Friday, 29 May 2015

The Beatles - Decca Sessions 1962

Reloaded 29/May/2015 - another Beehive Candy favourite for so many reasons. The historical aspect speaks for itself, however musically it just makes me wonder what would have happened if Decca had signed them that day. Would the musical styling have altered and would Pete Best have remained on drums for example. All hypothetical I know however perhaps Decca's loss was everyone else's gain as things turned out. It all seems a long time ago now.

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'.

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

Thursday, 28 May 2015

Quality Not Quantity - Planet Earth Reports Fine Music

The story goes thus for Harts - laying all the instruments, writing all the songs and even recording and producing everything single handedly, the Aussie "one-man music making machine", virtuoso guitarist, songwriter & producer, Darren Hart has been hard at work recording and producing a brand new EP, titled 'Breakthrough'. He's touring Australia & New Zealand in June & July, listen to the featured track below and go buy some tickets - exceptional 70's rock is now in safe young hands & funk has won a reprieve, marvellous music!

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The low down for Ambassadeurs - 'Breathe' (feat. Folly Rae) is the next track to be unveiled from ‘Patterns’, the debut album from the much-championed UK electronica artist, Ambassadeurs (aka Mark Dobson). The 12 track release will be available to download from 29 June on his own Lost Tribe Records imprint, preceded by a Spotify ‘First Listen’ from 1 June. ‘Looking At You’ will be released as a single on 10 July. Electronica seems to mean different things to different folk however from what we receive at Beehive Candy, I think it fair to say it's a crowded market. So to say Ambassadeurs is a stand out act hopefully emphasises just how impressed we are with this music.

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We have been informed that 'Aussie folk pop singer/songwriter Meg Sampson is stoked to be doing what she does'. Now listen up Australia! You keep sending us great music and that's fine, but don't start getting clever and using your own slang, otherwise it will be 'up the apple and pears to Bedfordshire' for all our Cockney fans and then what? OK for us sensitive people from the other side of the planet 'stoked' I am informed means 'to be quite happy with'. Now everyone calm down there is no need to get cranky or crook. As regards Meg Sampson, she is heaps stella! Music please...

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Whilst we allow Australia to ride rampantly here on 'Quality Not Quantity' we might as well address Mia Milan who has been crafting her skills in Europe as the following confirms - Australian Pop artist Mia Milan: if you haven’t heard of her- you soon will! She’s been singing, recording & writing all throughout Europe for the last few years defining her unique pop style! What hits you about her music is her solid nod to retro, her ‘young girl out in the world’ lyrics and her powerful pop sound. Mia Milan is well on her way to setting her own benchmark of cool on the global pop scene and wraps it all up with her pop star quality of the new generation.

Reality is, we all come from Earth, it's a messed up place, however sometimes a breath of musical
'fresh air' does us all good and fine old 'pop' music is often just the remedy! This is a worthy example of the finest of pop with a quirky lilt, enjoy.

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Finally a few words about Turtle - Glaswegian producer and songwriter Jon Cooper aka Turtle is excited to share a brand new video for his single 'The Floor', taken from his second EP 'Colours' - out now on Beatnik Creative. ‘The Floor’ opens the five track EP in style, introducing Turtle’s distinctive vocals over alluring guitar hooks and rising, dreamlike synths. Constantly building, emerging beats propel the track to a motorik climax with Cooper’s vocals enveloping within blissful sounds and rhythm.

It's a fine piece of music to say the least, so we are more than happy to share the video. The audio tracks follow, give the guy your support, this is an excellent E.P.

Wednesday, 27 May 2015

The Jeff Beck Group - BBC Sessions 1967 - 1971

Reloaded 27/May/2015 - I wanted to feature this set of sessions recorded for BBC radio again for a couple of reasons. Firstly because it is so easy to forget the impact on pop, rock, blues and other genres, Jeff Beck had back then. He was respected by his counterparts and was not afraid to push the boundaries. Secondly Jeff Beck was a driving force for many other artists, witnessed by those around him on these sessions alone. It's all a long time ago now, but recognition for Jeff's musical legacy should I think be acknowledged.

This is a selection of recordings from The Jeff Beck Group, which were recorded as sessions for the BBC (Radio One), from 1967 to 1971. This is not the complete set of songs performed by the band for the BBC, however it does represent a very good flavour of the material the band were performing live at that time.
 
The audio quality of tracks one to nine are notably better quality than track ten to seventeen however the latter tracks include some classic material, along with off air comments and introduction from DJ John Peel. I have separated the material into two files along the above lines.

There were two versions of the Jeff Beck Group the first existing from 1966 through to 1969, and the latter group (with different musician line up) from 1970 to 1972. With the exception of two songs (which were probably from a longer 'in concert' performance) this material is from the original band line up.

Source: BBC transcription discs and off air recordings.

Sound Quality: Very good stereo mp3@320kbps.

Genre: Rock, Blues Rock.

Set: Various BBC Radio Sessions.

Session Lists:

1. Hi-Ho Silver Lining
2. I'm Losing You

Saturday Club – 7th March 1967 – From Radio Transcription LP 

3. Rock My Plimsol
4. The Tallyman

Saturday Club – 4th July 1967 – From Radio Transcription LP

5. Hi-Ho Silver Lining
6. Shapes Of Things
7. Rock My Plimsol

Top Gear 17th September 1968 – From Radio Transcription LP.

