I learned A LOT about playing guitar in the late 70s from this album. Spent uncountable hours playing with rhis album. Eternal thanks to Bill Nelson and the band.
The entire reissue series is first class. This live set rewards the listener with the breadth of ingenuity and outstanding musicianship of Nelson. I was captured the first time I heard the band on the John Peel show in the UK and this release confirms BBD are as relevant today as they were forty years ago. Terrific review Pete.
I was floored by Nelson's guitar playing almost immediately but it took a bit longer to appreciate his singing (which I also like a lot) & especially his songwriting
Pete, thanks so much for the review of Be Bop Deluxe Live in the Air Age reissue. Totally agree, Bill Nelson is criminally underated as a guitar player. The guitar solo in Adventures in a Yorkshire Landscape is worth every penny. Infact, it is so good, were talking desert island good, no check that, were talking death bed good. It's at the top of the list of mind blowing and spiritual awakening a person can experience. Words cannot explain how phenomenal the tone, style and sound Bill Nelson got out of his guitar. I could listen to it a million times and still be consumed by it's brilliance. He truly is one of a kind, I rest my case.
@@wolf1977 I am with you brother. I'm now 62 years old and have listened to thousands and thousands of songs and guitar solos in my lifetime in every genre. I can honestly say, that guitar solo is by far the greatest piece of music I have ever heard. Each time I hear that Solo it brings out such emotions that just flow right through me. Only the power of music can do that. For me, there are only a handful of songs and full albums that I can say that about. Bill Nelson and Be Bop Deluxe are one of the few on my short list of true greatness.
@@kenwhite8103 Same here, I have a similar reaction to Zappa's solo on "Uncle Remus", goosebumps, although for different reasons & that Zappa solo is way shorter (unfortunately). The live version of "Adventure" is it for me, not even Stairway can touch it. My fave version is probably the longest one (just because there's more guitar to listen to) which for me is the one from Tremulous Antenna. The version he recorded on Live In Concert At Metropolis Studios (With The Gentlemen Rocketeers) is actually slightly longer but has a different feel due to the expanded keys replacing some of the guitar parts. It's still great, just different. Amazing how like the BBD versions that one sounds like, if you didn't know it wasn't recorded with BBD you'd think it was - great record. I almost never keep more than one copy of a given live track but I own 4 copies of this one (plus the studio version)
It's the song of my youth. As long as I can hear it and think of it, the spring and summer of my eighteenth year will be alive in me! Thank you eternally, Bill, Charlie, Simon and Andrew.
The full 16 disc box set is a belter. Great book, tour programme, postcards and an interesting essay from Bill about the tour. Some of the shows differ a little and mostly on the instrumentals within songs. Just fabulous.
Great review. I have loved these guys since MM came out! Very unique and yes - Bill Nelson a monster guitarist - under know, under rated and incredibly talented. This is a very good release with really impressive sound quality for the day it was recorded. Can we just take a moment and talk about Shine? 10 minute instrumental that moves in and out from funk, to R&B, to progressive, to drone, to jazz, to southern rock at one point. amazing
" SHINE" . What a fantastic instrumental . We saw them 5 or 6 times in/ near Chicago in the mid - late 70s. Twice as the opening act on a Robin Trower tour . Damn fine nights of music .
The studio version of "Shine" from Sunburst Finish is also very good, slightly shorter. Opening for Trower (with Dewar on vocals)? That's NUTS! BTW that Live At The BBC set has a slightly different version of this song on it called "Still Shining" - it's the same song really, maybe a bit more atmospheric in feel
@@jimfritz9503 Trower's '77 album would have been In City Dreams (great record, one of my faves, has a different/more laid back vibe to it). The bass player on it was Rustee Allen (from Sly And The Family Stone)
@@jimfritz9503 I also love the album versions of "Bluebird" (fantastic vocals), "Falling Star", Smile" (dig the wah), "Somebody Calling" (funky) & especially the funky title track. A really good Trower record that's almost never mentioned when his music comes up
Cheers Pete from New Zealand.We're very proud of Charlie Tumahai who ended his stellar career playing in our national favourites Herbs...(Joe Walsh had a session with them.)
Agreed Pete. Saw Be-Bop Deluxe twice at the Glasgow Apollo, the Modern Music and Drastic Plastic tours. Bill Nelson still relaeasing lots of music. Great songs, guitaring and always interesting. Nice one Pete! Keep on Rockin' Alex
Nice review Pete! I do agree that Live! In the Air Age is a great place to start for someone just getting into Be Bop Deluxe. I am seriously considering getting the full package of this reissue. I've always loved this live album, and Bill's tone is pure ear candy for me.
For live BBD absolutely as it's an all time classic. For studio a newbie might want to go with one of the best of packages, Raiding The Divine Archive is a good one. I believe the first ever record of theirs I heard was the collection The Best Of And The Rest Of from '78. I can easily imagine them then wanting to get all of the original albums, I skipped that step & went right to those records without bothering with The Best Of. Later on I picked up some of those best of collections to fill out some missing songs
I have the 15-CD/1-DVD boxed set; very pricey, but it's incredible and well worth the many extra ducats you have to shell out! Esoteric/Cherry Red has done an amazing job with the Be-Bop reissues, and the best part is that at long last, Bill Nelson finally gets royalties for these releases after decades of getting stiffed by EMI/Harvest!
I just ordered this a few minutes ago. I'm excited to complete my reissue collection. I've only ever had this live album on LP. Thanks for the video, Pete!
Awesome band ... The original live LP / EP set was a "pick and mix" of tracks from the [7] shows that were recorded on the tour. The "full fat" 16 disk set contains the remixed original set / session tracks on disk 1, 7 x 2CD sets for 7 complete shows, of which Pete's set has 1 of the 2 shows (identicall set lists) from the Hammersmith Odeon in London (great show) ... with the last disk in the 16 disk set being a DVD. The concert set lists of the 7 shows in the deluxe 16 disk set are totally identical - except 1 show is missing 1 track (presumably some issues with the recording of the track). As an introduction to BBD the 3 CD set Pete reviewed is awesome ... the full 16 disk box is really for completists. The reissue series for BBD has been just exemplary ... superb reissues in both mini standard price or deluxe box set versions depending on your appetite for the band. I bought the full set of deluxe box sets and, without doubt, the full set of available material has been made available ... just so well done. Fantastic sets, superbly delivered, at the right price point for all the versions. Adventures in a Yorkshire Landscape is, indeed, a wonderful track .... do check this band out.
People always talk about how Pink Floyd's Comfortably Numb is one of the all time great guitar solos, and it is great, but personally I prefer Adventures in A Yorkshire Landscape, because it is as you say beautiful. It is so melodic and lyrical. On another note Bill Nelson has been busy recording during this pandemic and is releasing a 6 cd boxset. Bill Nelson is still a great guitarist.
Here's hoping that new 6 cd set won't be the same old solo stuff from recent years & at least as good as Kid Flip And The Golden Spacemen or Special Metal
Nelson likes these 6 cd box releases apparently, Noise Candy got the same treatment in 2015 (118 total tracks but it's a challenge to name or remember any particular track vs others). Hoping this upcoming box is better. Drastic Plastic also got this treatment (4CD+2DVD). The actual boxes are great with lots of extras & really high production value, the problem's the music. Usually he limits production to about 2,000 units or less (maybe that's all they can sell), By contrast Modern Music (the best BBD album) got a 4CD+1DVD box. I don't know anything about this new box set, the latest thing I'd seen from Nelson about upcoming music from March 2021 didn't sound good though: "Dazzlebox is the second release of recordings made using my relatively new Cubase recording software. It is an instrumental double album with a variety of stylistic twists and turns. The tracks sometimes use 'distressed' drum and percussion sounds, electronic effects and keyboards but always layered with a rainbow of electric guitars. The thirty tracks presented here provide a rich, sometimes complex listening experience. It will require a patient and attentive ear to fully appreciate, but I hope you will take the time to unlock the music's charms and find much to enjoy." This came out in April I think, I don't have it, but the couple of songs I've heard on Dreamsville are just more of the same solo background music he's been doing for a while...
Once again, Pete, thanks for these weekly shows highlighting newly released or rereleased or repackaged material. Be Bop Deluxe is a band name that keeps popping up and with your high praise and some additional comments by Wolf somewhere in the Comments, time to buy and listen to some music by them and this is where it will start. So much for the CD budget for this month. Thanks as always, Pete.
