Live by Request Reviews



Amazon.com Customer Reviews

knocked my socks off! - Review written on December 08, 2005
* * * * *
Rating: 5 out of 5
8 customers found this review helpful.

Wow, was I impressed. I've heard songs by k d lang before and always appreciated her range and ability to get so deep into the emotions of her songs. I just spent an hour mezmerized by k d lang in her dvd "live by Request".
As a former performer I can appreciate the nuances her voice takes on, but watching her perform, (while she'll never be a great on stage "presence" as far as connecting with her audience in conversational aspects)like many other artists, she doesn't need to! She had the folks in the audience alternately jumping to their feet in standing ovations or absolutely silent in their respect for her voice and her style, which is the greatest applause an audience can give. She gave me chills.
There's a song from years ago something about artists want to sing and singers want to dance and dancers want to yak, yak, yak! The author says, don't talk, just sing!
That's more than enough for me. I am awed by her talent.
May she continue to "knock my socks off"!
Soulless - Review written on December 03, 2005
* *
Rating: 2 out of 5
1 customer found this review helpful, 3 did not.

She has a great voice, the songs are good songs and the band is very competent but the record just doesn't work. It is just plain boring like kd is phoning it in Maybe an off night for her, I don't know but this CD ain't worth the price of a blank.
Live By Request - Review written on August 26, 2004
*
Rating: 1 out of 5
35 customers found this review not to be helpful.
Wonderful Voice
No you do not have to be gay to appreciate this womans voice and if you are, you would probably be attracted to her. I am attracted to both voice and person of k d lang. Gay pride brought her to San Diego this past August, I would have attended the event, for sure, had gay pride not have had to bring k d to town. What diff? K D - whazz-up widt you, can you come to town, with out? You have many fans!!!!
Nice, but too much for 2 channels... - Review written on August 01, 2004
* * * *
Rating: 4 out of 5

I LOVE k d and think she has one of the most gorgeous voices on Earth. But I can understand the commentator who reviewed the DVD and said the CD version was "dead on arrival."

Somehow the sound of the mix is just too congested for stereo. (I will have to get the DVD and see if it works better in 5.1). The mix is also rather brittle and a bit bright, and somehow I didn't feel her voice is shown in the best light.

This unfortunately kept me a bit from enjoying the performance...until "Constant Craving" which absolutely blew my socks off.

Get this, but on DVD I think.
a truly... Live experience. - Review written on June 17, 2004
* * * * *
Rating: 5 out of 5
10 customers found this review helpful.

I'm italian, I'm a musician and... I fell in love with katrin dawn. I have all her cds, but this one has a special meaning to me, because, just because of my nationality, I know that here in Italy she's not well known and she will never come to play... so this reconrd is the only possibility (added to the other two live records) to me to hear her and her fantastic voice.. live. Well the other possibility is a... ticket to U.S., but,... where are the money? Ok, let's talk about "Live by request".

Which is... simply brilliant. I like the selection of the songs and the way they have been rearranged, that they have been renovated but not changing their identity or their original sound.
Talking about k. d. lang... I don't know what to say: she's exciting, that's all. Her vibrato, the falsetto, the imperpretative malinchony or the pathos.. I really think she's one of the Voice that will be the story of these last decades..
Let's focus a while on each song.

Summerfling
Well, this is a fantastic start, also because it's one of my favourite song of her last albums.. the sound and the arrangements are less refined compared with the orioginal version, but this is not a bad thing. 8

Big Boned Gal
This is so funny, I have so much fun singin' it! And she's brilliant and vocally agile as in the orginal version.. I like so much the acoustic sound! 8+

Black Coffee
This is a jazz standard and has a special meaning to me, because I play it with my band as a tribute to this woman. And I love it. 8-

Trail Of Broken Hearts
Another Highlight, but even if it's well played, k. d. is more intense on the studio version.. Check it out. 7,5

Crying
I love this song, really. And it really seems she had wrote it, even if it's not true.. but she feel it, and that's great. 8+

Don't Smoke In Bed
This song has so much pathos.. and it's another old standard made famous by Peggy Lee. I love her rendition, mainly the piano & voice introduction.. unforgettable. 8+

The Consequences Of Falling
This song is so.. fresh, breezy.. I love it, even if it has a very simple structure and it's a little different (rythmically) from the original version.. relaxing. 8,5

