"Friends and 20/20" by THE BEACH BOYS – 10 June 1968 and 10 February 1969 US 14th and 15th LPs both on Capitol Records in Stereo – featuring Brian, Carl and Dennis Wilson, Bruce Johnston, Mike Love and Al Jardine (April 2001 UK Capitol Reissue – 2LPs onto 1HDCD in STEREO with Five Bonus Tracks – Joe Gastwirt and Mark Linett Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Meant For You..."

The entire series of 2001 CD reissues for the voluminous Beach Boys back catalogue is a shining example of how to do it right - both presentation-wise and especially sonically (these 'twofers' have always been fantastic value for money too - mid-priced or less even now in 2020). But four of the duo-combos have screamed 'buy me' more than others – three of which are "Smiley Smile" combined with "Wild Honey" (both from 1967), 1970's "Sunflower" and 1971's "Surf's Up" - and finally 1972's "Carl & The Passions - So Tough" with 1973's brilliant "Holland" being another.

Which brings us back-peddling to door number four - "Friends" from June 1968 doubled with its US follow-up "20/20" from February 1969 – both on Capitol Records and both barely bothering their once total stomping ground of the US LP charts. Despite the Summer of Love in 1967 – there appeared to be no love by the US public for more wake-the-world happy-wappy sentiment in 1968 and 1969 from The Beach Boys. "Friends" took until early July to hit the Billboard album charts after its 10 June 1968 launch and then only peaked at No. 126 – the band's worst chart showing since 1962. While "20/20" made a very respectable No. 3 in the UK on release 10 February 1969 – again American audiences waited until March 1969 to chart it and then only peaking at No. 63 (an 11-week run when "Pet Sounds" had managed 39 in 1966).

These anemic number-placements, however, have more to do with the fractured heavy-heavy politics of 1968 and 1969 than their musical content. Because you could argue that "Friends" and "20/20" began a fabulous run of studio album releases for the surfer boys that would eventually culminate in the "Holland" album in 1973. Let's get to the Cabinessence baby...

UK released 9 April 2001 - "Friends and 20/20" by THE BEACH BOYS on Capitol 531 6382 (Barcode 724353163822) offers 2LPs Remastered in STEREO onto 1HDCD (High Definition Compatible Digital) with Five Bonus Tracks (29 in total) and plays out as follows (66:58 minutes):

1. Meant For You [Side 1]

2. Friends

3. Wake The World

4. Be Here In The Morning

5. When A Man Needs A Woman

6. Passing By

7. Anna Lee, The Healer [Side 2]

8. Little Bird

9. Be Still

10. Busy Doin' Nothin'

11. Diamond Head

12. Transcendental Meditation

Tracks 1 to 12 are their album "Friends" - released June 1968 in the USA on Capitol ST 2895 (Stereo) and September 1968 in the UK on Capitol T 2895 (Mono) and Capitol ST 2895 (Stereo) - STEREO MIX is used for this CD. Produced by THE BEACH BOYS - the album peaked at No. 126 in the USA and No. 13 in the UK.

13. Do It Again [Side 1]

14. I Can Hear Music

15. Bluebirds Over The Mountain

16. Be With Me

17. All I Want To Do

18. The Nearest Faraway Place

19. Cotton Fields [Side 2]

20. I Went To Sleep

21. Time To Get Alone

22. Never Learn Not To Love

23. Our Prayer

24. Cabinessence

Tracks 13 to 24 are the album "20/20" - released February 1969 in the USA on Capitol SKAO-133 (Stereo only) and April 1969 in the UK on Capitol E-T 133 (Mono) and Capitol E-ST 133 (Stereo) - STEREO MIX is used for CD. Produced by THE BEACH BOYS - it peaked at No. 3 in the UK and No. 68 in the USA

BONUS TRACKS:

