Każda z czterech, tematycznych części 'At The BBC' zawiera 120-minutowy, moim zdaniem kapitalny materiał zarejestrowany przez poszczególnych wykonawców na żywo (jedynie z bardzo nielicznymi dogrywkami) podczas kilkugodzinnych sesji w studiach Maida Vale w Londynie. W BBC zatrudnieni byli najlepsi brytyjscy realizatorzy dźwięku i przez to niemal każdy nagrywający tam zespół brzmiał rewelacyjnie - częstokroć lepiej, bardziej dynamicznie niż na płytach! Poza tym wiele z nich grało utwory nigdy niewydane na winylu albo czasem bardzo zaskakujące przeróbki nagrań ('covery') innych artystów. Jakość dźwięku jest fantastyczna - po prostu perfekcyjna! Jedynie w kilkunastu przypadkach (na blisko 130 nagrań) użyto fragmentów o nieco gorszej, ale zdecydowanie akceptowalnej jakości. Uwaga! Niemal wszystkie nagrania nigdy przedtem nie ukazały się na winylach, a jedynie nieliczne ukazały się na płytach CD i z reguły z dźwiękiem w znacznie gorszej jakości! Zdecydowana większość utworów pochodziła z bardzo rzadkich, promocyjnych płyt przeznaczonych dla zagranicznych rozgłośni. Kawałki tam zawarte wzbogacone zostały krótkimi, emocjonalnymi zapowiedziami genialnego DJ Briana Matthew, który autentycznie dodawał swoistego kolorytu tych nagraniom! Jestem jego wielkim fanem! W mojej opinii obłędne, rozkładane okładki z cudownymi projektami z końca lat 70. autorstwa Rodneya Matthewsa zawierają wszelkie detale dotyczące poszczególnych nagrań: dokładne daty rejestracji, akuratne zdjęcia oraz składy wszystkich zespołów, a nawet przyporządkowane do każdego kawałka krótkie, jednozdaniowe i naprawdę trafne komentarze. Proszę mi wierzyć - nie można się od tych płyt oderwać! Proszę się tylko nie sugerować, że to są 'jakieś składanki' albo produkty pośledniej jakości! Pewnie mało kto mi uwierzy, ale jako wielki fan (i zbieracz) nagrań z archiwów BBC, z ręką na sercu uważam te cztery tytuły (a zwłaszcza "Psychedelic Rock" i "British Rock") za najlepsze winylowe reedycje ostatnich 10 czy 15 lat! ABSOLUTNY MUS!!! NOWA, ZAFOLIOWANA. ....................................... Poniższy, angielski tekst otrzymałem od wydawcy. Jest może mało czytelny, ale przy pewnym skupieniu naprawdę bardzo pomocny! Polecam zwłaszcza te krótkie komentarze! ........................ Limited to 500 copies, double black vinyl edition released in beautiful cover with cool pictures and line ups of ALL bands inside the gatefold. This splendid, 120 minute/38 tracks collection (a real labour of love) not only offers an exeptional and often superior renditions of a tracks familiar through the band's original vinyl output, but also a plenty of cracking performances that they never recorded outside the BBC Maida Vale studios. During the 60s and early 70s the BBC was committed to air a substantial amount of live music within its radio broadcasting and as a result, hundreds of popular or less-known British artists were employed to fill that standards. BBC Transcription Service used some of these sessions for promotional-only albums pressed on a weekly basis (supposedly in a quantity of 100 copies) and destined for radio stations all over the world. It was a vinyl LP with yellow-green record labels, housed in a rather plain, yellow sleeve and filled with paper sheets with song titles, time durations and a running order for the show. Most of the tracks included on this release came from long-running 'Top Of The Pops' compilation series (unconnected to the popular TV show) and short-lived 'Pick Up The Pops For Your D.J.’ LP releases, which took radio performances mostly from the prime pop shows of the time like 'Top Gear', 'Saturday Club', 'Sounds Of The Seveties', that aired live and specifically recorded music. All tracks were also adorned with a fresh commentary from (now legendary) DJ Brian Matthew. Aside from BBC promotional discs, in a very few, fully justified cases an unique, home taped, off-air recordings (expertly remastered and restored and marked below as *) were used. The inner gatefold features a band photos and specific line ups. ALMOST ALL TRACKS PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED ON VINYL!.... SIDE 1: (29:50) 1. Eric Burdon & The Animals - When I Was Young 2.59 (Burdon/Briggs/Weider/McCulloch/Jenkins) Recorded on 30th January 1967. Fuzz-laden and Eastern-styled early psychedelic masterpiece. 2. John's Children - Jagged Time Lapse 2.39 (Hewlett/McClelland) Recorded on 13th June 1967. Exciting Mod/proto Punk band with young Marc Bolan on guitar. 3. The Attack - Come On Up 2.48 (Cavaliere) Recorded on 27th June 1967. Hard-edged The Young Rascals cover exclusive to that BBC session. 4. Tomorrow - Revolution 4.08 (Hopkins) Recorded on 18th September 1967. Excellent 'live in the studio' version with powerful guitar by Steve Howe. 5. Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich - The Sun Goes Down 2.46 (Harman/Dymond/Davies) Recorded on 15th September 1967. Truly mesmering ultimate psychedelic classic. Originally a single B-side. 6. Elmer Gantry's Velvet Opera - All Along The Watchtower 3.13 (Dylan) Recorded on 8th December 1967. Very moody and very heavy, early rendition of Bob Dylan song. 7. John's Children - Perfumed Garden Of Gulliver Smith 2.41 (Bolan) Recorded on 13th June 1967. Another track by this 'The Who-like' band. Exclusive to BBC session. 