Agreed! That Maria could really belt one out. It's a shame they flamed out so fast, and other crap from the 80's lives on and on...I'M LOOKING AT YOU, JOURNEY!
She was viewed in the industry as the female Bruce Springsteen, for live performances and songwriting. That’s a very high bar, but in my view, she reaches it!
I know fans always wonder why Maria isn't more "famous," but I'm glad she didn't sell out and become some mainstream pop star. I think other fans feel the same way, too. Besides, she's had more success than most musicians get to enjoy in the sense that she's had her songs recorded by various artists and she continues to make the kind of music she wants to make. I agree with you that she was an amazing rocker back in the day, and I would put her up there with all the great women in rock.
1985-I had never heard of this band. I was driving back to campus at Ohio State when the dj came on the rock station and said they were gonna play a new band. She said, "the singer is kinda of a cross between Stevie Nicks and Linda Ronstadt doing a Tom Petty song" I loved it so much I stopped at the record store to buy the album before I went back to my dorm! Saw them a couple months later at the Newport Music Hall. She was so hot totally jammin in her white ruffled sun dress!
First time i heard this back in the 80s i could feel her intensity thru the speakers as i sat in traffic.When Steve Dahl gave Her name i turned around to go buy the album.If it hadn't been for Dahl refusing to air songs from the playlist it would have been another 6 months before i heard this powerful voice.
Thanks for uploading this, doahchrisy. I have this on VHS. It's unfortunate this was never released on DVD. Maria McKee is one of the greatest frontwomen in rock and roll history. Too bad most people have never heard of her.
Of all the great music that came out of the 80's, I wish Lone Justice and Maria would have been one of the biggest! So under appreciated and under played. Way ahead of the alt/country scene that came in the late 90's and oh so much better.
This is the first album I ever bought without having heard a single song from it. I read a review about them, and took a flyer. I've worn out several copies of it.
I saw U2 live four times in the 1980s and Lone Justice opened three out of those four times. This was my fave song from them, and I really thought they would be around longer than they did. Great live act.
Tom Petty wrote that song. Lone Justice toured with Petty and the Heartbreakers playing a Heartbreakers song. It was their biggest hit. Tom Petty was a force to be reckoned with.
"Ways to Be Wicked" is the 3nd track of self-titled debut album by band "Lone Justice" (1985), and i think this live performance at Ritz, New York, corresponds to the time of the "golden dream" of Maria McKee, then at 22 years old. I remember when this album came out, was a real bomb, with Maria McKee in all its brilliance. And, looking in hindsight, is still well regarded. Deserved here a video in better quality possible (HD) of complete action at Ritz. There is hope..:)).
***** This was the "second" Ritz show, in '86, a full year after the record came out...I was at The "first" Ritz show in '85 as they were initially promo-ing the album as it had just come out. I actually made both shows, and I gotta say the first show was better...more of the "old justice" sound, less mainstream-rock-pop-ish, but by this time they were scrambling to make headway after slow sales on the debut album...I loved the first album, and was really disappointed it never caught on...they were awesome.
You don't see women just rocking out unabashedly like this anymore. Women artists today try too hard to be sexy in their short skirts and high heels. Maria had a powerful stage presence because of her talent and intensity, and she didn't have to use her sexuality to attract fans.
@@lisalongton6069 U2 was touring their best ever record IMO, Joshua Tree, Lone Justice really outdid them. Watching that ball of energy perform was quite a thrill. I still Listen To MM and LJ, U2 lost me decades ago.
Totally agree with you! Yea, that is why I got around to uploading this because it is a shame that the DVD isn't out. Glad to share this common wisdom with you :-)
I think it's just the sound mix. I always got the feeling that they turned down her guitar when they were playing live because she wasn't playing very cleanly. Besides, she was playing rhythm guitar, so you weren't really expected to hear her guitar very distinctly. You can hear her acoustic guitar on "Shelter" and "Belfry" from this same concert, though.
SHE is amazing...she's Irish...she's still doing stuff today with husband...I think it's her husband. Why did she not keep going after this band broke up?
This is the Geffen records version of Lone Justice. Notice there's a keyboard player, one less guitar. And the flower dresses are gone. The first album didn't sell as much as the label wanted it to so they stuck their nose where it didn't belong. They berated her into making an album they knew how to sell. And surprise, surprise, it didn't sell as well as the first album because all the fans of that album were alienated, and the album sounded like everything else out there.
