1999 Party (Live At The Chicago Auditorium March 21 1974/Remastered)

Far more fuss should have been made about this concert recording when it was first unearthed from the archive back in the mid-'90s. Touring the U.S. in 1974, Hawkwind were in ferocious form. True, the sheer cohesion of 1972's Space Ritual performance was behind them, but a live show that brought in material from the recently released Hall of the Mountain Grill, alongside established older favorites, was still among the most dynamic of the day, and the ensuing The 1999 Party: Live at the Chicago Auditorium album ranks among the best live Hawkwind documents around. At first glance, the band is still driving much the same material as it always had. "Seven by Seven," "Master of the Universe," "Brainstorm," and "Welcome to the Future" are all present here. But evolution has seen all four broaden out from their "familiar" incarnations, while the change of surroundings, too, benefits all. But "Brainbox Pollution," "Psychedelic Warlords," and "D Rider" are all newfound classics, while fans of old Hawkwind B-sides will be thrilled to find "It's So Easy" (cut from the live show as the flip to the "Psychedelic Warlords" single) finally nestling in its natural habitat. ~ Dave Thompson|