BBC IN CONCERT 1972

Being a fan from 1974 on getting my hand on this concert was always a dream for me. Both the band and the great initiator of the fan club Keith Domone often mentioned the possibility that the concert would once be released on cd. And suddenly, there it was, as a precessor of the re-releases of all their classic albums. And what an album this is!! It sounds like the seventies in every respect and that is most certainly meant as a compliment. Just imagine, a young and ambitious band that plays live with its own orchestra, with members recruited from music schools. A great idea at that time, how disastrous it turned out economically, and a great idea it still is. The songs were once described by keyborad-player Woolly Woolstenholme as organised chaos. The songs are indeed far from perfect but that is one of the bonusses of this album. It was the seventies, folks!! There is enthusiasm, ther eis musicianship, there is creativeness in every vein. The arrangements of the songs are good, the production is not perfect but more than acceptable for such a complicated live concert, the vocals are great (always been one of the strongholds of BJH) and the set is marvellous. Just listen to Medicine man with orchestra, the only live rendition of Dark now my sky, The poet sung live by Woolly, it gave me the chills. And that the package even contained both the original mono tape and the remastered stereo edition for a more than reasonable price makes it an even better buy. Just go tot the store and buy this early example of pop and orchestral music. BJH in concert is simply great.