The Complete Sessions at West 54th

Description

In 1997, PBS began airingSessions at West 54th, a program far removed from the live music fare aimed at the older set that one usually finds on the network. Instead,Sessions at West 54thbrought the hottest and hippest acts to New York to perform live in front of a studio audience. And one of the first acts asked to appear wasBen Folds Five. Which was a very big deal to the leader of the band. “I viewed it as an equal to a classic BBC live music television show,” says Ben Folds. “I walked into it thinking, ‘This is the one I leave [behind],’ because it felt like some kind of a time capsule gig.’

Now, Real Gone Music presents the complete performance byBen Folds Fiveas recorded at Sony Music Studios. This2LPrelease was the first live album to be issued from the ‘vintage’ years of the trio (consisting of Folds, drummer Darren Jessee and bassist Robert Sledge). Among the 15 tunes are three from the group’s self-titled debut, nine from their then-current releaseWhatever and Ever Amenfeaturing their hit “Battle of Who Could Care Less,” and three songs that had not been released at the time (“Emaline,” “Theme from ‘Dr. Pyser’,” and their radically reimagined cover of Flaming Lips’ “She Don’t Use Jelly”).

Folds and crew were always a great live band and even recorded their studio albums in a largely live setting but this performance crackles with palpable intensity, brought home by this recording’s flawless fidelity. But don’t take our word for it as Folds says in Bill Kopp’s liner notes that accompany the release, “That gig was pretty special.”

1. Missing the War
2. Kate
3. Battle of Who Could Care Less
4. The Last Polka
5. Selfless, Cold and Composed
6. Brick
7. Stevens Last Night in Town
8. Smoke
9. Philosophy
10. Emaline
11. Theme from Dr. Pyser
12. One Angry Dwarf and 200 Solemn Faces
13. Underground
14. She Dont Use Jelly
15. Song for the Dumped