Miss Chatelaine
I've understood the meaning of this song thanks to the explanation of a canadian reviewer somewhere in one of k. d.'s cd, and.. I think it's a funny song, very brazil-in-new-york! 7+

Three Cigarettes In An Ashtray
Another classic, taken from the country repertory of Patsy Cline.. which is a betutiful waltzer, but.. maybe is the only song that I would have not played for a live session that was going to be a record. It's just.. too "old-style". 6,5

Barefoot
Well this song could be the only reason to buy this cd. It has been a surprise, it's so.. catchy, frozen.. and so much better than the original and less-known version! I love this song, really.. so malinchonic. 9

Constant Craving
Here's the "Smash Hit", k. d. would have made a mistake to not sang it.. The live versione has lost a little talking about vocal rendition, but the arrangement is more acoustic and well-built, the song is a little faster and you won't be thinking about the difference with the "Ing?nue" version. 8+

Wash Me Clean
Another "Ing?nue" song. Lovely, so fragile.. written by lang, and you can feel it by her interpretation. 8

Pullin' Back The Reins
Another big suprise from the "so country" 80s, a big strong medium ballad from the awarded "Absolute Torch And Twang".. one of the best track of it. I love the lyrics. 8,5

Simple
This is a so.. simple, small and brilliant song, as a little gem it shines at the end of this live experience.. I love it, resumes with astonishing semplicity and effectivenes.. what love is. 8,5

I love this cd, if you're reading here maybe you'll have vaguely understood it.. But I ensure you it's one of the most beautiful live experience I've ever listened to. Your money won't be wasted at all.

Marco

Real talent - Not so perfect occasion - Review written on December 11, 2003
* * * *
Rating: 4 out of 5
3 customers found this review helpful.

I've been a devoted fan of kd for over 12 years - I absolutely love her for her talent - as a singer and a performer, she's everything she wants to be. It'd certainly help if you've watched the DVD of this Live by Request - but otherwise, I honestly find it hard to imagine the CD to be her best or anything near her best. Some of the stronger bits that were included in the DVD are unavailable here - while the band were at their best backing kd - and the music in some of the tracks on this CD is either a bit too loud or too soft. In a couple of tracks, like 'The Consequence of Falling', it does not back kd's vocal very well at certain moments and seems to slack of at some point. kd sounds as amazing as always on most tracks but if you have followed her recordings (including guest appearances in other concerts, etc.) you'd have to admit she's given better performance of some of these songs, such as 'Barefoot' or her classic, 'Constant Craving'. The editing is good and you dont get any abrupt or awkward bits, but on the other hand, there dont seem to be too many sparks in the interaction between kd and the audience. She moves them - as much as she wants to - there's no doubt about it, but I suggest those who're interested in kd check out her other live recordings, or mp3, where you hear her being slightly less reserved or subdued. One of the reasons could be it's not her own tour - that it's Live by Request by someone else's production and she is not doing some of the things she would do in her own concerts, which you'd have to see for yourself.

On the whole - I wouldnt recommend listening or buying this CD before you watch the DVD, or are already familiar with most of her other records. I dont want to undermine the opinions of those who love this record - it's good, it showcases kd's talent with a fairly good selection of songs, but the production doesnt present kd at her best, and she certainly has sounded even better in some of the tracks we love here.

Great concert performance by k. d. lang - Review written on June 16, 2003
* * * *
Rating: 4 out of 5
11 customers found this review helpful, 3 did not.

