Blue Jays Newcastle City Hall 1975
While we were waiting for The Moody Blues to return from their hiatus, Justin Hayward and John Lodge called at Newcastle City Hall, as the Blue Jays. Blue Jays is a 1975 album by Hayward and Lodge, which was recorded and released during the Moody Blues’ five-year break from recording, apparently in part for contractual reasons to fill the gap in Moodies output. According to Hayward: “I was under a lot of pressure from Decca to come up with something to release. So I actually went to America to do something with Mike [Pinder], between the two of us. Then Tony Clarke and John [Lodge] turned up at Mike’s house as well. Mike took me in the other room and said, “I don’t want to work with anybody else. I’m out of this project.” So then it became me and John and Tony Clarke, and we made an album called Blue Jays.” The title “Blue Jays” had a couple of meanings; first it is of course the name of a bird; secondly however it refers to the fact that the album was put together by the Moody Blues members whose names began with J; the (Moody) Blue J’s.
This was the closest we were going to get to seeing the Moodies in concert, indeed at that time I feared that they may never tour again, so my friend Ian and I took the opportunity to see two of their front men at our local venue.
The set comprised a mix of songs from the Blue Jays album, including the hit single Blue Guitar and some Moody Blues classics; including Nights in White Satin and Question. It was a great gig, and almost as good as seeing the full band (but not quite :)). Support came from Aj Webber.
From the tour programme: “For Justin Hayward and John Lodge 1975 has been a year of change. At the end of the Moody Blues World Tour which ended in 1974 Justin and John took the first step on a road which has brought them to their current British tour. The step was an album conceived, written and recorded in their own Threshold recording studio. Today, the spirit of this album – which was baptised ‘Blue Jays’ – now begins to grow with Justin and John embarking upon a tour of Great Britain…Justin and John have a few good friends on the road with them. A few years ago during an American tour they met three musicians from Idaho – Jim Cockey, Tim Tompkins and Tom Tompkins. Jim, Tim and Tom have been part of the Threshold family ever since then – firstly through their own album, ‘Ever Sense The Dawn’ when they were a part of a band called Providence, and more recenly working with Justin and John on ‘BlueJays’. Two other old friends from the Threshold family are also with Justin and John on this journey – Mel Galley and Dave Holland from Trapeze.”
Setlist: Saved by the Music; Remember Me, My Friend; The Story in Your Eyes; This Morning; You; You and Me; My Brother; Isn’t Life Strange. Intermission. Who Are You Now; New Horizons; Emily’s Song; I Dreamed Last Night; Nights in White Satin; I’m Just a Singer; Blue Guitar; When You Wake Up. Encore: Question
Posts Tagged ‘classic rock’
8 Oct
Blue Jays Newcastle City Hall 1975
7 Oct
The Moody Blues Glasgow Apollo 1979
The Moody Blues Glasgow Apollo 1979
My parents got their first stereo system in the late 60s. It consisted of a Garrard turntable, a separate amplifier and a couple of speakers. Around the same time my uncle bought a lovely HMV Stereogram. It was a wonderful piece of equipment, which I now have in my record room upstairs, alongside a modern player and an old Dansette. I would play my records on our stereo system, and also take them down the street to play on my uncle’s Stereogram, to compare the sound and the stereo effects. The albums I had at the time were The Beatles White album, Tommy by the Who, the Crazy World of Arthur Brown, and Days of Future Passed by the Moody Blues. Days of Future Passed was my favourite. The album had been recorded to demonstrate the New “Deramic Sound System” and had set out to demonstrate the potential of stereo recording. The sound was unlike anything I had heard before. The symphonic arrangements, the blend of classic and rock, the way in which the sound was divided across the two stereo channels; it was like entering a whole new sonic world for the first time. And the songs; “Tuesday Afternoon”, “Dawn is a Feeling”, and “Twilight Time”, were just amazing. But best of all was “Nights in White Satin”. I love the song to this day, but from the moment I first heard it I was fascinated by its unearthly quality. It stood out from the rest of songs on the album.
