This a copy/paste of a comment Stephen W Tayler left on the Steve Hoffman Music Forums. I cannot link to the original, so this is off a copy I keep with my boxed set rip. I have changed the font colour where SWT says he sourced the recordings from different performances to your selection.
The original album used the following tracks:
Life In The Air Age - Leeds 1 - 13th February
Ships In The Night - Leeds 1 - 13th February
Piece Of Mine - Bristol - 27th March
Fair Exchange - Leeds 1 - 13th February
Shine - Leeds 1 - 13th February
Sister Seagull - Leeds 2 - 14th February
Maid In Heaven - Hammersmith 2 - 26th March
Mill Street Junction - Hammersmith 1 - 25th March
Adventures In A Yorkshire Landscape - Leeds 2 - 14th February
Blazing Apostles - Hammersmith 2 - 26th March
None of the tracks from Leicester or Bournemouth shows were used.
As you can see the original release was compiled from several different shows, and some very small parts repaired or replaced - usually for technical issues. It was a very special and particular production approach and so in this case I decided not to be influenced by those mixes.
This set of full shows is not a remix as such, but a brand new mix, trying to recreate the feeling of being there in the theatre, leaving in all the audience response, introductions and talk between the tracks.
It might have been nice to have a surround version, but decisions had to be made about what would be realistic and practical in terms of how much material we had. Imagine how many discs there would have been!
These are carefully and lovingly mixed, and experiencing these wonderful dynamic live performances was so exciting for me. Yes it is aimed at true enthusiasts and everyone will probably have a favourite! SWTx
This is excellent. The two in red, which are different from mine, were the two that, on a second listen, I realized were incorrect. Happy for this correction!
So I'm resurrecting this thread. Today I went to Spotify to see if the full 16 disc set is there, and it is! So I spent an idle half hour or so trying to determine where the various performances from the original album came from, "Shine" and "Adventures" in particular, since those guitar solos have been so emblazoned in my head all these years. Was "Adventures" cobbled together from various performances, for instance, or was it an unadorned live track? And I am thrilled (and not surprised) to report that yes, that performance on the original album was as is. Here is what I THINK are the original performances:
"Life in the Air Age," Leeds, 13 February
"Ships in the Night," Leeds, 13 February
"Piece of Mine," Leeds, 13 February
"Fair Exchange," Leeds, 13 February
"Shine," Leeds, 13 February
"Sister Seagull," Leeds, 14 February
"Maid In Heaven," Hammersmith, 26 March
"Mill Street Junction," Colston, 27 March
"Adventures in a Yorkshire Landscape," Leeds, 14 February
"Blazing Apostles," Hammersmith, 26 March
Happy to be corrected, but this sounds about right.
Don't ask me, I've no idea... But I have to own up to the fact that I haven't actually listened to any of it, (too busy creating new music!) The past is a foreign country, as they say...) 😁
I am so glad to see that they got the song order right. One of the frustrating things about the CD was that they just tossed the EP at the end instead of in the middle where it naturally played when stacking the albums. (Yes, I had a player that stacked multiple records.) This is just one indication of the attention to details that have gone in to all of these releases. Thanks!
@merikan1 One of my favourite ever songs...I'm not exactly sure what perfection is in music, I'm never , really ever, satisfied with my own efforts, but surely this must come close.
Was sitting in the sun today, listening to the original album - well, OK, a re-issued version - on headphones. Looking forward to the 16 disc monster, to find out :
a) If that's the only version of Life In The Air Age with Andy Clark's synth in tune for the intro. I've heard some versions where it's hideously out of tune :)
b) What Shine sounds like without Cabasa El Dubova - the various percussion instruments - on it.
c) Which show Mill Street Junction is from, and is the rest of that show also nearly mono?
d) If Charlie's bass line on the other versions of AIAYL makes me think so strongly of a tuba in a brass band. I always wondered if Bill had played him a brass band and said "That's the bass line I want!".
And it also reminded me that Andy Clark was one of the best, but mostly unsung, keyboard players of the era.