@@RickNBacker Yeah especially if by that time they played mostly the later Drastic Plastic stuff (which would make sense to promote their latest release), my least favorite of their albums. Not saying it's bad, just relatively speaking it's not as strong as their other records
What a coincidence . I happened to be listening to my copy of that CD reissue package yesterday . Every time I hear them play , I wonder how they weren't a lot more popular . It's criminal that they weren't . Anyway , it's wonderful live material , and that reminds me that I should have listed Adventures in a Yorkshire Landscape as one of my picks of a live song that's better than the studio version . I have to say that Shine is emerging as an overlooked track ( overlooked by me ) on this album . The bonus tracks are great versions as well . I'm glad that you reviewed this wonderful album . Thanks !!!!
Not from this record but I always considered "Bring Back The Spark" (from At The BBC) & especially "Dance of the Uncle Sam Humanoids" (to me this track "pairs" with "Shine") from Modern Music as very overlooked songs, maybe also "Autosexual" from that same record. Lots of people name "Crying To The Sky" as their fave BBD track but to me "Orphans Of Babylon" is right there, I always play it at least twice when it comes up in the rotation
Great review, Bill Nelson- a barely known original guitar genius, loved by those that know. Please review Bill Nelson and the Gentlemen Rocketeers live a wonderful album including some great revisits of BBD tracks
From that live Rocketeers record I also really like several of the non-BBD songs: "God Man Slain", "Contemplation", "For Stuart" (nice instrumental that could've easily been on a BBD record), "Beyond These Clouds The Sweetest Dreams" (nice atmospheric instrumental) & "Wonder Of The Moment" (very pretty ballad). "Adventures" takes on a whole new vibe with the flute solo instead of it being all guitar, really cool. Even the version of "Ships In The Night" features more sax & therefore has a different quality to it than the original by BBD. "Maid In Heaven" still sounds pretty much the same but "Sister Seagull" is HEAVY, yet still sounds like one of those perfect rock singles. "Panic In The World" still sounds funky, to me that's one of their "lost" great tracks that's underappreciated. What Nelson said about it (not very positive, maybe that's why this remained a one-off experiment): "When I first started to revive some of this material back in 2004, it took a while for me to re-learn, as I hadn't played any of it, (or even listened to any of it), for many, many years. None of it is written out...I don't want to seem too dismissive BUT...it was possibly the worst on-stage sound I'd ever experienced, absolutely horrendous to be brutally honest. (This isn't just my opinion, by the way, it is shared by the rest of the band too). So, we all found the performance aspect deeply unsatisfying and the monitor/on-stage sound problem distracting. (Not what any of us predicted, given that we were in a recording studio.) Someone said to me, "If you had known that the band would be expected to give their best under such difficult circumstances, would you have taken the gig on?" Well, truth is, I probably wouldn't. I think I'd almost certainly have turned the opportunity down." Well at least the recorded end product sounds good!
Really interesting review. I've been collecting Be Bop Deluxe since the 70's and this live album is in my Amazon cart now. Just wondering Pete, are you gonna review the deluxe or super deluxe editions of the Beatles reissue of "Let It Be"?
Thanks again for this post, like Roxy Music and David Bowie and to a little extent Queen, Mott The Hoople and Cockney Rebel they fell into that Glam era yet were a bit more 10cc yet they were an amazing band. You can indeed here Bill in Prince. I can ask a friend of mine if he also was a fan of the band.
Not sure if Prince ever mentioned BeBop Deluxe, but WOW is it obvious. I was listening to Sunburst Finish the other night, and dang. It's simply unmistakable. Prince DEFINITELY heard these records. Great video, Pete!
One of life's secrets of tranquility Pete .Bill Nelsons is Prince,Cat Stevens, Bryan Ferry, Freddie Mercury,Beck, Steve Wilson before they all realised it except Cat Stevens and Steve Marriott.Nelson guitar playing just beautiful.
@@wolf1977 Hi Wolf, yes a bit like Unleashed In The East did too, originally. Always disappointed both weren't full doubles at the time, still this release aims to put that right about Live In The Air Age.
One of my favorite ever live albums from one of my favorite bands...So this is the newest 3-cd version. As much as I love this band, getting this solely for the remastered version of the original Air Age record wouldn't be worth it as I think that original already sounds great. So that leaves the live stuff from the Hammersmith Odeon 26th March 1977 show. 17 total tracks, something like 10 of which are already included on that original live set. Are these versions better? I gotta admit I haven't listened to every track of those 10 but the 4-5 I have I'd have to say no, not significantly better. Especially if you also consider other live versions of these tunes available on other packages like At The BBC & Tremulous Antenna - check out "Panic In The World" from that one (both of which I already own). Like "The Modern Music Suite" from both of those other live sets (BTW my fave BBD song if you wanna call this suite one song), I think those versions are at least as good as what's included here. "Swan Song" from Futurama may be the sole track from the Hammersmith show that isn't represented on those other live packages (actually it's also on Futurist Manifesto - The Harvest Years 1974 - 1978), not a bad track but not their best. This live version is pretty good but couldn't justify buying these 3 cd's just to get that one track. So what's the bottom line? I'm glad they're still reissuing BBD music, maybe (here's hoping) it might spur Mr Nelson to someday reform BBD especially if these sets sell...? If I were new to the band I would say get Modern Music, Futurama & Sunburst Finish first (if you only want original albums & no collections - Drastic Plastic IMO is the worst of those original records followed by Axe Victim), or the very good best of sets Raiding the Divine Archive: The Best of Be Bop Deluxe, Postcards From The Future... Introducing Be Bop Deluxe & Futurist Manifesto - The Harvest Years 1974 - 1978. For live I'd recommend the above mentioned At The BBC & Tremulous Antenna. At some point you need to own the music on Live In The Air Age too so it'll be a matter of either buying the original album or this 3 cd version... BTW: There are some good live versions on that best of Futurist Manifesto - The Harvest Years 1974 - 1978 (like "Down On Terminal Street"). Also there are a few live tracks on the Deluxe/Expanded editions of Modern Music, Futurama, Axe Victim & Sunburst Finish so it's worth getting those expanded/enhanced packages...Also like Pete I absolutely love the guitars on "Yorkshire Landscape", it contains my all time favorite guitar solo
I forgot to mention a couple of other live collections: Radioland & Tramcar To Tomorrow. Both are good & in a way pair together. The latter has some tracks from The Old Grey Whistle Test tv show, I have those (and others) on a VHS video called Made In Heaven". I think At The BBC takes care of most of what's on Tramcar. Radioland includes some of those Hammersmith performances, not totally sure if they're exactly the same as those on this new 3 cd set but at least similar. There's also some material from Drastic Plastic-era BBD which is my least favorite - exceptions would be tracks like "Lights", "Islands Of The Dead", the instrumental "Visions of Endless Hopes" & "Superenigmatix"
@@RickNBacker Sure what I meant was to get back to that style of music, doesn't have to be with the same players. Nelson was to me probably 80% of the band anyway. I can still hear flashes of BBD-type music in some of Nelson's solo records so it's still there, he just chooses not to go there very often. Actually when he did the Gentlemen Rocketeers project that sounded pretty good to me & Nelson was the only original member. I always thought that the backing vocals, especially live, were a bit weak to be honest. Tumahai's bass playing was strong though, maybe kinda like to BBD what Tiran Porter was to the Doobies (but even they did OK without Porter)
@@shannonlamb5155 I'm honestly not sure as I don't own that monster 15CD+1DVD set, I only have the two live packages you mentioned (each of which is very good). To me there's nothing in that expanded set that isn't represented on either of those two live sets (or on the various expanded/deluxe editions of the original studio albums) so to me this is strictly for BBD completists (especially at the price tag of $100+). Maybe someone else who owns it can give a definite answer... Sounds like you own that mega set so is that info not listed as to exactly which live shows are included? At The BBC is from various years & sessions: May '74 John Peel, March '75 John Peel, In Concert Jan' 1976, In Concert Oct' 1976, Jan' 1977 John Peel, In Concert Jan' '78, Jan '78 John Peel, Old Grey Whistle Test July '75 plus Jan & Nov '76, and Sight And Sound In Concert Feb' 1978. Tremulous Antenna is taken rom various Radio 1 In Concert shows between 1976-78. I see that the giant box has the John Peel session from Jan '77 so that one could very well be from the same At The BBC show. Disc 2 says " PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED: LEICESTER - DE MONTFORT HALL" so that speaks for itself. Same for discs 3-16 (some are recordings from different venues & dates). so looks to me like most of this package features never-before-released live shows (again saying that w/o actually owning it). That means that those other two live sets may also be of interest to you as it appears that there's not much overlap between them
Wow I envy you in that you're about to discover a fantastic "new" band, really some of the best rock music that the 70s has to offer. I can still remember first hearing them in my college dorm room in the late 70s...
