Heritage II: Demos/Alternate Takes 1971-1976

アメリカのデモ・ヴァージョン集の第2弾が登場。
今回収録されるのは、1971-1976に録音されたデモや別ヴァージョン、そして13分にもわたるアコースティック・ジャム・セッション「Jameroony」を収録。

The second track on the second collection of demos and alternate takes from America is called Jameroony, an indication that this 2020 set can wander into some hazy, undefined territory. Heritage II: Demos/Alternate Takes 1971-1976 doesnt usually get so jammy, though. Nearly half of the collection is devoted to alternate mixes, and there are several completed demos, along with such interesting snippets as a vocal/strings excerpt from You. This collections chronology overlaps slightly with Heritage, which covered 1970-1973, but the lack of big hits (only Tin Man, presented here in a track mix lacking lead vocals, was a smash), shifts the focus onto the bands writing and, on occasion, the studio wizardry of Geoff Emerick and George Martin, who respectively engineered and produced eight of the 13 cuts here. As sumptuous as those tracks sound, theyre certainly the kind of thing that is of primary interest to hardcore America heads: backing tracks and subtle variations in mixes, sometimes graced with studio chatter. As long as a listener understands that this is not a finished product but a glimpse behind the curtains, this is enjoyable. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine