If you already have Welcome Back My Friends to the Show
That Never Ends,
the King Biscuit CD, and the Royal Albert Hall CD and DVD, then you already have the best recorded versions
of these shows. Unless you're like me and you feel like you need
every live version this band ever recorded. They are an amazing
live show.
The highlights of the first disc are the alternate but incomplete version of "Take a Pebble" and the incomplete encore of "Pictures at an Exibition". The best version of the encore of "Pictures" is from the 1974 Buffalo, NY show from the previous boxed set (vol 2).
The comeback tour of '92-'93 has performances that are
somtimes overlooked in favor of the 70's concerts. On the '92 tour, Emerson was finally able to perform "Pirates", completely orchestrated with his Korg and Peavy keyboards and Midi Yamaha Piano. I like the addition of the Hammond C3 organ to the jazzy section of "Pirates". "Pictures" also gets the full orchestral treatment. It's not the same as the Hammond and Moog version, but it is great in its own way. The tracks from "Black Moon" are very good, and the title track has a Hammond solo at the end.
With this boxed set you get the Albert Hall concert without having to purchase both the CD and the DVD, but remember that the CD and DVD were professionally recorded. You would be better off just purchasing the DVD as "Pictures at an Exhibition" is incomplete in this boxed set. The only track missing from the DVD is "Black Moon".
The highlight of this boxed set, and the main reason I bought it, is the previously unreleased concert at The Wiltern Theatre in Los Angeles. The encore of Fanfare for the Common Man/America/Rondo is one of the best versions available.
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