FAMILY on Top Gear 26/11/67

FAMILY Top Gear 26/11/67

The Burning Shed 8CD & DVD box set has recently been released, and whilst it repeats much of what is already available, we finally have  'Scene through the eye of a lens' and 'Winter' from Top Gear 26/11/67.
Scene is not a million miles from the 45 version, and I can't help wondering if this were truely cut in the studio, or just an acetate version the band brought along to the BBC; whatever it's nice to catch up with it. (Cynical moment here), it sounds like a cut and paste with new vocal overdub and some extra Grech parts. It would be a minor miracle if this could have been achieved one take at the BBC.
Does anyone have more info on this?
The real revelation is 'Winter' Here a full on psychedelic version akin to 'Scene'.
I thought I would post the missing two tracks from this session, 'Voyage' and 'Peace of mind' from Alexis Korner show but syndicated from the Top Gear session.
They are pretty rough sounding, as they were sourced from a short wave broadcast on BBC World Service. For fans of the early band, they are however essential.
While you are at it, check out their Hyde Park gig from 24/8/68, it's only 14 minutes long, and is available on Sugarmegs. Also the Bouton Rouge segments on Youtube.
If anyone can upgrade any of this -please get in touch.

FAMILY Top Gear 26/11/67

Unknown 60's/Early 70's Jazz Piece

Unknown 60's/Early 70's Jazz Piece

This came from a tape of predominantly live BBC sessions.
Probably from 1969, and probably from Mike Harding's "Sound of the 60s" show. You can just hear a second of the DJ at the end.
Can anybody identify it? It is certainly superior stuff imho.

Here it is:
Unknown Jazz Piece 1

Well it turned out to be Colosseum performing "Shades of Blue" with the New Jazz Orchestra, from Mike Hardings 21/7/70 broadcast.
Hear some more of this on Colin Harper's channel.

(Hats off to) Roy Harper - His 1968 Top Gear Session

(Hats off to) Roy Harper - His 1968 Top Gear Session




I hope Mr. Harper will not object to this:

From two different sources, here is Roy Harper's second Top Gear session.
Originally tx on 13/3/68, tracks 1-3 come from a repeat of the session tx 12/5/68
The final track was sourced from Sugarmegs.
As far as I can devise this has not been released.
The superb orchestrated backing comes from the Keith Mansfield group of 9 musicians.
Apologies for tape hiss and small glitch at the end of Night Fighter

1. Night Fighter
2. Life Goes By
3. A Beautiful Rambling Mess
4. All You Need Is

Usual request for upgrades, and the first session from late '67
Thanks to Tony for having the foresight of taping this, and Knees at Sugarmegs, whose indepth
analysis of the similarity/differences between the LP and Top Gear versions, is worth reading.
Here's the link:    ROY HARPER Top Gear 1968

Check out Colin Harper's excellent site on You Tube, where amongst other things, has uploaded a better version of Night Fighter

MANDRAKE PADDLE STEAMER Part 2

I have just become aware of a site that has posted some more unreleased material by Mandrake Paddle Steamer/Mandrake.

Check it out here:

https://mandrakepaddlesteamer.bandcamp.com/releases

Three new songs, and some possible upgrades to tracks on the "Overspill" LP
Definitely worth a visit to hear the delights of "Stella Mermaid" and "Doris The Piper"
and a rather later track called "Nice Man" from 4/3/70 when the band were known as "Mandrake"
We have Terry Morley to thank for this new insight into the band. Hope there will be more to come.

The British Music Archive site also had some useful info on the band. However as of today the site is crashed.

TIM ROSE Saturday Club Session 2/3/68

Tim Rose did some marvellous sessions for the BBC in the sixties, and a few survive on transcription disc. Tim often came in for a lot of flack for claiming credit for co-writing  "Morning Dew" with Bonnie Dobson. Having listened extensively to Bonnie's excellent recorded work, I think without Tim's input -it would have been a much less interesting song.
Tim made several appearances on Brian Matthew's Saturday Club and John Peel's Top Gear, often performing the same songs on both programs though in different versions, with different backings.
Thanks to Ken Garner's indispensable guide, I can date this session to 2/3/68 and am disappointed to see that I am missing "Eat Drink and be Merry" from that broadcast, possibly because I suspect my tape  has been sourced from transcription disk - judging by the clarity of sound. Disappointing too, that I do not have any info on the backing band.
I hope to post some Top Gear recordings from 1967/8 if anyone is interested.
If anyone can supply the missing track from this broadcast, also his live version of "Dim Light" or any other sessions he did;  I would be very grateful.

"Plug" time for fans of my blog (both of you): check out You Tube contributor  "Ted B". He is posting some very worthwhile live material from the sixties.

Tracks are: Rowan Oak/A short interview with Brian Matthew/I got a lonliness/Morning dew.