25. Breakaway

26. Celebrate The News

27. We're Together Again

28. Walk On By

29. Old Folks At Home (Swanee River)/Ol' Man River 

The 24-page booklet is a chunky affair with liner notes from expert/aficionado DAVID LEAF (author of the critically acclaimed biography "The Beach Boys And The California Myth") - artwork in colour and staggeringly detailed track-by-track analysis. The front cover is the "Friends" LP artwork and the rear page "20/20". You even get breakdowns on the five Bonus cuts. Buts its the Audio that shines, best tapes found, no remixing, just care transfers of what was originally laid down by the core six - Brian, Carl and Dennis Wilson, Bruce Johnston, Mike Love and Al Jardine - STEREO Remasters by JOE GASTWIRT and MARK LINETT using the Pacific Microsonics HDCD system. Those walls of harmony vocals are so crisp and clear, it can at times be disconcerting - "Little Bird" and "Do It Again" feel like revelations - those strings...

"Friends" is a short album and opens well with the promising ditty "Meant For You" - a 38-second intro of sorts that acts as a love coda. Capitol issued "Friends" as an advance 45 taster to the LP in April 1968 with Dennis Wilson's gorgeous "Little Bird" on the flipside (Capitol 2160) - but despite the strength of both cuts - it hit only No. 47 on the US singles chart. Al Jardine gets his first songwriting credit with Brian Wilson on "Wake The World" (Brian and Carl handle the lead vocals) - that Tuba wrapped around the chorus clear on the Remaster. The lyrics in "Be Here In The Morning" mention getting no phone calls from "...Korthof, Parks or Grillo..." - we now find out they're Brian's one-time assistant Steve Korthof, Road Manager Jon Parks and Lawyer/Business Manager Nick Grillo. Becoming family men and having children fills the jaunty "When A Man Needs A Woman". That niggling feeling of unfinished songs lingers throughout the semi-instrumental "Passing By" as humming floats over keyboard plinks. The band's masseuse gets her nimble hands immortalized in "Anna Lee, The Healer" - another OK tune that seems more childish than enlightening.

But Side 2 offers up two of the album's true gems – both Dennis Wilson contributions – the "Pacific Ocean View" album man emerging out the songwriting shadows. Brian admits in his liner notes on the original LP that Dennis' contribution "Little Bird" blew his mind – and even though "Be Still" isn't in the same league, it has an aching vocal delivery that is borderline beautiful. Brian then throws in a goody too in "Busy Doin' Nothin'" while I've always found the Hawaiian sound-effects instrumental "Diamond Head" to be little more than indulgent studio experimentation that's interesting but not much more. They end 1968's "Friends" with the decidedly kooky and seriously dated "Transcendental Meditation" - an emancipation of the mind plea that smacks of Maharishi Guru twaddle that so many fell for (at great financial cost too).

1969's "20/20" opens on a barnstormer "Do It Again" - The Beach Boys hitting all the right notes - a hugely catchy chorus, driving rhythm and those unique harmonies and sound effects (they were rewarded with a No. 20 chart position in July 1968 on Capitol 2239 when it was paired on 45 with the lovely "Wake The World" as its flipside). Carl Wilson grabbed the Production controls on the excellent "I Can Hear Music" - a cover of The Ronettes/Phil Spector - a song that would become their 25th and last Top 40 hit of the 60ts (No. 24 chart position on Capitol 2432 in March 1969 with "All I Want To Do" on the B-side).  Even better is Dennis Wilson's majestically dense "Be With Me" - a huge vocal and string plea that has weird overtones of almost-madness as it fades out. Mike Love lets his vocals rock on the decidedly fruity "All I Want To Do" - a unusual Rock 'n' Roll tune for the California Surf boys that feels like The Beach Boys doing The Beatles doing guitar Rock 'n' Roll on the White Album. Van McCoy's string arrangements play a huge part in the Bruce Johnston's lovely instrumental "The Nearest Faraway Place" - another hidden nugget on a great Beach Boys LP (Johnston composed, performed and produced the lot).

