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 50 years Since Jimi Died

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T O P I C    R E V I E W
harvey Posted - 19/09/2020 : 02:22:53
Hi all again. Especially LK. Just after the end of the day 50 years ago since Jimi Died . Remembering all the things my mates and I did that evening. Local pub in the local big town had a really good DJ who played all the tracks off most things Jimi played on all that evening. Very sad day.
I have been fixing up my old Sony TC 366 reel to reel tape recorder I used when I recorded Casablanca on the 1974 gig at the Rainbow when they supported Arthur and Love. I was asked for copies of any tapes I had of Casablanca by the singer Aliki Ashman and after a lot of work and experimenting I sent her copies of all 3 concerts and radio broadcasts I had. I thought that the tapes might be NBG but it turns out they sound OK and she was happy with results. Now I come to the problem. I also recorded Arthur and Love at the Rainbow and I am not sure if it has ever been released. As I have said before I was asked by Arthur's management for a copy of the tape and I sent them a cassette. What happened to that cassette I am not sure and I am asking if anybody else has heard a live recording of Arthur and Love at the Rainbow on 23rd May 1974. I have the original 1/4 inch 1/4 track stereo recording made using the Sony with a crossed pair of AKG D190 E placed on a stand at the mixing desk. Arthur listened to it the next day at the Slough Leisure Centre gig and was happy with the results. I only listened to it a few times then put it away until a few weeks ago. Like the recorder it has sat for about 20 years unused as other recording mediums became available. As I say I have listened to it a few times in last few weeks and it has strong vocals from Arthur, very much in tune though there were problems with the monitors not being very loud at the gig. So the question is am I listening to stuff that has not been released or are there tapes or albums doing the rounds that were either recorded by men with big hats with tape recorders inside or did the cassette I sent get made into an album. As Arthur asked me to make the recording for him I am not sure what copyright is involved so at the moment I do not really want to send anybody that wants a copy one. It is not a long gig and will go by standard Dropbox gigabyte limitations. I have not copied it to computer yet but I have specialised software which works OK as I used it for the Casablanca tapes. As I said the quality is very good for a 46 year old tape but the mix is a bit vocal heavy and as the microphones were behind the audience their reaction is a bit muted.
So just wondering what to do really.
Due to Covid 19 and my underlying health problems I cannot leave the house to post lots of CD's everywhere. So any suggestions really
Hope everybody is OK. Stay Safe
Harvey the Roadie
15   L A T E S T    R E P L I E S    (Newest First)
lemonade kid Posted - 22/10/2020 : 12:38:47
Nice memories, my friend. And thanks for the many Love gig photos!
Everyone needs to check out the new Love book...out in November on Kindle to start..we hope!

quote:
Originally posted by Revelation

Thank you for all the information, Harvey. I only saw one show on the 1974 tour (Bristol Colston Hall) and it remains my least favourite Love /Arthur Lee gig out of the 28 that I saw. Arthur's attitude after 1992 was much better when he realised that he still had a strong fan base in the UK. i saw 2 shows in 1992, 1 in 1994, 1 in 1996 and 20 shows 2002-2005. I only wish that I had seen more because Arthur had a great band with him , he was usually on form and it was very uplifting to see the newer young fans enjoying the music with older fans like myself. I am always on the look out for live recordings....



________________________________________________

The actual writing of a song usually comes in the form of a realisation.
I can't contrive a song. – GENE CLARK
Revelation Posted - 20/10/2020 : 18:23:34
Thank you for all the information, Harvey. I only saw one show on the 1974 tour (Bristol Colston Hall) and it remains my least favourite Love /Arthur Lee gig out of the 28 that I saw. Arthur's attitude after 1992 was much better when he realised that he still had a strong fan base in the UK. i saw 2 shows in 1992, 1 in 1994, 1 in 1996 and 20 shows 2002-2005. I only wish that I had seen more because Arthur had a great band with him , he was usually on form and it was very uplifting to see the newer young fans enjoying the music with older fans like myself. I am always on the look out for live recordings....
harvey Posted - 20/10/2020 : 18:10:01
Only a 3 man crew back then, one sound man and two backline for amps and kit and lugging P.A. about. But at least we did not have to worry about lighting as we just used what was at the gigs which was usually just a few footlights and overhead lights so not really suitable . Both bands had one personnel roadie each but they did not help getting equipment in and out and travelled on the coach with the band but at least made sure that musicians had their guitars etc. Luckily both bands used the same kit and backline amps at most gigs but other backline amps sometimes appeared. Backline amps were all rented as was P.A. so not in best condition so sometimes needed fiddling with to get working properly. Hence the noises in first couple of numbers on Rainbow gig. Tour was not helped by going north , south, back up north again so a lot of driving for only 2 drivers. But all a fantastic experience and would not have missed it.
Harvey the Roadie
lemonade kid Posted - 20/10/2020 : 15:42:13
Thanks for all the history...pretty interesting and trying times for Arthur and fans. You roadies must been stretched to limit just to hold things together as best you could...but of course Arthur could and did sabotage anything you tried to do at any given time to keep it all together it seems.

