Jefferson Airplane: "After Bathing At Baxter´s" - Aborted version.

In this occasion, we take a leap back and return to the happy and glamorous 60s, specifically to 1967. Year that marked the highest point at which popular music could reach not only in that prodigious decade but possibly the century, due to the amount of revelation artists as The Doors, Jimi Hendrix Experience o The Elvis return. The Monterey International Pop Festival or the mythical albums like a: “Sgt.Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band”; or what could have been and was not: “Smile”.

Ok.., in short, we would not stop adding more and more things, but the space that I must submit to is limited, I don´t want to bore to you. Let me say one more thing: 1967 was called: the year that revolutionized music forever. let's go with the week's lp, cd or tape whatever you want to call it.

From October 1967, I rescued the third work of Jefferson Airplane, 2nd with the singer Grace Slick, "After Bathing At Baxter's", bit.ly/67JABAX "baxter" was the band's code for the psychedelic drug LSD or "acid",and the title as a whole translates to "After Tripping On Acid"; The recording sessions started on June until October at The Rca Victor Studios, Hollywood Ca. The album was released on November 27.1967, with Al  Schmitt as producer.

The first single was a song written by Paul Kantner called: ""The Ballad of You and Me and Pooneil", recorded live on the Fillmore Auditorium, San Francisco, Ca, but was, edited and remixed with differents over-dubs added later; released on August, with "Two Heads" on B side. In principle this song was going to have two versions: one edit (4:30) and another of more than 12 minutes that would be located on the 2nd side, along with an unnamed coda, after known as::"A Small Package of Value Will Come to You, Shortly". The second single was: "Watch her ride / Martha". on  November.

From this album has been said it was not well structured, that the October version was superior and much better in terms of content, In a few words, they spoiled it by trying to make it too psychedelic; something that the group took into account when ordered their next work: "Crown of Creation".

It is inexplicable how tunes as good as "Things are better in the East" were eliminated, just because by some band´s members it was a too personal subject of Marty Balin; while other songs like a: "Spare Chaynge" was included,, when this instrumental did not really added nothing, very psychedelic but absolutely dispensable; this long jam appeared on the album, thanks to sacrifice the full length version of. "The Ballad of You & Me & Pooneil", by the single edit of 4:29. This Marty Balin´s song was meant to be a single with "Don't Let Me Down" on the opposite side. Another theme eliminated and sent to the trunk of the old tapes. Both songs recovered decades later in 1993 on the box set "Loves You". These are some of the reasons why this experimental album was significantly less successful than its predecessor from a commercial standpoint.

For the first time you will listen: "Won't You Try", without "Saturday Afternoon". Mix rejected and that was going to appear on the Japanese promotional Lp, but finally not used. From that foreign edition, I have taken the alternate original cover art made by Keiichi Tanaami. You will also find the original English cover made by Ron Cobb but, without the red and blue stripes and white stars,, so you can choose which of them you like the most. Here is the early and not very well-known version elaborated in October of 1967, which should have been published. Judge.

Side A: (19:18)

A: The War Is Over:
1.-Martha.(3:26)
2.-Wild Tyme (H).(3:06)

B: Hymn To An Older Generation:
3.-The Last Wall Of The Castle.(2:38)
4.-Rejoyce.(3:58)

C: Shizoforest Love Suite:
5.-Two Heads.(3:15) (*)
6.-Don´t Let Me Down.(2:52) (*)

Side B:(21:03)

D: How Suite It Is:
1.-Won´t You Try.(2:04) (*)
2.-Watch Her Ride.(3:10)

E: Streetmasse:
3.-The Ballad of You & Me & Pooneil.(12:29) (*)
4.-Things Are Better In The East.(3:18) (*)

(*) Rejected song or version on the final album mix.

It is clear that if they had respected this "setlist", the album would have won a lot and without a doubt would have been almost at the height of "Surrealistic Pillow".

Enjoy, see you soon, with more and better..

Blondie - "Blondie Live!" - The lost 1980 live album - Original master tape.

On September 23, 1978, Blondie released their new and awaited studio album "Parallel lines". However, the promotional tour had already started a month earlier in London, Europe on August 24 and continued through Sweden, Norway, Holland, Belgium, Scotland, Germany, Switzerland, France to finish, after 26 concerts where they had started, in U.K on November 10 with a big success.

