This is Hawkwind in three parts, concentrating on rarities from 1970 to 1980. It is also an introduction to another website that if you enjoy Hawkwind's music should know about (perhaps you already do, but no harm in sharing the details).
One of the fascinating things about unofficial recordings is the various sources they come from and the levels of audio quality available. These three recordings kind of demonstrate this.
The first one is clearly a home recording of BBC radio sessions and the music is joined by the wonders of 'radio' noise. That said, I reckon any self respecting Hawkwind fan may well have a copy of this somewhere, for the sake of completeness if nothing else. Don't get me wrong, it is quite listenable, it's just that there is a considerable amount of far better material around, more about later. Audio quality - Average, listenable
Part One:
BBC Radio One Sessions 1970-71
John Peel Intro
Paranoia
See It As You Really Are
I Do It
Hurry On Sundown
See It As You Really Are
Master of the Universe
You Know You're Only Dreaming
You Shouldn't Do That.
Then we have the demo recordings. Now as you know, there are a variety of sources for demo's, it may be one member of the band doing his guide vocals over a guitar or piano for the band to build on. Or it's the full ensemble trying out ideas in the studio and of course anything in between.
Although this is described as the Quark demo's, I am not certain all of it is. Some appears to be studio doodling (if there is such a thing, if not you heard it here first), and some is more rehearsal sounding, whatever it's a must for Hawkwind fans and another part of the jigsaw. The copy I have declares the recording is remastered, I will leave it to you to figure that one out. Audio quality - Good, it's a demo!
Part Two:
Quark Demos (remastered)
Instrumental 1
Damnation Alley 1
Damnation Alley 2
Damnation Alley 3
Spirit of the Age
Days of the Underground
Fable of a Failed Race
Hassan I Sahba
Forge of the Vulcan
Instrumental 2
Instrumental 3
Finally of course there are the live concert recordings. I cannot count the times the term Soundboard is used, when clearly it is an off air recording. FM stereo recordings can often be better than direct soundboard copies as the processing, mixing and means of recording may be superior. Getting it from the soundboard however suggests an inside job, 'being in the know' and so forth. Don't get me wrong sometimes the recording is sensational and the good thing is unless the audience riots you can be sure the quality is going to be pretty good.
This recording was made from the sound desk by a roadie and is remarkably good despite the fact it was straight onto a EMI cassette tape & don't forget in 1980 cassette tapes were pretty hissy affairs. OK it's been cleaned up and is really worth hearing. Audio Quality -Very Good Stereo Soundboard.
Part Three:
Hawkwind Live - Glasgow Apollo - 21-10-1980
Levitation
Motorway City
Death Trap
Shot Down in the Night
Spirit of the Age
World of Tiers
5th Second Forever
Dust of Time
Space Chase
PSI Power
Awakening
Brainstorm
Drum solo
Brainstorm reprise
Silver Machine
Master of the Universe
OK Beehive Candy's lecture on boots and all now concludes, I feel better for it, apologies to all of you who do not.
Now as alluded to earlier there is a very fine website for all Hawkwind fans. The even better news is that Hawkwind (along with many other enlightened artists elsewhere) have formally allowed any non commercially released Hawkwind material to be shared there. Therefore this will be my first and last share of Hawkwind 'stuff' here as you can go and get it all over there!
Reloaded - 05/May/2015 This is R.E.M. recorded live (soundboard sourced) at one of the bands local venues namely Tyrone's O.C., in Athens GA, USA, way back on the 23rd September 1981. This recording features both sets and includes the sound check (not proven but by sound quality etc generally agreed to be from this gig).
This was the bands 26th gig at Tyrone's O.C. the first at this venue taking place just over a year earlier on the 6th May 1980, and that performance was only their 5th ever full live gig. As regular home town shows go, the band sound incredible, full of natural energy, respectful of a growing local following and clearly enjoying and developing their craft.