I've never held a candle for their cover of Leadbelly's "Cotton Fields" (even if variants did huge business in overseas markets - No. 1 in the Netherlands and No. 2 in the UK). But apparently recorded during the "Friends" sessions – the nice summer day of "I Went To Sleep" is Brian at his simplistic best. I see love in your eyes, Carl sings on the shimmering "Time To Get Alone" – but it's trounced in my opinion by the second Dennis Wilson contribution on here - "Never Learn Not To Love" – a fantastic swirling chunk of Beach Boys greatness that still feels slightly otherworldly even to this day. The 1:10 cathedral-like minutes of "Our Prayer" succeeds in the middle of Side 2 on "20/20" where "Meant To Be" at the beginning of "Friends" only almost did. It's a vocal instrumental that by itself would stamp home the band's greatness if you needed an example (fabulous harmonies).

The album romps home with "Cabinessence" where the boys chant lyrics by Van Dyke Parks that include  'doyn doyn' (whatever that means) before we're hit with a "Pet Sounds" wall of music.  "Cabinessence" is ambitious and overdone for sure (like much of this non-Brian Wilson helmed LP who was checked into emotional rehab at the time of recoding) – but undeniably brilliant too. Dennis remained unimpressed with the outcome calling the LP a mess – but "20/20" is a great Beach Boys album to me, and certainly one of their better late 60ts efforts. Of the bonus cuts my faves are the contractual single "Breakaway" b/w "Celebrate The News" - a Brian ooh-ooh bopper on the A-side with a sophisticated there-ain't-no-blues Dennis Wilson composition on the flip while the outtake "We're Together Again" is also shockingly good.

1968's "Friends" is good to very good - while 1969's "20/20" is brilliant (even if insiders disagree). But at fewer than six quid and with shout-about-it great audio - this Capitol reissue really is a no-brainer must-own HDCD purchase...

"The Beach Bum" - A Dreadfully Stupid Film with Matthew McConaughey, Isla Fisher, Jonah Hill...

Having just enjoyed Matthew McConaughey in Guy Ritchie's hugely entertaining gangsters-in-London caper film "The Gentlemen" - I fancied some more cool Matt. What a mistake.

"The Beach Bum" has to be the worst piece of indulgent crap I've ever seen and there's nearly three hours of it. I kept waiting for some big revelation in Moondog's life (the lazy Beach Bum in the title) - some reason for this feast of over-the-top acting and bumbling stupidity - but it never comes.

For sure there is great casting in-between the hijinks - Isla Fisher as his rich but equally flaky coke-snorting wife, Zac Efron as an addict with violence and pyromania issues and Jonah Hill as his permanently drawling agent constantly begging for that next book masterpiece that never seems to come. But "The Beach Bum" just goes on and on as he gets drunk and stoned and drunk and stoned - reeking havoc on everyone's life - never taking responsibility for anything and partaking in a long line of bikini babes who conveniently never question his slob ways and appear to be utterly brainless (none would give a degenerate tosser like this the time of day in the real world).

The absence of reality in this ludicrous film about endless skunk joints and beer tins is impossible to swallow, the story takes hard-to-believe turns too without ever once addressing any kind of truth - and most of all - the horrors that drunks and drug burn-outs wreak on families in the real world is played like its all some cosmic laugh or even wisdom on seeing life as a chill-man. It tries at times to be "Wolf Of Wall Street" but most his crudities are not funny - just dumb and obnoxious. 

Matthew McConaughey goes for it in this film, but like "Gold", he sucks the life out of every scene and really is insufferable when he does crazy for the whole of the movie. For nearly three hours – the film is essentially asking us to like or even admire a dickhead. And in the end, not only is Moondog's life one big waste of time - but this film takes away a huge chunk your precious time too as you suffer through this pretentious wank-fest masquerading as some sort of take-life-by-the-balls morality tale.

A piece of garbage best avoided and a very real reason as to why Hollywood is in such trouble with its inability to tell A-listers to fuck off and overact someplace else...

