This cd is a wonderful companion piece (with great new stuff as well) to the Baduizm studio cd. I wouldn't exchange one for the other though, both have their strengths and show a side of Erykah that the other does not.

This cd starts with something that I imagine many of Erykah's fans may not pick up on. The first minute or so of "Rimshot" is actually the Miles Davis masterpiece "So What" (originally appearing on the album, "Kind Of Blue"), with Erykah's backing vocalists chanting Badu over it. This leads to my only complaint... The liner-notes should have acknowledged the Miles tune, if for no other reason than to allow someone with no jazz knowledge to seek out the original Miles album if they are so inclined.

"Other Side Of The Game" and Chaka Khan's "Stay" both get incredible, all-out, going-for-it vocal fluorishes. These two songs alone would make this cd worth purchasing. "Ye Yo" is a song that says all the words that every child deserves to hear coming from their mothers lips, and it says them without being sappy and stupid. Again, this song sets Erykah far above the great majority of the R&B world. While others are yet again singing of wanting to get someone into bed, Erykah unleashes an emotional blessing for her unborn (at the time this was recorded) child.

I read a couple of the previous reviews that basically made it sound like this cd has no new material. That's incorrect. "Ye Yo", "Searching", "Boogie Nights/All Night", "Stay", and both versions of "Tyrone" (one is Live and one is studio) are not found on any of Erykah's other cd's. "Tyrone" is the ultimate kiss-off song, and her unique and spiritual vocal phrasings and lyrics permeate this great cd.

I didn't own the studio album when I bought this CD. My only exposure the Ms. Badu was through the video for Tyronne that I just happen to catch. But never before have I truley heard an artist bare their soul the way that Badu does on this recording. Along with a voice sent from God, Badu's engagement with the audience, and a spiritualism that reaches back to her African heritage, Ms. Badu has taught the music world a lesson in what it means to love your craft. My advise is skip the studio album it is extremly flat in comparison and go straight to Live.

I've had "Baduizm" for a few years now, and had I settled on that... I would have been seriously missing out. I only got this because I wanted "Call Tyrone" on CD (It was all I'd heard at that point).. and I was pleasantly surprised by the entirety of the album.

Erykah Badu is one cool lady, and in between songs she tells you a little bit about what she's saying in them. It helps you appreciate and understand them on an entirely different level.

Not that you didn't already know Erykah has an amazing voice -- but hearing her perform live leaves no question that it's authentic, and a lot stronger than you may have guessed.

The send-off of Next Lifetime brought me to tears and thats about the highest compliment I could possibly pay anything.

People are still commenting on this record and writing outstanding reviews, so far, seven years after it was released. Any questions?

I brought this cd when it first came out, only for Tyrone. For all these years I have only listened to Tyrone...Until today. This album is tight as[heck].If you do not have this you better get it. The way she performs on stage is awesome. And on next Lifetime when she gives her backup singers a chance to shine is the best part of the cd. The third singer is bomb. Get this album

Just wanted to point-out to those of you out there who are hesitant to purchase this because of the god-awful review by (luke).

What I'm reading from reviewer (Luke) about this gem is that he's reading the final credit's and coming to a false conclusion & totally overlooking the most obvious point that there are two recording crew's on this project. It's almost laughable that amazon let his review exploit falsehood's to us buyer's of real music.

(First)ofcourse is (The Live Recording & in-house Mixing Crew) which is stated (on the disc itself mind you) the vocal's(front & back)/instrument's/band & the wonderfully captured particapation of the audience which to me is just as important as the muisc in this case becasue the whole vibe is perfectly in sync.

(Second) is the Sony Music Stuido he's is talking about where they proceed(just like any other live show) with the final mixdown of this timeless (LIVE) cd.
This is the smoothess Live cd of 97'no doubt. Come on luke relax baby and don't mess with the structure and authentcity of grown folk's music, this is the real deal yah...