(2021) Byzantium – Halfway Dreaming: Anthology 1969-75


Review:
Assembled with the help and approval of the band, Halfway Dreaming: Anthology 1969-75 is the first-ever Byzantium compilation. It includes all 3 albums that were released at the time, together with a further set of 1974/75-era live material, various studio out-takes and, as a considerable bonus, an extended version of the Ora album. Evolving from the line-up that had recorded the highly-regarded Ora LP in 1969, Byzantium recorded two early ’70s albums – Byzantium and Seasons Changing, both featuring future Ian Dury MD Chaz Jankel – for the A&M label. After leaving A&M, the band self-financed the 1974 Live/Studio album in an effort to attract new representation before splitting the following year. Although they received relatively little attention from the music industry at the time, Byzantium’s progressive rock-based combination of musical eclecticism, strong harmonies and timeless song writing have belatedly attracted an audience, with collectors now paying significant sums to acquire original vinyl pressings of their recordings.





Tracklist:

Disc 1
01 - Seashore
02 - About You
03 - Deborah
04 - Whitch
05 - Venetia II
06 - You
07 - Fly
08 - Ladyfriend
09 - Are You Seeing
10 - Emma's Saga
11 - The Morning After the Night Before
12 - The Seagull and the Sailor
13 - Ooo
14 - What Is Happening
15 - I Love You
16 - Deborah (Alternative Version)
17 - I Am a Stranger to My Life
18 - Fly (Alternative Version)
19 - It Was an Easy Legend
20 - Seashore (Alternative Version)
21 - No More Love
22 - Pomme

Disc 2
01 - What Is Happening
02 - I Am a Stranger to My Life
03 - Come Fair One
04 - Baby I Can Hear You Calling Me
05 - Trade Wind
06 - Into the Country
07 - Lady Friend
08 - Why or Maybe It's Because
09 - Morning Love
10 - This Time I Won't Let You Go
11 - Thank God

Disc 3
01 - What a Coincidence
02 - My Season's Changing with the Sun
03 - Show Me the Way
04 - I'll Always Be Your Friend
05 - October Andy
06 - Something You Said - A Trilogy: Pt. 1 Something You Said / Pt. 2 I Can See You / Pt. 3 Morning

Disc 4
01 - Flashing Silver Hope
02 - Cowboy Song
03 - Feel It
04 - I'll Just Take My Time
05 - Surely Peace Will Come to Those Who Try
06 - If You Wanna Be My Girl
07 - Oh Darling
08 - Move with My Time
09 - Alright Now
10 - It Could Be Better
11 - You Made Me Stand Up Straighter
12 - I'd Still Love to Have You Around

Disc 5
01 - Gypsy Man (Live)
02 - Every Day's the Same (Live)
03 - High Time (Live)
04 - October Andy (Live)
05 - Halfway There (Live)
06 - It Could Be Better (Live)
07 - Small World (Live)
08 - Flashing Silver Hope (Live)
09 - This Time Around (Live)
10 - A Day Like This (Live)


Media Report:
Genre: rock
Format: FLAC
Format/Info: Free Lossless Audio Codec, 16-bit PCM
Bit rate mode: Variable
Channel(s): 2 channels
Sampling rate: 44.1 KHz
Bit depth: 16 bits