Freedom to Music
Kayak – Eyewitness (1981) (@256)
04 Apr 2007
For Salty Dog, sorry I forgot it :)
(Review from progressiveworld.net)
Originally recorded as a live album containing most of their “hits”, Eyewitness was in fact conceived in the studio! In fact, the band recorded the entire album with a live feel, but without an audience! All of the tracks were recorded in the famous Wisseloord studios in Holland. Later, 200 members of the band’s fanclub were dragged in so their applause could be recorded. The fake audience has not been included on this CD-transfer so what you get here is the “real” sound of the band, how they sounded live without the polished studio treatment.
“Ruthless Queen” remains one of the many highlights in the band’s remarkable career. There’s the funkiness of “Want You To Be Mine” (although I remember having seen Kayak live when I was young (gasp), and hearing that track more in a Uriah Heep fashion) and the driven force of “Chance For A Lifetime” including some superb Moog interventions! There’s an almost disco-feel with “Who’s Fooling Who” before Scherpenzeel can musically show his love for his wife in the instrumental “Irene”, which sounds very much like Camel what with Johan Slager throwing in some cool Latimer chords!
One of the all-time Kayak live favourites, “Starlight Dancer”, is also included here, although it sort of misses what made the studio version so special. Hard and driving is “No Man’s Land” with a versatile Scherpenzeel banging the ivories whilst Slager joins in with some stunning guitar licks. Two interesting bonus tracks have been added here. “Car Enchanter” is a specially recorded version from the Merlin album, recorded for Keystone products. “Ivory Dance ’94″ is a re-recorded instrumental with a nice minimal build-up.
Line-up:
- Edward Reekers / lead vocals
- Peter Scherpenzeel / bass
- Ton Scherpenzeel / keyboards, backing vocals
- Johan Slager / guitars, backing vocals
- Max Werneer / drums, percussion, backing vocals
Track List:
01. Eyewitness (3:21)
02. Periscope Life (4:09)
03. Ruthless Queen (5:05)
04. Want You To Be Mine (4:48)
05. Lyrics (1:59)
06. Chance for a Lifetime (4:22)
07. Who’s Fooling Who (3:44)
08. Irene (3:12)
09. Only You and I Know (3:12)
10. Winning Ways (3:28)
11. Starlight Dancer (4:58)
12. No Man’s Land (5:32)
13. The Car Enchanter (Sikkens Song) (Bonus) (2:36)
14. Ivory Dance (Bonus) (2:51)
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about 5 years ago
MP3!
Filesonic -> http://tinyurl.com/3cjghzt
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Password -> sakalli
about 4 years ago
Thank you so much for this. I’ve only recently discovered the worki of Kayak – I can’t believe they aren’t better known.Thanks too for all your work on this site. It truly is a work of art. Keep rocking!!!
about 4 years ago
Hey Sakalli,What a lovely surprise to find this album here!I’ve requested it with different blogs a while ago, so I kinda forgot about it…Thank you my friend!Have a nice day.
about 3 months ago
Sakalli, much appreciated, thank you.