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

General | Live Albums | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

Arena Rock | Classic Rock | Styles | Music
ASIN: B0000D9POP
Release Date: 2003-10-07

Tracks:

Burnin' Sky
Can't Get Enough
Feel Like Makin' Love
Rock Steady
Movin' On
Ready for Love
Rock & Roll Fantasy
Bad Company
Shooting Star
Joe Fabulous

Tracks:

Burnin' Sky [Multimedia Track]
Can't Get Enough [Multimedia Track]
Feel Like Makin' Love [Multimedia Track]
Rock Steady [Multimedia Track]
Movin' On [Multimedia Track]
Ready for Love [Multimedia Track]
Rock & Roll Fantasy [Multimedia Track]
Bad Company [Multimedia Track]
Shooting Star [Multimedia Track]
Joe Fabulous [Multimedia Track]

Customer Reviews:

paul rodgers better than ever.......2007-01-20

paul rodgers sounds great, the best ever. music and vocals are outstanding...
i hate hearing old rockers try to keep going, some just dont know when to quit. not the case here, i love this live recording.

Average customer rating:

Bad Co. Live

In Concert: Merchants of Cool
Bad Company
Manufacturer: Sanctuary Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Blues Rock | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Live Albums | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Hard Rock | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

General | Live Albums | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

Arena Rock | Classic Rock | Styles | Music
ASIN: B0000D9PON
Release Date: 2003-10-07

Tracks:

Burnin' Sky
Can't Get Enough
Feel Like Makin' Love
Rock Steady
Movin' On
Ready for Love
Rock & Roll Fantasy
Bad Company
Shooting Star
Joe Fabulous

Tracks:

Burnin' Sky [Multimedia Track]
Can't Get Enough [Multimedia Track]
Feel Like Makin' Love [Multimedia Track]
Rock Steady [Multimedia Track]
Movin' On [Multimedia Track]
Ready for Love [Multimedia Track]
Rock & Roll Fantasy [Multimedia Track]
Bad Company [Multimedia Track]
Shooting Star [Multimedia Track]
Joe Fabulous [Multimedia Track]

Customer Reviews:

Bad Co. Live.......2004-09-10

It's deffinatly nice to have Paul Rodgers on a live album. His vocals sound better now than they did in 1974. The guitar work is excellent even though Mick Ralphs is no longer with them. My only complaint with this album is that Rodgers being the frontman decided it would be better if the crowd sang the chorus' for songs like Can't Get Enough and Rock And Roll Fantasy. I personally would rather hear him sing his own lyrics. But there again it is a live album so what should i have expected ?. If you dig live Cd's, this will not disapoint you.

Music Track:

Music Track

music track

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