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"It's Only Rock 'N Roll" by THE ROLLING STONES – October 1974 UK and USA LP on Rolling Stones Records featuring Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Mick Taylor, Bill Wyman and Charlie Watts with Guests Billy Preston, Ian Stewart, Nicky Hopkins, Blue Magic, Ray Cooper, Willie Weeks and Kenny Jones (August 1994 Virgin CD Remaster vs. May 2009 Polydor CD Remaster – Bob Ludwig and Stephen Marcussen Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

1994 Virgin CD Reissue and Remaster - Standard Edition in Jewel Case

Collector's Edition with Original Album Packaging

"...If You Want To Be My Friend..."

Following the artistic studio-album high of "Beggars Banquet" (1968), "Let It Bleed" (1969), "Sticky Fingers" (1971) and the double "Exile On Main St" (1972) with a cool live set thrown in for our delectations in 1970 - "Get Yer Ya-Ya's Out!" - common knowledge has it that the Stones brought this astonishing run of Rock-cool to a shuddering halt (or at least stalled it a tad) with the decidedly half-assed "Goat's Head Soup" in 1973 and "It's Only Rock 'N Roll" in 1974. Drugs, excess, failing marriages, tax exiles – by the mid Seventies I suppose it was a minor miracle that any of them were still breathing/corpus mentis let alone popping out masterpieces for baying maidens.

But like me - and I suspect this is the case across the world - despite the obvious weaknesses of 1973's and 1974's studio efforts – I remember at the time thinking even half-baked Stones was better than most everyone else. And in a way, we strolling bones lovers had held a penny candle for these two runts ever since – some even citing them as faves over their more lauded work. But for this review, I want to talk about sound…

While "Goat's Head Soup" had always felt like an audio let down of epic proportions - October 1974's "It's Only Rock 'n' Roll" saw the Glimmer Twins take the Production controls once again and it rawked. The CD reissues have been the same - the two principal choices for Stones nuts being either 1994 on Virgin vs. 2009 on Polydor - and I'd argue that both astonish in the Audio Remaster battle. "It's Only Rock 'n' Roll" is an LP that is transformed by digital - lifted up and given a power far greater than the original single sleeve LP we all owned for years. Be my friend, it's time you were. Let's get to the Fingerprint Files...

1. If You Can't Rock Me [Side 1]

2. Ain't Too Proud To Beg

3. It's Only Rock 'N Roll (But I Like It)

4. Till The Next Goodbye

5. Time Waits For No One

6. Luxury [Side 2]

7. Dance Little Sister

8. If You Really Want To Be My Friend

9. Short And Curlies

10. Fingerprint File

Tracks 1 to 10 are the album "It's Only Rock 'N Roll" - released 18 October 1974 in the UK on Rolling Stones Records COC 59103 and in the USA (same date) on Rolling Stones Records COC 79101. Produced by MICK JAGGER and KEITH RICHARDS - it peaked at No. 1 in the USA and No. 2 in the UK. All songs were written by Jagger/Richards - except "Ain't Too Proud To Beg" - a cover version of the Temptations classic originally written by Norman Whitfield and Eddie Holland.

MICK JAGGER - Vocals and Guitar

KEITH RICHARDS - Lead Guitars, Vocals and Bass

MICK TAYLOR - Lead Guitars Vocals, Synthesizer, Congas and Bass

BILL WYMAN - Bass and Synthesizer

CHARLIE WATTS - Drums and Synthesizer

Guests:

