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Faces Live BBC2 1971

Available now from http://www.1960s.london

Side One

1. (I Don’t Want To Discuss It) You’re My Girl (Cooper, Beatty, Shelby)
2. Bad ‘n’ Ruin (McLagan, Stewart)
3. It’s All Over Now (Womack, Womack)

Side Two

1. Had Me A Real Good Time (Lane, Stewart, Wood)
2. (I Know) I’m Losing You (Whitfield, Holland, Grant)
3. Richmond (Lane)
4. Bad ‘n’ Ruin (McLagan, Stewart)

Recording Details

Side One Tracks 1-3 and Side Two Tracks 1 & 2 recorded live for BBC Radio John Peel’s Sunday Concert on May 13th 1971 and broadcast May 23rd 1971

Side Two Tracks 3 & 4 Live vocals over a backing track, recorded for BBC TV Top Of The Pops April 28th 1971 and broadcast April 29th 1971

Personnel

Rod Stewart – lead and backing vocals

Ronnie Lane – bass, backing vocals, lead vocals

Ron Wood – lead guitar, slide guitar, backing vocals

Ian McLagan – Hammond organ, pianos, backing vocals

Kenney Jones – drums and percussion

Sleevenotes

1971 was a fantastic year for the Faces, as critical acclaim and commercial success coincided. The profile of singer Rod Stewart was also in the ascendant, which would prove helpful to begin with but a problem in due course. Our previous two LPs (R&B 71 and R&B  ??) documented the band’s live activities in 1970. As we move into 1971 we see more reliance on the band’s own material and greater self-confidence onstage. The band’s progress continued to be documented through their close relationship with BBC TV and radio and with DJ John Peel in particular.

Sunday Concert kicked off with a lengthy rendition of live staple I Don’t Want To Discuss It (Rhinoceros via Delaney & Bonnie via Little Richard), which they had recorded for Stewart’s second solo album Gasoline Alley, released in June 1970. Here Stewart repeated the call-and-response vocal style he had used in the Jeff Beck Group with Ron Wood’s guitar doing the responding. The same LP provided a rousing version of It’s All Over Now with McLagan’s bar-band piano introducing a strutting version of the Valentinos / Stones classic with Wood on slide and solo spots for Lane and McLagan. Sandwiched between the two was Bad’n’Ruin, a highlight of second Faces LP Long Player, released in February 1971. Stewart announced that it was the first time the band had played the song live and that “it might fall apart in the middle”: it didn’t, even during the tricky decelerating ending. Had Me A Real Good Time was by now the band’s anthem, with some of Stewart’s wittiest lyrics and a snatch of Auld Lang Syne in the middle. The Faces version of the Temptations (I Know) I’m Losing You would eventually appear on Stewart’s third solo LP in July 1971, the massively successful Every Picture Tells A Story. Stewart announces it as “one of the best standards that we ever do” and he’s right, even a Kenney Jones drum solo cannot derail the song’s momentum.

The two bonus tracks are from BBC’s popular TV chart programme Top Of The Pops. Although focussed on singles, by April 1971 an Album Of The Week feature had been introduced, giving the Faces a chance to plug Long Player.  Opening track Bad’n’Ruin was an obvious choice with Rod cavorting in a pink jacket, Kenney Jones sporting a questionable moustache and Ronnie Wood playing a guitar made out of a toilet seat complete with toilet roll. A less obvious track was Ronnie Lane’s singing his acoustic ballad Richmond, written on tour in the US on how he would sooner be at home. This too would cause problems in the future.

But let us leave the Faces in Spring 1971, very much on the way up, making wonderful music and knowing there was more to come…

Sleevenotes

Deborah Ree

Jeff Beck ’68, Rolling Stones ’69 – Out Now!

Available from http://www.1960s.london

The Jeff Beck Group with Rod Stewart – Radio Broadcasts 1968

Side One

  1. You Shook Me (Dixon, Lenoir)
  2. Shapes Of Things (McCarty, Relf, Samwell-Smith)
  3. Sweet Little Angel (Taub, King)
  4. Rice Pudding (Newman, Wood, Beck, Stewart)
  5. Rock My Plimsoul (Beck, Stewart)
  6. Don’t Know Which Way To Go (Dixon, Perkins)

Side Two

  1. You Shook Me (Dixon, Lenoir)
  2. Let Me Love You (Beck, Stewart)
  3. Morning Dew (Dobson)
  4. Jeff’s Boogie (Dreja, McCarty, Beck, Relf, Samwell-Smith)
  5. The Sun Is Shining (James)

Personnel

Jeff Beck  – Guitar

Rod Stewart – Vocals

Ron Wood – Bass

Tony Newman – Drums (Side One, Tracks 1-5)

Aynsley Dunbar – Drums (Side One, Track 6)

Micky Waller – Drums (Side Two)

Recording Details

Side One

Tracks 1-5 recorded live for BBC Top Gear 17.09.68 and broadcast on 29.09.68 except for Track 5, broadcast 03.11.68

Track 6 recorded live for BBC Saturday Club on 04.07.67 and broadcast on 08.07.67

Side Two

All tracks recorded live at the Fillmore West, San Francisco on July 24th 1968 and broadcast on KSAN FM radio

Sleevenotes

Following on from the success of our previous release – Jeff Beck Radio Sessions 1967 (R&B 28) – this LP takes us into the following year through eleven well-recorded tracks, including four songs not included on the two studio LPs recorded by this incarnation of the Jeff Beck Group.

The talented but erratic Beck had found fame with the Yardbirds, where he replaced Eric Clapton and would in turn be replaced by Jimmy Page. After being fired from the Yardbirds in 1966 he tried a series of unsuccessful group line-ups until hitting on the winning formula of Rod Stewart on vocals and Ron Wood on bass plus a Spinal Tap-style succession of drummers.

By the summer of 1968 the UK and the US saw Beck very differently. In the UK Beck was known for a string of Mickie Most-produced pop singles. Most was not interested in the B-sides and as result tracks like Rock My Plimsoul, Beck’s Bolero and I’ve Been Drinking Again outshone the rather flimsy A sides. By contrast in the US the Yardbirds had toured extensively so there Beck already had a reputation, American audiences regarding the Jeff Beck Group as a logical successor to power trios such as the Jimi Hendrix Experience and Cream.

In session for the BBC the band’s blues roots were very much in evidence with impressive takes on B.B.King’s Little Angel and Buddy Guy’s Don’t Know Which Way To Go. Tracks from the debut Jeff Beck Group LP Truth (July 1968) included Muddy Water’s You Shook Me and a reworking of Shapes Of Things, which stemmed back to Beck’s time as a Yardbird. The instrumental jam Rice Pudding would not appear on record until the second Jeff Beck Group LP Beck-Ola (June 1969). These tracks display the instrumental dexterity of the band – Beck’s savage guitar finding a worthy adversary in Stewart’s call-and-response vocals whilst Ron Wood was a dextrous and melodic bass player and Tony Newman provided a heavy beat. Don’t Know Which Way To Go comes from an earlier session with Aynsley Dunbar drumming.

