CONCERT CLASSICS VOL. 4

Review Nº 910

"Concert Classics Vol. 4" is the third live album from UK and was released in 1999. It was recorded in 1978 from a live show in Boston, Massachusetts in the USA. It was released on CD in 1999 under the same name and was also re- released in Japan on CD in 2007 as "Live In Boston". It was also re-issued under the name of "Live In America".

The sleeve notes date the concert as 11 September 1978 performed at the Paradise Theatre in Boston. However, that date is wrong because it was on 11 July 1978. The track listing is also incorrect because the real name of the sixth track should be "Presto Vivace/In The Dead Of Night" instead of "In The Dead Of Night". "In The Dead Of Night" was originally a track divided into three parts "In The Dead Of Night", "By The Lord Of Day" and "Presto Vivace And Reprise". So, "Presto Vivace", which originally was the third part, was played as a bridge to the first part of the track "In The Dead Of Night". The problem with these errors is this was probably a release without the approval of the band.

As many of us know, UK was a progressive rock supergroup with a very short life that was formed at the end of the classic progressive musical era. It was formed by John Wetton and Bill Bruford after the release of "Red" by King Crimson and Robert Fripp decided to suspend the activity of the band. Initially UK was formed by both musicians with Eddie Jobson and Allan Holdsworth. Jobson was the ex keyboardist/violinist of Roxy Music. Wetton knew him from his work with Roxy Music in 1976. Bruford recruited the guitarist Holdsworth who had played with him on his solo debut studio album "Feels Good To Me". So, the four musicians released the eponymous debut studio album of UK in 1978.

After only one album the line up of the band changed drastically. Bruford and Holdsworth left and Terry Bozio entered the group. The concerts by the first line up were bootlegged many times, especially since these gigs featured material that would be released on their second studio album. The show on this live album was broadcast on the radio and recorded in 1978 in Boston. The bootleg character is still preserved, because of the real cheap layout of the bootleg and the mistakes in the track listing. Besides, the CD has been withdrawn from the markets already, because there's a dispute between Concert Classics and EG Records over the rights to it. So, if you get a copy, you have a collector's item on your hands. Still, you can get a copy of the Japanese edition "Live In Boston" but for a higher price.

"Concert Classics Vol. 4" has seven tracks. "Alaska" was released on their eponymous debut studio album. "Time To Kill" was also released on their eponymous debut studio album. "The Only Thing She Needs" was released on their second studio album "Danger Money". "Carrying No Cross" was also released on "Danger Money". "Thirty Years" was released on their eponymous debut studio album. "In The Dead Of Night" was also released on their eponymous debut studio album. As I wrote before, the real name of the track should be "Presto Vivace/In The Dead Of Night". "Caesar's Palace Blues" was released on "Danger Money".

So, "Concert Classics Vol. 4" offers a live recording of the original UK line up, between their debut album and "Danger Money". The opener "Alaska" and "Time To Kill" come in a routine version because they come from their debut. But then it follows with "The Only Thing She Needs", which should only get its final form on "Danger Money", has a furious Holdsworth playing. The difference is even more blatant with "Carrying No Cross". Here the entire instrumental middle section is different, again a breathtaking Holdsworth. One thing becomes clear in these two pieces. Holdsworth was responsible for the jazzy note on their debut. Without his guitar riffs the music of UK takes on a different character. On "Thirty Years" Holdsworth is all over the place and Bruford rules. The instrumental section is brilliant. "Presto Vivace/In The Dead Of Night" was given to it a new interpretation of the original piece, which is nice. It has some extra key parts here and there, which is very nice. On "Caesar's Palace Blues" the tempo and character were later completely changed on "Danger Money". This live version has nothing to do with the furious virtuosity of the version on "Night After Night".

Conclusion: "Concert Classics Vol. 4" is a great live album and an extraordinary addition to any prog collection. It's a pity that UK hasn't decided to release this live album by themselves. The sound quality is very good and the song quality is also excellent. The best tracks from UK are almost all present here as well as very interesting early versions from three of the "Danger Money" tracks. I wonder what else was played on that night, because it would have fitted very well on this live album. From a historical point of view this album can be considered the missing link between the first and the second studio UK albums. In conclusion, if you don't have any version of this live album, buy it, as long as it's available. Probably, the only version that you can get is the Japanese edition "Live In Boston", as happened with me. However, despite being a little bit expensive, I assure you that it's worth giving some more extra money to have it.

Prog is my Ferrari. Jem Godfrey (Frost*)

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