Like Chrissie Hynde, sometimes their tone and feel isn't that great on certain songs. So the guitar is used more as a device to help keep the meter while singing. It's all for the betterment of the performance. I dig it when a band cares more about the performance than stroking a band members ego. The better the sound quality the more apt I am to pay to see them again. If the singer wants to have their instrument turned up they should work on getting their chops together. It's as simple as that.
Someone obviously pulled her guitar cord plug from the amp. She's working hard, but no sound is coming out. I just watched a Pretenders video last night - same thing, no sound from Chrissie Hynde's guitar.
![Maria McKee, Van Dyke Parks & Stevie Ray Vaughan - Troubled Waters + Sailin' Shoes [1989]](/img/1.gif)
Maria is probably the greatest frontwoman in rock and roll history that most people have never heard of.
Probably?
you know a band is great when their live shows are better than their studio stuff......and, this IS..
Agreed.
In my days of being a dj, if there was a band that really should have been huge, this was it.
Agreed! That Maria could really belt one out. It's a shame they flamed out so fast, and other crap from the 80's lives on and on...I'M LOOKING AT YOU, JOURNEY!
Al M. ISNT THAT THE TRUTH!! Maria's voice is AMAZING!
Hey y'all... Our incredible Maria is coming out with a new album called La Vita Nuova in 2019, or 2020!!! Can't wait!
They give their all. Groups like this and Los Lobos, The Blasters, X -- they defined the late 80s for me.
She was viewed in the industry as the female Bruce Springsteen, for live performances and songwriting. That’s a very high bar, but in my view, she reaches it!
I know fans always wonder why Maria isn't more "famous," but I'm glad she didn't sell out and become some mainstream pop star. I think other fans feel the same way, too. Besides, she's had more success than most musicians get to enjoy in the sense that she's had her songs recorded by various artists and she continues to make the kind of music she wants to make. I agree with you that she was an amazing rocker back in the day, and I would put her up there with all the great women in rock.
Her label fucked her over because she wouldn't sell out...
She was amazing!!!!!
She is a force of nature.
1985-I had never heard of this band. I was driving back to campus at Ohio State when the dj came on the rock station and said they were gonna play a new band. She said, "the singer is kinda of a cross between Stevie Nicks and Linda Ronstadt doing a Tom Petty song" I loved it so much I stopped at the record store to buy the album before I went back to my dorm! Saw them a couple months later at the Newport Music Hall. She was so hot totally jammin in her white ruffled sun dress!
The first time I heard her in the 1980's
I was impressed with her powerful
voice. Excellent songwriter too!
That's Tom Petty
Badass song and she ROCKS !
First time i heard this back in the 80s i could feel her intensity thru the speakers as i sat in traffic.When Steve Dahl gave Her name i turned around to go buy the album.If it hadn't been for Dahl refusing to air songs from the playlist it would have been another 6 months before i heard this powerful voice.
Thanks for uploading this, doahchrisy. I have this on VHS. It's unfortunate this was never released on DVD. Maria McKee is one of the greatest frontwomen in rock and roll history. Too bad most people have never heard of her.
Of all the great music that came out of the 80's, I wish Lone Justice and Maria would have been one of the biggest! So under appreciated and under played. Way ahead of the alt/country scene that came in the late 90's and oh so much better.
O her beauty
Of face,eyes and voice...
I loved her albums in my teenage
The Ritz was the perfect place to see and hear Lone Justice. Fantastic sound system and wide open floor to move about on!!
This is the first album I ever bought without having heard a single song from it. I read a review about them, and took a flyer. I've worn out several copies of it.
I wish more female artists today would just rock out like this instead of putting on spectacles.
I saw U2 live four times in the 1980s and Lone Justice opened three out of those four times. This was my fave song from them, and I really thought they would be around longer than they did. Great live act.
WOW STILL CAN'T BE TOUCHED TO THIS DAY 2021 WHAT A BAND
I was in love with her the first time I heard her.
Happy 55th birthday to Maria McKee!
These are the kind of concerts you don't wanna miss ... and living in Belgium I missed them. Thanks for posting !
MARIA...RULES.
still cool and it's only been 23 years
Tom Petty wrote that song. Lone Justice toured with Petty and the Heartbreakers playing a Heartbreakers song. It was their biggest hit. Tom Petty was a force to be reckoned with.
Someone should release a compilation DVD of Lone Justice and Maria McKee videos. Even this "Live at the Ritz" video was too short.
This show was released on VHS. I have a copy.
I loved these guys, especially Maria, she owned my heart! I never missed them when they came through Boston!