Kathryn Dawn Lang from Consort, Alberta, is a brave artist, a spokesperson for small-town lesbian dreams, a true triumph of talent over image and packaging, a cultural icon for our times. She is also a fantastic live performer, as this live work beautifully demonstrates. Recorded in New York in December of 2000, this CD features some of la lang's greatest hits and a few delightful surprises to showcase her vocal range and the vast variety of musical styles she has experimented with throughout her eventful career. The 40s-ish cover artwork suggests that she is content with being label "our generation's Rosemary Clooney"--a crooner and stylist extraordinaire. She's Rosemary Clooney, Patsy Cline, Peggy Lee, Tammy Wynette, and many others all rolled into one amazing, original superdiva. The CD opens with the breezy, bossa nova-inflected "Summerfling," from the underappreciated CD of the same name. In this performance, Ms. lang adds elements of rock and even reggae, showing off how comfortable and playful she can be in concert. The second track, "Big Boned Gal," is a fun rockabilly number with a playful lesbian sensibility. The third track, her cover of Sonny Burke and Paul Francis Webster's classic "Black Coffee," adds a twangy steel guitar to her languid, seductive vocal. Next is the lang/Ben Mink song "Trail of Broken Hearts," one of the most beautiful, haunting melodies Ms. lang has ever graced with her vocal. This version is even better than the original, although it remains very close to album version. The fifth track is her gorgeous cover of Roy Orbison's "Crying," and a fitting tribute to her famous duet partner. Her vocal is much stronger than in the original, and she illicits thrilled applause from her audience when she nails the tricky high notes. Back into Peggy Lee territory, with the sixth track, "Don't Smoke in Bed." The song was made famous by Peggy Lee, and lang's smokey, piano-kissed version would likely have delighted the legendary Miss Peggy Lee. Next is the wistful "The Consequences of Falling," from the "Summerfling" CD. Listening to the live version, we can't imagine her repertoire without this song, and it makes a great lead-in to the heady, swirling "Miss Chatelaine." The U.S. and European listeners didn't get the joke, but we Canadians know what a dubious honour it was for a "big-boned gal" from Consort to be graced with the title "Miss Chatelaine." Knowing that "Chatelaine" magazine is a somewhat kitschy, retrospective publication offering advice on how to beautify your kitchen, yard, and marriage, we Canadians smile at k. d.'s campy humour. The ninth song is the Miller/Stevenson torchy "Three Cigarettes in an Ashtray," a nod to one of Ms. lang's idols, Patsy Cline. There was something in Patsy Cline's music which perfectly captured the loneliness and isolation of life in small-town western Canada, which perhaps explain's lang's fascination with Cline. The tenth song is the most surprising inclusion, the forgotten gem "Barefoot," from the Percy Adlon film. The orchestration is spare and delicate, the vocal particularly poignant and haunting in this performance. There are few songs which capture the essence of a long, cold, prairie winter better than this one, especially for a young gay person, whose feelings increase the sense of isolation. This is followed by a rousing rendition of "Constant Craving," still probably Miss Chatelaine's--er, I mean, Ms. lang's biggest hit. The vocal is a little looser than in the original, but the emotion remains intact. The twelfth song is the slow, quiet "Wash me Clean," from her famous "Ingenue" CD. As in "Barefoot," the production is clean and spare, to keep the pure and delicate vocal unencumbered. Next is the lang/Ben Mink composition "Pullin' Back the Reins," a tip of the tattered felt hat to k. d.'s country past. It is testament to her talents as a songwriter that we can imagine someone like Patsy Cline or Peggy Lee covering this song and still making it sound great. The CD closes with the folksy, ethereal "Simple," which evokes the sound of her fellow Canadians Jane Siberry and Sarah McLachlan. Ms. lang ends a spectacular concert with a simple, understated "Thank you." We your loyal fans are the grateful ones, k. d.
Sweet, Sultry and Oh-So Seductive.... - Review written on July 13, 2002
* * * *
Rating: 4 out of 5
3 customers found this review helpful, 3 did not.

That's K.D. Lang. The collection is a bit weak, especially "Big Boned Gal", but it works because K.D. knows how to woo an audience. As the track progresses you get a true feeling of Lang's range, and her dramatic abilities. She is simply electric. This may not be your choice as her best work, but it is a marvelous introduction to a very talented (albeit controversial) recording artist.

Blessings,
Cris

Great Voice, Weak Production - Review written on April 20, 2002
* * * *
Rating: 4 out of 5
3 customers found this review helpful, 1 did not.

lang shall always be one of my fave ever singers & her albums All You Can Eat & Invincible Summer two of my fave ever albums; however this live showcase is not the best that I feel kd could have performed. A selection of greatest hits, they are all sung remarkably brilliantly (I couldn't expect anything else), however the production seems uneven, the instrumentation weak & the choice of songs feel as if they are obligatory performances rather than choosing songs which really would have fared better live! (Infinite & Unforeseen, When We Collide & Only Love for example). Maybe that's a selfish attitude, cos there are kd songs which I just love unconditionally. Nevertheless the songs her are brilliant (in particular Consequence of Falling, the aching Pullin Back The Reins, the dark Black Coffee), plus the obligatory sleeper-hit Constant Craving. The audience takes some time to warm up but lang commandes attention. With a voice of silk & heartfelt renditions of these classics, the album is a rarer example of a consistent live! album, although as I said before the sound & instrumentation lack that certain edge. Otherwise this would have been 5 stars.
There is nothing like k.d. live! - Review written on April 06, 2002
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Rating: 5 out of 5
5 customers found this review helpful.

