Add another excellent recording to the string of November 1974 UK dates during Pink Floyd's London stand. This recently discovered tape from the archives of Mike B. (who also gave us Rolling Stones Sept. 8, 1973 first show, Genesis April 14, 1975 from Satellite 6) appears for the first time on this title and it's a really great recording! In fact, this is probably Mike B's best tape to appear in the commercial bootleg realm and collector's are all appreciating the new source. What isn't helping the title is the flack Rover Records is taking for a mistake in the date printed on the label. To be sure, this is yet another recording of the 2nd show at Wembley Empire Pool on November 15th, 1974 - NOT the missing show on November 14th as the cover date on the cover spine states. The producers issued word of the misprinted date prior to copies hitting the market but it still left a bit of sour taste in serious Floyd collectors mouths. Annoying? Perhaps. But I'm sure most got over it after hearing the nice tape of a rather disjointed performance upon inserting that first disc.
Mike B. evidently secured himself a very good perch which comes off as a bit of a sweet spot for recording the Floyd this very evening. There are only 3 or 4 spots where there is any surrounding interaction with fellow concertgoers that reminds us of the stealth in which this recording was taking place. In other words, very little interference throughout the 140 minute tape.
This show first surfaced on CD via the classic "Black Holes In The Sky" on the Great Dane Label, though that superb tape ran a bit slow. Flashback also released an incomplete version on their "Money" title. Thus, "How Time Flies" and it's really nice sounding effort bring a very relevent document to collectors.
The show itself finds the band in good spirits as they work through some tape and sound glitches along the way during the first half of the concert. Right before "You Gotta Be Crazy" there is tape that Richard Wright starts and the band allow it run completely as they make a few adjustments prior to starting the song. There is a really great, extended jam on "Any Colour You Like" and a slight cut towards the end of "Brain Damage".
The packaging is of the same sturdy grade that Rover Records has been utilizing for it's trifold digipacks and the attractive graphical treatment and photography selections frame out the release nicely. Some quality assurance and proofing would seem to be in order however, as there is typo in "Eclispse" and "Echoes" isn't listed at all. Which brings me to an interesting point. There are actually 12 tracks on disc two but listening to this in the car while on vacation - the player evidently wouldn't play track 12, "Echoes". Since it wasn't on the tracklisting, this wasn't of any apparent concern. I also played the discs on a mini-stereo wearing headphones for several nights and again, no track 12. My initial review included comments about the tape being incomplete, missing the wonderful encore. When I received an email stating there was trouble afoot with this point, I proceeded to investigate. My home stereo timings match the above disc times taken from the other player. I looked up the disc times for "Black Holes In The Sky" and while the show is split differently, the times were nearly dead on - and that set includes "Echoes"....what is up with that? So I click through the tracks on the home stereo on disc 2 and guess what? 12 tracks! I just sat through Mike B's taped encore...ahhh, everything is alright on the night! The hidden 12th track really brings the show home and captures the atmosphere of the gig, though some of the effects aren't quite as clear as the various sequences during DSOTM. Fair warning all. I evidently experienced a bit of a technical glitch that coincidentally matched perfectly to the incredible typo on the back cover. Don't let that stop you from snapping this one up. If you dig the pre-Animals 74/75 live Floyd period, this is a nice show to acquire and make sure the experience is completed with the appropriate encore track at the end!
This is a very enjoyable stereo audience recording that will please most. It stayed in my player for days! (yeah, and hiding "Echoes" on me too!) "How Time Flies" presents a nice new tape that won't break the bank to acquire, you can't beat that.
