A LIVE RECORD

This is the album that introduced me to Camel back in 1978; I've listened to it many many times since and I simply love it. Disc One (of the original release) is both a great introduction to what Camel are all about and a dazzling display of their live genius. Disc Two is a powerful rendition of their instrumental masterwork "Snow Goose", showing the world how rock music can be sympathetically accompanied by an orchestra before Yes got around to it in 2001.

Regarding the remaster with bonus tracks: Andy Latimer explained on the camelproductions site that they were not overjoyed at the Decca "remaster" because no attempt was made to properly remaster the sound and what got released was really a capture of the raw tapes. This includes a faulty drum track on the Snow Goose which Andy Ward re-recorded for the original release. Latimer and Ward offered to re-engineer the remaster, but Decca were interested only in making a fast buck. As a result the sound on the original release is notably superior to the extent that I have recreated the compilation for my private listening, adding the "remaster" bonus tracks to the original.

To conclude: the original is an absolute masterpeice of style, taste and virtuosity. The bonus tracks on the so-called "remaster" are great to have, but shame on Decca for missing the opportunity to perfect the production with Camel at the helm.