5 comments about Yesterday & Today Live.

1. Dear Y & T Affectionados,
   Even though this live CD has only 2 out of 4 original members, it is a great live album & band !!!



2. Dave Meniketti has been leading Y&T for 30 years, togeather with Phil Kennimore, Joey Alves, Leonard Hayes, later with Steph Burns and Jimmy DeGrasso Y&T has been melting faces over 4 decades. Dave and Phil have always paired up to write some of the best lyrics and rythems when you combine this with Daves lead the sound is amazing I have seen this band live almost 100 times and never grow tired of the music. Y&T is a great band and this album is a must for any fan of real metal if it's to loud your too OLD!
   
   The Dude
   The Guitar Gods.com



3. RECORDED DURING THEIR FAREWELL TOUR FOR THEIR FINAL GREAT ALBUM "TEN".THIS PARTICULAR LINEUP HAD A LOT OF ENERGY AND MADE THIS ONE OF THE BEST LIVE ALBUMS EVER.IF Y&T WAS GREAT IN THE STUDIO,THEY WERE JUST AS GREAT LIVE.THEY PICKED A GREAT SELECTION OF THEIR BEST SONGS.NOT A BAD CHOICE IF YOU ARE JUST GETTING INTO Y&T.STEF BURNS REALLY GAVE THIS BAND A SHOT OF ADRENALINE,I LIKE THE FACT THAT HE SHARED LEAD GUITAR WITH DAVE MENIKETTI.ALL THE GREATNESS OF THIS BAND IS ALL OUT ON THIS RELEASE.AS USSUAL ANOTHER GREAT ALBUM FOR Y&T.



4. Y & T is one of those bands whose real power and majesty comes through live moreso than in the studio. Daves vocals seem to have improved over the years and they are now nearly equal to his fretwork. There is NO ONE that can play like Dave. He has an amazing repertoire and skill that is second to none. I wish I could sing or play half as well. If you love dynamic, diverse power guitar this is the disc to buy



5. Gran disco, gran banda de R'n'R, gran directo, gran ... ! Descubrí a Y&T a principios de los 80's cuando un amigo me pasó uno de sus primeros discos con A&M, "Black Tiger" Desde entonces la voz y la guitarra de Dave Meniketti me han acompañado, a mí y a no muchos más fans, por desgracia para todos. ¡Qué injusto es el Rock a veces con algunos grupos o qué mal intencionadas manos gobiernan algunas compañías de discos con su promoción de determinados grupos! En este disco encontramos un repaso a su carrera musical: el sonido es espectacular, recoge fielmente la intensidad del grupo; las canciones, sencillamente insuperables -desde la belleza de "I believe in you" a la fuerza de "Meanstreak" o "Hurricane"; y la ejecución, brillante -no en vano sus directos tiene una fama bien merecida. Si nunca has escuchado nada de ellos y te gusta el Hard Rock de los 80's, empieza por aquí. Y si ya los conoces, un álbum imprescindible en su dilatada carrera. Entre todos debemos rescatar a este fantástico grupo, hoy bastante olvidado injustamente. ¡Ayer y Hoy! ¡Qué diferencia en la música! Nunca mejor un nombre tan apropiado para observar la diferencia entre la música de hace unos años y la basura consumible que nos devora hoy en día. Un saludo, voy a dar un paseo por la bahía de , ejem, San Lorenzo.

5 comments about Godz - Greatest Hits Live.

1. I will admit that I used to think 'The Godz' were amazing.( of course I was only 16 years old at the time). I grew up in Ohio, not far from Columbus and
   they opened for 'Blue Oyster Cult' on their Spectres tour in March 1977 at the Fairgrounds' Arena in Columbus. I do find it quite amusing that 18 years
   later, The Godz Greatest Hits Live was recorded at the Al Rosa Villa (a small club in Columbus), and they were playing, almost exactly, the same set of songs they did almost 20 years earlier acting as if they were Aerosmith. I almost feel sorry for them because most of reviews are 4 or 5 stars.
   I find that this would tantamount to getting all worked up over 'The Carpenters' or 'The Cowsills', or even 'The Archies". Let it go.



