COMPLETE '79 COLLECTOR SERIES VOL. 1

Live albums aren't really my thing. Generally I'd rather go for the studio offerings. In most cases they satisfy me more. Although, there are some albums of great worth: Camel's Pressure points or Deep Purples Made in Japan. These are albums where one really feel the music in a live setting. Another great leve album is this one, Complete '79.

I do agree with some reviewers, that the single disc album is a tighter album in some sense but this one gives more of a true feel of what it must have been like that night, witnessing Hawkwind on stage. First one must say that Complete '79 is one of the hardest live albums made. It's really, really furious and storming. Shot down in the night opens up the album with enormous energy and rage. And it carries on in that way for the remainder of the album, except for New Jerusalem and Lighthouse, which are two electronic pieces. Quite ambient and peaceful, in a way. It's soothing, especially since the band after those songs kick off Brainstorm, a version capable of kicking the Earth out of it's orbit. It's really something extra.

The reason for me to buy it was the fact that there are quite a few songs from the upcoming Levitation, by then not yet released. They are all great live adaptions and it's great fun hearing them like this.

The sound quality is not top notch. There are a few weird anomalies and sometimes it's quite rough, like a soundboard bootleg. But that's fine, actually. The music is so magical, enthralling and mezmerising that it ultimately leaves little to wish for. A great live album!

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Posted Thursday, February 7, 2013 | Review this album | Report (Review #910948)

BEWARE! Whether it's Hawkwind doing it to themselves ? or unsprupulous others ?I really don't know. What I do know is that there is a huge pile of Hawkind DVD's and CD's of trully appalling quality ? I couldn't telly you what the performances are like if I wanted too. They might br great ? We'll ... (read more)

Report this review (#588201) | Posted by Matt-T | Wednesday, December 14, 2011 | Review Permanlink

The 'original' album was always one of my favourites. I liked putting it on in between Space Ritual and Do Not Panic (live at Stonehenge) to wallow in the sounds of the mighty Hawks live. My first thought is that I can't remember the sound being so poor back in the day. It's not awful but sound ... (read more)

Report this review (#382405) | Posted by raggleman | Tuesday, January 18, 2011 | Review Permanlink

Although not the best sound this shows the 79 rebirth of Hawkwind was a brave move, going on tour with no label backing and then presenting to the fans at least 9 songs never recorded on a Hawkwind album(at that point) ... (read more)

Report this review (#25740) | Posted by Chriz | Thursday, January 8, 2004 | Review Permanlink

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