BEEHIVE CANDY

This is the 'broadcast' part of REM live in Hyde Park, London, on the 16th July 2005. It was the final date of their 2004/05 world tour, and had been put back one week due to the terrorist attack on London's tube system, just days earlier. I have seen a number of bands and artists myself in Hyde Park. I recognise it has been used considerably as a venue in recent years. A good number of charitable events have been televised in the UK. It is easy to get the impression that this is a fine venue to play. Hyde Park is a very big place, a very large park. For around ten years now, the gigs are performed with the stage at the Marble Arch end. The audience are placed parallel with Park Lane going south, between the internal roads. If nothing else, I hope I have confused some New Yorkers at there own game now, regarding concerts in Central Park (this time last year I was in Manhattan so understand this is said with kind affection). Put simply this part of Hyde Park ...

There was a time when Genesis would have automatically been included in my top favorite five bands. When Peter Gabriel left, like many I thought it was the end, however although the sound and style gradually developed, it was still Genesis, and some good music was produced. In 1980 the album Duke was released, and I was really impressed ! With hindsight this was the beginning of the end of my Genesis 'must buy - must have' era. After that for whatever reason only the odd song here and there appealed to me. As regards Phil Collins solo material, sorry I have tried, but it ain't for me. I think early on, he made to much of an effort not to sound like Genesis, but with respect was never going to be a crooner. To the point - This is Genesis towards the end of my 'Top Five Favorite' era. The details - Genesis live at The Lyceum London (second night) on the 7th May 1980. The Lyceum was one of the smaller venues they played on this tour. Set List: CD 1: 0...

This is Elvis Presley Live at Greensboro, North Carolina, USA, on the 14th April 1972. I am not an Elvis aficionado, probably not even up to amateur standard, by any Elvis Presley fans measurement criteria. I do not impersonate him though, surely this gets me some street credibility back ? I tried to get some background on this concert and failed miserably. I know Elvis toured in 1972, he sold out Madison Square Gardens for four consecutive nights, and a video of him touring won a Golden Globe for best documentary that year. What is curious for me, is that the very limited notes that accompanied this concert say it was his first performance of 'Burning Love' on stage. This was released in 1972 and was his last top ten hit in the U.S. single charts, so from that perspective there is a little bit of Elvis history here. Oh well onto the main reason I am posting this, easy one as usual, not being a major Elvis fan, I swallowed the hype, and decided to give it a play, next thing I k...

This is Kraftwerk live at the Hammersmith Odeon, London, on the 3rd July 1981. This is one of those annoying 'I was there' posts, yep that may be me somewhere in the crowd cheering, applauding or yelping, and why not, it was one of the best live concerts I have ever attended - not a comment I make lightly! Everything about them was refreshing. Ralf Hutter's occasional ad lib's and his sheer intensity at times as he sung. The use of electronic drum pads, and the whole tightness & rhythm of the band. The simpler & very different lighting for that period, a generous helping of neon would you believe? The uncanny resembling dummies, or was that robots? Letting the audience join in during the encore using handheld devices (circa pocket calculator). Most of all it was the underlying humour, the knowing smiles between each other that became laughter if one of them got something wrong. I expected technical efficiency, I got a band playing live and roc...

I first got hold of this particular concert recording a few months back, because I thought my dad would appreciate it. What surprised me, was how much I enjoyed it myself ! I know very little about Frank Sinatra 's music, beyond what I heard being played around my home as I grew up. It was a generation gap thing. I associated Frank Sinatra with my 'out of touch' parents back then, and could not understand why they failed to appreciate The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, and so on... OK this was the sixties, a long time ago. Enough about my personal Sinatra growing up thing. This is a really good concert musically and sound quality wise. I find it a little bizarre, that according to some mainstream websites, this is still considered a rarity, and yet I obtained it without effort, whatever the case, here it is! A little background: MAY 22, 1968: Frank Sinatra headlined at a fund raising rally and concert for the then presidential candidate, Hubert Humphrey at the Oakland Coliseu...

