TEMPEST - In Concert 1973-1974 - FRA On The Air Edition - LISTEN - VERY RARE

Superb, 80-minute unofficial material coming from two BBC Transcription Service vinyl records - released exclusively for radio stations and absolutely unavailable in shops! Tempest was formed on the initiative of Colosseum leader Jon Hiseman, bassist Mark Clarke (Colosseum, Uriah Heep), vocalist Paul Williams (ex-Bluesbreakers, Juicy Lucy) and the excellent guitarist Allan Holdsworth (Igginbottom, Nucleus, and later Soft Machine and U.K.). The first 54 minutes are a recording of an excellent concert recorded as a quintet - with two guitarists: Holdsworth and Ollie Halsall (ex-Patto). It so happened that Halsall, regarded today as one of the best guitarists in the history of rock, joined the group... the day before, hence the guitar attack here is unbelievable! Seriously, there are moments here that are almost impossible to believe! The last 26 minutes are a performance from 1974 - recorded after the release of the second LP - as a trio, though the playing is still very good! ATTENTION! The material from 1973 came out a few years ago on the double CD anthology "Under The Blossom", but in the absence of the original BBC vinyl the label Sanctuary made use of an old bootleg, which was not only dullish, but also slowed down! I assure you that the version on this CD, limited to 500 copies, sounds simply frenzied! A MUST! (JL)