The UK leg of the Lamb Lies Down On Broadway Tour was originally scheduled to launch in October 1974 and lay the foundation prior to heading to the U.S. in January of '75 but, as the great Rover interview with taper Mike B. translates for us on the interior panel of this new disc - Steve Hackett injured his arm before the 2 kickoff dates at Wembley's Empire Pool that October and had to be re-scheduled for the Spring and London dates moved to April 14th and 15th.
This nicely packaged release from Satellite 6 presents the UK tour opener from the 14th for the very first time, a nearly complete transfer and remaster from original cassettes (the second night at Wembley on April 15th is the widely booted show as their is an incomplete BBC tape and a couple of different audience tapes). According to the stellar liner notes, there are 21 seconds missing from the opening tune (at about the 1:18 mark) and then a tape flip beteween "Lilywhite Lilith" and "The Waiting Room", seemingly executed like it was rehearsed as we don't seem to miss much there. Eighteen-year-old Mike B. had navigated and captured live sonics from the Wembley venue before, taping The Rolling Stones in September '73 at the Empire Pool - as well as Pink Floyd in December 1974. I will say that those taping efforts outshine this dusted off nugget but Genesis collectors will absolutely squeal over this fine collectible title. The recording is very good, but two-dimensional providing little depth. Peter Gabriel's vocals are out front of it and clear most of the time, as are the keyboards and synthesizers. The drums are latent and run together with the bass, and unless the guitar is a solo instrumental section - barely pokes through. The recording highlights are during the quiet passages where it's just Gabriel singing against a subtle keyboard or guitar. The performance is quite polished at this stage of the tour progression, having toured the States with the production and then around Germany and several European stops prior to landing in London for the make-up gigs.
The digipack is really stellar utilizing watercolor-type "sketches" of live shots of the band which I swear I've seen before and want to attribute the art as being from one of the tour books. In any case, that is just the start. As you unfold the cover packaging, you are treated to tasteful color live shots of Peter Gabriel in various characters with the nice liner interview transcription with Mike B., and great information about the tour, the recording and this production. In other words, a really well thought-out effort from Satellite 6 as well as being high quality. As the notes command at the end....PLAY LOUD! It is much more enjoyable at a higher volume and I noticed more subtlties shining through the 2nd and 3rd play-throughs. As you get into the second discThe band are obviously enjoying themselves and we get a better feel for the enthusiastic crowd. The tape does capture the atmosphere well. I have rated the audio to manage expectations. There are portions where the quality blossoms but the 7.5 will do. Thanks to Rover and Mike B. and the rest of the cast who made this one available. I totally dig the listen along with the background story, it's part of the allure of collecting and perpetuates the 'bug'!