Three days later the new North American tour began at Hollywood and Main, Flushing, NY,  while the third single:"Hanging on the phone", went straight to the top

During the "Parallel lines" tour, a team sent by the famous radio program: "The King Biscuit Flower Hour", recorded with a mobile unit a concert in Philadelphia on December 6, 1978 to be broadcast a few weeks later. The success of that emission, made that the radio station asked again for permission to record another concert, this time on the summer tour, at the second American leg. Dallas was the site chosen.

“The King Biscuit Flower Hour• was an American radio program presented by Bill Minkin, broadcasted on Sunday nights from 1973 until 1993, that featured concert performances by various artists and Rock Bands. The emission continued from 1994 until 2005, but with old programs.

Time after Chrysalis Records requested the masters tapes of both concerts to set up a live album whose publication date, in principle, would be February, 1980 with the provisional name of: "Blondie Live!"., whose result was:

Side A: (21:29)

1.- Showtime.(1:00)
2.- Dreaming.(3:07)
3.- X Offender.(2:57)
4.- Hanging On The Phone.(2:17)
5.- Detroit 442.(2:34)
6.- Picture This.(2:49)
7.- Sunday Girl.(3:35)
8.- Denis.(3:07)

Side B: (21:34)

1.- Heart Of Glass. (6:20)
2.- A Shark In Jets Clothing. (2:32)
3.- Band intro
4.- I Know But I Don´t Know.(4:25)
5.- One Way Or Another.(6:47)

But in its place Chrysalis Records published better the single "Atomic / Die Young Stay Pretty".and "Blondie live!" was momentarily archived. The company executives decided to publish "Blondie Live!" Bit.ly/81bLlD at the end of the "Autoamerican" tour.,whose last concert was at Arena di Verona, Verona, Italy on September 21.1980, but the band went into a severe crisis, partly by the frenetic pace of work that they had since years ago. In view of this;,with the convincement that the group would dissolve soon, they changed the plans and published: "The Best of Blondie",on October 31 instead of "Blondie Live!".

Blondie took to the market their last album: "The Hunter" on May 1982, after which they decided to take a break from their musical activity, too much long, because it took them almost two decades to return in February 1999. Their last concert from this first part since its foundation on 1974 as "New Wave" band, was in Philadelphia at JFK Stadium on August 21.1982. 

The master tapes slept into the archives for years, until 1996, when this unreleased work were revised by the producer Cheryl Pawelski, who redesigned the original project expanding it from 11 to 15 songs, for a commemorative limited edition re-named as: "Picture This Live", and only for United States. One year after for Europe as: Blondie Live! Philadelphia & Dallas.

Enjoy it, and see you son.

Patti Smith Group - Retrospective - Unpublished 1983 album

On May 17, 1979, "Wave" was released, an album with which Patti Smith Group said goodbye as a band. They gave their last official concert on September 10, 1979 at the Comunale Stadium, Florence ,Italy. 

After that, Patti Smith, got married with her boyfriend, the former guitarist of the Detroit rock band: MC5, Fred "Sonic" Smith, to whom she had dedicated two songs on the album "Frederick" and "Dancing Barefoot". Patti already alone, without her old band, gave three more performances, between June 1980 and October 1981, before saying goodbye to her fans, with no return date, to be a mother and to dedicate herself to the family.

The years went by without new material, but in 1983 the spoken single : "7 Ways of Going / Fire of Unknown Origin" was released with the participation from old friend: Lenny Kaye, who had been produced the Patti single ("Hey Joe / Piss Factory") in 1974; and had been part of "Patti Smith Group" between 1975 and 1979; at which time there was speculation about a hypothetical return of the band. That rumor brought plans for possible retrospective album and more when Arista Records published a promotional single with these line-up: :“Because The Night”, “Redondo Beach”, “Dancing Barefoot” and “Free Money”; something that was denied shortly after by Patti Smith, who was living in Detroit with her family and .Lennyhe was not interested either, because involved in other projects, such as musical producer, with future music stars as Suzanne Vega and her 1987 hit "Luka".

About the possible 1983 retrospective album ,out of the promotional EP, it never said more. Patti had one more child in 1987 and it seemed that her musical career it was a simple memory , but what nobody supposed is that Patti had been written new songs for her next album: "Dream of life" and "People have the power" hit,  was ready. But that is another story. Today, I bring you a new and interesting reconstruction Bit.ly/83PSGg of what could have been and was not, following the original concept, to include all the greatest hits with material only available in singles or Ep's, something like this:

Part 1:

1.-Hey Joe.(5:08)

Single (1974) Mer Records, # 601

2.-Piss Factory.(4:42)

B -side “Hey Joe” Single (1974) Mer Records, # 601

3.-Gloria.(5:54)

From “Horses” album. Released Dec.13.1975.

