Customer Reviews

BBC in Concert 1972

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Born and raised on the wrong side of the Atlantic for this sort of music, I cherished my imported copies of BJH albums in the mid-late 70s. Over the years I'd read that BJH had toured with orchestra, I was thrilled when I found out that this rough gem was being polished for release where it could join my other "Rock vs. Orchestra" albums.

The disapointment came in listening to the opening track "Mocking Bird". Someone had forgotten, apparently, to allow the orchestra some time to tune, particularly the brass section, and, very specifically, the trumpets. Trumpets blatting out of tune does nothing but mar the wonderful notion that this band could perform as well live with an orchestra as they had on their studio recordings.

This is the reason I've only given this recording a 3.

With that out of the way, I must say that "The Poet" and "After the Day" are hauntingly beautiful. Woolly Wolstenholme's mellotron adds density to the orchestra. Mel Pritchard is all over his drum kit when appropriate. And the guitar cuts through it all when necessary.

Overall a gret job by the band.

BTW, the mono versions of the songs were for the BBC Radio One, while the Stereo recording was intended for licensint to radio stations in the rest of the world, according to the booklet which is very informative.BBC in Concert 1972