Robert Cray - Live At The BBC

Live wizardry from Clapton’s favourite contemporary bluesman

Until recently, blues guitar ace Cray had not released a live album since his arrival on the scene in the early 80s; now two come along at once. Last year’s Live From Across The Pond, a double album recorded when he opened for Clapton at the Albert Hall, summed up where the man is now with a career-spanning track selection. Yet this single CD, mining the Beeb’s vaults, may be more enthusiastically received by long-time followers.

It could have been a double itself, but chooses to combine six live tracks from a 1988 Radio 1 In Concert with eight from 1991. There’s more of a contrast than you’d assume. The earlier selections, including the title track of Don’t Be Afraid Of The Dark, showcase the style that got Cray noticed, while the remainder reflect a move towards a more soul-based approach, as exemplified by the then-current Midnight Stroll album. That said, there’s still room for classics such as Phone Booth and Right Next Door in the ’91 set. Funnily enough, these survived to show up in the aforementioned 2006 set. There’s only one other duplicate, the opening, horn-propelled I Guess I Showed Her, which sets off with a Springsteen-esque lick, so Cray fans will have to have both. The bonus is, this one is mid-price.

Universal | UMC 5303338

Reviewed by Michael Heatley
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