Jackrabbit Slim/Alive On Arrival 40th (Aniv)

2020 two disc set with Alive on Arrival and Jackrabbit Slim, plus bonus tracks on each disc. "Released in 1979, Jackrabbit Slim, Forbert's follow-up to his 1978 debut Alive On Arrival, was the album that introduced the Mississippi-born performer to a wide audience. "Romeo's Tune," provided the impetus for that. In an era which tended to favor New Wave sounds, Forbert's eloquently romantic song managed to break through for a #11 spot on the pop charts. That brought people to the rest of Jackrabbit Slim, earning Forbert a loyal following among fans of intelligent, heartfelt singer-songwriter output." - American Songwriter "Listening to the earnest folksiness of his debut, it's hard to imagine Forbert tramping about the mean streets of New York City and dropping in to play at CBGB. Steve Burgh's production adds welcome punch to the recordings, but Forbert's guitar, harmonica and vocals retain a folk-singer's intimacy in front of the guitar, bass, drums, piano and organ. Incredibly, both albums were recorded live-in-the-studio with no overdubs, an impressive feat for a road-seasoned band, but even more so for a young artist's initial studio work. The recording method pays additional dividends in the completeness of the bonus tracks; as complete as the original albums have always felt, the bonus tracks assimilate easily and must have been tough to omit at the time." - No Depression