Beehive Recommends - The Dimes

I may be a little late in on The Dimes, who are based in Portland, Oregon, and made quite a splash with their 2007 debut release, The Silent Generation, getting praise and from everyone from SPIN and Magnet Magazines... to USA Today and NPR... and a ton of blogs including Large Hearted Boy, KEXP, Three Imaginary Girls, Pampelmoose and many others.

Having received some promo material back in June, I kinda lost site of this one until I decided to spend some time going through each mail, and am I pleased I listened to their 'New England' EP !

Based on real stories and events born of and around Boston, Massachusetts, the four song EP is rich with texture and a consistent pastoral thread, complete with mandolins, acoustic guitars, stomps, claps, banjos, melodicas and more pop-laden harmonies than you'll know what to do with.

The record reveals a glimpse of the latest material from The Dimes, as they wrap up a new full-length record based of the same themes, due out August 2009. The New England EP also contains a special John Lennon cover of Watching the Wheels - a song that is near and dear to Dimes singer-songwriter, Johnny Clay's heart.

Listen:


MP3: Save Me, Clara
Web Link: Official Site , My Space.
Buy: The Dimes

On a separate note Beehive Candy will present new music recommendations on a rolling basis from now on, rather than monthly(ish) compilations, The Dimes seem a great place to start!

Nick Lowe - Live In London 2001.

This is the second Nick Lowe concert to appear on the Beehive, this one some sixteen years later, and it's a superb concert Live at the London Palladium, back on October 14th, 2001.

Source: Soundboard

Sound Quality: Very good stereo MP3@192kbps.

Genre: Pub Rock, New Wave, from rock to country to soul to pop.

Set: Full concert performance.

Set List:

01 Intro By Robert Elms
02 Let Things Slide
03 Intro by Nick Lowe
04 What’s Shaking On The Hill
05 Half A Boy
06 Has She Got A Friend
07 Faithless Lover
08 Man I’ve Become
09 True Love Travels On A Gravel Road
10 I Live On The Battlefield
11 You Inspire Me
12 Cruel To Be Kind
13 Indian Queens
14 Let’s Stay In
15 Band Introduction
16 Wildest Dream
17 I Knew The Bride

Band Line Up:

Nick Lowe - rhythm guitar, bass guitar, vocals
Geraint Watkins - keyboards
Robert Trehern - drums
Steve Donnelly - lead guitar

Links: Official site HERE. Wikipedia piece HERE.

Comments: This concert was part of the promotion for the then new 'The Convincer' album. It contrasts dramatically with the 1986 gig previously featured, this is considerably more laid back, much less pub rock or rockabilly and far more lounge lizard, that said, it still has some mid tempo rockabilly moments.

The Palladium is a venue more usually associated with theatre and musicals, Nick seems to use it well to his advantage with a comfortable and intimate feel.

In my opinion it is a must have for any Nick Lowe fan, and an excellent introduction to his more recent works for those unfamiliar.

Download link - either click on the above picture or go to comments below.

Buy - MP3's at Amazon.co.uk - Nick Lowe

Ry Cooder - The Record Plant, California, 1974

This is Ry Cooder performing live at the Record Plant, Sausalito, California, USA, on the 7th July 1974.

This recording is from KSAN's broadcast series, and is also available in the excellent Wolfgangs Vault.

Ry is known for his slide guitar work, his interest in the American roots music, and, more recently, for his collaborations with traditional musicians from many countries. Ry Cooder was ranked number 8 on Rolling Stone's "The 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time."

Ry remains one of the very few studio icons who has gained the reputation as a "musician's musician."

Source: Pre FM Master.

Sound Quality: Extremely good stereo mp3 @320kbps.

Genre: Rock, roots music, folk, blues, soul, and more.

