Bruce Hornsby and The Range - New York 1986

This is Bruce Hornsby and The Range recorded from the Midnight show broadcast live by WNEW-FM, New York on the 2nd September 1986.

The band formed in 1984 and were signed to RCA Records in 1985. Bruce Hornsby's recording career started with the biggest hit he has had to date, entitled "The Way It Is". It topped the American music charts in 1986.

With a propulsive yet contemplative piano riff and the refrain, That's just the way it is / Some things will never change / That's just the way it is / But don't you believe them, the song was catchy and described aspects of the American Civil Rights movement and institutional racism.

The song also hit a nerve with the American public, reflecting dissatisfaction with perceived economic decline in the early-to-mid 1980s. In years to come, the song would be sampled by at least six rap artists, including Tupac Shakur, E-40, and Mase.

Source: FM Broadcast.

Sound Quality: Very good stereo mp3@192kbps.

Genre: Contemporary Rock.

Set: Majority of Concert.

Set List:

01 Jacob's Ladder
02 The Way It Is
03 The Long Race
04 Mandolin Rain
05 Piano Solo
06 The Red Plains
07 I Know You Rider (small edit due to tape flip).
08 Every Little Kiss
09 The River Runs Low
10 Wild Frontier
11 Western Skyline
12 Till The Dreaming's Done
13 Down the Road Tonight (fade out, last couple minutes missing).

The Band:

Bruce Hornsby - keyboards, vocals
Peter Harris - guitar
George Marinelli - guitar
Joe Puerta - bass
John Molo - drums

Links: Official Site HERE.

Comments:

With the success of the single worldwide, the album The Way It Is went multi-platinum and produced another top five hit with "Mandolin Rain" (co-written, as many of Hornsby's early songs were, with his brother John Hornsby). "Every Little Kiss" also did respectably well. Other tracks on the album helped establish what some labeled the "Virginia sound", a mixture of rock, jazz, and bluegrass with an observational Southern feel. Bruce Hornsby and the Range would go on to win the Grammy Award for Best New Artist in 1987.

Bruce Hornsby and the Range's sound is somewhat distinctive. For one, Bruce Hornsby's consistent use of syncopation in his piano solos was different from other pianists during the 1980s. Bruce Hornsby used a brighter piano sound, which was typical for 1980's Pop Music. There is also extensive use of synthesizers used as background for Bruce Hornsby's solos, most notable on the tracks "The Show Goes On" and "The Road Not Taken". John Molo's drumbeats were often looped throughout the recorded versions of songs. They are typical double-time beats, which allowed Bruce Hornsby and the rest of the band to do more with their solos.

Download links (two) in comments below.

Buy: Mp3's at Amazon.co.uk - Bruce Hornsby and the Range

The Kinks - Live At The Rainbow 1977

This is The Kinks towards the end of their Sleepwalker Tour from 1977. The album Sleepwalker marked a return to straight-ahead, self-contained rock songs after several years of concept orientated albums.

It was the first album in what critics usually call the "arena rock" phase of the group, in which more commercial and mainstream production techniques would be employed. The line up of The Kinks would be trimmed downed significantly in 1977 following the album's release, as the brass section and backup singers were removed and the band returned to a standard rock band outfit. It is however notable in this gig that both brass and backup singers are very much in attendance. This is The Kinks live at The Rainbow Theatre, London on the 24th December 1977.

Source: Soundboard

Sound Quality: Very good stereo mp3@192kbps.

Genre: Rock, Pop.

Set: Majority of Concert

Set List:

01 Sleepwalker
02 Life on the Road
03 Waterloo Sunset
04 All Day And All Of The Night
05 Slum Kids
06 Celluloid Heroes
07 Get Back In Line
08 The Hard Way
09 Lola
10 Alcohol
11 Skin And Bone
12 You Really Got Me
13 Juke Box Music

Links: Official Ray Davies site HERE. Dave Davies HERE.

Comments:

This is a superb concert both in terms of sound quality and a very much 'on form' band with excellent supporting musicians and singers. The Rainbow Theatre was a live rock music venue in north London that opened in September 1971 with a concert by The Who, supported by Quiver and closed for the last time in January 1982. It was one of London's key venues to perform at during it's time with live albums from Bob Marley through to The Ramones being recorded and officially released.

Download link in comments below or click on the picture.

Buy: Mp3's at Amazon.co.uk The Kinks

Beehive Recommends - Kittens Ablaze

Having just listened to their current album 'The Monstrous Vanguard' I have to say Kittens Ablaze deserve all the praise and recognition they have received to date.

OK here's the setting. I have some sort of virus and am running a fever. I am feeling sorry for myself, and am not really in the mood for music. If I want to hear anything it needs to be gentle and soothing, however there is an album in my inbox & I feel obliged to give at least one song a listen. Half an hour later I am still feeling groggy but am aware that some kind of tornado has just ripped through the room thanks to a six-piece indie rock band with cello, violin, guitars, bass, piano, and drumming lead singer. The energy, passion and sheer pace of this band is something else.

So in a couple of days or so from now I am quietly confident this band will be blasting from my car speakers when upbeat & loud music is back on the menu!

Listen:
'Gloom Doom Buttercups'



Website: MySpace. Official.
Buy: (mp3's at amazon uk) Kittens Ablaze or CD's at Insound.


The band was formed in 2007 among six friends from diverse musical backgrounds, spanning classical, folk-punk, indie rock… and metal. The Kittens released their debut album, a five-track EP in the fall of 2007. With help from producer Nic Hard (The Bravery), the band self-released its full-length album, The Monstrous Vanguard, in early 2009. The album has propelled them to be an official showcasing artist at 2009 events such as SXSW, NXNE, CMJ, and L Magazine's Northside music festivals as well as selling out venues around New York and out on tour.

