SWEET SMOKE LIVE

Unfortunately , my copy is the old one without the bonus tracks and with the Steppenwolf Live cover album where the wolf has vanished and only smoke is left (it's probably sweet , too) but man, is this still enjoyable. You get the same still exhilarating music so fluid as you do from the Poke album and on the longer number of Darkness. However, the only surprising moment is a six minute free-jazz improv halfway through the second number but this is still correct.

The newer version of this album actually separates the second track Shadout Mapes/Ocean Of Fears into two different tracks but also adds three new tracks to give more interest. I recently acquired this version and love every minute of People Are Hard and Schyler's Song. The Final Jam is just that a jam and is of lesser interest especially after repeated listening.

Please note that I have never seen the sleeve artwork presented above. The copy I own now is derivative of the first edition but with a comic-like drawing of the musicians playing in concert. Half of the liner notes are written in German. Some progheads might have a problem calling Sweet Smoke as prog because of their improvisations and tendency to jam, but almost all of them will agree that this good time music and positive vibration emanating from their music make it a must for everyone.