LIVE

After such a disastrous album as Ball, IB had to to do something to reassure their fans, and a live album might have been the solution, maybe an easy one, but they had to make known they were still a ROCK group and not a pop outfit.

Right away, the first thing striking you is the great psychedelic collage of the artwork as it is obviously trying to restore credibility with their fans. But by starting off the album with three tracks of their previous Ball album, I am sure this was also a gamble, but they did choose the two best tracks (and most IB-like) from that album, and they work well as an opener. The third track is also from that dreaded Ball album, but in a much better version. Up next is a good track from their debut album, but I must say that I like the original version better as I find the sound rather muddy (and Ingle was not the singer on that album too). Are You Happy is from their seminal second album, but not the one I would've chosen from the ones present on that first side. A good rendition of it though, with a slight drumming bit announcing the drums galore of their cornerstone track. the live version is not vastly different thanthe studio version, though.

A good live album with a good sound considering the year it was recorded in, but there is not much new under the flight of the Iron Butterfly. This was probably (IMHO) meant as a confirmation and it was probably successful too, but I suspect that it was also meant to have fans be patient, as guitarist Braunn had left the group (he was to form a group with two other ex-IB members - Penrod and DeLoach) and therefore had to be replaced. Not essential for progheads as are any of IB's albums, but still worth a spin.