The band has received mention in Vice Magazine, Rolling Stone, New York Magazine, Paste Magazine, Oh My Rockness, Brooklyn Vegan, The Music Slut, Ear Farm, The New York Times (by Mick Jones of The Clash), and numerous other indie music magazines and blogs. They're known for their wild shows and tight sound and have been named Artist of the Month by both mtvU and The Deli Magazine, been on the cover of Starved Magazine, and, with their music video for “Strobelight,” they became one of a few unsigned bands to receive regular rotation on Vice’s internet TV channel, VBS.tv. The Kittens currently live in Brooklyn, New York.

Colosseum II - Germany 1977

We have decided to introduce a new occasional series under the banner 'Rarities and Collectors Items' where the audio might not be first class but the interest factor is likely quite high. There are many live recordings and demos to be found in varying degrees of quality and probable interest. These are just some that we are delighted to share.

Several years after the dissolution of Colosseum, Jon Hiseman recruited Gary Moore and Don Airey to form Colosseum II. The mandate this time, however, was not the jazz and blues inflected rock of the original band, but a full-tilt journey into hyperkinetic jazz fusion that stretched the players about as far as they could go.

This is the band live on WDR Radio Nachtmusik, Cologne, Germany from the 29th October 1977.

Source: FM Broadcast

Sound Quality: Good stereo mp3@128kbps some tape hiss between numbers.

Genre: Jazz Rock, Fusion.

Set: Edited set.

Set List:

01. Wardance
02. The Inquisition
03. Trilogy: Star Maiden - Mysterioso - Quasar
04. Lament
05. Desperado
06. Drum Solo
07. Fighting Talk

Comments:

Colosseum II were a British band formed by the former Colosseum drummer and leader, Jon Hiseman, following the 1974 demise of his band Tempest.

Hiseman announced his plan to form the band eventually named Colosseum II in November 1974, but only Gary Moore was named. Rehearsals were due to begin on January 1, 1975, but a permanent unit was not finalised until May 1975. Among musicians who almost made the group were Graham Bell, Duncan MacKay and Mark Clarke. The line-up was completed by Don Airey, Neil Murray and Mike Starrs.

The sound was oriented toward Jazz fusion, much of which was based around the guitar work of Moore, leading to a much heavier sound than the original Colosseum band. After disappointing sales of the first album, Murray and Starrs were unceremoniously sacked by the bands record label (Bronze) in July 1976.

The band continued with a new record label and a new bass player (John Mole), and recorded two further largely instrumental (and still commercially unsuccessful) albums. They also performed on Variations with Andrew Lloyd Webber, which also featured Julian Lloyd Webber on cello, Rod Argent on keyboards and Hiseman's wife, Barbara Thompson, on flute and sax. This album reached number 2 on the UK charts.

In August 1978, Moore left to rejoin Thin Lizzy for a fourth spell, and Airey's brother Keith Airey replaced him on guitar. Sadly plans for a fourth album fell through when Don Airey decided to join Rainbow in December 1978.

Download link in comments below or click on the picture..

Buy: Mp3's at Amazon.co.uk - Colosseum II

Television - Double Exposure

This is two demo recording sessions from Television in 1974 & 1975. The bands highly acclaimed debut album 'Marquee Moon' was released in 1977 (Elektra Records) and was very successful in Europe however failed to enter the Billboard 200 in the USA.

Both sessions were included on the bootleg 'Double Exposure' which surfaced in Italy (No Label No. DE-92-SC), and was first released in 1992. The original bootleg included three live tracks from CBGB's in 1975, that are missing from this version.

The Television 1974 demos were recorded at Good Vibrations Studios in NYC with Richard Hell on bass, and produced by Brian Eno and Richard Williams of Island Records.

The August 1975 demos were recorded with Fred Smith on bass and were part of the session for Terry Ork of Ork Records which produced Television's first single "Little Johnny Jewel" (Ork, 1975, included on expanded re-issue of Marquee Moon).

It is fascinating listening to the early versions of these songs that eventually appeared on 'Marquee Moon'. Each session and versions are distinctly different the second having a 'harder edge' to them and closer to the final released editions.

Source: Studio Demos

Sound Quality: Very good stereo mp3@256 & 320kbps

Genre: Punk rock, post punk, new wave, art punk.

Set: Two studio sessions.

Track List:

1974 - Demo's

1. Prove It
2. Friction
3. Venus De Milo
4. Double Exposure
5. Marquee Moon

1975 Demo's

1. Hard On Love
2. Friction
3. Careful
4. Prove It
5. Fire Engine
6. Little Johnny Jewel (vinyl rip of Ork single)

Comments:

From wikipedia regarding the formation and early day's of Television.

Television's roots can be traced to the teenage friendship between Richard Hell and Tom Verlaine. The duo met at Sanford School in Hockessin, Delaware, from which they ran away. Later the two would move separately to New York in the early 1970s aspiring to be poets.

Their first group together was the Neon Boys, consisting of Verlaine on guitar and vocals, Hell on bass and vocals, and Billy Ficca on drums. The group lasted from late 1972 to early 1973. A posthumous 7-inch record featuring "That's All I Know (Right Now)" and "Love Comes in Spurts" was released in 1980.