I've lost count of how many copies of this recording I've worn out over the years, Cassette tapes, LP/EP's, CD copies... I've simply got to get this one. I've spent half my life trying to emulate the ferocious guitar on this album. All helps to fine-tune my tablature transcriptions too. If I ever need to prove to someone how great a player Bill is I just put this on, it never fails to impress.
There are 2 clips of Modern Music on Youtube from this gig. They were taken from a Don Kirshners Rock Concert transmission in the US. So it sounds like the new release is from a restored VHS tape of the Uk broadcast and not the original film footage.
@James Ellis Apparently the broadcast included 4 tracks - Bring Back the Spark, Twighlight Capers, Dancing in the Moonlight and Modern Music. Broadcast 5 Feb 1977
Somebody on another forum (Missing Believed Wiped) was in contact with Lindsay Clennell via email, who was happy for his replies to be published, so it may be possible to elicit further info.
I think that the set is expensive, however, had I walked into a pub and someone had said they had a perfect copy of the Star Rider recording for £90.00, I would probably have bought it.
This almost seems like a bit of closure re Be Bop for me. I've wanted to see live performances and now we have the Drastic Plastic, Old Grey Whistle Test and now Star Rider (that I feel sure must have more than 5 songs)
It would be great if Cherry could release a set of all the video material in one place with the Bill Nelson interviews in one place.
I will definitely be passing on this one. Between the original release, the BBC albums, assorted bootlegs and the (formerly bootleg) live recordings on the Axe Victim/Futurama/Sunburst Finish reissues, my need for live BBD is covered. Now, if they were to release the Winterland (San Francisco) shows...
However, I wish those that do buy it many hours of listening pleasure.
Cherry Red put out an Eddie & the Hot Rods Live at The Rainbow DVD some years ago & this was sourced from the same video library as the Star Rider concert, so presumably they were able to rediscover this fairly easily, be interesting to know what else is in that PVL (Private Video Library).
I had a video copy of the star rider concert for years but the quality was really terrible. I assume that Cherry Red got hold of a good copy, but I know from various threads on this site that people have been looking for a good copy for years.
If anyone knows the full set list, do tell. Here is an unusual performance that I was sent years ago, so I put it on youtube (I asked Bill first)
It seems to be the 30 minute TV program, so quite a few songs left out of the performance, but they all must have been filmed, so I wonder where that footage is if indeed it still exists ?
Live recordings, before and after Live in the Air Age; I would always be interested in hearing how Be Bop and its sets evolved/changed/improved over the years.
I'd love to hear some live stuff from the Practical Dreamers tour in 81, in fact any post Be Bop, plus Red Noise of course, there seem to be a fair number of boots around.
I suppose I'm supposed to sell a CD to get another? This one will come in the mail and I'll have to say, "What is this, love?" I don't know, it was something about the grandiose nature of so many CD's. I felt compelled to press "Pay"...well at least "PayPal", (yeah, some friend you are! 😀 ) I'm hoping it helps the Nelson's in some way. Now if they only had the Santa Monica show I went to. Well, beggars can't be choosers even at a banquet.
@Bill Nelson the one lm personally interested in is the first Leeds grand concert…. l was 17 and l was mesmerized by the whole performance ❤️ To relive that experience is worth the price for me ….. warts an all 😳😬
Clearly this is a one-off. I'm assuming the gigs were recorded specifically to gather material for the Air Age live album, which is why there's so much of it. I'd love a well recorded Red Noise live set but if there was such a thing we'd know about it by now 😃
@Mr Mercury The tour was recorded purely to gather material for the 'Air Age' album. No other tours were recorded, though there may be several bootleg recordings made by fans, (though recording quality will be poor to unlistenable.) But the Be Bop barrel has truly been scraped and the Cherry Red/Esoteric reissues have gathered all the left overs and remnants together. So I think we can safely put the band out to pasture after more than 40 years.
