Renaissance - Live In Cincinnati 1970.

This is the original line up of Renaissance live in concert at Ludlow Garage, Cincinnati, USA, on the 25th February 1970.

The band were formed in January 1969 by former Yardbirds members Keith Relf and Jim McCarty . In February 1970, they embarked on a North American tour, but this month-long trek proved a mitigated success, as because of their Yardbirds credentials they found themselves paired with bands like The Kinks and their new classically-oriented direction didn't always go down well with audiences.

Line up changes started not long after this tour and eventually left only Jane Relf and John Hawken from the original line up.

There are however some strong musical parallels that can be heard in this set that clearly continued to develop within the second incarnation of the band that would see Annie Haslam take over on vocals by 1971.

Source: Soundboard

Sound Quality: Highly listenable (some tape hiss and low audio levels) mp3@160kbps

Genre: Progressive rock, folk rock.

Set: Full set.

Set List:

01. Kings & Queens
02. Wanderer
03. No Name Rage
04. Islands
05. Bullets (cuts off)

Band Line Up:

Keith Relf: (vocals & guitar)
John Hawken (keyboard)
Louis Cennamo (bass)
Jane Relf (vocals)
Jim McCarty (drums & vocals)

Comments:

I came across this recording by chance, however unfortunately there were not any details to accompany the recording apart from the line up and track listing. I have put soundboard as the audio is in my opinion to clear for audience and unlikely to have been FM with all the stops and gaps in the performance.

Download link in comments below or click on the picture.

2010FM - January Magazine Three

We start off our third round up of new and nearly new music for January with the superb Swedish indie band Sambassadeur.

With two albums behind them, the indie pop artists have transformed their sound with the third album European (Due out Feb 23rd on Labrador Records).

Receiving a considerable amount of praise in the past through their 'DIY' approach, Sambassadeur are able to express further growth on their latest release. With the help of producer Mattias Glavå, European maintains the bands personal style, with the addition of a classic and orchestrated sound.

OK regulars to Beehive Candy know our of love for the Swedish music scene and in our opinion these folk are another fine example of why we get rather carried away as soon as you mention Sweden & music in the same breath.

Listen:
'Stranded'



Website: MySpace
Buy: Pre order a signed copy of European Previous material (mp3's) Sambassadeur

Since forming in 2003, Sambassadeur was one of the home recording artists that led to an explosive Swedish pop movement. As the years passed, Sambassadeur furthered their success through their second album Migration, leading to touring internationally. The quartet awed audiences throughout various countries including Spain, the UK, Austria, Germany, and Denmark, with offers continuing to come. Sambassadeur’s sound has evolved with each release, while their older recordings had a more aggressive sound, reminiscent of Jesus and Mary Chain, their music now conjures reminders of bands like Camera Obscura and Belle & Sebastian. European is the album that demonstrates the true talent of Sambassadeur. The foursome, along with the addition of a string quartet, three drummers, a saxophone player, clarinetist, and more, has created a unique style that will be sure to gain fans of all music tastes across the world.

From Dundee, Scotland, The Law have received considerable attention and recognition in the UK and are about to take their anthemic rock to the USA.

The young quartet delivers triumphant melodies with aggressive arena-scale rock that brings to mind a concoction of Queens of the Stone Age, The Libertines, and the White Stripes. The Law’s strong debut album, A Measure Of Wealth, was recorded at Sawmills Studios (the birthplace of Oasis’ Definitely Maybe) with producer Stan Kybert (Paul Weller, Massive Attack), and released in the United Kingdom last year on the band’s very own label Local Boy Records. A Measure Of Wealth will be released in North America in May, 2010.

Listen:
'Don't Stop, Believe'



Website: MySpace, Official.
Buy: A Measure Of Wealth

The Law’s subversive anthems and hot-blooded performances have assaulted the UK press and commanded widespread support from XFM and BBC Music. Edith Bowman of BBC Radio 1 hails The Law as “Incredible, good rock n roll”, while NME proclaims that “The Law are Dundee’s new hope”.

Finally and in keeping with Beehive Candy's obsession with different musical styles, genres, or whatever (provided we like it), we have My Son The Hurricane.

The promo said: With their roots deeply planted in the big brass sounds of New Orleans, and an indie spirit that refuses to be pigeonholed or defined, Ontario’s My Son The Hurricane is ready to hit the road with their own original 11-piece take on brass, and a debut album that will blow away your pre-conceived notions of the genre.

Combining catchy horn lines and a thumping, driving bass with uniquely phrased, hip-hop inspired vocals that drive the album, My Son The Hurricane will appeal to Hip-Hop and Indie fans alike, while paying homage to the big brass bands that came before them.

Well that was enough to gain our attention and as we are in a cut and paste mood they also added: Celebratory and fun, but balanced by well thought-out, solid musicianship, CHECK THE BAROMETER is party music at its best. With strongly crafted grooves and driving vocals unifying the album, My Son the Hurricane’s debut release is a piece of art that works best when listened to from start to finish.