In late 1973 the trio reformed, calling themselves Television and soon recruiting Richard Lloyd as a second guitarist. They persuaded CBGB's owner Hilly Kristal to give the band a regular gig at his club which had just opened on the Bowery in New York. Television was the first rock group to perform at the club, which was to become, along with Max's Kansas City, the center of the burgeoning punk scene. The members of Television reportedly constructed the first stage at CBGB's, where they quickly established a significant cult following.

Initially, songwriting was split almost evenly between Hell and Verlaine (with Lloyd being an infrequent contributor as well). However, friction began to develop as Verlaine, Lloyd and Ficca became increasingly confident and adept with both instruments and composition, while Hell remained defiantly untrained in his approach. Verlaine, feeling that Hell's frantic onstage demeanor was upstaging his songs, reportedly told him to "stop jumping around" and ultimately refused to play Hell's songs (such as "Blank Generation") in concert. This and probably the failure of a Brian Eno-produced demo to be picked up by Island Records led Hell to leave the group and take his songs with him, forming The Heartbreakers in 1975 with former members of the New York Dolls, and later forming Richard Hell and the Voidoids. Fred Smith, briefly of Blondie, replaced Hell as Television's bassist.

The 1974 demos were also released on two other bootlegs called Television with Bryan Eno and Fairland (Microphone Records (Italy) No. MPH CD 017 released 1994), which are of much lower quality than Double Exposure, being from a higher generation tape without the speed irregularities.

Reloaded - 29/May/2015 - download link in comments. 

Buy: Mp3's at Amazon.co.uk - Television

The Cure - Vancouver Canada 1996

This is The Cure live at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre Vancouver, B.C. Canada on Thursday, August 1st, 1996.

This is from a 'Kiss The Stone' (KTS618) silver disc that was curiously entitled 'Queen Elisabeth Parade', and although it's very good quality recording and apart from the typo's only tracks 1 - 12 are from the gig, and as the concert lasted for over two hours this is clearly only part of the show. Three 'bonus' tracks from a December 1995 London gig are included. All of which suggests that KTS were unable to get hold of the full Vancouver show, which incidentally was superb.

One review of the concert stated 'Robed in the away jersey of our beloved Vancouver Canucks (though I doubt he's a fan -- he wore Canadiens and Maple Leafs jerseys in Montreal and Toronto, respectively), Robert Smith and associates opened the show in fine form with "Want" and "Club America" off their latest effort, Wild Mood Swings. Amidst a stage set up to look like a post apocalypse circus tent and a light show that would make the Northern Lights Perry Bamonte seem like a Grade 2 science project, the Cure moved the crowd into a stage of spiritual ecstasy that Oral Roberts himself would be jealous of'.

Source: Soundboard

Sound Quality: Very good stereo mp3@320kbps.

Genre: Alternative rock, gothic rock, new wave, post-punk.

Set: Edited set.

Set List:

Queen Elizabeth Theatre:

1. Want (4:54)
2. Club America (5:07)
3. Lullaby (4:35)
4. Round & Round & Round (2:35)
5. Just Like Heaven (3:41)
6. Strange Attraction (4:16)
7. Return (3:40)
8. Trap (3:46)
9. Prayers For Rain (5:09)
10. In Between Days (3:18)
11. From The Edge Of The Deep Green Sea (7:51)
12. Disintegration (8:48)

London December 1995 'Bonus Tracks':

13. Friday I'm In Love (3:39)
14. Mint Car (3:02)
15. Just Like Heaven (3:43)

Band Line Up:

Robert Smith, Simon Gallup, Jason Cooper, Perry Bamonte, Roger O'Donnell.

Links: Official site HERE.

Comments:

Kiss The Stone Records was a bootleg recording company that released many famous bootlegs by bands such as The Waterboys, Van Morrison and Pearl Jam. The company was based in San Marino, where the law allowed the company to market bootlegs as long as it placed royalties for the artists in an escrow account. Most artists wouldn't bother collecting, either because they didn't want to legitimize the bootlegs or because tracking down escrow accounts in a foreign country was more trouble than it was worth. The label is now defunct.

Reloaded 2015 - see comments.

Beehive Recommends - Pixie Carnation

I have a lot of respect for Seattle's excellent radio station KEXP and so any artist who achieves 'song of the day' recognition is for me, worthy of a listen at the very least.

The fact that the promotion that dropped in my inbox a couple of days a go also mentioned the band are from Sweden was an added bonus !

Pixie Carnation are the band and I think they are pretty special. To quote KEXP a little further ...you don’t get any indication that the band is from anywhere but the U.S. as the vocal stylings come through entirely American in a way that even some U.S. bands somehow don’t seem to be able to achieve. Simply structured yet toe-tappingly catchy, “When Did The Lights Go Out” is the kind of rock song that gets its vocal melody stuck inside of your brain but you’re okay with it." -Brian Connolly, (song selected by Morning Show host John Richards), KEXP.org. Their debut EP 'Fresh Poems' is available now.

Listen:
'When Did The Lights Go Out'



Website: MySpace.
Buy: HERE.

There promo states quite accurately 'The product of two years of musical experimentation has culminated in what is now Pixie Carnation, a Swedish based, and yet very American sounding band. From the time that childhood friends Ola Pålsson and Tobias Hellkvist reconnected a few years ago there was an instant artistic connection, and it was only a matter of time before their sound and the band’s lineup became what it is today.

Despite it taking about a year and a half for Pålsson and Hellkvist to find like-minded musicians, Pixie Carnation has now evolved into a seven-member band and made their first recording, Fresh Poems EP.