Looking for a K.D. Lang introduction? This is a great start! K.D. Lang is amazing live. If you ever get a chance to see her, you will not regret it! She has such energy and gets so playful � she makes you feel like you are the only person in the room with her. This CD is pretty dang close to that experience! Crank it up on your walkman and dance around to �Summerfling� or �Miss Chatelaine�. And when you hear K.D. belt out Roy Orbinson�s �Crying� you�ll fall in love.

If you don�t own any KD music, or have only heard one or two songs, you should know that she is one of those people who likes to discover new styles of music and try new things. So if you don�t like one song or even one album, try a different one! She is so immensely talented and has a voice that can sing anything. Her early stuff was very country or rock-a-billy. Then Shadownlands is some of her best vocal work ever. Ingenue was probably her biggest commercial success because it has a number of songs with good �hooks�. And her newer stuff is has a �pop� edge to it that is really fun. This CD is a good introduction because it has something from all of those �eras� of K.D.)

And obviously if you love k.d. then you should definitely own this CD!

live but not better - Review written on January 31, 2002
* * *
Rating: 3 out of 5
3 customers found this review not to be helpful.
I was very disappointed with this CD. I saw the concert on TV and it was lovely. The CD on the other hand exhibited poor volume control. The volume level of Ms. Lang's vocals as well as, that of the instruments continously fluctuated. Ms. Lang has a beautiful voice but, it was not showcased on this CD. I struggled to hear her on many of the songs. I would return this CD but, it is the only one that has 'Barefoot' on it.
she never dissapoints... - Review written on January 05, 2002
* * * * *
Rating: 5 out of 5
4 customers found this review helpful, 1 did not.

I have long been a fan of k.d. She's one of those musicians that I love, yet don't "rush out" to buy her cd. Probably because she is quite simply, timeless. Her voice is exquisite. Her choices of music are always different, yet she sings all of her songs with the same incredible voice. If you don't have any of her cd's, and are contemplating a purchase...this is the BEST of her work.

I was somewhat hesitant to buy a "live" cd. They seem to be filled with too much clapping and audience noise. This one has been edited very well. While listening to it, I almost forgot that it was a "live" cd.

This cd will not dissapoint.

she's such an amazing talent - Review written on December 24, 2001
* * * * *
Rating: 5 out of 5
1 customer found this review not to be helpful.
This CD will be a personal long-time favorite. I couldn't care less about her politics or sexual orientation. Her artistry is simply amazing.
The Greatest Torch & Twang Artist Since Patsy Cline - Review written on September 24, 2001
* * * * *
Rating: 5 out of 5
1 customer found this review helpful.

I first encountered kd lang live at an Amnesty International concert. She was opening for a cavalcade of stars, including Peter Gabriel, Sting and Springsteen. I wasn't really a fan of hers at the time, or of country music in general (with the exception of Patsy Cline), so I sat rather restlessly through the 'twang' segment of her set.

About 40 minutes into the set, kd gave a brief eulogy to Roy Orbison, who had recently passed away, the lights dimmed and she launched into Crying. What followed was a revelation. I and 18,000 others at Maple Leaf Gardens sat open-mouthed as she torched her way through the song. The emotion and momentum was palpable, building in very much the same way it would during a figure skating program, where the skater is executing more and more difficult combinations absolutely flawlessly.

By the time she reached the stanza, "But you DOOOOOON'T love me...", the entire crowd was in tears. As she lingered on the final note, the crowd was already standing, and remained standing for a solid five minutes. She had stopped the show, and won our hearts.

The Greatest Torch & Twang Artist Since Patsy Cline - Review written on September 24, 2001
* * * * *
Rating: 5 out of 5
8 customers found this review helpful, 3 did not.

I first encountered kd lang live at an Amnesty International concert. She was opening for a cavalcade of stars, including Peter Gabriel, Sting and Springsteen. I wasn't really a fan of hers at the time, or of country music in general (with the exception of Patsy Cline), so I sat rather restlessly through the 'twang' segment of her set.

