June Music Selection - 2009

I still read several of the UK music press publications every month, and have built up a personal list of music sites, that have reliably led me to discover highly enjoyable new music on a regular basis.

Along with that, one of the perks of running this music website, is the material from promoters, agencies, and bands themselves, that come this way.

I select new music to share on a simple criteria, either I like it (another perk), it complements the live material, or finally, it adds to the diversity of music on Beehive Candy.

There's a selection of all of the above in this months recommendations, nicely mixed up, see what you think.

Camera Obscura. OK this is easy, I love the very excellent Scottish band Camera Obscura, and am a little late in encouraging some more interest in their latest album (released back in April).

The new album 'My Maudlin Career' is their fourth and continues to present some wonderful indie pop songs, crafted in a very definitive and warm style.

Listen:



MP3: My Maudlin Career
Web Link: MySpace.
Buy: Camera Obscura


David Mead has a unique sound, that draws comparisons with Paul Simon or Harry Nilsson, not a bad couple of reference points. His calm atmospheric sound is just fine to unwind to. He has a new album out on Cheap Lullaby Records in August, this is from it.

Listen:



MP3: Last Train Home.
Web Link: My Space.
Buy: New Album HERE. MP3's selection David Mead


Donny Hue and the Colors, Have a new album coming out on June 23rd (Letter From New Virginia - Kora Records), and ahead of this they have been releasing some free 'b sides' from the recordings.

They describe themselves as a mixture of experimental & country. The song 'Steps' reminds me of Syd Barrett & early Pink Floyd, whilst 'Oh Lord', is someplace else all together.

'Recorded in an old barn in the middle of Luray, VA, Letter from New Virginia paints a majestic landscape of harmonica laced hoe down folk. Once again, the Colors came from all over the eastern seaboard and west coast to put together the follow up to 2007’s Donny Hue and the Colors debut Folkmote. Burleigh Seaver (former member of OK GO) brought in his recording gear and captured all of the harmonies of the album at once with mixing and mastering done back in DC'.

Listen:

Steps.


Oh Lord.


MP3: Steps. Oh Lord.
Web Link: My Space. Official Site HERE.
Buy: Donny Hue and The Colors


Fanfarlo from London, England, are totally new to me, and am I glad that a promo for them came my way!

They initially reminded me in part of Arcade Fire, and also Beirut, in a very positive way, that said they have a unique sound of their own, a real mixture of alternative pop & modern folk music. Please check them out.

Listen:

Pilot


Finish Line


MP3: Pilot. Finish Line.
Web Link: My Space. Official site HERE.
Buy: New Album HERE. Some mp3's at Amazon.co.ukFanfarlo


Josh Ottum is from Seattle, Washington, USA, home of so many fine bands and artists, along with the very excellent KEXP.

Upbeat and refreshing music is how I would describe this. I know very little about Josh, the music can be likened to anything from Sufjan Stevens to Steely Dan, its worth a listen to, that's for sure.

Listen:



MP3: The Easy Way Out.
Web Link: My Space.
Buy: Josh Ottum


School of Seven Bells are rightly in my humble opinion getting broader recognition, for their superb music. Their mixture of dream pop, shoegaze and Indie electronic music is just oh so good.

Often referred to just as SVIIB, they are a three-piece band formed by Benjamin Curtis of Secret Machines, together with identical twins Alejandra and Claudia Deheza.

Listen:



MP3: Half Asleep.
Web Link: My Space HERE.
Buy: School Of Seven Bells

Well that's it for this round up, I do hope you get to enjoy some of these, and as always support the artist's where you can.

Candi Staton - Glastonbury 2008

With Glastonbury 2009 soon to be upon us (oh! how this 'post' will soon be out of date), this is a quick glance back to Glastonbury 2008 courtesy of Candi Staton.

The BBC tend to cover artist across the various festival stages, albeit in most cases not the whole sets, often just one or two numbers, thankfully with Candi Staton they covered some great numbers in her performance.

Born Canzetta Maria Staton in Hanceville, Alabama, USA, it was great to watch her performance last year (on TV in my case), and wonder once again, where three decades slipped by since I first came across her music.

Source: BBC TV and radio coverage.

Sound Quality: Very good quality stereo audio @192kbps mp3.

Genre: R&B, Soul, Disco.

Set: Part of her set (BBC broadcast material as listed below).

