Live At The Caledonien Hall (2CD Set) - In The Woods

Advantages: Amazing collection from an amazing talent
Disadvantages: Some singles still left out - it could have been a triple CD

...Roy Wood has had a chequered career, and to a younger generation the name may not mean much. To sum up briefly, he was/is leader of The Move, ELO (briefly), Wizzard, solo performer, multi-instrumentalist who can impersonate any vocalist at the drop of a mic, ace songwriter and currently frontman (Captain?) of Roy Wood's Army. This 2-CD retrospective leaves out the hits he had with the above-named groups, but still reveals him as a man of many faces - not to mention the multicoloured hair. 39 tracks originally issued on eight labels start with the clever novelty "When Gran'ma Plays the Banjo" (John Fogerty meets Ray Stevens with bluegrass 'jo), the haunting 1973 hit "Dear Elaine" which features lute, cello and recorder, its follow-up "Forever", inspired by Neil Sedaka and the Beach Boys, and the amazing Scottish reggae song "Goin' Down... Read review

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Advantages: Spine Tingerling for the Queen Fans
Disadvantages: None

......and you get it all with this 2 CD set of remastered Queen songs recored live at Wembley...You can close your eyes and imagine you standing there infront of Feddie Murcury him self with these realistic recordings...and the songs are played and sang differently to the studio recordings which brings new life to the songs...and when you hear the crowd roar out with queen it really does send those shivers down your spine wishing you was there. I would recommend these to not just queen fans but everybody who loves there rock and roll and if rock isn't your type of thing just give this a try anyway it will change your mind. Queen Fans, if you haven't got this in your collection it's a must.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: Authentic live feel
Disadvantages: Won't appeal to everyone

...There are musicians and performers. Both can excite, you can listen to musicians on disk and very satisfying it can be too. You can go to see bands who've blown you away on albums but live they're dead wood. Dire Straits for instance. Watching them was like putting a cd on in a huge hall and watching the telly from 50 yards away. I've got loads of albums by people I've never seen. Some I'd never want to see. Conversely, there are acts you've heard on disk maybe, been unimpressed and then been staggered at how good they are live. Rarely does one come across one who can do both, produce studio albums of great force and emotion and reproduce it on stage. Even better it on stage. Then the live album gets released which again manages to combine those qualities and bring that stage presence right into your living room. Rory Gallagher... Read review

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