Arista Records. -ARTY 122 (U.K) / AL 4066 (U.S)

4.- My Generation (live).(3:26)

B-side “Gloria“ single.

Arista Records AS 0171 (US) / ARISTA 135 (UK)

 (Rrecorded live at Agora, Cleveland. OH.U.S on Jan.26.1976)

Early issues of the British single were released with "My Generation" censored.

5.- Pissing In A River.(4:52)

From “Radio Ethiopia” album. Released October.1976.

Arista Records. - AB4097

6.-Ask The Angels.(3:09)

From “Radio Ethiopia” album. Released October.1976.

Arista Records. - AB4097

7.-Time is On My Side (live).(3:28)

B-side “Ask the angles”Arista/Pathe Marconi/EMI 2C 006-98.529 (France)

This is available only as a French import for being considered a bad quality recording. Here it has been notably improved.

(Recorded live at Le Bus Palladium, Paris, France. Oct 21,1976)

8.-Pumping (My Heart).(3:21)

From “Radio Ethiopia” album. Released October.1976.

Arista Records. - AB4097

9.-Radio Ethiopia / Rock N´Roll Nigger (live).(13:57)

B-side “Hey Joe / Radio Ethiopia” EP (1977)

Arista/Pathe Marconi/EMI 2C 052-60.133 z (France)

This is available only as a French import

(Live at GBGs, New York, NY, U.S on June 5.1977)

10.-Babel Field (poem).(5:49)

B-side “Set Free” EP (1978)

Arista Records ARIST 12197 (UK)

(Live in London on Brian Jones' birthday, Feb. 28,1978). 

Part 2:

1.- Because The Night.(3:25)

From “Easter” album. Released March 3.1978.

Arista Records.(SPART 1043)

2.- Godspeed.(6:10)

B-side “Because The Night” single (1978).

Arista Records (AS 0318)

3.- Privilege (Set Me Free).(3:29)

From “Easter” album. Released Marc 3.1978.

Arista Records. (SPART 1043)

4.- 25th Floor (live).(5:43)

B-side “Privilege (Set Me Free)” EP (1978).

Arista Records ARIST 12197

(Live at Pavillon, Paris, France. March 26.1978)

5.-So You Want to Be (A Rock N' Roll Star).(4:00)

Alternate version “So You Want To Be (A Rock N´Roll Star)” EP (1979).

Arista Records AS 0453 Promo

6.-Kimberly (live).(6:09)

Unreleased B-side “So You Want To Be (A Rock N´Roll Star)” EP (1979).

Arista Records AS 0453 Promo

(Live at GBGs, New York, NY, U.S on August 11.1979)

7.-Frederick.(3:06)

From “Wave” album. Released May 17.1979.

Arista Records. (AB 4221)

8.-Fire Of Unknown Origin.(2:09)

B-side “Frederick” single (1979).

Arista Records ARIST 264

9.-Dancing Barefoot.(4:16)

From “Wave” album. Released May 17.1979.

Arista Records. (AB 4221)

10.-54321- Wave (Live).(2:43)

B-side “Dancing Barefoot” single (1979).

Arista Records ARIST 281

(Live at The Palladium, New York, NY, U.S on May 23.1979) 

- bonus tracks -

11.-Frederick (live).(5:55)

B-side “Frederick” promo single (1979).

Arista Records SP-62

(live at the Capital Theatre, in Passiac, NJ. U.S on November 5th, 1979).

12.-Chicklets.(6:37)

(Outtake from “Radio Ethiopia” sessions. June/August 1976). 

For a perfect homogenization of the sound, some recordings have been digitally restored.For artwork, I used discarded photos taken for her last album. 

That´s all., see you next week.

Yes: "The Yes Album Tour" - Unreleased 1971 Double LP.

"The Yes Album Tour" began more than six months before "The Yes album" release in the UK on 19 February 1971 by Atlantic Record. The tour start at the Lyceum in London 17 July 1970, and after 170 performances, finished one year later at The Crystal Palace Bowl on 31 July 1971. 

The band played concerts in the United Kingdom, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, France, Italy, Canada, and the United States. Many of the American shows were shared with Iron Butterfly.On various dates of the tour, Yes were supported by Black Sabbath, Uriah Heep, Supertramp, Deep Purple, Wishbone Ash, The Strawbs, Iron Butterfly, and Jethro Tull. At other performances, such as festivals, Yes shared stage with Pink Floyd and Elton John.