Rod Stewart places the breakthrough for the Jeff Beck Group as their first US tour. This commenced on June 14th at the Fillmore East, New York where they blew headliners the Grateful Dead offstage. By the time the Jeff Beck Group supported Moby Grape at the Fillmore West the following month Stewart had lost his initial stage fright and Beck, Wood and Waller (another drummer) were operating at maximum r’n’b.  The set opens with a taste of You Shook Me before seguing into Let Me Love You. Next is Morning Dew, credited by Stewart to “your Tim Rose”: following a deceptively quiet introductionBeck lets rip with his wah wah pedal. Jeff’s Boogie is a Yardbirds era instrumental which includes a rare Wood bass solo and the theme from The Beverley Hillbillies. The final song is Elmore James’ The Sun Is Shining, also recorded by the Yardbirds and played here as a straight blues. On the night it was followed by Hi Ho Silver Lining, sung unenthusiastically by Beck: we have omitted this track partly because of lack of space and partly because it is a terrible song.

Beck’s skills as a guitarist were not matched by his abilities as a band leader. The day before a US tour in February 1969 Beck fired Wood and Waller claiming their playing had deteriorated. He was forced to rehire Wood when his replacement only lasted one gig but from then on Wood and Stewart were looking for another situation, eventually joining the Faces in October 1969. Watching all this very carefully was Jimmy Page. To Beck’s dismay Led Zeppelin’s debut LP (March 1969) also contained a version of You Shook Me and with strong management from Peter Grant they moved into the gap in the US market that the Jeff Beck Group had created but been unable to fulfil. Stewart resented Beck turning down Woodstock: they were offered the gig but instead went back to London as Beck had heard a rumour that his wife was having an affair with the gardener. Thus ended the first and best Jeff Beck Group: not with a bang but with a whimper. The music on this LP gives a tantalising glimpse of what might have been.

Sleevenotes: “You Know Who”

Let The Airwaves Flow Volume 6:  London & Detroit 1969

The Rolling Stones

SIDE ONE

  1. Down Home Girl (Leiber/Butler)
  2. Give Me A Drink (Jagger/Richards)
  3. Street Fighting Man (Jagger/Richards)
  4. Backstage Rehearsal with Mick Jagger (interview)
  5. Gimme Shelter (Jagger /Richards)

SIDE TWO

  1. (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction (Jagger/Richards)
  2. Jumpin’ Jack Flash (Jagger/Richards)
  3. Carol (Chuck Berry)
  4. Sympathy For The Devil (Jagger/Richards)
  5. Stray Cat Blues (Jagger/Richards)
  6. Little Queenie (Chuck Berry

Recording Details

Side 1

Tracks 1 – 4 recorded live in Hyde Park, London July 5th 1969 broadcast on Dutch Radio Veronica, July 15th 1969

Track 5 broadcast Pop Goes Sixties December 12th 1969

Side 2

Tracks 1 – 3 1st show, Saville Theatre, London December 14th 1969 broadcast US TV as “Supernight of Rock’n’Roll”

Tracks 4 – 6 recorded live at the Olympia Stadium, Detroit  on November 24th 1969 and broadcast on Detroit Tube Works WSU

Personnel

Mick Jagger – vocals

Keith Richards – guitar, vocals

Mick Taylor – guitar

Bill Wyman – bass

Charlie Watts – drums

Sleevenotes

The July 5th 1969 free concert in Hyde Park came at a crucial time for the Stones. Brian Jones had died three days previously, making Hyde Park both a memorial for Brian and a public introduction to Mick Taylor. It was the Stones first live gig in for over a year and it took place in front of at least 250,000 fans. Under the circumstances the band can be forgiven a little rustiness. The concert was recorded by Granada Television and extracts were broadcast as The Stones InThe Park. Subsequent DVD releases featured up to ten of the thirteen tracks played, this release documents the remaining three songs. Down Home Girl received a rarelive outing as did a track called Give Me A Drink, later to be known as Loving Cup.This was another number unfamiliar to the audience as it would not be released until May 1972 on Exile On Main St. Street Fighting Man made its live debut at Hyde Park: over the next six months the Stones would hone this track into a devastating set closer but this is a creditable first attempt.  The bonus track here is a guitar duet recorded backstage plus some words of wisdom from Mick Jagger just prior to his taking the stage. 

Having introduced Taylor to their home audience next up was a tour of the USA.  Brian Jones unreliability had prevented the Stones from touring this most lucrative market for three long years,  a lifetime in 60’s rock’n’roll. Rolling Stones magazine for December 28th was enthusiastic about their performances. “The band got better and better the more they performed. That was clear to anyone who heard them on the West Coast, in San Francisco or Los Angeles, and then, later, in New York or West Palm Beach.” Mick Jagger was quoted: “Compared to the way we sounded later along, we were terrible in San Francisco. Ragged. By the time we were in Detroit, I’d say, it was like a one hundred percent improvement.” Or in the title of a contemporary bootleg “We Never Really Got It On ‘til Detroit”. Thankfully a local cable TV station recorded three numbers, providing fierce soundboard versions of Sympathy For The Devil, Stray Cat Blues, and Little Queenie. Local resident Iggy Pop was at the show and nominated it as his all-time most memorable gig “because of the brazen audacity with which the beat was unhurried and the guitar sound was entirely unsweetened. It was like a heroin pie in your face.”

By the time the Stones played London just before Christmas 1969 their re-invention was complete. They had triumphantly conquered the USA, giving some of the finest performances of their lives with Taylor completely integrated into the band. So expecting a heroes’ welcome they booked two shows at the (modest) Saville Theatre, now the Covent Garden Odeon cinema.  Supporting acts were Shakin’ Stevens and the Sunsets and Mighty Baby, plus DJ Jeff Dexter and the David Bergas Magic Show. Talking to Chris Welch in the Melody Maker for December 20 Jagger complained that “the first show was a bore: full of fucking journalists and totally lacking in energy”. Not a criticism you can level at the snarling guitars of SatisfactionJumpin’ Jack Flash and Carol, although Jagger’s onstage frustration is audible. Still for most Stones fans their final glimpse of the band in 1969 would have been a version of Gimme Shelter performed for the Pop Goes Sixties TV programme. Peace and love was over, replaced by fear and dread. Here come the seventies…

Sleevenotes: Arfur Math

A Degree Of Murder 7″ Vinyl EP featuring Brian Jones, Jimmy Page et al (OST)

Out now from http://www.1960s.london

Selected Extracts From The Original Soundtrack

All music composed and played by Brian Jones

Personnel

Brian Jones: sitar, organ,  guitar, recorder, bass, banjo, dulcimer, harmonica

Jimmy Page: guitars

Nicky Hopkins: piano

Kenney Jones: drums

Peter Gosling: keyboards, Mellotron, vocals

Mike Leander: orchestra

Glyn Johns: engineering

Recording Details

Recorded January – February 1967 @ IBC and Olympic Studios, London. Broadcast on ZDF TV 1969

Sleevenotes

In early 1967 Brian Jones found time in between Stones tours to record the soundtrack to the film Mord und Totschlag (A Touch Of Murder), starring his then- partner Anita Pallenberg as Marie. In the film Marie shoots her ex-boyfriend with his own gun after he attempts to beat her up. Instead of reporting this to the police she hires two men to help her dump the body in a construction site near an autobahn. Although the film was entered into the 1967 Cannes Film Festival it is known today chiefly for its soundtrack. The tracks on this EP provide you with the musical highlights from the soundtrack, which has never officially been released.