2. 1. Introduction
   2. Go Away
   3. Guaranteed
   4. Baby, I Love You
   5. Under The Table
   6. Hey You
   7. 714
   8. Hey Mama
   9. Cross Country
   10. Criminal Mind
   11. LUV KAJ
   12. Mississippi
   13. Sorry (I Forgot Your Name)
   14. Gotta Keep A Runnin'
   15. Candy's Going Bad



3. I have never ordered anything from Amazon.com or from a person online like I did for this cd. However, I was very pleased with the timeliness that the product came & the cd was exactly like it was posted...brand new, still in the shrink rap. I was very excited with the cd & so was the person I gave it to as a gift. I would definately order something again. Thank you!



4. the godz rip and roar through this album. all the classics perfomed
   as tight as possible. they breathe new life in to the great songs.
   i found a copy awhile back on ebay and just picked up another one for a good friend of mine. he is japanese and has never heard of the godz. i was lucky to have seen them a few times back in the day. KILLER BAND !!!!!! should have been much bigger than they were.



5. Having seen the Godz back in their heyday in Columbus I can say this disc captures the Godz live riots pretty well. Yeah, they're basically a biker band but they have a nice two guitar sound that is definitely distinct.
   Excellent production makes this disc sound very up to date. Mark Chatfield is a very good guitarist and knows how to make a live recording sound even better. He adds lots of nice intro riffing and interesting leads that aren't repeated over and over. The gritty vocals are decent as they switch back and forth from Glen Cataline (drummer), Eric Moore (bassist) and Mark (guitar). This is a two guitar attack as they've asked Eric Mauk to fill in on rhythm guitar and he does exactly what he's supposed to. Overall definitely worth your $$ if you ever saw 'em and wonder if Eric's rant during "Gotta Keep A Runnin'" can still pump the crowd's adrenaline up.

   Remember.... THE GODZ ARE ROCK AND ROLL MACHINES!

5 comments about Live at the Royal Albert Hall.

1. Am listening to this concert in the SACD format through B and O headphones and the sound quality is excellent. Perhaps I am biased as I was at this concert right near the front and remember being enthralled. A great selection of songs from a group that puts most of today's music to shame.
   John Entwistle's bass solo on 515 is worth the price of the collection itself. Catch it on DVD as well.



2. this is a great cd, this is one of the greatest bands in the history



3. Yes, the Who are one of the greatest live bands ever, but on this album they certaintly don't sound like it. The only redeeming factor is great songs such as "Baba O'Riley", "Won't Get Fooled Again", and "My Generation". I particularly didn't care for the long drawn out version of "The Kids Are Alright". I also felt that it would have been a better concert without the special guests.
   
   I give this album three stars because the song selection is good but the overall performance was subpar.



4. I already own the Live at the Royal Hall DVD which is a great DVD to own.
   This CD package includes a bonus disc of unreleased Who material which was performed later that includes Young Man Blues, Summertime Blues, I Do Even Know Myself and I'm Free. In addition, the original CD also has a great performance bt Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam from the Who's Next Album Getting in Tune. In addition, it has another song Mary Ann with The Shaky Hand. I have converted this performance to MP3 files in order that I can listen to it on my IPOD. In addition, this CD/DVD has probably one of John Entwistle's last performance since he passed away later at the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas before the start of another Who tour. In addition, great performance by Bryan Adams, Noel Gallagher, Kennedy, Eddie Vedder and others. It is a great tribute to one of my favorite and greatest Rock and Roll bands of all times. The Who is still touring and I highly recommend everyone to see them.



5. When I first saw this set available on CD, my first thought was "great - just what the world needs - another Who live album!" But the sucker that I am for music by The Who, I bought it anyway, and was pleasantly surprised by how good it is. Having stripped themselves to a five-piece after the 1989 "The Kids Are Alright" tour and the 1996 "Quadrophenia" tour, the Who got back to basics for this show. These guys may have been in their fifties when they did this, but that didn't stop them from returning to their over-the-top bombastic glory. If I could use one word to describe their performance, it would be "incendiary." Roger Daltrey's voice can't quite hit the high notes like it used to, but he showed on this set that he still had the pipes to do Who songs justice. Pete Townshend has a very nasty guitar tone throughout, and this is not a bad thing. Best of all, you get to hear John Entwistle, the Bassist of the Millennium, playing lead bass while Pete thrashes out his power chords. The interplay between him and Pete, especially on Magic Bus, is a revelation. He plays a mind-bending solo on 5'15. Sadly, The Ox is no longer with us. I still miss him. There are no bassists like him - before or since. His final performance is documented on the bonus disc, and it's quite a performance. The band is at it's fire-belching best throughout. The song selection is top notch, and includes a few surprises (The Relay, Let's See Action, I'm One, Mary Anne With the Shaky Hand), plus the usual suspects. The only reason I don't give this set 5 stars is because too much of the between-song banter from Pete is left in. The only exception to this was when he put a heckler in his place. Pete always was a punk at heart. This performance reminds me of when they played at MSG in New York after 9-11. I remember they blew the roof off the place, and this performance in London has that same feel. This is a worthy addition to any Who fan's collection. Get it now - you won't be disappointed.