Hope you like 'em, Jimi. Absolutely no one like them and since then I haven't heard anyone attempt to copy them (although I never listened to Prince and Pete says he thinks Prince was influenced by BBD)
@@RickNBacker BBD to me sounds like a mix between Hendrix, Nektar, Todd Rundgren and 10cc thrown into a blender (at least for those first 4 studio records). Maybe a little Mott The Hoople added too, and Barclay James Harvest. Pretty unique combo really. Also kinda tough to pigeonhole style-wise (well Drastic Plastic is punkish new wave rock). They go from something like the fantastic pop of "Sister Seagull"/"Maid In Heaven" to proggy numbers like "The Modern Music Suite" & the lesser-known "Tomorrow The World"/"Bluesy Ruby" (from BBC Radio 1's 1973 John Peel sessions). And how to classify tunes like "Autosexual", "Shine" ("Still Shining") & "Dance of the Uncle Sam Humanoids"? It's not really rock as such...What about "Quest For The Harvest Of The Stars" or "Visions of Endless Hopes"? Most descriptions I've seen call BBD "art rock", same label many tend to pin on early Genesis
There are actually some Prince blogs out there that have discussed possible links/influences Prince-wise re: Bill Nelson. Especially vis a vis Prince's guitar solo in "Purple Rain" to Nelson's on "Crying to the Sky". Never heard it myself but there it is. The only real way to know at this point would be to ask Prince but that obviously won't be happening. Not aware of any Prince interview where Nelson was ever discussed. On a related not, Paul McCartney was an admirer of Nelson's & of BBD, at least I'm pretty sure I remember reading a while back that he really liked Axe Victim. Supposedly McCartney was at Abbey Road studios when BBD came in to record that record & was "beyond impressed". Guess you could call him an early fan
Be-Bop Deluxe was so, so good. And, whether Prince was influenced by Bill Nelson (a possibility I've never considered, despite being a longtime fan of both) I don't know, but I do know they had this in common: both were tremendously underappreciated guitarists.
I've been listening to the original for 47 years, recorded on tape from a radio broadcast then later bought the album, probably my most listened to music of all time
The band are from where I live knew and watched as a club band, then kept watching them as they went on, to play much bigger venues. Big shout out to, Rudy and the Zips. The band Ian Parkin formed after Be Bop Deluxe. What a truly fantastic band, in the vain of Be Bop Deluxe too.
Robert Bryan was the original BBD bass player on Axe Victim & Ian Parkin was the original rhythm guitarist. Rudy & The Zipps seems to be a punk band that both landed in after leaving BBD. Don't know anything about that band but if they were punk then they probably didn't sound too much like BBD. What was their sound, anything you can compare them to?
@@wolf1977 my mix up going back oh so long, Rudy and the zips were not a punk band, they were a rock band a little like B.B.D. Rob wrote a lovely lullaby for one his kids, just can’t remember what the song was called, I think he was then playing a Rickenbacker Bass, at that time, one of the original members ended Up playing in the backing band at, Lupset (Wakefield) working men’s club, I just can’t remember who.
I love this album. Be Bop Deluxe was the first "real" rock band I ever saw. They opened for Blue Oyster Cult on the Spectres tour. This was at the lovely (and tiny!) Augusta Civic Center in Augusta, Maine.
Sounds like a great show. I've read that they also toured with The Jam, Trower, Cheap Trick & Rush. One of the very few bands that I'm genuinely sorry I never got to see live, have to settle for live videos & albums...There's a tribute band called Sunburst Deluxe touring but I think only in Britain, they're from the original band's home town of West Yorkshire. They have some stuff posted to YT. Sounds not bad but not quite like the real thing but if you're not too picky...
@@wolf1977 The Blue Oyster Cult show was nuts. They had this lazer show that I think I read later had to be modified because it was dangerous to the eyes. Man, I was so young...didn't know about encores so me and my friend walked out before they played "Don't Fear The Reaper." Ha!
@@marksaleski9890 I've read that BOC was one of the first rock acts to use lasers live in concert. Also The Who & Yes, maybe also ELO (their live "spaceship" was awesome). And possibly Wings & Led Zep (Floyd?)
I'm sure it's better (that DVD sounds very interesting - STAR RIDER IN CONCERT plus the 68-page book) but it's a pretty limited box set & prices I've seen online are around £90 (Britain) if you can find it. Even Nelson's own Dreamsville site shows it as out of stock. I'd be surprised if you could find it in the US for under $100 (!)
@@carlsalazar4490 I am, since about '79! Yes most if not all of the original studio releases now have rereleases that contain bonus material. There's quite a bit of overlap (especially re: live tracks) but if you're in the market to buy these albums I'd definitely go for the expanded/deluxe editions, well worth it
Pete, Been watching your vids for quite a while and have often thought 'Why does he ignore Be-Bop Deluxe ?' Glad to know that you DO know who they were. Great band, totally unique sound. Their album 'Sunburst Finish' is astoundingly good. The follow-up 'Modern Music' is very nearly as great. Bill Nelson is a supremely talented guitarist/songwriter, and back in the 70s he had a striking Bowie-esque stage presence.
Well Pete did at least 5 other BBD SoT episodes that I could find: Top 10 Songs, Ranking The Studio Albums, 'Drastic Plastic-Deluxe Edition', 'Axe Victim-Deluxe Edition' & 'Modern Music-Expanded Edition', all within the past 2 years...My favorite record is Modern Music with Futurama as #2 & Sunburst Finish #3
Wolf Sorry, guess I must have missed them. I love Sunburst Finish just a tiny bit more than Modern Music. Songs like Heavenly Homes, Ships In The Night, Sleep That Burns, Crying To The Sky are great
One of the best, but underrated bands of the 70's. A series of exceptional studio albums, Futurama and Modern Music are the best (IMHO 😏) Worth looking into Bill Nelson's solo work as well!
My BBD studio album ranking (in order): Modern Music, Futurama, Sunburst Finish, Axe Victim, Drastic Plastic. For live Live In The Air Age is a must own, then you've got your pick of 5-6 other live packages including this new one. Then there are 3-4 best of collections...I mostly ignore his solo records, I think it's really sad that someone of Nelson's obvious talent is basically cranking out musak/background music. Having said that it's obviously what he's chosen to do. He kinda teased us with that Gentlemen Rocketeers project (Live In Concert At Metropolis Studios) but that went nowhere. Even so I do own quite a few of those solo albums, he manages to include one or two good tracks on many of them. My faves from his solo records would be: Luxury Lodge, Orpheus In Ultraland, Songs Of The Blossom Tree Optimists, Special Metal, Whimsy, Kid Flip And The Golden Spacemen, Fancy Planets, Joy Through Amplification (The Ultra-Fuzzy World Of Priapus Stratocaster), Clocks & Dials. New Northern Dream's not too bad either. I haven't heard all of these, he's got a million of them (for a while he was putting out 2-3 albums per year & there must be over 100 total)
@@wolf1977 You have mentioned a lot of Bill's solo songs that l don't recognise, I'm going to check some out. His Red Noise album had some noteworthy songs, l like the tone of that album. Some of his better solo songs for me were Living in my Limousine, Banal, Life Runs out like Sand, Another Day, Another Ray of Hope, Acceleration, Hope for the Heartbeat, Flaming Desire, October Man Wildest Dreams.
@@keithjones6023 Go for it...The Red Noise record (Sound On Sound) is OK, it's the band Nelson formed immediately after BBD folded & before becoming serious about going solo. It's generally too new wave for me & lacks guitars in favor of expanded use of synths (Andy Clark from BBD). "Funiture Music" is probably my fave tune from it & "Revolt Into Style" is not bad... Of the solo records I mentioned I'd say the best are Songs Of The Blossom Tree Optimists, Kid Flip & Special Metal if you're looking for someplace to start...That Live In Concert At Metropolis Studios record with The Gentlemen Rocketeers is very good & I'd highly recommend that one (some of it is posted to YT). It's BBD tunes mixed with solo stuff - includes a live version of one of your fave solo tunes "The October Man". "Acceleration" (I have that one on Duplex - The Best Of Bill Nelson) is pretty good tune, on the new wave-ish side but catchy. Same for "Wildest Dreams" (from Getting The Holy Ghost Across). The solo stuff I tend to dislike the most are the instrumentals, to me they mostly sound too much alike - I don't know how he keeps them straight. His first solo record from '71 Northern Dream I think is now hard to find (I'd try Nelson's Dreamsville site) & not bad, mostly acoustic & very mellow, but the "followup" he did called New Northern Dream from 2016 is better IMO
@@wolf1977 Thanks for the suggestions, I'll definitely give them a listen. I have the Duplex album that you mentioned,I must admit that I have only four of his other solo albums, Chimera and Quit Dreaming and Get on the Beam are probably favourites. The Best of and the Rest of BBD album is pretty good, Shine and Blue as a Jewel, a couple of good tracks. I saw an interview with Bill Nelson talking to the Professor of Rock on You Tube a few months ago, Bill came over as an unassuming down to earth guy with an interesting story to tell of his career.