Set List:

1. Young Hearts Run Free
2. Nights on Broadway
3. Suspicious Minds
4. In the Ghetto
5. Old Man Sweet Heart
6. You Got the Love

Links: Official site HERE.

Comments: This is from Candi Staton's performance on the first night of Glastonbury 2008 (Friday 27th June 2008), recorded live on the Jazz World Stage, a good number of fans have fed back that this performance really kicked things off that night in this arena.

'Young Hearts Run Free' remains to this day, one of my favorite songs, from way back in 1976.

Considering that here in the UK the whole punk backlash thing was kicking off that year, this song remains a reminder that some great popular music was still around at that time.

As this edited selection of songs from her 2008 performance demonstrates, Candi Staton has still got the spark and creativity some thirty something years on.

Download link in comments below and by clicking on the picture above.

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

Shania Twain - Live In London 2003.

This is Shania Twain live in London back in 2003.

This performance was at the famous Abbey Road studios in London, in front of a thoroughly enthusiastic audience.

Abbey Road studios were in part made famous both because of The Beatles album and the Fab Four crossing the road outside, thankfully this often copied picture was not taken up by Shania Twain.

Perhaps of more interest is the size of the premises for live performances, clearly there were a good number of fans present for this event.

Recorded for broadcast by BBC Radio Two, as part of their 'In Concert' series, the performance was on the 26th July 2003.

Source: FM radio broadcast (BBC Radio Two).

Sound Quality: Very good quality stereo @192kbps mp3.

Genre: Country - Rock - Pop.

Set: Full set.

Set List:

1. Intro
2. I Feel Like A Woman
3. Up !
4. For Ever & For Always
5. Ka-Ching
6. Don’t Be Stupid
7. That Don’t Impress Me Much
8. Thank You Baby
9. When You Kiss Me
10. I’m Gonna Get You Good
11.That’s It
12.Still The One
13. Rock This Country
14. Nah!

Links: Official site HERE. Informative Wikipedia HERE.

Comments: This is a feisty performance, Shania Twain is accompanied by some excellent musicians.

As far as I know this was a one off show ahead of the Up! Tour which started a couple of months later in her home country at Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.

Her MySpace site states:

Shania Twain was born Eilleen Regina Edwards in Windsor, Ontario, Canada on August 28, 1965, the second oldest of five siblings. She was raised in Timmins, Ontario, about 500 miles due north of Toronto, where her adoptive father, an Ojibway Indian named Jerry Twain, and mother, Sharon, had both been raised. It was a proud but, at times, impoverished existence. They struggled to keep enough food in the cupboards, but there was always an abundance of music and love in the household.

Twain often grabbed a guitar and retreated to the solitude of her bedroom singing and writing until her fingers ached. "I grew up listening to Waylon, Willie, Dolly, Tammy, all of them," she recalls. "But we also listened to the Mamas and the Papas, The Carpenters, The Supremes and Stevie Wonder. The many different styles of music I was exposed to as a child not only influenced my vocal style, but even more so, my writing style."

It is interesting having read this just how much of these influences do indeed come out, even in this live performance.

Download link in comments below and by clicking on the picture above.

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

The Bangles - Live In New York 1986

This is the second live concert by The Bangles featured here on Beehive Candy.

I was surprised just how popular the 1983 concert has been in terms of downloads, this however is from the band around their most popular period, with Manic Monday, and Walk Like An Egyptian becoming major hits for the band both sides of the Atlantic.

This gig took place in New York, USA, during 1986, sorry I do not have venue or date details.

Source: FM radio broadcast.

Sound Quality: Very good quality stereo @192kbps mp3.

Genre: Rock to pop - all girl group.

Set: Just over 57 minutes so possible radio edit, however this amounts to sixteen songs.

Set List:

01 - Let It Go (2:47)
02 - Restless (2:48)
03 - Walking Down Your Street (3:21)
04 - James (3:24)
05 - He's Got A Secret (3:30)
06 - September Girls (2:54)
07 - If She Knew What She Wants (4:26)
08 - Return Post (5:07)
09 - In A Different Light (2:34)
10 - Going Down To Liverpool (3:56)
11 - Live (2:45)
12 - Angels Don't Fall In Love (2:59)
13 - Hero Takes A Fall (4:18)
14 - Manic Monday (3:45)
15 - Walk Like An Egyptian (3:39)
16 - Dover Beach (4:55)

Links: Official site HERE.

