Disraeli Gears Live (2 CDs) incl BBC recordings
Note: This set is a mixture of Live recordings and the BBC "Disraeli Gears" Recordings. In combination they give a comprehensive and fascinating view of their experimentation and development over this period. Its got to be said that a couple of rehearsals would have helped but the BBC sessions helped fill that gap. The BBC on their own are marginal but combined with the Marquee and Barbecue produce a great set which I now really enjoy. The tracks are configured to give an historical (not purely chronological) and musical development overview.
CD1 (55 min)
Marquee Club, London, 23rd May 1967
Remastered Quality: A good quality audience recording let down by a an inadequate PA but balance is still quite good. It has been noise filtered, volume levels equalised and some rough edits & odd noises tidied up. A realistic sound handling the dual stack's volume quite well.
The BBC recordings are variable - the latter ones are better quality. The off air recordings are naturally inferior (AM broadcasts). Overall sound quality is good with a bit of bass boost thickening the sound and digital noise filtering clarifying things all round, especially on the off-air.
BBC
1. Intro/Lawdy Mama (Trad arr. Clapton) [which was reworked into:] 1.47
2. Strange Brew (Clapton/Papparlardi/Collins) 3.06
3. Interview of Eric Clapton .33
Marquee Club
4. Introduction 1.13
5. Tales of Brave Ulysses (Clapton/Sharp) 3.17
5. World of Pain (Pappalardi/Collins) 4.39
7. Outside Woman Blues (Reynolds) 3.54
8. Dance the Night Away (Bruce/Brown) 4.13
9. Sleepy Time Time (Bruce/Godfrey) 6.30
10. Sweet Wine (Baker/Godfrey) 5.19
11. Rollin' & Tumblin (Morganfield) 4.42
12. NSU (Bruce) 3.28
BBC
13. I Feel Free (Bruce/Brown) (Live in Paris) 1.59
14. Take it Back (Bruce) (probably live in the studio) 3.07
15. Intro/Stepping Out (Bracken) (live in the studio) 3.35
16. Tales of Brave Ulysses (Clapton/Sharp) (live in the studio) 3.01
CD2 (65 min)
Note: The BBC recordings are configured in album order as an alternative "Disraeli Gears".
Barbecue '67, Spaulding England, 29th May 1967 (Reviewed)
Remastered Quality: As I have made clear this is a severely flawed audience recording (not a soundboard as claimed by the commercial bootleggers!). It lacks bass and hasjust audible vocals. Bass has been boosted to a level of prescence but hardly clear and nothing could be done about the vocals. The good quality tape recording needed minimal filtering but some editing of extraneous mike/electrical noises. The drums are magnificently clear (and very live sounding) as is the guitar.
BBC recordings as above.
Barbecue '67
1. NSU (Bruce) 4:48
2. Sunshine of Your Love (Bruce/Brown/Clapton) 5:09
3. We're Going Wrong (Bruce) 6:06
4. Stepping Out (Bracken) 5:25
5. Rollin' & Tumblin (Morganfield) 5:01
6. Toad (Baker) 7:08
7. I'm So Glad (James) 6:03
The BBC Disraeli Gears
8. Introduction 0:09
9. Strange Brew (Clapton/Papparlardi/Collins) 2:49
10. Sunshine of Your Love (Bruce/Brown/Clapton) 4:15
11. Blue Condition (Baker) 2:47
12. Introduction 0:43
13. Tales of Brave Ulysses (Clapton/Sharp) 2:56
14. SWALABR (Bruce/Brown)/Outro 2:31
15. We're Going Wrong (Bruce) 3:25
16. Outside Woman Blues (Reynolds) 3:12
17. Take it Back (Bruce) 2:16