@@keithjones6023 I don't have The Best And The Rest since I already own everything on it on other albums. Come to think of it that's probably the first BBD record I ever heard (in college) but instead I went & bought all of the original albums instead of that compilation...I also have Chimera (fave track is "The Real Adventure") & Quit Dreaming. I have something like 50 of his solo records (so maybe 50%)...I'll have to check out that interview, other sound clips I've heard of him confirm your impressions of a humble & likeable guy. Kinda like Steve Morse in that regard...That's an idea - A Morse/Nelson guitar album! I'd buy it... PS: Also check out Nelson's collab with Reeves Gabrels on Fantastic Guitars from 2014, an all-instrumental album (except for some talking). Heavier than most of his solo stuff. The whole thing's on Bandcamp. I can hear his solo stuff (especially on "And The Train Left The Station Trailing Sparks And Stars" which could be on a solo Nelson record) in this but also some Cure influences & especially Tin Machine. Not like BBD (or even his new wave-ish Red Noise), sounds very modern to me
On the remastered (2018) version of Sunburst Finish, a slightly shorter take from Bbc Radio One's John Peel Sessions (1976). Pretty much sounds identical to the studio version though. If shopping for any of the original studio albums I'd highly recommend getting the expanded versions like Sunburst Finish & especially Modern Music, but also Futurama & Axe Victim
Fun Fact: The "guest percussionist" on Shine, Cabasa El Dubova was not a "guest" at all, as no such person actually exists...it was a pseudonym for Bill Nelson! 😁 His percussion part was overdubbed later in the studio.
Even ranking it #4 of their 5 studio records it's still a very good album. "No Trains" & "Jest At Dawn" are instant classics, not sure if they ever played either song live. I have an alternate version of "Jets" called the "Smile Records Version" that's a bit shorter & sounds somewhat less polished/rougher (especially the ending guitar solo) from Postcards From The Future... Introducing Be Bop Deluxe but that's also a studio recording. The original version of "Adventures in a Yorkshire Landscape" is of course also on that record but less than 4 minutes long, so not nearly as good as the many much lengthier live versions (more Nelson guitar is a good thing). The title track & "NIght Creatures" are also good. For some reason even though the actual music isn't really that similar I always think of this record & their last Drastic Plastic as bookends, and not just because they're the first & last. Something about the attitude on Axe Victim, I think of it as similar to their punky/new wave-ish vibe on Drastic Plastic. The other studio records to me had a different feel to them
Every gig on the tour was recorded for the original release in '77 and every gig has been released on the full box set along with the Star Rider in concert film on dvd. Fantastic band and a shame that Bill was seduced by the 'new wave' and split the band.
I think they were around long enough pre-punk (around 1976) to have caught on but just didn't for some reason. Their shot was 1974-76 with their first 4 albums. They didn't switch over musically to a more "modern"/new wave/punkish sound (Drastic Plastic) until '78. Actually Sunburst (#17) & Modern Music (#12) did have some success on the British album charts but here in the US I can honestly say I don't remember EVER hearing a single one of their songs on the radio. I didn't know anything about them including their name until I got into college & a friend of a friend brought over a best of album of theirs (don't remember which one). Looking at the cover I remember being very skeptical (this WAS during the hey day of punk & I thought they might be one of those bands)
Ever hear Bill's first post-BBD effort, "Red Noise"?... sort of a proto-industrial rock but with strong, memorable melodies and choruses, haven't heard the album in ages but can recall every song.
@@RickNBacker Yes his first band right after BBD split. To me it sits somewhere between earlier BBD & Drastic Plastic. I like a few cuts from Sound On Sound
Just to complete the picture on Bill Nelson, here's what else he's done besides BBD, not all of it good. Actually/unfortunately much of it mediocre & forgettable: - About 100 or so solo records (just a guess, there's a lot) - Technically I'd lump it in with his solo stuff but The band Red Noise that he formed immediately after BBD split (late 70's) - only one record came from that called Sound-On-Sound. The stuff on it to me is somewhere between the last BBD album Drastic Plastic & his solo stuff. Not bad but not great, not up to BBD - His very first solo record from '71 called Northern Dream - very mellow & mostly acoustic, not a must have & I think mostly for completists. Might be very hard to find now - I don't have this package but something called Electrotype - The Holyground Recordings 1968-1972 from 2001. Nelson's Dreamsville site says this: "Electrotype is an archive release taken from acetates and 2 track recordings made at Holyground Studios in Wakefield between 1968 and 1972". So this is his pre-BBD recordings (including with an outfit called Global Village) plus demos of 7 BBD tunes. Definitely only for completists - Channel Light Vessel - two records by this ambient group, this to me is even more background-ish than Bill Nelson solo albums. Again there's some good stuff here, especially guitar-wise, but it's all hidden away & overshadowed by the totally unmemorable songs. I don't really like any of this to be honest - Again I'd lump this in with his solo discography but 2 records with Orchestra Arcana, sounds exactly like the solo stuff - He produced some records for the likes of Gary Numan, Skids (Scottish punk), New Way To Move (produced & played guitar), don't know much about this, a Velvet Underground tribute album, Jean Park, Willerby, The Familiar (electronic music, I'd imagine maybe similar to CLV), Culturemix (Japanese band, produced & played guitar), Su Lyn ("atmospheric song meditations" according to Bandcamp), Leaving the Electric Circus by Sea Of Wires (alternative band, he also plays guitar) & Units (more electronic music from 1982). So he's been all in on his musical path since BBD (unfortunately). He's done many other collabs where he sings/plays guitar - The biggest mistake of all: A Flock Of Seagulls. New Wave band, I don't think I knew initially of the Bill Nelson connection. It's OK new wave-ish pop that got a lot of airplay (everyone's heard "I Ran" & "Space Age Love Song") & run time on MTV. Signed to Nelson's Cocteau record label, he produced this band. Known mostly for the dummest hair cut ever on frontman & ex-hairdresser Mike Score
I will give, Be-Bop Deluxe a listen. Thank you, “Pete” for the review.
All the dawn time.
🎤🎸🎵🎹🥁
Life is better with music.
I learned A LOT about playing guitar in the late 70s from this album. Spent uncountable hours playing with rhis album.
Eternal thanks to Bill Nelson and the band.
The entire reissue series is first class. This live set rewards the listener with the breadth of ingenuity and outstanding musicianship of Nelson. I was captured the first time I heard the band on the John Peel show in the UK and this release confirms BBD are as relevant today as they were forty years ago. Terrific review Pete.
A great live album. Fond memories of listening to this when it came out and being so impressed with the guitar playing of Bill Nelson.
I was floored by Nelson's guitar playing almost immediately but it took a bit longer to appreciate his singing (which I also like a lot) & especially his songwriting
Pete, thanks so much for the review of Be Bop Deluxe Live in the Air Age reissue. Totally agree, Bill Nelson is criminally underated as a guitar player. The guitar solo in Adventures in a Yorkshire Landscape is worth every penny. Infact, it is so good, were talking desert island good, no check that, were talking death bed good. It's at the top of the list of mind blowing and spiritual awakening a person can experience. Words cannot explain how phenomenal the tone, style and sound Bill Nelson got out of his guitar. I could listen to it a million times and still be consumed by it's brilliance. He truly is one of a kind, I rest my case.
That track contains my all time favorite guitar solo
@@wolf1977 I am with you brother. I'm now 62 years old and have listened to thousands and thousands of songs and guitar solos in my lifetime in every genre. I can honestly say, that guitar solo is by far the greatest piece of music I have ever heard. Each time I hear that Solo it brings out such emotions that just flow right through me. Only the power of music can do that. For me, there are only a handful of songs and full albums that I can say that about. Bill Nelson and Be Bop Deluxe are one of the few on my short list of true greatness.
@@kenwhite8103 Same here, I have a similar reaction to Zappa's solo on "Uncle Remus", goosebumps, although for different reasons & that Zappa solo is way shorter (unfortunately). The live version of "Adventure" is it for me, not even Stairway can touch it. My fave version is probably the longest one (just because there's more guitar to listen to) which for me is the one from Tremulous Antenna. The version he recorded on Live In Concert At Metropolis Studios (With The Gentlemen Rocketeers) is actually slightly longer but has a different feel due to the expanded keys replacing some of the guitar parts. It's still great, just different. Amazing how like the BBD versions that one sounds like, if you didn't know it wasn't recorded with BBD you'd think it was - great record. I almost never keep more than one copy of a given live track but I own 4 copies of this one (plus the studio version)
The best guitar solo I have ever heard. Bill is a true genius in guitar playing (the best guitarist of all time) and musical composition.
It's the song of my youth. As long as I can hear it and think of it, the spring and summer of my eighteenth year will be alive in me! Thank you eternally,
Bill, Charlie, Simon and Andrew.