Billy Preston - Piano and Clavinet on Tracks 1, 2 and 10

Nicky Hopkins - Piano on Tracks 4, 5, 6, 8 and 10

Ian Stewart - Piano on Tracks 3, 7 and 9

Ray Cooper - Percussion

Blue Magic - Backing Vocals on Track 8

Charlie Jolly - Table on Track 10

Ed Leach - Cowbell on Track 2

Willy Weeks (Bass) and Kenny Jones of Small Faces and The Who - Drums on Track 3

The 15 August 1994 CD Reissue and Remaster by BOB LUDWIG on Virgin comes in two forms - the standard issue on Virgin/Rolling Stones Records CDV 2733 - 7243-839522-2-9 (Barcode 724383952229) has a standard jewel case with 4-page inlay - while the limited edition 'Collector's Edition-Original Album Packaging' variant uses mini LP repro artwork (cover and inner sleeve) in a special stickered outer jewel case on Virgin/Rolling Stones Records CDVX 2733 - 7243-8-39500-2-7 (Barcode 724383950027).

The UV99 Super CD Encoding Process by Apogee Electronics in California promised uber realistic transfers from the original tapes – and in the case of the 4 May 2009 Polydor Remasters by STEPHEN MARCUSSEN on Polydor 0602527015590 (Barcode 602527015590) – you got the same (issued in a stickered round-cornered Super Jewel Case). I have both and the AUDIO is a wow (48:26 minutes).

Polydor 2009 Reissue and Remaster in Rounded Super Jewel Case

Artwork-wise, all of these IORNR reissues are a little bit of a joke – typical cheap-assed Stones – a gatefold inlay that repro’s the original inner sleeve with barely readable details. No new liner notes – zip. Is it any wonder I’ve seen copies online for under a pound. Better is the audio and the music...

Long-time pal of the Beatles and The Stones - Billy Preston - gives it some Clavinet underpinning on the lyrically vicious "If You Can't Rock Me" that opens Side 1 - Jagger screaming "I've got a hard and it hurts like hell, if you can't rock me, find someone who will..." Girls with bright blue hair successfully tempting our Michael away from his dissolving marriage to Bianca - the drums and guitars in yer ya-ya's face throughout. Not for the first time do The Stones reach for The Temptations back catalogue - their version of "Ain't Too Proud To Beg" became an American-only 45 that punching the top 20 to settle at No. 17. The guitars, chunky riffs and Billy Preston's piano - all amazingly clear and full of muscle. Having listening to the LP cut and that ever so-slightly muffled 45 for all those years - the acoustic/electric guitars combo of the title track "It's Only Rock 'N Roll (But I Like It)" is likely to shock many. And its a brilliant single - remember that soap suds video that eased your brain. But then Side 1 gives us two gems I've always loved - the coffee shop down on 52nd Street acoustic ballad "Till The Next Goodbye" - gorgeous audio as those Mick Taylor guitar touches come melting into the mix. And have they been so beguiling as on the star-crossed "Time Waits For No One" - won't wait for me - well this is waiting for you - as is Mick Taylor's fantastic guitar parts (beautifully clear).

Side 2's "Luxury" had a playing time on my original LP of about 4:30 minutes, here this CD cut is 5:01 minutes - longer in the fade out. $20 me (making a million dollars for Texans) working so hard for the company, to keep you in luxury - go the lyrics in this Reggae-Rock chugger. Rolling Stones Records put "Dance Little Sister" on the B-side of the US 45 for "Ain't Too Proud To Beg" (October 1974 on Rolling Stones 19302) and were rewarded with as many radio plays as the A-side received - and again those drums and guitars kicking out of your speakers. The Atlantic Records Soul Band BLUE MAGIC of "Sideshow" fame adds subtle but deep backing vocals to "If You Really Want To Be My Friend" - a plea for understanding and not jealousy. The short and snotty got you by the ….s rocker "Short And Curlies" apparently started life sometime around the Exile sessions and was obviously press-ganged into Rock 'n' Roll service to fill out Side 2.

But Audio Blast numero-uno belongs to the fantastic menace of "Fingerprint File" - Jagger clearly sick of the press and government hounding he and everyone around him was getting. Some little jerk in the FBI keeping papers on him six feet high - gets him down. Well the stunning audio won't.