I, of course, very rarely listen to Be Bop Deluxe and when I do it's usually because I have to refresh my memory for the purpose of an interview or to write an essay for the box sets. But Be Bop represents such a tiny fraction of my creative life and I'm far more interested in the here and now than re-living the past. I recognise that Be Bop Deluxe represented the more commercial era of my music and that there are fans who loved it and find my more current music a little different and perhaps not to their taste but that doesn't change the trajectory I'm on. It's pedal to the metal into the future... 😉
The 16 CD set seems overkill, and the 3 CD set not enough (no DVD); it'd be great if Cherry Red would issue a middle 3rd set with a few of the live performances and the DVD.
Oh my God! Oh my God! They've found Star Rider!!!!! I'll be able to lay on my stomach and record it on my cassette recorder again. Just like I did all those years ago. Also excited to hear the Hammersmith CD as I was there! My order is placed.
This is fantastic news! A good friend and I have been speculating on what might follow “Drastic Plastic.” “Live In The Air Age” was one of our mutual guesses, but 15 CDs and a DVD is beyond our hopes. I’m calling him right now.
Waaayyyy too much for me. Like Bob says earlier, too much repetition of familiar tunes. Possibly the slimmer 3-CD set might appeal, but I'm more interested in what's new from Bill.
Really looking forward to the Star Rider dvd, so glad Cherry Red were able to source this, live Charlie! It's a big set & quite expensive but I reckon it'll sell out fast then we'll never see it again, not for sensible money anyway, really happy it's found its way into the world, now onto Red Noise 😁
I've been offered the chance to hear all of the performances but politely declined. I have too much music yet to make and so little time left to do so. Listening to 15 CDs of 40 something year old performances would be kind of frustrating for me.
When John Leckie and I put the original Air Age album together, we trawled through hours of all the live recordings to select the best performances for the album. I hear that there are certain improvised sections of the songs that are slightly different from show to show but it's such a long time ago, I've no idea whether they're good or bad. There's sure to be a certain 'warts and all' quality to many of them, (which may actually interest die-hard fans,) but I don't imagine I'll be so eager to hear them!
Nevertheless, I can see the appeal for fans who attended one or another of the shows and who want to nostalgically relive the experience. It may, however, not be quite the same experience all these years later when some of us are slightly more mature!😉
I hear you. As much as I love some bands, the notion of listening to megaboxes of the likes that King Crimson put out [and in this case as well] goes beyond my interests as even the most ardent fan of certain bands. I can see having maybe 2-3 variations to give a wider view of a particularly hot tour, but I'd generally leave it at that. I can fully understand not reviewing the material at this stage of the game! But the BeBop and Crim fan base has been shown to support this notion, and the sales base is established, so full speed ahead for punters with the money and interest. May all parties benefit from such sales. I'm content with my original "Air Age" CD and the BBC box for my live BeBop needs.
One of my favorite bands is Simple Minds and I'm endlessly fascinated by their '81-'84 era. Should they endeavor to commercially exploit any live material from that period, it would take that to push me over the edge into purchasing a box of that nature. Ironically, I purchased their "Sparkle In The Rain" SDLX box primarily for the live concert in full it included, but it was nowhere near a great as the several bootlegs I've heard of that era. In fact, I felt it was one of the flatter performances I'd ever heard from Simple Minds in their period.
They have some great modern tours with downloads of every date available, and for a while I contemplated picking 2-3 sets with most of the material I wanted to hear, but then they did the "5x5 Live" set where the band cherry picked every song played on the amazing tour [I should have gone into debt to see that tour - a huge regret] where they performed material only from their first five albums. The ones that made and kept me a fan over 40 years.
The thing with that is (16 CDs of the same tunes), if you were lucky enough to be at a few of those shows, which thankfully I was, then you have a direct connection with them..that's always something a bit special and will make listening again and the experience of that, that bit more special.
Even if you don't, should be fun giving a different gig a spin each time you fancy a listen.
I get your point, but there's always the 3 CD version..😃
Ordered...Live in the Air Age was this album that set me as a Be Bop Deluxe / Bill Nelson fan.How interesting it is being offered as restrictions are being lightened....another uplifting memory association!
The previous deluxe sets were made available from amazon (Canada and U.S.) but they are not always the best at securing limited editions before they sell out.