8. Going Down
9. Got The Feeling

With vocalist Alex Ligertwood, keyboardist Max Middleton, drummer Cozy Powell and bassist Clive Chaman. BBC 1971 - From Radio Transcription LP

10. Becks Bolero
11. You’ll Never Go To heaven
12. You Shook Me
13. Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever

Top Gear 1st November 1967 - From Radio Broadcast 5th November 1967.

14. You Shook Me
15. Shapes Of Things
16. Mothers Old Rice Pudding
17. Sweet Little Angel

Top Gear 17th September 1968 - From Radio Broadcast 29th September 1968. 

Line Up:

Jeff Beck
Rod Stewart
Ron Wood
Mickey Waller
Dave Ambrose
Aynsley Dunbar
Website: Official HERE.

Comments:

One of the reasons that bands were invited to perform sessions for the BBC during the 1960's and 1970's was due to the restricted 'needle time' that existed in the UK at the time. By undertaking 'live sessions' it enabled the BBC to provide more popular music performances, and get around the rediculous limitations placed on them by the 'Performance Rights' authorities. These crazy restrictions were also in part the reason that Offshore 'pirate' Radio took off in the 1960's and 70's. The legacy however has ironically given us high quality live performance recordings of bands from The Beatles through to The Yardbirds.

Reloaded - 27/May/2015 - download link in comments. 

Tuesday, 26 May 2015

The Rolling Stones - BBC Sessions 1963 - 1965

Reloaded 26/May/2015 - Another very popular rarity that remains searched after regularly amongst collectors of Rolling Stones material. This recording was seeded close to the original 'release' and the audio reflects that and is very clean and highly enjoyable. It remains a must have for anyone who remembers the raw energy the Stones had, that set them apart from so many right from the start.

Beat Beat Beat at the Beeb is probably the most comprehensive selection of The Rolling Stones BBC Sessions from 1963 to 1965 although many other bootleg compilations have surfaced, including 'Get Satisfaction If You Want' and 'Crackin Up'.

There is a question mark over the absolute accuracy of the dates of shows or recordings however Beat Beat Beat has a reputation for being well researched so are probably pretty accurate.

The cover art displayed is apparently from a rare 10inch German album version. As regards the actual performances themselves, then this is wonderful material, showing off a highly energetic and youthful band, that in the interview ponder whether they have a few more years in them, if only they had known.

Source: Various including BBC transcription discs and off air recordings.

Sound Quality: Predominately very good mono/stereo mp3@192kbps.

Genre: Rock, rock and roll, blues-rock, rhythm and blues, blues.

Set: Various BBC Radio Sessions.

Session Track List:


CD One: Saturday Club, October 26, 1963

1. Come On
2. Memphis Tennessee
3. Roll Over Beethoven

Saturday Club, February 8, 1964

4. Ain't That Loving You Baby
5. Don't Lie To Me
6. Mona
7. Walking The Dog
8. Bye Bye Johnny
9. I Wanna Be Your Man
10. You Better Move On

Saturday Club, March 8, 1964

11. Roll Over Beethoven
12. Beautiful Delilah
13. Route 66
14. Cops and Robbers
15. You Better Move On
16. Mona

The Joe Loss Show, April 10, 1964

17. Hi-Heeled Sneakers
18. Little By Little
19. I Just Wanna Make Love To You
20. I'm Moving On

Saturday Club, April 18, 1964

21. Not Fade Away
22. Walking The Dog
23. I Just Wanna Make Love To You
24. Beautiful Delilah
25. Hi-Heeled Sneakers
26. Carol
   
CDTwo: Saturday Club, June 6, 1964

1. Down In The Bottom: aka Meet Me In The Bottom
2. You Can Make It If You Try
3. Route 66
4. Confessin' The Blues
5. Down The Road Apiece

The Joe Loss Show, July 17, 1964

6. It's All Over Now
7. If You Need Me
8. Confessin' The Blues
9. Carol
10. Mona

BBC Top Gear, July 23, 1964

11. Around and Around
12. If You Need Me
13. I Can't Be Satisfied
14. Crackin' Up

Rhythm and Blues, October 31, 1964

15. 2120 South Michigan Avenue (fades at 3:42)

BBC Top Gear, March 6, 1965

16. Down The Road Apiece
17. Interview
18. Everybody Needs Somebody To Love
19. The Last Time

The Rolling Stones Special, August 30, 1965

20. Mercy Mercy
21. Oh Baby We Got A Good Thing Going
22. The Spider And The Fly
23. Satisfaction

Saturday Club, September 18, 1965

24. Cry To Me
25. Fannie Ma

Website: Official HERE.

Comments:

Generally the audio quality is very good considerning the age of the material and the possibility that some is sourced from later generation copies. That said a reasonable amount of the recordings made it to BBC transcription CD's circulated to the Westwood One radio network.

Reloaded - 26/May/2015 - download links (two) in comments.

Cactus Lee - Sons of Sevilla - Gwenno

Cactus Lee - Got A Heart Like Rainwater Blues. This spring Cactus Lee released a new self-titled album (with R. Crumb artwork) via the este...