At the end of the tour, with several concerts recorded, Atlantic Records ordered that a double live album be mounted. In September while the band began the new recording sessions, at Advision Studios in Fitzrovia, Central London, England, of their next work: "Fragile", the live album was ready with this line-up

Side A: (21:14)

1.-Opening: Also sprach Zarathustra.(1:40)

2.-Yours Is No Disgrace.(11:47)

3.-I've Seen All Good People.(7:45)

Side B: (20:44)

1.-America. (15:58)

2.-Clap/Classical Gas.(4:46)

Side C: (21:24)

1.-Perpetual Change. (14:08)

2.-Astral Traveller. (7:15)

Side D: (22:06)

1.-Everydays. (11:00)

2.-It's Love. (11:06)

All tracks recorded live at Crystal Palace Bowl, London, England. July 31, 1971.

Except: Gothenburg Concert Hall, Gothenburg, Sweden.January 24.1971:

“Astral Traveller” & “Everydays”.

Yale Bowl, New Haven County, Connecticut. U.S. July 24.1971:

“Clap/Classical Gas” & “Perpetual Change”.

…but that project, whose title was going to be: “The Yes Live Album” and after "The Yes Album Tour", was delayed until May 1973, Bit.ly/71YATT when a triple album was published, "Yessongs", that included the tours of his last three studio works: "The Yes Album"; "Fragile" and "Close The Edge". The reason was not other that not to interfere in the launch of new lp, scheduled for January 1972, but anticipated to November, which was given preference. Part this unreleased live album was published years later in 2005 on the Box Set: "The Word Is Live". 

Finally to say that, the recording has been remixed and assembled again for this edition that I present here with an improved sound. Three bonus tracks, unreleased edit versions, made for this live album, but not used on the final mix

Ok.., the story of this album has no more mystery. It was recorded, assembled and archived. That's all. See you next friday with more and better.., I think.

The Beatles : "Get Back Project" - Super Deluxe Edition -

To mark the 50th anniversary of the end of the recording sessions from "Get Back" project, I bring you a new work, this time with the complet evolution of the album, later know as "Let It Be". From the original acetate to the mixes made by Glyn Johns in May 1969 and January 1970.

In addition to an extra, a fourth disc with a reconstructed version of "Let It Be", made according to the option of the director Michael Lindsay-Hogg, that the content of the album and movie were almost the same. Ok!,So let's get into the subject and review some of the history.

Due to the tensions accumulated among the members of the group in recent months, since the death of Brian Epstein in 1967, Paul McCartney thought that his next studio album should be more simple, without so much applied technology, like a a return to its beginnings, The project would be composed of a album recorded almost live, accompanied by a documentary film from the american director Michael Lindsay-Hogg. This director, previously had worked with The Beatles in the promotional films of "Paperback Writer" / "Rain", "Hey Jude", and "Revolution".

One of many ideas from this project was to include a farewell concert,The Beatles had not performed in concert from August 29,1966 in San Francisco at The Candlestick Park,and was not a bad idea, finish in this way. About the location of the event; conventional places like the Roundhouse in London were discussed, but were also considered more unusual places like a disused flour mill and an ocean liner. The place that received the most consideration was a Roman amphitheater in North Africa. None of these ideas got success.

With all this in mind and more, the project started on Thursday, January 2, 1969 in London at Twickenham Studios. However what was supposed to be a relaxed atmosphere, it soon became clear that it was not, because the inconveniences of the place, cold, dark and with bad acoustics, were added the fact of having to record in the morning or early afternoon, accustomed to work by night or dawn, without cameras recording around they. Only Paul McCartney seemed interested, because John and Yoko, were in their world;. George had his mind set on other matters and Ringo was simply there.., thinking possibly of the script of "The Magic Christian".

After long, long days of fruitless work, with endless and bored rehearsals, in fact, all the recorded material was considered disposable and unusable for the future album; all finished with a discussion, on January 10, between Paul and George, in which Harrison momentarily quited the Beatles. He only returned, when Paul apologize, Billy Preston join to the band and they abandoned Twickenham Studios, went to Apple Studios in Savile Road, to continuing with the plans.

The recording sessions are resumed with a more professional atmosphere on Wednesday, January 22, uninterrupted until Thursday 30. The next day and after abandoning the idea of giving a concert on a boat or in the middle of the desert, they played a concert on the roof of Apple with this setlist: two takes of "Get Back", followed by "Dont Let Me Down Tk-1"; I've Got A Feeling Tk-1 ";" One After 909 "," Dig to Pony "," I've Got a Feelin Tk-2 ";" Don't Let Me Down Tk-2 ", and one last version , the third of "Get Back". Moment in which the project went to its assembly phase.

