THE CRY

In my reviews for their respective two first albums, I expressed a moderate interest for the "Crying For Help" songs. I called them interludes, and I wouln't have been sad if they would have remained so (even if they were intended originally to make part of a separate work).

Some of the "Cryings" were good, though. Especially some of the ones from " Songs From the Lions Cage ". "Only Child" featuring a great guitar solo from Rothery was one of them (slightly different here). It is my fave from this "Cry" compilation. What was known as "Cry VII" was an a cappella dull song. In this version, called ... "The Cry" it profits from a subtle acoustic guitar background. I prefer to hear this version. The short "Theme" was meant to be featured on their first album but was not.

"The Offering" is a beautiful and melodic track. All in lightness and peacefullness. "Problem Line" (or "Cry III") is another tranquil moment : 100% like Land's End. Same ocean-like - oriented music. Only perturbated at the end by a telephone ring, then a joke : "This is the problem line, we're not in right now, so please leave a message". Hence this title...(I already made this comment when reviewing the original work).

"Isolation" is a variation of "Cry I" (not featured here as such). Almost a carbon copy. The atmosphere is also 100% Howe ("Mood For A Day") or or Hackett ("Horizons"). "Fallen Angels" sounds more "atmospheric" as its original "Help II" which was rather medieval. Again, I prefer this version.

We'll even have a true Arena song with "The Healer". It was written between their two studio album but was left aside for "Pride". It is an average Arena track. On their heavy range. Not bad, but not a masterpiece of course.

This regroupment of the "Help" songs (even if some are nicely revisited) is not really a must own. I would say that only die-hard fans could be interested. As such, it is a collector item. But nothing more. Most of the versions here were the original ones.Two stars.