LIVE AND LET LIVE

A jaw-dropper of a live album that will always be my foundest memory of getting into the prog bands that were current in the 1980s. I actually still have the gatefold vinyl copy I bought at London's "Shades" recird store on Wardour Street (very close to the famous Marquee Club that was a launching pad for so many neo-prog bands, as well as the setting for this live classic).

The main distinction of this recording that I've been listening to for over 20 years is the way it so effortlessly transcends any stylistic trappings - it simply is a great album, however you want to classify it, neo-prog, symphonic, crossover, eclectic, etc. It's all of those and much more.

As amazing as the music is when Twelfth Night are at their instrumental peak, and especially the hugely charismatic voice of the now-deceased Geoff Mann, it's the crowd on that cramped, sweaty night at The Marquee that make this album so spine-tingling. In my opinion, "The Ceiling Speaks" is the most electrifying intro to any of the live albums reviewed on this site. On the softer moments, the interplay between guitar and bass is also special, and a real nod back to the glory days of prog not found on many records by their cotemporaries. The current CD edition expands on the original vinyl and only makes it more complete with the inclusion of "Creep Show", "East of Eden" and the bittersweet "Love Song."

Would have been, could have been huge, but alas no. Still an incredible souvenir to that brief era in the 1980s when prog, the New Wave of British Heavy Metal and post punk collided as a strong testament to the times.