EXIT... STAGE LEFT (VHS)

This live video was originally released in conjunction with the live album of the same name, but don't be fooled into believing that the two releases are very similar. There is some overlap in terms of songs, but some songs that appear on the album are not here on the video and the other way around too. Like the album, this video was recorded and released at the very culmination of the band's classic period in 1981 (just before they were overcome by the "spirit of radio" and started to drift away from Prog with Signals). The running time is rather short with only eight full songs and one medley performed. In honesty though YYZ only appears over the closing credits, which brings us down to seven full songs that we can see the band perform here. Only the opener Limelight and the closing medley are not also featured on the album of the same name. Still, I think that the video is actually more enjoyable than the album, but both releases have some obvious shortcomings. That there is some talking in between the performances is one of them.

The highlights for me are an absolutely brilliant performance of Xanadu and the wonderful medley featuring excerpts from By-Tor and the Snow Dog, In the End, In the Mood and the 2112 Finale. There are no weak spots as such in the performance and there is more energy and passion in the video than on the album, I feel. Had this video featured the complete show without interruptions, the rating could have been higher.

The version I have is the recently re-released DVD, but the contents are the same as on the old VHS (as far as I know). The DVD version is available both as part of the Replay x 3 collection (together with Grace Under Pressure Tour and Show Of Hands DVDs) as well as individually.

Recommended, but could have been a lot better

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