A classic rock influenced, Americana infused, musical tapestry with orchestral elements, Fresh Poems is already resounding in the ears of American music aficionados, as evidenced by their song “When the Lights Go Out” being named KEXP’s song a the day on November 2nd. Drawing comparisons to Bruce Springsteen, KEXP proclaims that when the music begins, “Immediately you start to think that maybe The Boss has entered the room.”

And as Pixie Carnation’s music reaches the ears of North America this Swedish rock group is bound to find welcome listeners and loyal fans'.

Lyle Lovett - Live In London,1992

This is Lyle Lovett performing at one of my favorite music venues from the days when it was still known as the Hammersmith Odeon (West London).

This is predominately from a BBC Radio 2 FM broadcast back on June 12th 1992, however some additional tracks came with this collection and are included.

While typically associated with the country genre, Lyle Lovett's compositions often incorporate folk, swing, blues, jazz and gospel music as well as more traditional country material. This concert really does demonstrate these diverse styles as he performs along side some excellent singers and musicians.

Source: FM Broadcast.

Sound Quality: Very good stereo mp3@192kbps.

Genre: Country, Alt Country.

Set: Full broadcast set & extras.

Set List:

01 She's No Lady
02 Church
03 She's Leaving Me Because She Really Wants To
04 You've Been So Good Up To Now
05 All My Love Is Gone
06 North Dakota
07 Flyswatter/Ice Water Blues
08 Since The Last Time
09 L.A. County
10 What Do You Do/Glory Of Love
11 Cowboy Man
12 She's Hot To Go

Woburn Abbey, England June 20th 1992 (FM Broadcast)
13 She's Already Made Up Her Mind
14 If I Had A Boat

Live On Tom Jones' - "The Right Time" (TV Nicam Stereo)
15 Flying Shoes

Links: Official site HERE.

Comments:

Lyle Lovett has just released a new studio album called 'Natural Forces' on Lost Highway Records. As regards this boot recording the actual mp3's are tagged Paul Masson Winery for some unapparent reason. Sound quality is exceptional, as is the performance.

Download link in comments below or click on the picture.

Buy: Mp3's at Amazon.co.uk - Lyle Lovett

Curved Air - Live At The BBC - 1975 & 76.

This is Curved Air recorded live for BBC Radio One. Both performances were recorded at the Paris Theatre in London.

The 1975 session was recorded on the 31st January and the BBC transcription disc also includes a version of 'Stark Naked' however that track is missing from this boot collection, it does feature in the second live session.

The second live performance was recorded on the 21st February 1976. Some of the second sessions tracks were also included on an officially released album 'Live At The BBC', however the boot edition was lifted from one of the transcription discs which were circulated in three differing versions.

Source: Soundboard - BBC transcription discs.

Sound Quality: Very good stereo mp3@320kbps.

Genre: Prog Rock, Folk Rock.

Set: Two BBC concert Sessions

Set List:

1. Marie Antoinette
2. The Fool
3. Midnight Wire
4. Women On A One Night Stand

5. Stark Naked
6. Women On A One Night Stand
7. Young Mother
8. Kids To Blame
9. Hot and Bothered
10. The Fool

Links: Official site HERE.

Comments:

Curved Air evolved out of the band Sisyphus and was named after the piece "A Rainbow in Curved Air" by contemporary composer Terry Riley.

The musicians came from quite different artistic backgrounds, classic, folk, and electronic sound, which resulted in a mixture of progressive rock, folk rock, and fusion with classical elements. Along with High Tide, It's A Beautiful Day and East of Eden, Curved Air were one of the first rock bands to feature a violin.

The officially released 'Live At The BBC' album is not widely circulated and used versions are changing hands for £50 ($60 US) plus on Amazon.

Reloaded - 29/May/2015 - download link in comments. 

Buy: Mp3's at Amazon.co.uk - Curved Air

Gong - Great American Music Hall, 2000

Currently touring in Europe with the original line up, Gong continue to amaze audiences with their musical tales of Pot Head Pixies, Gnomes, Zero The Hero and more.

Going back to the beginning of the 'noughties' decade and Gong were continuing to tour worldwide on a regular basis.

This recording is from the 9th September 2000 at the Great American Music Hall, San Francisco, California.

This is a full concert and features quite a lot of material from the 1970's era of the band. Gongs latest album '2032' was released in September this year.

Source: Soundboard

Sound Quality: Very good stereo mp3@320kbps

Genre: Progressive rock, psychedelic rock, space rock, jazz fusion.

Set: Full set.

Set List:

01. Planet Gong intro - Zeroid
02. Radio Gnome Invisible
03. Yoni on Mars
04. Bodilingus
05. Zero The Hero and the Witch's Spell -Witch's Song/I'm your Pussy
06. Magdalene
07. Infinitea - Mad Monk
08. You Can't Kill Me
09. Flute Salad
10. Oily Way
11. Outer Temple
12. Inner Temple
13. Get It Inner
14. Master Builder
15. Tropical Fish
16. The Invisible Temple
17. Selene

Band Line Up:

Daevid Allen - guitars and vocals
Gilli Smyth - vocals and space whispers
Mike Howlett - bass
Theo Travis - sax and flute
Chris Taylor - drums
Gwyo ZePix - Keyboards, Synths

Links: Official Site HERE.

