Review: Terry Callier - Live Peace (BBE Music / IMPRESS!VE Collective)

Terry Callier with 13 tracks packed with 'Live Peace'; known for 'Love Theme From Spartacus' - Terry is Spartcus of love and peace - this is as close to perfection!

Whilst the 2023 Record Store Day release 'Hidden Converstation' (see review HERE) had the "re-launch" vibe of Terry's appearance at the Meltdown Festival currated by Massive Attack with the Bristol trip hop sound is all over over it, this is an intermate live concert that showcases the master vocalist in a more mellow Gil Scot-Heron/Brian Jackson style.

And it's no as this was recorded live by renowned sound engineer Martin Dixon at The Yardbird Suite / The Underground in Leeds in 1998 and 2001, these performances feature Terry alongside his hand-picked ‘Family Band’; which included legendary guitarist Jim Mullen (he of Morrissey Mullen), Chris Kibble on keys and famed percussionist Joao Bosco De Olivera (both of the Robin Jones Jazz Sextet).  Lovingly restored from the only surviving source using modern AI-assisted audio tools, the aim was never to polish away the grain, but to let Terry’s voice, message, and band shine once more.

'If I Could Change Your Mind' find Terry at his most Dwight Trible/Leon Thomas but the whole album is class and unsurprisingly endorsed by Terry's daughter Sunny who also provided the perfect picture of her Dad for the cover.

The Callier back story of his emergence in the 1960s on Prestige/Cadet/Elektra labels to , working in a car factory as he was, to then re-emege to a whole new 90s generation of fans with five albums on Mr Bongo from 2001 until his untimely passing in 2012; and if you remember the 'Welcome Home' album from 2008, I always felt it missed something of Callier's regular appearance at the Jazz Cafe, festivals with his, laid back style; this album lacks nothing in that department: this is Terry live and in peace (if at times, an angry peace).

Take a bow Mr. Callier - original hipster!

P.S. Hard to believe the 4 Hero mix of 'Love Theme From Spartacus' was 1998! Talkin Loud - That's How It Is Gilles!

BUY LINK / PRE-ORDER: Live Peace | Terry Callier

Artist: Terry Callier

Title: Live Music

Release date : 18th September, 2026

Label : BBE MUSIC / IMPRESS!VE Collective

Catalog Number : BBE644

Format: LP / Bandcamp

Review: Terry Callier – Hidden Conversations (RSD Edition) (Mr Bongo)

Never did I think that this years' Record Store Day would produce such a great re-release as Terry Callier's 'Hidden Conversations' album form 2009.

At the time, this was another "re-launch" of the master vocalist as it followed his appearance at the Massive Attack currated Meltdown Festival and the Bristol trip hop sound is all over these six tracks.

'Once I Dreamed Of Heaven' is Callier at this most Dwight Trible/Leon Thomas but the co-written with Robert Del Naja ‘Wings’ (sung rap?), ‘John Lee Hooker' (he doesn't sound like John Lee Hooker but it's as if he was there in the studio) and ‘Live With Me'.

This is a goosebumps album in a good way.  After his re-appearance from the 60s Prestige/Cadet/Elektra beginnings, working in a car factory was it, he had a whole new 90s generation of fans with five albums on Mr Bongo from 2001 until his untimely passing in 2012; 'Hidden Conversations' being his last album release.

Callier was regular at the Jazz Cafe and festivals and his easy, laid back style is more than here as he sounds 'live', like on the beginning of the title track.

Originally a CD only release it now comes out on black vinyl with new artwork and an OBI strip. Original hipster.

Artist: Terry Callier

Title: Hidden Conversations (RSD Edition)

Release date : 22nd April, 2023

Label : Mr Bongo

Catalog Number : MRB264

Format: LP / Bandcamp