Talking to Rolling Stone in 2012 collaborator Jimmy Page said “Brian knew what he was doing. It was quite beautiful. Some of it was made up at the time; some of it was stuff I was augmenting with him. I was definitely playing with the violin bow. Brian had this guitar that had a volume pedal – he could get gunshots with it. There was a Mellotron there. He was moving forward with ideas.” In the film’s official press release, director Volker Schlöndorff was delighted with the results. “Brian’s music has worked so marvellously. His special music fits the film wonderfully – and I do not think anyone but he could have done it.”

William Perks

Writing in Record Collector magazine for May 2022 Ian McCann really liked this record:

New Years Eve 2021 DJ Playlist

A three hour session outdoors with bonfire and mulled Abundance cider. It’s great to be back!

The Swag – Link Wray

I Hear you Knocking – Dave Edmunds

Acquiesce – Oasis

Let It Rock – Rolling Stones

I’m A Believer – Monkees

Tusk – Fleetwood Mac

Gangsters – Specials

Roadhouse Blues – Doors

Is She Really Going Out With Him? – Joe Jackson

Get It On – T.Rex

It’s My Party – Lesley Gore

Nothing Compares 2 U – Sinead O’Connor

Last Nite – Strokes

White Man In Hammersmith Palais – Clash

You Know I’m No Good – Amy Winehouse

Happy Together – Turtles

Back In The USSR – Beatles

Sheena Is A Punk Rocker – Ramones

Walk Like An Egyptian – Bangles

Heroes – David Bowie

Heart Of Glass – Blondie

Town Called Malice – Jam

Reward – Teardrop Explodes

This Charming Man – Smiths

Lazy Sunday – Small Faces

Something In The Air – Thunderclap Newman

Lola – Kinks

Walk On The Wild Side – Lou Reed

Leader Of The Pack – Shangri La’s

Love is the Drug – Roxy Music

Loaded – Primal Scream

Unfinished Sympathy – Massive Attack

Miss You – Rolling Stones

Mony Mony – Tommy James & The Shondells

Go Your Own Way – Fleetwood Mac

I Love The Sound Of Breaking Glass – Nick Lowe 

I Can’t Stand Up For Falling Down – Elvis Costello

Gimme Some Loving – Spencer Davis Group

Money – Barrett Strong 

All The Young Dudes – Mott The Hoople

Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll – Ian Dury

London Calling – Clash

Jumping Jack Flash – Rolling Stones

Let’s Dance – Chris Montez

Last Train To Clarkesville – Monkees

Shout – Isley Brothers

Brass In Pocket – Pretenders

Once In A Lifetime  – Talking Heads

Amy Winehouse – Rehab

Ghost Town – Specials

Woke Up This Morning – Alabama 3

Because The Night – Patti Smith

Pump It Up – Elvis Costello

John I’m Only Dancing – David Bowie

7 Nation Army – White Stripes

Dance To The Music – Sly & The Family Stones

Jeepster – T.Rex

Layla Part Two – Derek & The Dominoes

Rolling Stones / Crosby, Nash & Young

Available now from http://www.1960s.london

Let The Airwaves Flow Volume 7: On Tour ’65 Germany and More

The Rolling Stones

Side A

  1. Everybody Needs Somebody To Love (Russell, Burke, Wexler)
  2. Pain In My Heart (Neville)
  3. Around And Around (Berry)
  4. Time Is On My Side (Meade)
  5. I’m Movin’ On (Snow)
  6. The Last Time (Jagger, Richard)
  7. (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction (Jagger, Richard)
  8. I’m Alright (McDaniel)

Side B

  1. (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction (Jagger, Richard)
  2. She Said Yeah (Jackson, Christy)
  3. Get Off My Cloud (Jagger, Richard)
  4. (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction (Jagger, Richard)
  5. I’m Alright (McDaniel)
  6. Little Red Rooster (Willie Dixon)
  7. Get Off My Cloud (Jagger, Richard) / Satisfaction (Jagger, Richard) / I’m Movin’ On (Snow)

Side One

Tracks  1 – 8 recorded live in the Ernst Merck Halle, Hamburg, Germany on September 13th (second show) and broadcast on German TV

Side Two

Tracks 1 – 3 Recorded for Hullabaloo US TV, New York, 11th November

Tracks 4 & 5 Recorded live at Halle Munsterland, Munster, Germany (first show) on September 11th and broadcast on German TV (ZDF) Schaufenster Deutschland and Deutsche Wochenschau

Track 6 Rehearsal recorded live and broadcast January 6th on UTV Belfast Six Five

Track 7 Recorded live in Waldbuhne, Berlin, Germany on September 15th and broadcast on German TV SFB Berliner Abendschau on September 16th

Personnel

Mick Jagger – Vocals, harmonica, maracas

Keith Richard – Guitar, vocals

Brian Jones – Guitar, tambourine

Bill Wyman – Bass

Charlie Watts – Drums

Sleevenotes

The Rolling Stones first visit to Germany was a “riotous five city affair” (Bill Wyman) with thousands of screaming fans greeted by the police using water cannons. An Essen policeman claimed “I’ve seen nothing like this since the old days of a Nazi or Communist rally.” The Berlin date ended in a full-scale riot: the excerpts of Get Off My Cloud, Satisfaction and I’m Moving On included here come from a German TV news programme scandalised by the damage done to the venue. Equally seismic was Brian Jones meeting Anita Pallenberg for the first time after the Munich gig.  

Everybody Needs Somebody To Love makes for an impassioned opener to the Hamburg set, with Jagger testifying during Pain In My Heart. The recording is so clear you can hear Jagger’s handclaps on Around And Around before the guitars of Richard and Jones muscle in and take over. Time Is On My Side features Keith Richard’s languid backing vocals providing a charming if slightly ragged harmony. A rare live outing for I’m Moving On includes Brian Jones on slide duetting with Jagger’s harmonica whilst Richards holds down the rhythm. A very polite Charlie Watts introduces The Last Time – more joint Jagger/Richardvocals and chiming twin guitars. The band stomps through Satisfaction before finishing with I’m Alright, Bill Wyman’s bass carrying the rhythm as Jagger works the crowd into a frenzy. Two songs from Munster reveal Jagger making full use of a big stage to rouse a predominantly-seated audience during Satisfaction. Jones is in imperious form, shaking a tambourine to get the crowd going during the closing I’m Alright.

Three further songs from 1965 close our account. Mercifully the Hullabaloo Orchestra’s brief ‘interpretation’ of Satisfaction is overwhelmed by the Stones rocking out on inspired live versions of She Said Yeah and Get Off My Cloud, Jones and Richards sporting matching Gibson Firebirds. An added delight is a brief but charming rehearsal of the rarely-heard live Little Red Rooster, done for Irish TV. Sound quality on this release is excellent throughout, although the Berlin song fragments betray their origin as news footage.

And if you thought the Stones were busy in 1965, wait until we get to 1966…

Sleevenotes: Chel C Drugstore

Crosby, Nash & Young Live On TV1970 a

Tracklisting 

Side One

1. Simple Man (Nash)
2. Marrakesh Express (Nash)
3. Guinevere (Crosby) 
4. Tree With No Leaves (Crosby)
5. Teach Your Children (Nash)
6. Right Between The Eyes (Nash)

7. The Lee Shore (Crosby)
8. Traction In The Rain (Crosby)

Side Two.

