The Go-Go's - Live In LA 1984

This is the Go-Go's in their 1980's hey day.

They made rock history as the first all-woman band that both wrote their own songs and played their own instruments to top the Billboard album charts in the USA.

Their energetic music spanned surf, new wave, pop-punk, power pop, and rock.

Although Belinda Carlisle has had considerable success as a solo artist, the Go-Go's are very much on equal terms with each other, as is evidenced by this concert.

I do not have the precise location or exact date for this gig, beyond LA, California in 1984. This is a superb and lively performance.

Set list is:

01 Get Up and Go
02 Head Over Heels
03 Our Lips Are Sealed
04 Forget That Day
05 We Got The Beat
06 Turn To You
07 Tonight
08 You Thought
09 Yes Or No
10 I'm With You
11 This Town
12 Can't Stop The World
13 Vacation - I'm The Only One

Band Line Up:

Belinda Carlisle
Jane Wiedlin
Charlotte Caffey
Kathy Valentine
Gina Schock

This is probably FM stereo rather than soundboard, it is either way a very good quality recording.

DOWNLOAD LINK IN COMMENTS BELOW.

A few Go-Go's items in the Beehive Candy store HERE.

Check out their official My Space page HERE, and website HERE.

Nick Drake - Second Grace

I do not intend to write about Nick Drake here, except to echo the common view held by so many, who have come across his music down the years, of 'what could have been'.

His short life is well documented HERE, and I would only end up copy and pasting excerpts, so spend a few minutes at Wikipedia if you choose.

His three studio albums remain firm favorites of mine, and fall into that very special 'timeless' category.

The unofficial releases of Nick Drake tend to be demo's and home recordings, as is the case of 'Second Grace'.

Bootlegs in circulation include 'Tamworth-In-Arden', 'Complete Home Recordings' and variations on that theme.

Second Grace has appeared in at least three different forms, this version is originally from a 25 track CD circulated by 'Mirrorglass Music'.

These are home recordings probably at Tamworth and possibly Hampstead, and cover all three album releases in part, along with some unreleased tracks.

The sound quality is very good and the tracks that also appeared on 'Tamworth-In-Arden' are of a much higher quality.

Track Listing:

1. Day Is Done
2. Blossom Friend
3. Mayfair 1
4. Mayfair 2
5. Mayfair 3
6. Joey 1
7. Joey 2
8. Leaving Me Behind
9. Instrumental 1
10. Instrumental 2
11. Three Hours
12. Betty's Blues
13. Fly 1
14. Fly 2
15. Hazey Jane
16. Parasite
17. Saturday Sun 1
18. Saturday Sun 2
19. Saturday Sun 3
20. Place To Be
21. Strange Meeting II
22. Bird Flew By
23. Thoughts Of Rain
24. To The Garden
25. Early Morning Dialogue

Reloaded - 03/June/2013 - download link in comments.

For more on the life of Nick Drake, visit the official estate site 'Bryter Music' HERE.

Abba - Live Compilation

This particular recording is circulated as 'Sweet Dreams Are Made Of This'.

Probably better as a recording band, Abba none the less were highly successful on their tours, and with Anni-Frid and Agnetha fronting the performances, were not short of glamour!

This live performance is as I understand, recorded from the 1981 concerts taped for the Dick Cavett Meets Abba TV special, in the USA.

Some of the cuts are I think commercially available on Thank You For The Music and Abba Live, however for completeness I have included all of the boot here. Apart from that I do not have any other information on this particular bootleg.

As a whole this is possibly better than the official releases, and some have said is the best Abba live album never made.

Set list:

1. Voulez-Vous (4:44)
2. Knowing Me Knowing You (4:30)
3. Chiquitita (5:29)
4. Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight) (5:06)
5. Super Trouper (4:31)
6. I Have A Dream (6:35)
7. The Name Of The Game/Eagle (9:26)
8. Thank You For The Music (3:10)
9. Two For The Price Of One (3:10)
10. Slipping Through My Fingers (4:04)
11. Me And I (4:19)
12. Summer Night City (5:29)
13. Take A Chance On Me (4:33)
14. The Way Old Friends Do (3:06)
15. Waterloo (3:31)
16. Dancing Queen (3:45)

Audio quality is very good stereo soundboard.

Reloaded 21/June/2015 link in comments.

Official Abba site is HERE.

