aLCHEMY - today is the 30th anniversary

[Ar (aka Enlight)]

I really love Alchemy, I'm playing the Blu-Ray version now !
Sultans version is the reference one, even if I also like subsequent ones with sax break et more guitar overdrive...
Telegraph version also is a reference, even if it is a  bit rough, lack Guy's synth, and that I also like more recent ones;
TOL is great, even if 85 versions were even greater, this one is a great reference too, and features Mel Collins sax intro
OUATITW is... phenomenal.
Going Home is great (even if I prefer the faster '85 version with Henk Marvin).
 
Long live Alchemy !

And long life Hank B 

[ds1984]

I don't like Alchemy   

IMHO with the exception of one or twos songs, versions from both  80/81 and 85/86 tours were way better...

The weakest DS tour to my ears actually.

[herlock]

I don't like Alchemy   

IMHO with the exception of one or twos songs, versions from both  80/81 and 85/86 tours were way better...

The weakest DS tour to my ears actually.

I'm suffocating reading this...
Which are the one or two exceptions ?
Sultans and tr are top notch...
TOL is a bit better in 85 but is quite cool in 83 too...

[Love Expresso]

I don't like Alchemy   

IMHO with the exception of one or twos songs, versions from both  80/81 and 85/86 tours were way better...

The weakest DS tour to my ears actually.

Haha, believed it for a second! Nice try! 

LE

[ds1984]

I don't like Alchemy   

IMHO with the exception of one or twos songs, versions from both  80/81 and 85/86 tours were way better...

The weakest DS tour to my ears actually.

I'm suffocating reading this...
Which are the one or two exceptions ?
Sultans and tr are top notch...
TOL is a bit better in 85 but is quite cool in 83 too...

Ok let's go :

   1. Once Upon a Time in the West 13:01 -> 79
   2. Expresso Love 5:45 -> 85
   3. Romeo and Juliet 8:17 -> especially early 91 tour version but all versions with electric ending sounds better than with the accoustic Gibson.
   5. Private Investigations 7:34 -> 85
   6. Sultans of Swing 10:54 -> best one is OES tour, 85 otherwise but the synth  is too much on it.

CD 2

   1. Two Young Lovers 4:49 - 85 (Jack is better than Hal)
   2. Tunnel of Love 14:12 -> 85
   3. Telegraph Road 13:37 ok this is exception but the 96 version...
   4. Solid Rock 6:01 -> 85, 91
   5. Going Home - Theme from "Local Hero" 6:05 ok this is exception

Haha, believed it for a second! Nice try! 
LE

This is not a try, this is a personnal opinion. And I have listened this live album a good zillion times. But the 85 tour recordings blew it away.

[herlock]

I don't like Alchemy   

IMHO with the exception of one or twos songs, versions from both  80/81 and 85/86 tours were way better...

The weakest DS tour to my ears actually.

I'm suffocating reading this...
Which are the one or two exceptions ?
Sultans and tr are top notch...
TOL is a bit better in 85 but is quite cool in 83 too...

Ok let's go :

   1. Once Upon a Time in the West 13:01 -> 79
   2. Expresso Love 5:45 -> 85
   3. Romeo and Juliet 8:17 -> especially early 91 tour version but all versions with electric ending sounds better than with the accoustic Gibson.
   5. Private Investigations 7:34 -> 85
   6. Sultans of Swing 10:54 -> best one is OES tour, 85 otherwise but the synth  is too much on it.

CD 2

   1. Two Young Lovers 4:49 - 85 (Jack is better than Hal)
   2. Tunnel of Love 14:12 -> 85
   3. Telegraph Road 13:37 ok this is exception but the 96 version...
   4. Solid Rock 6:01 -> 85, 91
   5. Going Home - Theme from "Local Hero" 6:05 ok this is exception

Haha, believed it for a second! Nice try! 
LE

This is not a try, this is a personnal opinion. And I have listened this live album a good zillion times. But the 85 tour recordings blew it away.

I agree with you for R&J, PI, and TR.
For OUATITW: 79 versions are almost identical to the album. Might as well listen to the album I love the extended version. True it drags quite a lot but it is still mythical.
For Expresso love: 85 versions are cheesy to my ears: the overdriven to death drums, the backing vocals, the heavy sax...
For Sultans, I love the versions you mention (even the synth in 85) but Alchemy is still special: unique raw power, no sax (for those of us who find it cheesy)
For two young lovers: Hal's solo is incredible... Disagree that Jack is better
For TOL: ok 85 versions are a bit better, smother and swifter, but that does not make Alchemy a bad version. Quite straight to the point and cool... And lovely sax intro by Mel.
For Solid Rock: I prefer on the night but stil the sax in alchemy is cool.
For going home: ironically I disagree with you the other way round, I think Wembley 85 with Hank is better but this one is wonderful too.