Comments:

After spending most of the Eighties in his native Australia, Daevid Allen returned to the UK in 1988 with a new project, the Invisible Opera Company of Tibet, whose revolving cast included the likes of Harry Williamson, violinist Graham Clark and Didier Malherbe. This morphed into GongMaison and by 1992, the name Gong was again in use, by which time early drummer Pip Pyle had also rejoined. The band released the album Shapeshifter (subsequently dubbed Radio Gnome part 4), followed by extensive touring. In 1994, Gong celebrated its 25th birthday in London, including a performance by most of the 'classic' line-up, including the returning Gilli Smyth and Mike Howlett. This formed the basic of the "Classic Gong" band which toured worldwide from 1996 to 2001 and released Zero to Infinity in 2000 (by Allen, Smyth, Howlett and Malherbe plus new recruits Theo Travis and Chris Taylor).

Download links (three) in comments below (track four replacement link in separate comment).

Buy: MP3's at Amazon.co.uk - Gong

Lynyrd Skynyrd - Winterland, San Francisco 1975

This is Lynyrd Skynyrd live at the Winterland Ballroom, San Francisco, California on the 27th April 1975.

From 1973 through to the tragic air crash in October 1977 that decimated the band, Lynyrd Skynyrd were one of the most popular live acts in rock'n'roll history.

A couple of points of interest for fans and trivia addicts, Billy Powell was absent from this show, so the band had to find a substitute for his piano part in Call Me The Breeze. Notably Sweet Home Alabama also sounds a little different as a result. Lee Freeman, who had played with Ed King in Strawberry Alarm Clock and would later play on Gimme Back My Bullets, blows the harp. An early incarnation of Lynyrd Skynrd supported Strawberry Alarm Clock back in 1968 on some East Coast tour dates.

Source: Soundboard.

Sound Quality: Very good stereo mp3@320kbps.

Genre: Southern rock, blues-rock, country rock.

Set: Full set.

Set List:

01 Whiskey Rock a Roller - I Ain't the One
02 The Needle and the Spoon
03 I'm A Country Boy
04 Gimmie Three Steps
05 Don't Ask Me No Questions
06 Saturday Night Special
07 Railroad Song
08 Call Me the Breeze
09 Sweet Home Alabama
10 On the Hunt
11 Freebird

Links: Official site HERE. Excellent history Site HERE.

Comments:

The Winterland Ballroom, often referred to as Winterland Arena or simply Winterland, was an old ice skating rink and 5,400 seat music venue in San Francisco, California. Located at the corner of Post Street and Steiner Street, it was converted to exclusive use as a music venue in 1971 by rock promoter Bill Graham. After closing his New York City venue known as the Fillmore East in 1971, he began to hold regular weekend shows at Winterland.

Lynyrd Skynyrd joined a veritable 'whose who' of rock history by performing at the venue with the likes of bands such as Cream through to The Sex Pistols, or The Doors through to Pink Floyd and many, many more 'top class' acts having played there until it's closure in 1978.

Reloaded - 29/May/2015 - download link in comments. 

Buy: Mp3's at Amazon.co.uk - Lynyrd Skynyrd

The Alan Parsons Project - Tokyo 1997.

This is The Alan Parsons Project live at The International Forum, Tokyo, Japan, on the 4th October 1997. This concert was part of the Japanese leg of the 'On Air' tour.

This comes from a two CD recording and is credited as sourced from the soundboard. Having listened to the recording (which by the way is an absolute must for any fan, or an excellent introduction to the band) the audience seems a little close and high in the mix between songs, which often suggests an audience recording. However the quality of the music and stereo mixing suggests soundboard. So I am not sure about this one, that said though, it is a great recording of a very good show.

Source: Soundboard (see above).

Sound Quality: Very good stereo mp3@192kbps

Genre: Soft, Pop, & Prog rock.

Set: Full set.

Set List:

1. Sirius/Eye In The Sky
2. I Wouldn't Want To Be Like You
3. Can’t Take It With You
4. Old And Wise
5. Money Talks/La Sagrada Familia
6. Days Are Numbers (The Traveller)
7. Prime Time
8. Limelight
9. Time
10. Turn It Up
11. Standing On Higher Ground
12. Blue Blue Sky II
13. I Can’t Look Down
14. So Far Away
15. Fall Free
16. Cloudbreak
17. Brother Up In Heaven
18. (The System Of) Dr. Tarr & Pr. Fether
19. Psychobabble
20. Don’t Answer Me
21. Band Intro/You’re Gonna Get Your Fingers Burned
22. Games People Play

Band Line Up:

Alan Parsons - Guitar, Keyboards,Vocals & Percussion
Stuart Elliott - Drums
Ian Bairnson - Guitars & Sax
John Giblin - Bass
Peter Beckett - Vocals & Keyboards
John Beck - Keyboards
Neil Lockwood - Vocals & Guitar


Links: Alan Parson's official site HERE. Alan Parsons Project site HERE.

Comments:

From the Alan Parsons Project website, regarding how the band got it's name. - In 1974 Alan Parsons was nominated for a Grammy award to recognise his engineering work on Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon. Soon after that he and Eric Woolfson got together with Eric acting as Alan's manager for his engineering and production work. After a string of hits, Eric had the idea of making an album on the lines of developments in the film business, where directors such as Alfred Hitchcock and Stanley Kubrick were the focal point of the film's promotion, rather than individual film stars. If the film business was becoming a director's medium, Eric felt the music business might well become a producer's medium. As a songwriter, he had been developing an album inspired by the works of Edgar Allan Poe and he now saw a way to combine Alan's and his respective talents: Alan as the engineer and producer, Eric as the songwriter and musician.

Eric put a proposal to 20th Century Records (now Universal) along these lines. He gave it a working title of 'The Alan Parsons Project' and the record company went for the idea. They decided that they liked the proposal and the working title and so it stuck - The Alan Parsons Project was born.

