CAN YOU HEAR ME

This is a budget label re-issue of Disc 1 of the 1977 Royal Albert Hall concert originally released in 1997 as Live at the Royal Albert Hall with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Part 1 [King Biscuit/BMG-70710 88020 2]. It has been re-sequenced by Disky, and packaging is minimal with no information of any kind about sources, otherwise its contents are the same as on the original release.

On the whole, performances are very good, a credible alternative when compared against the standard-setting Carnegie Hall set from two years earlier, though perhaps not so polished. The version of Prologue here [which is supposed to be the 'overture'] is an all-orchestral affair. The recording quality is superbly crisp, especially on the orchestra, but the album is badly marred by technical faults. A vicious buzz from an earth loop or similar plagues it throughout, becoming a severe problem during some quieter passages. The mixing also leaves a lot to be desired, though one wonders if there were unknown reasons for some poor fade-ins.

Worth having as a means to broaden your view of Renaissance as long as you can overcome the technical issues, though the original King Biscuit version is preferred.