Comments: It's great to see The Bangles touring in 2009, albeit limited to gigs in the USA at present.

I have always been a fan of all girl groups, especially rock orientated, they just seem to bring a spark and freshness to the music, and challenge the sometimes worryingly male dominated music scene.

The Bangles worked very hard in the 1980's, toured far to much, and never took their success for granted, it's great that after a fairly ugly break up, they reformed and seem to have learnt the lesson regarding being on the road for to long.

Download link in comments below and by clicking on the picture above.

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

Jackson Browne - Jabberwocky Club 1971

This is Jackson Browne live in concert a year before he released his debut solo album.

Prior to this Jackson Browne had already written songs for, (and recorded by) Nico, The Byrds, Bonnie Raitt, and The Eagles (with whom he later co-wrote 'Desperado' and 'Doolin' Dalton').

Tracing the roots of Jackson Browne's career leads back to the mid 1960's and Los Angeles and Orange County folk clubs.

Born in Germany to American parents, Jackson's family returned to Los Angeles when he was three. Except for a brief period in NYC in the late 1960's, when he was an integral presence in the coffeehouse scene there, he has always lived in Southern California.

This then is Jackson Browne solo and playing guitar and piano, live at the Jabberwocky Club (a small, 200 seat nightclub), at Syracuse University, New York, USA, back on the 27th, March, 1971.

This is the first known recorded live show of Jackson Browne.

Source: The source is from a first generation master, soundboard recording.

Sound Quality: The sound quality is very good to excellent, very clear and clean, in all very good stereo @192kbps mp3.

Genre: Rock, Folk, Country.

Set: Full concert recording.

Set List:
01 Introduction
02 Under The Falling Star
03 World To Gain ***
04 Together Again ***
05 Mae Jean Goes To Hollywood
06 Last Time I Was Home ***
07 Jesus In 3/4 Time
08 My Opening Farewell
09 From Silverlake
10 Rock Me On The Water
11 Jamaica Say You Will

12 Together Again ***
13 Take It Underground ***
14 When You Lose Your Money ***
15 Our Lady Of The Well
16 These Days
17 Someday Morning
18 Shadow Dream Song
19 Song For Adam
20 Looking Into You

*** Songs that Jackson Browne never recorded for any album.

Links: Official site HERE.

Comments: This recording may not be exclusive to this site, however it remains quite rare, especially considering this versions quality.

His debut album, came out a year later on David Geffen's Asylum Records in 1972. Rolling Stone wrote in its original review that, 'Jackson Browne's sensibility is romantic in the best sense of the term: his songs are capable of generating a highly charged, compelling atmosphere throughout, and - just as important - of sustaining that pitch in the listener's mind long after they've ended'.

Material performed on this recording later appeared on his first two albums, some of the songs were never formally released.

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

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

The Stranglers - New Jersey, USA - 1981.

This is The Stranglers back in 1981 on tour in the USA, having just released the first of two albums that year, 'The Gospel According To The Men In Black' or 'Men In Black', as it was entitled in some countries.

This then is The Stranglers live at Emerald City, Cherry Hill, New Jersey, USA, on the 11th, April, 1981.

This is from a broadcast on Philadelphia's WMMR 93.3.

Source: FM broadcast WMMR 93.3, first generation copy.

Sound Quality: Very Good stereo @192kbps mp3.

Genre: Post Punk, New Wave, unique sound identity.

Set: One hour recording, may have been other songs on the night, if so, this would have been the latter part of the gig.

Set List:

01. Waltzinblack (intro)
02. Threatened
03. The Raven
04. Toiler on the Sea
05. Just Like Nothing On Earth / Thrown Away
06. Who Wants the World
07. Second Coming
08. Meninblack
09. Shah Shah A Go Go
10. Hallow To Our Men
11. Tank
12. Nuclear Device
13. Genetix

Links: Official site HERE. Useful informative Wikipedia entry HERE.

Comments: The Stranglers formed back in 1974, near 'reasonably' prosperous Guildford, Surrey, England.

It is sometimes forgotten that they originally built up a strong following through performing across the London and surrounding suburbs, pub rock scene.

Their initial commercial success was on the punk, new wave, bandwagon, however they have always been an 'ill fit' in those categories.

