25 March 2009

SAHB live at the BBC

A new Sensational Alex Harvey Band album is always a good thing, even if the adjective "new" applies to the release and not the recording.

This collection of various live recordings made for the BBC dates back to 1972 and includes performances for In Concert and The Old Grey Whistle Test.

This is vintage SAHB in every sense of the word giving us excellent versions of many of their early classics, including St. Anthony, Framed, The Faith Healer, Next, Give My Compliments To The Chef (my favourite) and Delilah (not typical but it has to be there).

We are also treated to three rare songs, i.e. ones that I am not familiar with. These are Giddy Up A Ding Dong, Pick It Up And Kick It and Smouldering.

But the important thing about this album is that it is live and it is from when SAHB were in their prime. The songs are delivered in distinctive Alex Harvey style with loads of drama which makes them different from the studio versions and from the other live versions from the same era.

SAHB are still playing live (and are still very much worth seeing live) but it is nice to revisit their formative years and this album is a good way to do that.

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