Plain and Fancy: 05/08/25

Thursday, May 8, 2025

Nektar - Live In New York (1974-77 uk, stunning hard driving prog rock, 2004 SACD and 2013 japan SHM double disc remasters)

The fact that this was Nektar's first tour of the USA, and that this show was broadcast over the radio thanks to New York's WNEW (then THE radio station for rock music), helped make this show all the more memorable, but how about the music? Well, many of their early classics were played, and even some tunes from the just released Down to Earth album, and the soon to be released Recycled.

The first CD contains a scorching rendition of part one of "Remember the Future", perhaps the best ever live version available of this song, with Roye Allbrighton's guitar work really shining throughout, as well as Taff Freeman's keyboard playing. There's the bouncy and fun "Astral Man" from the Down to Earth album, as well as the proggy tunes "Marvellous Moses" and "It's All Over", both in their early incarnations before they made their album debuts the following year on Recycled. Fans of the hard rock sounds heard on ...Sounds Like This will enjoy the bombastic riffs of "Good Day" (aah, that classic guitar & organ combo) , powerfully performed here, and including an especially passionate vocal delivery from Allbrighton. This disc closes with two more numbers from the Down to Earth album, "That's Life" and "Show Me the Way", the former an aggressive rocker that is fueled by Allbrighton's insistant guitar riffs and the driving rhythm section of bassist Mo Moore and drummer Ron Howden, the latter a more melodic piece that uncovers many layers and styles of the band.

CD 2 kicks off with the heavy rock of "A Day in the Life of the Preacher", a song from the ...Sounds Like This album that hints at a slight nod to contemporaries like Deep Purple and Uriah Heep with its muscular guitar work, raging Hammond organ, and wailing vocals. A Tab in the Ocean's brilliant "Desolation Valley" follows, echoing all sorts of powerful and majestic nuances, only to segue into part two of "Remember the Future", with Freeman ripping into a nimble solo that starts on the Moog, and then moves to Hammond, while Allbrighton lays down some funky rhythm guitar licks. Closing out this disc is the mind-numbing "Crying in the Dark/King of Twilight", which kick off the encores that also include "Woman Trouble" and a 50's medley that also has Down to Earth's "Fidgety Queen" thrown in for good measure. It's an exhaustive and exhilarating experience, and with the exception of missing out on Mick Brockett's light show, you feel as if you were there in attendance back in 1974.

Quite simply, this is one of the best live albums you can get your hands on, and if you have a SACD Surround Sound player, I'm sure the experience can be even more fulfilling. A mandatory, must-have release for Nektar fans and lovers of hard-driving prog rock.

by Pete Pardo, November 6th 2004

Tracks

Disc 1

1. Introduction / Astral Man - 4:01

2. Remember The Future (Part One) Start - 9:56

3. Remember The Future (Part One) Conclusion - 7:44

4. Marvelous Moses - 8:36

5. It's All Over - 5:26

6. Good Day - 6:47

7. That's Life - 6:30

8. Show Me The Way - 6:28

All songs by Roye Albrighton, Ron Howden, Alan Freeman, Derek Moore

Disc 2

1. A Day in the Life of a Preacher - 15:42

2. Desolation Valley - 9:57

3. Remember The Future (Part Two) - 8:14

4. I Can See You - 7:43

5. King of Twilight - 10:01

6. What Ya Gonna Do? (Woman Trouble) - 4:06

7. Medley: Johnny B. Goode / Sweet Little Rock & Roller / Blue Suede Shoes / Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On (Chuck Berry / Carl Perkins / Dave Williams) - 6:54

8. Fidgety Queen - 5:49

All songs written by Roye Albrighton, Ron Howden, Alan Freeman, Derek Moore except where noted