The Moody Blues early 1970s UK tours missed Newcastle. They played the Odeon in 1969, but didn’t return to the North East until the early 1980s. They did play Leeds University a couple of times in the early 70s, but I was just a little too young to make the trip to Leeds to see them. They then went on a hiatus from 1974 to 1978. So I never got to see the Moody Blues until 1979 when they returned to promote their new album “Octave”. Their 1979 tour was short, only taking in three venues: Glasgow Apollo, Stafford Bingley Hall, and Wembley Arena. I had waited so long to see this band, so decided to make the trip to Glasgow Apollo for the concert.
The “Octave” album featured the classic Moodies line-up of Justin Hayward on guitar and vocals, John Lodge on bass and vocals, Ray Thomas on vocals and flute, Graeme Edge on drums, and Mike Pinder on organ and synthesiser. Mike Pinder decided that he didn’t wish to tour, and was replaced by Patrick Moraz, who had just left Yes.
On the day of the gig, I picked up Marie from work at 4pm and we drove straight up to Glasgow. I got lost somewhere in the city, as I often have to this day, and we arrived late, missing the support act. Support came from the late Jimmie Spheeris who was an American singer-songwriter and released four albums in the 1970s. We had seats upstairs, with a pretty good view of the stage. The Moodies had a big sound system, with massive speakers hanging from the roof. It was the first time I’d seen anything on this scale in a concert hall. The set was a mix of old favourites, and tracks from “Octave”. Although the sound system was huge, I remember thinking that the sound level was quite quiet for a “rock” band. “Nights in White Satin” was my favourite, along with the last song “Question”. The encore was “Ride me See-Saw” which it has been each time I saw them.
It was great to see the Moody Blues after such a long wait, and they didn’t let me down. The Moodies toured a lot since the late 70s, often calling at Newcastle, and I have seen them several times since that night. I’ll reflect on those concerts over the next few days.
From the tour programme: “The legend that never really went away while their music lived on is now back live with Patrick Moraz in the keyboard seat and their first appearances in the U.K. for six years sealed by two capacity appearances at Wembley Arena in 1979…….now at the end of 1979, it’s time for Britain to welcome the Moody Blues back to the live stage. Inevitably, there’ll be people in the audience tonight who have never been fortunate enough to see the Moody Blues playing live, but just as many, and possibly more, will be those who’ve seen the group before and enjoyed their albums since the ’60s. A cause for celebration – the return of the Magnificent Moody Blues”. The programme advertised “Out of this World” which was a compilation album of Moodies classics released on K-Tel records.
Setlist: Steppin’ in a Slide Zone; Tuesday Afternoon; Twilight Time; The Day We Meet Again; The Story in Your Eyes; I’m Your Man; Top Rank Suite; Isn’t Life Strange; Driftwood; I’ll Be Level With You; Gypsy; Survival; The Balance; I’m Just a Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band); Nights in White Satin; Legend of a Mind; Question. Encore: Ride My See-Saw.
