The King Biscuit Flower Hour is best known to most savvy radio listeners from the 70s. A "cool" FM transmission, KBFH's main purpose was to broadcast concerts of all the best of rock. Many of us stayed awake to the later hours for the privilege of tuning in to these concert shows. God knows I've listened to my fair share.

Although King Biscuit Flower Hour typifies the 70s as its era of choice, they managed to move into the 80s. Many of us remember and reminensce about those long ago times..hell, some of us miss 'em. What KBFH has done is to bring the pleasant memories of those times back in archival format. Not only do we get to relive and re experience the "bootleg" styled shows that were buried like gems late into FM timeslotting, we get to now keep them like our old taped copies that have long since been banished to a box in the garage.

Released in batches, these treasures sure do bring a flashback on quicker than any ole drug of choice (back then, folks, ..back then) could have. There are multiple releases available at the time of this review with more on the slate.

For this review, we listened to four discs. Robin Trower, Kansas, April Wine, and Humble Pie. Each disc highlights the recording by venue and date. KBFH have pieced together the greatest hits of the band and assembled a nice collection of songs that are sure to keep you listening to them time and again.

Starting with my favourite, The Robin Trower offering is the most satisfying. This show was recorded in 1977 in support of the In City Dreams album. With the selection of songs clocking in at 70 plus minutes, including Lady Love, Too Rolling Stoned, Bridge of Sighs, and Little Bit of Sympathy, I found myself in a bit of Rock Heaven listening to a concert be a concert rather than a sequenced live album that culls the best songs from multiple performances.

Humble Pie, with its great background of achievement, gets a 76 plus minute CD played in San Francisco/Bill Graham's Winterland in 1973. This lineup of Humble Pie is without Peter Frampton but feature a much harder edged band that set stages on fire with their energetic shows. This collection contain classic Road Runner; 30 Days in the Hole; Hallejujah, I Love Her So; and including a hot cover of Honky Tonk Woman. Steve Marriott's vocals, at times evangelical, are in top form here. The essence of 70s rock is definitely in effect here.

Kansas, on the other hand, suffers a bit from the fact that this isn't a show from the original band. Its 65 plus minutes is from the band that rose from the ashes of the first incarnation. They still had plenty of show but the differences are noticeable to a degree. The addition of Steve Morse (what band haven't this guy played for?) adds punch and a harder bite. Regardless, the band is well represented with this release. Tracks included here are Point of Know Return, a raspy Dust in the Wind, and a smoking Carry On My Wayward Son. This show was recorded in 1989 showing the longevity of not only Kansas but of The King Biscuit Flower Hour. But, if you're a Kansas fan, this disc reveals the expansive musical talent of the band and will please you immensely.

Finally, April Wine's 70 plus minutes of KBFH archival concert, while not my favourite, is likely to strike favour with April Wine fans. The music is determined and lively with this show recorded in 1982 in Toronto. April Wine's "Just Between You and Me" is included here as are covers (King Crimson's "21st Century Schizoid Man") and a bonus track from a 1985 show, "You Could've Been A Lady". Of interest here is a noticeable transition to 80s arena/hair band found in the style of April Wine. As era bridges go, April Wine is as good an example as there is. Good for them as it showcases an influential movement between the eras.

All of these sets provide a fact filled insert that fills you in on the band, their time in space, and their history. Together with the recorded music, you have a great package that lets you time travel and perhaps clue you into things that you may have not known.

One listen to these recordings reveal an interesting point. The bands back then were a separate species. Sure, you could attain to it but it felt unlikely. And that was the beautiful aura that made a rock band a rock band. Today's bands have the feel of being your next door neighbour; 3 chords and no spectacle garage experiements. The WOW is disminished with "same sound" guitars. But only compare those with the nimble fingered Trower or the very talented Marriott and these discs take on new meaning.

I'm looking forward to every disc in the King Biscuit Flower Hour Archive Series.

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