A perfect introduction to the band and to their unique approach to brass, listeners will not want to miss them in a live setting. Transformed by the audience and by the energy in the room, My Son The Hurricane puts on a live show that will captivate and excite, and always leave you wanting more. With tour dates in Ontario scheduled throughout April, don’t miss your chance to see how this band works live, pushing the envelope a bit more with each performance.

As it happens, having given this a play through, I fear my car stereo will be booming out some eleven piece brass arrangements real soon.

Listen:
'Glass Joe'



Website: MySpace.
Buy: itunes

Steve Winwood - Cleveland, Ohio 1987.

This is Steve Winwood during his first 'High Life' solo American tour. The concert was recorded by Westwood One (for the Superstars series) and has circulated as a bootleg, both as a double vinyl album and silver disc CD.

It is also sometimes available in slightly more legitimate forms as a Westwood One radio disc through dealers of radio shows who advertise in collector's magazines.

This is the most complete version of the concert I have been able to obtain and runs as a 45 minute single track. Although it has been circulated as recorded in 1986 it is in fact from a concert at the Blossom Music Center, Cleveland, Ohio, USA in 1987. Audio quality is extremely good.

Source: FM Broadcast

Sound Quality: Very good stereo mp3@320kbps.

Genre: Rock, blues rock.

Set: Broadcast element of concert.

Set List:

1. Low Spark of High-Heeled Boys-Glad
2. Freedom Rider
3. While You See A Chance
4. Valerie
5. Band Intros-I’m A Man
6. Higher Love
7. Gimme Some Lovin'

Links: Official site HERE.

Comments:

Constant artistic differences and personnel changes led to Traffic's final break-up and Steve Winwood's release of his self-titled first solo album in 1977. This was followed by his 1980 hit Arc Of A Diver and Talking Back to the Night in 1982. Both albums were recorded at his home in Gloucestershire with Steve Winwood playing all instruments.

Steve Winwoods first solo tour in the US had Low Spark as the opening number with him playing alone on the piano, before he counted the rest of his band in, for a stomping version of Glad.

Download link in comment below or click on the picture.

2010FM - January Magazine Two

Parisian band Caravan Palace made their live debut in the United States on January 10th with a performance at globalFEST 2010. Although I failed to mention this prior to the event I did want to bring this intriguing band to your attention. I like to discover different and maybe quirky musical styles and there is something about this act that I really enjoy. Another act to keep an eye (and ears) out for this year...

Comprised of Charles Delaporte (bass, programming), Arnaud Vial (guitar, programming), Hugues Payen (violin, programming), Colotis Zoé (vocals), Toustou (electronics, trombone), and Chapi (clarinet), Caravan Palace is chiefly influenced by Django Reinhardt but also cites Vitalic, Cab Calloway, Justice, Lionel Hampton and Daft Punk as influences. They made their debut on the French independent label Wagram Music and promoted the release with the single "Jolie Coquine.” After a year of intense touring of clubs, theatres and festivals in support of it they reached as high as Number 11 on the French albums chart and are now the 4th best selling artist of 2009 in the country.

Listen:
'Jolie Coquine'



Website: MySpace
Buy MP3:Caravan Palace

I new little about Beast until I received a press release informing me that 'In the recent announcement for the 52nd annual Grammy Awards, acclaimed Montreal group Beast was recognized for their first-ever Grammy nomination in the category of Best Short Form Video for “Mr. Hurricane”. The band is in good company with industry heavyweights Coldplay, The Black Eyed Peas and Depeche Mode populating the category. The video was directed by Ben Steiger Levine and produced by Sacha Baylin-Stern at Nu Films; “Mr. Hurricane” appears on the band’s self-titled debut, released on Verve Forecast earlier this year'.

Having listened to album I have to say they have ticked the vitally important 'refreshingly different' box, and clearly I am 'doing different' at the moment. Hailing from Montreal via France, Beast’s music has been described as Portishead meets Rage Against The Machine with elements of rock, trip-hop and jazz thrown in for good measure. Their self-titled debut has won over the critics and fans alike, with The Globe & Mail calling the album “One of the best albums of the year” and The Toronto Star referring to it as “One of the most strikingly original and swaggeringly bad-ass Canadian albums to rear its head in recent memory”. Hey don't say Beehive Candy doesn't do attitude sometimes!

Listen:
'Finger Prints'



Website: MySpace.
Buy MP3: Beast

OK it's my warped English sense of humour but the promo that introduced Standing Shadow to me has to be read in the a deep growling movie promotion voice over style, see if you get what I mean or should I up my medication?

From the streets of Los Angeles comes the powerful, energetic, and driving sounds of Standing Shadows, and with the release of the EP, High Rise on January 5th the combination of longtime friends David Miltenberger (lead vocals, guitar) and Dan Silver (lead guitar, vocals) have hit the sonic jackpot.

Having already earned placements in television shows such as the new 90210, The Cleaner, and The Shield, among others, Standing Shadows is taking your television screen by storm. The band is also featured in the in-game trailers of Guitar Hero 5, backing the interviews with Matt Bellamy (Muse) and Shirley Manson (Garbage).

Over five years in the making, Standing Shadows is the product of the long distance collaboration of Miltenberger and Silver. The group could be defined as electro-obscura-shoegazer-rock, while conjuring audio reminders of groups like Silversun Pickups and My Bloody Valentine. The EP is a precursor to the band’s full-length album, “Five Years of Darkness,” set to be released on March 9th.

