Album Credits
Ray Sawyer - Guitar, Vocals
George Cummings - Guitar (Steel) <MISTAKE George does NOT appear on this CD>
Jay David - Drums <MISTAKE Jay does NOT appear on this CD>
John Wolters - Drums <John is NOT credited on the CD, but IS the drummer>
Rik Elswit - Guitar
Billy Francis - Keyboards <vocals on Cover of Rolling Stone doing the "George" parts>
Jance Garfat - Bass
Dennis Locorriere - Guitar, Vocals

Of course like most new releases this thing is automatically a treat to us real fanatics. Like too few though, it brings a little something extra to the table. It is more than just another repackage of the same old material. Unfortunately, like most releases, it has some little flaws that I'll make note of, but they don't greatly detract from the value of this CD. The cover photo (as usual) does not represent the version of the band actually on the CD. Willard Henke is shown on the cover, but this appearance was recorded before he ever joined the band. Since both he and Rik appear in the shot, it is even a bit later. Rik would have had to have returned from his illness for the photo to include them both. The guys all have much shorter pop/disco era hair and outfits, thus the picture is probably from 2-3 years after the performance was recorded. Not a major flaw, but I know many would prefer era specific photos to help people know who was who when. The credits list is also a bit flawed, listing George on guitar, though he had already left the band, and Jay David on drums yet he had been gone about 2 years by then. I have noted these mistakes in the credits list above. A little additional note, this is probably one of the only times other than the first album that we will hear a Dr. Hook of less than 7 members, and they were still being billed as Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show?! There were only 6 guys in the band for this appearance and recording.

Now on with the review....
I listened to the CD twice back to back, just so I could get a real handle on the things that I thought were most noteworthy about this release. The CD includes several songs that many will have never heard before, though they are available on obscure sources or through trading tracks on-line. The tracks that I had not personally heard at all before, were the medley of 50's songs and "I Ain't Got No Home" (with Ray on lead vocals). Ray also sings lead on "Rolling In My Sweet Baby's Arms", another pretty obscure track, that many will hear for the first time on this album. I especially liked the LIVE version of "Everybody's Makin' It Big But Me", with Rik Elswit on lead vocals, it is a great track, and I don't think I've ever heard it done live before. Every fan will get a kick at one point on the CD, as the guys kid around and start to sing Barry Manilow's "Mandy", how funny! I like the mix on the backgrounds of "Cover Of The Rolling Stone", they come through a lot stronger than normal, and it's interesting to hear. Since George had left the band, someone also needed to pick up his vocals on that same track, and Billy Francis does a pretty fine job of it. The typical banter during this show is as great as we've come to expect from these live recordings. It is always a bitter pill to hear Dennis saying such nice things about Ray, when there is so much animosity between them today. Overall I think fans will be tickled pink to own this CD.

The Liner notes/booklet deserves it's own review, so here it is. Originally promoted as a 12 page booklet, it really has 8 pages of info, still that's more than most!! Includes some material we've seen before, but there is also a bit of stuff I don't remember ever seeing anywhere else. Including a version of the story of George's having started the band!! I don't know if George's late night call to Dennis got him thinking, but Dennis says more about George's part in things than I've ever seen or heard before, other than in the recent interviews with George. This booklet really is worth the price of the CD and the music is just a bonus! Or vice versa, lol, either way together they constitute a really great deal for the price of about $20 US.