Also known as Acoustic Masterpieces , I am very pleased to be able to share the Esher demos from 1968. These were recorded in late May 1968, at the home of George Harrison, and how is this for detail, his home was Kinfauns, a bungalow-style house, located at 16 Claremont Drive, Esher, Surrey, England, KT10 9LU, on the Claremont Estate, and only a short drive from the homes of John Lennon (Kenwood) and Ringo Starr (Sunny Heights). Hmmm - I need to get out more... These demo recordings would eventually develop, with a few exceptions, into 'The White Album'. (Seven of the actual demos also appear on The Beatles Anthology, Vol. 3). They were made on George Harrison's Ampex four-track reel-to-reel tape recorder. The songs are performed by John, George and Paul, recording some of the material, they had written during their time in India, along with other recent numbers. Track listing as follows: 1. Back In The USSR 2. Blackbird 3. Child Of Nature (eventually Jealous Guy on Imag...

I try and share really good quality boots, (unless the material is very collectible) I am really pleased with the sheer audio quality of this one. This particular bootleg, is mainly known as Route 66, live in LA and PA. Humble Pie originally formed in 1969, and had a large and loyal fan base right through to calling it a day in 1975. In 1980 founder Steve Marriott revived Humble Pie with former drummer Jerry Shirley, adding Bob Tench (from Jeff Beck Group) on guitar and Anthony "Sooty" Jones on bass. Two albums were released 'On To Victory', and 'Go For The Throat', however the 'second' Humble Pie called it a day by 1982. The tour(s) supporting these two albums became known as the 'Route 66' era, and despite the short lived reformation, the band were really good in concert, probably because Humble Pie were always a live band first. This is Humble Pie - Route Sixty Six. 01 ~ I Don't Need No Doctor (10:01) 02 ~ Infatuation (5:23) 03 ~ 30 Days...

Well would you believe it, I first heard the band Heart on Radio Caroline, and guess when? Yep in the 1970's! They may have been given air time elsewhere in the UK, but the option of suffering The Bay City Rollers, Donny Osmond and possibly Cliff Richard's to eventually here them does not require consideration. This is Heart some time later, 1987 to be precise, however I must apologise I do not have the actual day or month to hand. This concert is from the tour supporting the release of 'Bad Animals' - not one of their best albums as far as I am concerned, and yet, they are on sparkling form here, and with plenty of other Heart material, very, very good! Set list: 1. Bad animals 2. Wolf 3. Barracuda 4. Nothing at all 5. What about love 6. Dreamboat Annie 7. These dreams 8. Straight on 9. Who will you run to 10. Never 11. How can I refuse 12. Crazy on you 13. If looks could kill 14. Bebe le strange 15. Alone 16. Rock and roll Quality is exce...

Think about it? A band comes together from the pedigree of The Small Faces, and The Jeff Beck Group, during the late 1960's. They are all broadly inspired by R&B, Blues, and good old rock'n'roll, and like a drink or two before, during, and after any concert. As a bonus each and every one of them can play their part to a very high standard. I give you The Faces ! Against that background how can any band stay together for more than a few short years. It is no wonder they were instant favorites of the UK's then premier DJ John Peel, and that their gig's have attained legendary status for concert goers of that time. There is a good synopsis over on wikipedia (click HERE ), that briefly captures The Faces history. This for me, with fond memories, was all about having a great time, unashamedly doing the rock'n'roll thing, with all the excesses, even if I was to young to actually join the party! This is The Faces live at The Paris Theatre, London, on the 8th F...

In my own humble opinion the following live Beatles recordings are incredible. Boots from the early 1960's are often disappointing, and for obvious reasons. They are not official, they are copies of copies of copies... you get the point! The equipment used (even if professional) had limitations, often the crowd noise is more dominant and... OK this is over kill - point made !!! However very recently some new tape sources of The Beatles have emerged, which are close to pristine for their time. You may note the odd speed fluctuation or adjustment as some very tender remastering has been undertaken. However this is very much The Beatles as they sounded live in 1963 and 1964. It is a must for any Beatles fan, or fan of early guitar rock bands. This is the track order: STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN - OCTOBER 24, 1963 (From best known source to date). 1. Intro 0'46'' 2. I Saw Her Standing There 2'46'' 3. From Me To You 2'01'' 4. Money (That's What I Want) 2...