Noting their early history wikipedia tells us: In January 1980, Michael Stipe met Peter Buck in the Athens record store where Buck worked. The pair discovered that they shared similar tastes in music, particularly punk rock and protopunk artists like Patti Smith, Television, and The Velvet Underground. Stipe said, "It turns out that I was buying all the records that [Buck] was saving for himself." Stipe and Buck soon met fellow University of Georgia students Mike Mills and Bill Berry, who had played music together since high school. The quartet agreed to collaborate on several songs; Stipe later commented that "there was never any grand plan behind any of it". Their still-unnamed band spent several months rehearsing and played its first show on April 5, 1980 at a friend's birthday party held in a converted Episcopal church in Athens. After considering names like "Twisted Kites", "Cans of Piss", and "Negro Wives", the band settled on "R.E.M.", which Stipe selected at random from a dictionary.
The band members eventually dropped out of school to focus on their developing group. They found a manager in Jefferson Holt, a record store clerk who was so impressed by an R.E.M. performance in his hometown of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, that he moved to Athens. R.E.M.'s success was almost immediate in Athens and surrounding areas; the band drew progressively larger crowds for shows, which caused some resentment in the Athens music scene. Over the next year and a half, R.E.M. toured throughout the Southern United States. Touring was arduous since a touring circuit for alternative rock bands did not then exist. The group had to tour in an old blue van driven by Holt, and the band members lived on a food allowance of $2 a day.
During the summer of 1981, R.E.M. recorded its first single, "Radio Free Europe", at producer Mitch Easter's Drive-In Studios in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The single was released on the local independent record label Hib-Tone with an initial pressing of one thousand copies, which quickly sold out. Despite its limited pressing, the single garnered critical acclaim, and was listed as one of the ten best singles of the year by The New York Times.
Source: Soundboard.
Sound Quality: Very good stereo mp3@192kbps.
Genre: Alternative rock, college rock, jangle pop.
Set: Full set.
Set List:
First Set:
01 Just A Touch
02 Ages Of You
03 1,000,000
04 Get On Their Way
05 There She Goes Again
06 Action
07 Wait
08 Sitting Still
09 Permanent Vacation
10 Mystery To Me
Second Set:
11 White Tornado
12 I Can't Control Myself
13 Burning Down
14 Shaking Through
15 Laughing
16 Romance
17 Pretty Persuasion
18 That Beat
19 Stumble
20 Radio Free Europe
21 Carnival Of Sorts (Boxcars)
Encore:
22 The Lion Sleeps Tonight
23 Skank
24 Gardening At Night
25 Windout
26 9-9
Sound check (most probably):
27 Unknown instrumental
28 Sitting still
29 100000030
30 The lion sleeps tonight
Reloaded 05/May/2015 King Crimson made their live debut on April 9th, 1969. They became widely known three months later, by playing at the free concert in Hyde Park, London, staged by The Rolling Stones in July 1969, before 650,000 people. The first King Crimson album, In the Court of the Crimson King was released in October 1969. Among those impressed by the album was Pete Townshend from The Who, who described the album "as an uncanny masterpiece."
King Crimson (along with quite a few other bands) have been credited as the founders of progressive rock - I am never really sure if that is a good thing!
This is King Crimson live at The Fillmore West, San Francisco, on the 14th of December 1969. King Crimson were the opening act at the Fillmore West on this particular night, providing support for The Chambers Brothers and The Nice.
Not only was this the final night of King Crimson's first U.S. tour, it was also the last concert played by the original lineup.
Set List:
1. (Introduction)
2. The Court Of The Crimson King
3. Drop In
4. Pictures Of A City
5. Epitaph
6. 21st Centruy Schizoid Man
7. Mars
Band Line Up:
Robert Fripp - guitar
Greg Lake - vocals, bass
Ian McDonald - woodwinds, mellotron, vocals
Michael Giles - drums
The sound quality is excellent, taken from the soundboard master recording @320kbps bitrate. It captures a very 'young' band in terms of performance and experience, playing extremely well.
Reloaded 03/May/2015. This is Louis Armstrong performing at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA, way back on the 4th May 1954.
During the 1950's Louis Armstrong and His All Stars undertook a considerable amount of touring. Also his recordings 'Satch Plays Fats, all Fats Waller tunes', and 'Louis Armstrong Plays W.C. Handy' both released in the 1950s were perhaps among the last of his great creative recordings.