1974's "It's Only Rock 'N Roll" may not be a mountain of a record and it would be two years to "Black And Blue" in 1976 - another underrated winner for me in their sexy Seventies catalogue. But I'd say go for it. And the standard variant of IORNR can be picked up for under a fiver in the right places (and sometimes a lot less).

Who's listening - whose taking pictures by the ultra-violet light - methinks it should be you. Good night-sleep tight. Love it...

"Refugee" by REFUGEE – April 1974 Debut and Only LP on Charisma Records featuring Bassist Lee Jackson and Drummer Brian Davison (both ex The Nice) with Keyboardist Patrick Moraz of Yes (30 August 2019 UK Esoteric Recordings 3CD Expanded Edition Box Set featuring Two Live CDs as Bonuses – A Previously Unreleased BBC Radio One "In Concert" Show from 9 May 1974 and a Live Show at Newcastle City Hall 16 June 1974 First Issued in 2007 – Jean Ristori and Patrick Moraz Remaster of The Album and Newcastle Show with a Ben Wiseman Remaster on the May 1974 BBC Radio One Concert) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Grand Canyon and The Future Relayer..."

In 2020, the three multi-instrumentals that made up England's REFUGEE are a footnote in Prog Rock's rich and illustrious history – a banks-of-keyboards band that could have become a force to be reckoned with, but were hit with bad luck and inopportune timing.

To set the scene - newcomer and then virtual unknown Swiss Keyboardist Patrick Moraz had joined forces with two other virtuoso players – Bassist Lee Jackson and Drummer Brian Davison – both of whom had done Prog and Classical Rock time with The Nice before Keith Emerson broke of to form ELP in 1970. Taking their name from a girlfriend's comment, Refugee made one album on Charisma Records in 1974 but then promptly imploded when Moraz was poached for YES (replacing Rick Wakeman).

This beautifully done 3CD Box Set from Esoteric Recordings of the UK (part of Cherry Red) remasters their solitary self-titled album and throws in two live shows on Discs 2 and 3 recorded in the same year (1974) – one Previously Unreleased BBC Concert, the other only issued in 2007 – with the whole lot newly remastered under the supervision of Moraz. Let's get to the Grand Canyon and the future Relayer…

UK released 30 August 2019 - "Refugee" by REFUGEE on Esoteric Recordings ECLEC 32685 (Barcode 5013929478503) is a Expanded Edition 3CD Mini Clamshell Box Set of Remasters that plays out as follows:

CD1 "Refugee" (51:27 minutes):

1. Papillon [Side 1]

2. Someday

3. Grand Canyon

First Movement - The Source

Second Movement - Theme For The Canyon

Third Movement - The Journey

Fourth Movement - Rapids

Fifth Movement - The Mighty Colorado

4. Gate Crasher

5. Ritt Mickley [Side 2]

6. Credo

First Movement - Prelude

Second Movement - I Believe

Third Movement - Theme

Fourth Movement - Lost Cause

Fifth Movement - Agitato

Sixth Movement - I Believe (Part II)

Seventh Movement - Variation

Eighth Movement - Main Theme Finale

Tracks 1 to 6 are their debut and sole album "Refugee" - release 19 April 1974 in the UK on Charisma CAS 1087 and July 1974 in the USA on Charisma FC 6066. The one-minute track "Gatecrasher" appeared on the US LP (in the position its placed on this CD) but was not credited on the UK vinyl variant.

CD2 "BBC Radio One In Concert 9 May 1974" (33:13 minutes):

1. Ritt Mickley

2. Someday

3. The Grand Canyon Suite

First Movement - The Source

Second Movement - Theme For The Canyon

Third Movement - The Journey

Fourth Movement - Rapids

Fifth Movement - The Mighty Colorado

Produced by JEFF GRIFFIN and Engineered by JOHN ETCHELS (introduction from Mike Harding) - PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

CD3 "Live At The Newcastle City Hall 16 June 1974" (64:22 minutes):

1. Outro - Ritt Mickley

2. One Left Handed Peter Pan

3. The Diamond Hard Blue Apples Of The Moon

4. Someday

5. Papillon

6. She Belongs To Me

7. The Grand Canyon Suite

First Movement - The Source

Second Movement - Theme For The Canyon

Third Movement - The Journey

Fourth Movement - Rapids

Fifth Movement - The Mighty Colorado

8. Refugee Jam

First issued 2007 as the CD "Live In Concert (Newcastle City Hall 1974)" on Voiceprint VP421CD. Tracks 3 and 6 are cover versions - 3 originally by The Nice and 6 by Bob Dylan.