Back in March I featured a couple of tracks from the 'Lord of Madness' boot. I have kind of got my act together since then, and am now pleased to share the whole album. To recap - In 1968 The Beatles were both at Trident and EMI studios in London. Some excellent (performance and recording quality) material was created, final versions of which are found on The White Album. Lord of Madness are versions in production, another piece of The Beatles history, for collectors. The album comprises of: 01 - Hey Jude 02 - Revolution 03 - I'm So Tired 04 - Everybody's Got Something To Hide Except Me And My Monkey 05 - Sour Milk Sea 06 - Circles 07 - While My Guitar Gently Weeps 08 - Julia 09 - Not Guilty 10 - What's The New Mary Jane 11 - Yer Blues 12 - Helter Skelter 13 - Cry Baby Cry 14 - Revolution No. 9 15 - Good Night This is studio quality material - enjoy. FULL REPLACEMENT LINK NOW IN COMMENTS BELOW (18th APRIL 2009). More Beatles material to follow, so check back soon....

It's been some time since part three of 'a trip with the Beatles', for which I apologise, and no, I have not yet edited the 'Get Back sessions' to share, I feel another apology coming on. So this is part four, and I make no apologies for this! A twenty three track album, the copy I have obtained goes under the name of 'Magical Mystery Tour Outtakes', it is however far more than that. Lets go interactive for a moment. If you have the time, read the Wikipedia entry for the Magical Mystery Tour (click HERE ). It's easy to forget the 'TV' film version bombed originally outside the UK. and was panned by the critics of that time. It's a reflection on my personality I guess, that I loved it, it is however the music that in typical Beatles style has demonstrated longevity. I think it reasonable to say that against the Wikipedia background, this series of recordings are an absolute must for all Beatles fans, and curious parties. The album is as follo...

This is one of those moments in time. When a band introduces a 'new song', as they did during this performance, one that all these years later we know to be, a 'classic' of theirs, you can begin to plot that occasion with greater clarity. Manfred Mann's Earth Band have never been superstars. I think it fair to say that was never the intended goal, indeed the choice was taken to move away from 'three minute pop songs' and chart hits, and explore more creative ideas. By the time of the 'Roaring Silence Tour' they were however well established, but they did not fit that comfortably into any particular rock niche. A bit Prog, a bit rock blues, sometimes just Manfred Mann, growing a little older. This is a recording of them at the Spectrum, Philadelphia USA, on the 15th October 1976. They were, and indeed remain a recording band, one of those acts who seem to embrace a lot of contemporary artists, and not detract from the original idea. They were pretty g...

The Red Hot Chilli Peppers playing Fliegende Bauten , Hamburg, Germany on the 24 th April 2006. I am not a massive fan of the band, however I sense on this occasion as far as popular opinion goes, I may be swimming against the tide, with lead weights attached to my arms and legs. That said having listened to this concert, I would not turn down a ticket or two, to see them live. The sound quality is excellent ( pre FM - stereo soundboard), almost too good at the start when they seem to be a little slow getting going (or is that just my ignorance). 01 - Can't Stop 02 - Charlie 03 - Tell Me Baby 04 - The Needle And The Damage Done 05 - Me And My Friends 06 - Dani California 07 - 21St Century 08 - Don't Forget Me 09 - How Deep Is Your Love 10 - She's Only 18 11 - Right On Time 12 - Californication 13 - By The Way ( Apologies this fades out early) I reckon a lot of people are going to enjoy this. (click on the links to download). Red Hot Chilli Peppers - Live Hamburg. rar ...

Time to up the energy levels! This is Billy Idol recorded live at the Poplar Creek Theatre, Hoffman Estates, Illinois, USA, on June 1st 1984. Poplar Creek was an outdoor concert venue located in Hoffman Estates, Illinois. The property consisted of 200 acres at the intersection of Higgins Road and Route 59. When it opened in June 1980, the surrounding neighborhoods weren't exactly thrilled. To appease them, the inaugural concert featured a very non-threatening John Denver. By 1984 they may have got use to the venue being there. That said the whole place closed ten years later, maybe it took them that long to get over the 'rebel yell !' This is Billy Idol recorded for a syndicated radio series at that time, so apologies for the appalling and 'quite cheesy' intro and the end 'really hip' DJ comments. That said the actual concert is pretty nifty to say the least, and the sound quality is high standard FM stereo. Reloaded 23/02/2016 link in com...