Following a highly successful small-group jazz concert at New York Town Hall on May 17th, 1947, featuring Armstrong with trombonist/singer Jack Teagarden, Armstrong's manager Joe Glaser dissolved the Armstrong big band (August 1947) and established a six-piece small group featuring Armstrong with (initially) Teagarden, Earl Hines and other top swing and dixieland musicians, most of them ex-big band leaders. The new group was announced at the opening of Billy Berg's Supper Club.
This group was called Louis Armstrong and his All Stars and included at various times Earl "Fatha" Hines, Barney Bigard, Edmond Hall, Jack Teagarden, Trummy Young, Arvell Shaw, Billy Kyle, Marty Napoleon, Big Sid Catlett, Cozy Cole, Tyree Glenn, Barrett Deems, Joe Darensbourg and the Filipino-American percussionist, Danny Barcelona. During this period, Armstrong made many recordings and appeared in over thirty films. He was the first jazz musician to appear on the cover of Time Magazine on February 21, 1949. This soundboard recording was most likely made for radio broadcast.
Source: Soundboard.
Sound Quality: Very good mp3@320kbps.
Genre: Dixieland, jazz, swing, traditional pop.
Set: Full set.
Set List:
First Set:
1. When It’s Sleepy Time Down South
2. Back Home Again in Indiana
3. A Kiss to Build a Dream On
4. The Bucket’s Got a Hole In It
5. Blueberry Hill
6. Tin Roof Blues
7. Struttin’ with Some Barbecue
8. Swonderful
9. Billy Kyle Piano Jam!
10. The Man I Love
11. My Sweet Baby
12. Big Mama’s Back in Town > Love That Man
13. Baby it’s Cold Outside
14. Stompin’ at the Savoy
Second Set:
15. The Life of Didley Rambo
16. It’s So Good
17. Up the Lazy River
18. Shadrack, Meshack, Abendigo
19. When the Saints Go Marching In
20. When the Saints Go Marching In (Pt. 2)
21. High Society
23. Billy Kyle Piano Solo II
24. Dumb, Dumb, Dumby
Final Part:
25. Post Show Interview with L.A.
26. Struttin’ With Some Barbecue.
Line Up:
Louis Armstrong - Trumpet, Vocals
Kenny Johns - Drums
Billy Kyle - Piano
Arvel Shaw - Bass
Trummy Young - Trombone
Barnie Begard - Clarinet
Thelma Middleton - Vocals
The rules are simple, anything we like, no particular order, as and when we can, so here's our first 2015 round up, of new or very recent material received.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chanel Samson. Chanel Samson's 'The Beginning' EP is inspired by this Californian girl's time in Liverpool, the men in her life, her friends, and one particular doomed relationship with Matthew. The track 'F U Matthew' documents the doomed love affair but it's as cheerfully upbeat and irreverent as Chanel herself. Her lyrics are biting yet playful, and her delivery is tongue in cheek and knowing, allowing her to explore the darker aspects of relationships without ever losing that Californian sunshine smile. 'The Beginning' EP was recorded and produced by Felix Hagan, lead singer and songwriter of Felix Hagan and the Family. Chanel met Felix last year and was initially drawn to his black and white striped leggings and theatrical performance, knowing immediately they'd get along well. Together they are keen to establish Circus Rock as a solid genre. Chanel says "The sound Felix brought to the EP is exactly what I wanted with rock guitar and quirky instrumentation. I used my horn players at LIPA and he recorded everything else at his studio in Manchester." Tracks from 'The Beginning's are currently being played on radio stations across the UK, Europe and America as well as attracting positive reviews from a huge range of media outlets. Chanel also has a very large following across the north west of England as she brings some of her West Coast sparkle to Liverpool's vibrant music scene.
It's described elsewhere as quirky and Beehive Candy does get grabbed by that word, and grabbed we are.
Dar Williams. Dar Williams’ growth as an individual over her two-decade career has gone hand-in-hand with her evolution as an artist. This is perhaps best typified by the release of "Emerald," a timely and brilliant album of new songs and collaborations with friends such as Jill Sobule, Richard Thompson, Jim Lauderdale, the Milk Carton Kids, the Hooters, Lucy Wainwright Roche and her mother Suzzy Roche among others. Raised in Chappaqua, N.Y., Williams spent 10 years living in the thriving artistic community of Northampton, Mass., where she began to make the rounds on the coffeehouse circuit. Joan Baez, an early fan of her music, took Williams out on the road and recorded several of her songs. The rest is history. Williams most recently released a live recording celebrating the 20th Anniversary of her legendary album, "The Honesty Room.” In addition to being a touring artist, Williams is an author, teaches a course at Wesleyan University, and conducts annual songwriting seminars. She devotes much of her time to environmental issues and causes, and has created “Give Bees A Camp” which combines concerts and the planting of bee-friendly gardens for young campers.
