RICK WAKEMAN IN CONCERT KBFH

If this or similar Rick Wakeman concert was issued in times when it was recorded, regardless of it's thin sound quality, it would certainly became one of the 70's milestone double or triple live albums from significant progressive artists and groups. But because probably it would decreased selling of some other recent similar records, we had to wait twenty years to hear these echoes from the past. Absolutely recommended to Yes, Rick Wakeman and other sympho rock listeners, it can be interesting also to everyone who still think that progressive rock is exclusive product of well equipped studios, many session musicians and months of recording on "many numbers" tape machines. All that can be hear here is live music played by people, of course, a lot of people, but as close as is possible to it's studio original. Machines don't play, they are just tools used to create and to play music. This is something that many present "musicians" should framed and hang on their living room walls.

Song represented on this November 1975 Winterland Theater San Francisco concert are from his three best 1973-1975 records ("Six Wives.", "Journey." and "Myths."), without orchestra, but with help of percussion and brass players, all in all, eight men band. Although Rick Wakeman is often present and well accepted with his solo numbers on most of Yes concerts and live albums, it is absolutely necessary to hear him in his own concert, as it is the only way to feel his true live music. Well played, with tracks close to studio counterparts, without many improvisation, this CD is excellent addition to prog collections, both because of it's historic and music values. Never mind if Rick Wakeman is not satisfied with quality of concert, we from the audience deserve a (nice price) issue like this one. What wreck of interpretation and sound from some other artists can be found on archive concerts, demos, lost and found and abandoned tracks in nice packages in record stores!

For the (criminal) record only: the older ones will be satisfied by no means in the feel of pleasant deja vu, the younger ones will learn and experience something new. What more can be expected of one record?