'Atom Heart Mother Goes On The Road' - BBC 1970 & 1971

Sound Quality: A

Performance: B

Overall: 3

This is a BBC recording do except for a couple of blips here and there it is perfect but the performance is a let down. It just seems like they were holding back, a lot of the tracks had lost their edge, 'Careful With That Axe, Eugene' being best example of this.

The highlight for me was actually 'Atom Heart Mother', even though this had the brass and choir I thought it was better than the studio version. Finally the historical factor comes up here, this is the only live performance of 'If' ever played by the Floyd (Roger played it live on his solo tours later on) it is well played but a standard version. Being that it wasn't played live then I guess it stands to reason that it doesn't deviate still good.

Track Breakdown...

The Embyro: Semi-surreal section in the middle before the whale song which is a bunch of kids playing which is played over the top of the jaunty Wright keyboard solo. Nice version.

Careful With That Axe, Eugene: During the first section there is a little bit of an issue with the sound, lets say it flutters for a second or two. Nothing major but easy to spot.  This one is annoying because the crescendo starts to build but stops about half way, you can tell theyare holding back a little so it is pretty unfulfilling.

Atom Heart Mother: Yeah brass, 'nuff said. Forcing myself to get past my dislike of the orchestrations on this song is a very good rendition and better than the studio one. Its more refined, you can tell is has been played a few times so it is not so rough around the edges (which when it comes to orchestrations is better). There is a fade out just after the 17 minute mark or so sounds like a track break fade out but the same song continues it only lasts 4 or 5 seconds, I wonder if this a recording error, if they thought the track was done.

Fat Old Sun: There is a section in the middle which fades out but it might be part of the song, it lasts enough for you to start reaching for the dial. The section after this has a really nice jam feel to it.

Worth picking up if you come across it, good beginners bootleg because of the quality.

-------------

Original info...

PINK FLOYD

 
Atom Heart Mother Goes On The Road

ACL 002 CD               

A Collectors Label

(P) 1995       Osa/Monda

Matrix CD 1: ACL 001/2
Matrix CD 2: ACL 002/2

Audience Recording

Produced by Pink Floyd Fans

Limited Edition of 1500

Deluxe Version With 24 Page Booklet

2 Postcards and Cardboard Sleeve

16 July 1970

Live at Paris Theater, Regent Street, London, England
(BBC Recording Date)

30 September 1971
Live at Paris Theater, London, England

(BBC Recording Date)

Disc 1:

1. Embryo

2. Green Is The Colour

3. Careful With That Axe, Eugene

4. If

5. Atom Heart Mother

Disc 2:

1. Fat Old Sun

2. One Of These Days

3. Echoes

Band:
Roger Waters
David Gilmour
Rick Wright
Nick Mason

Same as the original vinyl version though modified for CD reproduction, it looks like the manufacturer had access to the original vinyl art. Front: White cover with AHM cow, looking back while standing on a hand drawn road. Hand drawn city visible is the distance, and a stand of trees is to the left. "Atom Heart Mother" in original type at top, with hand lettered "goes on the road" cutting across it. Hand lettered "Pink Floyd appearing at Paris Theatre, London 70-71" in lower right corner (noticeably neater lettering than original vinyl). Back: White backdrop with hand lettered track listings, the times listed are incorrect. Lettering from vinyl has been totally redone for the CD, though much neater this time. Band personel are listed, and it is claimed to be a limited edition of 1500 numbered copies. Hand drawn building sillouhettes across the bottom. Inside: White booklet opens up to show four color shots of the stage from what looks like the DSOTM tour, back of booklet has a b&w photo from around 70-71, and the back of the tray lines has what looks like film strips containing various head shots of the individual band members, also on a white background. The CDs themselves are printed with a take off of the Harvest record label, Yellow and green with the lettering all hand done in the same style as the cover. Claims to be "Produced by Pink Floyd Fans". Really nice looking.