Andrew Strong
Album: The Commitments Years And Beyond Live
Label: Dixie Frog
Tracks: 15+3
Website: http://www.andrewstrong-live.com

The Commitments were good for Andrew Strong, taking him from the obscure to the recognised in but a blink of an eye. Being the focus of one of the very few films about the development of a band that was any good certainly raised his public profile. The key thing though is that he had the talent to underwrite the cheque.

As the title, "The Commitments Years And Beyond Live", suggests, Strong can't quite give up the links to the film that made him and I'm not sure if that's a good or bad thing. What is definitely a good thing is his connection to the music, you get the feeling he really does live the songs as they are passing through his lips.

The album is very much a soul greatest hits album, with Strong as the prime performer, but one that knows how to give the necessary space to the backing singers, the horns, the guitars. If you are playing the best songs you have to deliver the best performances because people know when you haven't got it quite right.

The 2cd set comes with an additional three tracks on its own EP that includes "I Heard It Through The Grapevine" and "Soul Man", with the main set opening up with "Give Me Some Lovin' and closing with "Fire", it's a set that really sparkles, especially my two standout tracks, "Mustang Sally" and "Born To Be Wild" where strong appears to be an engine pumped full of nitro.

Live albums are supposed to make you wish you'ld been there. This sounds like it was one of those nights and more, Andrew Strong gets it and "The Commitments Years And Beyond Live" not only nails it, but drives that message home in spades.

Neil King