Far more 'thought out' messages, and causes, often surfaced in their music.

This is prior to their second album that year 'La Folie' which included 'Golden Brown', which gave the band renewed commercial success.

As was often the case some 28 years ago Hugh Cornwell was vocally spontaneous, and a key part of the gig, which in no small part was down to the excellent musicianship of his fellow band mates.

Download link in comments below and by clicking on the picture.

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

Mark Knopfler - AVO Session Switzerland 2007

This is Mark Knopfler live in concert (AVO Session), the venue was Festsaal, Messe, Basel, Switzerland, and the concert took place back on the 12th November, 2007.

This is a more complete version of the gig, using two different radio broadcasts for compilation. I am not sure if it is the full show, however I am yet to find any additional songs elsewhere.

There are also a couple of more tracks recorded a week after this show for the BBC in London.

Source: Main Source: Swiss radio DRS3 Broadcast, December 24, 2007.
Second Source: Swiss radio DRS3 Broadcast, November 13, 2007.

Sound Quality: Very Good stereo (from FM analogue cable) @192kbps mp3.

Genre: Rock, Blues, Country.

Set: Full set (unable to confirm), plus two additional tracks.

Set List:01 Donegan's Gone
02 Song For Sonny Liston
03 Rudiger
04 Let It All Go
05 The Fizzy And The Still
06 True Love Will Never Fade
07 Done With Bonaparte
08 Postcards From Paraguay
09 Brothers In Arms
10 Our Shangri-La

Additional Material.

11 Local Hero ***
12 So Far Away ***

*** The Music Club presented by Simon Mayo, BBC Maida Vale Studios, London, England, Broadcast: BBC Radio 2, 19th November 2007.

Band Line Up:

Mark Knopfler: guitars and vocals
Richard Bennett: guitars
Danny Cummings: drums
Guy Fletcher: keyboards
Matt Rollings: keyboards
Glenn Worf: bass
John McCusker: fiddle & cittern

Links: Official site HERE. Comprehensive Wikipedia HERE. MySpace HERE.

Comments: To be honest I was not that bothered about Dire Straits or Mark Knopfler's subsequent solo career, until he worked with Emmylou Harris, and leaped on to my personal radar.

That he was a superb guitarist was never in question, however I guess I found Dire Straits over played on the radio, and a little 'laid back' for my personal taste, mind you all that is a long time ago now.

In fact listening to this material and some of his live stuff with Emmylou Harris, I reckon I may have missed out on something very good in recent years, and am now back tracking through some great music. 

More on Mark Knopfler and his Guitar playing / style at Beginner Guitar HQ (here).

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

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

Tears For Fears - Live In Cleveland USA 1990

This is Tears For Fears on the American leg of their 1990 world tour.

The picture is from their programme for this significant tour of the band (the printed material may have varied along the way).

Somewhere (I hope) I still have a pristine copy of the tour programme from the UK leg of the tour.

I got to see them in London, and they were incredible, I guess you could say at the peak of their game.

This is a superb recording of the band back on the 12th February 1990, as I understand in the Public Hall, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.

Source: First generation soundboard recording.

Sound Quality: Excellent direct stereo soundboard.

Genre: Forerunners of Indie Rock-Pop, Oh! just seriously and consistently great songs and albums.

Set: Full unedited set.

Set List:101. I Believe
102. Head Over Heels - Broken
103. Change
104. Woman In Chains
105. Advice For The Young At Heart
106. Mad World
107. The Working Hour
108. Famous Last Words

201. I've Got To Sing My Song **
202. Badman's Song
203. Band introductions
204. Sowing The Seeds Of Love
205. All You Need Is Love
206. Everybody Wants To Rule The World
207. Encore break
208. Year Of The Knife
209. Shout

** Oleta Adams performs a song from her 1990 debut album 'Circle of One' (which subsequently went Platinum in the USA).

Band Line Up:

Roland Orzabal - vocals, guitars
Curt Smith - vocals, bass
Adele Bertei - backing vocals
Biti Strauchn - backing vocals
Andrew Davis - keyboards
Carole Steele - percussion
Jimmy Copley - drums
William Gregory - saxaphone, keyboards
Neil Taylor - guitar
Oleta Adams - vocals

Links: Official (TFF) sites are out of date, however Wikipedia is informative HERE. Official fan site HERE.