I ordered directly from Cherry Red; insured shipping to Canada was reasonable and I've never had a problem with them.
Of course this release begs the question of which gig in the tour was the famous AIAYL solo that's on the album recorded at ?. Did you suss this out Bill ?
I was also at the first Leeds Grand gig on the 13th Feb '77 , up in the Gods on the rhs.
Initial euphoria followed by terrible inner turmoil- should I restrain myself and settle for the intriguing but affordable 3 CD version or blow the entire 2021 music budget for the mind blowing 16 CD deluxe version?
@Geetar Homer Thanks for the link. It appears that the Star Rider broadcast is (was) a mystery to everyone. Hopefully the box has all the details. Can't help it, I'm a geek for this sort of thing.
This a copy/paste of a comment Stephen W Tayler left on the Steve Hoffman Music Forums. I cannot link to the original, so this is off a copy I keep with my boxed set rip. I have changed the font colour where SWT says he sourced the recordings from different performances to your selection.
The original album used the following tracks:
Life In The Air Age - Leeds 1 - 13th February
Ships In The Night - Leeds 1 - 13th February
Piece Of Mine - Bristol - 27th March
Fair Exchange - Leeds 1 - 13th February
Shine - Leeds 1 - 13th February
Sister Seagull - Leeds 2 - 14th February
Maid In Heaven - Hammersmith 2 - 26th March
Mill Street Junction - Hammersmith 1 - 25th March
Adventures In A Yorkshire Landscape - Leeds 2 - 14th February
Blazing Apostles - Hammersmith 2 - 26th March
None of the tracks from Leicester or Bournemouth shows were used.
As you can see the original release was compiled from several different shows, and some very small parts repaired or replaced - usually for technical issues. It was a very special and particular production approach and so in this case I decided not to be influenced by those mixes.
This set of full shows is not a remix as such, but a brand new mix, trying to recreate the feeling of being there in the theatre, leaving in all the audience response, introductions and talk between the tracks.
It might have been nice to have a surround version, but decisions had to be made about what would be realistic and practical in terms of how much material we had. Imagine how many discs there would have been!
These are carefully and lovingly mixed, and experiencing these wonderful dynamic live performances was so exciting for me. Yes it is aimed at true enthusiasts and everyone will probably have a favourite! SWTx
Stephen W Tayler
So I'm resurrecting this thread. Today I went to Spotify to see if the full 16 disc set is there, and it is! So I spent an idle half hour or so trying to determine where the various performances from the original album came from, "Shine" and "Adventures" in particular, since those guitar solos have been so emblazoned in my head all these years. Was "Adventures" cobbled together from various performances, for instance, or was it an unadorned live track? And I am thrilled (and not surprised) to report that yes, that performance on the original album was as is. Here is what I THINK are the original performances:
"Life in the Air Age," Leeds, 13 February
"Ships in the Night," Leeds, 13 February
"Piece of Mine," Leeds, 13 February
"Fair Exchange," Leeds, 13 February
"Shine," Leeds, 13 February
"Sister Seagull," Leeds, 14 February
"Maid In Heaven," Hammersmith, 26 March
"Mill Street Junction," Colston, 27 March
"Adventures in a Yorkshire Landscape," Leeds, 14 February
"Blazing Apostles," Hammersmith, 26 March
Happy to be corrected, but this sounds about right.
Just made it through all of the discs....how come no band samples on the modern music intro?
I am so glad to see that they got the song order right. One of the frustrating things about the CD was that they just tossed the EP at the end instead of in the middle where it naturally played when stacking the albums. (Yes, I had a player that stacked multiple records.) This is just one indication of the attention to details that have gone in to all of these releases. Thanks!
Yeah, like quite a few people in this thread I've decided to pass on
these offerings - they're either too little or miles too much 😏
Now, as to something from the Nelsonica / Plectronica / Launch Party
series, then yes please !
I believe there are video recordings of those events ...
A live Nelsonica box set, now there's a tempting morsel! Bill, Bill ? 🙂
Sorted!
I'd love a live version of Orpheus in Ultraland, and Imps in the Undergrowth.