So thankful that Arthur returned from prison with a new attitude and appreciation for his music and his fans.

quote:
Originally posted by harvey

Problem on that tour in 74 with Arthur was he was completely out of it a lot of the time, he had a very bad habit. He did not think that any of the gigs that were booked on that tour were suitable for him apart from the Rainbow. As has been said before he thought that with his status as a performer he should have been given Rainbow sized gigs every night of the tour but a lot were Universities or like Barbarellas in Birmingham smallish club gigs. The University concerts were poorly attended as has been said before with a lot of students not showing much interest in the bands who they had never heard of and only interested in chatting up girls or drinking a lot. Arthur was always telling Bruce Riley that the gigs were not suitable for him but Bruce managed to get him to go out most nights as it would sell albums. Record Company A & M were pushing the albums as much as they could at every gig with display boards in entrances to all gigs which us roadies had to lug around and set up. But we did manage to lose a few. Also the fact that Arthur was playing with no brass or strings sections and just singing the brass parts meant that anybody that did know the music only came and watched once I think. Also from comments Arthur made at the beginning of the Rainbow gig to the Audience, I do not think he appreciated the type of music that Casablanca were playing as he said 'did you enjoy them'?? 'This will be totally different'. I do think that some audiences at College gigs did enjoy Casablanca more than Love. Even if only because the 2 female singers in Casablanca were pretty 'Hot'. Which probably did not improve Arthur's attitude. Rocket Records who were managing Casablanca and were promoting Casablanca's album ( which eventually they did not release until many years later when band members got it released). They had to have a 'name' band for the tour to happen and Arthur's record company were looking to promote Love's album so that was how the tour happened. Casablanca were fresh on the scene and had a big following in London on stage and on radio concerts so any publicity for them was a bonus and they would not have minded who they toured with, as I have said before a few were session musicians so 'any work is good work to earn income and improve profile for future work'. So not an ideal situation for Arthur and Love who never really wanted to tour in those days anyway which was a reason for their lack of international success and why they were only a band that real enthusiasts who understood what they were about wanted to see. Casablanca did not survive more than a few months more after the tour and Arthur and Love went through a long period of not really doing much until after Arthur's release from prison after which things picked up a lot including appearances in UK on TV with Jools Holland and at Glastonbury both with Baby Lemonade which bought a lot of new fans as the old songs were really good when played with full brass and strings sections.



________________________________________________

The actual writing of a song usually comes in the form of a realisation.
I can't contrive a song. – GENE CLARK
harvey Posted - 19/10/2020 : 18:19:22
Problem on that tour in 74 with Arthur was he was completely out of it a lot of the time, he had a very bad habit. He did not think that any of the gigs that were booked on that tour were suitable for him apart from the Rainbow. As has been said before he thought that with his status as a performer he should have been given Rainbow sized gigs every night of the tour but a lot were Universities or like Barbarellas in Birmingham smallish club gigs. The University concerts were poorly attended as has been said before with a lot of students not showing much interest in the bands who they had never heard of and only interested in chatting up girls or drinking a lot. Arthur was always telling Bruce Riley that the gigs were not suitable for him but Bruce managed to get him to go out most nights as it would sell albums. Record Company A & M were pushing the albums as much as they could at every gig with display boards in entrances to all gigs which us roadies had to lug around and set up. But we did manage to lose a few. Also the fact that Arthur was playing with no brass or strings sections and just singing the brass parts meant that anybody that did know the music only came and watched once I think. Also from comments Arthur made at the beginning of the Rainbow gig to the Audience, I do not think he appreciated the type of music that Casablanca were playing as he said 'did you enjoy them'?? 'This will be totally different'. I do think that some audiences at College gigs did enjoy Casablanca more than Love. Even if only because the 2 female singers in Casablanca were pretty 'Hot'. Which probably did not improve Arthur's attitude. Rocket Records who were managing Casablanca and were promoting Casablanca's album ( which eventually they did not release until many years later when band members got it released). They had to have a 'name' band for the tour to happen and Arthur's record company were looking to promote Love's album so that was how the tour happened. Casablanca were fresh on the scene and had a big following in London on stage and on radio concerts so any publicity for them was a bonus and they would not have minded who they toured with, as I have said before a few were session musicians so 'any work is good work to earn income and improve profile for future work'. So not an ideal situation for Arthur and Love who never really wanted to tour in those days anyway which was a reason for their lack of international success and why they were only a band that real enthusiasts who understood what they were about wanted to see. Casablanca did not survive more than a few months more after the tour and Arthur and Love went through a long period of not really doing much until after Arthur's release from prison after which things picked up a lot including appearances in UK on TV with Jools Holland and at Glastonbury both with Baby Lemonade which bought a lot of new fans as the old songs were really good when played with full brass and strings sections.
lemonade kid Posted - 17/10/2020 : 21:39:15
Cheers, Ashrob...good to see your post. Crazy times for Love and Love fans indeed.

