WISHBONE ASH (MK I)
London, Playhouse Theatre � February 23, 1974 (BBC Radio One, BBC in Concert, first aired August 24, 1974) - best sounding version I know of.
Don Kirshner's Rock Concert - Hofstra University Playhouse, N.Y.
Taped most likely mid-January 1974, aired March 2, 1974 (episode #17, season 1).
Torrent comes with full colour artwork (PDF files).
Audio mp3 sample in comments.
BBC IN CONCERT � FEBRUARY 23, 1974
Lineage: BBC b'cast>very low gen. cassette copy>CD-R>EAC>FLAC (level 8) >Dime>all Ashanatix
Sound quality EX- (5-6 out of 6)
1. RADIO HOST INTRO
2. BALLAD OF THE BEACON
3. SOMETIME WORLD
4. ROCK & ROLL WIDOW
5. BLOWIN� FREE
6. JAIL BAIT
7. TIME WAS
- tape flip -
8. PHOENIX
Run time: 59:36 min.
---------------------------------
DON KIRSHNER�S ROCK CONCERT � mid-January 1974 (complete)
Lineage: TV b'cast video>very low (first?) gen. copy>audio rip>CD-R>EAC>FLAC (level 8)>Dime>all Ashanatix
Sound quality EX (6 out of 6)
9. WARRIOR
10. BLOWIN� FREE
11. WHERE WERE YOU TOMORROW
Run time: 19:14 Min.
Total run time: 78:50 min.
---------------------------------
Info on:
A) BBC IN CONCERT
I've always wanted to share the 1974 Beeb show in particular but have somehow been hoping to first come across an entirely excellent copy or for someone else here on Dime to donate their hopefully superior copy.
Neither happened, and most surprisingly to me this show has not made its rounds here though it is
a) a very good sounding,
b) set-wise interesting, and
c) historically important show!
The band had released their "LIVE DATES" album in November 1973, and it turned out to be their best-selling US album up to that point (and has remained until today). Hence, it was decided to use the opportunity and tour the US from January 18 to February 4, 1974 to back that album, and undertake another step towards their goal of breaking big in the US.
After the band wound up their US tour, they returned to their home county and after a fortnight back home did a one-off show for BBC in Concert on February 23, 1974 (sometimes listed as Feb. 21).
After some time off, the band started recording their follow-up studio album to "Wishbone Four", presumably sometime in April. However, on Monday, May 2 and midway through the early stages of the recording sessions, original member Ted Turner decided he would quit - and obviously was not to be brought around.
Ted's decision suddenly turned that Feb. 23, 1974 BBC show into a very special (though somewhat regrettable) occasion to hear the band's original line-up for the last time, and for the next 14 years to come.
Surprisingly, the US tour was the very first time to feature SOMETIME WORLD in the set list (as Andy states in his announcement to the song). Since the band kept to that tour's setlist, we fortunately get to hear a rare live version. Please do me a favour and listen to Ted's perfect playing in the quiet section of "Sometime World" in the audio sample which even surpasses its counterpart on ARGUS, IMHO). Also unique is the *LONG* "JAIL BAIT" with a load of adventurous wah-wah playing by Ted (including some technical bugs, it seems).
Also, though the show was recorded for a one-hour "BBC in Concert"-b'ast, Aunty decided not to press it on vinyl for distribution which makes this show one of the very few BBC in Concert-shows to only exist on reel.
The Beeb obviously didn't b'cast the show until long after that line-up change (on Aug. 24, 1974, as far as I was able to find out), and maybe even not again (at least not too often) - at least to my knowledge.
Hence, floating around versions are likely to stem from contemporary off-air tapings and are multiple-generation analog copies. Consequently, there are no pristine sounding versions around, contrary to the numerous vinyl-sourced BBC in Concert-shows in collectorland.
I've come across quite a few different copies of the show, always in search for an upgrade. You may take my word that this here is the best sounding of the lot! It seems to be a pretty low gen. copy with a little (though not overloads of) hiss, without level fluctuations; it runs at the correct pitch, there are no cassette tape-flip cuts, and it includes the radio host announcements. It is just that someone up the generation line obviously decided to EQ it a bit which makes for a few *slightly* grating points. Not too bad but a notch off hi-fi.
In the early 90's the show was released a "protection gap" bootleg CD titled "Phoenix from the Ashes" from a one generation higher copy and therefore in slightly lesser quality, and without the radio intro.
