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Perry Como" and "live" are words that don't seem to go together, but like so many other singers of his generation, he cut his teeth on-stage.
Live on Tour was recorded long after those formative performances, capturing a run of shows given in Chicago in July of 1980 and appearing the following year on RCA. In other words, it's a portrait of
Como in winter, a singer still in possession of his skills but happy to take a warm look back at his past. He's so happy to indulge in nostalgia, he sings "White Christmas" in the middle of July. This is part of a
Bing Crosby medley, an expertly assembled salute to
Como's main idol that also helps accentuate how
Live on Tour captures a crowd-pleasing act: he's putting on a show, happy to sing hits no matter who had them. The concert is best when it relies either on
Como's assurance or the splashy arrangements -- for those who lived through the time, it will undoubtedly evoke memories of
Jerry Lewis Labor Day telethons -- and that's enough to cut through the often syrupy backing vocals, but even those are essential to the yesteryear charm on full display on
Live on Tour. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine