It's a Beautiful Day at Carnegie Hall

Too bad this group was not longer lasting and popular. Technically/ artistically they are truly skilled, gifted and talented. The writing, lyrics, arraignments, instrumentation, solo parts, are brillant for the most part. The music is very energized, beautiful, emotional, exciting and intriguing. It does things to you. "Give Your Woman What She Wants", it okay I guess. "A Hot Summer Day" the same. "Angels And Animals" is good. "Bombay Calling" is wierd, but neat and enjoyable. Nice and long "Going To Another Party" is no big deal. "Good Lovin" is a cute little diddy. "The Grand Camel Suite" is great but too short for me. It makes me think of Blue Grass and Jazz mixed together. It must be super fun to perform."White Bird" is just plain inspired. Like "Green Grass and High Tides" or "Bluejean Blues" or "Tuesday's Gone", "Funeral For A Friend/Love Lies Bleeding", or what ever you choose. You want to listen to it allday long. You want to sing it allday long. You are able to project into it and fill your head with images of great sorrow and happiness. You can almost see it in your mind. The ending just seems a litle thin. But still good. It would make for a fantastic video or orchestral rendition. I like the original studio version a little better. It sounds more pure, more emotional and beautifull. This version sems a little flat. It is still darn good.

They sounded great in concert. The raw energy expressed was amazing. The blend of David Laflamme and Patty Santos vocals was incredible. This group of musicians could jam. I like the extended version of White Bird, even though it has a faster tempo than original studio recording. The only problem with the album is that it is too short. It should have been a double album. They probably couldn't afford to do a double album or had enough notable material to fill two more sides. I can't understand why this group did not get the recognition they deserved. I didn't know about them 'till last year. I was drawn to the band because of the violin. The use of the violin in rock music was just not popular. This band, however, proves that the violin not only belongs in rock music, but displays a depth of artistry that no other band had done before. It's too bad their albums were not best sellers.

I was taken aback a little by the hard-rockin' renditions of these songs. I lean toward the Beautiful in It's A Beautiful Day, and that's the part that did not come across, for me. They sounded more like a blues band, even a hard-blues band at times. Btw, for all of you writing "I wish I could have seen them live," I have great news: IABD are still around, still touring, and (I think) better than ever. I saw them at Jorma and Vanessa Kaukonen's Fur Peace Ranch just two years ago, and the songs were exhilarating, but still Beautiful. I saw them live up through 1970, and the 2016 version was even better, like fine wine that still has a kick. That Fur Peach Ranch show was one of the top ten concerts of my life, and I've been to hundreds of shows.

When I saw that I could purchase this band on CD, I went for it. This band was very unusual for their time, the music and words were very memorable. The CD was a great price and well worth it. Patti Santos has such a powerful voice like Grace Slick, and David LaFlamme's voice and violin were very impressive for me back in the 70's, and after hearing this CD again after 30 years...they still are! The music this band made was so cool. Sort of a mixture of classical/rock/blues/with just a twist of Eastern Indian in a couple songs...weird, but interesting to listen to. White Bird is my favorite from this group.

What a fabulous recording I only wish I would have seen them play live. This album captures the energy and is emotionally charged. I have this album on my Top 10 of best albums of all times. I know that doesn't mean much to you since you don't know me although I can tell you this about me, I own the oldest Internet Radio Station for Unsigned and Indie Music, I get thousands of albums every year and I've heard lots of great music and when I travel in a car, plane or train It's A Beautiful Day Live at Carnegie Hall comes with me.

IT'S A BEAUTIFUL DAY, on of San Fransisco's best proructs to come out of the music scene of the late 1960's and early 70's. I was so excited to find LIVE AT CARNIGIE HALL on CD. I had it in my vynal days and loved it. It is by far one of the BEST jazz prog. rock fusion albums ever recorded. The violin of David LaFlamme, and the vocals of Patti Santos are superb. This CD is a MUST if you are a fan of prog rock. You will not be disapointed, I PROMISE!

As I am personally partial to live recordings I was extremely pleased that this particular CD was available to purchase. I owned this set in vinyl form many years ago. I was very happy to be able to replace it. I think the version of "White Bird" is awesome.

This live concert was at the top of the founding couples touring. The rendition of White Bird and Grand Camel Suite kick butt and surpass any other recording of the two pieces that I've ever heard. Really a great legacy piece of the long and free-ranging compositions that thrived until they were done in by MTV and canned play lists.

It's a Beautiful Day were always best live and this is their best live recording and contains fine versions of their best material. You'll need no more.