The cover artwork for this torrent is a scan off that silver CD's front cover for which in turn the cover of the 1972 "No Easy Road"/"Blowin' Free" single was used. You may also detect Andy Powell's autograph as he was so nice and signed my single cover sometime in the 80's.
Only few Wishboneatix may know that in 2007 and in the wake of the obviously successful "Argus" Deluxe Edition double CD release, Universal/MCA Records planned an extended re-release of LIVE DATES with five tracks off this show. That highly laudable project was obviously shelved for the time being, though. Big time UGH, you bet!
B) Don Kirshner's Rock Concert:
There is some uncertainty about the taping date of this one. The band arrived in mid-January in NYC to commence their US tour on Jan 18, 1974 with a show at Kleinhans Music Hall in Buffalo, NY. Since the Don Kirshner Shows were usually recorded at Hofstra University Playhouse, N.Y., I take it the band taped their three tracks between their arrival and the official tour start, especially as there were no more NY dates in the tour itinerary; the tour would over the mid-west in particular with no West Coast dates, either. BTW, the poster to that tour has two announcements that the band would appear on Don Kirshner and Midnight Special (see cover artwork)
Alas, as it was common for most Don Kirshner Shows, the band did only three tracks, but they make a nice addition to the BBC show and represent an (almost) complete set of this somewhat under-the-radar early 1974 tour. For those who are interested: the only other show around is the 100 min. New Jersey Capitol Theater show from the second tour date on Jan. 19, 1974 that King Biscuit Flower Hour recorded (and aired a short portion of on May 12, 1974), and which Wolfgang's Vault has been streaming for a few years now in ex quality. Rather strangely in this respect that no audience tapes from this tour have turned up in all these years.
BTW, the band's March 29, 1974-b'cast Midnight Special appearance with "Blowin' Free" was most likely taped along their late 1973 US tour.
I'm happy to finally share especially the BBC with you as it is one of my all-time favourites � great too that both shows fit so nicely on one CD.
Thanks a lot to our fellow Dimer and co-collectonatic Greg Vick (gv0000) for his research on info, dates & venues of that "lost tour".
My request: if anybody here on Planet Dime happens to have a superior recording of the BBC show (or even has a reel copy) - pretty, pretty please find it in your heart and up it ASAP, OK? TNX a big lot in advance.
And yet again, my Personal Pillorying Pleasure and ceterum censeo: Screw you Sh*tyoda F*ckords, this show is NOT MEANT FOR SALE. I know you give a sh*t but I take my freedom to tell you what I think of you (and likeminded crookleggers).
Please do NOT spread this show in lossy formats - otherwise: enjoy, trade, share!
Uploaded to Dimeadozen on July 7, 2015 by DocDondy for all fellow-Dimers to enjoy.
Wishbone (Mk. I & II) ahoy!
Th:)mas
PS for the completists, here is the "Live Dates"-Tour itinerary according to the tour poster and research by gv0000 and yours truly:
January 18, 1974 Buffalo, NY, Kleinhans Music Hall Auditorium w/Climax Blues Band
January 19, 1974 Passaic, NJ, Capitol Theater (KBFH, WV, ticket) w/Climax Blues Band
January 20, 1974 Chicago, IL, Aragon Ballroom w/Climax Blues Band
January 21, 1974 Des Moines, IA, Veterans Memorial Coliseum
w/Rare Earth, REO Speedwagon, Brownsville Station
January 22, 1974 Cedar Rapids, IA, Veterans Memorial Coliseum w/REO Speedwagon
January 23, 1974 Milwaukee, WI, Performing Arts Center
January 24, 1974 Stevens Point, WI, UW-Stevens Point, Quandt Gym w/T.S. Henry Webb
January 25, 1974 Rockford, IL, Rock Valley College
January 26, 1974 Hammond, IN, Civic Center w/Heartsfield
January 27, 1974 Madison, WI, Dane County Coliseum w/REO Speedwagon
January 29, 1974 Fargo, ND w/Climax Blues Band
January 30, 1974 Davenport, IA, RKO Orpheum Theater (poster)
January 31, 1974 South Bend, IN, Municipal Auditorium
February 1, 1974 Cleveland, OH, Allen Theatre w/Bruce Springsteen (poster) Would you believe!!
February 2, 1974 Dayton, OH, The Palace w/Bill Wilson and friends
February 3, 1974 Allentown, PA, Fairgrounds, Ag Hall w/Climax Blues Band
February 4, 1974 College Park, MD, University of Maryland
February 23, 1974 London, Playhouse Theatre (BBC in Concert)