All in all, a great recording, even though the versions may not be all the absolute bests of all times

[ds1984]

All in all, a great recording, even though the versions may not be all the absolute bests of all times

Exactly.

This is reason why I am dying to get the existing recordings from the others tour to be put on the market in top notch quality.

[Ar (aka Enlight)]

All in all, a great recording, even though the versions may not be all the absolute bests of all times

Exactly.

This is reason why I am dying to get the existing recordings from the others tour to be put on the market in top notch quality.

In this case I'll die with you...........

[sweetsurrender]

I am watching aLCHEMY concert as I'm typing this for the 100th times.  Is the blueray version worth a buy? I am watching it on my big screen, but the video I have is a VHS converted into DVD.  The quality is quite a disgrace to watch to say the least.  I've read different comments regarding the Blueray. Some not too favorable.  So, should I part with my hard earned money and go order one

Thanks,

[dustyvalentino]

The sound is great, particularly if you have a 5.1 set up.

The picture could be better, but I'm sure would be better than your vhs version.

[sweetsurrender]

The sound is great, particularly if you have a 5.1 set up.

The picture could be better, but I'm sure would be better than your vhs version.

Thanks, dusty.  I have 7.2 set up I believe.  I could go for a great sound.    Now, I understand that from Amazon UK, I can get both blueray and the double  cds.  Is that true?

[JF]

IMHO :


One of best tours in DS/MK history. after all discussions about setlists and imporvisation, how ironic is it to notice that this legendary tour had:
1) same setlist during all the tour apart from it never rain/going home
2) almost exactly same solos by Mark


the best song for this tour was Portobello Belle, especially Paris 23/06/1983


Once upon a time from Alchemy is a masterpiece
I like 78-79 versions too, especially the tone (the FS-1 neck PU), but it lacks some epic developpement

Expresso Love : agree with Herlock
I like also 80-81 versions, with different ending (to "jump" into waterline)

Romeo : agree with DS1984, I far prefer electric ending solo (91-96-06), BUT this version makes it special, linked to LOG

Sultans : THE version.
I don't like live aid. if I had to choose a version with sax, I'd go for Mandela.
Just after Alchemy, my favs are 96 and chorus78

PI : I like Hal's slinding with his pick. But I also like early 91 (with different sax intro).

TYL : agree with Herlock. I don't like Jack's playing. Hal's solo is so cool, and the cultissime Mak's line at the end "Hald lindes on guitar and Mel collins on saxophooooone "
and Mark playing a SG ! the only time in his career !

TOL : one of THE versionS. ok 85 versions are great, but they lack the intro (in fact the link from Portobello Belle)

Telegraph Road : THE version. Even if I like very much 96, mark never sung this song again like he did in 83.
81 versions are cool too.

Solid rock : I love it. 91-92 sounds a bit too much "hard-rock-fm"

going home : THE version. I don't like 85 with Hank. Just after Alchemy, my favs are 96 on Les Paul





And last but not least, I was thinking, if someone asks you what is the first track of Alchemy, what would be your answer ?


..........................................................................



--> on the album it is once upon a time in the west
--> on the concert, it is Stargazer
--> on the video it is saturday night at the movies

 

[herlock]

JF, agree with everything you said except one thing: I don't like Mandela SOS, Eric Clayton's guitar is too strong, I prefer 85 versions, the synth is a bit cheesy but I love it, live aid is a bit less good than Wembley but at least it is official on DVD !

[JF]

JF, agree with everything you said except one thing: I don't like Mandela SOS, Eric Clayton's guitar is too strong, I prefer 85 versions, the synth is a bit cheesy but I love it, live aid is a bit less good than Wembley but at least it is official on DVD !

that Eric 's lick during the quiet part makes it so special !

and a "wrong" (but not really bad) note at the end during the twiddy bits, with Mark's face seems to think "huh ?"

And Mak walking on thstage, not staying static.

Well I admit that musically it's not perfect, but I love it.


and you forgot : I don't like very much going home with Hank....

[herlock]

Oh yeah, why don't you like GH with henk ? Is it the faster pace ? I love it...