Across the Airwaves [Import]

Editorial Reviews
Album Description
Reissue on A&M of 1982 release featuring BBC recordings of 21 of their best, including 'Ride A White Swan', 'Hot Love','Life's A Gas' and 'Jeepster'. 1998 A&M Records release.

Tracks:

Bright Morning Stars
Worlds They Rise and Fall
Spirit Beautiful
Willow Pattern
Turquoise Blue
Whistle Tune
Darling Belle
You've Been a Friend To Me
I Know That Man
The Old Buccaneer
Black Jack David
The Circle Is Unbroken
Fine Fingerd Hands
Everything's Fine Right Now
Raga Puti
Empty Pocket Blues

Tracks:

All Writ Down
Dust Be Diamonds
Theta
Beautiful Stranger
Won't You Come See Me
Oh Did I Love a Dream
Secret Temple
Rends-Moi Demain
Dreams Of No Return
Jane
Derar Old Battlefield
Log Cabin Home In The Sky
1968
Hangman's Medley
Ring Dance
Long Long Road
Living In the Shadow

Album Description

Two CD set from the British Folk band headed by Mike Heron and Robin Williamson. This double disc collection contains 33 rare BBC Radio recordings taped by the band between 1969 and 1974, including 13 previously unreleased songs. Compiled by the band members, this package includes a 24 page booklet with rare photos, liner notes and BBC sessionography. Hux. 2007

Album Details

The Incredible String Band was Arguably One of the Most Engaging Groups to Emerge from the Esoteric 1960s. Basically the Duo of Mike Heron and Robin Williamson, their Sound was Comprised of Haunting Celtic Folk Melodies Augmented by a Variety of Middle Eastern and Asian Instruments. This Double CD Includes 13 Previously Unreleased Recordings and Has Been Compiled and Released with the Full Co-operation of the Band. The Accompanying 24 Page Booklet Includes Rare Photographs, Comprehensive Liner Notes and a Full BBC Sessionography, plus an Additional Note from Mike Heron and Lyrics to Several of the Featured Songs.

Customer Reviews:

a very welcome, but not perfect compilation.......2007-05-25

As a true ISB & Robin fan I simply cannot resist the temptation of buying practically all ISB stuff that hits the market, and this cd of BBC recordings seemed like a wonderful addition. And it is, really. The packaging is well taken care of with an insightful essay regarding the sessions, lyrics of a couple of songs and perhaps best of all a "sessionography" of BBC sessions. While the performances are fine, the sound quality is not as uniformly excellent, due to the fact that some of the tracks, mostly due to lost tapes, have been recorded off-air. But this will not daunt the true fan.

In fact, it's mostly these tracks that make this collection interesting. Some Robin songs especially have by their absence from any release gained an almost mythical status, like "Fine fingered hands". Absolutely wonderful to hear these songs!

On the downside, from my point of view, is that I already did have most of the recordings. The tracks 1 - 12 featured on cd1 have been released as "Live in concert", while a lot of songs on cd2 have been released as "On air". This leaves some 13 songs that were previously unreleased. In the booklet we find a little story by Mike Heron that accompanied the already mentioned "Live in concert" so, unfortunately, it's not exactly a story fresh from his pen. I cannot tell from the liner notes or the sessionography which songs survived on tape or as an off-air recording. But it seems to me that some strange choices have been made, certainly in the knowledge that a lot of songs have already been released. An example: the "Live in concert" songs are in the same order (absolutely fine in itself of course), but looking at the session list some songs are still omitted. Why? I would have liked a better understanding of the choices made by the compilers, for now I am left with an uneasy feeling that this is not the perfect and final release. I'm all for the release of complete sessions unless there are very good reasons not to do this. Another example: the songs are not presented in a chronological order. This would have made perfect sense.

In all, this is a fine and long-awaited release and easily worth 5 stars when it comes to content. But it loses a star for its seemingly odd and arbitrary choice and order of the songs. I suspect (and hope) that this is not the final word on the matter.

Average customer rating:

for collectors and completists only

Across the Airwaves
Marc Bolan & T. Rex
Manufacturer: Polygram Int'l
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Proto Punk | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Pop | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Hard Rock | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

Glam | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

General | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

Alternative Rock | Imports | Stores | Music

Classic Rock | Imports | Stores | Music

Rock | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B000023ZEO
Release Date: 1999-03-02

Tracks:

The Misty Coast Of Albany - Tyrannosaurus Rex
Iscariot - Tyrannosaurus Rex
Once Upon The Seas Of Abyssinia - Tyrannosaurus Rex
Chariots Of Silk - Tyrannosaurus Rex
Scenescof - Tyrannosaurus Rex
Girl - T. Rex
Life's A Gas - T. Rex
Jeepster - T. Rex
Beltane Walk - T. Rex
Jewel - T. Rex
Sailors Of The Highway - T. Rex
Suneye - T. Rex
A Daye Laye - Tyrannosaurus Rex
Wind Cheetah - Tyrannosaurus Rex
By The Light Of The Magical Moon - Tyrannosaurus Rex
Hot Love - T. Rex
Fist Heart Mighty Dawn Dart - Tyrannosaurus Rex
Summertime Blues - T. Rex
Pavilions Of Sun - Tyrannosaurus Rex
Ride A White Swan - T. Rex

Album Description

Reissue on A&M of 1982 release featuring BBC recordings of 21 of their best, including 'Ride A White Swan', 'Hot Love','Life's A Gas' and 'Jeepster'. 1998 A&M Records release.

Customer Reviews:

for collectors and completists only.......2000-07-16

When this was first issued on vinyl in the early eighties it was a must-have item. Unfortunately, this release has been superseded by "A BBC History" (credited to Tyrannosaurus Rex and T Rex), which is not only more complete, but has far more accurate sleeve notes. For example, according to Across the Airwaves, Hot Love was first performed by Tyrannosaurus Rex in 1969.

Musically, it's excellent, with the earlier tracks offering more than the later ones. Of particular interest are Misty Mist and Scenescof, which actually come from the audition tape that got Tyrannosaurus Rex on the radio in the first place. Sailors of the Highway also gets its first official release here: this is rumoured to have been slated for single release, but the song was shelved.

My advice is to forget this album and get "A BBC History". "The BBC Recordings 1970-76" includes more T Rex material but omits the Tyrannosaurus Rex tracks.

Across the airwaves [Japan Import] 1st Press
Average customer rating:
Across the airwaves [Japan Import] 1st Press
T. Rex & Marc Bolan
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
ASIN: B000KRSD5M