Berlin: A Concert for the People

by Barclay James Harvest

Overview

Cut live at the Reichstag in the German city, Berlin is very different from The Live Tapes, with a rather leaner, harder-rocking sound, and more of a dance-rock feel as well, and is also miked much closer for a more intimate sound. "Mockingbird," "Child of the Universe," and "Hymn" are all performed rather more tightly than earlier live renditions, and with more flamboyant electronic effects. "Sip of Wine" represents the group's harder, post-progressive-era sound, while "Nova Lepidoptera" is a pretty piece of space rock, and "Life Is for Living" is so upbeat with its disco-dance sound that it could almost pass for an ABBA cut. Except on the latter, where the keyboards rule, John Lees' and Colin Browne's guitars are the most prominent component of the group's sound, and it's easy to see why this album, covering so many bases so well, took British audiences by storm -- the Moody Blues in their post-psychedelic era have wanted to make a live record this tight and bracing for ages. And the CD is even better than the LP.

Product Details

Release Date:	09/07/2010
Label:	Esoteric
UPC:	5013929731745
catalogNumber:	2973174
Rank:	94817

Tracks

1. Love on the Line
2. Mockingbird
3. Rock 'n' Roll Lady
4. Nova Lepidoptera
5. Sip of Wine
6. In Memory of the Martyrs
7. Life Is for Living
8. Child of the Universe
9. Berlin
10. Loving Is Easy
11. Hymn

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Barclay James Harvest   Primary Artist
John Lees   Acoustic Guitar,Bass Guitar,Keyboards,Vocals
Holroyd   Acoustic Guitar,Bass Guitar,Electric Guitar,Keyboards,Vocals
Kevin McAlea   Keyboards,Guest Appearance
Mel Pritchard   Percussion,Drums
Colin Browne   Guitar,Keyboards,Guest Appearance

Technical Credits

Barclay James Harvest   Producer
John Lees   Composer
Holroyd   Composer
Andy Rose   Engineer
Keith Domone   Liner Notes
Mark Powell   Master Tape Research
Ian Southerington   Producer
Martin Lawrence   Producer
Monika Domone   Liner Notes