INXS - Concert For Life - Sydney Australia 1992

I was one of 72000 people who enjoyed INXS at Wembley Stadium, London, eight months prior to this concert.

They were pretty cool in London, and still rocking, when they got back home to Australia at this event.

The London concert was released officially, this boot really compliments that release.

Their Sydney performance was broadcast locally on FM, however their final song of the show was not aired. A rare audience recording of the last song has been included here for completeness, and is a must for any INXS fan.

This then is INXS performing at the Concert for Life, in Centennial Park, Sydney on the 28th March 1992.



Set list:

01. Guns in the Sky
02. Send a Message
03. The Stairs
04. Mystify
05. Bitter Tears
06. Taste It
07. Need You Tonight
08. Mediate
09. Disappear
10. All Around
11. Suicide Blonde
12. What You Need
13. Kick
14. Never Tear Us Apart
15. Baby Don't Cry (Audience - partially remastered)

With the exception of the final track this is an excellent FM stereo recording at 192kbps.

Reloaded - 03/June/2013 - download link in comments.

Whats Up Doc - Number Nine - April 2008

A second helping of 'Whats Up Doc' this month, exclusively for The Puppini Sisters.

OK I am a little late as their second album was released in February, and yes, they have received considerable attention in the UK media, however just in case you have missed them, here's an unashamed plug from the Beehive!

The Puppini Sisters led the British retro wave in 2006 with their 1940’s-influenced blend of pop with swing, a gorgeous sense of glamour, and fun.

Their debut record, Betcha Bottom Dollar, was the fastest selling jazz debut in Britain on its release, also debuting at number 2 on the US jazz charts and in the Top 10 of Billboard’s Heatseekers chart.

In that vein, their second album The Rise & Fall Of Ruby Woo is a collection of highly original songs written by the trio, including “I Can’t Believe I’m Not A Millionaire” and “Jilted,” as well as extraordinary covers of tunes by artists ranging from Barry Manilow to BeyoncÈ. The Puppinis’ trademark watertight harmonies are still present, as is their love of and respect for music from a bygone era.

Watch 'I Can't Believe I'm Not A Millionaire'


Also check out the excellent track Jilted from the latest album:

Links Removed - MP3 Policy.

The Puppini Sisters - Jilted.mp3

And from their first album a pretty cool Blondie cover:

Puppini Sisters - Heart of Glass.mp3

Buy The Puppini Sisters Cd's through our Amazon affiliate store HERE. Download purchase options HERE.

Check out their official website HERE.

Elvis Costello and The Attractions - Live In The USA - 1978

Declan Patrick MacManus aka Elvis Costello was one of a good number of energetic performers on the London 'pub' circuit in the mid 1970's.

He was linked to the 'punk' scene and perhaps more fittingly to the development of 'new wave' music.

This recording is from his first USA tour in 1978, with material from his 1977 debut (My Aim Is True), and his then forthcoming new album 'This Years Model'.

The frenetic energy of Elvis Costello and The Attractions is recaptured in full on this recording.

Performing live at The Warner Theater, Washington DC, USA on the 28th February 1978, the concert was broadcast on WHFS-FM.

Set List is:

1.Pump it up.
2.Waiting for the end of the world.
3.No action.
4.Less than zero.
5.The beat.
6.(The angels wanna wear my) Red shoes.
7.(I don't want to go to) Chelsea.
8.Hand in hand.
9.Little triggers.
10.Radio radio.
11.You belong to me.
12.Lipstick vogue.
13.Watching the detectives.
14.Mystery dance.
15.Miracle man
16.Blame it on Cain.
17.Chemistry class.

Sound quality is very good stereo FM and edited down to the full concert performance only.

DOWNLOAD LINK IS IN COMMENTS BELOW.

As always some Elvis Costello material is available in the Beehive Candy Store.

Wilco - Live In Seattle - 2002

This is what the UK's Uncut Magazine had to say about Wilco in 2007.

'Sometime in the late 1980s, Jeff Tweedy and some friends from Belleville, Illinois, formed a band called Uncle Tupelo. They were pretty good, as it happens, but the impact they had was phenomenal. By fusing American roots music with the scrappy vigour of punk and grunge, Uncle Tupelo accidentally kicked off the entire alternative country scene. Quite an achievement.