About 40 minutes into the set, kd gave a brief eulogy to Roy Orbision, who had recently passed away, the lights dimmed and she launched into Crying. What followed was a revelation. I and 18,000 others at Maple Leaf Gardens sat open-mouthed as she torched her way through the song. The emotion and momentum was palpable, building in very much the same way it would during a figure skating program, where the skater is executing more and more difficult combinations absolutely flawlessly.

By the time she reached the stanza, "But you DOOOOOON'T love me...", the entire crowd was in tears. As she lingered on the final note, the crowd was already standing, and remained standing for a solid five minutes. She had stopped the show, and won our hearts.

Among the best discs I have ever purchased - Review written on September 21, 2001
* * * * *
Rating: 5 out of 5

Simply put, this is one of the absolute best discs I have ever bought. Aside from the fact that K.D. Lang the most talented vocalist in popular music today, the songs on this album are intelligent and powerful and the music is wonderful. This album perfectly captures K.D. Lang's amazing vocal range and versatility. The ballads "Simple", "Crying", "Wash Me Clean", "Trail of Broken Hearts", "Summerfling", and "Barefoot" are my favorite selections from this live performance. Making the emotional connection with this album is truly a religious experience.
A nearly perfect album from a perfect voice - Review written on September 20, 2001
* * * *
Rating: 4 out of 5
9 customers found this review helpful.

Let's get this right from the start. I LOVE k.d. lang. Her voice gives me chills any time I hear her. She is unbelievably talented, a refreshing vocal delight in a sea of Britneys and Backstreet Boys.

With that said, this disc is a stunning live performance in its own right. For anyone who has never seen her live, this is a great introduction to the sheer power that she radiates from the stage. From a haunting rendition of "Wash Me Clean" to the my-ears-are-still-ringing-and-my-spine-is-tingling performance of the Patsy Cline standard "Three Cigarettes In An Ashtray," this CD mesmerizes you from first listen.

What kept it from getting five stars instead of four is, quite simply, that this is not her best performance. Having heard her live several times, I was a tiny bit disappointed here because I thought she was restrained on a couple of tracks. Her inherited-and-now-signature live song, Roy Orbison's "Crying," is almost always a show-stopper resulting in thunderous standing ovation. Here, it's still breathtaking, but you can almost hear her holding back, perhaps out of growing too familiar with the track...?

At any rate, I bought this the moment it came out, and once again, I am thoroughly impressed. It's a request I am glad I made.

No one sings a Torch Song like K.D.Lang! - Review written on September 07, 2001
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Rating: 5 out of 5
2 customers found this review helpful.

This album is one of her best! A friend once told me if you want the best performance from a performer, buy a CD recorded from a Live Performance...and this lived up to that advice! I love it......I am sure you will love it!
"Tony Bennett is right on...K.D. Lang is a National Treasure - Review written on August 29, 2001
* * * * *
Rating: 5 out of 5
6 customers found this review helpful, 1 did not.

Canadian born Kathryn Dawn Lang is "pure talent"...as this album gives you the insight of her many hit songs...having a purity tone in her voice, reminds me very much of the late Ella Fitzgerald and Patsy Cline...her style makes the difference as you listen to "CRYING", the big hit of Roy Orbison, who also composed the song (which was recorded in 1987 as a duet with Orbison)...we need to mention some stand outs ~ "BIG BONED GAL", ultimate country..."BLACK COFFEE", great jazz standard..."DON'T SMOKE IN BED", serving up a torch singers ballad...the list could go on...entire album is a WINNER!

Remember my album that I played over and over again ~ "Absolute Torch and Twang", just about wore that one out...if you're a fan this latest release from Lang is a must have

Total Time: 53:26 on 14 Tracks ~ Warner Bros. Records 9-48108-2 ~ (2001)

k.d. lang for the masses - Review written on August 29, 2001
* * * *
Rating: 4 out of 5
18 customers found this review helpful.