5 comments about Live Bites.

1. This album is their 3rd LIVE album. 1st being "Tokyo Tapes" (1978), and the 2nd "World Wide Live" (1985). What a band! At this point in their careers, they've done it all. But this album proves that they simply love doing what they do best. Killer guitars, great instrumental (Concerto in V), and Klaus's voice is on the money! I totally recommend getting the import, as it has 2 additional live songs, (Ave Maria No Morro, and Hit Between the Eyes). However, you miss out on the in-studio single (Edge of Time), I think it's a fair trade off. Great album, great band, and these guys are STILL rocking. Their newest album, "Humanity-Hour 1" is arguably their finest since "Crazy World" (1990). Even though the Scorpions got there recognition over the years, I don't think they TRULY got the recognition they rightfully deserve. They have to be the greatest and most deserving band that has yet to be inducted in the rock n' roll hall of fame. But I know that it will happen ! ! !



2. i f you think you are going to listen to new live version of scorpions 80's hits like " rock you like a hurricane, still loving you, etc " then this CD is not for you. as i see it, every new live album must contain fresh material, otherwise your are listening the same classics over and over again, this hanppens on judas priest live albums for instance.
   
   This album has great sound and performances, do not compare it to " world wide live " this one had its glory days already.



3. My brother and I have a disagreement over which Scorpions live album is better; this or World Wide Live. I am partial towards World Wide Live. It perfectly captures Scorpions at the pinnacle of their success right after the release of Love at First Sting during their 84-85 world mega tour. In World Wide Live, the sound is rawer and you hear the echoes from the huge stadiums the Scorps were playing in at the time. Live Bites is a very good album in its own right, but it feels "less live" and more "perfect" than World Wide Live for me. The album is more polished and you can hear each one of the musicians perfectly. That is what my brother really likes about the album, the amazing quality and clarity of scorpions on this album which is in stark contrast to World Wide Live, where the sound was much rawer but the clarity is not there. It is just a difference in preference of styles. My brother has his own band and is really into high quality sound which is why he likes Live Bites more. Me, I'm more impressed by the feelings that huge crowds and stadiums in World Wide Live inspire; they make you feel like you are at a mega show.
   
   Some people would say that after the release of Love at First Sting Scorpions went down hill. I would challenge them to listen to this live album. While other than Wind of Change, the songs on this album are not as well known, that does not mean they are not good. The material on this live album is great! You also get a feel for the world audience that scorpions have played live to with songs recorded in Berlin, Munich, San Francisco, Mexico City and Leningrad.
   
   The guitar riffs on Tease Me, Please Me are good. Is There Anybody There sounds great. Scorps slowed down the song and heavily accented the beat giving the song a great feel. I also really like the inclusion of In Trance in this cd. The version is great. Another highlight of the cd is Wind of Change played live in Russia I think (Living for Tomorrow is played for sure in Leningrad). My favorite song on this cd has to be When the Smoke is Going down. I know that is a weird choice, but something about this version just makes it magnificent. I can never get enough of it. Klaus Meine's voice is fantastic, the crowd cheering gives it a great feel and even though the acoustic guitar chords are very simple, they are also quite powerful (reminds me of Acoustica). You expect the song to errupt into a hard heavy metal song any minute (like Coming Home) but that is where its greatness lies in. It never does, but it keeps you thinking it will.
   
