'Utrecht 28.12.68' - December 28th, 1968 - Utrecht, Netherlands

Sound Quality: B+

Performance: B+

Overall: 3

This one of those boots that isn't bad but isn't that great either, we have some early versions of classic like 'Careful With That Axe, Eugene' and some really freaky versions so 'Interstellar Overdrive' and 'A Saucerful Of Secrets' so for uniqueness it is worth checking out. The recording is pretty good and the performance, on the whole, is alright too.

Highlight for me would be 'Set The Controls For the Heart Of The Sun' a song in its infancy and very short version compared to later shows and closer to the five minutes and change of the album release. Good version though, tight and powerful.

Track breakdown...

Astronomy Domine: Volume takes a 30 seconds or so to get settled, starts low and goes up so hold off turning that dial. The change is gradual though, sound is rather muffled, heard most (or not I guess) in the vocals. It is an audience recording from 1968! Also a little chatter, not very loud but noticeable, during the quite middle section.

Careful With That Axe, Eugene: The beginning section is low volume but I think that is intended, but again some crowd chatter can be heard. This is an early form of the song so think of it as in development here, the quiet beginning section gives way to a real jam with not much of the heavy transition we are used to in later performances. It had been recorded as the B-Side to 'Point Me At The Sky' less than two months previously.

Interstellar Overdrive: I have a feeling the auditorium didn't have very good acoustics, the crowd noise seems be like a low hum, you know that murmur you get in a large building. The version is a real jam, lots of experimentation going on. There is not much of the song left to be honest but still good.

Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Sun: Another song in its infancy, very short version compared to later shows and closer to the five minutes and change of the album release. Good version though, tight and powerful.

A Saucerful Of Secrets: This follows the normal, if shorter, pattern of these era shows, freaky first half filled with major improvisation and wild and wacky experimentation and a second half which is kept pretty similar. I liked this version, the second half really had a good edge and the first was totally out there.

Worth getting but not worth spending a lot of time tracking down.