From the opening chord of 'Something To Get Through' my attention was gained, maybe it's because I use a pair of Mission floor stand speakers as desktops (I kid you not) and had the volume cranked up, however I think it was probably the calibre of the music. The new album 'Emerald' is out 5th May 2015. Website HERE.
Joakim Tinderholt. Despite his relatively young age the powerhouse RnB- and Blues singer/guitarist Joakim Tinderholt is already an experienced entertainer. Oslo's blues shouter #1 is a force to be reckoned with for years to come. He is considered one of Norways finest performers of traditional RnB and Blues, and has performed with international artists such as Rick Holmstrom, Mitch Kashmar, Kid Ramos and The Delta Groove Revue. Nearly ten years after their first gig, at the now closed and legendary, Muddy Waters Blues Club in Oslo, Joakim Tinderholt & his band are finally ready with their debut album. Parts of the band are already experienced recording artists, recording with artists such as the late Louisiana Red and the Billy T Band. The latter has won the Norwegian Grammy Award, in the Blues category, in 2010 and 2012.
The songs on the record are a mix of new original song, and favorites from the live set. There are many and diverse inspirations, ranging from the wild Rock’n´roll of Little Richard to the intense Blues of Otis Rush and the hypnotic grooves of Bo Diddley.
This is real gutsy music and the album has been out a few weeks but is worth a mention here. Norway has produced some fine artists down the years Joakim joins the list.
Kiko Bun. From mods and skinheads with ska to punks’s love of dub, right up to jungle and dubstep, Jamaican music and sound system culture has long provided a deeply held fascination for successive generations of young Londoners. So, like so many other kids growing up in West London, its no surprise the half Panamanian, half Italian Kiko Bun grew up obsessed with reggae and hip hop, immersing himself quickly into London’s ever-thriving subculture of musicians, MCs, DJs, shops bursting with revival Studio One 7”s and the all-important sound system mixtapes imported straight from JA. A couple of years sorting out the reggae section in Islington secondhand vinyl goldmine Flashback Records while continually singing, writing and producing demos led to last year’s ‘Sticky Situation’. A rocksteady-sampling, instantly memorable summer boombox anthem, ‘Sticky Situation’ sparked an extraordinary level of online interest, swiftly resulting in Kiko’s signing to a very natural home at Island Records last year. Now first single proper ‘Where I’m From’ mixes this deep love of Jamaican roots music with crisp young London bass culture to create a heavyweight soundboy killer perfectly suited to rock anywhere from Bestival to any self-respecting blues dance. Produced by London’s Cadenza (The Full Hundred, Major Lazer) and Brooklyn’s Ticklah (a founder member of the Dap Kings who’s worked on everything from Amy Winehouse’s ‘Back To Black’ to the classic reggae version excursion ‘Dub Side Of The Moon’).
Beehive Candy struggles to say no to anything reggae, as you might know and when it's good then what can we do? Brings back memories of my day's in West London, I still remember having to hide the cover of Tighten Up Volume Two, when I bought the album home.
Liza Anne. Liza Anne will release TWO, the follow-up to her 2014 debut album The Colder Months, independently on May 19th. The album was recorded in Nashville with producer Zachary Dyke (COIN), and mixed/mastered by Chad Wahlbrink (Joseph LeMay, the Soil & the Sun). After travelling consistently over the past two years, Liza has grown as an individual, so it's only natural that her sound has expanded and evolved as well. On TWO Liza strives to find the balance between staying authentic to her folk/singer-songwriter roots, and experimenting with fuller instrumentation and layered sounds. Recent career highlights include: NPR Music including "Room" in the Austin 100 for her SXSW 2015 performances, a Tin Pan South appearance in Nashville with Sam Palladio (Nashville), an iTunes Music New Artist Spotlight feature of "Room," opening for FYFE in London at his Communion Music single release show, playing Moeller Mondays (Daytrotter) in Rock Island, opening for Leighton Meester (Gossip Girl) at Hotel Cafe in LA, and most recently singing in Damien Rice's choir at The Ryman Auditorium in Nashville.