Just another one of those posts, to remind you another decade of your life has slipped by unnoticed. This is The ORB live at The Barrowlands, Glasgow, Scotland on the 20th March 1997. There is some new material available this summer, and they are touring, your chance possibly to see the masters of ambient music! This is a high quality recording (BBC FM stereo) For more details of releases & tour details click HERE . Also some remastered ORB options HERE . REPLACEMENT LINK IN COMMENTS OR CLICK ON THE PICTURE (17TH SEPTEMBER 2009).

Whats new or current in the Beehive? Lets start with The Polyphonic Spree , who released their third album 'The Fragile Army' this summer. On this album they take their unique 'spaced out choral pop' a little towards the dark side. I think they are probably a love or hate group. I like them (to be awkward). Links Removed - MP3 Policy. The Polyphonic Spree - (The Fragile Army - 02) - Running Away.mp3 The Polyphonic Spree - We Crawl.mp3 The Polyphonic Spree - The Fragile Army.mp3 Now a band I am really keen to promote (you know you can still buy music & help new artists ?). Bodies Of Water remind me a little of the aforementioned, add a touch of Beach Boys harmonies, and something a little maverick, and you are almost there. All of which probably does not help - elsewhere they have been described as gospel pop, so here's a few songs to clarify. Bodies o fWater - Doves Circle the Sky.mp3 Bodies Of Water - Our Friends Appear Like The Dawn.mp3 Bodies of Water - I Gu...

Yet another little treasure. This is Marvin Gaye live at Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan, way back on November 13th 1979. The man made great music throughout his career, and is synonymous with Tamla Motown. As is widely known he also had something of a troubled life at times, and when this concert took place he was not far from rock bottom with both tax debt and drug problems. However a true performer, he sounds great, and with a backing band that has real power & edge, this was a great show. Set List: Got to Give It Up When I First Saw You What's Going On Who Is To Blame Inner City Blues Funky Space Reincarnation How Sweet It Is Band Intro/Trouble Man Ain't That Peculiar Yeah Yeah Yeah/Pride and Joy Pride and Joy Darlin' I Love You Heard It Through the Grapevine Going To Chicago Need You Baby Too Busy Thinking About My Baby Distant Lover He does say thank you & goodnight at the end of the show, however it is missing from this copy. Soun...

This is Johnny Cash live playing at the Irving Plaza, New York City, on the 07.09.1996. In 1996, Cash released a sequel to American Recordings (1994), entitled Unchained, and enlisted the accompaniment of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, which won a Grammy for Best Country Album. This live performance does justice to the exceptional studio work he produced around that time & thereafter. Sadly in 1997 the on set of serious illnesses, greatly reduced his live appearances. Set list: Folsom Prison Blues Get Rhythm Sunday Morning Coming Ghost Riders in the Sky Oh Bury Me Not Never Picked Cotton Rowboat (Beck) Rusty Cage (Soundgarden) Southern Accent (T.Petty) Memories... Ring of Fire Walk the Line I got Jesus in my Soul Big River I Still Miss Someone Orange Blossom Special Far Side Banks of Jordan This is a superb recording of the show (stereo soundboard). REPLACEMENT DOWNLOAD LINK IN COMMENTS BELOW OR CLICK ON THE PICTURE ABOVE (4TH OCTOBER 2009). For a small selection of Johnny Cash...

Here are The Runaways, recorded live on the 19th July 1976, at The Agora, Cleveland, USA. Why have there never been more all girl rock'n'roll bands? I guess by virtue of when The Runaways formed, and their style of music, they are often linked with the new wave / punk scene, whatever category you feel obliged to stick then in, they play a pretty nifty show! Song list is: 01 - California Paradise. 02 - Cherry Bomb. 03 - Take It Or Leave It. 04 - Secrets. 05 - You Drive Me Wild. 06 - C'Mon. 07 - Blackmail. 08 - Wild Thing. 09 - Don't Use Me. 10 - Rock And Roll. 11 - Is It Day Or Night. 12 - Johnny Guitar. 13 - Dead End Justice. CLICK ON COMMENTS BELOW FOR NEW FULL CONCERT LINK. Sound quality is excellent, I'm guessing probably from an FM broadcast, anyway enjoy. Purchase The Runaways first album HERE .