8. Grapefruit - Breaking Up A Dream 3.16 (Alexander) Recorded on 15th January 1968. Unique, 'Beatles-inspired' high-budget track with orchestral backing 9. Elmer Gantry`s Velvet Opera - Somethin' Else 2.47 (Sheeley/B. Cochran) Recorded on 8th December 1967. Exclusive Eddie Cochran cover. Cool bass lines and fine guitar solo. 10. Lemon Tree - William Chalker's Time Machine 2.31 (Kefford) Recorded on 12th March 1968. A kind of spacey and catchy track from the band's only single. SIDE 2: (29:54) 1. John's Children - Hot Rod Mama 3.08 (Bolan) Recorded on 13th June 1967. Final track from the band's only BBC session. Bolan on lead vocal. 2. The Spencer Davis Group - Time Seller 2.47 (Davis/Hardin/Sawyer) Recorded on 18th December 1967. Radio version of a great track released on single by a new line-up. 3. Grapefruit - Trying To Make It Monday 2.55 (Alexander) Recorded on 15th January 1968. Another great, 'Beatles-inspired' song exlusive to this radio session. 4. Mabel Greer's Toyshop - Images Of You And Me* 3.57 (Squire/Bayley) Recorded in March 1968. Chris Squire + Peter Banks. In 4 months the band turned into Yes. 5. The Spencer Davis Group - Taking Out Time 2.39 (Davis/Hardin) Recorded on 17th January 1968. An excellent, upgraded version. Originally from 'Mullberry Bush' album. 6. Mike Stuart Span - Children Of Tomorrow 3.16 (Hobmur/Benmac) Recorded on 7th May 1968. Fantastic radio version of their cult single track. 'The Who' on sterids. 7. Skip Bifferty - Man In Black 2.39 (Bell/Gallagher) Recorded on 9th July 1968. Killer, hard-edged psychedelic Beat. Even better than on 7" version! 8. Marmalade - Hush 2.53 (South) Recorded on 18th September 1968. Very cool, quite heavy cover of the song popularized by Deep Purple. 9. Mike Stuart Span - My White Bicycle 3.17 (Hopkins/Burgess) Recorded on 7th May 1968. An excellent remake of Tomorrow's psychedelic masterpiece. 10. Skip Bifferty - The Hobbit 2.20 (Turnbull) Recorded on 9th July 1968. Tolkien-inspired, dreamy song exclusively recorded at BBC studio. SIDE 3: (29:50) 1. Mike Stuart Span - Through The Looking Glass 4.51 (Hobmur/Benmac) Recorded on 7th May 1968. An excellent, very heavy track with extended, killer guitar work! 2. Koobas - First Cut Is The Deepest 3.32 (Stevens) Recorded on 24th May 1968. A quite heavy but tuneful Cat Stevens cover with cool guitar sounds. 3. Skip Bifferty - Once 2.44 (Bell/Gallagher/Turnbull/Gibson) Recorded on 9th July 1968. Another beautiful and catchy song exclusive to that radio session. 4. The Herd - Purple God 2.53 (Bown) Recorded on 17th September 1968. A much more serious and complex track than their earlier songs. 5. Episode Six - Orange Air* 2.34 (Webb) Recorded on 28th October 1968. An excellent The 5th Dimension cover with Ian Gillan on lead vocal! 6. Locomotive - Mr. Armageddon 3.07 (Haines) Very atmospheric and truly menacing late psych/early prog. Recorded in early December 1968. 7. The Herd - You Don't Love Me 2.28 (Cobb) Recorded on 7th December 1968. A kind of heavy boogie with great guitar work by Peter Frampton! 8. The Glass Menagerie - Putting It Off Till Another Day* 2.42 (Stonebridge/Kendall/Medley/Atkinson) Recorded on 21st January 1969. Very heavy song by forgotten band reminiscent of early Spooky Tooth. 9. Mandrake Paddle Steamer - In My Padded Cell* 3.59 (Briley/Engel) Recorded on 25th March 1969. Another killer early prog band with great organ and guitar work. SIDE 4: (29:55) 1. Locomotive - I Am A Lonesome Hobo 3.30 (Dylan) Recorded in early December 1968. A fantastic Bob Dylan cover! Probably the best song on this album! 2. Juniors Eyes - Hang Loose 3.05 (Wayne) Recorded on 28th October 1968. A little weird, but unique track by that cult heavy psychedelic band. 3. Gun - Take Off 2.52 (Gurvitz) Recorded on 8th November 1968. Heavy, hypnotic, 'Blue Cheer-like' radio version of their album track. 4. Locomotive - Fresh Garbage 3.41 (Ferguson) Recorded in early December 1968. An excellent and almost progressive remake of the classic Spirit track. 5. Mandrake Paddle Steamer - The Ivory Castle Of Solitaire Huske* 2.57 (Briley/Engel) Recorded on 25th March 1969. Another sinister, heavy (but lively) track by this underrated band. 6. Episode Six - Alone Again Or* 2.54 (MacLean) Recorded on 27th January 1969. Superb and truly beautiful Love cover played in early Deep Purple vein. 7. Plastic Penny - Strawberry Fields Forever 3.53 (Lennon/McCartney) Recorded on 17th February 1969. A splendid The Beatles cover exclusive to that radio session 8. Mandrake Paddle Steamer - Cooger And Dark* 4.00 (Briley/Engel) Recorded on 25th March 1969. Heavy, but catchy late psychedelic rock similar to The Open Mind. 9. Pretty Things - Alexander* 3.02 (May/Taylor/Povey/Waller) Recorded on 25th May 1969. Powerful radio version of one of their best psych tracks ever!