Raw & Alive

(2-CD set) Raw & Alive - The Seeds In Concert may just possibly be the greatest 'live' album that never was. Released in 1968 towards the end of the original quartet's career, the album was an attempt to capture on vinyl the frenzy these garage legends delivered at their live performances.

Highly regarded by Seeds aficionados, the LP contains exciting versions of band classics such as No Escape and Up In Her Room, as well as superlative new originals such as the punkoid Satisfy You: a clear return to form after the flowery Future long-player. But most are unaware that the performances were cut live in the studio, with applause added afterwards. On this deluxe edition of Raw & Alive both dubbed and undubbed versions of the album are presented for the first time.

The original idea was for a Seeds concert to be taped in front of a studio audience, but the results were deemed unsatisfactory. The second disc of our reissue features this recording, which 45 years later, sounds just fine. It also boasts rare 'live' versions of tunes such as Fallin', A Faded Picture and the previously unheard song Hubbly Bubbly Love.

As with all the Big Beat Seeds reissues, Raw & Alive is presented as a gatefold 2-CD digipak and includes a hefty booklet, packed with unseen photos of the Seeds live in their mid-60s heyday. Compilation and notes by Alec Palao.