Reba McEntire Album: “Live”

For anyone who's followed Reba's career, you know that she is known for her stage shows and live presentation almost more than for her studio artistry. This live set is definetely a shining example of why. From the almost pop opening "So, So, So Long," to the traditional "You Must Really Love Me" Reba covers a broad range of songs that highlights her versatility. New arrangements of "One Promise Too Late," "Sunday Kind of Love," and "Respect" show off Reba's dazzling vocal gymnastics and the tight harmonies shared with her back-up vocalists. However the tracks that make this album an absolute must for anyone is Reba's trademark a cappella version of "Sweet Dreams," and the bluesy "Night Life." Both songs are stunning examples of Reba's vocal prowess, and show why she has no equals in country music.

Reba is terrific and I so very much would like to meet this wonderful human being.

This CD is palatable in its overall execution. It would have been better if she had picked another opener rather than the pop oriented So, So Long. It also would have been better if she had included more traditional stuff at least one of her waltzes like "Today All Over Again", "I'm Not THat Lonely Yet" (my favorite Reba song of all time) or "You're the First Time I've thought about leaving. Towards the end as she is talking about her musical influences we were shortchanged as true Country songs like "San Antonio Rose", (just a little over a minute in length) and a wonderful tribute to Merle Haggard on "Mama Tried" another brief example...I would have enjoyed the CD much more if she had given these songs their full due because she only whetted my appetite for the full versions. She does do a full version of "Night Life" but I hate that song so it doesn't do a thing for me. "Jolene" is great. I could have done without "Respect" which is a song Reba should never had recorded in the first place. The CD contains mostly songs from her "Sweet Sixteen" album and her "Reba" album. Her live versions of the songs are equal to the recorded versions and in some cases even better. But, as I said, I wish she had included more traditional stuff in there like "Somebody Should Leave". I've seen her do this live before and most everyone in the audience was crying!! This CD could have been a whole lot better.