A Trip Before The Beatles - The Quarrymen 1960

If you are not familiar with The Quarrymen, John Lennon's 'skiffle' group, that eventually became The Silver Beatles, and then of course The Beatles, the Wikipedia article HERE is really interesting.

I thought of just providing some selected parts within this posting, but the whole article provides excellent background to this recording.

This rehearsal recording was made just four weeks before they changed name to The Silver Beetles, and John Lennon's friend Stuart Sutcliffe made up the quartet.

This recording was made at Paul McCartney's home early in 1960, prior to Pete Best joining as drummer, and of course the Hamburg, Germany era.

This is obviously a wonderful piece of musical history, and the audio quality reflects the historical aspect, home taping circa 1960, likely on one microphone, and with a muffled sound and hiss, that an old tape would retain however much you try to clean it up.

That said I find it fascinating, and a must have for any Beatles fan, and for anyone who values rock and pop musics heritage.

Track listing:

1 I Love Her So - vocals Paul McCartney
2 The One After 909 - vocals John Lennon and Paul McCartney
3 I'll Always Be In Love With You - vocals John Lennon
4 You'll Always Be Mine - vocals John and Paul
5 Match Box - vocals George Harrison
6 You Just Don't Understand - vocals Paul
7 Some days - vocals Paul
8 Thinking Of Linking - Instrumental
9 I'll Follow The Sun - vocals Paul
10 The One After 909 - Version Two vocals John & Paul
11 Hey Darling - vocals George and Paul
12 You Must Lie Everyday - vocals unknown
13 Guitar Bop - Instrumental
14 That's When Your Heartaches Begin - vocals John
15 Hello Little Girl - vocals John and Paul
16 That'll Be The Day - vocals John

OK so the audio ain't brilliant, but as collectors items go this has to be right up there - enjoy!

The Beatles merchandise HERE

Reloaded - 25/May/2015 - download link in comments.

Aretha Franklin - Live in Jamaica - 1982

OK lets get the all important 'Queen Of Soul' reference stated, and out of the way!

From the mid 1970's Aretha Franklin's musical career was struggling, not surprisingly as her personal life was troubled by family tragedy and a big problem with tax debt issues.

In 1980, Aretha Franklin's career was given a much-needed boost thanks to a cameo appearance on The Blues Brothers, singing 'Think' as Mrs. Matt Murphy. That same year, Clive Davis signed Aretha, to his Arista Records.

'United Together' and 'Love All The Hurt Away', a duet with George Benson, returned her to the Top 10 on the Billboard R&B charts.

Her 1982 release, 'Jump To It', produced by longtime admirer Luther Vandross, gave the singer her first R&B chart-topper and pop success since '(Giving Him) Something He Can Feel'.

The Jump To It album enjoyed a long run at Number One on Billboard's R&B Albums chart.

Aretha was back on form, as this live recording demonstrates. Recorded at the Jamaica World Music Festival in 1982, as part of a live FM broadcast, this is Aretha Franklin, doing her stuff.

This performance was recorded on November 26, 1982 at the Bob Marley Performing Arts Center, Freeport Zone, Montego Bay, Jamaica.

Unedited it includes introductory announcements and so forth - the concert comprises of the following:

01 - Announcer Talk
02 - Instrumental Intro & Announcer
03 - Hold On I'm Coming
04 - Love Me Forever
05 - It's Your Thing
06 - Make It Up To You
07 - Talk By Aretha Over Intro To Golden Moments Medley
08 - Daydreaming
09 - Rock Steady
10 - Say A Little Prayer
11 - Respect
12 - I Hurt Myself (I'm Guilty)
13 - Ain't No Way
14 - Instrumental Outro To Set & Announcer
15 - Band Intro
16 - Because Of You
17 - Jump To It
18 - Announcer & Jump To It Finale
19 - Announcer & Crowd Noise

Put some soul, some energy, and some Aretha on your hard drive!

Sound quality: Original FM stereo source - very good.

Reloaded August 2015 see comments.

Bootleg Originals Part Two - Santana - USA 1976

Carlos Santana is sixty years young this year, yep once again another one of those now familiar milestones for music fans.

Was it really 35 years ago that I bought Caravanserai, an album of timeless qualities, which I think pretty much sums up so much of the music of Santana.

This concert was recorded in 1976. Lets get the period in context.

Carlos Santana along with Tom Coster, producer David Rubinson, and drummer Ndugu Leon Chancler had formed yet another version of Santana, adding vocalist Greg Walker.

The album "Amigos" was released in 1976 which featured the songs "Dance, Sister, Dance" and "Let It Shine" and had a strong funk and Latin sound.

The album also received considerable airplay on FM (USA) album oriented rock stations with the instrumental "Europa (Earths Cry Heavens Smile)" and re-introduced Santana back into the charts. Rolling Stone magazine ran a second cover story on Santana entitled; "Santana Comes Home" there was a lot of interest in the band that year.

This concert captures so well one of Santana's most special aspects, namely playing live.

Recorded at The Beacon Theatre, New York City, USA on the 7th May 1976, the band were in sparkling form, the venue seems ideal for their kind of skilled musicianship.

This was a professionally recorded and mixed show, that does such a well crafted and vibrant band justice. It was recently given a digital clean up by the BBC for rebroadcast. This is the nice new 'cleaned up' copy!

Set list is:

1. Gitano
2. Black Magic Woman / Gypsy Queen
3. Dance Sister Dance (Baila Mi Hermana)
4. Europa (Earth's Cry Heaven's Smile)
5. Samba Pa Ti
6. Let Me
7. Incident At Neshabur
8. Evil Ways

Replacement download link in comments below (8th February 2012).

Some Santana Cd's from their seventies era HERE .

Marillion - Live In London - 1984

Guess which one went on to a solo career and acting? Hmmm....

OK so Fish was a bit of an extrovert, that said Marillion have done very well since he left, way back when.

This is interesting, the band on tour prior to 'Misplaced Childhood' being released, and the very successful hit single 'Kayleigh'.

They played some of the 'forthcoming material', which for Marillion fans, is fascinating to hear.

The comments from Fish, introducing the 'new material', also demonstrates that the final album structure was not quite as planned.

Also the lyrics on 'Kayleigh' are different from the final album/single version.

This was recorded at the Hammersmith Odeon on December 14th 1984.

The original source was stereo soundboard, and considering that the likely path was vinyl, then CD, and finally digital, the sound quality remains excellent.

Setlist is:

01. Garden Party
02. Cinderella Search
03. Jigsaw
04. Chelsea Monday
05. Pseudo Silk Kimono / Kayleigh
06. Bitter Suite
07. Heart of Lothian
08. Incubus

NEW DOWNLOAD LINK IN COMMENTS BELOW OR CLICK ON THE PICTURE ABOVE.

Some Marillion material from the era available HERE.

... and I did not mention Genesis or prog rock once ! ...