I have only heard four songs by Liza Anne and on the strength of these, will be listening to the album pretty soon I hope. Website HERE.
Ainslie Wills. Melbourne Melodist Ainslie Wills has revealed her second song 'Hawaii' from 'Oh The Gold' EP due late 2015. 'Hawaii’ is an Australian contemporary power ballad with a chorus that crashes down on you like wave dumping you to the ocean floor. Paying homage to an 80's gospel sound tinged with a Stevie Wonder inspired synth solo.
Following on from her previous single to 'Drive', and collaborations with #1 Dads, JJJ performances, Ainslie been accruing an earnest following amongst the Australian and International music scenes. Her independent release of her debut LP You Go Your Way, I'll Go Mine, released in 2013 received nominations for the critically acclaimed Australian Music Prize and Melbourne Music Prize and brought her brand of Neo-Folk-Rock closer to the fore, showing that Wills is an artist with integrity and longevity.
I am seriously loving this song, the web may be blamed for many things by some in the music biz, but how would I (and we) have discovered this gem from the other side of the world without it? As regards this song for me in one word, Wonderful.
Jan Hellriegel. This is Jan Hellriegel's March released video single 'For The Love Of Glory'.
This cinematic, cowboy, Middle Eastern inspired pop song explores themes of 'good' and 'bad'. Says Jan, "You can’t please everyone all the time and sometimes your actions can hurt others even if you think you are doing the right thing. The question is, what is doing the right thing?" 2015 is the 'year of the co-writes' for Hellriegel. She provided the melody and chorus for the track and handed over lyric imagery to Martin Brown. Long-time collaborator and notable NZ musician, Wayne Bell produced the track, layering sweet melodic choral vocals over the chorus, helping to relieve the listener of the damning symbolism of the preceding verses. Daniel Denholm helped mix the song, embracing Jan's sonic vision of '1000 slaves pulling on the oars of a boat and moaning or grunting sounds'. Chris Chetland (Kog Studios) mastered the track to full clarity and sparkle. The music video is a mélange of vintage super 8 footage of Auckland’s Western Springs Speedway and it’s social club members, filmed by Jan’s Dad in 1970. The film also features what is now known as Victoria Park Market when it used to be a panel shop.
OK so we are still playing catch up this was released in late March, it's a fine song and a really good video, that manages to be different and complement the song.
Nina K. Nina K has announced details of a new single, ‘Impossible’, which will be released by Nina K’s own label, Ninkina Recordings, on May 8th, 2015. The track is taken from her forthcoming album due for release in the fall 2015. Big voices and powerful personas has always been important. A musical home. But Nina has never been interested in being just a voice. She is a true craftswoman at heart, handling every little detail and decision in the process on her own. A 2015 version of the "DIVA" and a female music auteur, handpicking only the most suitable collaborators. This time Alex ”Lexxx” Dromgoole (Björk, Jessie Ware, Angel Haze, Madonna) as mixer, and spaced-out experimental musician and synth wizard Daniel Fagge Fagerstrom (Optic Nest, The Skull Defects) as co-producer. The result is a dreamy and experimental pop recording of flutes, harps, 90’s tambourine beats, floaty synthesizers. In 2010, after her science fiction inspired album, “Red Leader Dream”, Nina Kinert put her artist career on ice - indefinitely. She started lending out her writing skills and vocals to others exploring the worlds of modern disco and dance pop with acts Tomas Barfod, WhoMadeWho, Nadastrom and CMG to name a few. And in between studio sessions she took a bachelor degree in film studies. Being "on ice" turned out to be a process in itself.
Inspired by divas from her eighties/nineties childhood – Mariah Carey, Sade, Sinead O’Connor and Enya – Nina K releases the song Impossible. The song is about the difficulty of growing up without letting go of the diva-dream.
This is the final one for this round up, it's atmospheric feel just floats us along, enjoy...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Another Out Of Our Inbox soon, enjoy!"