  1. Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere (Young)
  2. Everybody’s Alone (Young)
  3. Dance, Dance, Dance (Young)
  4. On The Way Home (Young)
  5. Wonderin’ (Young) /
  6. Instrumental Interlude
  7. Sugar Mountain (Young)


Recording Details

Side One Tracks 1-8 recorded for BBC TV In Concert, broadcast November 9th 1970

Side Two Tracks 1-7  recorded for KQED, San Francisco on February 19th 1970

Personnel

Graham Nash – vocals, piano, acoustic guitar (Side One Tracks 1 – 8)

David Crosby – vocals, acoustic guitar (Side One Tracks 1- 8)

Neil Young – vocals, acoustic guitar (Side Two Tracks 1 – 7 )

Sleevenotes

The Crosby, Stills & Nash LP was released in May 1969 to critical acclaim and commercial success: it reached number six on the Billboard charts and has been certified as four times platinum with over four million sales. In 2003 Rolling Stone ranked it number 262 on their list of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.

Realising that three singer / guitarists would not be able to tour the album effectively the trio hired drummer Dallas Taylor and bass player Greg Reeves. Stills knew Neil Young from their time together in Buffalo Springfield and offered him a supporting role: Young agreed to join only if he was made a full member of the group, which changed its name to Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. CSNY’s second ever gig was Woodstock in August 1969: despite a performance so poor that it had to be re-recorded, the band’s appearance in the resultant movie and on the soundtrack LP catapulted them to instant international stardom, cemented with the release of the similarly successful Déjà Vu in March 1970.

1970 found Crosby, Nash and Young reverting to a simpler, more acoustic format for solo television appearances, presented here in excellent audio quality. For Crosby and Nash In Concert Graham Nash starts seated at the piano with a solo performance of his Simple Man, with David Crosby casually strolling over to add a harmony. Thereafter the two perch on stools with their acoustic guitars, singing material from a variety of sources. Simple Man would appear on Nash’s Songs For Beginners in 1971. From Crosby, Stills & Nash there is the sprightly hit single Marrakesh Express and Crosby’s more contemplative Guinevere. Nash’s Teach Your Children is from Déjà Vu, performed here with the most delicate harmonies. Also recorded for Déjà Vu but not included on the LPare The Lee Shore and Right Between The Eyes: live versions would appear on CSNY’s 1971 Four Way StreetTree With No Leaves would appear more accurately titled as Song With No Words when it appeared on David Crosby’s If Only I Could Remember My Name LP in 1971, also the source of Traction In The Rain..

What is notable about the six songs that Neil Young recorded for San Francisco TV station KQED in early 1970 is how many came from his latest LP. The answer is precisely one, title track Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere. The other five songs had either been recorded for the LP but not included (Everybody’s Alone and Wonderin’),donated to his backing band Crazy Horse’s first LP(Dance, Dance, Dance), revived from his time with Buffalo Springfield (On The Way Home) or issued repeatedly as a perennial single B-side (Sugar Mountain).The choice of songs suggests an artist hell-bent on following his muse rather than promoting the latest product, a trait that would become more apparent in later years.

In front of a small audience Young sounds relaxed and takes Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere and Dance, Dance, Dance more slowly than the studio versions, thus revealing the dexterity of his guitar playing. Wonderin’ breaks down when Young hits a chord that “I’ve never hit before and it made me laugh”, a second version is more successful. There ensues a fascinating passage when Neil runs through short instrumental extracts from Out On The Weekend, Country Girl, Do I Have To Come Right Out And Say It and Danny Whitten’s I Don’t Want to Talk About It

Final track Sugar Mountain was clearly a song Young held in high regard making its absence from any of his contemporary studio LPs baffling, the same could be said for Everybody’s Alone and Wonderin’ It is good to finally have such listenable versions of these overlooked songs.

After these recordings Crosby, Nash and Young would experience further commercial success, undermined by massive drug consumption and ego-driven intraband conflict. Never again would they sound as relaxed or as close to their acoustic roots.

Sleevenotes: Mr.Soul

With many thanks to Neil Parison for his invaluable assistance with this release

Faces Live 1970 / Buffalo Springfield Live 1967

Available now from http://www.1960s.london

Side One

  1. Wicked Messenger (Dylan)
  2. Devotion (Lane)
  3. (You’re My Girl) I Don’t Want To Discuss It) ( Cooper, Beatty, Shelby)
  4. Flying (Stewart, Wood, Lane)
  5. Too Much Woman (For A Hen Pecked Man) (Turner) /
  6. Street Fighting Man (Jagger, Richards)

Side Two

1. Maybe I’m Amazed (McCartney)

2. Gasoline Alley  (Stewart, Wood) /

3. Plynth (Stewart, Wood)

4. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen (Traditional)

5. Away In A Manger (Traditional)

6. Good King Wenceslas (Traditional)

7. Silent Night (Traditional)

8. O Come All Ye Faithful (Traditional)

Recording Details

Side One

Track 1 recorded for BBC Dave Lee Travis on March 10th 1970, broadcast March 15th

Tracks 2-6 recorded for Swing In (German WDR TV) live at the Marquee 7th December 1970

Side Two

Tracks 1-3 recorded for Swing In (German WDR TV) live at the Marquee 7th December 1970

Tracks 4 -8 recorded for BBC as The Top Gear Carol Concert on December 8th 1970 and broadcast on December 26th

Personnel

Side One Tracks 1 – 6, Side Two Tracks 1-3

Rod Stewart – lead and backing vocals

Ronnie Lane – bass, backing vocals, lead vocals

Ron Wood – lead guitar, slide guitar, backing vocals

Ian McLagan – Hammond organ, pianos, backing vocals

Kenney Jones – drums and percussion

Side Two

Tracks 4 – 8 David Bedford (piano and organ) and vocals from: Marc Bolan, June Child, Ivor Cutler, Sonja Kristina, (solo on track 7), Romey Young, Rod Stewart (solo on track 5), Robert Wyatt (duet on track 6), Mike Ratledge, Ron Wood , Ronnie Lane (duet on track 6), John Peel, Sheila Ravenscroft, Kenny Jones, Ian McLagan, Pete Buckland, Bridget St John.

Sleevenotes

Our second release from The Faces brings together a variety of tracks recorded in 1970 and broadcast on radio and TV. The version of Wicked Messenger is taken from the band’s very first radio session and it a focussed and compact version of the Dylan song.

The next selection of tracks are taken from the second half of a gig at the original Marquee Club (Wardour Street) filmed for German television. The ballad Devotion includes a lovely section where Rod Stewart and Ronnie Lane sing in unison. The tempo increases on a riff-driven (You’re My Girl) I Don’t Want To Discuss It which is from Stewart’s second solo album Gasoline Alley, released in June 1970. Despite audience calls for Tin Soldier(!) debut Faces single Flying is next, Ron Wood’s lead guitar and Ian McLagan’s organ combining well here with the harmonies of Lane and Wood. The cover of Ike & Tina Turner’s Too Much Woman (For A Hen Pecked Man) never made it onto a Faces studio LP despite it being a mainstay of their live set, frequently as part of a medley – tonight with a snatch of the Stones Street Fighting Man, another Stewart solo track. Ronnie Lane sings the introduction to Paul McCartney’s Maybe I’m Amazed before Stewart joins in and Ronnie Wood plays two elegant solos. The pregnant pause in the middle of the song fools the audience who start clapping before the band returns. Gasoline Alley features McLagan and Lane harmonising before Ronnie Wood uses Plynth to showcase his prowess on slide guitar. A cracking set, recorded when the band still drank pints of bitter rather than pints of Courvoisier .