6 Oct
Bob Marley and the Wailers Leeds University Refectory June 1976
Bob Marley and the Wailers Leeds University Refectory June 1976
This was the red hot summer of 1976 and Bob Marley was big news. “No Woman, No Cry” had hit the charts, and his legendary 1975 show at the Lyceum was a massive success which received rave reviews in the rock press. Leeds University was the nearest gig to the North East of England on Bob Marley’s 1976 tour, but it had been sold out for weeks in advance, and I didn’t have a ticket. Marie and I decided to drive down to Leeds on the off chance of buying a couple of tickets outside. We arrived early and joined crowds of people sitting on the grass and in the union bar, waiting for the doors to open. I wandered around asking if anyone had any spare tickets and eventually managed to buy a couple of from a guy in a nearby pub (I think it may have been the Packhorse?). I paid a little more than face value. The Union refectory was completely packed to the walls for the gig, and it was so hot and sweaty in that hall that night. I wasn’t that familiar with Bob Marley’s material at the time, but I do remember recognising “I Shot the Sheriff”, “No Woman, No Cry” and “Get Up, Stand Up”. At this time the Wailers featured Family Man, Junior Marvin, and the I-Threes with Rita Marley. I remember finding it a very different sort of concert to the rock gigs that I was used to at the time. In particular, the music was much quieter, and the reggae beats and rhythms were so relentless, and had everyone dancing. The dreadlocks, the rastafarian dress, the I-Threes in their robes; this was all so new to me. A world away from heavy rock, and punk was yet to really emerge. A strong smell of dope hung in the air. Bob Marley seemed so natural and unassuming on stage, yet there was a quiet charisma about him. You just knew that he meant every word he sang. A great gig. Possibly one of the best I have been to, and another that I wish I could live again. Setlist: Trenchtown Rock; Them Belly Full (But We Hungry); Rebel Music (3 O’Clock Roadblock); I Shot the Sheriff; Crazy Baldhead; Want More; No Woman, No Cry; Lively Up Yourself; Roots, Rock, Reggae; Positive Vibration; Rat Race; War; No More Trouble; Get Up, Stand Up.
2 Oct
Fleetwood Mac Manchester Arena 1 Oct 2013
Fleetwood Mac Manchester Arena 1 Oct 2013
Great show by Fleetwood Mac last night at Manchester Arena. Possibly the best time I’ve seen them. Fleetwood Mac are enjoying a renewed wave of success. It seems everyone wants to see them and demand for tickets for their concerts has been much greater than the last couple of occasions they visited the UK. This gig at the massive 20,000 capacity Manchester Arena sold out in a matter of hours and tickets have been changing hands for twice their (already expensive) face value. There has also been some added excitement in the form of Christine McVie rejoining her old band mates at a couple of the London concerts.
I was sitting in my seat way up in the top level at the back of the arena. This is the 5th time I’ve seen the band, the first being way back in 1972, and I was still pretty excited and really looked forward to it. I was quite a distance away from the stage, but it gave me a great view of the whole arena. This was very much a classic rock show with crowd pleasing songs, drawn largely from “Fleetwood Mac”, “Rumours” and “Tusk”, excellent visuals, and great individual performances by each member of the band. Stevie still manages to pull off her gypsy, hippy rock chick image, all swirling skirts, twirling folk dancing, and even we even saw the return of her top hat towards the end of the show. She may have reworked some of the songs to remove the higher parts, but her vocals remain stunning. It would be easy to say that Lindsey Buckingham is the star of the show. He is on stage throughout, performing a couple of songs solo, notably Big Love which was outstanding, and featured Lindsey with acoustic guitar in front of a massive black and white video image of himself. His guitar playing was excellent, and got a great crowd reaction. But it would be unfair to focus on the couple out front; after all without the two older guys at the back there would be no Fleetwood Mac. Mick Fleetwood sat behind a massive drum kit, towering over the others as a man and as a presence. A true English gentleman of the old school, he came over as a cross between the gentle head master, and a master of ceremonies. I hadn’t noticed it before, but most of the songs seem to start with Mick and the drums leading the others into the melody. John McVie is the quiet man, who Mick says is “always on my right, and the backbone of Fleetwood Mac”. His role should not be underplayed. Together those two guys kept the faith through hard times, and managed the rebirth of the Mac, achieving what seemed to be the impossible. 
Last night I felt a different vibe around the Mac. What I saw way down in front of me on that stage was a group of friends who have finally come to terms with who they are, how they relate to each other, and the trials and tribulations of the past. It was obvious, much more so than on previous outings, that these four guys have reached a place of deep understanding and respect for each other as people. The vocal interplay and the looks and stares between Lindsey and Stevie were much sharper than in the past. On “The Chain” they were almost spitting the words at each other. At another point they hugged, and when they returned for the encore it was hand in hand.
The sound was a little ropey when the band first came on stage and started with “Second Hand News” but by the second song “The Chain”, it was sharp and crisp. Highlights for me were “Rhiannon”, probably my favourite, “Gold Dust Women” and the closer “Go Your Own Way”. I even enjoyed Mick’s drum solo during “World Turning” and the tracks from “Tusk” started to make some sort of sense to me; after all this time. The band seemed in quite a playful mood. At one point, someone shouted, “I f***ing love you Stevie!” and she responded, “I f***ing love you too! It’s a f***ing lovefest in here!”. Lindsey then joined in, mimicking a northern accent “I f***ing love you, Stevie”. I was a little disappointed that there were no songs from the Old Mac days. “Oh Well” remained in the set for many years, but has been dropped now. This line-up also used to perform “The Green Manalishi” in the 1970s; now that would be great to see. As Mick said at the end “The Mac are back”.
If the rumours are to be believed they could be returning to the UK to headline Glastonbury in 2014. Based on last night’s performance, if they do play, they will tear the Pyramid stage apart, and could easily match this year’s performance by The Stones. Setlist: Second Hand News; The Chain; Dreams; Sad Angel; Rhiannon; Not That Funny; Tusk; Sisters of the Moon; Sara; Big Love; Landslide; Never Going Back Again; Without You; Gypsy; Eyes of the World; Gold Dust Woman; I’m So Afraid; Stand Back; Go Your Own Way. Encore 1: World Turning (including Drum Solo); Don’t Stop. Encore 2: Silver Springs; Say Goodbye.
1 Oct
Alvin Lee (solo) in concert 1979 to 2004
Alvin Lee (solo) in concert 1979 to 2004
The late great Alvin Lee is a hero of mine. From the moment I saw his incredible performance in the Woodstock film I was hooked. That excerpt of him playing Going Home just blew me away. His guitar playing was exceptional, so fast; it seemed incredible, almost impossible that anyone could play at that speed. I sat in my bedroom practicing for ages, playing my vinyl copy of Going Home at 16rpm to try and pick out the notes. Sadly I failed; I went back to learning Clapton and Peter Green licks. At least they were slower, although I could never get the feel right. Oh and the single Love Like a Man was also a great favourite of mine when I was at school. Today I’m reflecting on the times I saw Alvin Lee in concert as a solo artist. I will write about the great Ten Years After when I get to the letter “T” (sorry for splitting Alvin’s work in this way, but that’s the way my programme and ticket collection is organised so I have to stick with it now :)).
My first engagement with the solo Alvin, was according to my tickets, in 1979 at Newcastle City Hall. Actually I am pretty sure that he was touring with a three piece band called Ten Years Later at the time, but the promoter obviously felt it better to list the gig as an Alvin Lee concert. The place was pretty empty as I recall, and Alvin was playing some new material, some rock n roll classics, and a few Ten Years After tunes. I think he played Good Morning Little Schoolgirl, Choo Choo Mama and Going Home. As always his guitar technique was excellent and his energy was boundless. The guy simply WAS rock n roll.
There was a long gap before I saw Alvin again. The next time was at Sunderland Empire in the early 90s, possibly in 1993 or 1994. By then Alvin had returned to playing many of the TYA classics and just tore the place apart. The last Alvin Lee concert I attended was when I went with a group of mates to see him, Edgar Winter and Tony McPhee on a blues package bill at Newcastle Opera House. 
I found a setlist from around that time which includes: Rock and Roll Music to the World; Hear Me Calling; I Can’t Keep From Crying Sometimes; How Do You Do It; Don’t Want You Woman; Getting Nowhere Fast; I Don’t Give a Damn; I’m Gonna Make It; Slow Blues in “C”; Skooby-Ooobly-Doobop; Love Like a Man; I’m Going Home; Rip It Up; Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On / Johnny B. Goode / Bye Bye Johnny. Again, Alvin was superb, much better than the other bands on the bill. Edgar Winter was also pretty good. Although I am a big fan of Tony McPhee his performance that night wasn’t too hot, I’m afraid.
