Album Notes

IMPORTANT NOTE: There are 'sound files' for ALL THE SONGS over at www.barrymccabe.com. That might help to give you a better idea of what the complete CD sounds like.

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Like "Absolutely Live Vol. I", the main part of this CD is from one concert. With "Absolutely Live Vol. I" the location was Norway. This time the recordings took place in Lille and Montpellier, France - originally released as "C'est La Vie".

Everything recorded on this CD is 100% live, and a lot of the songs were actually written on the road - as I spent most of that year on the road. The songs represent both sides of being on a long tour - the fast songs represent the hectic speedy moods you get into as you try to keep schedules that are often not human, and the slow songs represent the melancholic moods that break through sometimes as you miss the people and things that you love.

Again, like on "Absolutely Live Vol. I", some bonus tracks have been added - studio outtakes, live radio performances and concert performances - all previously unreleased material and all digitally re-mastered. There was a little more space left over after the main concert this time, leaving room for seven bonus tracks!

I hope that between these two releases I have managed to capture the essence of my "Albatross years". From my first single "Alberta" on this collection to the last note of "Tempted" on Absolutely Live Vol. I" it's been an incredible journey. There is blood, sweat & tears all over these songs - and I wouldn't have it any other way!!

To find out how this incredible journey continues, check out "The Peace Within" CD for the new "Celtic-Blues" sound of Barry Mc Cabe & Davy Spillane.
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Review of the original release "C'est La Vie"
Magazine: "Jazz Freak" - Holland. Reviewer: RvK

"You can hear some gutsy rock 'n' roll in songs like "Fine, Fine, Fine", but the strongest songs are ballads such as the Mc Cabe composition "Prisoners Of Conscience" - with a beautifully sung chorus. He has a 'jewel' of a voice!

The rhythm section deserves credit too, because ego tripping often has an all-destroying effect in a blues-rock trio, but that is absolutely not the case here. The band sounds like one complete unit, without any obtrusive or disturbing 'noises' in the background."
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"Absolutely Live Vol. 2 (The Albatross Years)"
Reviewed by Bobtje - http://www.bobtjeblues.com (Belgium)

There is excellent news for Barry Mc Cabe's fans. After the previously released "Absolutely Live Vol. 1 (The Albatross Years)", comes Vol. 2. Just like the last time, the first part of the CD consists of a selection of songs performed during a live concert, this time recorded during a tour in France (Lille and Montpellier).

It goes without saying that these performances were fireworks. Rockin' blues in the style of Rory Gallagher, George Thorogood and Peter Green, which is actually the sound that the former Albatross were famous for. Examples are - a cool rock-'n-roll song such as: (one of Barry's favourites) 'Fine Fine Fine', a sparkling blues-rock sound in 'Feel So Good' and a steaming version of George Thorogood's 'Move It On Over'. What is great about this last song is the acoustic piano solo, which was added especially for this concert and is a pleasant surprise.

Bonus tracks that were previously unreleased can also be found on this CD (7 this time), which in my opinion really adds something to the quality of this CD. In 'Everybody's Got The Blues' you can clearly hear how much Barry has been influenced by the late Rory Gallagher. Vocally as well as on guitar he achieves striking similarities with this blues artist that passed away much too soon. For the rest there is also the lovely acoustic version of S. Eaglin 'Alberta' (originally released on the b-side of the single 'Too Late Now'), Peter Green's beautiful slow blues number 'Love That Burns' and Barry's sensitive ballad about a lost love called 'Sheilagh'.

In short - again an extremely enjoyable album with lots of variety.
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