Anyhow excusing my strange imagination for a moment the good news is that this band sound just great, and I will add them to my January list of bands to watch out for in 2010.

Listen:
'High Rise'



Website: MySpace.
Buy MP3: itunes or Amazon UK Standing Shadows

That's all for the moment, Beehive Candy have received quite a few demos and intros in recent times, we are trying to work our way through them and we will mention any material that captures our imagination or ticks some of those 'virtual' boxes, so please bear with us...

Boomtown Rats - North London 1978

This is the Boomtown Rats live in concert at the Middlesex Polytechnic in Hendon, North London, back on the 16th September 1978.

This recorded version has been circulated as 'Dont Believe What You Hear' and is reckoned to be the best audio quality boot of the show, however it unfortunelty misses the last song of the gig (Do The Rat).

BBC TV recorded the concert, and from distant memory I think it was shown 'live', I remember watching it, and from Bob Geldof's comments it would appear to be the case. The sheer energy and the incredibily professional performance from a 'band of the time' bring back great memories.

Source: BBC TV Broadcast (audio).

Sound Quality: Very good stereo mp3@320kbps.

Genre: Rock, pop, New Wave.

Set: Broadcast element of concert.

Set List:

1. Mary Of The 4th Form
2. Me & Howard Hughes
3. I Never Loved Eva Braun
4. Don't Believe What You Read
5. Rat Trap
6. Kicks
7. Joey's On The Street Again
8. Living On A Island
9. She's Gonna Do You In
10. Like Clockwork
11. She's So Modern
12. Looking After No. 1

Length: 00:49:45.

Links: Official site HERE.

Comments:

All six members were originally from Dún Laoghaire, Ireland. Formed under the name "The Nightlife Thugs," the group agreed on the name change to the "Boomtown Rats" after a gang that Bob Geldof read about in Woody Guthrie's autobiography, Bound for Glory. They became a notable band, but one whose accomplishments were in part overshadowed by the charity work of frontman Bob Geldof, a former journalist with the NME magazine.

The group moved to London in October 1976, and became associated with the punk rock movement. Signing a recording contract with Ensign Records, they released their debut single, "Looking After No.1", in August 1977. It was the first of nine straight singles to make the Top 40 in the UK Singles Chart. Their debut album, The Boomtown Rats, was released in September 1977, on Ensign in the UK and on Mercury Records in the United States, and featured another single, "Mary of the 4th Form". As music journalist, Martin C. Strong noted, "Bob Geldof's moody charisma helped to give the band a distinct identity".

The Rats' second album, A Tonic for the Troops, appeared in June 1978 in the UK. It featured three hit singles, "Like Clockwork", "She's So Modern" and "Rat Trap". A Tonic for the Troops was released in the U.S. on Columbia in February 1979, with two tracks from The Boomtown Rats substituted for tracks on the UK version. Mutt Lange produced "Rat Trap", which became the first rock song by an Irish band to reach Number 1 in the UK, and the first of any description by an Irish band to top the official chart used by the BBC. (The Bachelors had topped the Record Retailer chart in 1964 with "Diane", but only reached Number 2 on the UK Singles Chart). In addition, "Rat Trap" was also the first new wave song to claim the number one spot.

Download link in comment below or click on the picture.

Genesis - A Trick Of The Outtakes 1975

This set of Genesis outtakes have been given some very real care and attention by the 'Progressive Rock Remasters Project', and rather than duplicate effort I have taken the release notes to provide the background details.

On a personal note I have always felt that the era after Peter Gabriel left the band was as creative and inspiring with the albums from 'A trick Of The Tail' through to 'Duke' remaining firm favorites of mine, although if I was pushed for my all time favorites I guess 'Foxtrot' and 'Selling England By The Pound' would be two of the 'top three' along with the album these outtakes are associated with.

From the release notes: The Sheffield brothers built Trident studios at No. 17 St. Anne’s Ct. Soho in 1967. This studio was the recording site for many rock albums of the 1960’s and 70’s
including David Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust and many tracks from the Beatle’s White Album.
The Genesis sessions captured on this CD were recorded there in October of 1975 and
then remastered to enhance the listening experience.

The CD begins with Beloved Summer which was the working title for the B-side
release called It’s Yourself. It is one of the few songs on the CD that includes vocals.
This is followed by an instrumental version of the song Ripples. Mike Rutherford can be
heard counting the tempo at the beginning. A second version of the song follows.
Robbery, Assault and Battery is next and is also in the instrumental mode. Just before
the next song, Los Endos, Phil Collin’s can be heard counting the tempo. This song is
separated into two tracks detailing different segments of the song. Mad Man Moon is
then presented with piano, drums and some bass. It is, again, an instrumental version
and suffers from poor recording but is still quite impressive. Trick of the Tail
is then offered with vocals in a version very similar to the official release.

Two versions of Entangled follow, again devoid of vocals. The accentuation of the
guitars is particularly impressive during the first take while the second take is
more involved and includes alternatives to the studio mix. Dance on a Volcano is
the next track followed by Squonk. Both are presented without vocals and provide
an interesting opportunity to really study the instrumentation of these songs.

