Birth Control - Live (Reissue) (1974/1998)

Birth Control's straightforward progressive rock sound is perfectly demonstrated on Birth Control Live, recorded in June 1974. With Zeuss B. Held's organ and Wurlitzer contributing to their simplistic keyboard and vocal arrangements, the album takes favorites like "The Work Is Done" and "She's Got Nothing on You" and dresses them up a bit, proving that the band can be just as exciting in concert as on their studio albums. Much like Amon Düül II or even Atomic Rooster to a certain extent, Birth Control puts great emphasis on their keyboards, with lead vocalist Peter Föller adding some humorous support from time to time. The best example of their early-'70s sound can be found on the 15 minutes of "Back from Hell" and on the even longer "Gamma Ray," combining an entertaining mix of improvised guitar and keyboard interplay that wonderfully stretches itself out. Ending with the frolicsome "Long Tall Sally" with Zeuss playing some rather spirited harmonica segments, Birth Control Live wraps up as a pleasurable excerpt of the band in a live atmosphere, and a tad stronger than Live '79 since it was recorded during Birth Control's heyday.