   Overall, if you like Scorpions and/or Metal you should buy this. It is well worth your money. One final word, there are two versions of the CD, Live Bites 1988-1995 [LIVE] and Live Bites [IMPORT]. I would purchase Live Bites [IMPORT] as it is a dollar cheaper and you get one more track. More importantly the difference between the two cds is Live Bites [IMPORT] has two more live tracks while Live Bites 1988-1995 [LIVE] has an extra studio track. I haven't heard the extra studio track, Edge of Time but it can't be that good because it wasn't included in any of their best of compilations, boxed sets ect, so it probably isn't worth it. Go for the Import version where you get the two extra live songs: Ave Maria no Morro (played live in Mexico city, Klaus Meine's Spanish is not his forte, but if you know Spanish well you can understand what he is saying, meaning I don't agree with the reviewer who says he can't understand him, that reviewer just isn't a good Spanish speaker, but then I am a native Spanish speaker [born in Colombia]) and Hit Between the Eyes (played very heavy here!)



4. Too bad the band didn't include more songs from Savage Amusemnt like Don't Stop at the top or Media Overkill. "Tease Me..." sounds awesome and it's the best track on the album, however the album has very few live songs and a double album could've been better. Still enjoyable, but a album only for die hard fans.



5. Live Bites is a great compliation of live performances by the Scorpions. The musicianship on this album is superior, from Meine's smooth vocals to the combination of shreading riffs between Jabs and Rudolf Schenker. "Tease Me Please Me" is a great track that starts off the album on a great, energetic note. Such ballads as "Rhythm of Love" and "Wind of Change" really capture the crowd (and you) as you listen. The hard hitters on this cd include "No Pain No Gain" and "Alien Nation". Overall a great Live album despite not including some of their biggest hits.

5 comments about Lyve: The Vicious Cycle Tour.

1. THIS IS A LIVE CD OF MODERN LYNYRD SKYNYRD PERFORMING AT THEIR VERY BEST!!!
   THIS IS THE CD FOR THE "LYVE" CONCERT DVD. THIS CD PROVES THAT THIS VERSION OF SKYNYRD IS AN EXCELLENT LIVE BAND!!! IT WAS RECORDED AT THE AMSOUTH AMITHEATER IN NASHVILLE TENN. DURING 2003 BEFORE A PACKED ENTHUSIATIC CROWD.
   
   THE LINE-UP CONSISTS OF JOHNNY, GARY, BILLY, RICKEY, HUGHIE, MICHAEL, EAN, AND DALE AND CAROL. THE "3 GUITAR" PERFORMANCES OF GARY, RICKEY, AND HUGHIE ARE AWESOME!!!
   
   THE CD CONSISTS OF TWO DISC:
   
   DISC ONE CONSISTS OF 13 SONGS. THEY PLAY THEIR USUAL CLASSICS, PLUS YOU GET SOME SONGS OFF THEIR LAST STUDIO ALBUM "VICIOUS CYCLE". NEW SONGS INCLUDE "THAT'S HOW I LIKE IT" AND "RED WHITE AND BLUE". THEY ALSO PLAY SOME RARITIES LIKE MISSISSIPPI KID, TUESDAY'S GONE, AND PICK EM' UP.
   
   DISC TWO CONSISTS OF 6 SONGS: IT HAS THE NEW SONGS "WORKIN'" AND "THE WAY", AND HAS THE CLASSICS CALL ME THE BREEZE, SWEET HOME ALABAMA, AND FREEBIRD.
   
   THIS IS AN EXCELLENT DOUBLE DISC CD, THAT PROVES THIS VERSION OF SKYNYRD IS AN EXCELLENT "LIVE" BAND. I RECOMMEND THIS AND THE DVD OF THIS CONCERT!



2. Johnny van Zant's lyrics are a little more genuinely redneck, perhaps, than his late brother's more tounge-in-cheek approach, and he says "arse" a lot more, but otherwise Skynyrd sound pretty much like you'd expect.
   Only guitarist Gary Rossington and keyboardist Billy Powell are left from the original Skynyrd line-up, but you barely notice. Lynyrd Skynyrd version 2.003 sound almost exactly like the "real" Skynyrd did back in the 70s...thumping hard rock and rollicking boogie, big riffs and big hooks and a little bit o' country.
   