When I think of Alvin Lee I picture him playing Going Home or Good Morning Little Schoolgirl, with a red Gibson guitar, super fast guitar playing and a unique mix of rock’n’roll, jazz and blues. Oh and sometimes some pretty crazy scat singing.
When I heard Alvin Lee had passed away I couldn’t believe it. He seemed so full of energy and always looked so fit. He is a big miss. There really wasn’t any other guitar player like him, and there still isn’t.
29 Sep
Nils Lofgren Newcastle City Hall 1979
Nils Lofgren Newcastle City Hall 1979
The last time I attended a Nils Lofgren concert at Newcastle City Hall was in September 1979. I have seen Nils since, as a member of Bruce Springsteen’s E Street band, but this was the last time I saw him in concert as a solo artist. Support came from Live Wire, a London pub rock band led by guitarist/vocalist Mike Edwards. Their music resembled Kilburn and the High Roads, or early Dire Straits. The tour was in support of Lofgren’s sixth solo album, simply called “Nils”. 
The strongest memory that I have of Nils concerts, is of Nils and his stage antics which were quite theatrical at the time and included a trampoline. For some crazy reason he had taken to having the trampoline on stage so that he could do body flips, while playing his guitar, ay various points in the show. He was obviously a pretty fit guy, but I remember thinking that it was a pretty bizarre thing to do. The trampoline gimmick stayed with Nils during his early days with Bruce and the E Street band. I’m not sure when he stopped using it, but I am pretty sure that he hasn’t done so in the recent Springsteen concerts that I have attended.
28 Sep
Rod Stewart Newcastle Arena 27th Sep 2013
Rod Stewart Newcastle Arena 27th Sep 2013
I nearly didnt go this time. In many ways Rod has become just a little too much Vegas, a little too much cabaret for my liking. But the voice in my head said “Come on. It’s Rod and he has a new album out and he will still sing some of the old songs”……so the day before the gig I bought a cheap 🙂 £60 (ouch! and what is this £7.75 “fee”? :() ticket way up the back of the arena. I arrived just before Rod took to the stage and bought a programme which reminded me why I came. It contains lots of old pictures of Rod; Rod and the Faces; Rod and Long John Baldry; Rod and Ronnie; Rod and Jeff Beck; Rod in the nattiest check suit with cool shades and a crazy mod barnet.
8.15 prompt and the curtain falls. He starts with “This old heart of mine” and lots of great images of Stevie Wonder, the Four Tops, and the Isley Brothers behind him. Showing your roots Rod. “You wear it well”‘ a great version; takes me back.
“You can’t beat Friday night” Rod tells us and off we go with Sam Cooke’s “Twisting the night away” and I am back in a field in Reading more than 40 years ago. Very 60s swirling backdrop for that one. “Tonights the night”: not one of my favourites lots of embarrassing singalong. “Sweet little rock n roller”; this is more like it Rod. He has a pretty fine band, with a horn section, girl singers, and a good guitarist. The sound is pretty clear too, and I’m right at the back and can still hear ok. Being a “war baby” Rodd dedicates the next one to our troops; its “Rhythm of my heart” Then he introduces his daughter Ruby to sing one of her own songs “Just One More Day” which was pretty good. Good to see he’s keeping it in the family and supporting his daughter in this way. Rod returns and duets on “Forever Young” with Ruby which leads into them leaving the stage while the band perform a serious drum and percussion solo (oh no!) which actually goes down incredibly well with the crowd. Not to worry they are soon back to finish the song. Rod takes a seat and introduces the “small cocktail orchestra” which includes Julie on a very impressive harp. “First cut is the deepest” in acoustic form with harp and orchestra; just beautiful thats more like it Rod. 
