LIVE ON THE KING BISCUIT FLOWER HOUR

When someone or something is approaching its end, we used to say that "it has one leg in it's grave". Well, on the start of the 80's it was almost sad true for most of the great 70's dinosaur groups. The bands were splitting up, frequently changing lineups, unsuccessfully trying to make and play their old music on new way, while artists were recording solo albums. And when it looked like that it was over, something happened that change the music industry history and music itself. The CD was invented! The music became digitalized and compact. Legal and illegal ways of distributing and copying music on easier way opened ears of new generations of listeners, and the older ones finally were able to hear their favorite worn out records without cracks and pops. And Jack-in-the-green made everything green and nice again! Old albums were pressed on new medium, remastered, expanded, with new liner notes, many single albums became double, and lot of archive recordings, mostly live, were pulled out from dust to the light of the day, on satisfaction of collectionists, who were unable to found those rare and expensive bootleg live LPs.

This CD from 1997 is absolutely of that dusty kind. Aimed to be consumed by Uriah Heep completionists, it represents 1974 February San Diego concert. Poorly recorded, even for that year, and with some problematic David Byron singing, it is still interesting because of inclusion of songs "Seven Stars" and "Sweet Freedom" from 1973 studio album. In the liner notes from 2003 USA issue, named "Greatest Hits Live", with "two deer" cover artwork, in "total ear" stereo sound, whatever it is, Ken Hensley said that the original 93 minute show was edited because of the 80 minutes CD finish mark, omitted some drum and keyboard solos. Although there is drum solo as a separate track, it's pity that instead of, oh not again, rock'n'roll medley at the end like on 1973 official live record, some keyboard solo or other song was not included. It would be much better. Rock'n'roll medley maybe has it's function on the concert, but on the more than 30 year old recording of that concert has not.

People who like Uriah Heep, especially their legendary lineup, will like this CD, but who don't, this CD will not help them. There are a lot of live CDs issued in last ten years of much better artistic and sonic quality to start with, featuring their longest lasting lineup, either "acoustically" or "electrically" driven. We are still waiting for some great live 70's concert.

Just to mention, there are not many progressive elements on Uriah Heep live recordings, You must search for it on their albums from dinosaur period.

I wish "there I was on some July evening"!