Lyle Lovett - Best Of Lyle Lovett Live (2007)

The title is no misnomer: this is indeed the Best of Lyle Lovett Live (circa the mid-'90s, anyway), which means that it's very good indeed. Though he's probably still mainly known to celebrity watchers for the couple of years he spent as Mr. Julia Roberts, or perhaps for his roles in films like The Player and The Opposite of Sex, the Texas-born Lovett has been an exceptional musician for the better part of two decades, and this 70-minute performance, recorded in San Antonio in '96, offers ample evidence. Lovett's "Large Band," as it's known, is adept at almost any style--a good thing, too, as here they take on everything from Basie-esque big band jazz ("Blues Walk") and R&B ("I Know You Know I'm So in Love with You" sounds like something from the Bobby "Blue" Bland catalogue, while "Here I Am" is a genuine soul stomper) to western swing (the irresistible "That's Right You're Not from Texas"), country ("Closing Time"), and gospel ("Church"). Moreover, all of this impeccable musicianship is in the service of some terrific songs. While his influences are apparent, Lovett's material is sui generis; few others would even think about writing "a cheating song about Mexican food" ("Nobody Knows Me Like My Baby"), let alone lines like "penguins are so sensitive to my needs" ("Penguins"). With his droll, laconic lyrics matched by his wry stage presence, not to mention the ability to attract duet partners like Rickie Lee Jones (on the haunting "North Dakota"), Lovett is a major talent who has too often been under-appreciated, a circumstance that this beautifully recorded performance should help rectify.