This is the best best place to start for Steve Hackett's solo career. "Spectral Mornings" includes plenty of the soaring, melodic electric guitar playing for which he was famous in Genesis. It also has his wonderful nylon-string acoustic work and a pleasant mix of softer songs with vocal harmonies and heavier rock tunes. There is also some of the British whimsy that usually finds its way into his work. This long-awaited remastered edition greatly improves the sound quality on this album and includes some strong bonus tracks as well. The title track may be Hackett's best electric instrumental ever, and the melody will stick with the listener long after the album is over. Hackett's first four solo albums have all been remastered in similar fashion. The first one, "Voyage of the Acolyte" is probably the next best pick.

I love remasters like these; you don't mind re-buying album because not only is the audio quality improved but you get worthwhile bonus tracks. With the extras the CD clocks in at close to 75 min, quite a bit more than the original. The alternate version of "Every Day" with the different ending is a standout. I like it better than the standard version. The other tracks all offer some intriguing differences as well.

This is one of Hackett's strongest albums, and if you enjoy his style you can't go wrong here.

Steve Hackett's third album is a wonderful affair.With spiraling guitars and lush soundscapes it's a very unique and listenable album.I was never a huge Genesis fan until my friend John turned me on to "A Trick of the Tail" and then I was hooked.Unlike Genesis though,this album contains some tasty vocal harmonies and is a bit more guitar dependent.Having said that,if you like Genesis you'll probably like this album.

However,the song "The Red Flower of Tachai Blooms Everywhere" sounds more like a movie soundtrack.But the following tune "Clocks-The Angel of Mons" gets back to more art-rock style basics and also contains a 43 second drum solo,one of the best ever commited to tape.My favorite cut is "Every Day" which contains signature Hackett leads and other licks.If you're not familiar wth Mr.Hackett's work,I suggest you start by giving a listen to "A Trick of The Tail",Genesis' 1976 effort and go from there.If you know of and like his work by all means purchase "Spectral Mornings".It's by far one of his best earlier works!

Former Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett names his third solo album, 1979's "Spectral Mornings," as his personal favorite. While *my* personal fave from Steve is his first solo album, "Voyage Of The Acolyte," "Spectral Mornings" is an excellent choice. It's a terrific album, filled with a great mix of powerful rock pieces ("Every Day," "Clocks/The Angel Of Mons," and the classic, majestic title track), beautiful instrumentals ("The Red Flower Of Tachai Blooms Everywhere" and "Lost Time In Cordoba"), and even a very humorous novelty song ("The Ballad Of The Decomposing Man") thrown in for extra measure. And shining brightly throughout it all is Hackett's magnificent guitar work. "Spectral Mornings" is a classic Steve Hackett album.

Of all Steve Hackett's remastered albums Spectral Mornings is probably the best of the series. All of the re-issues (Voyage of the Acolyte, Please Don't Touch!, Spectral Mornings, Defector, Cured, Highly Strung) are worth having for the remastered tracks apart from any extras on the CDs, but having bonus material is nice. Having said that, Spectral Mornings offers the best selection of bonus tracks.

The four alternative mixes add new interest to already-interesting songs. The live tracks are a nice mix of acoustic (beautiful renditions of "Kim", "Blood on the Rooftops" intro., etc.) and electric work (a weighty version of "Tigermoth"), with very good sound quality. And the studio talk track is an interesting, if puzzling, piece in the vein of Jethro Tull (end of "Baker Street Blues") and Pink Floyd (throughout "Alan's Psychedelic Breakfast").

This is the best of a very good series of Remasters.