Concepts by Mo & Mick
Music by Roye, Taff, Mo & Ron
Lyrics by Roye, Mo & Mick.
A NEKTAR composition.
Roye Albrighton / guitar, lead vocals
Derek "Mo" Moore / bass, backing vocals
Ron Howden / drums, percussion
Allan "Taff" Freeman / keyboards, backing vocals
Mick Brockett / lighting, projections and visual effects
"Sounds Like This" was recorded over three days in February of 1973 at
studio Dierks (Germany), the "live in the studio" intent was to give their
fans a taste of what a live Nektar show really sounded like without the overdubs
and remixes.
These pieces actually pre–date the first two Nektar releases (Journey &
Tab), many are Roye Albrighton or Mo, Taff & Ron (Prophecy) compositions from before
Nektar even existed as a band. These individual songs had actually accumulated during
the first two years of Nektar playing on the road, so they needed to be laid down
on vinyl to make way for newer material to come (RTF)… thus the "Live
in the Studio" idea came to pass as the easiest way to preserve these songs.
Some of these pieces were first recorded in 1970, but those "Boston Tapes"
were never deemed suitable for release, thus these songs were still floating around
the 1972 live performances to keep them alive and fresh. This double album was a
way for Nektar to move forward by recording their past for posterity.
So, had the NATURAL order of Nektar's musical progression been followed, "NEKTAR
SOUNDS LIKE THIS" would have been the FIRST release by the band!
For the sake of accuracy, we decided to list all the songs that are on the bonus
cd in the correct order and not the just the ones listed in the booklet that
were accidently left off.***
Music samples are in red
Original mix |
Bonus Tracks on the Remastered Cd Disc 2: |
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1.
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Good Day |
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2.
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New Day Dawning |
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3.
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Sunshine Down On The City / Savior*** |
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4. |
Da Da Dum |
| 5. |
Whatcha Ya Gonna Do? |
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6. |
It's All In Your Mind / Candlelight / I Can See You*** |
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7. |
Mr. H. / Cast Your Fate / Oddysee / Ron's On (cut)*** |
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8. |
Wings |
***Not listed in the Booklet.
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As the author of the Jefferson Airplane book "Take Me To A Circus Tent"
and a former radio disc–jockey, I am often asked to write and or discuss various
music supplies and recordings from the 60's and 70's.
Nektar's third release coming after "Journey To The Centre Of The Eye"
and "A Tab In The Ocean" to this day remains the most underrated of the
original Roye Albrighton albums.
Critics called this not up to the previous LP's, when in fact they should have
been emphatically impressed with the diversity of the material and the willingness
to show off their wears in a double album!
"Good Day" The perfect opening track. It shows the bands ability to tastefully
jam around a catchy tune.
"New Day Dawning" Brings us closer to the progressive sound we loved from
the two previous efforts. Roye plays with such intensity that it can split your
head open. All of a sudden the band takes a bit of the Beatles legendary song "Norwegian
Wood (This Bird Has Flown)." It some how all comes together in a five minute
production of brilliance.
"What Ya Gonna Do?" Turned out to be the song with a myriad of titles over
the years. Sometimes called "Woman Trouble", "Easy" or "Evil"
the tune pays homage to the sounds of the blues and early rock and roll. Taff's
keyboards bring us back to the 50's and Roye's six string is having fun
with the trip to yesteryear.
"1–2–3–4" Would be legendary for its on stage power.
The twelve minute studio version leaves a calling card for the all out assault of
the senses the concert audience would endure. Mo's bass is crystal clear as
the walls shake from the sheer aggression of the music.
"Do You Believe In Magic?" Delivers a tremendous combination of vocal
and musical savvy. Ron Howden's drumming is precise, intense, and often up front
in the mix.
"Cast Your Fate" Creates a painting of the highest quality. The canvass
starts with mellow moods and during a false sense of security the painting takes
a heavier view.
"A Day In The Life Of A Preacher" This became one of the most requested
Nektar tunes for their live set. The thirteen–minute studio version in all
it's splendor never prepared us for the epic live renditions. The band would
click on all cylinders and the audience left gasping for air. If the only sounds
that emanated the entire night were Roye's blowtorch guitar, you wouldn't
feel cheated.
"Wings" Lets you recover from the previous aerial attack. The magic of
Nektar is their ability to take us on a musical odyssey with every path never lined
with imperfections.
"Odyssee: Ron's on/Never, Never, Never/Da–Da–Dum"
If ever a tune had an appropriate name. The music is captivating taking over your
body. It mixes the progressive rock wizardry of Nektar with their rock and roll
aggression. When you sprinkle on Ron's drum solo, this one isn't leaving
the CD player anytime soon!
Make sure you look for the remaster from October 17, 2005 with an entire CD of bonus
tracks!
Enjoy the music and be well,
Craig Fenton
Author of the Jefferson Airplane book "
Take Me To A Circus Tent"