Live in London (Helen Reddy album)

Background

Reddy had announced in the summer of 1977 that Kim Fowley, producer of her recent album release Ear Candy, would produce an upcoming live album for the singer: it was anticipated that the album would be a recording of Reddy's 8 November 1977 concert at Radio City Music Hall. However Reddy herself - collaborating with John Palladino - would produce her live album which was recorded at her three night gig at the London Palladium in May 1978.

Single release

The live recordings of "Mama" and "The West Wind Circus" became the respective A-side and B-side of a single from the album but had no showings on Billboard's pop or Easy Listening charts. Reddy commented on both songs in the liner notes of her singles compilation The Woman I Am: The Definitive Collection. Of the former she wrote, "Another great composition from Harriet Schock and one I sang every Mother's Day," and of the latter, "Although I was never in a circus, I have known families who were... Around the time I first heard this emotional work by Adam Miller, there was news of an aerialist in a well-known circus family falling to his death. This was a song I simply had to sing."

Reception

AllMusic's Joe Viglione wrote, "Producers John Palladino and Helen Reddy do a commendable job of capturing so many instruments and vocals and putting them into a wonderful mix. The album gets high marks for sound quality and performance... For the fans of Helen Reddy this is a treat and a very necessary part of her collection." In Billboard's review of the 2002 release of the album on compact disc, Mitchell Paoletta asks, "Ready for the flashback of a lifetime? If so, give a listen to Live in London, which has lost none of its sheen" and stresses that Reddy's "classy renderings of Billy Joel's 'The Entertainer' and Leon Russell's 'This Masquerade' should not be overlooked."

Track listing

Side 1

1. "Rhythm Rhapsody" (Ralph Schuckett, John Siegler) – 3:43
2. "This Masquerade" (Leon Russell) – 3:49
3. "Bluebird" (Leon Russell) – 2:35
4. "Candle on the Water" from Pete's Dragon (Joel Hirschhorn, Al Kasha) – 3:10
5. "Hold Me in Your Dreams Tonight" (Marie Cain) – 2:46

Side 2

1. "Angie Baby" (Alan O'Day) – 3:29
2. "Poor Little Fool" (Jeff Lynne) – 4:40
3. "Ready or Not" (Amber DiLena, Jerry Keller) – 3:46
4. "The West Wind Circus" (Adam Miller) – 5:10

Side 3

1. "We'll Sing in the Sunshine" (Gale Garnett) – 3:37
2. "Mama" (Harriet Schock) – 4:31
3. "You're My World" (Umberto Bindi, Gino Paoli, Carl Sigman) – 2:27
4. "I Can't Hear You No More" (Gerry Goffin, Carole King) – 4:13
5. "The Entertainer" (Billy Joel) – 2:07

Side 4

1. Medley introduction – 1:25
2. Medley – 12:20
   a. "I Don't Know How to Love Him" (Tim Rice, Andrew Lloyd Webber)
   b. "I Believe in Music" (Mac Davis)
   c. "Crazy Love" (Van Morrison)
   d. "Peaceful" (Kenny Rankin)
   e. "You and Me Against the World" (Kenny Ascher, Paul Williams)
   f. "Delta Dawn" (Larry Collins, Alex Harvey)
   g. "Ain't No Way to Treat a Lady" (Harriet Schock)
   h. "Leave Me Alone (Ruby Red Dress)" (Linda Laurie)
   i. "The Last Blues Song" (Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil)
   j. "Keep On Singing" (Bobby Hart, Danny Janssen)
   k. "I Am Woman" (Ray Burton, Helen Reddy)
3. "I'll Be Your Audience" (Lewis Anderson, Becky Hobbs) – 4:05