Fairport Convention - “A Chronicle of Sorts”
This was an unofficial collection of various live and possibly demo tracks whose experience was marred a bit by the last five or six songs having defects on them, but as this was such an old comp as it is, it’s likely I’ll come across the music in better quality elsewhere. There are a lot of nice pieces on here, portraying Fairport as everything from a psych group to purer folk rock and onto covers, such as the hilarious version of “Light My Fire” towards the end of the compilation. They demonstrate fairly well that they were probably a heck of a live band and great entertainers, although for my money, it’s most of the early stuff at the top of the disc that really impresses. I guess I liked em better when they weren’t doing reels and such.
Yardbirds - Stockholm April 1967
A short 25 minute or so live radio recording of the band doing a cross of their hits and Roger the Engineer material and such could arguably be considered recorded at their peak. With Jeff Beck on the guitar, both fuzzy and raga influenced, and the band writing some of the definitive pop/rock of the era, the Yardbirds had a surprising and forward level of instrumental talent for the style and era, they stand out almost as much as the Soft Machine did around the time. Would be nice to find this in a bit better condition, although it’s not quite as muddy as many ‘birds documents even after this date.
Brian Auger’s Oblivion Express - Second Wind (remaster 05)
Alex Ligertwood’s one of those vocalists you either can’t tolerate, eventually get used to and possibly end up loving. Unfortunately I’m too far at the beginning of the learning curve to sit uncomfortably with his voice and it wasn’t until this remaster that I could start getting past it a bit and listen closer to what’s a rather great jazz inspired, pop/rock music. Auger obviously get’s the lion’s share of the praise as he’s such a brilliant musician, but the whole band works pretty fine behind him. I did raise it a couple points, but I’m pretty close to the ceiling as when the histrionics get a bit too much I stop enjoying this so much. Imaginging this album without Ligertwood is almost too much to bear.