SECONDS OUT

Bill Bruford sure played for some great bands live on stage. It doesn't get better then KING CRIMSON, YES and GENESIS does it ? He's actually featured on one track here "Cinema Show" from a concert in Paris in 1976.The rest of the songs feature Chester Thompson and were from their concert in Paris in 1977. It shows how much respect both GENESIS and YES had for Bill Bruford, that both bands would release live albums and yet go back to older live material just to get him on these particular albums.This is from the "A Trick Of The Tail" tour and features four songs from that album (the most) and three from "Selling England By The Pound". "Wind And Wuthering" wasn't released yet but there is one song ("Afterglow") from it as well. This would be Steve Hackett's last recording with the band. Lots of mellotron on this one and Phil is in fine form.This recording is in my top three of all-time favourite live albums. It's almost perfect.The only thing I would change would be to have "Dancing With The Moonlit Knight" in place of "Robbery, Assault & Battery".

So many highlights to pick from. I will say that "The Carpet Crawl" is in my opinion one of the most beautiful songs i've ever heard. In like manner "Afterglow" is a gorgeous track with some beautiful mellotron.The sound gets louder before 2 1/2 minutes and it's so emotional. "Firth Of Fifth" is really a song I feel that I should stand fo r(like the national anthem). That's how much respect I have for it. Anyway check out Banks after 3 minutes, and the drumming that follows is outstanding. A fuller sound with mellotron before 6 minutes. Perhaps the biggest wave of mellotron on this recording comes in after 8 minutes. It ends with piano and we can sit back down now. The crowd really gets into "I Know What I Like" clapping along. Some nice bass in this one too. Great sound 5 minutes in.The closing section of "The Musical Box" is so moving.

"Supper's Ready" is the best version i've heard. 24 1/2 minutes of bliss for me. Funny but this is a song that i've never warmed up to until about the fourth listen to this version and then it clicked. It is simply jaw dropping. I can't even begin to express how incredible the first almost 5 minutes are. "Cinema Show" features Bruford but honestly Hackett and Banks shine as well. Check out Hackett before 2 1/2 minutes. Beautiful. I like too when the tempo picks up before 6 1/2 minutes as Bruford and Banks deliver. It's even fuller sounding 8 minutes in with mellotron. Nice bass 10 minutes in. Lots of mellotron on "Dance On A Volcano". Love the intro as well. There's even a drum duet with Phil and Chester after 4 1/2 minutes. Mellotron opens "Los Endos" as drums build.The mellotron throughout is incredible.

Each track is outstanding so I feel bad not touching on them all. This is the kind of music that for some reason really moves me.