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Frustrated with Bonamassa Live CDs

Several years ago the wife heard and liked Joe Bonamassa, and then we saw him in concert -- a talented guitar player with a solid band. We are very partial to live recordings and have his (i) Live at the Beacon in NYC and (ii) Live at Royal Albert Hall (the CD not DVD). Both are very good performances, but unfortunately both CDs sound bad in our system. Almost no separation of instruments, overall veiled and muddy, etc. Basically (and disappointingly) they sound like the many crap rock/pop recordings that just do not qualify for high-end listening. To be clear, great quality live CDs (e.g., Allmans, Pink Floyd, various Big Swing Bands) sound awesome in our room. Are these two Bonamassa CDs' just examples of a high-end system highlighting poor recording? Anyone else experience this with these two CDs? Alternatives or recommendations appreciated.
whitecap
schubert
7,386 posts
 
I've lived ALL over the country, north , south, east and west.
Nicest people I've ever encountered in USA were during my time in Syracuse.
The 'cuse is like a flop eared puppy from the pound, not much to look at but with a heart of gold.
garebear
1,155 posts
 
Shubert and Effischer...thank you for the kind words and looking at -5 today and there is some real good pizza here in Syracuse. I still go see Doyle and Whiting every chance I get and they are still good....Joe and Mark are still putting out recorded music that is just amazing ...think you can find them on Amazon. Dave Hanlon is still around and great with his own band ...and Stroke still play and Shifty's keeps a rockin ! Then you may remember this...the fist time I saw Joe Bonamassa was at the Party in the Plaza and he was 12 ......I turned my back to listen to him because I had an issue with looking at a kid who wasn't even hitting puberty, play licks as good as Eric Clapton and BB King ....! You knew the kid was going to be great and he is ......just love that '' old '' Delta and Chicago Blues sound. Stay well and we were probably at these same places together at one point in our lives and we didn't even know it !
effischer
562 posts
 
Thank you, Garebear & Shubert. You can take the people from Syracuse but you can't take Syracuse from the people!
schubert
7,386 posts
 
AMEN, Effischer !
gocubs999
156 posts
 
This thread had me scrambling to pull out the only Joe Bonamassa live album/cd I have to listen again. I never remembered it sounding inferior. The version is "An Acoustic Evening at The Veinna Opra House" (2 cd set) In my system it sounds very good. His voice seems reassessed as if standing several feet back from edge of stage. Guitar strings are precise, dynamic. Bass is prominent, but; not muddy or sounding compressed. Excellent separation of instruments and good staging.

Maybe I just got lucky on this one. Shame the others mentioned are inferior, as his music is fantastic.
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