SHINE ON BRIGHTLY

The Starcastle formula translated well into a live environment.

"Shine On Brightly" was recorded at Boston, MA. back in 1979 with Starcastle touring to promote their third studio album, "Citadel". The set list has tracks from "Citadel", as well as Starcastle's eponymous album and the follow-up, "Fountains Of Light".

Shine On Brightly" has a good sound quality and catches Starcastle as their best. At Starcastle's best, though, the band will forever carry the tag as an unimaginative Yes "wanna be" outfit. Is this a tag Starcastle deserves? I'm not sure. Starcastle may be influenced by Yes, but they do have some semblance of originality and that American "sensibility" to their music, such as crystal clear vocals and a very melodic sound. This is very evident on "Shine On Brightly".

These guys are great musicians - very talented - and play their brand of Symphonic Prog really well in the live setting. If you are a fan of Starcastle you will enjoy this album; as a casual listener of Starcastle I enjoy this album when it is on, though it is only on when I see it and make a conscious decision to play it. There is nothing on "Shine On Brightly" that is a really memorable, stand out moment or song that makes me seek it out to play over and over again.

Good, but not essential sums up "Shine On Brightly" to a tee! 3/5, no problems. Anything higher would be a furphy; anything lower would be denying the talent of the players.

A live album recorded in the summer of 79, but that didn't get released until much later (01, says the back cover). The weird thing is that we hear the singer announce that their latest (brand new)album is Citadel (released late 77), but they'd released their atrocious Real To Reel since, so something is not clicking right here: either the announced recording and gig date is wrong, or they completely reneg that atrocious album. Most likely, the date is wrong, because the huge majority of the set's list is from Citadel, with only one track each from the debut and the second album. Most likely, this album is really a bootleg, since t misnames Fountains into their second album's titles. Though I can't trace on which album would be Breath And Thunder (it's not on the upcoming RTR album either), so most likely, the track was to come on a subsequent album, but got lost or not selected for RTR. For some, this track alone might be worth the investment, as apparently, this is a Starcastle archives recording of good quality, except for a brief moment where the tape overstretches during Fountains. Nothing surprising for an otherwise good stage representation of a favourite Yes clone, but I'll pass on it.

I guess I was one of those weird guys in the late 70's who liked Starcastle - a somewhat obscure prog rock band from Illinois in the style of Yes, ELP and Styx (in that order). I bought (and still possess on vinyl) all four of their studio albums. So when I recently saw this live cd at the record store, I thought this would be a nice way to complete my Starcastle collection. Beware....

First of all, this is the same recording as "Concert Classics, Vol. 5" and an earlier Japanese release on the Welcome label titled "Fountains". Secondly, according to the band's own website, this release was never authorized by the band. Thirdly, the recording is sub-par, the mix could be better, and there is very audible tape flutter in two or three spots.

And to top things off, the liner notes claim this recording is from a concert on August 12, 1979 in Boston MA, to promote the "Citadel" cd. Well, this is clearly a post-Citadel concert, judging from the number of songs from that cd that dominate this one. But Citadel came out in late 1977, and Starcastle was already recording their next cd ("Reel to Real") during the late spring of 1978 to release that cd later the same year. Plus, Terry Luttrell and Herb Schildt left the band in late 1978. There was no Starcastle concert in Boston in 1979!

Oh well, the concert probably took place during the Fall of 1977 or that following Winter. I will say that the band sounds tight! The playing is meticulous and very true to the studio versions. Highlights for me are "Forces" and "Lady of the Lake" from their first album. I thought that "Can't Think Twice" and "Could This Be Love" were two of the weaker songs on "Citadel", so I didn't need to hear them performed live. And the only new song here, "Breath and Thunder", goes a bit overboard on the electronics, and short on melody. This cd is for Starcastle completists only.

Other Starcastle info: Recorded during 1975, Starcastle's eponymous first cd is a classic 5-star prog delight: bright, mystical, crystal clear; Emerson/Wakeman keys; thick Chris Squire-like bass lines; Wishbone Ash-like dual guitars; Yes-like vocals, harmonies and lyrics. "Lady of the Lake" is their flagship song - just superb. And the marching, arching bass lick that drives "Elliptical Seasons" is one of the very best bass guitar lines ever laid down. E-V-E-R! Think Yes's "Siberian Khatru" and "Awaken" when you consider this album's overall style.

Recorded during 1976, "Fountains of Light" lost some of the rawer edge of their first cd. Prettier keyboards and bass dominated; guitars were lighter and mixed down. But this is still a 4-star album with great songwriting and musicianship. Their late 1977 release, "Citadel", brought back a better balance of guitars and synths, but shorter, poppier songs were becoming the standard. Still a pretty good cd (3-1/2 stars). They should have stopped there...

The cover to 1978's "Reel to Real" foretold its contents as it featured black and white photographs of the band members in open shirts (or NO shirts!). The sound was stripped down - very little for the keyboard lover here, and the guitars were upfront and rocking. Coincidentally, the sound is very close to REO Speedwagon (Yikes! I know), for whom Terry Luttrell sang initially. It actually is a very good AOR cd, played and sung well - it was just a disappointment to us prog lovers of the band.

O.K., I must end this longest of my reviews! Prog heads, be sure to purchase AT LEAST the first two cd's of Starcastle - you'll be pleasantly surprised! For Starcastle fans who already have the first three cd's, you can skip the live "Shine on Brightly", as well as 1978's "Studcastle"...er, I mean "Reel to Real". ;-)