Amazing Zigzag Concert / Various

This 5 disc set captures the magic of what must have been an "amazing concert". Three english bands and two American singer songwriters, all playing in front of a supportive audience that push each act to exhibit their best. The highlights for me are the sets from Chili Willi and The Red Hot Peppers' which captures their live magic better than any other recording and Mike Nesmith which illustrates why his early solo / First National Band records are so under appreciated. The other bands soar in front of the appreciative audience. If you have any affinity for pub rock or 70s singer songwriters, this is a must. Plus, the packaging and booklet are exemplary.

This was a great collection of bands including Help Yourself with Deke Leonard and other pub rock bands.

"Zigzag", Britain's first rock magazine, was launched in April, 1969, and to celebrate the magazine's fifth anniversary they hired the Roundhouse in Chalk Farm to host a star-studded extravaganza. This five CD box set is the record of what resulted on April 28, 1974, when a group of musicians like no other hit the stage. The acts are varied and vary in quality and enduring fame, and while the recordings have flaws, they are an interesting portal into the underground and independent rock movement of the day. The discs are in order of performance and feature "Starry Eyed & Laughing", "Chilli Willi & The Red Hot Peppers", John Stewart, "Help Yourself", and finally the headliner of the day, Michael Nesmith, along with his legendary pedal steel player, Red Rhodes.While I liked all these CDs, and particularly bring your attention to "Chilli Willi's" excellent bluegrass to blues, impossible to pigeonhole set (especially noteworthy is "Drunken Sunken Redneck Blues" and their absolutely smashing version of "Six Days On The Road", doubtlessly the best version ever recorded) I bought this for the Nesmith set and was not disappointed. Nez is in fine form and turns extemporaneous storyteller between his songs to great effect. Unfortunately there are some sonic qualities in the recording of the Nesmith set but it's still supremely enjoyable, with "Propinquity", "Grand Ennui", the rare "Wax Minute" (a last minute addition to the setlist), and "Roll With the Flow" being particularly strong here. The liner notes are very extensive and recount a lot of great information, some directly relevant, some tangential but fascinating, like how Nesmith came to produce (and play on) Bert Jansch's "L. A. Turnaround".This is a historically significant set that is a real pleasure to delve into; though it's uneven it's utterly fascinating and even 41 years after the raucous show was recorded is a great set to occasionally put on random play and rediscover.

After several years of not buying this I decided to treat myself. I was at the concert (aged 21) and had some great memories etched into my young and impressionable mind. Most of all I remembered that Mike Nesmith treated us to a whole bunch of stories between the songs. And to hear them again was the main reason I bought it. And where are they? What a disappointment. Sure we get Mike the singer/songwriter but where's Mike the raconteur. There were certain people back then you went to see for the natter as much as the music - eg Roy Harper for another. So three stars for the music is really 5 stars but 2 down for the disappointment. Or am I suffering from false memory syndrome?

Found out about this product by accident. John Stewart is/was one of my favourite artists and to find him with Michael Nesmith and Starry Eyed and laughing was fantastic. The box set was signed, sealed and delivered on time and in mint condition. All albums play beautifully and the quality of this live recording is tremendous.

The album is brilliant. I got it as I love Chilli Willi and The Red Hot Peppers especially martin Stone

Fantastic record of an iconic concert