Live at the Apolloby Anonymous

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May 26, 2003: This CD proves Robert Palmer can indeed do it live. The band is extraordinary. The rhythm section (bass and 2 percussionists) is sublime. And the advantage to picking up this disc is you can really enjoy the vocal effects (which had to be subtle in a large theater), and amazing use of stereo and phasing throughout the performance. Try it with quality headphones and you feel like you are on stage with the band. If there is a down-side to this collection, it's short (62 minutes total); there was room for at least two more long songs. Also it sounds like it was recorded in a small room, crowd-wise. You either get subdued (in volume , not enthusiasm) crowd noise or none at all. For portions the performance is so hot, it almost sounds like a live-in-studio, with perhaps a few overdubs. It probably isn't. On subsequent listens, you really understand why RP put this particular performance out. The Man is simply at his best on this one.