All You Need Is Live. (Carousel Corner).

1964 ... the Tribute, All You Need Is Live (RD Music).

Tribute bands are a bore. They usually labor through "their" group's greatest hits with thudding, numbing accuracy--they seldom imbue the proceedings with the fire and passion that inspired the originals. With that rather all-encompassing indictment out front, we won't name names ... but all you boring tribute bands out there: you know who you are. Enter 1964 ... the Tribute. Their group? Yep, the Fab Four. I've known about these guys for a while, but my aversion to tribute bands kept them at arm's length. A while ago, Mrs. Lizard and I went to see Don Dixon and Marti Jones at The Birchmere in Alexandria VA. During the required spin through the club's record shop, my eye caught this double CD set -- something I hadn't seen a tribute band do before: record one of their live sets. Okay, maybe it would be worth a listen -- or at least a couple of yuks. The sound of All You Need Is Live was mesmerizing. Sure, individual voices, notably "Paul" and "Ringo", didn't quite live up to their models, but ensemble, their harmonies and arrangements were eerily present. And the band's ability to reproduce The Beatles' instrumental sound was uncanny. As luck would have it, the Tribute was appearing at the Birchmere a couple of weeks hence. We went.

In short: what a show. Now these guys, known only as Mark/"John", Gary/"Paul", Jimmy/ "George", and Greg/"Ringo", have been at this for more than 15 years. And while they're not dead ringers for the real thing, the resemblances are striking ... although Mrs. Lizard and I agreed that "Paul" and "Ringo" may have had some prosthetic help. And "George" and "Paul" looked a bit long in the tooth, especially "Paul's" middle-aged spread. But, lordy can they ever play, and can they ever sing. From "I Saw Her Standing There" to "Birthday" one could suspend belief and imagine that a slightly older, paunchier version of the band that once defined rock'n'roll was right there in the flesh. Since 1964 ... the Tribute is a stage show, as in a play or musical, each of the characters acts out his part with humorous authenticity: "John" is the gum snapping wise guy; "Paul" is slightly shy and all too eager to please; "George" is wry and withdrawn; and "Ringo" looks fairly nonchalant. "Paul" has the McCartney screech down cold; "George" replicates the unnerving lead guitar on "And Your Bird Can Sing"; and they all sing "Nowhere Man" as if they mean it. It's a hell of a show, one your crusty Carouselier heartily endorses.

All You Need Is Live, is an excellent recording, one you don't actually need, since it's simply an imitation. But if you are a Beatle fan and never got to see them live, All You Need Is Live gets oh-so-close to the real thing. Yo, audiophiles, we haven't forgotten you. Have you ever wondered what a great, long gone band -- whose live recordings are mostly dreck -- would sound like in a small club with an excellent sound system? Then All You Need Is Live is for you, too. Since 1964 ... the Tribute has started including later songs like "Taxman" and "And Your Bird Can Sing", they need to consider adding more of them, especially from the era bracketed by Rubber Soul and Abbey Road. They also need to consider a costume change. Four guys in the trademark "scooped neck" jackets, Beatle boots, and skinny ties performing post-Help numbers doesn't cut it. You can get the CD through 1964 ... the Tribute's web site: www.1964thetribute.com.