Bearing in mind Alan's known association in the business with Pink Floyd and The Beatles plus the fact that Eric was also the manager of The Project, Eric felt it was better to use Alan's name as the figurehead.

Reloaded 21/June/2015 - link in comments.

Beehive Recommends - Keb Mo

Keb Mo is a singer, songwriter and guitarist whose musical origins are firmly linked to the Delta blues.

His Grammy awards and nominations are testimony to his outstanding talent. Keb has a distinctive sound and yet embraces pop, rock, folk and jazz within his craft.

Having said all of that, his natural blues stripped down to just guitar and vocals is both refreshing and moving.

His new contemporary blues album is quite appropriately named Live & Mo. It features six awesome live performances from notable moments on the road, and four brand new studio recordings, including the anthemic song A Brand New America, a band version of the inspirational Victims of Comfort, the funky sound of Government Cheese, and the back-porch rhythm and blues of Hole in the Bucket. If you already know the mood and style past releases Keb’Mo, you’ll dig “Live & Mo”.

Listen:
'Am I Wrong'



MP3: Am I Wrong.
Website: Official Site.
Buy: Keb' Mo'

Otis Redding - Los Angeles 1966

This is Otis Redding live at the Whiskey A Go Go on Sunset Strip Los Angeles, California, USA back in the spring of 1966.

There have been two official releases of Otis Redding performing live at the venue in 1966. The first was titled 'In Person' and released back in 1968 (Atco). The second was 'Good To Me' which was released in 1993 (Stax).

Some 'Whiskey A Go Go' material also appeared on an Atlantic Records release in 1982 called 'Recorded Live - Previously Released Performances', however I understand these were included on the 1993 Stax release.

This is Otis on the 10th April 1966 from the late show at the venue.

Source: Soundboard.

Sound Quality: Very good stereo mp3@192kbps

Genre: Soul.

Set: Full set.

Set List:

01 - Intro
02 - Your One and Only Man
03 - Security
04 - Good to Me
05 - Respect
06 - Ole Man Trouble
07 - I Can't Turn You Loose
08 - A Hard Day's Night
09 - These Arms of Mine
10 - Papa's Got a Brand New Bag (intro then restarts)
11 - Papa's Got a Brand New Bag
12 - (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction
13 - Outro

Links: Official site HERE.

Comments:

There is a little tape hiss on this recording but this does not distract. Classic songs such as 'Dock Of The Bay' may leave our memories of Otis as a more laid back soul singer, this live performance cuts right through that image, as Otis belts out some incredible high tempo and funky songs including covers of A Hard Days Night, and Satisfaction.

Download link in comments below or click on the picture.

Buy: Mp3's at Amazon.co.uk Otis Redding

10000 Maniacs - Greek Theatre 1993

This is 10000 Maniacs live at The Greek Theatre in Los Angeles, California, back on the 3rd June 1993.

This concert was recorded for the Westwood One Radio Networks 'In Concert' series and was subsequently broadcast on October 25th 1993 .

The band had already recorded the MTV Unplugged concert a couple of months earlier, and that was of course released as an album around the same time as this concert was originally broadcast.

As was mentioned in the last 10000 Maniacs feature, Natalie Merchant had already informed the band she was leaving. This concert was part of the 'Our Time In Eden' tour that concluded with Natalie's final performance in the band a few weeks later in New York on the 29th July.

Source: Soundboard (pre FM).

Sound Quality: Very good stereo mp3@160kbps.

Genre: Alternative Rock, Indie.

Set: Full set.

Set List:

1. These Are Days
2. If You Intend
3. What’s The Matter Here?
4. A Campfire Song
5. Like the Weather
6. How You’ve Grown
7. Jezebel
8. Eat for Two
9. Trouble Me
10. Gun Shy
11. Stockton Gala Days
12. Candy Everybody Wants
13. Hey Jack Kerouac
14. Few and Far Between
15. My Sister Rose
16. Everyday is Like Sunday
17. City of Angels
18. Let the Mystery Be

Links: Official site HERE. Natalie Merchant Site HERE.

Comments:

The Greek Theatre concert was released on CD as a bootleg by various 'labels' and with Natalie departing the band these became a collectors item for many fans. This particular recording is from an Italian release that was titled 'Theme For Imaginary Canyon'.

Other CD titles of the same concert included, 'How You've Grown', 'Edens Children', 'Eat For Two', 'Our Time At The Greek', and a German record 'label' kept it simple with 'Live In Los Angeles'.

No doubt the bootleggers did quite well out of this CD with so many versions turning up in Europe and the USA. This is a good quality recording of a very good show, so enjoy (free of course).


Reloaded - 29/May/2015 - download link in comments.

Buy: Mp3's at Amazon.co.uk - 10,000 Maniacs

Johnny Cash - American Outtakes 1993.

Johnny Cash was approached in 1993 by producer Rick Rubin and offered a contract with Rubin's American Recordings label, better known for rap and heavy metal than for country music.

Under Rick Rubin's supervision, Johnny Cash recorded the album 'American Recordings' in Rick's living room, accompanied only by his guitar.

For years Cash was often at odds with his producers after he had discovered with his first producer, Sam Phillips, that his voice was better suited to a stripped down musical style. Most famously he disagreed with Jack Clement over his sound, Clement having tried to give Cash's songs a "twangy" feel and to add strings and barbershop-quartet-style singers. His successful collaboration with Rick Rubin was in part due to Rubin seeking a minimalist sound for his songs.