Very informative review Pete...just ordered my copy. Many thanks.
The full 16 disc box set is a belter. Great book, tour programme, postcards and an interesting essay from Bill about the tour. Some of the shows differ a little and mostly on the instrumentals within songs. Just fabulous.
I haven't listen every show yet.A lot of music there.
Rumors by promoters or management to keep them in the spotlight.
Great review. I have loved these guys since MM came out! Very unique and yes - Bill Nelson a monster guitarist - under know, under rated and incredibly talented. This is a very good release with really impressive sound quality for the day it was recorded. Can we just take a moment and talk about Shine? 10 minute instrumental that moves in and out from funk, to R&B, to progressive, to drone, to jazz, to southern rock at one point. amazing
I cherish my old vinyl copy of this album. Love it.
I have the white vinyl version. Great live album.
" SHINE" . What a fantastic instrumental . We saw them 5 or 6 times in/ near Chicago in the mid - late 70s. Twice as the opening act on a Robin Trower tour . Damn fine nights of music .
The studio version of "Shine" from Sunburst Finish is also very good, slightly shorter. Opening for Trower (with Dewar on vocals)? That's NUTS! BTW that Live At The BBC set has a slightly different version of this song on it called "Still Shining" - it's the same song really, maybe a bit more atmospheric in feel
@@wolf1977 On this tour Trower had a new bassist. Dewar was vocals only. Probably 1977 . I don't recall the album.
@@jimfritz9503 Trower's '77 album would have been In City Dreams (great record, one of my faves, has a different/more laid back vibe to it). The bass player on it was Rustee Allen (from Sly And The Family Stone)
@@wolf1977 Yea. That was it. They played " Sweet Wine of Love". A great track. I M H O
@@jimfritz9503 I also love the album versions of "Bluebird" (fantastic vocals), "Falling Star", Smile" (dig the wah), "Somebody Calling" (funky) & especially the funky title track. A really good Trower record that's almost never mentioned when his music comes up
Cheers Pete from New Zealand.We're very proud of Charlie Tumahai who ended his stellar career playing in our national favourites Herbs...(Joe Walsh had a session with them.)
The man died young.
RIP
Love love love Be Bop deluxe! Never made a bad album
Agreed Pete.
Saw Be-Bop Deluxe twice at the Glasgow Apollo, the Modern Music and Drastic Plastic tours. Bill Nelson still relaeasing lots of music. Great songs, guitaring and always interesting.
Nice one Pete!
Keep on Rockin'
Alex
Nice review Pete! I do agree that Live! In the Air Age is a great place to start for someone just getting into Be Bop Deluxe. I am seriously considering getting the full package of this reissue. I've always loved this live album, and Bill's tone is pure ear candy for me.
For live BBD absolutely as it's an all time classic. For studio a newbie might want to go with one of the best of packages, Raiding The Divine Archive is a good one. I believe the first ever record of theirs I heard was the collection The Best Of And The Rest Of from '78. I can easily imagine them then wanting to get all of the original albums, I skipped that step & went right to those records without bothering with The Best Of. Later on I picked up some of those best of collections to fill out some missing songs
I have the 15-CD/1-DVD boxed set; very pricey, but it's incredible and well worth the many extra ducats you have to shell out! Esoteric/Cherry Red has done an amazing job with the Be-Bop reissues, and the best part is that at long last, Bill Nelson finally gets royalties for these releases after decades of getting stiffed by EMI/Harvest!
Great guitarist Bill Nelson… Yorkshireman from Wakey and some great tracks recorded in the lovely Grand Theatre in my Hometown of Leeds….!!🎸🤩
Yup David.
And for those unfamiliar with the term 'Wakey', it is the local name for the Yorkshire city of Wakefield.
I just ordered this a few minutes ago. I'm excited to complete my reissue collection. I've only ever had this live album on LP. Thanks for the video, Pete!
White vinyl?
@@RickNBacker Yup originally on white vinyl, a friend of mine had it
Awesome got to get it. I saw them live in 1977 and they were awesome live as well.
Awesome band ... The original live LP / EP set was a "pick and mix" of tracks from the [7] shows that were recorded on the tour. The "full fat" 16 disk set contains the remixed original set / session tracks on disk 1, 7 x 2CD sets for 7 complete shows, of which Pete's set has 1 of the 2 shows (identicall set lists) from the Hammersmith Odeon in London (great show) ... with the last disk in the 16 disk set being a DVD. The concert set lists of the 7 shows in the deluxe 16 disk set are totally identical - except 1 show is missing 1 track (presumably some issues with the recording of the track). As an introduction to BBD the 3 CD set Pete reviewed is awesome ... the full 16 disk box is really for completists. The reissue series for BBD has been just exemplary ... superb reissues in both mini standard price or deluxe box set versions depending on your appetite for the band. I bought the full set of deluxe box sets and, without doubt, the full set of available material has been made available ... just so well done. Fantastic sets, superbly delivered, at the right price point for all the versions. Adventures in a Yorkshire Landscape is, indeed, a wonderful track .... do check this band out.
People always talk about how Pink Floyd's Comfortably Numb is one of the all time great guitar solos, and it is great, but personally I prefer Adventures in A Yorkshire Landscape, because it is as you say beautiful. It is so melodic and lyrical.
On another note Bill Nelson has been busy recording during this pandemic and is releasing a 6 cd boxset.
Bill Nelson is still a great guitarist.
Here's hoping that new 6 cd set won't be the same old solo stuff from recent years & at least as good as Kid Flip And The Golden Spacemen or Special Metal
Nelson likes these 6 cd box releases apparently, Noise Candy got the same treatment in 2015 (118 total tracks but it's a challenge to name or remember any particular track vs others). Hoping this upcoming box is better. Drastic Plastic also got this treatment (4CD+2DVD). The actual boxes are great with lots of extras & really high production value, the problem's the music. Usually he limits production to about 2,000 units or less (maybe that's all they can sell), By contrast Modern Music (the best BBD album) got a 4CD+1DVD box.
I don't know anything about this new box set, the latest thing I'd seen from Nelson about upcoming music from March 2021 didn't sound good though: "Dazzlebox is the second release of recordings made using my relatively new Cubase recording software. It is an instrumental double album with a variety of stylistic twists and turns. The tracks sometimes use 'distressed' drum and percussion sounds, electronic effects and keyboards but always layered with a rainbow of electric guitars.
The thirty tracks presented here provide a rich, sometimes complex listening experience. It will require a patient and attentive ear to fully appreciate, but I hope you will take the time to unlock the music's charms and find much to enjoy." This came out in April I think, I don't have it, but the couple of songs I've heard on Dreamsville are just more of the same solo background music he's been doing for a while...
Bill Nelson is a musical genius, in guitar playing and musical composition. No one is close to Bill, the others are just guitarists.
Got the album on vinyl back when it first came out. Not sure what possessed me to, might have been the cool cover. Wore out the grooves playing it!
Once again, Pete, thanks for these weekly shows highlighting newly released or rereleased or repackaged material. Be Bop Deluxe is a band name that keeps popping up and with your high praise and some additional comments by Wolf somewhere in the Comments, time to buy and listen to some music by them and this is where it will start. So much for the CD budget for this month. Thanks as always, Pete.
Absolutely recommended (and thx for the mention), you can't go wrong with this band. One of the great guitar players, songwriters & singers of the 70s
@@wolf1977 -was fortunate to catch them on the Drastic Plastic tour. Wish I had been able to get to the earlier ones.
@@RickNBacker Yeah especially if by that time they played mostly the later Drastic Plastic stuff (which would make sense to promote their latest release), my least favorite of their albums. Not saying it's bad, just relatively speaking it's not as strong as their other records
@@wolf1977 - that's my take on Drastic Plastic, too.
@John Michael Williams
You're in for a treat. Bill Nelson is one of the truly great guitarists. Both he and this band were hugely underestimated.
Always amazed that there is not more live Be Bop Deluxe on you tube....asking for a friend Mr Nelson
What a coincidence . I happened to be listening to my copy of that CD reissue package yesterday . Every time I hear them play , I wonder how they weren't a lot more popular . It's criminal that they weren't . Anyway , it's wonderful live material , and that reminds me that I should have listed Adventures in a Yorkshire Landscape as one of my picks of a live song that's better than the studio version . I have to say that Shine is emerging as an overlooked track ( overlooked by me ) on this album . The bonus tracks are great versions as well . I'm glad that you reviewed this wonderful album . Thanks !!!!
Not from this record but I always considered "Bring Back The Spark" (from At The BBC) & especially "Dance of the Uncle Sam Humanoids" (to me this track "pairs" with "Shine") from Modern Music as very overlooked songs, maybe also "Autosexual" from that same record. Lots of people name "Crying To The Sky" as their fave BBD track but to me "Orphans Of Babylon" is right there, I always play it at least twice when it comes up in the rotation
Yes , they are all great songs .