Love, love, love those two songs.
cheers, 'Pod.
Done!
All this music & not a single live version of Orphans of Babylon, I am disappointed, one of my very faves 🙂
Was sitting in the sun today, listening to the original album - well, OK, a re-issued version - on headphones. Looking forward to the 16 disc monster, to find out :
a) If that's the only version of Life In The Air Age with Andy Clark's synth in tune for the intro. I've heard some versions where it's hideously out of tune :)
b) What Shine sounds like without Cabasa El Dubova - the various percussion instruments - on it.
c) Which show Mill Street Junction is from, and is the rest of that show also nearly mono?
d) If Charlie's bass line on the other versions of AIAYL makes me think so strongly of a tuba in a brass band. I always wondered if Bill had played him a brass band and said "That's the bass line I want!".
And it also reminded me that Andy Clark was one of the best, but mostly unsung, keyboard players of the era.
Live material on disc 5 of Futurist Manifesto ; it comes from these recordings?
I've lost count of how many copies of this recording I've worn out over the years, Cassette tapes, LP/EP's, CD copies... I've simply got to get this one. I've spent half my life trying to emulate the ferocious guitar on this album. All helps to fine-tune my tablature transcriptions too. If I ever need to prove to someone how great a player Bill is I just put this on, it never fails to impress.
TC
hopefully the modern music suite is one of the star rider tracks...
Somebody on another forum (Missing Believed Wiped) was in contact with Lindsay Clennell via email, who was happy for his replies to be published, so it may be possible to elicit further info.
I think that the set is expensive, however, had I walked into a pub and someone had said they had a perfect copy of the Star Rider recording for £90.00, I would probably have bought it.
This almost seems like a bit of closure re Be Bop for me. I've wanted to see live performances and now we have the Drastic Plastic, Old Grey Whistle Test and now Star Rider (that I feel sure must have more than 5 songs)
It would be great if Cherry could release a set of all the video material in one place with the Bill Nelson interviews in one place.
I will definitely be passing on this one. Between the original release, the BBC albums, assorted bootlegs and the (formerly bootleg) live recordings on the Axe Victim/Futurama/Sunburst Finish reissues, my need for live BBD is covered. Now, if they were to release the Winterland (San Francisco) shows...
However, I wish those that do buy it many hours of listening pleasure.
Cherry Red put out an Eddie & the Hot Rods Live at The Rainbow DVD some years ago & this was sourced from the same video library as the Star Rider concert, so presumably they were able to rediscover this fairly easily, be interesting to know what else is in that PVL (Private Video Library).
I had a video copy of the star rider concert for years but the quality was really terrible. I assume that Cherry Red got hold of a good copy, but I know from various threads on this site that people have been looking for a good copy for years.
If anyone knows the full set list, do tell. Here is an unusual performance that I was sent years ago, so I put it on youtube (I asked Bill first)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gT1HAo53224
It seems to be the 30 minute TV program, so quite a few songs left out of the performance, but they all must have been filmed, so I wonder where that footage is if indeed it still exists ?
Does anyone know if the Star Rider set is complete? I seem to remember that it was longer than 5 songs.
Something in the middle re price, less repetition, but including the DVD would have been good.
News is spreading...
Live recordings, before and after Live in the Air Age; I would always be interested in hearing how Be Bop and its sets evolved/changed/improved over the years.
I'd love to hear some live stuff from the Practical Dreamers tour in 81, in fact any post Be Bop, plus Red Noise of course, there seem to be a fair number of boots around.
I suppose I'm supposed to sell a CD to get another? This one will come in the mail and I'll have to say, "What is this, love?" I don't know, it was something about the grandiose nature of so many CD's. I felt compelled to press "Pay"...well at least "PayPal", (yeah, some friend you are! 😀 ) I'm hoping it helps the Nelson's in some way. Now if they only had the Santa Monica show I went to. Well, beggars can't be choosers even at a banquet.
Great news and I just wonder if there is more life stutt to come, before and after Live In the Air Age ?