Source: Studio tapes.

Sound Quality: Good stereo mp3@128kbps.

Genre: Progressive Rock.

Recording: Outtakes.

Track List:

1. Beloved Summer (It's Yourself) 5:40
2. Ripples (part 1) 4:40
3. Ripples (part 2) 4:11
4. Robbery, Assault & Battery 6:25
5. Los Endos 3:06
6. Los Endos 2:47
7. Mad Man Moon 4:14
8. A Trick Of The Tail 4:35
9. Entangled (inst. 1) 4:36
10. Entangled (inst. 2) 6:33
11. Dance On A Volcano 6:05
12. Squonk 6:54

Recorded at Trident Studios, England October, 1975.

Tony Banks - Keyboards, 12 String Guitar
Phil Collins - Vocals, Drums, Percussion
Steve Hackett - Electric Guitar
Mike Rutherford - Bass, 12 String Guitar

Links: Official site HERE.

Comments:

Remastering Notes: Most of the recording suffers from a great deal of Hiss. This was removed from
each track separately.

Bass levels were found to be excessively high on many tracks leading to a muddy sound quality. Bass was cut and both treble and mid range frequency ranges were then raised to bring out the detail within the recording.

Many of the peaks within the songs were clipped and required software restoration. The whole recording was then normalized to a consistent volume level.

Download link in comment below.

Ian Dury & The Blockheads - Hammersmith Odeon, 1979.

Much has been said and written about Ian Dury and come to that, about his band The Blockheads. Indeed Ian Dury and The Blockheads live in concert were one cohesive unit that took the recorded material and rather than just replicate the songs seemed to breathe additional life and dimensions into everything.

Ian Dury had a stage presence that was affected in part by his disability caused by polio as a youngster, but more because of his humour, artistic capabilities, and connection with the audience. The Blockheads added with skilled musicianship that seemed to be effortlessly delivered and yet so powerful and uplifting. OK it is obvious I was a fan of Mr Dury and have great respect for the Blockheads, not only because of what I have mentioned so far, but as an aside in an earlier form as The Loving Awareness Band, the Blockheads had very strong links with Radio Caroline.

This is probably one of the most circulated bootlegs of the band and a fine reminder of just how good they were in concert. This then is Ian Dury and The Blockheads live at the Hammersmith Odeon, London back on the 8th August 1989.

Source: FM Broadcast

Sound Quality: Very good stereo mp3@160kbps.

Genre: Rock and roll, punk rock, new wave.

Set: Broadcast element of concert.

Set List:

01 Clever Trevor
02 Inbetweenies
03 Don't Ask Me
04 Reasons To Be Cheerful, Part 3
05 Sink My Boats
06 Waiting For Your Taxi
07 This Is What We Find
08 Mischief
09 What A Waste!
10 Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick
11 Sweet Gene Vincent

Links: Official site HERE.

Comments:

From Ian Dury's official web biography regarding the time around this concert: In October 1977, Ian Dury signed up for the Stiff Live Stiffs Tour, alongside Elvis Costello And The Attractions, Nick Lowe, Wreckless Eric and Larry Wallis. Dury's new combo, now augmented by guitarist John Turnbull and pianist Mickey Gallagher, was christened Ian Dury And The Blockheads and the group became the surprise hit of the tour.

To capitalise on this, Stiff Records launched a concerted Ian Dury marketing campaign, resulting in the Top Ten hit WHAT A WASTE. NEW BOOTS AND PANTIES continued to sell in greater quantities and in November of that year, Dury released the memorable HIT ME WITH YOUR RHYTHM STICK, a UK Number One. Dury was now a bona fide pop star and, with The Blockheads, toured to great acclaim, conquering a number of European territories.

Whilst NEW BOOTS AND PANTIES headed towards its remarkable 90 week chart run, the group commenced work on the follow up, to be entitled DO IT YOURSELF. Another Top Ten single, REASONS TO BE CHEERFUL, kept Dury in the public eye during this arduous period of recording. The album was eventually released in June 1979 in a Barney Bubbles-designed sleeve of which there were over a dozen variations, all based on samples from the Crown wallpaper catalogue.

Reloaded August 2015 see comments.

2010FM - January Magazine One

In no particular order or priority 2010FM Magazine just grabs what we like and are happy to give a quick plug to, or a whole hearted recommendation along with gushing praise, see if you can spot the difference or better still just check out the artists we feature.

Last Man Standing finally have a release date in the USA for their debut album 'False Starts and Broken Promises' and it is January 12th 2010.

Here in the UK they have received a lot of interest and some excellent reviews in the major music press. Don't just take our word for it, take a look at the review in UNCUT Magazine by Gavin Martin.

Max Vanderwolf’s band have a colorful ingenuity of Bowie’s 70’s floor shows and the wild spirit of Tom Waits- which means the are essentially rock theater, but with attitude. Stylistically they cram a lot- sometimes too much- in, but the policy usually works. This collection of bedraggled songs duly incorporates the cabaret angst of ‘70s Lou Reed, dust bowl Mariachi, and Steely Dan cynicism. Their vision of wild-hearted losers, misfits and a world in collapse somehow holds everything together. (three stars ***).

