Live

Personnel: Frank Reed, Marshall Thompson, Tara Thompson, Robert Lester (vocals, background vocals); Diane Womack, Alicia Renee, Samotta Acklin (background vocals).
Not a bad live set, but no award winner either. Member Marshall Thompson produced the guys in action at Lulu's Roadhouse in Kitchener, Ontario. Unlike most live albums, the audience participation was almost nil, but the upside is that you can hear the vocals better. The revamped group, a quartet in their heyday, is now a trio and has a new lead to replace original Eugene "Geno" Record. Bass singer Creadel "Red" Jones was never replaced, and many miss the booming low tones that worked "Give More Power to the People." A decent medley of their past hits is delightful; they don't chop the songs unmercifully like many acts do. The minor hit "Hot On a Thing" is one of their visual numbers that doesn't work with just audio. Robert "Squirrel" Lester leads "Oh Girl" and strips the song of its poignancy, but he redeems himself with some emotional backing fills on "Coldest Days of My Life." A worthy recording for those who have never experienced the Chi-Lites live. ~ Andrew Hamilton