“I don’t want to talk about it” which Rod introduces as “We have been singing this song together for 35 years” and sing along indeed the crowd does; cheesy but good and a new treatment with the string section. Van Morrison’s “Have I Told You Lately” is next; a bit smaltzchy; a couple beside me get up and dance cheek to cheek at the back of the hall.Then it’s “new album time”: “Brighton beach”; “Can’t stop me now” with some great old black and white video of Rod from the 60s, and of his Dad. “She makes me happy”: I have heard this one too many times on the radio recently. Then its “a song from way back which mee and Ronnie recorded in one take back in 1971” and we are into Rather Go Blind. Great stuff. Takes me back 40 odd years again. Rod takes a break while the girls sing “Soul Man” ( as Soul Girl) in front of montage images of Sam and Dave.
Rod returns for “You’re in my heart” and then “Maggie May” which always brings back great memories of when I was a kid; it would be so good to see Ronnie back for this once more. Now we are on the home stretch: “Sailing”; “Hot Legs” with lots pf footballs; “Baby Jane” and the curtain comes down. I beat a retreat into the car park and make my exit to the strains of “Do Ya Think I’m Sexy” which is the encore (and I assume the closing number).
Overall verdict. Pretty good actually. I’m glad I went. Better than the last couple of times I have seen him. The Mod is still in there somewhere and now and then he comes out and its just like old times. The old rockers are still the best.
27 Sep
Nils Lofgren and Tom Petty Newcastle City Hall 1977
Nils Lofgren and Tom Petty Newcastle City Hall 1977
On a few occasions I have seen the support act clearly outshine the headliner. Lynyrd Skynyrd as support act for Golden Earring is one example. This pairing, of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers supporting Nils Lofgren in 1977 is another. We’d read a lot about this new upcoming band who combined classic rock with the energy of punk, the Byrds’ jangling guitars, and a cool blonde-haired guy singing. I’d seen them on TV, probably on the Old Grey Whistle Test, and was blown away by the song “American Girl”. I remember being a little confused by the name, as I had just seen Johnny Thunders and his Heartbreakers in concert! So we made sure we were in the City Hall early that night to see Petty and his band. They certainly didn’t disappoint, and gave the crowd a set which Nils found difficult to follow. This was one of the rare occasions that I have seen the hall full for the first band, and the support act having to return for an encore. I saw Petty again the following year supporting Jefferson Starship and Genesis at Knewborth, but haven’t managed to see him since. I had a ticket to see him at the Albert Hall last year but couldn’t make it on the day, which is a big regret for me. I hope Tom returns to the UK sometime soon so I can have another chance to catch him in concert. 
The tour programme proclaims “Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers is purely and simply the best mainstream rock debut by any American band this year…” and that Tom is a ” grey-eyed offspring of Speedy Keene and Mick Ronson” :). This album, the single “American Girl”, the tour, and their appearances on UK TV broke Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers in the UK, and enabled them to go on to success in their home country and across the world. The UK dates with Nils were so successful that Petty and the guys were back a few weeks later to headline their own series of dates. From the Melody Maker at the time: “Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers end their breakthrough British tour with Nils Lofgren this week — but the band return for their own concert series next month. The band’s phenomenal rise to headlining status has taken just three weeks. They came to Britain at the beginning of this month to play as support band on the Lofgren tour. Petty and the Heartbreakers, however, are ending the tour as one of the most in-demand bands currently playing in this country.” Nils was promoting his new album “I Came to Dance” and played an excellent gig, but was simply outclassed by the young guys who preceded him on stage that night. “I’m not Bob Dylan, but I never miss a beat. I ain’t no philosopher, I dance in the street. I came to dance…..”. 
The Lofgren set list at Newcastle City Hall 24th May 1977 was: Rock ‘n’ Roll Crook; Keith Don’t Go; Like Rain; Incidentally It’s Over; Goin’ Back; Code of the Road; Cry Tough; It’s Not A Crime; You’re The Weight; Moon Tears; I Don’t Want To Talk About It; Back It Up. Encores – Beggars Day; I Came To Dance.
The Tom Petty set list was: Surrender; Jaguar And Thunderbird; American Girl; Fooled Again; Breakdown; Listen To Her Heart; Strangered In The Night; I Need To Know; Anything That’s Rock ‘n’ Roll; Dog On The Run. Encore: Route 66.
