No Turning Back Live

This Girder Records Legends of Rock release comes in a jewel case with a 12 page booklet insert that includes readable lyrics, photos, liner notes and a two-disc set. Degarmo & Key Band were a tour de force, known primarily for their unique Southern-flavored rock in the early years. With two albums of excellent progressive/classic rock and an album of memorable jazz-styled mainstream rock under their belts, they decided to capture their live energy and release a double live album. No Turning Back is considered one of the best live albums in CCM. Live albums in the 1980s had a tendency to sound overly polished. Shows were recorded and then overdubs would clean up any weaknesses to the point you did not know what was live and what was embellished in the studio. When I listen to No Turning Back, I hear a convincing live album. It does not come across as polished as Bob Seeger's Nine Tonight or as flawless as Rush's Exit Stage Left. No Turning has the mark of authenticity written all over it. Beginning with a couple stadium rockers Light of the World and Go Tell Them, the band sound in their element. The Hammond organ and synthesizers are mixed so well with what is guitar-driven AOR. Bands such as Prodigal, Petra, and Servant also incorporated keys in their sound, but none packed the wallop in the Southern-fried rock tradition as effortlessly and competently as DeGarmo & Key did.