Comments: Whats great about this recording is the incredible clarity within the sound. It's rather like being up on stage surrounded by your own musical input, and hearing the overall band output from the monitors, and the audience somewhere in the background as you perform.

This really does capture Tears For Fears as they play live, the audience can be heard their in the background, but this is a direct recording of the band, warts and all, and it is so very, very good.

The originator of this material was the live concert sound engineer who sadly passed away in 2005.

For some reason the details of this person are still limited to their initials (R.S.) which seems rather bizarre, that said I am sure there are plenty of people 'in the know' who can appreciatively nod their approval and enjoy this super recording.

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

Purchase: MP3's through Amazon.co.uk: Tears For Fears

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Paris, France - 1998

This is Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds performing live for the Black Session, a radio show broadcast on France Inter (French radio station) on this occasion recorded at Le Reservoir, Paris, France, back on the 19th May 1998, with a studio/location audience.

Source: Live 'Black Session' recorded for France Inter in Paris, re-broadcast on the 30th May 2006.

Sound Quality: Very good FM stereo @192kbps mp3.

Genre: Alternative rock, post-punk, roots rock, and above all, Nick Cave with one of the best bands to surface in Australia.

Set: This is the full Le Reservoir live session.

Set List:

01 Lime Tree Arbour
02 Let Love In
03 Stranger Than Kindness
04 Red Right Hand
05 Nobody's Baby Now
06 Do You Love Me (Pt 1)
07 Into My Arms
08 The Ship Song
09 The Mercy Seat
10 Brompton Oratory (Encore).

Links: Official My Space site HERE.

Comments: This is very good audio quality, that demonstrates just how good Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds are live.

I have collected most of their releases, (I am an unashamed fan of their music), and to the left of me right now, are a couple of boxed sets of their material, to my right most of the individual CD releases (I kid you not).

It's strange but when I really like an artist or band, I think quite seriously as to whether I should share the material, not particularly selfishly, more along the lines, does it do them justice, will it be deleted by their label, does the band object to bootlegs and so on, at the end of the day we are all just human.

Looking at their official site & the fact they catalogue known bootleg releases hopefully this is not the case with Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds.

On this occasion, the Black Session host Bernard Lenoir, who for this re-broadcast had his comments added some eight years after the original performance, has been edited out.

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

Purchase: MP3's (DRM free) through Amazon.co.uk: Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds

Earth and Fire - Holland & Germany 1972 & 74

This is Dutch band Earth and Fire performing live on two occasions in the early 1970's.

Earth & Fire were commercially popular in Holland, with a number of hit singles, which were played to a larger audience through offshore radio station Radio Northsea International (RNI) and subsequently Radio Caroline upon their return to air in the early 1970's.

These platforms developed a growing British following, it is also clear the band were enjoyed in other neighboring country's.

Earth & Fire were primarily a 'prog' rock band, that crossed over into the popular mainstream, because basically they made some superb individual songs.

I occasionally describe some music as 'timeless' in other words the music sounds as fresh today as when it was first conceived, some of Earth & Fires songs fall comfortably into this bracket.

The following material is from two separate gigs, the first live in Ijmuiden, Nederland (Holland), on the 17th June 1972.

The second part is best described as a semi official bootleg (apparently it had limited 'official' circulation somewhere, in 1999, I have no idea where), anyway the concert was recorded live at Zur Grille, Germany, on the 21st March 1974.

Source: 1972 concert: audience recording or mono soundboard. 1974 concert: soundboard or FM recording.

Sound Quality: 1972 concert: good quality (if audience - very good). 1974 concert: very good quality, both concerts are highly listenable the second is however the better of them. (both MP3 @ 320kbps).

Genre: Prog Rock, Classic Rock, Quality Pop.

Set: Two concert recordings, I cannot confirm if either are entire sets.

Set List:

Live in Ijmuiden, Nederland, 17 June 1972.

1. In the mountains (3:49)
2. Storm and thunder (7:17)
3. Memories (4:03)
4. Song of the marching children (21:38)
5. From the end til the beginning (4:31)
7. Semi touch (5:13) unreleased.
8. Schluuss parts 1-4 (instrumental) (21:31) unreleased.

Live at Zur Grille, Germany, 21 March 1974.

