Record Reviews

ATOMIC ROOSTER ~ ON AIR: LIVE AT THE BBC & OTHER TRANSMISSIONS REPERTOIRE 1336 (Barcode: 4009910133620) ~ UK ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1970 - 1972 Released: 2018 This is an archival album by the British Progressive Rock group Atomic RoosterFind albums by this artist, founded by keyboardist / composer Vincent CraneFind albums by this artist. The album offers a collection of live material, recorded for the BBC Radio 1 and German and Belgian TV. The two CDs present all the audio material and the DVD presents the TV video material, which means that the audio tracks are duplicated as the soundtrack of the video material. Altogether this package offers eighteen audio tracks, most of which were composed by Crane, and fourteen video tracks (two of them duplicated as different camera positions). The majority of the material was captured in 1972 with just two songs recorded in 1970 and another two in 1971, by older lineups of the group. Most of the material is performed by the lineup that features Chris FarloweFind albums by this artist on lead vocals, Crane on Hammond organ and other keyboards, Steve BoltonFind albums by this artist on guitar and Ric ParnellFind albums by this artist on drums, the lineup that recorded the "Made In EnglandFind albums with this title" album. All the music was meticulously remastered and offers a superb sound quality. Crane was undoubtedly one of the absolute top British Prog keyboardists of the time (late 1960s and early 1970s), every bit as good as Keith EmersonFind albums by this artist, but without the bloated pretentiousness, and stylistically close to Brian AugerFind albums by this artist. His work with Arthur BrownFind albums by this artist was absolutely light years ahead of the time and his Atomic Rooster years established also his position as a composer, who managed to come up with some of the most impressive Rock riffs ever. His imagination and inventiveness were absolutely unique. Farlowe, who as my readers know already, I consider as one of the top Prog vocalists ever, offers the entire range of his sensibilities from Soul, Rhythm And Blues, Rock and Jazz, and his performances here are the best support to my claims as to his importance. Bolton and Parnell also perform spotlessly and with great energy, precision and above all god taste. Overall this is a superb opportunity to revisit some of Prog´s best moments, which still offered bold statements and iron balls, before the genre went completely into self-pity, lethargic excursions into nowhere and above all everlasting boredom. This music is full of zest, ingenuity and nontrivial musical adventures and is a wonderful time capsule preserving these moments for posterity. Early British Prog enthusiasts will find this collection essential and filling a gap in the Atomic Rooster story with material that is not readily available. As usual with the RepertoireFind albums on this label label, this album is excellently packaged and offers knowledgeable liner notes by their resident music historian Chris WelchFind albums by this artist. Wholeheartedly recommended!

Updated: 08/05/2023Posted: 30/06/2018

2CD+DVD 3 Slipcase Remastered Recommend To A Friend

TEN YEARS AFTER ~ 1967-1974 CHRYSALIS 5060516096084 (Barcode: 5060516096084) ~ UK ~ Blues-Rock Recorded: 1967 - 1974 Released: 2021 This Box Set collects reissues of nine (out of ten) albums recorded during the classic first period of the seminal British Blues-Rock / Rock group Ten Years AfterFind albums by this artist, led by the phenomenal guitarist / composer Alvin LeeFind albums by this artist and including also keyboardist Chick ChurchillFind albums by this artist, bassist Leo LyonsFind albums by this artist and drummer Ric LeeFind albums by this artist. It also includes a bonus CD with a previously unreleased material recorded during the 1972 sessions for the “Rock & Roll Music To The WorldFind albums with this title” album, called “The Cap Ferrat SessionsFind albums with this title”. The first eponymous album appears in its original Mono version and the rest are all Stereo versions. The nine original albums offer no bonus tracks. The first six albums were originally released on the DeramFind albums on this label label and the last three on ChrysalisFind albums on this label (in UK) and ColumbiaFind albums on this label (in US). The Box Set also includes a booklet with a plethora of photographs and memorabilia, as well as extensive liner notes by Chris WelchFind albums by this artist, which I find rater lackluster. It is worth to mention that the first three albums (“Ten Years AfterFind albums with this title”, “UndeadFind albums with this title” and “StonedhengeFind albums with this title”) were reissued twice before on Deram, in 2002 and 2015 respectively, remastered and with bonus tracks and then as 2CD sets with even more bonus tracks. The rest of the albums also received remastered / bonus tracks reissues, which puts a serious question mark as what was the purpose of this Box Set really is? Even more puzzling is the fact that the ninth album, the 2LP “Recorded LiveFind albums with this title” from 1973 was completely omitted from this Box Set. What the heck is wrong with the people who are in charge of these projects? But if we put aside the above reissue reflections, this is still some of the best music the British Blues-Rock and later Rock ever produced. Lee’s guitar virtuosity was never doubted and his feel for the Blues, inspired by the British Blues revivalists, found one of its greatest hosts in his soul. In time he also emerged as a great songwriter, and although his singing was never his strongest virtue, he was an inspiration and a power horse of the scene. Many biographers speculate that the Ten Years After spectacular appearance at the 1969 Woodstock Festival was more than Lee’s fragile personality could handle, but considering the fact that he carried on doing his thing for so many years until his untimely death in 2013 proves that nothing of the sort took place. For younger music lovers, who never heard a Ten Years After album before (I pity you!), this cheapish Box Set is a superb opportunity to get a grip on what real music is all about.

Updated: 22/10/2021Posted: 21/10/2021

CD 10 Mini-Sleeve Box Set Remastered Essential Recommend To A Friend