quote:
Originally posted by Ashrob

Hi Harvey I’ve responded before that I was at the Birmingham gig when Arthur continually cut songs short by raising his guitar neck and refused to do an encore.

Fans subsequently proved to be unforgiving as the 1975 gig in Birmingham was very poorly attended.

My 2 recordings of the 74 tour were were made available with various others from different tours by a contributor to this site.



________________________________________________

The actual writing of a song usually comes in the form of a realisation.
I can't contrive a song. – GENE CLARK
lemonade kid Posted - 17/10/2020 : 21:37:52
Wow! Sounds pretty trying. Not all pleasure for sure. And a lot of work!

quote:
Originally posted by harvey

Hi LK. Envious ??? If you had been on the tour of approximately 21 gigs with both bands over about a month and dealt with Arthurs changes in mood and attitude and ability to stand up and wondering every night whether or not he was going to either come out on stage at all, or cut the set short after a few numbers, and me being the straight man in the crew who stayed sober and didn't dissolve into giggles every few minutes as I was looking after the money for fuel and hotel rooms etc etc. and could drive in a straight line with a driving licence (one in the 3 man crew could not drive) and also it was my first major tour, so seeing the same pair of bands every night, I am sure even the most enthusiastic fan, and I had not heard that much about Love before the tour, and was only really supposed to be working for Casablanca as they were friends of mine and was only working for Love as they only came over with guitars and Bruce Riley who seemed to be there only to stop everybody falling over before the gig, so it was a real eye opener for me to have to sort out all the technical problems of anything else they bought over being USA voltage and the only step down transformer they bought blew up as soon as they plugged a hair drier into it so mains effect pedals etc were all useless until we found a wrongly wired transformer which worked until we had to take Jon Sterling's effects pedal to a repair shop as it stopped working and they wired the mains plug back to normal which we did not spot and as soon as it was put together with the wrongly wired transformer a lot of smoke came out so that was the end of that. Casablanca were a fairly straight bunch as a few were session musicians who joined a small band to record an album and ventured out on tour as well so both they and I were a bit amazed at some of the goings on in the hotels and back stage at the gigs.
So Envious, a month of that took a lot of hard work and patience and lack of sleep and some of the performances by Love were not very good but all of Casablanca apart from one, the drummer Charlie Charles and one roadie are still surviving as far as I know and have worked with many other famous bands, Ian Dury and the Blockheads, Van Morrison, Ginger Bakers Airforce and many more.
Stay safe
Harvey the Roadie



________________________________________________

The actual writing of a song usually comes in the form of a realisation.
I can't contrive a song. – GENE CLARK
Ashrob Posted - 16/10/2020 : 21:01:02
Hi Harvey I’ve responded before that I was at the Birmingham gig when Arthur continually cut songs short by raising his guitar neck and refused to do an encore.

Fans subsequently proved to be unforgiving as the 1975 gig in Birmingham was very poorly attended.