CHRONIQUE DE DANIEL VERMEILLE MAGAZINE ROCK&FOLK FEVRIER 1973 N°73 page 91/934° Album 1972 33T Réf : CBS 64929It's A Beautiful Day, comme presque tous les groupes californiens, a été découvert en France après trois ans d'existence, et ce premier album live du groupe compensera la déception de leur concert à la Fac Dauphine en mars 70. L'extrait de "Fillmore/The Last Days" montrait de I.A.B.D. un côté fidèle au style embelli de l'acid-rock, cet enregistrement public de New York révèle l'étendue de ses influences et l'ampleur de l'assimilation de l'héritage musical californien. David Laflamme a maintenant un son acide très violent parfois, toujours strident, qui domine de toutes parts dans chacune des huit compositions proposées ici, du style agressif de "Give Your Woman What She Want" au calme apparent de "White Bird". La technique du violoniste est très intéressante car elle s'inspire autant des riffs actuels de la guitare wah-wah que d'harmonies plus classiques (David Laflamme fit partie de l'Orchestre Symphonique de Santa Barbara avant d'arriver à San Francisco au début du "Summer Of Love" 67).L'originalité de It's A Beautiful Day repose ainsi sur une nappe sonore très colorée, presque omniprésente, où l'orgue, les voix, la guitare et le violon s'entrelacent avec une rythmique très carrée déviant parfois sur une tendance plus soul, venue peut être des expériences de ces tros dernières années à Los Angeles. On constate une fois de plus le regain de popularité de ce genre musical à San Francisco, avec de nouveaux orchestres comme Tower Of Power ou Cold Blood, Stoneground.Le son de It's A Beautiful Day est suffisamment poli maintenant pour accéder à la classe de l'Airplane. "Bombay Calling" ou "White Bird" apportent la preuve la plus évidente de leur maturité recherchée, non sans craintes et déceptions, pendant ces deux dernières années. Le niveau instrumental a su se montrer à la hauteur des aspirations des musiciens qui semblent n'éprouver aucune difficulté à sonner comme un orchestre plus important. Fred Webb possède sans doute un ses sons Hammond les plus originaux, sans pour cela utiliser d'effets électroniques. La finesse de son jeu se voit souvent prolongée par de très larges accords de guitare (Bill Gregory) et, un peu plus haut, par une suite d'impulsions électriques du violoniste qui joue en progression continue sur le fameux tempo des raga-rocks.Un album live réussit a souvent signifié le départ d'une nouvelle période musicale chez les groupes de la West-Coast. Chez l'Airplane il marqua la fin d'une habitude, celle d'avoir le même son sur scène qu'en studio, It's A Beautiful Day sera peut être un jour le seul groupe de Frisco qui n'aura pas "renié" ses premiers principes..Discographie Cold Blood :Cold Blood - 33T - San Francisco Records SD 200 us 1969Sisyphus - 33T - San Francisco Records SD 205 us 1970First Taste Of Sin - 33T - Reprise Records 2074 us 1972Thriller - 33T - Reprise Records 2130 us 1973Lydia - 33T - Warner Bros. Records BS 2806 us 1974Lydia Pense & Cold Blood - 33T - ABC Records 917 us 1976

Forget about all of the negative nonesense that's ever been written concerning both this band and its music. If you'd been there, and live, you'd understand. In 1969 there was nothing quite like this. Nearly 40 years' on, OK, it may sound dated or, even, trite in places. But, as a rock-and-roll violinist, David LaFlamme is unequalled. Sure, there are better technicians (Jean Luc Ponty for example) but they tend to coalesce within the jazz field. When I played this album (plus one or two tracks off "Choice Quality Stuff" - "Creed of Love" being one, for example)to people back in the 70's they were knocked-out by the lead-guitarist. Best part was, they were listening to David LaFlamme's incredible lead-violin. As the sleeve-note remarked back in 1969 "He sheerly rips the roof off".The songs may not be to your taste, the style may not be to your liking but please listen to rock-and-roll violin at its absolute best.As the possesor of all this wonderful old band's albums, "Live at Carnegie Hall" is my best recommendation. It captures the thrill of them live,which is where they were most effective-and you've got some of the best songs on one convenient little disc.My feelings are that, if you started with this recording, you'd be more likely to enjoy the studio albums.

... als David La Flamme und seine Mitstreiter in einem Feuerwerk an Musikalität und Können eine "Best of" ihrer Titel darboten.Daß dabei u.a. das Original von Deep Purple`s "Child in time " sei nur am Rande erwähnt.Es handelt sich hier um eine der Liveaufnahmen, die man auch noch nach Jahrzehnten unbesehen auflegen und genießen kann.Auch aufnahmetechnisch ist die CD in Ordnung.Wer als wirklich gute Musik hören will, sollte zugreifen!

Great album from a band virtually unknown in Britain. Takes me back to my youth.