BEGGAR'S OPERA
1972-02-12
"Pop Carnival"
Grugahalle
Essen, West Germany


Also appearing: PRETTY THINGS, ATOMIC ROOSTER, DEEP PURPLE, LINDA LEWIS, CURTIS MALDOON, PRINCIPAL EDWARDS MAGIC THEATRE, OSIBISA and 2 or 3 other bands.


INCOMPLETE UNCIRCULATED AUDIENCE MASTER RECORDING*

Recorded on;Grundig Portable Cassette Recorder w/Condenser Microphone

ANALOG MASTER CASSETTE(BASF Type I)>CDR>EAC>WAV>TLH>FLAC>DIME

Recorded By;"durian1"

Transferred & Uploaded by;"Lucifer Burns"


Setlist*

0. FESTIVAL(played but not recorded)
1. TIME MACHINE
2. SARABANDE
3. POETS AND PEASANTS
4. RAYMOND'S ROAD



Musicians;

MARTIN GRIFFITHS- Vocals
RICKY GARDINER- Guitar/Vocals
ALAN PARKER- Organ
VIRGINIA SCOTT- Mellotron
GORDON SELLAR- Bass
RAYMOND WILSON - Drums


BEGGAR'S OPERA is from Scotland, their name is derived from a novel by the poet John Gray in 1728.
BEGGAR'S OPERA made a lot of records but remained acting in the shade of most progressive rock bands.
Their debut-album "Act one" ('70) contains fluent and tasteful organ driven progrock with powerful "Sixties" sounding guitarwork.
The long track "Raymond's Road" is a splendid tribute to the "classics" featuring Mozart's A la Turka, Bach's Toaccata in d-fuga en Grieg's Peer Gynt Suite on the Hammond organ.
The second album "Waters of Change" ('71) is build around the dual keyboardplay of Alan Park and newcomer Virginia Scott and the distinctive, a bit cynical vocals of Gardiner.
The nine tracks are beautiful symphonic landscapes with many organ solos, some swelling and glorious Mellotron waves (like The MOODY BLUES and early KING CRIMSON) and fine electric guitarwork.
On the third LP "Pathfinder" BEGGARS OPERA seems to have reached its pinnacle: strong and alternating compositions with lush keyboards (Mellotron, organ, piano and harpsichord),
powerful electric guitarplay and many shifting moods (even Scottish folk with bagpipes).~ progarchives.com


*I used a cheap Grundig portable cassette recorder with a condenser microphone that came with it.
Not the built in kind but one that was separate and plugged into the deck.
I got the recorder for Christmas in 1971. This was the first concert I taped with it and it had barely been used prior to this.
As was par for that time in my life I was in the lobby drooling over the bootleg LP's and new LP's for sale and lovingly fondling a copy of Man's "To Live for To Die" 2LP bootleg that I wanted SOOOO badly.
Beggar's Opera were starting to be announced and my mother said "Pick one now" and I, in a fit of stupidity, handed her the copy of Deep Purple Fireball I had just started looking at and mumbled "This one".
And the second she paid for it I grabbed the Man again "No! I want THIS one instead". "Too late. Let's go".
She knew I'd be standing there looking at records all night long if left to my own devices.
I have wept silently about this incident and my split second decision often in life since then...
While "Fireball" is my favorite Deep Purple album I have never again seen a mint copy of that Man bootleg.
To this day it remains as one of my Top 5 record wants.
The band started playing the first notes of "Festival" right as we walked into the arena portion of the Grugahalle.
We were looking for seats while they were playing that song.
I did not start recording until we found some seats about 2/3 of the way to the back of the hall and about halfway up right as that song ended.
So the tape starts right before the second song. ~ durian1


ENJOY THE MUSIC!