Listen:
'Queen Kong'



Website: MySpace.
MP3 Purchase: False Starts & Broken Promises

Fredrik are from Malmo Sweden and as regulars here may have noticed in the past I have a bit of a bias towards bands from Sweden basically because it is a land of musical plenty and has been for some time and some really good diversity in styles, Fredrik being another case in point.

Their most recent press release states The Swedish forest-dwelling folk visionaries' second release is here. Following their critically acclaimed debut Na Na Ni from 2008, Trilogi is a more consistently inward-looking affair and takes on themes like social realities and subconscious geography. The melodies are more serpentine and the textures decidedly darker. However, Fredrik's warm, sensitive lead voice and operatic choir work still lends the material the same comforting elegance as on the debut. Trilogi is a compilation of highly limited 3" EPs released in their home country in hand-made origami packaging. The EP's bore the titles "Holm", "Ava" and "Ner", all fictional names roughly signifying "Frozen Forest Island", "Water Through Sound" and "The Inside Underground". Together they represent a trilogy of contemporized viewpoints of the Lovecraftian dream passage - orientation at great cost and understanding at the risk of sanity.

Check them out and listen to some of their songs over on MySpace HERE. There is even more including video over on the official site is HERE. Pre-order or purchase mp3's etc via Kora Records & itunes HERE.

We have featured Emanuel & The Fear before here on Beehive Candy however they did the following apparently...

Once upon a time, in a small studio in DUMBO, an eccentric, big haired, musical genius and his Juilliard trained trumpet player had a conversation about how cool the band Deerhoof is. It went something like this:

“Hey man, now that we've finished climbing the Brooklyn Bridge, can I do an arrangement for us to cover The Perfect Me?” said the trumpet player.

“Well shiver me timbers and call me a dried up sponge monster, why the heck not!!?” replied the big haired music man with electric ecstasy.

And so the idea was born, and the trumpet player he did lay down the arrangement and the band they did practice and practice and some time later, it was finished; Emanuel and the Fear had recorded a cover of ‘The Perfect Me’.

The End. OK whatever - however the cover is rather good and they have kindly given it for us (and others) to share !

Listen:
'the perfect me'



MP3: The Perfect Me
Purchase: Self Titled EP
Website: MySpace.

Finally some advance warning about Minneapolis band Red Pens who have been creating quite s stir locally and also one helluva noise to boot ! I have just been listening to some of their music on MySpace and this band are now on the personal radar.

Their debut album REASONS is set for a February 16th, 2010 release via Minneapolis-based Grain Belt Records. With a sound that has been described as forceful and larger-than-life, it’s hard to believe that Minneapolis band Red Pens is made up of just two members—a self-taught guitarist with unconventional techniques and powerful lead vocals, and a female drummer who has mastered both percussion and painting. In addition to being dubbed “Best New Band” by hometown paper City Pages and “Minnesota’s Best Band 2009” by The Boston Phoenix, Red Pens recently received a spot on The Onion’s Twin Cities’ “Best of the Decade” list for being “one of the most buzzed-about new local bands of the year.”

More on this band another time so keep an eye on 2010FM Features. We have a lot more new music and recommendations in the pipeline and will hopefully produce a January 'part two' soon.

Pat Benatar - Seattle 1979

Lets start 2010 with some real rock energy from just over thirty years ago courtesy of Pat Benatar.

Pat's big break into music had happened a year before this concert when she headlined New York City’s famous Tramps nightclub from March 29th to April 1st, 1978, where her performance impressed representatives from several record companies.

She was signed to Chrysalis Records by founder Terry Ellis the following week."There was a long period of three years, when I spent my time taking demo tapes around and being rejected by one record company after another. Then just two days after the debut concert with the band, we were signed to a record contract..." Recorded in June and July 1979, Pat Benatar debuted the week of August 27th 1979 with the release of 'I Need A Lover' from the album 'In the Heat of the Night'.

This concert just over a year later captures Pat Benatar on classic form at the Paramount Theatre, Seattle, Washington, USA back on November 22nd, 1979.

Source: FM Broadcast

Sound Quality: Very good stereo mp3@256kbps.

Genre: Rock.

Set: Full Broadcast Set.

Set List:

1. Intro
2. If You Think You Know How To Love Me
3. So Sincere
4. I Need A Lover
5. My Clone Sleeps Alone
6. In The Heat Of The Night
7. We Live For Love
8. No You Don't
9. Just Like Me
10. Heartbreaker
11. Band Introductions
12. You Better Run
13. Come On, Let's Go

Band Line Up:

Pat Benatar - Vocals
Neil Geraldo - Guitars, Vocals, Keyboards
Scott St. Clair Sheets - Guitars, Vocals, Synthesizer
Roger Capps - Bass, Vocals
Myron Grombacher - Drums

Links: Official site HERE.

Comments:

Pat Benatar's debut album 'In the Heat of the Night' was released in October 1979, and reached Number 12. It established Pat Benatar as a new force in rock. Producer Mike Chapman, who had worked with Blondie and The Knack, broke his vow not to take on any new artists when he heard Pat Benatar's demo tape.