My 2 recordings of the 74 tour were were made available with various others from different tours by a contributor to this site.
harvey Posted - 16/10/2020 : 14:20:12
Hi LK. Envious ??? If you had been on the tour of approximately 21 gigs with both bands over about a month and dealt with Arthurs changes in mood and attitude and ability to stand up and wondering every night whether or not he was going to either come out on stage at all, or cut the set short after a few numbers, and me being the straight man in the crew who stayed sober and didn't dissolve into giggles every few minutes as I was looking after the money for fuel and hotel rooms etc etc. and could drive in a straight line with a driving licence (one in the 3 man crew could not drive) and also it was my first major tour, so seeing the same pair of bands every night, I am sure even the most enthusiastic fan, and I had not heard that much about Love before the tour, and was only really supposed to be working for Casablanca as they were friends of mine and was only working for Love as they only came over with guitars and Bruce Riley who seemed to be there only to stop everybody falling over before the gig, so it was a real eye opener for me to have to sort out all the technical problems of anything else they bought over being USA voltage and the only step down transformer they bought blew up as soon as they plugged a hair drier into it so mains effect pedals etc were all useless until we found a wrongly wired transformer which worked until we had to take Jon Sterling's effects pedal to a repair shop as it stopped working and they wired the mains plug back to normal which we did not spot and as soon as it was put together with the wrongly wired transformer a lot of smoke came out so that was the end of that. Casablanca were a fairly straight bunch as a few were session musicians who joined a small band to record an album and ventured out on tour as well so both they and I were a bit amazed at some of the goings on in the hotels and back stage at the gigs.
So Envious, a month of that took a lot of hard work and patience and lack of sleep and some of the performances by Love were not very good but all of Casablanca apart from one, the drummer Charlie Charles and one roadie are still surviving as far as I know and have worked with many other famous bands, Ian Dury and the Blockheads, Van Morrison, Ginger Bakers Airforce and many more.
Stay safe
Harvey the Roadie
harvey Posted - 16/10/2020 : 13:35:41
Revelation ... Dukie, Glad you got the recording. It is best listened to using a hi fi set up with EQ and balance adjustments and also my software to transfer from tape to file and CD was a freebie so not brilliant quality and cut out if volumes dropped and seemed to put unwanted EQ on as well. At the gig I had to set it up without listening to any music from the stage as I was wanted on stage before the bands started up. So stereo balance was achieved by putting both mic. input knobs in same position for both channels and hoping it did not get very loud and start overloading the tape or clipping . Also the pair of microphones was set up slightly to the left (looking at the stage from the mixer) of the mixing desk and though the mics were crossed as a pair they could have been moved as a pair as it was a busy area in the audience right next to a pathway between the seats . Also the sound engineer Hari was usually completely off his head on substances by this time of the evening as he was supplier of things to keep Arthur in a fit state to appear on stage and had been backstage with Arthur before the show and in the interval between the two bands. Unfortunately it cost him his life a few weeks after the tour ended. This recording was made at Arthur's request so it was only for him to get a rough idea how the band sounded so it was not intended as a recording of the band for anyone other than Arthur and the band to listen to so it was just set up and recorder left running. It is amazing it was not lost really as the reel of tape was left kicking around in the back of the truck at the end of the tour and when the crew and I were clearing out the truck to take it back to the hire company I saw it in a corner and rescued it. The reel of tape was quite dusty as it had fallen out of its box which is probably the only reason I did not record something else over the top of it as 1/4 inch tape was quite expensive back then ( and ridiculously expensive now ... if you can get it ). So it is a survivor and 'It is what it is ' really and as I say needs a bit of work to make it sound good but it does sound quite good once set up right. Not really something to copy to CD or other format and walk round listening to flat without EQ and balance adjustments. I would be interested to hear comparisons with Freedom Mans tape of the same concert. I did not realise how many of the concerts on the tour had been recorded. I wonder if the support band Casablanca was recorded at those gigs as well as I know people who would be very interested in that as I only have a radio broadcast and a gig at Bibas Rainbow room and the Rainbow gig on tape. As I said the tape is a survivor and has lasted longer than most of the performers and the 1/4 inch analogue media system it was recorded with.
Stay safe
Harvey the Roadie
lemonade kid Posted - 12/10/2020 : 15:35:05
You guys make me so envious that you saw Love so many times...Cheers Dukie.

________________________________________________

The actual writing of a song usually comes in the form of a realisation.
I can't contrive a song. – GENE CLARK
Revelation Posted - 11/10/2020 : 18:56:15
Thanks Harvey. The recording is biased a little to one channel, but the band sounds better than the gig that I saw on the opening night of the 1974 tour in Bristol (but we have discussed that previously).
harvey Posted - 06/10/2020 : 20:29:05
Dropbox is ending the access to the Rainbow Concert files very soon.
Harvey
lemonade kid Posted - 06/10/2020 : 14:45:40
Yes...that was a tough year. And less than a year later, we lost Jim Morrison.

quote:
Originally posted by harvey

Now 50 years since Janis died
Harvey



________________________________________________

The actual writing of a song usually comes in the form of a realisation.
I can't contrive a song. – GENE CLARK
harvey Posted - 04/10/2020 : 23:49:20
Now 50 years since Janis died
Harvey

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