Recorded live at The Academy of Music, New York City on September 28, 1974

Tracks

Disc 1

1. Introduction - 1:02

2. Astral Man - 2:57

3. Remember the Future, Part One - 16:14

4. Marvellous Moses - 8:35

5. It's All Over Now / Good Day - 12:13

6. That's Life - 6:28

7. Show Me the Way - 6:27

All compositions by Roye Albrighton, Ron Howden, Alan Freeman, Derek Moore

Disc 2

1. A Day in the Life of a Preacher - 15:42

2. Desolation Valley - 9:57

3. Remember The Future (Part Two) - 8:14

4. I Can See You - 7:43

5. King of Twilight - 10:01

6. What Ya Gonna Do? (Woman Trouble) - 4:06

7. Medley: Johnny B. Goode / Sweet Little Rock & Roller / Blue Suede Shoes / Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On (Chuck Berry / Carl Perkins / Dave Williams) - 6:54

8. Fidgety Queen - 5:49

All songs written by Roye Albrighton, Ron Howden, Alan Freeman, Derek Moore except where noted

Recorded live at The Academy of Music, New York City on September 28, 1974.

Nektar

*Roye Albrighton - Lead Vocals, Guitars

*Alan Freeman - Keyboards, Backing Vocals

*Ron Howden - Drums, Percussion

*Derek Moore - Bass, Backing Vocals

1971 Nektar - Journey To The Centre Of The Eye (2013 SHM double disc remaster)

1972 Nektar - A Tab in the Ocean (2013 japan SHM two disc set)

1973 Nektar - ...Sounds Like This (2005 double disc remaster)

1974 Nektar - Sunday Night At London Roundhouse (2002 double disc)

1974 Nektar - Down To Earth (2013 japan SHM remaster)

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Joe Walsh - The Smoker You Drink The Player You Get (1973 us, the quirky, open-minded nature of this album shows a genuine progressive instinct at work, 2009 HDCD)

Because Joe Walsh has never been a critic’s darling, we sometimes forget he holds a lofty place in the eyes of fellow musicians. Rock royalty like Jimmy Page, Pete Townshend, and Eric Clapton have all heaped praise on what they call Walsh’s intelligent, fluid, and melodic guitar style. And there’s no better example of his instrumental eloquence than The Smoker You Drink, the Player You Get. From his slide-guitar mastery and early adoption of the Heil Talk Box effect on “Rocky Mountain Way” to the lilting twelve-string figures and soaring solos of “Wolf,” Walsh proves he possesses the chops for fiery flash as well as seductive subtlety. The album’s only notable flaws: Occasional corny and awkward lyrics on tracks like “Dreams” and “Happy Ways.” Yet in spite of Walsh’s legendary on- and off-stage craziness, he retains a discipline in the studio and allows his colleagues plenty of room to shine here. This well-balanced record satisfies from beginning to end.

While advertised by ABC-Dunhill as a Walsh solo effort, The Smoker You Drink, the Player You Get remains very much the work of Walsh and his talented band, Barnstorm. His previous outings with the James Gang garnered good notices, but Walsh meshes better with drummer and long-time friend Joe Vitale, bassist Kenny Passarelli, and keyboardist Rocke Grace. On this, the ensemble’s second LP, producer Bill Szymczyk and the band recorded at three locations: Caribou Ranch Studios in Nederland, Colorado, the Record Plant in Los Angeles, and Criteria Studios in Miami.

After several months, they netted a sonically outstanding effort. Szymczyk and Walsh provide a stellar example of how to apply just enough spit and polish at the mixing console without sacrificing the live impact of a four-piece rock band. The soundstage seems appropriately big on expansive cuts (“Meadows”) while mellower numbers (“Days Gone By”) harbor a rich midrange that glows with fire-side warmth. Vitale’s drum kicks and Passarelli’s bass runs rattle the walls just like they would in a small club, but the judicious isolation and careful microphone placement ensure Grace’s keyboards and Walsh’s guitar fills never get lost in the mix. The original pressing of The Smoker You Drink, the Player You Get was mastered by Sterling Sound’s Lee Hulko.

by Vance Hiner, 2016