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Fourteen gorgeous tracks recorded for the BBC between 1996 and 2001. At the time, the group rarely performed live, so all these songs are noticeably different from the studio versions. The regular CD includes an additional four unreleased songs from their classic early Jeepster period. The limited, deluxe double CD contains an entire live show broadcast on BBC Evening Session in mid-2001 with another four never before heard songs. Eight-page booklet in the regular CD (six-page booklet in the deluxe version). Gatefold HQ 180 gram vinyl.
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Good fun stuff on the live CD.
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The BBC session songs do not sound that much different than those on the studio albums. There are a few previously unreleased tracks, however none of these really stuck out to me. The real find here is the bonus live CD. The band just sounds like they seem to have a blast playing in front of an audience. It gives you a completely different appreciation for the band, and in particular Stuart Murdoch. He is a very uplifting performer. Very different from the feel of the studio recordings and the BBC recordings included on the first CD in this set.
Rating: 
(4
out of 5) @ 2008-12-29
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No non-bowlies allowed
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In the very depth of our hearts we all have certain things that, either obscure or shiny, stand there waiting for the time to show up. I guess thats the "essence" of this 14 tracks: pieces of something quite intimate that writting down a critic seems to be almost profanic.
The 14 tracks that constitute the first part of THE BBC SESSIONS are not only rareties but pieces of museum. Some may like them, some may not. One thing is certain: no non-bowlies are allowed here. If you are a real, true fan of Belle and Sebastian you're gonna tremble at every track; you're gonna miss some words in this "primitive" version of "The Wrong Girl" called "Wrong Love" or Monica Queen's voice in "Lazy [Line Painter] Jane". But still, the trembling will not stop until you listen to those never before released tracks. I loved two of them: "Nothing In The Silence" and "(My Girl's Got) Miraculous Technique". They just make you wonder why did Stuart Murdoch and the rest of the collective did not put them in some of their albums.
Now, about the "Live in Belfast 2001" album, the second part of THE BBC SESSIONS, there's no much to say: again, if you are a real Belle and Sebastian fan you've already seen the FANS ONLY DVD, and thus you've seen how they get so excited performing in front of an audience that some times they can make some terrible mistakes. But, again, if you are a bowlie you can understand that too.
The fact of Isobel being in the front cover gives you an idea of how much nostalgia and saudade goes within THE BBC SESSIONS.
Rating: 
(5
out of 5) @ 2008-12-20
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Belle and Sebastian's BBC Sessions
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Both discs are a real pleasure to hear. The bonus for me were the 3 covers on the green CD (the Belfast, Ireland concert). This was a A+ purchase!
Rating:
(5
out of 5) @ 2008-12-17
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Not essential but nice package for completists
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If you love B&S, why wouldn't you want this? A clutch of cool "unplugged" BBC session tracks, including some unreleased songs, plus the great bonus LIVE CD featuring some inspired remakes of WAITING FOR THE MAN and THE BOYS ARE BACK IN TOWN and HERE COMES THE SUN, among others - if you're going to get this, spring for the deluxe version with the extra CD - it's worth it for the fans!
Rating:
(4
out of 5) @ 2008-12-15
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A shinning star among other shinning stars
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Call me a chump, but with the exception of Storytelling, I put everything that B&S has put out (all the E.P. releases too) on the highest ebb of all musical performances, with an emphasis on their earlier work from the 90's. I think a real turning point for this band's sound happened with the release of Dear Catastrophe Waitress. Isobel Campbell, the female accompanying vocalist and part time writer for the band has her last appearance in a few songs on that album. She leaves later, forever changing the sound of the band. Following, comes the CD The Life Pursuit and it's accompanying E.P.s, which have a much more upbeat, pop-rock feel to them; Good in it's own right, but very different. Only seldom do you hear a song that could be preformed in a cafe on any of that stuff.
I have been a fan since the beginning. My heart is with the earlier stuff that this band has produced. One of the things about B&S that I hope will never change is their ability to catch you listening closely to a song you may have heard 100 times before, but never quite understood until the circumstances of your life situate you correctly. I love listening to the older albums because, often times, I still find new meaning in them.
This album was particularly important to me because It offers some of their older music in a new and different way, and this CD marks the release of several songs from their Jeepster record label days. I don't know how many more little songs from the early days remain unreleased - this may mark one of the last times that you will be able to hear new songs from the band in its original form. Take it in.
Rating:
(5
out of 5) @ 2008-12-01
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