Tom Waits - My Fathers Place - 1977

This is Tom Waits live at Club Roslyn, Long Island, New York, USA, or as the venue is more affectionately remembered 'the homely and homey music club - My Fathers Place' (at 19 Bryant Avenue in Roslyn).

Indeed it is easier to talk about the venue than to know where to start with Tom Waits.

I know I often use this as a get out clause, and I will unashamedly do so again now.

For fans this is a must have recording, for those not familiar with Thomas Alan Waits, this captures said gentleman some 32 years ago, with the 'bourbon soaked' voice, on fine form at a wonderful venue.

Source: Pre FM copy of WLIR recording.

Sound Quality: Extremely good stereo MP3 @192kbps.

Genre: Should be a personal genre called Tom Waits, however he ranges across, Jazz, Rock, Blues, Folk, Experimental, and we can throw in Vaudeville for good measure.

Set: Possibly full set, cannot confirm (track numbered from 2 CD version).

Set List:

01 Standin' On The Corner
02 I Never Talk To Strangers
03 Pasties And A G-String
04 Invitation To The Blues - Eggs And Sausage
05 Depot, Depot
06 Jitterbug Boy
07 Step Right Up

01 I wish I Was In New Orleans - Small Change
02 The Piano Has Been Drinking
03 Emotional Weather Report
04 Muriel
05 Medley: Jack & Neil - California, Here I Come Set II
06 Tom Traubert's Blues

Concert Band Line Up:

Tom Waits: vocals, acoustic guitar, piano.
Frank Vicari: tenor saxophone.
Danny Trifan: upright bass.
Chip White: drums, percussion & vibes.

Links: Official site HERE. Excellent fan site HERE. Comprehensive Wikipedia content HERE.

Comments: I know there are a number of good quality live recordings for Tom Waits in circulation, to my knowledge this has not been freely circulated on the web, its good material and does the artist justice.

I was listening to a Tom Wait's concert from last year a couple of days back (will share another time), its great that he has sorted out the bar room image, from his actual lifestyle, and he can still create that unique sound, atmosphere, and overall mood.

I was late getting in on the music of Tom Waits, that's my loss, still it remains great catching up.

Download link in comments below (Replaced 15 September 2011).

Purchase: MP3's (DRM free) from Amazon.co.uk - Tom Waits

The Pretenders - Live In Amsterdam 1980

I remember Chrissie Hynde from her days writing for the NME (New Musical Express - UK weekly publication) back in the mid 1970's.

It was only a matter of time before her musical ambitions came to fruition, and after a couple of false starts, she eventually surfaced in late 1978 with a very up and ready band called The Pretenders.

Their debut album remains a firm favorite of mine, it has that timeless feel that great songs and albums have, no logical reason and maybe just a state of mind.

To come across a live concert boot (31st May 1980 to be precise) from that era obviously made my day.

Source: Stereo radio broadcast (off air recording).

Sound Quality: Extremely good MP3 @320kbps.

Genre: Post Punk, New Wave, Indie Pop/Rock.

Set: Radio edit, most likely majority of the gig, (total playing time 51:39).

Set List:

1. The Wait.
2. Precious.
3. Talk of the town.
4. Cuban slide.
5. Private life.
6. Space invader.
7. I go to sleep.
8. Brass in pocket.
9. Kid.
10. Up the neck.
11. Mystery achievement.
12. Stop your sobbing.

Concert Band Line Up:

Chrissie Hynde
Martin Chambers
James Honeyman-Scott (deceased).
Pete Farndon (deceased).

Links: Official Pretenders site with details of their 2008 release HERE. Very good Wikipedia entry HERE.

Comments: It is a sad rock'n'roll fact that drugs really can hurt any individual and/or band, even in their prime, as was the case with The Pretenders.

A concise and realistic appraisal from Wikipedia reads as follows:

At this early peak of the band's success and potential, Hynde kicked ex-lover Pete Farndon out of the group for ongoing drug problems. Two days later, 16 June 1982, Honeyman-Scott was dead of a cocaine overdose. While the band tried to regroup in the following year, Farndon overdosed on heroin and died on 14 April 1983.

It tends to put the whole rock - drugs thing in perspective, and it is a delight that The Pretenders did regroup back then, and are still touring throughout 2009 (worth seeing if you get a chance).

Reloaded 23/02/2016 Link in comments.

Lucinda Williams - Live in Switzerland 2007

This is another superb live recording of Lucinda Williams, on this occasion in Basel, Switzerland, at the Festsaal Messe, AVO session on the 13th November 2007.

Although Lucinda was promoting her 'West' album at the time she covered a range of other earlier material, that for me, seems a great introduction for anyone unfamiliar with one of the foremost modern country rock or alternative country artists.

Source: FM stereo live broadcast on DRS3 radio Switzerland

Sound Quality: Very good FM Stereo DAT conversion.

Genre: Alt Country, Folk, Rock.

Set: Full live performance see notes below.

Set List:

01 Passionate Kisses (Broadcast started during the second part of opening number)
02 The night's too Long
03 Crescent City
04 Sweet Old World
05 Pineola (fade out) **
06 (fade in) Pineola ending
07 talks with the audience
08 Lake Charles
09 Car Wheels on a Gravel Road
10 Can't Let Go
11 Steal Your Love (fade out) **
12 Essence
13 Righteously - band intro
14 Real Live Bleeding Fingers and Broken Guitar Strings
15 Unsuffer Me
16 talks with the audience
17 West

** there were two nasty and long drop outs on the radio broadcast (32 seconds during "Pineola" and 30 secs right after "Steal your love") thus the taper had to apply some fading's to leave out those unexpected moments of silence.

Lucinda's Band:

Doug Pettibone: pedal steel, guitars, mandolin, harmonica
Chet Lyster: steel, guitar, keyboards
David Sutton: bass
Butch Norton: drums

Links: The ever improving and comprehensive official site HERE.

Comments: I love a few of these songs so much, that you cannot expect an impartial review for this particular boot.

It's also rather pleasing to know of an artist, who has really lived the country rock lifestyle, and still looks and sounds so great (especially as I am a little younger - hope for me yet, if you get my drift).

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

Purchase: MP3's (DRM free) through Amazon.co.uk - Lucinda Williams

Catatonia - Live and in Session 1998

I remember seeing Catatonia in London back in 2000, they were really entertaining, and new how to play live, this recording was therefore a pleasure to get hold of.

Performing at The Newport Centre, Gwent, in Wales, on Thursday 26th March 1998, Catatonia were on this occasion supporting Travis (Idlewild were also on the bill), nonetheless they played a full set.

Also included is material from a BBC Radio One session.

Source: FM Stereo recording.

Sound Quality: Very good mp3 @192kbps.

Genre: Indie Rock & Pop

Set: Full live performance

Set List:

International Velvet
I am the Mob
Game On
You've Got a Lot to Answer For
No Stone Unturned
Way Beyond Blue
Don't Need The Sunshine
Goldfish and Paracetamol
Mulder and Scully
Part of the Furniture
Road Rage
Jump or be Sane
Bleed

BBC Radio One session:

International Velvet
Mulder and Scully
No Stone Unturned
Strange Glue
Mulder and Scully

Links: No official sites, Wikipedia with some additional links HERE. Cerys Matthews official site HERE.

Comments: The live element may have circulated as 'Land of our Fathers' on CDR, beyond that I do not know much else about this gig. There's something a little bit special about great Welsh bands playing to a Welsh audience, maybe it's a Celtic thing.

Listening to this performance I think I know who the real headline act was on the night!

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

Purchase: MP3's (DRM free) through Amazon.co.uk - Catatonia