Weird Tapes Vol.8: Live 1966-1973 [CD]

*************************Personnel:
Note: tracks 2-4 and 5-8 are unknown in terms of personnel and date.
Robert Calvert: Vocals (track 1)
Dave Brock: Vocals, Guitars
Lemmy: Bass (track 1)
Nick Turner: Sax, Vocals (tracks 1,9)
Del Dettmar: Keys (track 1)
Dik Mik: electronics (tracks 1,9)
Simon King: Drums (track 1)
Dave Anderson: Bass (track 9)
Terry Ollis: Drums(track 9)

**************************Technical Stuff
Tracks 1,4,&8 have really good sound quality. Tracks 2 & 3 are of moderate sound quality. And tracks 5-10 are of bootleg quality, mono and they sound like they were recorded with a portable tape machine by an audience member.

**************************The Music
This one almost didn't make it to market. The Weird series was released on cd for the first time in 2000/2001, except for tape 8 which was in a legal limbo. Things were finally resolved in '06, and so we finally got the last Weird Tape on cd.

The set starts off with a track from the penultimate "The Space Ritual" album, "Space is Deep". I am not sure why this was included in a series that was supposedly offering rare Hawks tracks, but it's a good song so I'm not complaining. It dates from '73.

Track two sounds pre lemmy, but close to their Space Ritual sound, so it is probably from '71. It's a fairly good strait ahead psych rocker with some nice fuzzed out guitar work from the 2 players, Brock and ? (no credits available). This track is not available elsewhere.

Track 3, "Live and Let Live" is one of the more experimental Hawks songs. Electronic sound effects blare as a voice intones "Live and Let Live", a bass thumps out a generic line, and Brock works his guitar. This is another exclusive to this album.

Track 4, "Etchanatay", starts with two flutes mirroring each other, one in each channel until Dave brings his psych guitar to the front. If you listen carefully you'll hear the recording of the Sioux which formed the basis of "Black Elk Speaks" from 1990. Interesting, given that it was 1973 (approx) when this was recorded.

The next two tracks are of poor audio quality and feature Brock's 60's Blues band, called the Dharma Blues Band. It's kind of a cross between honky tonk and old school blues, replete with harmonica, piano, and acoustic guitar.

The next track, "Bring it on Home", is the same type of music but it is Brock in studio with session musicians, so the sound quality is waaay better...more honky tonk blues.

The last two tracks are primitive versions of "Dreaming" and "Shouldn't do that". Both suffer from bootleg audio quality however.

*******************************Summary
The audio quality is poor on half the tracks, and the music doesn't beg repeated listenings. However, there are two unique tracks, and there is the historical interest factor. If you are interesting the origins of Hawkwind, you should get Dawn of Hawkwind instead.

Anyway, this one is for only the most dedicated Hawkwenaut.

At long last! The eighth and final series of the Hawkwind 'Weird Tapes'. This one I actually had on cassette umteen tears ago. Not even sure if it's still playable. Either way, I'm more than happy to get it on CD. Great eye-catching cover, don't you agree? Several of these tunes may've or may have not previously appeared (in the same version) on past releases, for example it's noted that "Space Is Deep" is off the band's landmark live lp 'Space Ritual' and I think this CD's mono cuts "Dreaming" and "Shouldn't Do That" came off the 'Text Of Festivals' title. But, what REALLY makes this title a should-have by all true Hakwfans are the three unreleased gems here like the heavily played "Down On Her Knees" (almost Pink Fairie's style), "Live And Let Live" and the tripping "Etchanatay" (nice flute work, there Nik). Also, the vintage blues numbers dating back to Dave Brock's street playing days such as "Roll 'Em Pete" and "Dealing With The Devil" are nothing to sneeze at. A heavy-duty high-five goes out to Voiceprint for putting this CD out. Highly recommended.