Reviewed by Tony May

As these things go they don't come much more legendary than the Soul Stirrers. Top of the tree since 1929, with current personnel mainly intact for over a decade, we are talking experience here! This live New York concert offers assorted standard fare. Nice friendly atmosphere, though I might resent the introduction to each group member on future playings. The energy is typical of older black gospel outfits, raw and urgent, though the electricity splutters through this rather uneven set. In its better moments the album has a bluesy tension, a low moan, and a feeling for the long ago roots of it all. However, the group manipulates the crowd with the usual hackneyed exhortations which sound artificial and jaded, they seem excessively aware of their senior status too. So a mixed set, for convinced fans of the genre only.

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