' first two albums, 1973's and 1974's , documented his estimable strengths as a songwriter, but they didn't always give much of a sense of the personality that came through in his live performances. In front of an audience, transformed himself into something resembling a minor character from a novel, a witty but bedraggled hipster from the seedy side of Los Angeles. His third album, 1975's , was designed to show off as an entertainer as well as a tunesmith; producer set up a nightclub facsimile in a recording studio, paired with a solid band of jazz-inclined studio musicians, brought in an audience, and recorded what was in essence his first live album. As entertainment, is one of ' most thoroughly enjoyable albums. He's clearly jazzed by the presence of an audience, and his skills as a storyteller are marvelous. Much like 's , this is an album where the between-song patter sometimes outshines the songs, and there's no arguing that is a very funny guy who plays brilliantly to a crowd, spinning eccentric, evocative tales of life on the bad side of town that make it all sound like a ball. The band is excellent, too; bassist , drummer , pianist , and sax player give the ideal three-a.m. ambience to bring the songs to life. If has a flaw, it's that ' beatnik spiel sometimes overwhelms the music, and a number of the "songs" are more spoken word routines than anything else. But "Better Off Without a Wife" and "Nobody" show he hadn't lost the ability to write a memorable song, sing it all the way through, and make it connect. And if this plays more like a "show" than a "concert," it's a show you'd gladly pay to hear more than once. is a must for fans, and while beginners might not get as strong a sense of his music as they would from many of his other albums, it's hard to imagine anyone not being charmed by it. ~ Mark Deming