Ben Folds Live

Infobox Album |
Name = Ben Folds Live
Type = Live album
Artist = Ben Folds


Released = October 8 2002
Recorded = March 2-July 6 2002
Genre = Alternative rock
Length = 71:10
Label = Sony
Producer = Mark Chevalier, Ben Folds
Reviews =
*Allmusic Rating|3|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:rz6wtratkl5x~T1 link]
*Pitchfork (7.1/10) [http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/17798-ben-folds-live link]
*Rolling Stone Rating|3|5
Last album = "Rockin' the Suburbs"
(2001)
This album = "Ben Folds Live"
(2002)
Next album = "Speed Graphic"
(2003)

"Ben Folds Live" is a live album by Ben Folds, released in 2002 (see 2002 in music).

This album marked the first official release of the classic Ben Folds live routine, "Rock This Bitch", which he went on to perform at least 60 more times since, including on the releases "Songs for Goldfish" (under the name "Weather Channel Music") and on the "Live in Perth" DVD (in which he "rocks this bitch orchestrally" with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra).

This album was made available for a limited time with a bonus DVD. It had 8 tracks, including a video of the audience shooting the front cover (during which they all gave him the finger and yelled "Ben Folds sucks!"). This was also notable for the first appearance of the altered, minor-key version of the Ben Folds Five favorite "Song for the Dumped" on an official release. This version also includes Darren Jessee's "missing lyrics" ("You fucking whore" repeated a few times).

The Japanese release of the album included a live version of "Eddie Walker" and the studio recording of "Bizarre Christmas Incident".

Track listing

#"One Angry Dwarf and 200 Solemn Faces" (Folds) – 4:17
#"Zak and Sara" (Folds) – 3:24
#"Silver Street" (Folds) – 3:41
#"Best Imitation of Myself" (Folds) – 3:13
#"Not the Same" (Folds) – 4:31
#"Jane" (Folds) – 2:34
#"One Down" (Folds) – 4:03
#"Fred Jones Part 2" (Folds) – 4:39
#"Brick" (Folds, Jessee) – 4:45
#"Narcolepsy" (Folds) – 6:04
#"Army" (Folds) – 3:41
#"The Last Polka" (Folds, Goodman) – 3:55
#"Tiny Dancer" (John, Taupin) – 5:23
#"Rock This Bitch" (Folds) – 1:17
#"Philosophy (Inc Misirlou)" (Folds) – 7:16
#"The Luckiest" (Folds) – 4:39
#"Emaline" (Folds) – 3:48
#"Eddie Walker" - 3:25 (Japan release-only live bonus track)
#"Bizarre Christmas Incident" (Folds) – 2:25 (Japan release-only studio bonus track)

Limited Edition Bonus DVD

#"Not the Same" (Same version as Track #5 on the CD)
#"Philosophy (Inc Misirlou)"
#"Army"
#"Album Art Antics" (photographing the cover; see above)
#"Eddie Walker"
#"The Ascent of Stan"
#"Tiny Dancer"
#"Song for the Dumped" (in a minor key)

Personnel

*Ben Folds – vocals, piano
*John McCrea – vocals on track 8 (of CD)

Production

*Producers: Mark Chevalier, Ben Folds
*Engineer: Marc Chevalier
*Mixing: Marc Chevalier
*Mastering: Ted Jensen
*A&R: Ben Goldman, James Hynes, Fleming McWilliams
*Project manager: Scott Carter
*Compilation: Marc Chevalier
*Crew: Marc Chevalier
*Photography: Ben Folds
*Package design: John Heiden

Charts

Album - Billboard (North America)