Finally we include John Peel’s Christmas Carol concert from December 1970. This was a one-off, never attempted before or since. Peel and producer John Walters rounded up the usual suspects and recorded five traditional carols for broadcast on Boxing Day.  Keyboard accompaniment was provided by classically-trained David Bedford, then a member of Kevin Ayers and The Whole World : characteristically Kevin Ayers was contracted to appear but never showed up. All the Faces plus road manager Pete Buckland were present and incorrect – Rod sings Away In A Manger beautifully, whilst Sonja Kristina (Curved Air) contributes a solo Silent Night. Ronnie Lane duets with Robert Wyatt (Soft Machine) on Good King Wenceslas and the entire ensemble attempt God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen and O Come All Ye Faithfull. Alcohol may have been consumed.

A suitably celebratory note with which to end our review of the Faces broadcast activities in 1970. Coming soon  – the Faces in 1971, where commercial success and artistic recognition coincide…

B. Lynde-Horse

Side One

1.Pay the Price (Stills)      

2.Nowadays Clancy Can’t Even Sing (Young)            

3.For What It’s Worth (Stills)        

4. Mr.Soul (Young)                               

5. Rock & Roll Woman (Stills) 

6. For What It’s Worth (Stills)   

7. Interview with Dick Clark           

Side Two

  1. For What It’s Worth (Stills)        
  2. Nowadays Clancy Can’t Even Sing (Young)            
  3. Rock & Roll Woman /    
  4. Bluebird (Stills)              
  5. A Child´s Claim To Fame (Furay)
  6. Pretty Girl Why (Stills)
  7. For What It’s Worth (Stills) / Mr.Soul (Young)

Recording Details

Side One

Tracks 1- 4 recorded live at the Hollywood Bowl and broadcast by Rock Radio Powerhouse KHJ on April 29th

Track 5 recorded live for the Popendity TV programme at the Warwick Theatre Studios, Providence, Rhode Island, broadcast on ABC November 16

Track 6 recorded live for the Smothers Brothers TV programme on February 17th at CBS TV City, Hollywood, broadcast February 26th 

Track 7 American Bandstand interview with Dick Clark, broadcast January 21st

Side Two

Tracks 1- 6 recorded live at the Monterey International Pop Festival on June18th

Track 7 recorded live for the Hollywood Palace TV programme on January 20th 1967, broadcast April 8th

Personnel

Stephen Stills – guitar, keyboards, vocals

Neil Young – guitar, vocals (Side One Tracks 1-7, Side Two Track 7)

Dewey Martin – drums, vocals

Richie Furay – guitar, vocals

Bruce Palmer – bass guitar (Side One and Side Two tracks 1-6)

David Crosby – guitar, vocals (Side Two Tracks 1-6)

Doug Hastings – guitar (Side Two Tracks 1-6)

Dick Davies – bass (Side Two track 7)

Sleevenotes

“While not really a folk-rock band the prodigiously talented Buffalo Springfield deserve special mention both for caring enough to preserve the very best qualities of the form and for conscientously consolidating them into inspired if idiosyncratic rock’n’roll. Like the Byrds, the Buffalo could either hang back on a song until all its juices boiled over or just come right out and say it. Although the group had a short but troubled career, their melodies not their maladies linger on’”

Paul Nelson, Rolling Stone

Named after a steamroller seen from their manager’s window, Buffalo Springfield was the sound of experienced folk-singers plugging in to go electric, in much the same way as the Byrds formed after seeing A Hard Days Night. Neil Young was from Toronto, Canada. He split up his second electric band The Squires to become a folk singer. On tour in Ontario Neil Young found himself on the same bill as The Company, a spin-off group from the Au Go Go Singers who included Stephen Stills (from Dallas) and  Richie Furay (from Ohio). In 1966 Neil joined The Mynah Birds with bass player and fellow Canadian Bruce Palmer. Neil then decided to relocate to  Los Angeles to try to find Stephen Stills, and was driving his distinctive hearse along Sunset Boulevard with Bruce one day in April 1966 when he was spotted by Stills and Furay. The band was completed by Nashville session drummer Dewey Martin, another Canadian from Ontario. You can hear Neil Young explain some of this to Dick Clark in an American Bandstand interview.

Buffalo Springfield was a mercurial group beset by managerial and personal disagreements throughout their career, which only lasted from April 1966 to May 1968. Although the band managed to produce three successful studio LPs both Stills and Furay have claimed the group were much better live. This compilation brings together the TV and radio broadcasts from 1967 to allow you to explore that claim.

The Springfield’s appearance at the Hollywood Bowl was part of a three hour concert organised by Rock Radio Powerhouse KHJ in celebration of their second year as a Top 40 station. The rest of the eclectic bill comprised The Fifth Dimension, Brenda Holloway, Johnny Rivers, The Seeds and The Supremes, reserved seats $0.93. The Springfield were on early with a short set as they had another gig at The Fillmore in San Francisco the same night. Pay The Price makes for a confident upbeat opener with some good unison vocals and spiky guitar solos. Nowadays Clancy Can’t Even Sing is slower and more reflective with more strong harmonies and intertwined guitar parts. Hit single For What It’s Worth was left off the first Springfield LP before being hurriedly added: once again the mix of vocal harmonies and multiple guitars is very effective. Forthcoming single Mr Soul makes its first public appearance with a committed lead vocal from Neil Young ably supported by Stills  and those duelling guitars again. Stills’ Rock & Roll Woman was a highlight of second LP Buffalo Springfield Again. An uncredited David Crosby helped to write the song, allegedly about Grace Slick. More of those intoxicating harmonies are allied to a catchy tune, albeit one that only reached 44 on the Billboard charts when released as a single.

The Monterey International Pop Festival was a major event which helped establish both Jimi Hendrix and the Who in America. Rolling Stone publisher Jann Wenner said “Monterey was the nexus – it sprang from what the Beatles began, and from it sprang what followed.” What should have been a triumphant appearance by the Springfield was marred by Neil Young having temporarily left the band. His place was taken by Doug Hastings, from Seattle band The Daily Flash. Also sitting in for this gig was David Crosby. Under the circumstances the band did a good job. They were introduced by an effusive Peter Tork, who had known Stills’ since the latter’s teeth prevented him from becoming a Monkee. On Nowadays Clancy Can’t Even Sing Richie Furay takes the lead vocal, working well with Stills’ on the verse and Crosby adding a supportive harmony. Martin and Palmer can be heard as a fine rhythm section, leaving space for some jazzy guitar fills. Rock & Roll Woman gives Crosby some space, before evolving into Bluebird, a showcase for Stills’ lead guitar. In contrast Furay sings a brief version of his A Child’s Claim To Fame, where the bands country influences become more apparent. The final Monterey song Pretty Girl Why is only available as a song fragment, it is included here to complete the set,

Finally two further TV appearances. The version of For What It’s Worth recorded for The Smothers Brothers is notable visually for Stills’ magnificent Stetson as well as a very literal interpretation of the lines “there’s a man with gun in his hand” and “hooray for our side”. After a smarmy introduction from Hollywood Palace host Tony Martin Stills kicks off with What It’s Worth before handing over to Young and his impressively fringed jacket for Mr Soul. Why was Bruce Palmer sitting with his back to the camera? Because it wasn’t Bruce – in another personnel change he had been replaced by Dick Davies.

