UKRichard wrote:
That's a magnificent piece of memorabilia, W2. A reminder too of what was the most eclectic, diverse and thoroughly entertaining set list, EVER.
Team BF are undoubtedly sitting on such treasures and by any measure these things have a limited shelf life: with very few exceptions, live albums and videos are consumables for fans and when the core of those fans are gone, so is the market.
I see other artists putting out quality material of this kind - and SDEs - in relatively modest numbers via their websites. They're not doing it for the good of their health - there is money to be made and it keeps fans engaged. BF has got modest form here, like the 2015 Live album he wanted to "flog", alas it seems that's all he had in the back of his yellow Reliant Robin.
Mes Amis,
Encore une fois UKRichard makes the most salient of points and he is so right when he names it “The most eclectic, diverse and thoroughly entertaining set list, EVER’.
W2’s recording comes from the German radio transmission and he lives in permanent fear of it ever suffering from digital breakdown.
The set is superbly constructed to showcase the strengths of the band and there are just so many highlights.
To wit :
- Great live renditions of the ‘Jazz Age’ versions subliminally played
by TBFO with Ferry introducing himself onto stage by adding vocals
to peerless JA versions of ‘Reason Or Rhyme’
‘Back To Black’ and ‘The Only Face’.
- The best ever rendition of ‘Remake Remodel’
- A knockout version of NYC
- A marvellous take on ‘Smoke Gets In Your Eyes’
- Shiver your timber cuts of ‘Crazy Love’ and ‘Chain Reaction’ with the
most scintillating transition between tracks EVER.
- A driving version of ‘Hard Rain’ with the horn section replacing
strings to unbelievable effect.
- A unique cut of ‘Move On Up’ that would have had Curtis
dancing in the heavens. The best closer EVER !
The musicianship throughout is sublime. This has to be the best ever lineup. The horn section is off the Richter Scale (nobody can play like these guys) and the juxtaposition of TBFO with the rock band works brilliantly.
What’s more, the arrangements have Colin Good’s fingerprints all over
them.
The whole thing benefits from his phenomenal piano and his theatrical experience shows in the set construction. He was always the
perfect foil for BF. Two perfectionists producing musical nirvana.
This set simply must see the light of day as a double album (all formats) and W2 appeals to Roxologists and Ferryistas to unite and beg Studio One for a release.
This one must come out of Bryan’s Bentley boot (trunk) resplendent
with a full booklet and not from his yellow Reliant Robin !
Salutations a tous,
Windswept.