Mike Chapman personally produced three tracks on the album, while his long-time engineer and now independent producer, Peter Coleman (who also supervised Nick Gilder) oversaw the rest. In addition, Mike Chapman and his partner, Nicky Chinn, wrote three original songs for the LP, in addition to a rearranged version of a song they wrote for Sweet, "No You Don't".

The album also featured two songs written by Roger Capps and Pat Benatar, as well as "I Need a Lover" written by John Mellencamp, "Don't Let It Show" written by Alan Parsons and Eric Woolfson. The album would be Pat Benatar's first RIAA certified platinum album.

Download link in comment below or click on the picture.

Lucy Kaplansky - Beachland Ballroom 2006.

One reviewer of this show wrote "If you've never heard Lucy Kaplansky perform before, you're in for a treat. Her songs can be dark and brooding, uplifting and joyous, personal and revealing; always satisfying.

The recording quality here gives you the sense that you're sitting in the first few rows of the hall. Download this show, put on a good pair of headphones, and re-live an extraordinary evening with a superb singer-songwriter".

As audience recordings go this is better than some soundboard copies of shows I have heard. There are a few level issues on track one that are quickly fixed, apart from that this is a superb recording. Performing live in concert at The Beachland Ballroom, Cleveland, Ohio, USA on the 10th February 2006 this is Lucy Kaplansky.

Source: Audience (Studio Projects C4's, cards, DIN, 3' right of center, 25' back, 6.5' high).

Sound Quality: Very good stereo mp3@320kbps.

Genre: Folk, singer songwriter.

Set: Full Set.

Track List:

Set One:

01. God Will
02. Written On The Back Of His Hand
03. The Tide
04. Ten Year Night
05. Cold Missouri Waters
06. The Red Thread
07. Don't Mind Me
08. Manhattan Moon
09. I've Just Seen A Face

Set Two:

01. If I Needed You
02. Title Missing
03. Line In The Sand
04. I'm Looking Through You
05. For Once In Your Life
06. Brooklyn Train
07. Blue Chalk
08. On An Asteroid With You
09. The Heart
10. This Is Home
(encore)
11. Still Life

Links: Official site HERE.

Comments:

Lucy Kaplansky was originally from Chicago, and at the age of 18, decided not to go to college, and moved to New York City. She became involved in the city's folk music scene, particularly around Greenwich Village, where she played with, among others, Suzanne Vega, Shawn Colvin and Richard Shindell.

In 1983, she decided to become a psychologist, enrolling in Yeshiva University. She continued playing music while doing her PhD, and began to have some success as part of a duo with Shawn Colvin. However, when they began to attract record company interest, Lucy Kaplansky declined, choosing instead to set up a private practice and become a staff psychologist at a New York hospital. For several years, she concentrated largely on her work, and played little in the way of concerts. However, she still did some session work, such as singing backing vocals in the studio for Suzanne Vega.

By the early 1990s she found herself increasingly drawn back to music. Shawn Colvin, who by this time had experienced some commercial success, offered to produce an album for her. The result, The Tide, a mixture of her own songs and several covers, was released by Red House Records in 1994. At this time, she decided to give up her psychology practice, and return to music full-time. She released four more albums before her most recent, Over The Hills, was released in 2007.

Download links (two) in comment below.

New Riders Of The Purple Sage - San Francisco 1971 (IA)

From the Internet Archive (IA) this is the New Riders Of The Purple Sage live at the Fillmore West, San Francisco, USA back on the 2nd July 1971.

The group emerged from the psychedelic rock scene in San Francisco in 1969, and its original lineup included members of the Grateful Dead.

After a few warm up gigs throughout the Bay Area in 1969, the New Riders (for all intents and purposes John Dawson and David Nelson) began to tour in May 1970 as opening act with the Grateful Dead. This relationship continued on a regular basis until December 1971. Throughout much of 1970, the Dead would open with an acoustic set that often included John Dawson and David Nelson before segueing into the New Riders and then the electric Dead.

By the time the New Riders recorded their first album in late 1970, change was in the air. Dave Torbert, a young Bay Area musician, replaced Phil Lesh. After Mickey Hart went on sabbatical from music in early 1971, Spencer Dryden (from Jefferson Airplane) began a ten-year relationship with the group as their drummer, and eventually manager. The first album, eponymously titled, was released on Columbia Records in late 1971 and was a moderate success. Featuring all John Dawson songs, the record was driven by Jerry Garcia's inventive pedal-steel playing.

With the New Riders desiring to become more of a self-sufficient group and Jerry Garcia needing to focus on his other responsibilities, the musician parted ways with the group in November 1971. Sadly John 'Marmaduke' Dawson passed away on the 21st of July this year.

Source: FM Broadcast.

Sound Quality: Very good stereo.

Genre: Country Rock

Set: Full Set.