Brian Hogg, Bam Balam magazine: ”Buffalo Springfield is the farewell to L.A folk rock, the last before its mutation into something different.” Different, but not necessarily better

Sleevenotes: Stan Peed

Special thanks to Neil Parison

Demodelica – Primal Scream

The 1991 release of Screamadelica was a welcome change after the musical sterility of much of the 1980s. This new compilation illustrates its gestation, illuminated by revealing quotes from Bobby Gillespie and Andrew Innes contained in Jon Savage’s excellent sleevenotes.

These 16 demos and alternative versions were written over 18 months and recorded in 4 different studios, frequently revealing a gentler side to the band. Come Together receives a folk-rock treatment.  Two takes of the peerless Higher Than The Sun show a major Beach Boys influence, as do three versions of Inner Flight where you can hear Henry Olson constructing vocal harmonies in real time. Damaged is a raw electric version whilst Movin’ On Up lacks its eventuall Bo Diddley / Magic Bus rhythm. The first version of I’m Coming Down sounds like a VU third album electric ballad, whilst the second has a terrific backwards guitar solo. The initial Shine Like Stars is set to an uptempo rhythm track, later to be completely re-worked.  Three takes of Don’t Fight It Feel It illustrate how the song progressed with the Beatles Hey Bulldog steal being more prominent here. The final track Screamadelica sounds like it belongs on a separate LP with its Isaac Hayes / Gamble & Huff vibe.

Demodelica provides a fascinating and (crucially) musically rewarding insight into the creation of Screamadelica, illustrating how the songs were built and some of the roads not taken. It reminds me of the Alice In Wonderland exhibition at the V&A where you can see out-takes and alternative versions of John Tenniel’s illustrations, providing a new perspective on a familiar masterpiece.

John Cooper Clarke @ Sunset Festival, Wimbledon Common

Saturday 18th September

Merchandise: Books (not signed)

The Wombles had competition tonight as John Cooper Clarke entertained a sold-out tent with poems and readings. Bookended by perfomances of The Luckiest Guy Alive and I Want To Be Yours, Clarke read passages from his new autobiography. In this he was aided and abetted by his road manager Johnny Green, who used to perform the same function for The Clash. Facing each other in cream IKEA armchairs they made an unlikely but effective double act. Clarke is still stick thin with anarchic hair but he now perches reading glasses in front of his omnipresent Raybans. The set had a loose spontaneous quality, aided by questions from the audience. These prompted ruminations on living in Stevenage and why you should never buy trousers from a heterosexual. Cultural icons abounded with Nico, Bob Dylan, Keith Richards and Bernard Manning all making an appearance. Clarke explained gleefully how his adoption by The Arctic Monkeys has exposed him to a much younger audience. Live performance is Clarke’s raison d’etre, the vitality of tonight’s show suggests he will not be hanging up his shiny-black Chelsea boots any time soon.

This review was written for Record Collector magazine, where in the December 2021 edition it appeared like this:

The Who Live 1965-57, The Easybeats At The BBC

The Who Live 1965 – 1967

Side One

  1. Substitute  (Pete Townshend)
  2. Man With Money (Don & Phil Everley)
  3. Dancing In The Street (Marvin Gaye / William Stevenson / Ivy Jo Hunter)
  4. Barbara Ann (Fred Fassert)
  5. My Generation (Pete Townshend)
  6. Daddy Rolling Stone (Otis Blackwell)
  7. Happy Jack (Pete Townshend)
  8. My Generation (Pete Townshend)

Side Two

  1. So Sad About Us (Pete Townshend)
  2. I’m A Boy (Pete Townshend)
  3. Substitute (Pete Townshend)
  4. My Generation (Pete Townshend)
  5. Shout & Shimmy (James Brown)
  6. Man With Money (Don & Phil Everley)
  7. My Generation (Pete Townshend)
  8. Jingle Bells (James Lord Pierpoint) /
  9. You Rang ? (Pete Townshend / John Entwistle / Roger Daltrey / Keith Moon)

Recording Details

Side One

Tracks 1-5 recorded for ORTF on 31/3/66 at the Music Hall de France, d’Ailleurs, Issy-les-Moulineaux 

Track 6 Recorded live at Twickenham Film Studio for US TV Shindig (ABC) 03/08/65

Tracks 7 & 8 recorded for Beat Club at the Marquee, London 02/03/67

Side Two

Track 1 Track recorded for BBC Saturday Club at the Playhouse Theatre, London 13/09/66

Tracks 2-4 recorded at the Pier Pavilion, Felixstowe on 08/09/66 and broadcast on the French television show Seize Millions Des Jeunes with DJ Emperor Rosko on 18/10/66.

Tracks 5-7 recorded live for Ready Steady Go! and transmitted 5.11.65

Tracks 8 recorded for Ready Steady Go! on 17.12.65 and transmitted 24.12.65.

Track 9 recorded for BBC Saturday Club on 15.03.66 and transmitted on 19.03.66

Roger Daltrey – lead vocals

John Entwistle – bass, vocals

Keith Moon – drums, vocals

Pete Townsend – guitar, vocals

Sleevenotes

“Was there ever a more exciting live group than The Who at their first peak, 1965/66? I think not. The Who were two quite different bands. In the early 70’s, after Tommy’s success d’estime bailed them out of a tight spot, they resolved themselves into a different type of act – the world’s greatest stadium band. At Bath Pavilion, in the summer of 197I, I saw a warmup show for the Who’s Next US Tour and they had grown wonderfully; nobody better. But my heart remains forever with the group I first saw in the mid-60s – the flash, noisy, violent, melodic pop group of the Ready Steady Go! years. Here they are…”

John Perry (guitarist and author of Meaty, Beaty, Big and Bouncy (Classic Rock Albums)

London, Paris and…Felixstowe. During their initial burst of success from 1965 to 1967 the band were a blur of live gigs, radio and TV appearances and hurried recording sessions. This LP collates the material from this period that is unavailable elsewhere, albeit sometimes in sound quality that reflects contemporary broadcast standards.

The first five songs on Side One are from a French TV programme. France got The Who straight away due to the potent combination of their stylish pop-art visual and Townshend’s overt intelligence.. The band open with a lively version of Substitute, Townshend delivering an uncharacteristic solo on a Telecaster whilst looking very Brooks Brothers. The Everly’s Man With Money was a stage favourite but would not appear officially until the 1995 CD re-release of A Quick One. From country to Motown – why not ? Dancing In the Street is a more obvious mod-orientated choice and features Townshend using a mike stand to get some wayward sounds, his backing vocals on this number being equally experimental.  Surf-nut Keith Moon’s falsetto vocals are a feature but not a highlight of Barbara Ann. The closing My Generation is performed quite conservatively with only a solitary cymbal getting knocked over – maybe the band were under heavy manners to behave themselves.

Daddy Rolling Stone was first released by the Who as the B-side to Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere. The band base their arrangement on Derek Martin’s exhilarating version from 1963, a favourite with the Mods in their audience. This recording was made in London for US TV programme Shindig, Townshend in Union Jacket and birdman poses.