1. Atlantis theme / In the mountains / Atlantis reprise (7:06)
2. Song of the marching children (22:06)
3. Fanfare (6:21)
4. Memories (4:44)
5. Storm and thunder (8:45)

Band Line Up:

Jerney Kaagman (voice)
Chris Koerts (guitar, voice)
Gerard Koerts (organ, mellotron, piano, keyboards)
Ton Van der Kleij (drums)
Hans Ziech (bass)

Links: Dutch (official?) site HERE. English language fan site HERE.

Comments: The first concert was cleaned up, clearly as a labour of love from a fan, who unfortunately did not include his name with the accompanying notes to the recordings.

The notes are:

First show came to me labelled "Ijmuiden 1974" but this is very doubtful because they only play tracks from their 1972 album ("song of the marching children") and none from their 1973 "Atlantis" album. Plus the band is heard introducing : "In The Mountains from the last LP...." which was released on "song of the marching children" in 1972. And last, I was able to find pictures of Earth and Fire live in Ijmuiden in 1972 on the official earth & Fire website. So, this should be it, a vintage early Earth & Fire show from 1972. Probably recorded from the audience, but the sound is so good...
This show is also special for the unreleased instrumental pieces, with much jamming, very unusual for this band when you think Jerney's voice was its most famous element. But hey, without Jerney's, they're still rocking ! you may even hear some ELP's influences...

There were big issues with this recording :

- speed was much too slow. Jerney, the wonderful singer, seemed to struggle to sing the right notes as if she caught bronchitis. By restoring the right speed, you can hear she was a real good live singer.

- There were so many little dropouts with the sound. Every two or three seconds, the sound went down and up very quickly, as if there was a "hole". This was probably due to damages on the original tape. I corrected every dropout, which took me hours, but the result was worth it.

Second show is the semi official bootleg "Storm and thunder" live in Germany 1974 which was issued in 1999. Sound is also very good (claims to be soundboard but the sound is as good as the preceding 1972 concert).
Notable for the sensational extended rendition of the title track !

My thanks and credits to the provider of this material!

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

Purchase: CD's through Amazon.co.uk - The Ultimate Collection (3 CD Box Set).

May Music Selection - 2009

Having failed in April to present any new music recommendations, I will try and make up for that this month, so hopefully this is just part one.

I first came across The Mummers late last year, and thought to myself, I must keep an eye on this act, and promptly forgot all about them.

To my delight I was reminded with their appearance last month on Later With Jools Holland (BBC2 TV). Since then I have listened to everything available from them, and cannot recommend them highly enough.

Fronted by the delightful Raissa (Khan-Panni), and with a superb collection of musicians , I would be surprised and very disappointed if The Mummers do not get much wider recognition this year. From Brighton, England check out The Mummers !

Listen:



MP3: March Of The Dawn.
Web Link: Official Site, MySpace.
Buy: The Mummers

Descending Ivory are an three piece all girl group from Uppsala, Sweden, who I discovered through Swedesplease, a site that continues to throw up so many great new and not so new acts, and fantastic music.

They list a lot of influences, but I have to say, have a distinct sound and loads of great raw energy.

Listen:



MP3: Blast From The Past.
Web Link: MySpace.
Buy: No direct link check HERE for more.

Cymbals Eat Guitars were also featured not to long ago on another site (MP3 Hugger), and again struck a chord with me.

I have sat here now for a few minutes trying to think how to describe their sound and am struggling. It is also distinct, however having used that for the last band, lets just say give them a listen, if you like your music loud, energised, with swirling melodies and more.

Listen:



MP3: Indiana.
Web Link: MySpace.
Buy: InSound.com

I deliberately separated The Mummers from Bat For Lashes, with a couple of other tracks, for good reason.

For a start Brighton, England is home town for both acts, and I have noted comparisons between the bands on a number of reviews, however in my opinion they are both quite different, and have very unique elements.

Bat For Lashes is Natasha Khan with some great musicians, I got to see them last summer (supporting Radiohead), and with a new album just out, thought I would give her a justifiable recommendation.

Listen:



MP3: Pearl Dreams.
Web Link: Official Site.
Buy: Bat For Lashes

Finally for this time around, for some time I have been after an old Four Tops song 'Still Water (Peace)',

I have the original on vinyl, however it was rather crackly to say the least. Recently a decent copy of the original album came my way, so I have decided to finish this round up off with the song, for no other reason than it's wonderful.

