Hackett, Steve - Live Archive 70, 80, 90's

Year of Release: 2001
Label: Camino Records
Catalog Number: CAMCD23
Format: CD
Total Time: 258:30:00

Christmas came early for me this year. First off, my signed copy of the Steve Hackett Live Archives arrived on my doorstep Saturday 11/24/01, officially the Christmas Season. Second, the announcement that Hackett would be the Sunday headliner for the 2002 edition of NEARfest was the icing on the cake (as long as I can get tickets).

The live archive covers 3 decades of music. Along with this, a bonus disc was offered featuring another 70's show. 5 CD's in all [four shown above -ed.], just in time to prepare for what should be a golden opportunity to see Steve in action. Personal preference had me listening to the 70's shows first. The treasures here include performances of songs like "Racing In A", "Narnia" and others that I have not heard live before. Hackett's 70's output was full of majestic tracks like "Star Of Sirius" where he combines the beauty of Mellotron and flute, then counters with his lyrical guitar playing. This to me is the most magical time of his career. Recordings such as Spectral Mornings and Voyage Of The Acolyte rank as all-time favorites in my collection.

The 80's archive is a show from Rome, that apparently was quite the memorable evening for the band. Cured and Highly Strung never thrilled me, but in a live setting, tracks like "Air Conditioned Nightmare" make more of an impact. I was surprised in how much I enjoyed some of the songs that had left little impression on me in their studio form. It is also interesting to hear the different bands play the same songs. The 80's band really changes up "Everyday" during the solo, and though I think it is the weakest version in the set, it is interesting in the overly busy approach the band seems to take. The 70's also have the best vocals, I always wished Steve would have carried a full time singer.

The 90's disc consists mainly of tracks from Guitar Noir interspersed with Hackett classics. There are also a few snippets from the Genesis catalogue including the explosive opener "Los Endos," "I Know What I Like," "In That Quiet Earth," and a couple of renditions on classical guitar. This band seems to rock harder than the other two, as Hackett seems more aggressive in his approach as well.

For Hackett enthusiasts, it is a treasure, with some great performances and songs that have not appeared on prior releases. Hackett speaks fondly of all his former mates, but seems to really key in on his 70's band. As an unabashed Hackett enthusiast, I can not recommend this highly enough.

Tracklisting:
Disc One: Intro / Please Don't Touch / Tigermoth / Every Day / Narnia / The Red Flower Of Tai Chi / Ace Of Wands / Carry On Up The Vicarage / Etude In A Min / Blood On The Rooftops / Horizons / Kim / The Optigan / A Tower Struck Down / Spectral Mornings

Disc Two: Intro / Star Of Sirius / Shadow Of The Hierophant / Clocks / I Know What I Like / Wardrobe Boogie / Racing In A / Racing In A Coda

Disc Three: The Air Conditioned Nightmare / Jacuzzi / Funny Feeling / Ace Of Wands / Picture Postcard / The Steppes / Every Day / Overnight Sleeper / Hope I Don't Wake / Slogans / A Tower Struck Down / Spectral Mornings / The Show / Clocks

Disc Four: Medley / Vampyre With A Healthy Appetite / Sierra Quemada / Take These Pearls / In The Heart Of The City / Walking Away From Rainbows / There Are Many Sides To The Night / Kim / Dark As The Grave / Always Somewhere Else / Lost In Your Eyes / Spectral Mornings / Firth Of Fifth / Clocks / Cinema Paradiso / In That Quiet Earth

Disc Five: Please Don't Touch / Tigermoth / Every Day / The Steppes / Narnia / The Red Flower Of Taichi / Sentimental Institution / Star Of Sirius / Spectral Mornings / Clocks / Ace Of Wands / Hands Of The Priestess / Racing In A

Musicians:
Steve Hackett - guitar, vocals
Nick Magnus - keyboards (d1,d2, d3)
John Hackett - flute, guitar, bass pedals
Dick Cadbury - bass & vocals (d1, d2)
John Shearer - drums (d1, d2)
Pete Hicks - vocals (d1, d2)
Chas Cronk - bass & vocals (d3)
Ian Mosley - drums (d3)
Julian Colebeck - keyboards (d4)
Doug Sinclair - bass & vocals (d4)
Hugo Degenhardt - drums (d4)

Discography:
Genesis - Nursery Crime (1971)
Genesis - Foxtrot (1972)
Genesis - Live (1973)
Genesis - Selling England By The Pound (1973)
Genesis - Lamb Lies Down On Broadway (1974)
Voyage Of The Acolyte (1975)
Genesis - Wind And Wuthering (1976)
Genesis - Trick Of The Tail (1976)
Genesis - Seconds Out (1977)
Please Don't Touch (1978)
Spectral Mornings (1979)
Defector (1980)
Cured (1981)
Highly Strung (1983)
Bay Of Kings (1983)
Til We Have Faces (1983)
GTR - GTR (1986)
Momentum (1988)
Genesis - Three Sides Live (1982)
Genesis - Genesis Archive 1967-75 (1988)
Time Lapse (1992)
The Unauthorised Biography (1992)
Guitar Noir (1994)
Blues With A Feeling (1994)
There Are Many Sides To The Night (1994)
A Midsummer's Night Dream (1997)
Watcher Of The Skies: Genesis Revisited (1997)
The Tokyo Tapes (1997)
Darktown (1999)
Genesis - Genesis - Turn It On Again (1999)
Sketches Of Satie (2000) (w/John Hackett)
Feedback '86 (2000)
Genesis - Genesis Archive #2 (2000)
Live Archive 70s 80s 90s (2001)
Live Archive - Newcastle (2001)
To Watch The Storms (2003)
Live Archive NEARfest (2003)
Live Archive 03 (2004)
Live Archive 04 (2004)
Genesis - The Platinum Collection (2004)
Metamorpheus (2005) (w/The Underworld Orchestra)
Live Archive 05 (2005)
Live Archive 83 (2006)
Wild Orchids (2006)
Tribute (2008)
Out Of The Tunnel's Mouth (2010)
Beyond The Shrouded Horizon (2011)
Genesis Revisited II (2012)
Wolflight (2015)
THe Night Siren (2017)
At The Edge Of Light (2019)

Steve Hackett Live (VHS) (1981)
The Tokyo Tapes (DVD) (1998)
Hungarian Horizons - Live In Budapest (DVD) (2003)
Somewhere In South America - Live In Buenos Aires (DVD) (2003)
Once Upon A Time (DVD) (2004)
Spectral Mornings (DVD) (rec 1978; rel 2005)
Fire & Ice (DVD) (2011)
Genesis Revisited: Live At Hammersmith (2013)
Genesis Revisited: Live At The Royal Albert Hall (2013)
The Total Experience Live In Liverpool - Acolyte To Wolflight with Genesis Classics (2016)
Wuthering Heights - Live In Birmingham (2018)

Genre: Progressive Rock

Origin UK

Added: February 23rd 2002
Reviewer: Eric Porter

Artist website: www.hackettsongs.com
Hits: 2780
Language: english