David Letterman's The Late Show always had a long tradition of excellent musical performances -- indeed, it's one of the few places on American network television where live music thrives -- so the question that surrounds the 1997 release of Live on Letterman: Music from the Late Show isn't why, but why did it take so long? There have been enough remarkable performances to fill several CDs, so hopefully this disc is the first in a series, but even if it isn't, there's plenty of great music on this 14-track album to make it satisfying. Not everything here will suit the tastes of every listener, but there are a number of wonderful moments, whether it's one-off duets from Elvis Costello and Burt Bacharach ("God Give Me Strength"), Lyle Lovett and Al Green ("Funny How Time Slips Away") Jerry Garcia and David Grisman ("Friend of the Devil"), Jewel and Flea ("You Were Meant for Me") and Van Morrison, Sinéad O'Connor and the Chieftains ("Have I Told You Lately That I Love You?") or dynamic performances from R.E.M. ("Crush with Eyeliner"), Sheryl Crow ("Strong Enough"), Lenny Kravitz ("Are You Gonna Go My Way"), Rod Stewart ("Reason to Believe") and Patti Smith ("Who Do You Love"). The end result is one of the few soundtracks that is more than a memento. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
Derek Bell (Harp), The Chieftains (Performer), Matt Molloy (Flute), Elvis Costello (Vocals), Elvis Costello (Performer), Aretha Franklin (Vocals), Aretha Franklin (Performer), Jerry Garcia (Guitar), Jerry Garcia (Vocals), Jerry Garcia (Performer), Al Green (Vocals), Al Green (Performer), Lenny Kravitz (Guitar), Lenny Kravitz (Vocals), Lenny Kravitz (Performer), Lyle Lovett (Vocals), Lyle Lovett (Performer), Lou Reed (Guitar), Lou Reed (Vocals), Lou Reed (Performer), Rod Stewart (Vocals), Rod Stewart (Performer), Bernie Worrell (Clavinet), Bernie Worrell (Melodica), Lew Soloff (Trumpet), Lew Soloff (Flugelhorn), Cindy Blackman (Drums), Jeff Golub (Guitar), Burt Bacharach (Piano), Burt Bacharach (Arranger), Burt Bacharach (Conductor), Burt Bacharach (Performer), Dave Matthews (Guitar (Acoustic)), Dave Matthews (Vocals), Dave Matthews (Performer), Jewel (Vocals), Jewel (Performer), Paul Shaffer (Organ), Paul Shaffer (Director), Paul Shaffer (Harmonium), Paul Shaffer (Keyboards), Sheryl Crow (Accordion), Sheryl Crow (Vocals), Sheryl Crow (Performer), Paula Cole (Piano), Paula Cole (Vocals), Paula Cole (Performer), Tawatha Agee (Vocals (Background)), Abe Appleman (Violin), Elena Barere (Violin), Elena Barere (Concert Master), Kevin Barry (Guitar), Liam Bradley (Drums), Peter Buck (Guitar), Crispin Cioe (Sax (Alto)), Greg Cohen (Bass), Jennifer Condos (Bass), Kevin Conneff (Bodhran), Jim Cregan (Guitar), John Daley (Bass), Jay Dee Daugherty (Drums), Jay Dee Daugherty (Vocals (Background)), Michael Delugg (Engineer), Michael Delugg (Associate Producer), Michael Delugg (Mixing), Mary Helen Ewing (Viola), Martin Fay (Fiddle), Anton Fig (Drums), Anton Fig (Tambourine), Barry Finclair (Violin), Flea (Bass), Flea (Performer), Danny Frankel (Drums), Lawrence Fratangelo (Percussion), Crystal Garner (Viola), Harvey Goldberg (Engineer), Harvey Goldberg (Mixing), David Grisman (Mandolin), David Grisman (Performer), Lani Groves (Vocals (Background)), Lenny Kaye (Guitar), Lenny Kaye (Vocals (Background)), Ann Leathers (Violin), Will Lee (Bass), Will Lee (Percussion), Will Lee (Vocals (Background)), Foggy Little (Guitar), Richard Locker (Cello), Bob Ludwig (Mastering), Paddy Moloney (Uillean Pipes), Paddy Moloney (Tin Whistle), Sid McGinnis (Guitar), Sid McGinnis (Mandolin), Mike Mills (Bass), Mike Mills (Vocals (Background)), Cynthia Mizelle (Vocals (Background)), Van Morrison (Vocals), Van Morrison (Performer), Sinéad O'Connor (Vocals), Sinéad O'Connor (Performer), Horace Ott (Conductor), Sandra Park (Violin), Paul Peabody (Violin), R.E.M. (Performer), Mike Rathke (Guitar), Carmine Rojas (Bass), Nicky Scott (Bass), Laura Seaton (Violin), Patti Smith (Vocals), Patti Smith (Performer), Richard Sortomme (Violin), Michael Stipe (Vocals), Byron Stripling (Flugelhorn), Marti Sweet (Violin), Frank Vilardi (Drums), Ellen Westerman (Cello), Don Teschner (Violin), Carter Beauford (Drums), Jay Bellerose (Drums), Bill Bentley (Producer), Bill Bentley (Associate Producer), Stefan Lessard (Bass), LeRoi Moore (Saxophone), Boyd Tinsley (Violin), Todd Wolfe (Pedal Steel), Bill Berry (Drums), Bill Berry (Vocals (Background)), Robbie Condor (Piano (Electric)), David Palmer (Drums), Nathan December (Guitar), Bruce Kapler (Sax (Alto)), Bruce Kapler (Sax (Tenor)), Carol Webb-Sortomme (Violin), Oliver Ray (Guitar), Felicia Collins (Guitar), Darryl Houston (Piano), Anthony Shananhan (Bass), Anthony Shananhan (Vocals (Background)), Wilbur Bascomb, Jr. (Bass), Craig Ross (Guitar), Fred White (Vocals (Background)), Scott Bryan (Guitar (Acoustic)), Scott Bryan (Vocals (Background)), Sean Keane (Fiddle), William Moore (Vocals (Background)), Teddy Richards (Guitar)