   A discreet horn section has been added to the mix, and it sounds really good, actually. Just listen to this terrific rendition of the classic "What's Your Name", all clanging piano and soulful riffing, and a smoking guitar solo.
   The band is really tight, but they never sound sterile; on the contrary, they sound as lively and joyous as ever. The three guitarists lay down gritty riffs with both precision and fervor, and trade off smouldering solos, and Billy Powell's piano is wonderfully prominent. And the set list is a nice mixture of classic songs from the Ronnie van Zant-era and a handful of the best songs from the then-current "Vicious Cycle"-album. Okay, "Red, White and Blue" is perhaps a bit too...something for a European like me, but almost everything else is just terrific.
   
   The many highlights include "Pick 'Em Up", a stellar "Simple Kind Of Man", the aforementioned "What's Your Name", and of course the irresistable "Gimme Three Steps", all swaggering Southern boogie and a great vocal by Johnny van Zant.
   Some listeners will probably feel a little grumpy about "Down South Jukin'", "Gimme Back My Bullets" and "Double Trouble" having been condensed into a five-minute medley. But they should be happy about the inclusion of relatively rarely-heard songs like "The Ballad of Curtis Loew" and the acoustic "Mississippi Kid". And "Sweet Home Alabama" is here as well, of course, as is "Free Bird".
   
   This is melodic, high-energy rock n' roll of the highest order. "Lyve" probably won't cause anyone to throw away their copy of "One More From The Road" or the "Freebird" soundtrack, but it's lnice to hear how good this latter-day incarnation of the band actually sounds. Great fidelity, excellent production, and some 4 1/2 stars.
   "Lyve" is not really a must-have album, considering the quality and quantity of live Skynyrd already out there, but it's just such great fun...



3. Quoted from another reviewer:
   -------------------------------
   Having not grown up in the 70's, I was able to be completely impartial and take a look at both singers. I have to say that after hearing Van Zant, their new singer,whatever his name is, it really sounds like the group picked the fattest drunk loser in the crowd and said, you wanna sing songs and shoot up with us? I mean, this guy is worse than reality tv. No tallent. What does this guy do for this group? Nothing. Dont buy this cd, or anything after Van Zant. The group should have died in that crash along with the man. Harsh, I know, but true. If your still looking for Skynard CD's I recommend Self Pronounced and Second Helping. After that if you still want some Down south Junking... Check out Creedence Clearwater Revival.
   -------------------------------
   The singer is Ronnie Van Zant's younger brother, Johnnie Van Zant.
   
   This live album is an incredible one. It proves that Johnnie has done an incredible job filling in the shoes of his older brother. I am sure Ronni would be very proud of his brother, and I am also sure Ronnie himself would have chosen no one else to fill his shoes.



4. I think this is a GREAT CD. I also have the DVD. Can't believe some people don't like Johnny. I think his brother Ronnie would be really proud of him. He sings great, even the old songs. As for not taking his singing seriously. He just has a good time with it. And Rickey Medlocke is AMAZING. I've been a Skynyrd fan for a lot of years. I think they are as Great now as they were before, if not better... lots of energy.



5. I have always been a Skynyrd fan the first band was right where my head was at back then and I still love to hear the old tunes but the new band is singing about what life is like now. Check out the Vicious Cycle and Last Rebel CD's as well.
   This Live CD is mostly covers of Ron's tunes.

1 comments about Home and Away.

1. Unlike the Amazon description of this being live (and the cover foto of the band live in the Clem Clempson era), it's really their first two albums As Safe As Yesterday and Town and Country, filled with great Marriott/Frampton songs.

1 comments about BBC Radio 1 Live in Concert.

1. Please Please guys listen to Pat..THE underated guitarist of the the last 20 years..you like Marino,Nugent,Trower,Page..then give Travers a listen..the ferocity of Snortin Whiskey after 20 yrs nearly is audible and Life in London is so memorable and sad.
   Be wise...start collecting Pat Travers!!

5 comments about Mk III: The Final Concerts.

1. This may have been the end of Ritchie's run with Deep Purple, but the band sounds great. This is In Europe with bonus tracks.
   I enjoy all versions of Deep Purple except the Steve Morse line up.



2. Glenn Hughes' voice was obviously shot by this final leg of the tour, so instead of maybe just shutting his mouth or taking it easy, he still "tries" to sing. But it must hurt with the vocal chords being that worn out. So he instead howls and shouts and does a good job of mucking up most of the vocal sections he shares with Coverdale. Most notably ruined; Stormbringer & Burn.
   
   Great live set otherwise, especially when they do songs where Glenn's vocals are not necessary. It is reasonably priced for a 2CD set, but look for a used copy first if this sub-par vocal performace has you feeling wary.



