After
Nazareth's 12-year association with A&M Records ended in 1982, the group signed with MCA Records, and shortly thereafter, they released what would be their last major-label collection on new material,
Sound Elixir. By 1983, when this recording was first issued on MCA,
Nazareth was clearly declining commercially and artistically. Yet, like every
Nazareth recording, there are plenty of bright spots that fans of the band should enjoy. Highlights include powerful opener "Why Don't You Read the Book" and "Rain on the Window." While there's nothing really bad about
Sound Elixir, it's very removed from the best
Nazareth material of the '70s, both in terms of musical intentions and also technical and artistic execution. ~ Vincent Jeffries