BEEHIVE CANDY

I was still a little to young to appreciate what Jimi Hendrix was all about at the time. I guess by the time I started to really appreciate rock & blues music, Jimi was already a casualty. My clearest recollection of Jimi Hendrix was seeing him performing live on Lulu's BBC Saturday night show 'A happening For Lulu' on January 4th 1969. Fittingly this bootleg is from a performance just nine days later in Germany. On the day Jimi attended an autograph session at Studio Du Monde Book & Record Shop. Part of the event was filmed and later featured as part of the German television program Beat Club. In the evening The Jimi Hendrix Experience performed two shows with support 'Eire Apparent' at Studio Dumont in Cologne, Germany. This then is one of those shows from the 13th January 1969. It is a very good quality soundboard recording . The set list is: 01- Come On (Let The Good Times Roll) 02- Foxey Lady 03- Red House 04- Voodoo Child (Slight Return) 05- Fire

Joni Mitchell first played Club 47 in Cambridge, MA (USA), in December 1966, she returned for a second time in late April 1967. While she was playing one night during November 1967 at 'The Gaslight South', a club in Florida, David Crosby walked in and was immediately struck by her ability and her appeal as an artist. He took her back to Los Angeles, where he set about introducing her and her music to his friends. David convinced a record company to agree to let Joni record a solo acoustic album without all the folk-rock overdubs that were in vogue at the time, and his clout earned him a producer's credit in March 1968, when Reprise records released her debut album, Song to a Seagull . It is therefore likely that Joni Mitchell's third appearance at Club 47, a three night set of performances, from the 8th to 10th January 1968, were just prior to the recording of her debut album. It is really something then, to have a good quality recording of an artist with th

Ahead of the 1976 release of the very popular album 'Fly Like An Eagle' Steve Miller spent a reasonable part of 1975 touring. Having gone to Knebworth Park in England, in the summer of 1975, along with 100,000 other fairly typical 'raving and drooling' Pink Floyd fans, I was absolutely 'blown over' by the final band of the day prior to Pink Floyd, namely the Steve Miller Band . This was my introduction to Steve Miller, and I have been after live material from that year, or tour ever since. I have a recording of the Pink Floyd element of Knebworth 75, however the audio is very 'low tech' and I wonder if this particular festival is designated for the memories of those fortunate enough to have attended only. Therefore I am delighted to have obtained a copy of Steve Miller live, from earlier in 1975 and in superb quality. I am not sure if this is a 'King Biscuit' FM broadcast, whatever it is an excellent recording. This then is The Steve M

Is the glass half full or half empty? Lets go for half full on this occasion. Sometimes broadcasters only cover or transmit part of a concert, and I am guessing (having as a Sparks fan, tried to check this one out) this is what occurred here. Contractual obligation, a lack of appreciation on the part of the producer or presenter, other more 'current favorable artists', and of course available 'air-time' in the 'pre-digital' age, may have resulted in Sparks being cut down to just a thirty minute broadcast on this occasion - who knows? If I had a pound, a dollar (US or any other) or a Euro, for every artists song that has 'lifted' some of Sparks unique style and creativity, I reckon I would be doing very well financially. There are more complete Sparks bootlegs out there, this one stands by the audio quality, and the actual performance on the day. 1994 saw the brothers Mael return with the release of 'Gratuitous Sax and Senseless Violins', in turn

Goldfrapp have a new CD album release ( Seventh Tree ) due out here in the UK on the 25th February 2008. I am an unashamed and somewhat 'gushing' fan of Goldfrapp. No doubt (and based on the last three albums) I will buy the deluxe CD/DVD version of the album for my collection, regardless of the freebie mp3 versions that arrive. Every album they have released, contains a healthy amount of 'new direction' whilst retaining the very essence of Goldfrapp, which is a unique style that skips across genres and keeps music cretins (sorry critics) on their feet. From the fourth coming album here is the initial 'single' release: Goldfrapp - A & E.mp3 Back in 2004 Goldfrapp played Glastonbury, and thankfully a reasonable part of their show was recorded for broadcast, on either MTV or the BBC who were both present at that years event. This is one continuous segment of the performance (except for the first song which opened the show and is edited on). The performan

In the early days of The Monkees , there was some fuss over the fact that session musicians played on their first couple of albums. Add to this the fact that they had been brought together for a TV series, any thought of artistic integrity or status was a definite no. However they were fun, their fan base included The Beatles, and repeats of the TV series, still appear time and again on cable and satellite channels. However by 1968 the TV series was over, the band completed a far east tour, the last with Peter Tork as part of the band at that juncture, and their very alternative and psychedelic film 'Head' was released. This is from the 'far east' tour, and captures a band that at least live, probably still had something to prove. You can also enjoy a couple of 'hot rocking' Japanese DJ's whose voice overs, bring a huge smile to my face, somehow I think this was pretty serious stuff for them. Clearly from a radio broadcast of the show - FM thankf

Having posted a number of Jeff Buckley live performances last year, I will try hard not to repeat myself. The previous boots are still available, and continue to be downloaded, I guess by new visitors to the Beehive, and a few who discover us through Googling Jeff etc. This is Jeff live at WNEW (Sony Studios) with a very fortunate audience, who also got to 'enjoy' his wine, as well as the music - it will all become clear when you listen. It is so good to hear him in such a fantastic mood, and the intimacy of the event really makes this performance special. WNEW-FM were at this time just into a new music format, that was promoting, less mainstream 'alternative rock' artists, and Jeff fitted in well to these aspirations. It's a great shame the station did not stick at this, but at least they are back to music these days, rather than the horrendous 'talk radio' set up, that existed a few years back. This then is Jeff Buckley live at WNEW, Sony Stu

Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark or OMD as they are more conveniently referred too, emerged from the Wirral Peninsula in the north west of England. Their live debut was in October 1978, close to home in nearby Liverpool. By the time this concert took place less than five years later, they had already notched up six top twenty singles and three top ten albums in the UK. Not bad for a band, whose electronic and partly Kraftwerk influenced music, was often very different from the mainstream at that time. In fairness founders Andy McCluskey and Paul Humphreys had an ear for a good tune, and with the likes of former Gong bassist Mike Howlett producing some of the material, they had every chance of the success they achieved. When I first heard 'Messages' I was blown away, having been a fan of the likes of Germany's Can, Kraftwerk, and Amon Duul, at last an English band with enough personal originality was coming up with really classy electronic music, yep this band bring back

You may have noticed, January 2008 has arrived. Well although it can be a lean month for new music, I have two bands that I reckon can be pretty big this year, mind you - the competition will be tough. Just look at some of the established acts with new albums lined up, and these are just the ones I am looking forward to right now! In no particular order... Emmylou Harris, Marianne Faithful, Franz Ferdinand, CSS, Madness, Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, The Black Crowes, Billy Bragg, Guillemots, Martha Wainwright, Drive By Truckers, REM, David Byrne, Moby, PJ Harvey, Primal Scream, Supergrass, Counting Crows and The Pogues. Musically that's quite a taster for the year to come. However if you want a recommendation right now, then if you have not yet enjoyed No Fixed Abode , can I be the first to share this superb band with you. Their roots may be in folk (predominately modern), however as I listen I hear so many inspirations (The Waterboys, Bruce Springsteen, Fairport Convention and