3. Back in 1975 after being told of Ritchie Blackmore's intention to leave the ranks of Deep Purple, and fearing that this would be the end of the band, Purple's management decided to cover their bases by recording the final shows on the Spring 1975 European tour with the intention of putting out a double live album in the event that the band folded.

   Well they didn't....at least not for another year, by which time the tapes had been shelved. When the band finally dissolved in 1976, the management leapt on this opportunity and released what turned out to be the first in a very long line of Deep Purple exploitation albums. Don't get me wrong, "Made In Europe" was OK, if you ignore the fact that the applause was a tape loop, the songs were hacked together from the best bits of each version recorded on the tour, and the label of the original LP had a picture of Tommy Bolin. Talk about crass!!

   But there are people out there who love Deep Purple, and this is one of the many results. With this release the feeling of a "real" concert has been restored, the running order has been reinstated, and we get to hear the Mark III line-up run through some great songs.

   Ignore some of the editorial on this album. "Stormbringer" was issued on "Made In Europe" along with "Burn", "Mistreated", "Lady Double Dealer", and "You Fool No One". It is the tracks they didn't bother with the first time around that hold some of the surprises. The inclusion of "Gypsy" is something of a surprise, coming as it does from the album which forced Blackmore to reconsider his position, and one which he described as cr*p!

   What is nice about CDs is the ability to include alternate versions. OK, in many cases they don't bring anything new, but at least it gives an idea of what went on at different shows, and if you don't like one version you can program an alternative.

   Some of the reviews from the time said that Blackmore was preoccupied with his own project during this tour, but it is hard to figure out where this new material was sneaked in. "Burn" blasts the show open as it always did, and the medley of "Going Down/Highway Star" brings the show to a high-octane ending.

   All in all, this makes a much better souvenir of the final 1975 shows than "Made In Europe" although after all these years it would be nice to play the two albums back-to-back to hear the differences. Maybe it is time that the fans had more input into the posthumous releases of their favorite bands.

   Does this album rate 5 stars? To this listener, yes it does...but you be the judge.




4. There's some seriously hot playing on this double CD. I give it 4 stars because it claims to be a complete concert - but it's not. For a collector like me, trimmed songs and replacement (aparently they were better audiio quality) songs from other gigs does not a complete gig make. Why do they force us to chase bootlegs with the whole show?

   However, that aside the band is in fine form and the improvising is as sharp as ever. Very cool version of Stormbringer.

   Excellent live album for fans.




5. As stated, this cd is made from sevral final concerts of Mk3 line-up of Deep Purple. And this source also is used for Made in Europe ablum, which released soon after breaking up of Deep Purple. Made in Europe has so many editings, I hope this release has no editing. But "You fool no one" (both versions) and "Space Truckin'" is edited so badly. This makes me disapoited, since there was a rumour that on the very last day of MK3, they played 1-hour long "Space Truckin'". Anyway, this is the only entire show available by Mk3. I love it. I also hope the complete "Live in Lodon" will be released with unedit "Space Truckin'"

5 comments about Thrakattak.

1. Some things are better in theory. A whole CD of just instrumental King Crimson improvisations is one of them. This is out of print, even on Fripp's own website. That says it all.



2. The ONLY record by Crimson I've ever returned. It's just noise. A band as musically adventurous as Crimson doesn't always connect when improvising. I don't think they connected at all with this one.



3. This is the first real sign of wanking overtaking inspiration.
   
   A whole lot of playing, not a whole lot listenable.



4. I really like this type of album. A 60 minute cd made up of free form jams from the Thrak tour. This is not going to be an album for the faint hearted and some of it get's really intense. It is, after all, King Crimson. If you like industrial new age(ie The ProjecKs) you'll love this.



5. This is one of those albums you hear and think to yourself "I bet 99.9% of the world would really HATE this album if they heard it". And you may be right! You know, I don't know what it is, but I keep coming back to Thrakattak for more. Maybe it's because so many people I know don't like it, and I think it would be fun to try listening to it over and over to see how much of it eventually clicks. Every time I play it, the more I can remember it.
   