Hear them: https://www.mediafire.com/?4v64yrjcmzl2tij

GLASS MENAGERIE Top Gear -Pt 2

Here at last are the two stella workouts the Glass Menagerie did live on John Peel's Top Gear 23/6/68
Love Me Two Times - and - Dear Mr. Fantasy
(sorry it took so long Syd!)
Sound quality is pretty iffy but it's the best I can find.
There is a better quality copy of LM2T that I have, but it is considerably shortened.
Play them here:

GM Pt2

DENNY LAINE'S ELECTRIC STRING BAND Emidisc Acetate

Here's an Emidisc acetate of Denny Laine performing "Ask the People" and "Why Did You Come"
From 1967 an early version of "Ask" later a Deram single track; "Why" did not get a sixties release, as far as I know.
Both tracks did make it to a late 1967 Top Gear session, with Tommy Vance competing with Peel for show supremacy. (Peel won hands down!). I believe these sessions are readily available in Netville; otherwise I could post them here.
Here is a link to both tracks:  Denny Laine Acetate

ELMER GANTRY'S VELVET OPERA Top Gear Session 19/5/68

Here is the complete session Elmer Gantry's Velvet Opera did for John Peel's Top Gear broadcast 19/5/68.
Tracks are:
Fixing to die / Mary Jane / Dreamy / Air

As far as I know, the first and last tracks were unique to Top Gear, whereas the other two had appeared on Saturday Club, though possibly different versions

Here's the sound link:
http://www.mediafire.com/file/zbp3wir776eye9s/elmer_g.mp3

HONEYBUS Two Obscure BBC Tracks

If its HiFi you want then pass on this.
Here are complete with many flaws, The Honeybus performing "Lilly" and "Going Back"

Lilly missing the intro, is from an unknown BBC broadcast. Apart from being published in sheet music form, was not recorded - as far as I know

Going Back had a chunk missing in the middle -so I closed the silent gap. This was sourced from a Pete Brady show, where they were guesting for one week in January 1968.

If anyone reading this can upgrade either track, do get in touch.

Honeybus laid down many fine BBC sessions, a surprising number of which are in circulation, but to my best knowledge the two here are not.

Here's the link:
http://www.mediafire.com/file/88anwxqyycay244/01-Track_1.mp3

 KIDROCK 2 Sided Acetate on Birth

This two sided 7inch acetate dates from around 1971, and is on the short lived imprint of CBS called Birth
Under the oversized Birth label can be discerned standard Emidisc labels.

All Around You / Annie's Place (Rough demo).

'All Around You' seems the side of choice to me. Annie's Place sounded familiar, and on some digging found a version of it on an early edition of  'Circus Days' where it had acquired an 'Auntie' prefix, and the artist name 'Stars'.
Further research leads me to believe Stars is bogus and the group is Kidrock (sic) as opposed to Kid Rock who were a different outfit.
Anyway it will be up for grabs on eBay if anyone is interested.
Usual caveat about removing it from the blog if infringement of rights is the case.

btw Birth was a curious label, with an horrific logo and equally horrific advertising campaign involving Bunnies tummy being full of delights... or something like that.
It did produce several highly sought after artists including George Benson, Roy Harper (reissue) Chris Harwood and Julian J Savarin and a few others.

Hear both sides with this link:
http://www.mediafire.com/download/xs64qc0je4ppfbp/kidrock.mp3

GALAXIES IV Associated Recording Studios Acetate

Had this for decades, and its time to go -so Ebay it is.
This is the same group that later recorded "Piccadilly Circus", and more famously "Don't lose your mind"
From the sound I'd say 1965, and as far as I know did not get released.
To hear both sides, here is the link:


http://www.mediafire.com/listen/ozb2s37rb2nsmqu/galaxIV.mp3

Tracks are "Tossin' & Turnin'" and "Don't Look Back"

Barely legible on the labels is the following text:
World championship olympics Rock 'n' Roll band
Management of E & B Enterprises
Box 2314 Trenton NJ 08607

COLOR WHEEL Emidisc Acetate

Back again: New location, and new computer!

Today's offering is an Emidisc acetate by an unknown group with a track "COLOR WHEEL"
Sort of Sunshine pop territory, but vastly superior to the endless outpourings of that genre, that compilers are resorting to, having run out of everything else.
Note the spelling. The otherside is the same song (possibly less distorted) but this time spelt "Colour Wheel", and marked for release.
Due to condition I have opted to upload the American spelt version.
So here is the question: Who is it? and Was it released?
I'm thinking the mixed spelling of colour and the Anglo American sound could make it Canadian c '67.
The group Three's a Crowd being the nearest I can get.
Answers on a postcard....

And here is the sound file: http://www.mediafire.com/listen/jezjmdexvuz1alp/color_wheel.mp3

Finally found out that the band is "Proof Of The Puddin' " sic. An Indiana band that relocated to Boston, and recorded a Harry Palmer song on the flip side. H P was guitarist and song writer for Ford Theatre, but was not in POTP.

My thanks to Colin Mason (Expo66) for the info.