Great review, Bill Nelson- a barely known original guitar genius, loved by those that know. Please review Bill Nelson and the Gentlemen Rocketeers live a wonderful album including some great revisits of BBD tracks
From that live Rocketeers record I also really like several of the non-BBD songs: "God Man Slain", "Contemplation", "For Stuart" (nice instrumental that could've easily been on a BBD record), "Beyond These Clouds The Sweetest Dreams" (nice atmospheric instrumental) & "Wonder Of The Moment" (very pretty ballad). "Adventures" takes on a whole new vibe with the flute solo instead of it being all guitar, really cool. Even the version of "Ships In The Night" features more sax & therefore has a different quality to it than the original by BBD. "Maid In Heaven" still sounds pretty much the same but "Sister Seagull" is HEAVY, yet still sounds like one of those perfect rock singles. "Panic In The World" still sounds funky, to me that's one of their "lost" great tracks that's underappreciated.
What Nelson said about it (not very positive, maybe that's why this remained a one-off experiment): "When I first started to revive some of this material back in 2004, it took a while for me to re-learn, as I hadn't played any of it, (or even listened to any of it), for many, many years. None of it is written out...I don't want to seem too dismissive BUT...it was possibly the worst on-stage sound I'd ever experienced, absolutely horrendous to be brutally honest. (This isn't just my opinion, by the way, it is shared by the rest of the band too). So, we all found the performance aspect deeply unsatisfying and the monitor/on-stage sound problem distracting. (Not what any of us predicted, given that we were in a recording studio.)
Someone said to me, "If you had known that the band would be expected to give their best under such difficult circumstances, would you have taken the gig on?" Well, truth is, I probably wouldn't. I think I'd almost certainly have turned the opportunity down." Well at least the recorded end product sounds good!
Really interesting review. I've been collecting Be Bop Deluxe since the 70's and this live album is in my Amazon cart now. Just wondering Pete, are you gonna review the deluxe or super deluxe editions of the Beatles reissue of "Let It Be"?
Thanks again for this post, like Roxy Music and David Bowie and to a little extent Queen, Mott The Hoople and Cockney Rebel they fell into that Glam era yet were a bit more 10cc yet they were an amazing band. You can indeed here Bill in Prince. I can ask a friend of mine if he also was a fan of the band.
Prince was definitely a fan of Bill's He even said so in a couple of interviews.
Absolutely essential. The 3CD is perfection.
Not sure if Prince ever mentioned BeBop Deluxe, but WOW is it obvious. I was listening to Sunburst Finish the other night, and dang. It's simply unmistakable. Prince DEFINITELY heard these records. Great video, Pete!
I can guarantee that Roxy Music was indeed an influence on him.
One of life's secrets of tranquility Pete .Bill Nelsons is Prince,Cat Stevens, Bryan Ferry, Freddie Mercury,Beck, Steve Wilson before they all realised it except Cat Stevens and Steve Marriott.Nelson guitar playing just beautiful.
Pete I've been following your reviews often..behind you is an amazing CD wall..is that all you sell do you also have Lp's..I'm a huge fan
Bill is the best guitarist I have ever heard. A genius on the guitar and in musical composition.
Have the original live album (and EP?) on vinyl, but this reissue sounds like it's worth getting. Thanks for the review Pete.
Yes originally this came on an (vinyl) LP plus 3 songs ("Shine", "Sister Seagull" & "Maid In Heaven") on an EP
@@wolf1977 Hi Wolf, yes a bit like Unleashed In The East did too, originally. Always disappointed both weren't full doubles at the time, still this release aims to put that right about Live In The Air Age.
One of my favorite ever live albums from one of my favorite bands...So this is the newest 3-cd version. As much as I love this band, getting this solely for the remastered version of the original Air Age record wouldn't be worth it as I think that original already sounds great. So that leaves the live stuff from the Hammersmith Odeon 26th March 1977 show. 17 total tracks, something like 10 of which are already included on that original live set. Are these versions better? I gotta admit I haven't listened to every track of those 10 but the 4-5 I have I'd have to say no, not significantly better.
Especially if you also consider other live versions of these tunes available on other packages like At The BBC & Tremulous Antenna - check out "Panic In The World" from that one (both of which I already own). Like "The Modern Music Suite" from both of those other live sets (BTW my fave BBD song if you wanna call this suite one song), I think those versions are at least as good as what's included here. "Swan Song" from Futurama may be the sole track from the Hammersmith show that isn't represented on those other live packages (actually it's also on Futurist Manifesto - The Harvest Years 1974 - 1978), not a bad track but not their best. This live version is pretty good but couldn't justify buying these 3 cd's just to get that one track.
So what's the bottom line? I'm glad they're still reissuing BBD music, maybe (here's hoping) it might spur Mr Nelson to someday reform BBD especially if these sets sell...? If I were new to the band I would say get Modern Music, Futurama & Sunburst Finish first (if you only want original albums & no collections - Drastic Plastic IMO is the worst of those original records followed by Axe Victim), or the very good best of sets Raiding the Divine Archive: The Best of Be Bop Deluxe, Postcards From The Future... Introducing Be Bop Deluxe & Futurist Manifesto - The Harvest Years 1974 - 1978. For live I'd recommend the above mentioned At The BBC & Tremulous Antenna. At some point you need to own the music on Live In The Air Age too so it'll be a matter of either buying the original album or this 3 cd version...
BTW: There are some good live versions on that best of Futurist Manifesto - The Harvest Years 1974 - 1978 (like "Down On Terminal Street"). Also there are a few live tracks on the Deluxe/Expanded editions of Modern Music, Futurama, Axe Victim & Sunburst Finish so it's worth getting those expanded/enhanced packages...Also like Pete I absolutely love the guitars on "Yorkshire Landscape", it contains my all time favorite guitar solo
I forgot to mention a couple of other live collections: Radioland & Tramcar To Tomorrow. Both are good & in a way pair together. The latter has some tracks from The Old Grey Whistle Test tv show, I have those (and others) on a VHS video called Made In Heaven". I think At The BBC takes care of most of what's on Tramcar. Radioland includes some of those Hammersmith performances, not totally sure if they're exactly the same as those on this new 3 cd set but at least similar. There's also some material from Drastic Plastic-era BBD which is my least favorite - exceptions would be tracks like "Lights", "Islands Of The Dead", the instrumental "Visions of Endless Hopes" & "Superenigmatix"
As far as reforming BBD... Charlie Tumahai passed away years ago. He's gonna be hard to replace both instrumentally and vocally.
@@RickNBacker Sure what I meant was to get back to that style of music, doesn't have to be with the same players. Nelson was to me probably 80% of the band anyway. I can still hear flashes of BBD-type music in some of Nelson's solo records so it's still there, he just chooses not to go there very often. Actually when he did the Gentlemen Rocketeers project that sounded pretty good to me & Nelson was the only original member. I always thought that the backing vocals, especially live, were a bit weak to be honest. Tumahai's bass playing was strong though, maybe kinda like to BBD what Tiran Porter was to the Doobies (but even they did OK without Porter)
Do “ At the BBC “ and “ Tremulous Antenna” contain material found on the 16 disc “Air Age “ release? ( which l love ).
@@shannonlamb5155 I'm honestly not sure as I don't own that monster 15CD+1DVD set, I only have the two live packages you mentioned (each of which is very good). To me there's nothing in that expanded set that isn't represented on either of those two live sets (or on the various expanded/deluxe editions of the original studio albums) so to me this is strictly for BBD completists (especially at the price tag of $100+). Maybe someone else who owns it can give a definite answer...
Sounds like you own that mega set so is that info not listed as to exactly which live shows are included? At The BBC is from various years & sessions: May '74 John Peel, March '75 John Peel, In Concert Jan' 1976, In Concert Oct' 1976, Jan' 1977 John Peel, In Concert Jan' '78, Jan '78 John Peel, Old Grey Whistle Test July '75 plus Jan & Nov '76, and Sight And Sound In Concert Feb' 1978.
Tremulous Antenna is taken rom various Radio 1 In Concert shows between 1976-78. I see that the giant box has the John Peel session from Jan '77 so that one could very well be from the same At The BBC show. Disc 2 says " PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED: LEICESTER - DE MONTFORT HALL" so that speaks for itself. Same for discs 3-16 (some are recordings from different venues & dates). so looks to me like most of this package features never-before-released live shows (again saying that w/o actually owning it). That means that those other two live sets may also be of interest to you as it appears that there's not much overlap between them
I like this one so much I bought the box set version of it. Something like 16 discs…
I’ve never heard Be Bop Deluxe. I’ll have to dig into it a bit.