Closing this side are two songs from The Who’s spiritual home, The Marquee Club on Wardour Street. A brief and to the point Happy Jack is followed by Townsend playing slide with the mike stand at the end of My Generation. Before he can total his guitar a smoke-bomb causes the power to fail. Roger is at the height of his Dippity-Do hair-gel dandy phase, the curly haired Rock God still two years away. Entwistle recreates his bass solo in My Generation with impressive and impassive dexterity. And beaming over all he surveys is Keith Moon, the original Happy Jack, visibly having the time of his life.

Kicking off Side Two is So Sad About Us a song Pete wrote for The Merseys which turned out so well that The Who nicked it for themselves. This fine version was recorded for the BBC, but inexplicably omitted from The Who BBC Sessions (1999). Listen for the immaculate harmonies and the new vocal refrain (“Last Night”) at the end.

Next up are frenetic versions of I’m A Boy, Substitute and My Generation recorded on Felixstowe Pier. My Generation ends with Townshend ramming his Rickenbacker into a Marshall amp that bears the scars of previous assaults whilst Moon upends his kit to the presumed delight of the French TV crew filming the gig.

Finally a selection of songs recorded for The Who’s signature TV programme Ready Steady Go!.  An exciting Shout and Shimmy demonstrates the bands early James Brown fixation with a rare drums-and-bass interlude and Man With Money gets a powerful finish. A real period piece from the 1965 Christmas Eve edition, Jingle Bells is a seasonal dischord with “John on French Horn, Roger on bell, Keith on kazoo and Pete on feedback” (Keith Altham, NME). By contrast You Rang? is a great Ventures-type instrumental in the style of The Ox and this is the only known recording.  The words “You Rang?”  are uttered by John Entwistle and are taken from the hit TV show The Munsters, where it was the catchphrase of Lurch (Ted Cassidy). A suitably light-hearted note on which to close this selection of songs  – neaty, Petey, gig and flouncy.

Sleeve notes: Boris Dee Spyder

The Easybeats At The BBC 1966 – 1968

Tracklisting

Side One

1.Friday On My Mind  (Harry Vanda and George Young)
2. Made My Bed, Gonna Lie In It (George Young)
3. Pretty Girl (Harry Vanda and George Young)
4. Sorry (Stevie Wright & George Young)
5. Friday On My Mind (Harry Vanda and George Young)
6. Saturday Night (Harry Vanda and George Young)

7. Mother In Law (Allen Toussaint)

8. Who´ll Be The One (Harry Vanda and George Young)

9. Heaven And Hell (Harry Vanda and George Young

Side Two

  1. River Deep – Mountain High (Phil Spector, Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich)
  2. Pretty Girl  (Harry Vanda and George Young)
  3. Falling Off The Edge Of The World (Harry Vanda and George Young)
  4. I Keep Forgettin´ (Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller and Gilbert Garfield)
  5. Hello How Are You (Harry Vanda and George Young
  6. Old Macdonald Had A Farm (Trad. arr. Harry Vanda and George Young)
  7. Falling Off The Edge Of The World  (Harry Vanda and George Young)
  8. Down To The Last 500 (Harry Vanda and George Young)
  9. What In The World (Harry Vanda and George Young)

Personnel

Stevie Wright – Lead singer

George Young – Rhythm guitar

Harry Vanda – Lead guitar

Dick Diamonde – Bass

Gordon “Snowy” Fleet – Drums (Tracks 1- 8)

Tony Cahill – Drums (Tracks 9 -18)

Sleeve notes – Marcus Hook

Recording Details

All material recorded for BBC Radio as follows:

Side One

Tracks 1-3 for Saturday Club, recorded October 18th  1966, broadcast 22nd  October 1966

Tracks 4-5 for Saturday Club, recorded December 5th 1966, broadcast December 17th 1966

Tracks 6 -8 for Saturday Club, recorded March 21st 1967, broadcast April 1st 1967

Track 9 for Saturday Club, recorded June 19th 1967, broadcast June 24th 1967

Side Two

Tracks 1 & 2 for Saturday Club, recorded June 19th 1967, broadcast June 24th 1967

Tracks 3 & 4 for The Jimmy Young Show, recorded November 24th 1967 and broadcast January 29th 1968

Tracks 5-7 for The Pete Brady Show, recorded February 19th 1968 and broadcast March 2nd 1968

Tracks 8 & 9 for The Pete Brady Show, recorded February 19th 1968 and broadcast April 2nd 1968

Sleevenotes

By the time the Easybeats located to the UK in July 1966, the level of success they had attained in their native land had them acclaimed as “The Australian Beatles”. The band came into existence in The Villawood Migrant Hostel in 1963 and all five members were originally from Europe. Lead singer Stevie Wright and drummer Gordon Fleet were born in England, rhythm guitarist George Young was from Glasgow and lead guitarist Harry Vanda and bassist Dick Diamonde were Dutch-born. In 1965, they signed a contract with Ted Albert of Albert Productions, one of Australia’s first independent record production companies, who placed the Easybeats with Parlophone. A string of Australian hit singles then followed, written by George Young and Stevie Wright.

After arriving in London the band recorded several songs with Ted Albert at Abbey Road but these were rejected by United Artists, the band’s new UK record label. Two changes would lead to international success.  Firstly Harry Vanda’s command of English had improved to the point where he replaced Stevie Wright as George Young’s regular song writing partner. Secondly independent record producer Shel Talmy (The Who, The Kinks) spotted the potential of the newly-written Friday On My Mind and recorded it at his favoured IBC studios in September 1966. Released the following month, it reached number 6 in the UK charts, number 1 in Australia, number 16 in the US and went top ten in Germany, the Netherlands and France.

For many, the Easybeats were a one-hit wonder but this fine-sounding compilation demonstrates the depth of their songwriting and their ability to play their songs live with drive and enthusiasm. Friday On My Mind still sounds fresh today – it was one of the songs David Bowie chose to record for his Pin-Ups tribute to mod London and it has been covered live by everyone from Squeeze to Bruce Springsteen. Made My Bed, Gonna Lie In It was the B-side and another strong song with effective harmonies. Pretty Girl features some delicate guitar and was a highlight of the first United Artists LP Good Friday.

For their second BBC radio appearance, the Easybeats dusted off Sorry, one of the hits they had before leaving Australia and another effective use of wordless harmonies. Who’ll Be The One was released as the follow-up to Friday On My Mind but it lacked the immediacy of its predecessor and it was not a hit. The B-side Saturday Night is catchier with a cool “na na na” hook and a false ending but contrary to Brian Mathews introduction it was not written for the band by Donovan.  Taking on Tina Turner is a brave move but the band make a credible attempt at River Deep – Mountain High with descending guitar chords and more of those strong harmonies. The cover of Ernie K. Doe’s Mother In Law is less of a stretch and features a commendably brief solo from Vanda. I Keep Forgettin’, originally a hit for Chuck Jackson, receives a ska-style arrangement which works well. The less said about the band’s version of Old Macdonald Had A Farm the better.