Those Teles swirling around with that B3 get me right where I live.
re visitation: april 10, 1985. hampton coliseum. opening for u2, unforgettable fire tour. such a wonderful, marvelous vibe.❤❤
My favorite band. I was prepared to follow them on the road. It never happened. :(
She is deffo on my Christmas list....forever!
Maria is the best! you her voice above all others@!
I keep thinking of Phoebe and Cole on Charmed when I hear this
MC KEE ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
Great song/album.
"Ways to Be Wicked" is the 3nd track of self-titled debut album by band "Lone Justice" (1985), and i think this live performance at Ritz, New York, corresponds to the time of the "golden dream" of Maria McKee, then at 22 years old. I remember when this album came out, was a real bomb, with Maria McKee in all its brilliance. And, looking in hindsight, is still well regarded. Deserved here a video in better quality possible (HD) of complete action at Ritz. There is hope..:)).
***** This was the "second" Ritz show, in '86, a full year after the record came out...I was at The "first" Ritz show in '85 as they were initially promo-ing the album as it had just come out.
I actually made both shows, and I gotta say the first show was better...more of the "old justice" sound, less mainstream-rock-pop-ish, but by this time they were scrambling to make headway after slow sales on the debut album...I loved the first album, and was really disappointed it never caught on...they were awesome.
I was there. Awesome voice!
I was there. MTV was filming for later broadcast. Too short of a show as they didn't have enough songs. They did Sweet Jane, I believe as an encore.
I have seen them live and they were great. By the way, Tom Petty wrote "Ways to be Wicked". Look for it.
Apparently she was a bit reluctant initially, due to one of the lyrics.
And to think - this was before Red Bull was popular. All Maria. Dang, what a voice.
Excellent
really good
You don't see women just rocking out unabashedly like this anymore. Women artists today try too hard to be sexy in their short skirts and high heels. Maria had a powerful stage presence because of her talent and intensity, and she didn't have to use her sexuality to attract fans.
me too, Pontiac Silverdome, April 30, 1987, opening for U2
Dan Gates i waz there too. Only for Lone Justice!
@@lisalongton6069 U2 was touring their best ever record IMO, Joshua Tree, Lone Justice really outdid them. Watching that ball of energy perform was quite a thrill. I still Listen To MM and LJ, U2 lost me decades ago.
Totally agree with you! Yea, that is why I got around to uploading this because it is a shame that the DVD isn't out. Glad to share this common wisdom with you :-)
Take a walk on the wild side with Lou, then embrace this Tom Petty song in a style the only Maria can pull off…classic!!
The DVD I'd a great idea
What happened here? Did we just ,I dunno, forget about this wicked outfit?
I think it's just the sound mix. I always got the feeling that they turned down her guitar when they were playing live because she wasn't playing very cleanly. Besides, she was playing rhythm guitar, so you weren't really expected to hear her guitar very distinctly. You can hear her acoustic guitar on "Shelter" and "Belfry" from this same concert, though.
SHE is amazing...she's Irish...she's still doing stuff today with husband...I think it's her husband. Why did she not keep going after this band broke up?
From Laurence, too bad captions weren't available. Couldn't understand a word of it, even with hearing aids.
This is the Geffen records version of Lone Justice. Notice there's a keyboard player, one less guitar. And the flower dresses are gone. The first album didn't sell as much as the label wanted it to so they stuck their nose where it didn't belong. They berated her into making an album they knew how to sell. And surprise, surprise, it didn't sell as well as the first album because all the fans of that album were alienated, and the album sounded like everything else out there.
Geffen fucked her over. May they rot in hell.
He is drumming in the pocket, as they say.
Like Chrissie Hynde, sometimes their tone and feel isn't that great on certain songs. So the guitar is used more as a device to help keep the meter while singing. It's all for the betterment of the performance. I dig it when a band cares more about the performance than stroking a band members ego. The better the sound quality the more apt I am to pay to see them again. If the singer wants to have their instrument turned up they should work on getting their chops together. It's as simple as that.
OMG, ya gotta just love a chick with a Telecaster!!!
Howdy!
Taylor who?
Tom Petty and Mike Campbell wrote this song--and TP and the Heartbreakers recorded it also, but not as good in my opinion as LJ version.
Someone obviously pulled her guitar cord plug from the amp. She's working hard, but no sound is coming out. I just watched a Pretenders video last night - same thing, no sound from Chrissie Hynde's guitar.
Love the sound of this band you know a band is really good when they sound this great playing live 👌😎👍👊
maia plays guitar like joe strummer.
Is she on speed? Singing so fast.
Ann wilson
Excellent