Listen:



MP3: Still Water (Peace).
Web Link: Classic Motown.
Buy: Four Tops

Bob Dylan - Live In Canada 1962

Having just released his thirty third solo album 'Together Through Life', which has received some very positive reviews, I thought it would be interesting to wind the clock back some 47 years!

This is Bob Dylan back on the 2nd July 1962, live at the Finjan Club in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, a venue that I have no further details of, however judging from the audience, I would imagine it was quite an intimate affair.

This is taken from the Yellow Dog, CD version (Cat No YD010), probably the best bootleg version of this show.

Source: Soundboard recording

Sound Quality: Very good, this version 192kbps (MP3).

Genre: Bob Dylan (early, acoustic, folk period).

Set: Full set (cannot confirm).

Set List:

Death Of Emmett Till
Stealin' (Trad - Memphis Jug Band arr)
Hiram Hubbard (Trad)
Blowin' In The Wind
Rocks and Gravel (Brownie McGhee)
Quit Your Lowdown Ways
He Was A Friend of Mine (Trad )*
Let Me Die In My Footsteps
Two Trains Runnin' (McKinley Morganfield)
Ramblin' On My Mind (Robert Johnson)
Muleskinner Blues (Jimmie Rodgers)

* Traditional song that was registered to Bob Dylan in the US copyright office

Links: Official site HERE. Highly informative 'Bobs Boots' site HERE.

Comments: Bobs Boots summary of this recording is spot on, they say:

The incredible Finjan tape belongs in every collection. Period. This particular CD release is the one to own. Few if any other releases of Finjan can compare to this gem. Some of the other releases have edited out the in between song talking, mistakes, and false starts (which sometimes seem as long as the songs themselves). Nothing is edited here.

The CD captures the moment the recorder was turned on and left to run. This has always been a nice quality soundboard recording, but Yellow Dog has brought it to pure perfection. The audience is pin drop quiet. So much so that this could be a studio recording. The tape is so clean that several times you can hear the guitar case snaps etc. when the stage hand opens it to retrieve harmonicas and a capo. Turn up the stereo, and suddenly Dylan is in the room with you.

This really is a great historical time capsule of Bob Dylan, enjoy.

Reloaded 23/02/2016 link in comments.

Bonnie Raitt - Wolf Trap 1977

This is Bonnie Raitt live at Wolf Trap (1645 Trap Road, Vienna, Virginia 22182 USA), way back on the 20th July 1977.

However a CD version of this gig, gives Washington DC as the location, and puts the show back a month to August.

You can often spot a money orientated boot, I guess that was one, however keeping with the Beehive Candy tradition, we share free every time, and withdraw any material if officially requested (we occasionally like to restate that fact, out of personal interest).

Source: WLIR-FM Broadcast Reel Master (digital copy).

Sound Quality: Extremely good stereo MP3 @192kbps.

Genre: Blues, Country, and Rock (unique crossover of styles).

Set: Full set (sorry cannot confirm).

Set List:

01 Concert Introduction
02 What Do You Want The Boy To Do
03 Under The Falling Sky
04 Walk Out The Front Door
05 My Opening Farewell
06 Love Has No Pride
07 Kokomo - Walking Blues
08 Give It Up Or Let Me Go
09 Women Be Wise
10 Too Long At The Fair
11 About To Make Me Leave Home..
12 Sugar Mama
13 Three Time Loser
14 Home
15 Runaway
16 Bluebird

Links: Official site HERE. Wikipedia HERE.

Comments: Bonnie Raitt remains a superb singer and musician, consistently surrounded by extremely good fellow band members.

She should be recognised for a considerable amount more as well.

Bonnie has been environmentally conscious for decades and, also aware of the importance of preserving her American musical heritage that has inspired her own music.

I think we can safely call her an activist on many fronts, this site is however all about the music, an area I feel on more comfortable ground with, therefore I am more than pleased to recommend Bonnie to anyone yet to discover her music.

Oh and she has won Grammys and other awards on a very regular basis.

I am sometimes puzzled as to why this side of the Atlantic (Europe), Bonnie has not gained the same amount of recognition.

Probably because when you check out her track record, she could be mistaken as one of us, or is that just wishful thinking?

Whatever this is one fine recording, and hopefully garners some new fans for Bonnie outside of the USA.

link in comments 23/02/2016.