Set: Complete performance

Track List:

1. Police Dog Blues
2. FDR In Trinidad
3. If Walls Could Talk
4. Tamp Em Up Solid
5. Ax Sweet Mama
6. Billy The Kid
7. Vigilante Man
8. How an A Poor Man Stand Such Times & Live
9. Tattler
10. Comin In On A Wing & A Prayer
11. Alimony
12. Teardrops Will Fall
13. I’m A Pilgrim

Band Line Up:

Ry Cooder - guitars, vocals, mandolin
Russ Titelman - bass
Jim Keltner - percussion, drums
Milt Holland - percussion, drums
Bobby King - backing vocals
Gene Mumford - backing vocals
Cliff Givens - backing vocals

Links: Ry Cooder Non Such Records HERE.

Comments: This is how Wolfgangs Vault describes the setting and the performance.

Ry Cooder was promoting his third solo album, Paradise & Lunch, which most critics still regard as his best LP to date.

Personable, humorous, and unquestionably talented, this intimate performance by Cooder is a long lost gem in his long and well-celebrated career. He performs a wide spectrum of material that includes covers and originals from his then-current and previous Warner Brother's albums.

Whether it's a Depression-era styled blues classic, such as "Police Dog Blues," or Little Miton's "If The Walls Could Talk," Cooder is a master at the craft of blending smooth vocals and tasteful guitar licks around a compelling storyline song.

If you don't love the characters he sings about, you are bound to love his true musicianship, which has graced hundreds of recordings by the likes of James Taylor and The Rolling Stones.

I listened to this again yesterday, it may seem along way from more recent material and yet it is easy to imagine Ry doing a set like this anytime.

Download link in comments below - or just click on the picture above.

Purchase: MP3's (Amazon.co.uk) - Ry Cooder

The Beatles - Decca Sessions 1962

The Decca audition is the name given to the now-famous audition by The Beatles for Decca Records at their Decca Studios in West Hampstead, London, England, before they reached international stardom. Decca's decision to reject the group is considered to be one of the biggest mistakes in music history.

Manager Brian Epstein made numerous trips to London to visit record companies with the hope of securing a record contract, but was rejected by many, including Columbia, Pye, Philips, and Oriole.

The Beatles were driven down to London by Neil Aspinall on New Year's Eve in 1961, for a Decca audition, but Aspinall lost his way, and the trip took ten hours. They arrived at 10 o'clock at night, and John Lennon said that they arrived "just in time to see the drunks jumping in the Trafalgar Square fountain."

On 1 January 1962, Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison and Pete Best were auditioned by Decca producer Tony Meehan (ex-drummer of the Shadows) performing a total of fifteen songs in just under one hour. All the material was selected by Epstein, who decided on a selection of covers that the band had performed in various clubs over the years, interspersed with three Lennon/McCartney originals. The Beatles later found out that Epstein had paid Meehan to produce the studio recordings.

Eventually, Decca Records rejected The Beatles, saying that "guitar groups are on the way out", although it has since been suggested that their work that day did not yet reflect their true potential, and the "guitar" comment may have been intended as a polite let down.

Decca instead chose The Tremeloes, who auditioned the same day as The Beatles, were local and would require lower travel expenses.

The Beatles went on to sign with EMI subsidiary Parlophone, after their 'comedy album' producer George Martin heard the Decca demos and decided to meet the band. In 2007, Dr. Ebbetts Sound Systems released a CD version of The Decca Audition.

Source: Studio recording.

Sound Quality: Extremely good mp3 @320kbps.

Genre: The Beatles will do.

Set: Complete studio recording session

Track List:

1. "Like Dreamers Do" (Lennon/McCartney)
2. "Money (That's What I Want)" (Gordy/Bradford)
3. "Till There Was You" (Meredith Wilson)
4. "The Sheik of Araby" (Smith/Wheeler/Snyder)
5. "To Know Her Is to Love Her" (Phil Spector)
6. "Take Good Care of My Baby" (King/Goffin)
7. "Memphis, Tennessee" (Chuck Berry)
8. "Sure to Fall (In Love with You)" (Cantrell/Claunch/Perkins)
9. "Hello Little Girl" (Lennon/McCartney)
10. "Three Cool Cats" (Leiber/Stoller)
11. "Crying, Waiting, Hoping" (Buddy Holly)
12. "Love of the Loved" (Lennon/McCartney)
13. "September in the Rain" (Warren/Dubin)
14. "Bésame Mucho" (Consuelo Velázquez)
15. "Searchin'" (Leiber/Stoller)

Band Line Up:

John Lennon: guitar, vocals, harmonica
Paul McCartney: bass, vocals
George Harrison: guitar, vocals
Pete Best: drums

Links: Official Site HERE.