k.d. lang has such a powerful and commanding voice that, in the short span of six months, I have gone from owning 0 of her cd's to owning every one of them (10 altogether), and have thrilled at the prospect of her each new interpretation. Having lost all objectivity for a woman who can very nearly do no wrong, I will attempt to describe the things that LIVE BY REQUEST does and doesn't achieve. Without question, the combination of k.d.'s Live By Request show, its subsequent release in 3 formats (this cd, VHS and DVD) and her current tour with Tony Bennett have brought her to a wider audience than ever before. Know that this cd is VERY GOOD. But is it As Good As She Gets? Not Even! What this cd offers is the broadest slice of k.d.'s musical repertoire and a handful of songs that could easily qualify as her "Greatest Hits" if radio had afforded her the airplay she deserves. If forced to pick from her top 10 best songs, I could acquiesce to "Pullin' Back the Reins", "Big-boned Gal", "Crying", and "Trail of Broken Hearts", all included here to no measure of disappointment. They aptly represent her virtuoso at heartache and high energy. For those new to k.d.'s career, this will serve as a satisfying introduction to the wonder of her voice. Be sure to go beyond the opening track, Summerfling, which is from Invincible Summer, her last release and, I hesitate to add, the least indicative of her awesome potential. For the already-converted k.d. fans, this is indeed her long-awaited first live release and, as always, her voice is in beautiful form. Still, this point in her career finds her renditions understated compared to earlier performances. If you're looking for THE definitive live performance by k.d., it is available only on VHS in the unsurpassable "Live in Sydney". While her voice astounds, little can compare to both hearing and seeing her work her magic. Hopefully this cd will give new fans enough of a taste of k.d.'s material to seek out her earlier gems, most notably ABSOLUTE TORCH AND TWANG, SHADOWLAND and ALL YOU CAN EAT. By my standard, whenever k.d. sings, she's preaching to the choir! And I say AMEN!
A great album but it doesn't sound live - Review written on August 27, 2001
* * * * *
Rating: 5 out of 5

This is a breathtaking album. k.d. lang is an extraordinary vocalist who sings extraordinary songs. The selection here is outstanding and "Crying," "Constant Craving" and other performances will have you astounded. But, strangely, there is almost no feeling of a concert here. The audience seems miles away (you can barely hear the applause) and there is absolutely no comment from k.d. beyond "thank you" and no exchange with the audience. So this is more a greatest hits collection than a live album. The packaging is odd, too. The cover has a 1960s typographical motif and a '60s-type "Stereophonic" logo but nowhere else in the package is that idea picked up upon. And there's nothing in the notes about the concert, the location, the songs, anything to enhance the recording. The cover photo looks like it was taken in a photo studio and there are no concert photos anywhere in the package. For a first live album by a major artist that bare bones-ness is strange indeed.
A great album but it doesn't sound live - Review written on August 27, 2001
* * * * *
Rating: 5 out of 5

This is a breathtaking album. k.d. lang is an extraordinary vocalist who sings extraordinary songs. The selection here is outstanding and "Crying," "Constant Craving" and other performances will have you astounded. But, strangely, there is almost no feeling of a concert here. The audience seems miles away (you can barely hear the applause) and there is absolutely no comment from k.d. beyond "thank you" and no exchange with the audience. So this is more a greatest hits collection than a live album. The packaging is odd, too. The cover has a 1960s typographical motif and a '60s-type "Stereophonic" logo but nowhere else in the package is that idea picked up upon. And there's nothing in the notes about the concert, the location, the songs, anything to enhance the recording. The cover photo looks like it was taken in a photo studio and there are no concert photos anywhere in the package. For a first live album by a major artist that bare bones-ness is strange indeed.
A great album but it doesn't sound live - Review written on August 27, 2001
* * * * *
Rating: 5 out of 5
4 customers found this review helpful, 1 did not.

This is a breathtaking album. k.d. lang is an extraordinary vocalist who sings extraordinary songs. The selection here is outstanding and "Crying," "Constant Craving" and other performances will have you astounded. But, strangely, there is almost no feeling of a concert here. The audience seems miles away (you can barely hear the applause) and there is absolutely no comment from k.d. beyond "thank you" and no exchange with the audience. So this is more a greatest hits collection than a live album. The packaging is odd, too. The cover has a 1960s typographical motif and a '60s-type "Stereophonic" logo but nowhere else in the package is that idea picked up upon. And there's nothing in the notes about the concert, the location, the songs, anything to enhance the recording. The cover photo looks like it was taken in a photo studio and there are no concert photos anywhere in the package. For a first live album by a major artist that bare bones-ness is strange indeed.
Live By Request Rocks - Review written on August 21, 2001
* * * * *
Rating: 5 out of 5
4 customers found this review helpful.

