Pink Floyd - Psychedelic Sound Check - 1994

In my little world, a small claim to fame is having been in the audience with my eldest daughter, at Earls Court, London, when Pink Floyd recorded the Pulse DVD. Like I say my little world.

Turning the sad level up to eleven, I still have a guitar plectrum used in the show, and given to me after, in my possession. Did I mention little world?

The 1994 tour promoting the Division Bell album was no little thing! In my opinion it was a fantastic tour, a spectacle definitely, the musicianship well crafted, and the gig I attended, plus the footage, and recordings of others I have heard, suggest the tour as a whole, was really appreciated by the fans.

Oh, I know there are those who say it stopped being Pink Floyd when Roger Waters departed, or even when Syd Barrett was dropped, and those who hark back to the golden years, whenever they were. However do you know what? I really don't care. There are more important things in life than becoming retentive over music...

So to the purpose of this feature.

I am pleased to share some of the sound checks ahead of the shows. These are full songs, played obviously without the audience, and some of the banter before or after, with the sound crew.

If you listen closely you may also notice David Gilmour 'adjusts' some of the lyrics.

Soundcheck List:

SHINE ON YOU CRAZY DIAMOND
HIGH HOPES
BREATHE IN THE AIR
TIME
THE GREAT GIG IN THE SKY
LOST FOR WORDS
WISH YOU WERE HERE
MONEY
US AND THEM

Recorded live May 5th 1994 at the Tampa Stadium FL. during the sound check rehearsals.

TAKE IT BACK

Recorded live Sept. 25th 1994 in Lousanne. This song is an outtake from Pulse.

ASTRONOMY DOMINE (I)
ASTRONOMY DOMINE (II)

Recorded live March 30th 1994 at the Joe Robbie Stadium Miami FL during the sound check rehearsals.

The sound quality is absolutely superb - via digital stereo soundboard and pro mixed.

REPLACEMENT DOWNLOAD LINKS (TWO) IN COMMENTS BELOW (29/05/2010).

The Who - Tommy Tour - Amsterdam 1969

This one is special. The Who toured their then new album Tommy in the autumn of 1969, through to 1970, with gigs across the USA, and then on to the UK.

They started out in Europe, and this was the starting point.

Playing Amsterdam on the 29th September 1969, they featured some of their then best live material, and the whole of Tommy.

Pete Townsend seemed in a good mood, chatting to the audience a little, the whole performance was outstanding.

This was the original line up enjoying themselves:

Roger Daltrey - Vocals
Pete Townsend - Guitar & vocals
John Entwistle - Bass Guitar
Keith Moon - Guitar & vocals

I have used the cover of an early CD boot (silver disc) as the picture (click on to enlarge), however the recording I have uploaded is from another source.

REPLACEMENT DOWNLOAD LINKS IN COMMENTS BELOW (17TH OCTOBER 2009).

The music source is stereo soundboard, professionally recorded and cared for since 1969.

Browse the Beehive Candy Store HERE, for some bargain priced The Who Cd's.

Spooky Tooth - Grugahalle, Essen 1969

Originally there was 'The Art', led by Mike Harrison on vocals and Luther Grosvenor on guitar. They then met American keyboardist Gary Wright and changed name to Spooky Tooth.

They first recorded It's All About (Island, 1968). For those who look for the roots of progressive rock, and the harder edged likes of Led Zeppelin, your starting place could well be Spooky Tooth.

Spooky Two (1969) delivered a mixture of heavy blues with guitar and organ both to the fore, and some more AOR sounding material. Both albums are worth checking out, or one of the 'best of' collections.

This is a recording of the band live in 1969 at Grugahalle, Essen, Germany.

Set List:

01 - Something To Say
02 - I Am The Walrus
03 - The Wrong Time
04 - I Wanna Be Free
05 - Son Of Your Father
06 - Better By You, Better Than Me
07 - Alone
08 - Soulful Lady

When it comes to Beatles covers, I would personally say that their version of 'I Am The Walrus' is outstanding, the studio version is a must have.

The concert recording is soundboard stereo quality, excellent in other words, not bad considering it's 41 years old!

Replacement link in comments below or click on the picture (4th January 2010).

You can check out sensibly priced Spooky Tooth Cd's HERE.

David Bowie - Montreal Canada - 1983

David Bowie played the Montreal Forum, Montreal, Quebec, on the 07/12/1983, part of the Serious Moonlight world tour.

Described as the early and late shows, this was in fact one performance with a twenty minute intermission in the middle.

Band line up:

David Bowie - vocals, guitar
David LeBott - keyboards
Lenny Pickett - saxophone
Stan Harrison - baritone sax
Steve Elson - tenor sax
Carlos Alomar - guitar
Earl Slick - lead guitar
Carmen Rojas - bass
Tony Thompson - drums
Joyce and Kevin Simms - backing vocals

This was a much recovered David Bowie, with Berlin and his well known cocaine problems behind him, and a superb band supporting him.

The tour was a mix of the more commercial 'Berlin era' music, some of his greatest hits, and the then current, Nile Rodgers produced Lets Dance album.

The early show on this occasion consisted of:

Look Back In Anger 3:17
Breaking Glass 2:56
Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps) 3:32
Rebel Rebel 2:27
Heroes 5:05
What In The World 3:59
Life On Mars? 4:07
Sorrow 2:49
Golden Years 3:38
Fashion 2:51
Let's Dance 4:44
Red Sails 3:37
China Girl 5:16
White Light / White Heat 5:47

The late show was as follows:

Station To Station 9:00
Cracked Actor 3:23
Ashes To Ashes 3:41
Space Oddity 5:16
Band Introduction 1:37
Young Americans 5:33
Cat People (Putting Out Fire) 4:14
TVC 15 3:53
Fame 4:58
Star 2:37
Stay 9:01
The Jean Genie 7:01
I Can't Explain 2:48
Modern Love 4:24

The sound recording is excellent and professional in quality.

Reloaded 21/June/2015 link in comments.