Reading about it today it's always with emphasis on the inferior sound quality. Recorded live at different locations in US early 1972, using an Ampex stereo cassette, sometimes during bad conditions. For more on recordings, setting and credits - check cover details below. I've had a few European pink rim issues earlier and some of them do sound really bad. This UK first is the best I've heard so far with at least some of the cuts having enjoyable audio. All that aside - counting skill, orginality and presence it's one of the top live albums of the period. Mel Collins plays some awesome sax and Robert Fripp's guitars on "21st Century Schizoid Man" and "Earthbound" are midblowing. The backing is very adaptable through rythm changes and mood swings and Boz Burells vocals on "21CSM" does not stand back to Greg Lake's original. When I forget about the audio and embrace the music I get about the same feeling from this as from "Colloseum Live" - taken on a joyride by some of the best. Not originally released in US. Later CD/LP re-issues on Polydor, EG and Virgin. Premiere UK through Island's budget HELP serie had label as shown here and glossy cover with structured black inner. (KYK*) (HÄLX*)
No doubt the performances are great, but the audio quality is shit. Can't get through this, no matter how much I love the first KC incarnations.
Just wanna point out though that Fripp has been making available a lot of "bootleg" recordings from the 1969-1974 era available both on CD and online, many of which in better SQ than this.
I'm getting used to it. This UK was actually an update from the issues I've had earlier.. 21CSM still bad but the rest almost acceptable. "USA" has a lot better audio and production, but I still like the performance better on this,
No doubt the performances are great, but the audio quality is shit. Can't get through this, no matter how much I love the first KC incarnations.
SvaraRaderaJust wanna point out though that Fripp has been making available a lot of "bootleg" recordings from the 1969-1974 era available both on CD and online, many of which in better SQ than this.
http://www.dgmlive.com/archive.htm?artist=2&show=41&member=&entry=
(Click the arrow next to the date to go through all of them)
I'm getting used to it. This UK was actually an update from the issues I've had earlier.. 21CSM still bad but the rest almost acceptable. "USA" has a lot better audio and production, but I still like the performance better on this,
RaderaThanks for the link. I'll get to it ASAP.