Comments: I have sourced a reasonable amount of the information regarding this recording from Wikipedia, and although these recordings have been in circulation for decades, with some 'semi official' releases of the material often minus the Lennon/McCartney material, this is by far the best audio copy of the sessions I have heard, and is complete.

Some of the sessions were also released as a series of bootleg 'promo' singles on coloured vinyl back in 1976, along with full colour picture sleeves on 'Deccagone records'.

Download link in comments below - or just click on the picture above.

Purchase: The Beatles CD's and more including the remastered box set - The Beatles

Talking Heads - Las Vegas 1979

This is Talking Heads live at The Stardust Room, Las Vegas, NV in the USA way back on the 29th September 1979.

David Byrne, Chris Frantz and Tina Weymouth were 'alumni' of the Rhode Island School of Design in Providence, Rhode Island.

There David Byrne and Chris Frantz formed a band called "The Artistics" in 1974.

Tina Weymouth was Chris Frantz's girlfriend and often provided the band with transportation. The Artistics dissolved within a year, and the three moved to New York, eventually sharing an apartment.

Unable to find a bass player in New York City, Chris Frantz decided to encourage Tina Weymouth to learn to play bass. They played their first gig as "Talking Heads" opening for the Ramones at CBGB on June 8, 1975.

In a later interview, Tina Weymouth recalled how the group chose the name Talking Heads: "A friend had found the name in the TV Guide, which explained the term used by TV studios to describe a head-and-shoulder shot of a person talking as 'all content, no action.' It fit.

Source: Soundboard recording.

Sound Quality: Very good stereo mp3 @320kbps.

Genre: New Wave, Post Punk, Forerunners of Indie Rock

Set: Full Set

Set List:

01 - Artists Only
02 - Stay Hungry
03 - Cities
04 - Paper
05 - Mind
06 - Heaven
07 - Electric Guitar
08 - Air
09 - New Feeling
10 - Building On Fire (intro only)
11 - Found A job
12 - Psycho Killer
13 - Life During Wartime
14 - Take Me To The River

Band Line Up:

David Byrne
Chris Frantz
Tina Weymouth
Jerry Harrison

Links: Official Site HERE.

Comments: A couple of points of note for the bootleg purists, track ten (Building On Fire) is only the first part of the song and finishes rather abruptly. The audio on the beginning of track twelve (Psycho Killer) is notably poorer but does seem to correct itself.

All that noted this is a fine example of the band, and their desire for the audience to be able to dance and get into the whole show, wonderful stuff!

Download link in comments below - or just click on the picture above.

Purchase: MP3's - Talking Heads

The Flaming Lips - Circus, Stockholm, 2006

The Flaming Lips formed back in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA in 1983, and have enjoyed varying degrees of critical, and popular success down the years, perhaps this past decade has been the best one for them.

This recording gives those yet to see them live an audio taster, however there is no substitute for the real thing so 'catch them if you can'. If you are new to the band check them out, fans either have a copy of this, or will love it!

This then is The Flaming Lips live on the 2nd May 2006, at Cirkus, Stockholm, Sweden.

Source: FM recording.

Sound Quality: Very good stereo mp3 @192kbps.

Genre: Alternative rock, Indie rock, Neo-psychedelia, Space rock, Experimental rock.

Set: Full Set (possibly edited for broadcast, cannot confirm).

Set List:

1. Introduction
2. Race for the Prize
3. Free Radicals
4. Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots, Pt.1
5. Vein of Stars (Introduction)
6. Vein of Stars
7. Yeah Yeah Yeah Song...
8. In the Morning of the Magicians
9. The W.A.N.D.
10. The Spark That Bled
11. Do You Realize??
12. War Pigs

Band Line Up:

Wayne Coyne – lead vocals, guitar, keyboards, theremin, bass.
Michael Ivins – bass, keyboards, backing vocals.
Steven Drozd – guitar, drums, percussion, keyboards, bass, backing vocals.
Kliph Scurlock - drums, percussion.

