THE SPIRIT

Given that it was recorded on tour in support of one of the band's worst albums of all time (1990's Goodnight L.A., which was supposed to break the band in America), The Spirit is a surprisingly good live album. It is at least among the better produced of the band's many live albums. The weakest links in the set list are, not surprisingly, the three songs from Goodnight L.A.: Mama (no connection to the Genesis song of the same name), Reckless Man, and Rockin' Chair. These are three of the most generic and middle-of-the-road Rock standards imaginable. The rest of the songs however are taken from throughout the band's career, including the great title track from the 1978 debut Kingdom Of Madness; the superb Sacred Hour and The Spirit from 1982's Chase The Dragon; Les Morts Dansants, How Far Jerusalem, and the title track from 1985's On A Storyteller's Night; the title track, Need A Lot Of Love, and When The World Comes Down from 1986's Vigilante; and Days Of No Trust and Pray For The Day from 1988's Wings Of Heaven. The only one of these that I don't like much is Need A Lot Of Love.

The performance is strong and energetic for most of the time and even if there are a few less- than-good songs here, overall it is a strong live album. Far from essential, though.