Wow I envy you in that you're about to discover a fantastic "new" band, really some of the best rock music that the 70s has to offer. I can still remember first hearing them in my college dorm room in the late 70s...
Hope you like 'em, Jimi. Absolutely no one like them and since then I haven't heard anyone attempt to copy them (although I never listened to Prince and Pete says he thinks Prince was influenced by BBD)
@@RickNBacker BBD to me sounds like a mix between Hendrix, Nektar, Todd Rundgren and 10cc thrown into a blender (at least for those first 4 studio records). Maybe a little Mott The Hoople added too, and Barclay James Harvest. Pretty unique combo really. Also kinda tough to pigeonhole style-wise (well Drastic Plastic is punkish new wave rock).
They go from something like the fantastic pop of "Sister Seagull"/"Maid In Heaven" to proggy numbers like "The Modern Music Suite" & the lesser-known "Tomorrow The World"/"Bluesy Ruby" (from BBC Radio 1's 1973 John Peel sessions). And how to classify tunes like "Autosexual", "Shine" ("Still Shining") & "Dance of the Uncle Sam Humanoids"? It's not really rock as such...What about "Quest For The Harvest Of The Stars" or "Visions of Endless Hopes"? Most descriptions I've seen call BBD "art rock", same label many tend to pin on early Genesis
I'd start with Futurama.
100% agree with your comments re: Prince. I suppose we'll never know. But Nelson is ridiculously underrated as a guitar player/composer.
There are actually some Prince blogs out there that have discussed possible links/influences Prince-wise re: Bill Nelson. Especially vis a vis Prince's guitar solo in "Purple Rain" to Nelson's on "Crying to the Sky". Never heard it myself but there it is. The only real way to know at this point would be to ask Prince but that obviously won't be happening. Not aware of any Prince interview where Nelson was ever discussed. On a related not, Paul McCartney was an admirer of Nelson's & of BBD, at least I'm pretty sure I remember reading a while back that he really liked Axe Victim. Supposedly McCartney was at Abbey Road studios when BBD came in to record that record & was "beyond impressed". Guess you could call him an early fan
Be-Bop Deluxe was so, so good. And, whether Prince was influenced by Bill Nelson (a possibility I've never considered, despite being a longtime fan of both) I don't know, but I do know they had this in common: both were tremendously underappreciated guitarists.
Too bad Prince chose not to play guitar more, he clearly had the chops of a great player. Maybe not in Nelson's league though...
I've been listening to the original for 47 years, recorded on tape from a radio broadcast then later bought the album, probably my most listened to music of all time
Got my Christmas bonus today. I just ordered the deluxe 16 disc box set and the Red Noise 6 cd box.
Great band been into them for about 30 years.Not a bad album in their catalog
The band are from where I live knew and watched as a club band, then kept watching them as they went on, to play much bigger venues. Big shout out to, Rudy and the Zips. The band Ian Parkin formed after Be Bop Deluxe. What a truly fantastic band, in the vain of Be Bop Deluxe too.
Robert Bryan was the original BBD bass player on Axe Victim & Ian Parkin was the original rhythm guitarist. Rudy & The Zipps seems to be a punk band that both landed in after leaving BBD. Don't know anything about that band but if they were punk then they probably didn't sound too much like BBD. What was their sound, anything you can compare them to?
@@wolf1977 my mix up going back oh so long, Rudy and the zips were not a punk band, they were a rock band a little like B.B.D. Rob wrote a lovely lullaby for one his kids, just can’t remember what the song was called, I think he was then playing a Rickenbacker Bass, at that time, one of the original members ended
Up playing in the backing band at, Lupset (Wakefield) working men’s club, I just can’t remember who.
i heard that BBD live album in spring or summer 1980...and was impressed to say the least!!
I love this album. Be Bop Deluxe was the first "real" rock band I ever saw. They opened for Blue Oyster Cult on the Spectres tour. This was at the lovely (and tiny!) Augusta Civic Center in Augusta, Maine.
Sounds like a great show. I've read that they also toured with The Jam, Trower, Cheap Trick & Rush. One of the very few bands that I'm genuinely sorry I never got to see live, have to settle for live videos & albums...There's a tribute band called Sunburst Deluxe touring but I think only in Britain, they're from the original band's home town of West Yorkshire. They have some stuff posted to YT. Sounds not bad but not quite like the real thing but if you're not too picky...
@@wolf1977 The Blue Oyster Cult show was nuts. They had this lazer show that I think I read later had to be modified because it was dangerous to the eyes. Man, I was so young...didn't know about encores so me and my friend walked out before they played "Don't Fear The Reaper." Ha!
@@marksaleski9890 I've read that BOC was one of the first rock acts to use lasers live in concert. Also The Who & Yes, maybe also ELO (their live "spaceship" was awesome). And possibly Wings & Led Zep (Floyd?)
My copy came this past weekend your spot on Pete. Bill Nelson’s playing is astonishing dare I say the equal of Schenker’s on Strangers in the Night?
Got the 16 disc set but haven't cracked it yet. Been too busy listening to Caravan's massive career spanning box.
if you want a real treat the 16 disc version i got is even bettter to go along with all the other boxsets in the series
I'm sure it's better (that DVD sounds very interesting - STAR RIDER IN CONCERT plus the 68-page book) but it's a pretty limited box set & prices I've seen online are around £90 (Britain) if you can find it. Even Nelson's own Dreamsville site shows it as out of stock. I'd be surprised if you could find it in the US for under $100 (!)
You sound like a big fan. I saw a lot of their recording are being released with bonus material.
@@carlsalazar4490 I am, since about '79! Yes most if not all of the original studio releases now have rereleases that contain bonus material. There's quite a bit of overlap (especially re: live tracks) but if you're in the market to buy these albums I'd definitely go for the expanded/deluxe editions, well worth it
Back in the day, this was their only ever top 10 album in UK, coming on the heels of two top 20 albums from the year before.
Pete,
Been watching your vids for quite a while and have often thought 'Why does he ignore Be-Bop Deluxe ?'
Glad to know that you DO know who they were.
Great band, totally unique sound. Their album 'Sunburst Finish' is astoundingly good. The follow-up 'Modern Music' is very nearly as great.
Bill Nelson is a supremely talented guitarist/songwriter, and back in the 70s he had a striking Bowie-esque stage presence.
Well Pete did at least 5 other BBD SoT episodes that I could find: Top 10 Songs, Ranking The Studio Albums, 'Drastic Plastic-Deluxe Edition', 'Axe Victim-Deluxe Edition' & 'Modern Music-Expanded Edition', all within the past 2 years...My favorite record is Modern Music with Futurama as #2 & Sunburst Finish #3
Wolf
Sorry, guess I must have missed them.
I love Sunburst Finish just a tiny bit more than Modern Music.
Songs like Heavenly Homes, Ships In The Night, Sleep That Burns, Crying To The Sky are great
Got this on white vinyl last year on RSD.
I well remember that coming out on clear vinyl in the late '70s.
I've got the white vinyl. Never saw the clear one.
@@bauertime Me too.
One of the best, but underrated bands of the 70's. A series of exceptional studio albums, Futurama and Modern Music are the best (IMHO 😏) Worth looking into Bill Nelson's solo work as well!
My BBD studio album ranking (in order): Modern Music, Futurama, Sunburst Finish, Axe Victim, Drastic Plastic. For live Live In The Air Age is a must own, then you've got your pick of 5-6 other live packages including this new one. Then there are 3-4 best of collections...I mostly ignore his solo records, I think it's really sad that someone of Nelson's obvious talent is basically cranking out musak/background music. Having said that it's obviously what he's chosen to do. He kinda teased us with that Gentlemen Rocketeers project (Live In Concert At Metropolis Studios) but that went nowhere.
Even so I do own quite a few of those solo albums, he manages to include one or two good tracks on many of them. My faves from his solo records would be: Luxury Lodge, Orpheus In Ultraland, Songs Of The Blossom Tree Optimists, Special Metal, Whimsy, Kid Flip And The Golden Spacemen, Fancy Planets, Joy Through Amplification (The Ultra-Fuzzy World Of Priapus Stratocaster), Clocks & Dials. New Northern Dream's not too bad either. I haven't heard all of these, he's got a million of them (for a while he was putting out 2-3 albums per year & there must be over 100 total)
@@wolf1977 You have mentioned a lot of Bill's solo songs that l don't recognise, I'm going to check some out. His Red Noise album had some noteworthy songs, l like the tone of that album. Some of his better solo songs for me were Living in my Limousine, Banal, Life Runs out like Sand, Another Day, Another Ray of Hope, Acceleration, Hope for the Heartbeat, Flaming Desire, October Man Wildest Dreams.