Track List:

0. Tuning In & Intro
1. Workingman's Blues
2. Superman
3. I Don't Know You
4. Down In The Boondocks
5. Dirty Business
6. Glendale Train
7. Portland Women
8. Henry
9. Sailin'
10. Last Lonely Eagle
11. Louisiana Lady
12. Honky Tonk Women
13. The Weight

Band Line Up:

John Dawson - rhythm guitar, vocals
David Nelson - lead guitar, vocals
David Torbert - bass, vocals
Jerry Garcia - pedal steel guitar
Spencer Dryden - drums

Links: Official site HERE.

Comments:

A few of the tracks from this date circulate (from the soundboard mix) on the official re-release of the Riders debut LP. The New Riders archivist, Rob Bleetstein, gave permission for the safe 'on-line' release of this FM version of those songs (February 2005). Click HERE for download options (mp3 & OGGVORBIS from the Internet Archive site).

Play:

Leonard Cohen - Royal Albert Hall 1988

This is Leonard Cohen live at the Royal Albert Hall, London, England back on the 30th May 1988.

The performance was recorded by the BBC (from their own soundboard) but never subsequently broadcast.

In 1987, Jennifer Warnes's tribute album Famous Blue Raincoat helped restore Leonard Cohen's career in the USA and the following year he released 'I'm Your Man', which marked a drastic change in his music. Synthesizers ruled the album and Leonard Cohen's lyrics included more social commentary and dark humour. It was Leonard Cohen's most acclaimed and popular since Songs of Leonard Cohen. "First We Take Manhattan" and the title song have become two of his most popular songs.

Source: Soundboard (BBC).

Sound Quality: Very good stereo mp3@192kbps.

Genre: Folk, folk rock, blues.

Set: Full Set*.

Track List:

01 Dance Me To The End Of Love
02 Ain't No Cure For Love
03 Who By Fire
04 Bird On The Wire
05 I'm Your Man
06 Sisters Of Mercy
07 Coming Back To You
08 First We Take Manhattan
09 Chelsea Hotel
10 Tower Of Song
11 The Stranger Song
12 If It Be Your Will
13 Everybody Knows
14 Joan Of Arc
15 Hallelujah
16 There Is A War
17 Take This Waltz
18 The Partisan
19 Suzanne
20 Passin' Through
-- Encore
21 I Tried To Leave You
22 Whither Thou Goest
23 So Long, Marianne
*One song is missing as Avalanche was played prior to Chelsea Hotel.

Band Line Up:

Leonard Cohen - vocals, acoustic guitar, keyboards
Perla Batalla - vocals
Julie Christensen - vocals
Bob Metzger - guitars, steel guitar
John Bilezikjian - oud
Bob Furgo - keyboards, violin
Tom McMorran - keyboards
Steve Zirkel - bass, keyboard, trumpet
Steve Meador - drums, electric drums

Links: Official site HERE.

Comments:

Leonard Cohen is set to be honored with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2010. His recent touring has seen a significant rekindling of interest in his wonderful music, and his performances have been sublime. Two new live albums are now available and worth checking out. One is from his seminal performance at the Isle Of Wight festival in 1970, the other from his recent tour (Live In London 2009).

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

Buy: Mp3's at Amazon.co.uk - Leonard Cohen

2010FM - Alcoholic Faith Mission

Here's a band I really do like and new little about until those very nice folk at Paper Garden Records sent me a copy of their current album, and am I glad they did! I reckon a lot of people are gonna be 'getting into this band' in 2010, and those already in the know are probably feeling rather smug.

Alcoholic Faith Mission are from Copenhagen however started out in Brooklyn in 2006. Whether it is the contradictory band name, the band’s multinational conception, or just the creation of eerily beautiful music, Copenhagen’s Alcoholic Faith Mission have already proved their worth in Europe with coverage in NME, AOL UK and more in addition to consistently selling out high-profile shows across the European continent.

Listen:
'We All Have Our Shortcomings'



Website: MySpace.
Buy MP3's:Alcoholic Faith Mission

Bio: Alcoholic Faith Mission started in Brooklyn, NY in 2006. The apprentices of dejection, Thorben Seierø Jensen and Sune Sølund, were wandering around in the raw wintery-streets, shooting the breeze and brushing on alcoholism when suddenly before them was big neon cross. This was a holy congregation called Apostolic Faith Mission. “It’s just like booze is to the alcoholic, they thought. A true mission to withstand an empty existence; an Alcoholic Faith Mission.

Three months later the duo’s underplayed and dogmatic debut, Misery Loves Company, was ready.
Dogma’s for the album, which was recorded in a small bedroom in Copenhagen, was that recordings had to take place at night, lit by only candles and always under the influence of alcohol.

Two years later they went back to Brooklyn to seclude themselves in an old factory loft at 421 Wythe Avenue and came up with an alternative active creation process for the new album – perhaps one that was a bit easier on the liver. They tried on a selection of straightjackets for inspiration. Everything used to make the music had to be found within the loft’s four walls – creating some obscure, yet fitting sounds such as that of dictionaries beating each other to become an electronically muted bass drum.

This way of working turned into their second album; named after the street where they lived on – 421 Wythe Avenue

The Specials - USA 1980

This is The Specials live in concert back in January 1980 at Hurrah's, NYC.

The Specials began at the same time as Rock Against Racism which first gathered in 1978. According to Jerry Dammers, anti-racism was intrinsic to the formation of The Specials, in that the band was formed with the goal of integrating black and white people.

