In a message dated 6/24/2004 3:07:19 PM Eastern Daylight Time, kenmerb writes:
> So let me get this straight. No mellotron on stage at all, just a C3? So they must have lip synched the whole thing while on stage, and not just overdubbed parts in the studio later for the DVD, is that correct? Is there any mellotron in the audio? That would be a dead giveaway. I wonder how this happenned? Did all of their mellotrons break down before the show, so they stuck poor Mike out there with a Hammond C3 and proceeded to play their pre-recorded tunes over the PA? And then, 30+ years later, sell this footage as a concert DVD? Damn, I was looking forward to this, I wanted to get some MKII tips from the master. I guess I'll have to settle for your version of "Peak Hour" on Sharayah ;-).
>
> BTW, how did you get your copy so much sooner than the
> rest of us? I thought June 29 was the official release date.
The only live part were vocals on Hayward's tunes (and Ray's flute on the one track). The prerecorded stuff is what appears/sounds to be the actual album tracks, complete with Mellotron. This 'gig' seems to have been preplanned. Perhaps it was a last minute thing and they didn't think it was worth it to lug a MkII to Paris for the brave, trustworthy, and loyal French. Hammonds were (and are) a lot more common than Mellotrons, and visually somewhat of a reasonable facsimile (at least in someone's mind) when not playing live. You can see this same thing on the German Beat Club segment of Nights In White Satin on the "Legend of a Band" DVD with Mike again faking it behind a C3.
I had preordered this via Amazon, then cancelled the order when I found out that signed copies were available through Mike's website. As of today, Amazon is still posting a 6/29 release date. I posted a similar review on the Amazon site. Caveat Emptor!
PS. - I played Peak Hour flawlessly for Jerry when he was in San Diego last month; much better than what you captured in Vermont.
Frank Samagaio