Set 4: "Strangely Beneficient," - New Haven Civic Center, New Haven, November 30, 1977. Another batch of cleaned-up bootlegs chronicles some of Emerson, Lake & Palmer's finest shows. This eight-CD box set includes four complete concerts, each taking up two discs. In all, the two-volume Original Bootleg Series is comprised of eight shows covering 15 discs. Listeners should expect a lo-fi experience. The set is priced accordingly, about 45 dollars per volume. To be fair, the sound quality is for the most part decent to good. The first show in this collection was recorded at Hammersmith Odean in London on November 26, 1972. Subtitled "A Right Cordial Shocker," it runs 100 minutes. ELP had returned triumphantly to their home turf after touring the world behind Trilogy.
Most of us know Lalo Schifrin for his jazz music and scores to Dirty Harry and Bullitt. That's how I first became aware of him and found other scores of his over the years that are completely different. THX 1138 is definitely one of those scores. Sure there are some jazz cues in here but mostly this score is more laid back, in a sense that is underscores the forbidden romance and mystery of the world this movie projects.
If you can get past the 1940s monaural sound (and if you are not already familiar with this performance, you will get a shock). This is the gentlest, most right sounding rendition I have ever heard. The tempi are uncommonly brisk, though they never sound that way. The third movement has never sounded more beautiful. Halban is perfect in the finale. Walter passed away before he could record this work in stereo. His later performances were very different and I'm still not sure whether or not his later slower tempos and even greater expression were an improvement.