2009 has seen the band undertake a 30th anniversary tour (minus Jerry Dammers, however Terry Hall has stated 'the door remains open to him'). The tour has been very well received, their performance on BBC's 'Later With Jools Holland' can be seen on You Tube HERE.

This concert takes us back three decades to a much younger band.

Source: FM Broadcast

Sound Quality: Very good stereo mp3@256kbps.

Genre: 2 Tone, Ska, New Wave.

Set: Majority of set

Track List:

01 Monkey Man
02 Rat Race
03 Blank Expression
04 Rude Boys Outa Jail
05 Too Hot
06 Doesn't Make It Alright
07 Stupid Marriage
08 Too Much Too Young
09 A Message To You Rudy
10 Gangsters

Band Line Up:

* Terry Hall - vocals
* Jerry Dammers - keyboards
* Lynval Golding - rhythm guitar, vocals
* Neville Staple - toasting, backing vocals, percussion
* Roddy Byers - lead guitar
* Horace Panter bass guitar
* John Bradbury - drums
* Rico Rodriguez - trombone
* Dick Cuthell - flugel horn

Links: Official site HERE.

Comments:

The Specials undertook a three week tour of the USA back in January 1980. On some of the gigs they opened for The Police and whipped the crowds up so much they just had to steal the show.

Jerry Dammers was keen for the band not to travel in Limos or stay in flashy hotels, I have read elsewhere that the tour manager was sent ahead on some occasions to ensure their accommodation was not too good !

Download link in comments below or click on the picture.

Buy: Mp3's at Amazon.co.uk - The Specials

The Breeders - Double Trouble 1993

Double Trouble is a collection of live performances recorded during The Breeders 1993 tour.

Formed in 1988 their first album, Pod (1990), received critical acclaim but was not commercially successful. The Breeders' most successful album, 1993's Last Splash, produced the hit single "Cannonball", and this material is from the tour that promoted the Last Splash album.

The Breeders' history began when Kim Deal, then bassist of the Pixies, began writing new material while the band were on a post-Surfer Rosa tour of Europe with Throwing Muses. As neither band had plans for the short term, Kim Deal discussed possible side-projects with Throwing Muses guitarist Tanya Donelly. After rejecting the idea of creating a dance album together the pair decided to form a new band.

Source: Soundboard

Sound Quality: Very good stereo mp3@320kbps.

Genre: Alternative Rock.

Set: Compilation from various gigs.

Track List:

01. Iris
02. Cannonball
03. Saints
04. Hag
05. Fortunately Gone
06. When I Was A Painter
07. Doe
08. Limehouse
09. Glorious
10. Doe
11. Hellbound
12. Safari
13. Happiness Is A Warm Gun
14. Glorious
15. Do You Love Me Now?
16. Don't Call Home
17. Fortunately Gone
18. I Just Wanna Get Along
19. When I Was A Painter
20. Limehouse
21. Iris
22. Opened

Links: MySpace HERE. Official 4AD site HERE.

Comments:
Double Trouble was yet another release by Kiss The Stone (KTS) records (as previously mentioned the company was based in San Marino, where the law allowed the company to market bootlegs as long as it placed royalties for the artists in an escrow account).

One upside of this is the audio quality and packaging of the original silver discs was often very good. This is the case here, and this mp3 version is is a must for any fan of The Breeders.

Download links (two) in comments below.

Buy: Mp3's at Amazon.co.uk - The Breeders

2010FM - New Idea Society

Some email promo's have me yawning from about the second line onwards this one started as follows and kind of gained my attention.

'After an arduous recovery from a touring accident on the Autobahn while on tour in Germany (singer and main creative force Mike Law broke seven bones on the left side of his body) Brooklyn's New Idea Society has finally regained the momentum that was brewing on their previous album, "The World Is Bright and Lonely" (2007)'.

Now I will be upfront and say I had not previously registered New Idea Society however having gained my attention I gave the two songs from the forthcoming album a listen and reckon they deserve at the very least a fairly decent plug from the Beehive.

Listen:
'Thorns'



Website: Official. MySpace.
Buy: New album release TBC.

Background: The new song is from an upcoming album produced by Andy LeMaster (Bright Eyes, Azure Ray). They are a huge departure from the bands previous recordings. Tracked in Brooklyn and Athens, New Idea Society searched out more of their Byrne/Eno, influences, partially a necessity, since Law was unable to play guitar due to injuries and was writing mostly around his working hand on keyboards and vintage synthesizers.

Eventually as injuries healed guitars found their was back into the mix but a precedent had been set for an album centered around the keyboard and piano playing of Chris DeAngelis and the reserved playing of drummer Alan Cage (who was lured back to drumming from semi-retirement from Quicksand/Seaweed by the excitement of the songs). As Law notes, "For the first time New Idea Society became a collaborative band with Alan and Chris being so prominent in the formation of our sound. The tour accident and some important people leaving our lives framed the mood of the album and how we were all feeling in that aftermath".
After tracking 19 songs the band is happy to share the song "Thorns" as it prepares the album for release.

European tour dates coming this January and February. U.S. dates to follow.