Heaven And Hell was a stronger single, where the comparison of heaven and hell is reflected in a more complicated arrangement with alternating quiet and loud passages. But not a hit, so the band tried a piano-driven ballad in Hello How Are You. Even better is its B-side, Falling Off The Edge Of The World. The first versionherehas a morse-code guitar intro, leading to another passionate heavy ballad with Keith Moon style drumming from new recruit Tony Cahill. The second version is more subdued with added orchestral accompaniment. What In The World is taken from the second United Artists LP Vigil whilst Down To The Last 500 would not be released until a demo of the song appeared on The Best Of The Easybeats Volume 2 in 1969. Both songs are performed in a more relaxed style, the harmonies still present but not as prominent. Vigil contained some fine tracks – the version of Good Times with Steve Marriott and Nicky Hopkins is highly recommended – but the band had lost momentum and they split after a farewell tour of Australia in October 1969.

“The Easybeats’ appearance on Ready Steady Go was just one of many but it is completely memorable. They burst with a total classic, a stunning important song, mature and solid, an ever favourite.”  Brian Hogg, Bam Balam magazine (June 1980).

Sleeve notes: Barry McKenzie

On Tour ’64 – The Rolling Stones

Available now from http://www.1960s.london

 

Side One

1. Around And Around (Berry) 

2. Off The Hook (Nanker, Phelge) 

3. Time Is On My Side (Meade) 

4. It’s All Over Now (Womack, Womack)

5. I’m Alright (McDaniel) 

6. Let’s Get Together (Nanker, Phelge) 

7. Carol  (Berry) 

8. Not Fade Away  (Hardin, Petty)

9. I’m Movin’ On (Snow)

Side Two

1.    Around and Around (Berry)

2.    Time Is On My Side (Meade)

3.    Carol (Berry) 

4. Mona ( McDaniel)

5. Not Fade Away (Hardin, Petty) 

6. High Heel Sneakers  (Higginbotham) 

7. I Just Want To Make Love To You (Dixon) 

8. Beautiful Delilah (Berry) 

9. Walking The Dog (Thomas) 

10. Susie Q (Hawkins, Chaisson, Lewis, Broadwater) 

Personnel

Mick Jagger – lead vocals

Brian Jones – guitar, harmonica

Keith Richard – guitar, backing vocals

Bill Wyman – bass

Charlie Watts – drums

Recording Details

Side One 

Tracks 1 – 6 recorded live on the 29th October at Santa Monica Civic Auditorium and broadcast on the Teen Awards Music International (TAMI) TV show

7 & 8 recorded live for the Mike Douglas Show, Cleveland on June 18th and broadcast on KYW-TV3 on June 25th

Track 9 recorded live at the New Theatre Ballroom, St. Peter Port, Channel Islands on August 18th and broadcast on August 24th by ITV Channel Television

Side Two

Tracks 1 & 2 recorded live on the Ed Sullivan TV show 25th October

Tracks 3 & 4 recorded live for the Joe Loss Pop Show, BBC Light Radio on July 17th

Tracks  5-7 recorded live for the Joe Loss Pop Show, BBC Light Radio on April 10th

Tracks 8-10 recorded live at The Kurhaus, The Hague, Netherlands on August 8th 1964 and broadcast by REM TV/ Radio Veronica

Sleevenotes

1964 was a very eventful year for the Rolling Sones: this LP gives you a flavour of their international activity. We open with their explosive appearance on the US TAMI TV show where they topped a bill that included the Beach Boys, Marvin Gaye, Chuck Berry. The Supremes and The Miracles  Here’s Bill Wyman in 2002. “We heard that James Brown wanted to close the show but the powers that be insisted we do the honours. James Brown vowed he was going to ‘make the Rolling Stones wish they’d never come to America’. We sat backstage and witnessed an incredible set from James Brown and his Famous Flames. It made us very nervous knowing we had to follow him. We went to the dressing room to get ready, where Chuck Berry and Marvin Gaye reassured and encouraged us. We got a fantastic reception from the 5000 fans when we walked onstage, the crowd loved it. We along with all the other performers did a version of I’m Alright / Get Together with Jack Nitzche’s band. As we walked off stage James Brown walked up to us and shook our hands, saying how he loved our performance.”

Stones authority Nick Kent explained the significance of this performance in Mojo (2003).  “James Brown dances so intensely and with such daredevil animal grace that you half expect his legs to spontaneously combust. The performance is such a dazzling tour-de-force that it seems unlikely that anyone would even attempt to follow it. Then out troop five long-haired scruffy blokes with an androgynous-looking urchin-faced lead singer taking Brown’s place at the microphone. A juvenile, big-eared Keith Richards sparks up the opening riff to Chuck Berry’s Around and Around and for the next 20 minutes we are treated to the Rolling Stones going toe to toe with the king of soul and rhythm and blues and his backing unit, the most dynamic live band in the world. The Stones play fantastically with Charlie Watts and Keith Richards particularly outstanding but it is Jagger who leads the charge here. No other white band could have pulled it off.” Also included are Off The HookIt’s All Over Now and Time Is On My Side. Keith Richards writing in his autobiography gave a more pragmatic reason for their appearance on the show.  “There was no money in any of the early American tours. We did the TAMI show in America late in 1964 to get us back home. We earned $25,000.”

I’m Moving On is from The Stones brief tour of the Channel Islands in August. Carol and Not Fade Away were recorded for the Mike Douglas TV show in Cleveland before the band made their first appearance on the prestigious Ed Sullivan national TV show. Here is how the NME of 30.10.64 covered their performance. “The Rolling Stones had two spots on Sunday’s Ed Sullivan TV show. Towards the end of the first half-hour, to more prolonged screams than any British group has received in recent months, they performed Around and Around. Later they returned for Time Is On My Side. Lead singer Mick Jagger lacked fire and depth and looked very unkempt. Jagger did quite a lot of supple dancing between vocal choruses and the rest of the group was suitably animated. There was negative New York press reaction, particularly on Jagger’s appearance. Television columnist headlined his Journal American review “The Slobs” and described them as “rubbishy musical riff-raff”. Mick Jagger remembers that “Ed told us that it was the wildest, most enthusiastic audience he’d seen any artiste get in the history of his show. We got a message from him a few days later saying “Received hundreds of letters from parents complaining about you, but thousands from teenagers saying how much they enjoyed your performance.”

Next up are high quality versions of Carol, Mona, Not Fade Away, High Heel Sneakers  and I Just Want To Make Love To You recorded over two sessions for Joe Loss at the BBC and not included on the official On Air release. More eventful are the recordings from 8th August. Bill Wyman again. “We played a beautiful venue in Holland called the Kurhaus. It was an opera house in The Hague and it turned into a disaster. As soon as the curtains opened the crowd went berserk. 100 police were moved into position to protect us  and it ended up with chandeliers being broken and tapestries town from walls. After two numbers the leads were pulled from our mics. Stu (road manager Ian Stewart) was right in the firing line and got hit by a bottle.” A volatile crowd was inflamed by the tedium of sitting through five banal support acts and the incendiary remarks of compere Jos Brink. Beautiful Delialah is recognisable but the set soon descends into aural anarchy so that Walking The Dog and Suzie Q sound like The Seeds.

A national newspaper headlined its coverage of the Kurhaus gig “Rolling Stones cause chaotic destruction” . Tellingly one of the banners unfurled by the audience said “Stones Forever, Beatles Never”. The Satanic Majesties were on their way…

 Sleevenotes: Ruby Tuesday