 

These mini Clamshell Box Sets always lend a release a whiff of class and the Remastered and Extended "Refugee" is no different. You get three card sleeves - the two live sets featuring new artwork, a 16-page booklet with new liner notes from MARTYN HANSON author of "Hang On To A Dream: The Story Of The Nice", period photos of the three-piece in live mode and trade adverts. More importantly, the whole shebang is touched up with top-notch Remasters by JEFF RISTORI at MTX Mastering (CD 1 and CD3) - whilst long-time association audio engineer to Esoteric BEN WISEMAN handled the new BBC In Concert recordings on CD2 - all supervised by Moraz. The Audio is massive and full on - multi-instrumental passages coming at you like Todd Rundgren's Utopia on too many Vitamin C shots. To the music...

The second the wild piano-playing of "Papillon" hits your speakers, you know you're in the presence of a beast - a full-on ELP outburst in all but different name. Brian Davison plays Drums, Timpani, Gongs, Tibetan Temple Bells, African Drums, Kabassa and even a bit of Broken Glass - and you can hear the lot. "Someday" features Lee Jackson on Lead Vocals shouting about going on a trip to far flung places - locking up the house and the Bass Guitar - and while his vocals haven't dated that well - the sheer Greenslade exuberance of that keyboard break has. The first of the album's centerpieces is a seventeen-minute five-moment called after an appropriately majestic thing - "Grand Canyon". The keyboard flourishes and clear-as-a-bell Bass notes are so Yes and remind me of passages in Jon Anderson's 1976 masterpiece "Olias Of Sunhillow". 

The keyboard throwaway moment (complete with cough and voices) that is "Gatecrasher" is huge - one minute of Moraz getting funky with his synth before it crashes into Side 2 proper and the very ELP "Ritt Mickley" - fantastic muscle in the audio. We piano-slide into the album's second centerpiece - eighteen minutes of the eight-part "Credo" - Moraz really getting to shine as he races up and down that grand piano. Those huge organ notes and vocals around about seven minutes are now bigger than I remember it. Audio-wise I’d admit the BBC session is good without ever being great - huge chunky notes and the rhythm section of Bass and Drums rattling across your speakers with intent - even if it feels as if the keyboards are too far back on occasion. But when Moraz is soloing – it’s damn impressive. The 2007 set are simply more of the same.

When Refugee imploded, Swiss Keyboardist Patrick Moraz joined the ranks of Yes replacing Rick Wakeman who was pursuing a successful solo career over on A&M Records with "The Six Wives Of Henry The VIII" (1973) and "Journey To The Centre Of The Earth" (1974). Filling very big boots, Moraz would be successfully launched by Yes in November 1974 with the brilliant "Relayer" album on Atlantic Records and then get his own solo LP in 1976 on Charisma with "The Story Of 'I'". Brian Davison did a short stint in Steve Hillage’s Gong in 1975 - another band getting noticed over on Virgin Records while Bassist Lee Jackson would stay out of the limelight until the 2010s when he joined a reformation of his old Charisma Label Prog Rock muckers The Nice for live shows.

Despite original refusals to join Yes, Moraz was too good to stick around with Refugee and ultimately made the right choice (a perfect fit for the English supergroup). Still – Refugee had had their moment and left behind a rich one. And as a remembrance with both stylistic presentation and top Audio - this is as good as any almost-supergroup could have hoped for…