Free - Isle Of Wight Festival - 1970

The 1970 Isle of Wight festival was the third and final year of the early festivals history.

With an estimated 600,000 people in attendance both the organisers and the islanders had enough after this event.

Free were a young band who first came together to rehearse at the Nag's Head pub in Battersea, London, on April 19, 1968.

Bass player Andy Fraser, was only 15 years old while lead singer Paul Rodgers, lead guitarist Paul Kossoff, and drummer Simon Kirke, were also still teenagers.

It would have been hard to imagine that just over two years later they would perform to such a large audience.

Just three years later in 1973 the band disbanded, however they left classics such as 'All Right Now' and 'Wishing Well' along with some superb album tracks for posterity.

This is Free live at East Afton Farm, Freshwater, Isle of Wight, England, the home for the third festival, on Sunday 30th August 1970.

Set List:

01 Ride on a Pony
02 Woman
03 The Stealer
04 Be my Friend
05 Mr Big
06 Fire and Water
07 I'm a Mover
08 The Hunter
09 All Right Now
10 Crossroads

This is a stereo soundboard @ 192Kbps and for the year is excellent.

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

A Flock Of Seagulls - Brighton 1983

Mike Score (lead vocals, keyboards) formed A Flock of Seagulls with his brother Ali (drums) and Frank Maudsley (bass) in 1980, adding guitarist Paul Reynolds several months later.

The group released its debut EP early in 1981, and while the record failed to chart, its lead track, 'Telecommunication' became an underground hit in Euro-disco and new wave clubs.

The band signed a major-label contract with Jive by the end of the year, and their eponymous debut album appeared in the spring of 1982.

'I Ran (So Far Away)' was released as the first single from the album, and MTV quickly picked up on its video, which featured long shots of Mike Score and his distinctive, cascading hair.

The single climbed into the American Top Ten, taking the album along with it. In the U.K., 'I Ran' didn't make the Top 40 (highest position 43), but 'Wishing (If I Had a Photograph of You)' reached number ten later that year.

Which in commercial terms was the high end of the bands success.

Mike Score continues to tour under the band's name with a new line-up, but the other original members have retired from music.

However the lasting quality of some of their material, and those haircuts, those wonderful 1980's haircuts, have preserved the band in rock history.

This is from the period that etched the band into the memories of many.

Recorded in Brighton, England on the 5-1-1983, the music is fresh and the band in the ascendancy.

Set list.

1. The Fall
2. Space Age Love Song
3. D.N.A.
4. Electrics
5. Messages
6. Standing in the Doorway
7. The Traveller
8. Committed
9. Man Made
10. You Can Run
11. Wishing (If I Had A Photograph Of You)
12. I Ran (So Far Away)

Comments.

Source is probably BBC FM stereo, sound quality is warm and very good.

New file link in comments below - Re-uploaded 2012 (Stealth project).

Whats Up Doc - Number Seven - March 2008

Welcome to this months 'Whats Up Doc'.

They have been called 'pop surrealists' and 'new wave kooks', their original 'trade mark hairstyles' clearly have had an influence on this blog, whatever, they are The B52's, and in these dark times, any band that can pick up sixteen years after they left off, with some fun music gets my vote!

The new album 'Funplex' is due out later this month, and here are two songs and two versions of the title track including a CSS remix, (CSS are just one of numerous bands to happily admit the positive impact The B52's have had on their music).

Links Removed - MP3 Policy.

The B-52s - Funplex.mp3
The B-52s - Funplex (CSS Remix).mp3
B52s - Hot Corner.mp3

Album details and purchase option HERE.

Another favorite band of The Beehive are The Black Crowes, who finally have their new album 'Warpaint' out, as of yesterday.

Recently insulted by Maxim magazine who reviewed and graded the album without even hearing it! The Black Crowes have released a fine album, that as you would expect, has their genuine rock'n'roll, low slung guitar sound, with Chris Robinson's vocals as consistent as ever.

It is just rock music, that's what they do, this will be played by many grateful fans of the band, that does not know how to sell out!

Listen to the opening track:
Black Crowes - Goodbye Daughters Of The Revolution(1).mp3

Official website HERE Beehive Candy Store CD option HERE.

Baltimore duo Beach House are a superb 'ethereal mood' music act.

Well I think they are superb, they are one of those bands I discovered by chance, along with a dozen of other music bloggers by the looks, in my case I had an indie music stream running in the background and their song shone out immensely (did I just type that?).

The album 'Devotion' is out now, please give them a listen if you have not done so as yet, hopefully you will see where I am coming from.

Beach House - 01 Wedding Bell.mp3
Beach House - 07 Heart Of Chambers.mp3
Beach House - 08 Some Things Last a Long Time.mp3

Album details and CD purchase option HERE.

Supergrass have literally grown up playing music, and at an average age of thirty years per band member, they are at some levels 'elder statesmen' of British post 'Britpop' music.

I have enjoyed every album they have released, and sense that in the cynical music press here in the UK, they have a rather unique position of pleasing both critic and your average punter, because they remain so very relevant.

The new album 'Diamond Hoo Ha' is to put it in Supergrass terms a stonker, with the usual energy levels and craftsmanship that makes this very British band so internationally fine.

Supergrass - 01 Diamond Hoo Ha Man.mp3
Supergrass - 07 Rough Knuckles.mp3

Check the new album out and the best of HERE.

I am conscious that this month is very UK and USA orientated, so lets finish with Sweden's The Cardigans, who have a 'Best Of' recently released.

Just one well known track to share, go buy the album, you may be surprised on the goodies you have missed out on, unless your a fan in which case you already know!

The Cardigans - Lovefool.mp3

Check out the best of album including a comprehensive bonus disc, fans are saying this is one of the best 'best of' albums ever released, not convinced then click and read the reviews HERE.

I hope this review has been of use, and as always I leave you with a song that has no relevance to the above at all.

The Korgis - Everybody's Got To Learn Sometime.MP3

So many mp3's so little time...

Echo And The Bunnymen - Kilburn National 1997

Echo & the Bunnymen formed in Liverpool in 1978 making them a whopping thirty years old this year, and as always reminding me of my own state of aging!

Their original lineup included vocalist Ian McCulloch and guitarist Will Sergeant, who both continue to be, the main stays of the band.

The band are scheduled to play a sell out show in September this year at London's Royal Albert Hall, complete with an orchestra to perform the album 'Ocean Rain'.

A little removed from their 'post punk' beginnings in Liverpool three full decades ago.

Anyhow, this is from just one decade ago and features Echo and The Bunnymen live at The Kilburn National, in London on the 17th October 1997.

This concert was broadcast by the BBC, and this is a good quality FM stereo recording of the gig.

Set list is:

1. Rescue.
2. I want to be there when you come.
3. Baseball Bill.
4. The Cutter.
5. Just a touch away.
6. Crocodiles.
7. Forgiven.
8. I'll fly tonight.
9. Seven seas.
10. Villiers Terrace.
11. Altamont.
12. Lips like sugar.
13. Ocean rain.
14. Nothing lasts forever.

THE DOWNLOAD LINK IS IN THE COMMENTS SECTION BELOW THIS POST.

A few Echo and the Bunnymen Cd's in the Beehive Store HERE.

Lets hope the London gig later this year is made available, for those of us just a little curious to here the band complete with orchestra!