A number of out-takes CD bootlegs have circulated, the following comprises a sizable amount of what has surfaced and importantly the 'copy' quality is very good

Source: Soundboard.

Sound Quality: Very good stereo mp3@192kbps

Genre: Country

Set: Rehearsal Session

Session List:

01 For Heaven's Sake
02 I'm A Drifter
03 I Witnessed A Crime (with Billy Gibbons)
04 Banks of The Ohio
05 The Next Time I'm In Town
06 Breaking Bread
07 To Beat The Devil
08 Friends In California
09 The Caretaker
10 The Wonder of You
11 East Virginia Blues
12 Bury Me Now
13 I'm Just An Old Chunk Of Coal (But I'll Be A Diamond Someday)
14 Go On Blues
15 If I Give My Soul

plus from a separate source in Nero music files.

16. Bad News
17. All Gods Children Ain't Free

Links: Official site HERE.

Comments: These out take recordings are reported to have taken place between the 17th and 20th May 1993. As mentioned above the location was Rick Rubins living room, clearly professional recording equipment was used. The stripped down 'bare' feel of the official album release is also captured here on these wonderful intimate recordings.

Reloaded - 29/May/2015 - download link in comments. 

Buy: - MP3's at Amazon.co.uk Johnny Cash

Beehive Recommends - Two From Cheap Lullaby Records

Cheap Lullaby Records have released a couple of fascinating albums in the last week or so both very different and also superbly crafted.

Josh Ottum are from Seattle, USA and have just released 'Like The Season'. It's not just the Beehive that's giving them a rather large thumbs up and unashamed plug, The Seattle Weekly recently stated - "Like the Season is one of the more adventurous musical offerings to come out of Seattle in years".

I'm not going to draw comparisons with other bands, Josh Ottum have a pretty distinctive sound and for me sit somewhere between Indie and Alt Rock maybe even a few country 'tinges' here and there. Thankfully you can check them out below!

Listen:
'It's Alright'



Website: MySpace.
Buy: Cheap Lullaby Store. MP3's at Amazon Josh Ottum

We seem to have escaped from Brooklyn regarding new music (just browse the recent recommendations & spot the trend) and 'remain' in Seattle for our second choice this week which is Ivan and Alyosha.

I really hope you take the time to give them a listen, particularly if you have a liking for uplifting indie or good old pop music. Citing influences from the extremes of Elvis Presley to ELO, or The Beatles to Bing Crosby, they are a real buzz. The promo adds 'Smooth, soaring guitar pop from Seattle duo that is plaintive and pristine' I tend to agree.

The new album 'The Verse, The Chorus' has just been released and will comfortably be in my personal top twenty for 2009.

Listen:
'Beautiful Lie'



Website: MySpace.
Buy: Cheap Lullaby Records. MP3's at Amazon:Ivan & Alyosha

Jeff Buckley - The Music Faucet 1992

By the time Jeff Buckley performed on WFMU's The Music Faucet in October 1992 some of the songs that would appear on his debut album Grace less than two years later were already well developed albeit with a few notable differences to what would become the final studio versions.

His love for performing covers from an incredibly diverse range of artists and styles has been well documented and throughout 1992 those fortunate enough to catch him at cafe's and clubs in Lower Manhattan may have heard him perform an eclectic selection of covers from a range of artists including Led Zeppelin, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Bob Dylan, Édith Piaf, Elton John, The Smiths, Bad Brains, Leonard Cohen, Robert Johnson and Siouxsie Sioux.

This is Jeff Buckley live on WFMU New Jersey on the 11th October 1992.

Source: Soundboard.

Sound Quality: Very good stereo mp3@320kbps

Genre: Alternative Rock, Folk.

Set: Full set.

Set List:

01. Lost Highway
02. Eternal Life
03. Please Send Me Someone To Love
04. The Way Young Lovers Do
05. Satisfied Mind
06. Hallelujah
07. Mama You've Been On My Mind
08. Alligator Wine
09. Chat - Calling You (aborted)
10. Unforgiven
11. We All Fall In Love Sometimes
12. Curtains
13. Dinks Song
14. Corpus Christi Carol

Links: Official site HERE.

Comments:

In 1991 Jeff Buckley had began co-writing with Gary Lucas resulting in the songs "Grace" and "Mojo Pin",and by late 1991 he began performing with Lucas' band Gods and Monsters around New York City. After being offered a development deal as a member of Gods and Monsters at Imago Records, Jeff moved back to New York to the Lower East Side at the end of 1991. The day after Gods and Monsters officially debuted in March 1992, Jeff Buckley decided to leave the band.

By the summer of 1992, limos from executives eager to sign the singer lined the street outside Sin-é. Jeff signed with Columbia Records, then home of Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen, for a three-album, essentially million-dollar deal in October 1992. This recording captures Jeff on the cusp of change, however the intimate feel of this radio studio gig and his connection with his audience, thankfully continued as Jeff's popularity increased. Two cover versions of songs from Elton John's Captain Fantastic album are included as is a song entitled 'Unforgiven' that would later become 'Last Goodbye'.

Reloaded - 29/May/2015 - download link in comments. 

Buy: Mp3's at Amazon.co.uk - Jeff Buckley

Colosseum - Live In Boston 1969

Colosseum were one of the bands that passed me by in the late sixties & early seventies. I was probably a little to young to appreciate their music and with an overload of choice some bands just stayed off the radar screen.