But that wasn’t good enough for Jeff Tweedy. In 1994, Uncle Tupelo split up, and Tweedy began a quest to stretch the parameters of what we could loosely call Americana - though he’d probably baulk at the term himself. Tweedy put together Wilco and, over the course of six studio albums, various elaborate and rewarding projects and multiple gifted line-ups, the band have become one of the most inventive and popular bands in America'.

Praise indeed, and having listened to their music over the years, I tend to agree that Wilco are one high quality band.

You can listen to a more recent Wilco concert in full HERE from February 27th 2008, recorded by NPR, in the USA.

The recording I have to share is a remastered soundboard recording, and captures the band in really good form and mood.

This featured concert recording is from the Bumbershoot, Seattle Arts Festival, Seattle, WA, USA on the 2nd September 2002.

Set List is:

1. Spiders (Kidsmoke)
2. I'm Trying To Break Your Heart
3. War On War
4. Kamera
5. Sunken Treasure
6. A Shot In The Arm
7. How To Fight Loneliness
8. Heavy Metal Drummer
9. I'm The Man Who Loves You
10. Jesus, Etc.
11. I'm Always In Love
12. Red Eyed And Blue
13. I Got You
14. Less Than You Think
15. California Stars
16. Misunderstood
17. Far Far Away
18. Hesitating Beauty
19. I'm A Wheel
20. Outtaside (Outtamind)

Sound quality is excellent stereo soundboard sourced.

THE DOWNLOAD LINKS ARE IN COMMENTS BELOW.

Some links of interest, first of all Wilco official site HERE, (with links to itunes or other purchase options), NPR music site (check this out if you have not yet done so) HERE, and some Wilco CD's also available in the Beehive Candy Store HERE.

Whats Up Doc - Number Eight - April 2008

This is the April minimalist edition of 'Whats Up Doc', in keeping with those fine chaps The Raconteurs website.

Released recently then, check out the excellent new Raconteurs album - 'Consolers Of The Lonely'.

The Raconteurs - 2 - Salute Your Solution.mp3
The Raconteurs - 05 - The Switch and the Spur.mp3
The Raconteurs - 13 - These Stones Will Shout.mp3
(links for The Raconteurs removed - see comments below)

However those nice folks at NPR are currently 'officially' streaming two tracks from the new album HERE.

Buy HERE.

Portishead have not rushed into their third album (called Third) fans may also want to tread a little carefully - mixed revues all round.

Links Removed - MP3 Policy.

Portishead - Machine Gun.mp3

Buy HERE.

REM recently released 'Accelerate', if you are a fan you will probably have a copy (reviews have been generally quite positive), if you are unsure then checkout:

REM - 06 Accelerate.mp3
REM - 10 Horse to Water.mp3

You can lead a horse to water, can you make it drink? Official site purchase options HERE, for those who fancy a drink.

This continues to be played on the radio and is so catchy it gets right inside my head, so have some in your head.

The Ting Tings - Great DJ.mp3

Check out buying the equally cool album HERE.

See? short and to the point this month. And finally permission to groove granted!

Monty Alexander - Love And Happiness.mp3

More Monty HERE.

Franz Ferdinand - Live In Amsterdam 2006

Franz Ferdinand seem to have survived the curse of the 'Mercury Music Prize' and a third album is due out later this year (October 08).

The new album will apparently have an 'African' feel to it (they recently performed at the Africa Express show in Liverpool).

Anyway this particular concert has a Franz Ferdinand feel to it (music that girls can dance to), and reminds us that they breathed life back into the British music scene not so long ago, even if they do remind me of The Jam.

Performing in Amsterdam on the 11th March 2006 this set comprises of songs from the first two albums:

01 - Cheating On You
02 - Jacqueline
03 - Tell Her Tonight
04 - Shopping For Blood
05 - Take Me Out
06 - Love And Destroy
07 - Truck Stop
08 - This Fire
09 - Michael
10 - Darts Of Pleasure

Band Line up:

Alex Kapranos - lead vocals, guitar
Nick McCarthy - rhythm guitar, keyboards
Bob Hardy - bass guitar
Paul Thomson - drums

This is a 192kbps - stereo FM recording.

THE DOWNLOAD LINK IS IN COMMENTS BELOW.

Franz Ferdinand MySpace site HERE. The first two albums (at almost 'give away' prices) are in The Beehive Candy store HERE.