I'm with you fellas. A 3 disc set with the DVD and I'd have been on it. As it stands I'll be on the 3 disc set without the DVD 🤓
The 16 CD set seems overkill, and the 3 CD set not enough (no DVD); it'd be great if Cherry Red would issue a middle 3rd set with a few of the live performances and the DVD.
Oh my God! Oh my God! They've found Star Rider!!!!! I'll be able to lay on my stomach and record it on my cassette recorder again. Just like I did all those years ago. Also excited to hear the Hammersmith CD as I was there! My order is placed.
This is fantastic news! A good friend and I have been speculating on what might follow “Drastic Plastic.” “Live In The Air Age” was one of our mutual guesses, but 15 CDs and a DVD is beyond our hopes. I’m calling him right now.
Waaayyyy too much for me. Like Bob says earlier, too much repetition of familiar tunes. Possibly the slimmer 3-CD set might appeal, but I'm more interested in what's new from Bill.
I forgot about the motor accident I guess 😮
Really looking forward to the Star Rider dvd, so glad Cherry Red were able to source this, live Charlie! It's a big set & quite expensive but I reckon it'll sell out fast then we'll never see it again, not for sensible money anyway, really happy it's found its way into the world, now onto Red Noise 😁
I've been offered the chance to hear all of the performances but politely declined. I have too much music yet to make and so little time left to do so. Listening to 15 CDs of 40 something year old performances would be kind of frustrating for me.
When John Leckie and I put the original Air Age album together, we trawled through hours of all the live recordings to select the best performances for the album. I hear that there are certain improvised sections of the songs that are slightly different from show to show but it's such a long time ago, I've no idea whether they're good or bad. There's sure to be a certain 'warts and all' quality to many of them, (which may actually interest die-hard fans,) but I don't imagine I'll be so eager to hear them!
Nevertheless, I can see the appeal for fans who attended one or another of the shows and who want to nostalgically relive the experience. It may, however, not be quite the same experience all these years later when some of us are slightly more mature!😉
The thing with that is (16 CDs of the same tunes), if you were lucky enough to be at a few of those shows, which thankfully I was, then you have a direct connection with them..that's always something a bit special and will make listening again and the experience of that, that bit more special.
Even if you don't, should be fun giving a different gig a spin each time you fancy a listen.
I get your point, but there's always the 3 CD version..😃
16 CD's of pretty much the same tunes? Will give that a miss! DVD footage looks good though.
ordered !. always loved live albums and the sound quality on this is the best ive heard. cant bloody wait !
Full fat version with extra sprinkles ordered. I know you shouldn't wish your life away, but, roll on August!... 😁
hmmmm, but do I really need 10+ versions of each song ...
On the plus side, it seems to include DVD of some performances
Ordered...Live in the Air Age was this album that set me as a Be Bop Deluxe / Bill Nelson fan. How interesting it is being offered as restrictions are being lightened....another uplifting memory association!
Ordered
Swoon....but if only the Glasgow Apollo gig was recorded !! oh well..15 discs will need to do
Toga! Toga! Toga! *
I will probably go for both sets as this, to me, is one of the greatest live albums ever!
Will these be available from US or Canadian distributors?
* An unbridled expression of go-for-it enthusiasm from Animal House.
Of course this release begs the question of which gig in the tour was the famous AIAYL solo that's on the album recorded at ?. Did you suss this out Bill ?
I was also at the first Leeds Grand gig on the 13th Feb '77 , up in the Gods on the rhs.
Holy mother of box sets 😍 I was at the first Leeds grand concert ....15 CDs 👍😍
Initial euphoria followed by terrible inner turmoil- should I restrain myself and settle for the intriguing but affordable 3 CD version or blow the entire 2021 music budget for the mind blowing 16 CD deluxe version?
Wow! I remember saying that I hoped that a full concert could be pieced together, but never in my wildest dreams...
Take my money! I'm giddy as a schoolgirl about this!.
One question - the tracklist for the Star Rider film lists Bring Back the Spark - a song not performed on the tour but was performed in late 1976.
I know very little about this film; does anyone know where the performances are from?
Ordered😎