Colosseum were formed originally in 1968 by drummer Jon Hiseman, saxophonist Dick Heckstall-Smith and bassist Tony Reeves, all of whom had previously been in John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, and played on his acclaimed "Bare Wires" album. The group was completed by keyboard wizard Dave Greenslade and guitarist/vocalist James Litherland. Colosseum were immediately signed to the Fontana label who released the bands debut "Those Who Are About To Die Salute You" which became the first of four album chart successes for the band. A change to the newly formed Vertigo label in 1969 accompanied the bands second album "Valentyne Suite". The title track was a twenty minute rock classic written by Greenslade/Hiseman/Heckstall-Smith which showcased the individual talents of the musicians within a heart-stopping elegiac and beautiful tapestry of sound.

This is the band live on the 22nd February 1969 at The Boston Tea Party, in Boston, USA.

Source: Soundboard.

Sound Quality: Very good stereo mp3@320kbps

Genre: Prog Rock, Jazz & Blues Influenced Rock.

Set: Full set.

Set List:

01. Butty's Blues
02. The Machine Demands A Sacrifice
03. Valentyne Suite 1
04. Valentyne Suite 2
05. Valentyne Suite 3

Band Line Up:

Dick Heckstall Smith: saxophones
John Hiseman: drums
James Litherland : guitar, vocals
Dave Greenslade. keyboards
Tony Reeves : bass

Links: Wikipedia entry HERE.

Comments:

I did get to see one of the bands that formed in the aftermath of Colosseum that of Greenslade, and I having now listened to this concert I can hear Dave Greenslade's influence in the bands performance. I guess lengthy drum solos are pretty dated these days, however the band take us back to a time when for many musicians experimentation and crafted musicianship were considered as or more important than image and marketing. Colosseum were probably upstaged in terms of media publicity by the likes of The Nice and King Crimson, they are however a very good reference point for that era.

Download links (two) in comments below.

Buy: Mp3's at Amazon.co.uk: Colosseum

Beehive Recommends - A Variety Of Acts & Styles !

Right then ! The inbox has been filling up with some great new or newish artists and albums so here is a quick pick of the best that has taken my attention in the last few days...

Kicking Off with Bottle Up And Go whose 'darker louder' hi energy blasts into your ears from the opening chord. Their Press says 'Crush up some shards of broken whiskey bottles and colorful confetti and put in a cannon and what bursts out is the raucous, uncaged bunch that is Bottle Up and Go. Comprised of singer and guitarist Keenan “Hot Pants” Mitchell, drummer Fareed “The Prince” Sajan, and saxophonist accompanist Andrew Carrico, Bottle Up and Go are a two-and-a-half-piece, lo-fi blues-punk band from primitive Brooklyn, NY'. Not a bad description at all!

Listen:



Website: MySpace.
Buy/More: (Mp3's at Amazon)Bottle Up & Go

Also heralding from NYC are Jupiter One who are currently touring with Regina Spektor (until the 12th November). The band have an excellent new album called 'Sunshower' in fact as I type I am enjoying a mixture of great and quite catchy indie pop and rock tunes that make up this new release.

Their biography reads - A Sunshower can be a rare occurrence, but when these opposing forces meet, magic and allure is in the air. This is exactly why Jupiter One chose the title (inspired by the Japanese short film, Dreams, by Akira Kurosawa) for their newest Ryko release, which hit the streets on September 15. Their far-out freshness mixed with timeless musical inspirations meshes together in a bittersweet indie-pop rock concoction—produced by the group and noted engineer Chris Ribando (Diamond Nights, The Black Crowes, The Fever).

This young quartet consisting of K Ishibashi (lead vocals), Zac Colwell (lead guitar), Dave Heilman (drums) and Pat Dougherty (bass), has a knack for unifying their contemporary style with a range of musical influences. Sunshower is the result of Jupiter One's experienced ear. For instance, the dancefloor-friendly “Simple Stones,” filled with handclaps and soulful riffs, boasts a bass line for all ages while blending ‘80s Rolling Stones and MGMT. The epic opener “Volcano” resurrects the youthful spirit of the Beach Boys with The Flaming Lips, while delivering one of the disc’s best choruses. And if Ishibashi conjures The Shins on “Find Me a Place,” then he drops vintage, finger-picking folk on “People in the Mountain”. Lastly but certainly not least, their current single “Flaming Arrow,” a shimmering acoustic folk tune, shoots through with a bumping bass line and New Orleans inspired drum groove. This genre-bending approach creates a hook-heavy opus well suited for our A.D.D. times.

Listen:



MP3: HERE.
Website: MySpace - Official.
Buy/More: Sunshower

OK so we are definitely stuck in New York at the moment indeed back to Brooklyn for Peter Squires whose debut album 'Woe Is Me' contrasts totally with the above featured bands. Stripped back to guitar, vocals and a littler percussion his indie folk sound is both as refreshing as it is intelligent. His press rightly states - Peter’s direct and honest vocal delivery will make you think of contemporaries like Kimya Dawson and Luke Temple… or even legacy artists like Cat Stevens or minimalist composer Steve Reisch subtle productions while playing with emotions in the way Morrissey would or The Cure. Each song creaks beyond your shield and into your soul creating an album that is all heart, laid bare for our aural pleasure. The up-front honestly, heart on a sleeve Woe Is Me was recorded in Peter Squires Brooklyn bedroom. This stark look at one man’s journalistic view of heartbreak, complete with dark imagery and tender moments too, leaves us listeners with some amazing folk gems.

Full of soul, fear, laughs, tears, broken dreams – Woe is Me is the perfect album for your own woe’s, your own story, your own life as you choose your own adventures.

Listen:



MP3: HERE.
Website: Official
Buy/More: Check out his website above you might be pleasantly surprised.