Made In Heaven
This is probably one of the most boring bootlegs I have ever heard. While the music on it is fantastic in studio form, they just don't go over well on this disc. I thought Japan Live '94 was a bit boring but this one was just hell to listen to. The fun part, of course, is listening to the band converse with the band including attempting to perform some country music before breaking into Gutter Ballet. Another plus is hearing Doesn't Matter Anyway performed live but other than that, this is a CD I could do without.

Live In Neue-Isenburg
After hearing the disappointment of the Dead Winter Dead tour, I didn't expect much on The Wake Of Magellan tour but this bootleg is a masterpiece. Here, the band sounds perfect yet a little raw also. Perhaps the most heart-clenching moment is hearing Believe (which was dedicated to Criss Oliva). Other great moments include hearing The Wake of Magellan and Handful Of Rain live. And believe me, the Handful Of Rain performed on Japan Live '94 can't hold a candle.

Power Of The Night/Doctor Butcher Demos
No matter what, its always cool hearing unreleased Savatage tracks (*and Doctor Butcher tracks*) and this is no exception. From the opening riffs of No More Saturday Nights (which is reminiscent of We're All Together Now) to the grinding classic Help! Police (a very funny song that I will soon have the lyrics for). The best moment on this may be the unreleased Doctor Butcher track Born Of The Bored which is the band at their most progressive.

Live In Paris, France 1991
This is my favorite of all Savatage bootlegs. The interaction between Jon and the audience is great and the music smokes. The Streets album is probably the only album by any band that I can honestly say sounds better live. Sammy And Tex may be the exception because it seems Jon couldn't keep up with that one very well. Also, in this version of Jesus Saves, Jon changed some lyrics to "the band went up in blows, everything went up his nose". Classic Savatage perhaps at their best. Also, Mentally Yours goes over really well live.

Live In Offenbach, Germany 1993
This is the only Savatage boot which I think should be pulled. The bass and drums are nonexistent in this recording and it sounds like it was recorded in the very back of a concert hall. The only good thing about this is hearing Criss' solo on Ghost In The Ruins.

Farewell Radio Show
This is another good one from the Streets tour but not as good as Live In Paris. The main reason, Jon sounds a tad bit drunk in this recording. Even classics like If I Go Away sound a bit too far-fetched for me on this recording. However, no matter what Tonight He Grins Again goes over well live.

Gutter Ballet Demos
This recording is great. You get to hear unreleased gems like Pray To The Lord (which is reminiscent of The Chair), Target and the funniest thing on the disc is Rap. I highly recommend this CD to anyone who likes Savatage.



PLEASE NOTE: Please support Savatage first and foremost before buying any bootleg CD's. While these CD's are great (most of them), they are no match for the studio recordings.