The selection is wonderful and clean and makes you feel like you are a part of the concert. This is great for music lovers and kd fans. We try to feel her music and this just brings us one step closer. I recommend this album to everybody who has always wanted a bootleg copy and couldn't find one.
Live At Last - Review written on August 20, 2001
* * * *
Rating: 4 out of 5
2 customers found this review helpful, 2 did not.

I have like most of you, have been waiting for this album fior a long time, and it doesn't dissapoint. My favourite tracks on the album are Big Boned Gal, Black Coffee, Barefoot, Wash Me Clean and Trail Of Broken Hearts. If you have ever seen K.D. Lang live and loved her, then this album is a must have
Cynical - Review written on August 19, 2001
* *
Rating: 2 out of 5
2 customers found this review helpful, 2 did not.

I don't know if the title is a hint as to the origins of this CD, but it wouldn't surprise me if it were released "by request" of kd's label, and not her. It certainly does not bear the mark of a release supervised by kd - the vocals are often less than perfect and even off-pitch (given, it's a live record), the song selctions are unadventurous, the arrangements are hackneyed. As an artist, kd is a perfectionist, and this just doesn't come close. As a huge fan, I have to wonder why kd's label (or kd herself?) doesn't have more respect for her work. Hers is a singular talent that deserves better than this off-handed release.
The concert of a lifetime - Review written on August 19, 2001
* * * * *
Rating: 5 out of 5
2 customers found this review helpful, 1 did not.

There are no words to express the beauty of this album. After listening to it openmouthed, I now believe that Ms Lang is the best singer of her generation. There are songs from various musical genres on this greatest hits live CD but she masters them all with equal perfection. The sound quality is excellent, the material brilliant, her performance breathtaking.

This is one outstanding album and I highly recommend it for anyone who enjoys true talent.

Not so live - Review written on August 17, 2001
* * * *
Rating: 4 out of 5
1 customer found this review helpful, 2 did not.

As a long time fan I have eagerly awaited an 'official' live recording from k.d. I have enjoyed her in concert on numerous occasions,and have been enjoying an excellent bootleg from the All You Can Eat Tour for several years now. With her incredible voice and impeccable musicianship how could the 'official' release be anything but fantastic? Well I'm sorry to say that although the voice is just as breathtaking as ever, there was something missing and I found the recording to be a disappointment. After several listenings it became obvious that the missing ingredient was the lack of electricity and intimacy between performer and audience that I had been so fortunate to enjoy in the past.
k. d. lang Live By Request - Review written on August 17, 2001
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Rating: 4 out of 5
2 customers found this review helpful, 2 did not.

I really enjoyed the sampling of all her different styles and some of my very favorites of hers. It was an excellent overview of her music and talent.
Excellent Live Album - Review written on August 17, 2001
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Rating: 4 out of 5

I usually do not get into live recordings, but this one is quite good. "Crying", for one, is quite masterfully done. The rest are very good also. "Barefoot" is another stand out. I love that song. The rest of the album also makes for a very pleasant listening experience. This makes me wish i had been to all the performances.
She's a legend!! - Review written on August 16, 2001
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Rating: 5 out of 5
3 customers found this review helpful, 4 did not.

She's so good live preformer! I allways loved her music. Her songs are describing the meaning of life...that's why I think she's so important person. K.D.!! You're perfect!
lang's Voice Stands Out Among Contemporary Pop Artists - Review written on August 16, 2001
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Rating: 4 out of 5
17 customers found this review helpful, 2 did not.

Until Live By Request, I had never purchased a k.d. lang c.d.. Long a Tony Bennett fan, I had the pleasure of seeing Tony with k.d. in concert two weeks ago. k.d. lang could very well be THE best voice in pop today. Her quirkiness, I believe, is the only thing that has held her back from being bigger than she is. Sadly, some of her material is rather quixotic. On the right song, however, there's none any better than lang.

Live By Request opens with the upbeat, addictive tune "Summerfling," off lang's last c.d. "Invincible Summer." Among other highlights are her stunning versions of Roy Orbison's "Crying" and Peggy Lee's "Don't Smoke in Bed." Also included are her hits "Constant Craving" and "Black Coffee."

I would say that this, among any other, is the one k.d. lang c.d. you should buy. It's highlights her catalog and it's quite a performance.