Vocalist/guitarist, Greg Lake from the legendary prog rock bands King Crimson and Emerson, Lake & Palmer launched a solo career in 1981 and embarked on a spectacular worldwide tour. Greg Lake' / 'Manoeuvres' is a digitally remastered two CD set containing a pair of albums from the prog icon plus bonus tracks.

Indeed, this set collects together both of Lake's two solo albums, his first self-titled album (1981) and his second album Manoeuvres (1983). The set includes four bonus tracks which have never been included on any reissue of the albums, only on separate rarities albums.

The first self-titled debut solo album and its three bonus tracks feature all of the members of Toto with the exception of Bobby Kimball, as Lake handles all lead vocals. Trying to find some direction after leaving ELP, Greg Lake also released this album with the help of Gary Moore and it has to be said, that this new re-mastering is wonderful - as the volume has been increased to an appropriate audiophile level for the first time ever.

For me personally, the highlight is, of course, Gary's masterpiece 'Nuclear Attack', a minor AOR hit in the early 80's. Two other songs I enjoyed listening to again are both 'It Hurts' and 'Retribution Drive'. This self-titled album does lack direction, I'll say that, which is also something that Greg himself admits to in the mew CD liner notes.

Disc: 1 - 1. Nuclear Attack 2. Love You Too Much 3. It Hurts 4. Black and Blue 5. Retribution Drive 6. Long Goodbye 7. The Lie 8. Someone 9. Let Me Love You Once 10. For Those Who Dare Bonus Tracks - 11. You Really Got a Hold on Me 12. You're Good with Your Love 13. Cold Side of a Woman

I am a fan of Greg and Gary's work together and so to learn that Greg's second solo album Manoeuvres is also here, and re-mastered, and also features the late, great Gary Moore, well, this twofer is made in Heaven for someone like me, that's for sure! It has to be made clear though that Lake's solo works have little to do with the prog rock style he is best known for. Maneuvers, in particular, is, much like his above mentioned debut, Greg turning out AOR/melodic rock, consciously producing songwriting-oriented music; as opposed to performance-oriented music.

That said, disclaimer out there, the guitar solos here are reduced to a minimum, the overall guitar playing for that matter is rather low in the mix; although due to this incredible remaster, you can still make out that it is Gary's trademark playing, of course. Indeed, all the performance extravaganza that usually surrounds his performances is left out, but that's ok as it lays the groundwork for music that wasn't his go-to; and so enables him to showcase a different side to him quite brilliantly.

Disc: 2 - 1. Manoeuvres 2. Too Young to Love 3. Paralysed 4. A Woman Like You 5. I Don't Wanna Lose Your Love Tonight 6. It's You, You Gotta Believe 7. Famous Last Words 8. Slave to Love 9. Haunted 10. I Don't Know Why I Still Love You Bonus Track - 11. Hold Me

Both CDs have received a brand new remaster which has the personal approval of Greg Lake himself and the actual booklet also now includes extensive liner notes. Overall, it's a pretty good set of CDs we have here and so if you're a Greg Lake fan, you should be very pleased with his solo effort double play.