This four-disc collection from EMI in the United Kingdom collects the five albums
the Edgar Broughton Band recorded for Harvest, as well as a handful of bonus singles and a previously unissued live performance from Hyde Park in London in 1970. Disc one features the band's 1969 debut album, Wasa Wasa, and the single "Up Yours!"/"Freedom," as well as side one of 1970's
Sing Brother Sing. Disc two continues with the second side of that offering, the A-side of the "Apache Drop Out" single, and the complete 1971 self-titled album. Disc three begins with 1972's
Inside Out, rounded off by the B-sides "Someone" and "Mr. Crosby." It concludes with side one of 1973's Oora. The final disc begins with the second side of Oora and finishes with the aforementioned 45-minute live gig. The albums are all taken from the 2004 24-bit remasters, and the sound is basically up to par. The packaging here is a bit of a problem in that it splits albums up on each of the four CDs, though it does so in complete sides. For the hardcore fans who've already purchased the individual albums, this box presents a bit of a conundrum. The reason is the Hyde Park show -- it's utterly stellar in both sound and performance and necessary for fans. Versions of "Love in the Rain," "Drop Out Boogie" (which is a proto heavy metal tune if there ever were one), and the 16-minute closing jam on "Out Demons Out" are nearly reason enough in themselves for purchasing the entire package. Broughton's knife-edge guitar playing isn't the only highlight; Arthur Grant's bass is on pure throbbing stun and Steve Broughton's drumming, basic as it is, provides enough bottom end on the tom-toms in constant shuffle to provide an anchor for Edgar to take off, letting all those knots in his solos take him into unknown territory. The gig also hosts the added ballast of percussionist/backing vocalist Laurie Allen. The liner booklet features an extended interview with Edgar and Steve conducted by Hugh Gilmour in early 2011, making this one righteous -- and definitive -- compilation. ~ Thom Jurek