''Live As I'll Ever Be'' is the title of a recording by
American
American(s) may refer to:
* American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America"
** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America
** American ancestry, p ...
singer/songwriter
A singer-songwriter is a musician who writes, composes, and performs their own musical material, including lyrics and melodies. In the United States, the category is built on the folk- acoustic tradition with a guitar, although this role has ...
Chris Smither
William Christopher Smither (born November 11, 1944) is an American folk/blues singer, guitarist, and songwriter. His music draws deeply from the blues, American folk music, and modern poets and philosophers.
Early life, influences and educat ...
. It is a live album recorded over the course of several years. The cover was painted by
Eric Von Schmidt
Eric Von Schmidt (May 28, 1931 – February 2, 2007) was an American folk musician and painter. He was associated with the folk boom of the late 1950s and early 1960s and was a key part of the Cambridge folk music scene. As a singer and guita ...
.
Reception
Writing for
Allmusic
AllMusic (previously known as All-Music Guide and AMG) is an American online database, online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on Musical artist, musicians and Mus ...
, critic Ann Wikstrom wrote of the album "There are entertaining song intros and bits of warm banter with the audience, too. Chris Smither is always at his best when he is performing live. In fact, he often says that he writes songs and records albums just so he can perform live, and not the other way around. Live As I'll Ever Be gives you a great front-row seat, any time you want it."
Barbara Flaska of ''
PopMatters
''PopMatters'' is an international online magazine of cultural criticism that covers aspects of popular culture. ''PopMatters'' publishes reviews, interviews, and essays on cultural products and expressions in areas such as music, television, ...
'' wrote in her review "Smither is a guitarist, singer, and songwriter to be reckoned with. He sings in a beautifully timbered deep voice. His guitar work blends strong roots with his own innovative stylings."
Track listing
All songs by Chris Smither unless otherwise noted.
# "Intro" – :34
# "Hold On" – 4:01
# "The Devil's Real" – 4:57
# "Link of Chain" – 4:48
# "No Love Today intro" – 1:34
# "No Love Today" – 4:42
# "Caveman" – 5:21
# "Winsome Smile" – 3:32
# "Slow Surprise" – 3:40
# "Help Me Now" – 3:34
# "Small Revelations" – 4:06
# "Can't Shake These Blues" (Smither,
Steve Tilston
Steve Tilston (born 26 March 1950) is an English folk singer-songwriter and guitarist.
Early life
Steve Tilston was born in Liverpool and brought up in Leicestershire. A graphic designer before taking up music in 1971, Tilston lived in Bristol ...
) – 4:07
# "
Dust My Broom
"Dust My Broom" is a blues song originally recorded as "I Believe I'll Dust My Broom" by American blues artist Robert Johnson in 1936. It is a solo performance in the Delta blues-style with Johnson's vocal accompanied by his acoustic guitar. A ...
" – (
Robert Johnson
Robert Leroy Johnson (May 8, 1911August 16, 1938) was an American blues musician and songwriter. His singing, guitar playing and songwriting on his landmark 1936 and 1937 recordings have influenced later generations of musicians. Although his r ...
; arranged by Chris Smither)- 3:08
# "I Am the Ride" - 3:57
# "Up on the Lowdown" – 4:14
# "Killing the Blues" (
Rowland Salley
Rowland Salley (born November 2, 1949) is an American musician, sometimes called Roly Salley. He is a bass guitarist and vocalist for Chris Isaak's band Silvertone. His best-known tune is "Killing the Blues", which has been covered by John Prine ...
) – 5:49
Personnel
*Chris Smither – vocals, guitar
References
{{Authority control
Chris Smither albums
2000 live albums