“I Need To Know” was a big favourite of mine at the time, and brings back happy memories. This was one of those gigs that still sticks in my memory and that I would love to relive if I could.
Many thanks to Mitch for the two setlists, which helped bring back some of the memories.
26 Sep
Nils Lofgren Newcastle City Hall 1976
Nils Lofgren Newcastle City Hall 1976
Nils Lofgren had a serious pedigree when he appeared on the scene as a solo artist in 1976. This guy had played with Neil Young on After the Goldrush, he’d been a member of Crazy Horse, and fronted his own ban Grin. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect when I went to see him in 1976. I’d seen Springsteen for the first time the year before, and I thought that Nils could be of a similar musical bent, with the added attraction of his excellent guitar playing. Nils had just released his second solo album “Cry Tough”. The set featured songs from his first two records. 
I remember the song “Cry Tough” itself, a great version of Goffin and King’s “Going Back” and my own favourite, which was “Keith Don’t Go” a song about the stones’ Keith Richards and his drug bust in Toronto. Nils would wear bright Hawaiian style shirts and scarfs would be hanging from the head of his guitar. I went to see Nils a few times over those years in the late 70s, my mates and I were quite into him at the time. Support on the 1976 tour was a British band called Unicorn, whose music was reminiscent of Buffalo Springfiled, The Byrds, Poco, The Eagles and many other Country Rock bands of the 70. They released four albums with the help of Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour.
25 Sep
Arthur Lee and Love Newcastle Opera House August 2002
Arthur Lee and Love The Forever Changes tour Newcastle Opera House August 2002
“Alone again or” is one of those songs that sits outside any standard definition of a pop or rock song. Along with many of the other tracks on the Forever Changes album, its structure, rhythms and phrasing are unlike anything else I have ever heard. I remember being simply amazed by its uniqueness the first time I came across it. I bought a beat up vinyl copy of the album many years ago, but never thought I would get to see Arthur Lee and Love live.
However, in 2002, after spending six years in prison on gun charges, Love founder and frontman Arthur Lee began performing again. He formed a new version of Love, put together from members of the band Baby Lemonade, and set out on a tour of Europe. Marie and I went to the gig at Newcastle Opera House. The show featured the 1967 Forever Changes album, and tracks drawn from the remainder of Love’s back catalogue. Arthur was joined by a string and horn ensemble and did a petty damn good job of recreating his Love masterpiece. The evening was something I thought I’d never get to see, and the songs continue to amaze me every time I hear them.
Arthur Lee passed away in 2006 after a battle with leukaemia. Kandia Crazy Horse of Vibe Magazine wrote in an obituary that “‘Forever Changes’ (was) his psychedelic masterpiece … an exhilarating mash-up of West Side freak folk with East Side mariachi and blues. Lee out-jangles his heroes the Byrds on the immortal ‘Alone Again Or’ and aims his symphonic trigger dead at the Beatles on his greatest work, ‘You Set the Scene.’ In total, a glorious song cycle exploring the dark side of hippiedom.”
Setlist will have been something like: My Little Red Book; Orange Skies; Alone Again Or; A House Is Not a Motel; Andmoreagain; The Daily Planet; Old Man; The Red Telephone; Between Clark And Hilldale; Live and Let Live; The Good Humour Man; Bummer in the Summer; You Set the Scene; Robert Montgomerey; My Flash On You; Signed DC; Everybody’s Gotta Live – Instant Karma; August; Always See Your Face; Listen To My Song; She Comes in Colors; My Anthem; Singing Cowboy; 7 & 7 Is
A review by the Opera House:”It’s always difficult to sell tickets for a show in August with everyone in holiday mode, but we did for Arthur Lee. After only a month on sale, he pulled a very large and very partisan crowd. The faithful were well rewarded for their patience, many had waited 35 years to see him. Ever the showman, he didn’t let anyone down, quite the reverse. With lots of grit, strength and enough talent to make a thousand boy bands, Arthur sang his way through his impressive back catalogue.”
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