Links: Official Site HERE.

Comments: Someone else wrote this over on Wiki: 'The band is known for their lush, multi-layered, psychedelic arrangements, spacey lyrics and bizarre song and album titles (for example, "Psychiatric Explorations of the Fetus with Needles", "Free Radicals (A Hallucination of the Christmas Skeleton Pleading with a Suicide Bomber)" and "Yeah, I Know It's a Drag... But Wastin' Pigs Is Still Radical"). They are also acclaimed for their elaborate live shows, which feature costumes, balloons, puppets, video projections, complex stage light configurations, giant hands, large amounts of confetti, and front man Wayne Coyne's signature man-sized plastic bubble, in which he traverses the audience. In 2002, Q magazine named The Flaming Lips one of the "50 Bands to See Before You Die".

Sums them up nicely, and make this post easier for me!

Download link in comments below - or just click on the picture above.

Purchase: MP3's - The Flaming Lips

T'Pau - Live In Glasgow - 1987.

This is the band T'Pau who formed in 1986, and according to an entry on wikipedia, took their name from a female Vulcan priestess by the same name in the Star Trek universe.

This is the band sounding like they had been around for alot longer than just over a year in this performance.

Playing live in Glasgow (Scotland) at the SECC and rebroadcast as part of a 'live action concert series' this is the band back in 1987.

Source: FM recording.

Sound Quality: Very good stereo mp3 @192kbps.

Genre: Pop, Rock.

Set: Full Set (cannot confirm).

Set List:

01 Sex Talk
02 On The Wing
03 Bridge Of Spies
04 I Will Be With You
05 Monkey House
06 China In Your Hand
07 Heart & Soul
08 Take Some Time Out
09 You Give Up
10 Only Time Will Tell

Links: Official Site HERE.

Comments: This is a good sounding recording, however there are several voice overs by DJ Johnny Walker between some tracks, promoting the 'live action concert series' whatever that was. This is a minor distraction, and I am sure any T'Pau fans will forgive this inclusion.

I chose not to edit them out, as I think that might have made matters worse. I guess inclusions like these on concert broadcasts stop commercial bootlegging, this is a nice share though so hope you enjoy.

Download link in comments below - or just click on the picture above.

Purchase: MP3's - T'Pau

ZZ Top - Live Nationwide 1980

I did not realise until checking out some background for this recording that ZZ Top originally formed in 1969.

The band holds the distinction of being among the few rock bands still composed of its original recording members, (and for nearly 40 years until September 2006, the same manager producer, and image maker, Bill Ham).

I suppose it is yet another 'how old do you feel' moment, as at the time of this concert, the band had already released seven albums including a 'best of' good thing they still look pretty much the same!

This is ZZ Top live at The Capitol Theater, Passaic, New Jersey, USA on the 30th August 1980.

Source: Soundboard recording.

Sound Quality: Very good stereo mp3 @192kbps.

Genre: Rock, Blues Rock, distinct and oh so ZZ Top!

Set: Seems to short for full set, includes all final songs.

Set List:

1. I Thank You
2. Waiting For The Bus
3. Jesus Left Chicago
4. I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide
5. Low Down In The Street
6. A Fool For Your Stockings
7. Cheap Sunglasses
8. Arrested For Driving While Blind
9. She Loves My Automobile
10. Hi-Fi Mama
11. Dust My Broom
12. Jailhouse Rock
13. Tush

Links: Official Site HERE.

Comments: This is yet another concert that was originally circulated on The Swingin' Pig Records, this copy on CD (TSP-CD134), I am not sure if this was a lift from a vinyl original, or straight to CD.

In order to ensure we cover bands from A-Z on the Beehive, it was only a matter of time before ZZ Top showed up, at least they are one fine band and this particular concert may well not, be in every fans collection.

Download link in comments below - or just click on the picture above.

Purchase: MP3's - ZZ Top