Jeff Buckley - Live In Hamburg 1995

It has been well over a year since Jeff Buckley last appeared on this site, my love for his music has not diminished.

I guess in a way it's cyclical, time goes by, and for all types of reasons I am drawn back to playing one of his albums or songs.

Because Jeff has already appeared a number of times on the Beehive, it has been easy to put this to one side, also some of the tracks can be streamed on Last FM.

However this is a great concert recording, and with Jeff's passing almost twelve years ago (one month from now), lets remember him again as he was, a fabulous artist, a joy to listen to.

This is Jeff Buckley recorded live at the Logo Club in Hamburg, Germany, on the 22nd February, 1995.

Source: Pre FM (DAT clone).

Sound Quality: Very good stereo quality.

Genre: Alternative Rock, Folk, Singer songwriter.

Set: Full Set.

Set List:

01 -Announcer Intro
02 -Dream Brother
03 -So Real
04 -Last Goodbye
05 -What Will You Say
06 -Lilac Wine
07 -Mojo Pin
08 -Grace
09 -Eternal Life
10 -Lover, You Should've Come Over
11 -Will The Circle Be Unbroken (traditional)
12 -Hallelujah
13 -Kanga-Roo

Links: Official site HERE. Wikipedia HERE.

Comments: A CD boot circulated as Black Roses (CD: 1998 Head Records), this was incomplete, as is the current material on Last FM.

The notes that came with this complete version sum the whole show up extremely well.

'This is an amazing show including stunning versions of Dream Brother, Lilac Wine, Mojo Pin and Kanga-Roo; an amazing medley of Lover You Should've Come Over and All Flowers In Time Bend Towards The Sun (which is first of the two performances of this song, the other being on 1996-03-01 at Selina's, Sydney, Australia, 1996-03-01, as far as I know); the one and only performance of the traditional song "Will The Circle Be Unbroken" (which is also sang by Bob F***ing Dylan, as Jeff Buckley calls him); one of the best performances of Hallelujah with extra lyrics which are slightly different than the version on the Bataclan show, adding even more to the uniqueness of this show'.

For any fan, or any interested party, I hope you enjoy.

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

Purchase: MP3's (always DRM free) from Amazon.co.uk - Jeff Buckley

The Beat - Live in Amsterdam 1980

Known in the USA as The English Beat, and elsewhere simply as The Beat, this is the band live at the excellent concert venue, The Paradiso in Amsterdam, Holland, on this occasion back in 1980.

One of the original 2 Tone bands, The Beat along with the likes of The Specials, helped revive Ska in the UK, and appealed to many who had got back in to music, through punk and new wave.

Source: FM radio broadcast (Sorry not much info accompanied this boot).

Sound Quality: Very good FM stereo mp3 @320kbps.

Genre: 2 Tone, Ska, Reggae, New Wave.

Set: Most of set, however may have been edited for broadcast (total Playing Time 44:34).

Set List:

1.Two Swords.
2.Tears Of A Clown.
3.Twist And Crawl.
4.Rough Rider.
5.Mirror In The Bathroom.
6.Best Friend.
7.Whine And Grine / Stand Down Margaret.
8.Noise In This World.
9.Big Shot.
10.Hands Off She's Mine.
11.Jackpot.
12.Click Click.
13.Ranking Full Stop.

Concert Band Line Up:

Ranking Roger - vocals
Dave Wakeling - vocals
Andy Cox - guitar
David Steele - bass
Everett Morton - percussion
Saxa - saxophone

Links: Official site HERE. Wikipedia HERE.

Comments: This was from the tour supporting their first album release (I Just Cant Stop It), the band having already scored chart success with their excellent cover of 'Tears Of A Clown'.

Their official site concisely describes the coming of The Beat, so well in fact that I notice some sizable copy and pasting to Wikipedia, well if it's OK for others...

'Formed in the working class suburbs of industrial Birmingham in England in 1978 The Beat arose at a time of high unemployment and social upheaval. From the outset the band offered messages of hope and peace with an insight into sociopolitical topics would later alongside The Specials see them heralded as forerunners of the whole 2-Tone Ska movement'.

Better still get your two tone outfit on and try keeping your feet still, as you listen to this classic performance.

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

Purchase: MP3's (always DRM free) from Amazon.co.uk - Beehive Candy presents: The Beat - The Platinum Collection

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.