@@keithjones6023 Go for it...The Red Noise record (Sound On Sound) is OK, it's the band Nelson formed immediately after BBD folded & before becoming serious about going solo. It's generally too new wave for me & lacks guitars in favor of expanded use of synths (Andy Clark from BBD). "Funiture Music" is probably my fave tune from it & "Revolt Into Style" is not bad...
Of the solo records I mentioned I'd say the best are Songs Of The Blossom Tree Optimists, Kid Flip & Special Metal if you're looking for someplace to start...That Live In Concert At Metropolis Studios record with The Gentlemen Rocketeers is very good & I'd highly recommend that one (some of it is posted to YT). It's BBD tunes mixed with solo stuff - includes a live version of one of your fave solo tunes "The October Man".
"Acceleration" (I have that one on Duplex - The Best Of Bill Nelson) is pretty good tune, on the new wave-ish side but catchy. Same for "Wildest Dreams" (from Getting The Holy Ghost Across). The solo stuff I tend to dislike the most are the instrumentals, to me they mostly sound too much alike - I don't know how he keeps them straight. His first solo record from '71 Northern Dream I think is now hard to find (I'd try Nelson's Dreamsville site) & not bad, mostly acoustic & very mellow, but the "followup" he did called New Northern Dream from 2016 is better IMO
@@wolf1977 Thanks for the suggestions, I'll definitely give them a listen. I have the Duplex album that you mentioned,I must admit that I have only four of his other solo albums, Chimera and Quit Dreaming and Get on the Beam are probably favourites. The Best of and the Rest of BBD album is pretty good, Shine and Blue as a Jewel, a couple of good tracks. I saw an interview with Bill Nelson talking to the Professor of Rock on You Tube a few months ago, Bill came over as an unassuming down to earth guy with an interesting story to tell of his career.
@@keithjones6023 I don't have The Best And The Rest since I already own everything on it on other albums. Come to think of it that's probably the first BBD record I ever heard (in college) but instead I went & bought all of the original albums instead of that compilation...I also have Chimera (fave track is "The Real Adventure") & Quit Dreaming. I have something like 50 of his solo records (so maybe 50%)...I'll have to check out that interview, other sound clips I've heard of him confirm your impressions of a humble & likeable guy. Kinda like Steve Morse in that regard...That's an idea - A Morse/Nelson guitar album! I'd buy it...
PS: Also check out Nelson's collab with Reeves Gabrels on Fantastic Guitars from 2014, an all-instrumental album (except for some talking). Heavier than most of his solo stuff. The whole thing's on Bandcamp. I can hear his solo stuff (especially on "And The Train Left The Station Trailing Sparks And Stars" which could be on a solo Nelson record) in this but also some Cure influences & especially Tin Machine. Not like BBD (or even his new wave-ish Red Noise), sounds very modern to me
Man,I'd give anything to hear a live version of Crying To The Sky....
On the remastered (2018) version of Sunburst Finish, a slightly shorter take from Bbc Radio One's John Peel Sessions (1976). Pretty much sounds identical to the studio version though. If shopping for any of the original studio albums I'd highly recommend getting the expanded versions like Sunburst Finish & especially Modern Music, but also Futurama & Axe Victim
Fun Fact: The "guest percussionist" on Shine, Cabasa El Dubova was not a "guest" at all, as no such person actually exists...it was a pseudonym for Bill Nelson! 😁 His percussion part was overdubbed later in the studio.
My favourite live album
Be bop deluxe?? Blimey, I thought everyone had forgotten about them
Ive listened to this on Sonos and it has more than 100 tracks. BTW if it hasn't been mentioned before Cabasa El Dubova is a dubbed over Cabasa
Love axe victim great album.
Even ranking it #4 of their 5 studio records it's still a very good album. "No Trains" & "Jest At Dawn" are instant classics, not sure if they ever played either song live. I have an alternate version of "Jets" called the "Smile Records Version" that's a bit shorter & sounds somewhat less polished/rougher (especially the ending guitar solo) from Postcards From The Future... Introducing Be Bop Deluxe but that's also a studio recording. The original version of "Adventures in a Yorkshire Landscape" is of course also on that record but less than 4 minutes long, so not nearly as good as the many much lengthier live versions (more Nelson guitar is a good thing). The title track & "NIght Creatures" are also good.
For some reason even though the actual music isn't really that similar I always think of this record & their last Drastic Plastic as bookends, and not just because they're the first & last. Something about the attitude on Axe Victim, I think of it as similar to their punky/new wave-ish vibe on Drastic Plastic. The other studio records to me had a different feel to them
Be bop deluxe was great. Bill Nelson's solo career even better.
Bill Nelson is one of thee greatest guitarists ever!!!
(Keyboard player Andy Clarke went on to play with Bowie)
Honesty, I rank this live album up there with Thin Lizzy`s Live and Dangerous.
Every gig on the tour was recorded for the original release in '77 and every gig has been released on the full box set along with the Star Rider in concert film on dvd. Fantastic band and a shame that Bill was seduced by the 'new wave' and split the band.
When a band like BBD isn’t in the Rock ‘n Roll HOF, the only logical conclusion is that the HOF is a damn joke.
Crap rap artists getting in before Bill? Heresy.
I always felt the got stifled by the emergence of punk and never became as big as they should have.
I think they were around long enough pre-punk (around 1976) to have caught on but just didn't for some reason. Their shot was 1974-76 with their first 4 albums. They didn't switch over musically to a more "modern"/new wave/punkish sound (Drastic Plastic) until '78. Actually Sunburst (#17) & Modern Music (#12) did have some success on the British album charts but here in the US I can honestly say I don't remember EVER hearing a single one of their songs on the radio. I didn't know anything about them including their name until I got into college & a friend of a friend brought over a best of album of theirs (don't remember which one). Looking at the cover I remember being very skeptical (this WAS during the hey day of punk & I thought they might be one of those bands)
Ever hear Bill's first post-BBD effort, "Red Noise"?... sort of a proto-industrial rock but with strong, memorable melodies and choruses, haven't heard the album in ages but can recall every song.
@@RickNBacker Yes his first band right after BBD split. To me it sits somewhere between earlier BBD & Drastic Plastic. I like a few cuts from Sound On Sound
Oh we know!!!
Ahhh m8....would love to share a tea and a natter .
Pete, where's your hair gone Man ???
Just to complete the picture on Bill Nelson, here's what else he's done besides BBD, not all of it good. Actually/unfortunately much of it mediocre & forgettable:
- About 100 or so solo records (just a guess, there's a lot)
- Technically I'd lump it in with his solo stuff but The band Red Noise that he formed immediately after BBD split (late 70's) - only one record came from that called Sound-On-Sound. The stuff on it to me is somewhere between the last BBD album Drastic Plastic & his solo stuff. Not bad but not great, not up to BBD
- His very first solo record from '71 called Northern Dream - very mellow & mostly acoustic, not a must have & I think mostly for completists. Might be very hard to find now
- I don't have this package but something called Electrotype - The Holyground Recordings 1968-1972 from 2001. Nelson's Dreamsville site says this: "Electrotype is an archive release taken from acetates and 2 track recordings made at Holyground Studios in Wakefield between 1968 and 1972". So this is his pre-BBD recordings (including with an outfit called Global Village) plus demos of 7 BBD tunes. Definitely only for completists
- Channel Light Vessel - two records by this ambient group, this to me is even more background-ish than Bill Nelson solo albums. Again there's some good stuff here, especially guitar-wise, but it's all hidden away & overshadowed by the totally unmemorable songs. I don't really like any of this to be honest
- Again I'd lump this in with his solo discography but 2 records with Orchestra Arcana, sounds exactly like the solo stuff
- He produced some records for the likes of Gary Numan, Skids (Scottish punk), New Way To Move (produced & played guitar), don't know much about this, a Velvet Underground tribute album, Jean Park, Willerby, The Familiar (electronic music, I'd imagine maybe similar to CLV), Culturemix (Japanese band, produced & played guitar), Su Lyn ("atmospheric song meditations" according to Bandcamp), Leaving the Electric Circus by Sea Of Wires (alternative band, he also plays guitar) & Units (more electronic music from 1982). So he's been all in on his musical path since BBD (unfortunately). He's done many other collabs where he sings/plays guitar
- The biggest mistake of all: A Flock Of Seagulls. New Wave band, I don't think I knew initially of the Bill Nelson connection. It's OK new wave-ish pop that got a lot of airplay (everyone's heard "I Ran" & "Space Age Love Song") & run time on MTV. Signed to Nelson's Cocteau record label, he produced this band. Known mostly for the dummest hair cut ever on frontman & ex-hairdresser Mike Score
I love Flock of Seagulls.
AUTO-BUY!
Not as good as Slade Alive 😗😗
LOL! I should have seen that coming...