MOBY GRAPE at the BBC - Can't Be So Bad

Here again after another long break

Here's a live session from Moby Grape, broadcast on David Symonds show in February 1969. Precise date not known.
The second and third tracks had been aired on Top Gear, 16/2/69, but "Can't be so bad" was not aired on either the original broadcast, or the repeat 16/3/69.
In fact Peel was quite scathing about their lack of interest in the recording session. Although the same versions as b/c on Peel they are better quality than I have previously heard, albeit rather shortened.
Track syndication between Top Gear, Symonds and World Service was a common exercise then, so often Symonds would pick up tracks rejected from Top Gear -as here.
From the comments I believe this was from Symonds on Sunday.
He also played selected tracks throught his weekday shows.
Despite Peel's criticism, the Grape were getting into "69" mode, and 'Can't be so bad' comes off well despite not having the original's brass.
Here are:
Can't be so bad, I am not willing & Trucking man


http://www.mediafire.com/listen/bttfqubctatt4k2/MobyG.mp3

Unknown Apple Acetate

A short post today.
Used to have an Apple Acetate with some tracks by an unknown US 60s band.
One track titled "Wendy" stood out from the rest.
Here it is -sounds decent 60s garage/pop to me.
Anyone know who it is.
The other tracks btw, were an OK version of Sgt. Peppers L H C B -a song I have little empathy with, an unknown instrumental,  and something pretty dire called "Mary Jane"
The acetate was a 12" with the standard Apple New York green custom label.

Play "Wendy" here

http://www.mediafire.com/listen/qaqmx4aimbm2nq0/Wendy.mp3

The GLASS MENAGERIE on John Peel's Top Gear.

Anyone remember them? Fantastic musicianship, and well crafted songs, -a mix of originals and covers.
Today's post features two tracks in session from a John Peel Top Gear show 23/6/68; both are covers,
"One More Heartache" & "You Didn't Have to be so Nice"
The latter (as Peel mentions) is their current 45, though the former did not make it to vinyl. Unless that is; the long lost demo only LP contained a version.
I do have the rest of this session, - massive versions of
"Love me two Times" & "Dear Mr.Fantasy".
If anyone is interested I can post these later on.
Still looking for a tape of their take on "Light my Fire" -can anybody help? Also any info on their demo album for Polydor.
Usual apologies for lack of fidelity, but I figure anything is better than nothing.

Listen to: "One More Heartache"

http://www.mediafire.com/listen/zs5555l92oe3lmy/one-more-heartache.mp3

"Listen to: "You Didn't Have to be so Nice"
http://www.mediafire.com/listen/dleud6lew45azd4/so-nice.mp3

Back after a long break.

Back again with more stuff to ignore! Hopefully on a more regular basis.

Here is one track from an IBC single sided 12" acetate containing 5 powerful bluesy prog tracks.
A good guitarist and female singer complement what is probably one side of an LP.
The band name appears (unlikely) to be Randi.
Did this come out?
Who is it?
US or UK?
I'm thinking 1970 UK 
Usual caveats about removal if copyright is infringed.
The 5 tracks are:
Take you down/Loser/Blue eyes/You and me/Jimmy, and the track posted is "Blue eyes"

http://www.mediafire.com/listen/0z54na5r3g6hkf6/Randi-IBC-Acetate.mp3

UNKNOWN 70s ACETATE

Here is an unmarked Emidisc acetate of what sounds to be an early 70s or very late 60s outfit with definite progressive leanings. In fact it is virtually a progressive primer, covering a lot of ground in just over three minutes.
Question is -Who is it? Was it released? If so -Is it the same version.
The fairly extensive use of mellotron say 69-71 to me, and the music sounds a bit like Audience / Greatest Show On Earth or Galliard.
Perhaps it is a well known released track -in which case I will remove it. My progressive knowledge is somewhat sketchy.
For what it is worth - here is a picture of the acetate. It is one sided and has nothing written on it at all.

Link to hear it:     http://www.mediafire.com/?v8tzv0xavvtcs6q

MANDRAKE MUSINGS

Much has been written about Mandrake Paddle Steamer (Later just 'Mandrake'), and I don't intend to repeat all that in my sub O level English, suffice it to say they are my favourite UK band.

A few years ago, I was very fortunate to be in contact with their roadie Mike G. He very kindly told me much about the times of Mandrake, and let me have tapes of two unreleased acetates and permission to reproduce them here. Obviously they are crackly, but do show the direction the band were taking.

They are 'Song For Freedom' and 'October Country'.

'Freedom' starts very quietly -as John Peel would have said. 'October' is presumably inspired by Ray Bradbury's book of the same name.

I also acquired a CD of 3 Mandrake acetates found together at a carboot. Two were identical to those already issued on the Scanner Jots LP 'Overspill', but the third was a track called 'Check Check Out' on a Pye advance acetate. The surprise was that this turned out to be a version of the song 'Checkout' from the Phillipe de Barge then unreleased LP, made with The Pretty Things.

Mike had no memory of the song, and indeed it may not be the same Mandrake, it does not sound like it is, and what is it doing on Pye? How would this song have filtered back to Mandrake?

Anyway judge for yourselves.

Song For Freedom
http://www.mediafire.com/?k4r47nkd97c7de9
Check Check Out
http://www.mediafire.com/?hziccalear7k91c
October Country
http://www.mediafire.com/?atbx36571fd3bvm

Hope these links work, there have been some problems reported with Mediafire. Any problem let me know.

 

                                           Acetate "October Country"