A crate full of Colosseum

Colosseum

Elegy - The Recordings 1968-1971

Esoteric (6-CD set)

Of all the bands to be lumbered with the epithet “supergroup,” Colosseum were undoubtedly the most uncompromising. Formed by the union of Jon Hiseman and Dick Heckstall Smith (ex-Graham Bond and John Mayall), Dave Greenslade (Chris Farlowe) and Tony Reeves (Mayall again) in 1968, and adding Farlowe himself at the end, the band churned out three incredible albums in just two years, plus a valedictory live album before collapsing in 1971.

Their reputation today was further bolstered by two highly collectible albums for the old swirly Vertigo label; their discography by the U.S.-only The Grass Is Greener; and there’s a bucketload of BBC recordings out there as well — none of which, sadly, are featured here, but that’s because there already is a box set full of the things, the similarly six CD Transmissions.

Of course, jazz-rock is oft-regarded as an acquired taste, and has certainly been uglified by more than its fair share of over-hyped incompetents. To compare Colosseum with any of them, however, is to dismiss the sheer majesty of the band in full flight.

Preoccupied more by energy than virtuosity (although they certainly had the latter to spare), Colosseum launched with the still earth-shaking Those Who Are About To Die Salute You, an album that slips effortlessly out of its makers’ past projects, at the same time as shaking off whatever expectations their audience might have nurtured.

True, the final Daughter of Time album is weak in comparison to its predecessors, but even that is a relative term; besides, two discs full of concert material, the 1971 Colosseum Live LP plus the unreleased “additional live recordings,” more than remedy any shortcomings elsewhere — the mammoth live version of their second album’s title track, “The Valentyne Suite,” is especially alluring, and there’s a tempestuous “Stormy Monday Blues” here, too.

Other bonus material is equally enthralling — seven non-album cuts include two demos, which themselves are as impressive as most other bands’ final masters, while the booklet is a veritable romp through the band’s life and times.

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