   It doesn't have very many melodic themes (especially on the lengthier pieces). You see, the majority of Thrakattak is a bunch of disjointed improvisations, which means, if you're used to melodies instantly jumping out at you, you have to approach it differently. I should tell you I'm no expert when it comes to improvisational music. This is basically my first exposure to it. So if I'm not listening to it the right way, I probably need more albums besides this one to understand it.
   
   I believe you can enter this album with a clear mind, and you might find that it actually delivers a really good atmospheric and unstructured adventure, if you let it.
   
   Playing an album like this after something like Yes Tales From Topographic Oceans may present the ultimate journey to outer space. Seriously, many of the sounds found throughout the album make you feel like you're in space or, more specifically, exploring life on another planet *somewhere* out there. There's a lot of "mysterious" sounds that can really mess with your head (in a good way).
   
   Other sounds found on Thrakattak might take you to haunted houses or foggy ghost ships. After playing Thrakattak 30 times I really do enjoy what I hear. It's hard to explain WHY I like it, other than saying "it puts pictures in my head". Eventually many of the unstructured pieces just click, I guess. And they probably will for you.

5 comments about BBC Live in Concert.

1. I don't find the audio here to be lacking; once you turn it up, I hear pretty clear, fluid and organic performances of some of my favorite PH songs.
   
   In particular, "As Stong as Samson" here rocks, and captures the grandeur and epic nature of this sweeping classic. The closer, "Nothing But The Truth" is also a highlight, and is more vigorous and anthemic than even the studio version.
   
   This is well worth picking up, before it enters CD oblivion.



2. I agree with other reviewers who complain about poor mixing and shoddy engineering on this CD. Both stink! But those responsible know it and apologies of a sort are included in the liner notes, so I won't continue belaboring the issue.
   Despite all its faults, BBC Live In Concert captures the essence and the excitement of a live Procol Harum performance. I've seen them many times and each time the band, both as a group and individually, has never failed to give its all. And this CD is no exception.
   I like every song here, but special mention should be made of luscious renderings of the rarely-performed New Lamps For Old, Beyond the Pale (despite that some of the piano part seems to be missing), a hard driving Simple Sister, a delicate Grand Hotel, and a rousing Nothing But the Truth.
   I'll knock a star off for the recording, but this CD should still be in the collections of true Procol Harum fans. The band is still playing, but live gigs are rare so this suffices as an interim fix while awaiting the next tour.



3. and you can hear everything a lot better, Gary Brooker's vocals being in most excellent form despite being nearly drowned out in places. And you will have to adjust the equalization yourself: the treble all the way down on Bringing Home the Bacon and then all the way back up again on everything else - what gives with the label that issued this CD anyway? Give that a try and I think you will find the pleasure that is experiencing this wonderful live performance. The other reviewers are right: the engineering is pretty awful, though typical of many bands in the 70's (at first listen, I thought they must have recorded it out in the lobby!), and the production is atrocious. But the performances are very compelling. Besides Gary's plaintive and alternately rollicking vocals, BJ Wilson's solid drumming and Mick Grabham's ripping guitar work are also standouts. Hearing so much of the Exotic Birds and Fruit album performed live is a special treat as this is some of their best work during the period and provides a fresh alternative to the reverb effect, studio version. But just listen to Whaling Stories, stripped down to its bare essentials and building to a chaotic climax - altogether breathtaking! Other highlights are Simple Sister (I wish to God I had made it to a live Procol performance - any performance - to hear this one) and Grand Hotel, the piano sections played tenderly by Gary and the band rising to a powerful crescendo - just awesome! My advice: buy it, listen to it and keep listening to it because it will win you over completely. And just maybe, with all the other Procol material thought to be in the BBC vaults, there will be still more to come. I can't wait!



4. I must echo previous reviewers: The engineering on this live record is quite subpar. Instrumental balances are terrible. But enough of the negative.
   I saw the band live during this period and remember the experience as being awesome; Brooker played and sang his heart out, Wilson took drumming to a whole new level, and the rest of the band were tight and expressive. Here, however, the performances seem a tad off kilter. Not terrible, mind you, but perhaps the poor recording has something to do with this impression.
   In my opinion, this album is only for completists and collectors. For a true taste of this band's accomplishments on a live recording, get In Concert With the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, where Procol Harum make it seem as if rock was meant to be played with a full orchestra and chorus.



5. This live recording features many of PH better songs.Their performance is good, but the sound mix is awful at times. Unfortunately that takes the edge of many numbers.