A definite winner for me (and he didn't even have to take his shirt off).
Okay, so this DVD/CD combination wasn't exactly what I was hoping for with a title like that (ahem!), but what it actually contains is the culmination of Rick Springfield's ongoing acoustic shows where he tells all sorts of tales about his childhood, the stories behind the songs and in some cases, he even interrupts himself to tell the audience about his experiences in some hilarious ways.
My favourite of these is 'Painted Girl' where he does just that. It's one of the first songs he ever wrote, but certainly a track with a definite adult perspective; the results are hilarious.
Along with the expected hits like 'Jessie's Girl', 'Human Touch' and 'Love is Alright Tonight', Springfield also offers up a couple of his own personal favourites – surprisingly, Fleetwood Mac's 'Oh Well', Badfinger's 'Baby Blue' and the Blues classic 'Rollin' And Tumblin''.
I've always found it very hard to listen to the heartbreaking 'My Father's Chair', but having the song explained in such a personal way by the writer was a joy. The one new track on the album, 'If Wishes Were Fishes', is a cleverly written and highly amusing take on life with lines like "I wish people would stop calling me Rick Springsteen"...now that really did make me laugh out loud!
Considering the show consists of Springfield, an acoustic guitar and a laptop, it's fantastic. The sound quality of the recording is wonderful and if you listen on headphones, it's like you're in the room with him. As for the DVD's visual perspective, it shows him surrounded by his fans at close quarters and the intimacy of, what is basically a lounge gig, is superb.
Rick Springfield's self-deprecating, tongue-in-cheek delivery added to his still brilliant vocal performance is to be commended. A definite winner for me (and he didn't even have to take his shirt off).
Sue Ashcroft
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