In February, John and Paul called the sound engineer Glyn Johns and passed him the tapes that had been recorded at Apple Studios between January 22 and 31, and he was asked to mount a record. On March 10, after a few days of work at Olympic Studios, Glyn Johns had a acetate with this provisional order:

Side A: (19:10)

1.- Get Back #1.(2:37)

2.- Teddy Boy.(5:53)

3.-On Our Way Home. (3:41) – (A.k.a: “Two Of Us”).

4,- Dig a Pony. (4:04)

5.- I´ve Got a Feeling.

Side B: (20:42)

1.- The Long and Winding Road.(3:38)

2.- Let It Be.(3:58)

3.-Rocker.(0:45)

4.- Save The Last Dance For me.(1:37)

5.- Don´t Let Me Down.(3:42)

6.- Because You´re Sweet and Lovely. (3:05). (A.k.a: “For You Blue”).

7.-Get Back #2.(2:55)

8.- The Walk. (0:58) 

After listening it, the Beatles approved it and asked him to start with the final mix of the album. Glyn Johns returned to Olympic Studio 1 and began working on "Get Back" album between April 3 and May 28. Meanwhile, the film assembly continued, whose date of released both, film & album, had been fixed for the month of July, right in the middle of the sessions of recording of what should have been its last disc "Abbey Road".

Begining of June, showed the album "Get Back" finished to The Beatleswith this line-up:

Side A: (19:34)

1.- The One After 909. (3:08) - (Jan.30.69)

2.- Rocker. (0:45) - (Jan.22.69)

3.- Save The Last Dance For Me. (1:37) - (Jan.22.69)

4.- Don´t Let Me Down. (4:08) - (Jan.22.69)

5.- Dig a Pony. (3:47) - (Jan.24.69)

6.- I´ve Got A Feeling. (2:46) - (Jan.24.69)

7.- Get Back (3:21) - (Jan.28.69) (The single release version)

Side B: (23:38)

1.- For You Blue. (2:55) - (Jan.25.69)

2.- Teddy Boy. (3:43) - (Jan.24.69)

3.-Two Of Us. (3:30) - (Jan.24.69)

4.-Maggie Mae (0:42) - (Jan.24.69)

5.-Dig It. (4:25) - (Jan.26.69)

6.-Let It Be. (3:57) - (Jan.30.69 & April 31 overdub)

7.-The Long and Winding Road. (3:42) - (Jan.31.69)

8.- Get Back (Reprise). (0:40) - (Jan.28.69) 

On July 20, the Beatles attended a private screening of the film with director Michael Lindsay-Hogg. When the Beatles finished watching it, they did not like it and thought that the best thing would be to file it and released only the lp. But the executives of Apple Corps demanded the director to finish it, because it had cost a lot of money to produce it.

But before it was concluded the film, their next studio album "Abbey Road" was released by Apple-Parlophone, on September 26, 1969: so the “Get Back” project was postponed until to early 1970. bit.ly/69TBGBC On January 3, George Harrison recorded "I Me Mine" in Studio 2 of Abbey Road and the next day Paul retouched "Let It Be" with a remix of "Across the universe", were given to Glyn Johns for update the album "Get Back", with a 2nd mix as follows:

Side A: (22:54)

1.- The One After 909. (3:08) - (Jan.30.69)

2.- Rocker. (0:45) - (Jan.22.69)

3.- Save The Last Dance For Me. (1:37) - (Jan.22.69)

4.- Don´t Let Me Down. (4:08) - (Jan.22.69)

5.- Dig a Pony. (3:47) - (Jan.24.69)

6.- I´ve Got A Feeling. (2:46) - (Jan.24.69)

7.- Get Back (3:21) - (Jan.28.69) (The single release version)

8.-Let It Be. (3:57) - (Jan.30.69 & April 31 overdub)

Side B: (20:34)

1.- For You Blue. (2:55) - (Jan.25.69)

2.-Two Of Us. (3:30) - (Jan.24.69)

3.-Maggie Mae (0:42) - (Jan.24.69)

4.-Dig It. (4:25) - (Jan.26.69)

5-The Long and Winding Road. (3:42) - (Jan.31.69)

6..-I Me Mine. (1:45) – (Jan.3.1970)

7.- Across The Universe. (3:27) – (Feb.4 / 8.68)

8.- Get Back (Reprise). (0:40) - (Jan.28.69) 

Paul asked Glyn Johns to remove "Teddy Boy", because this song was going to include it in his solo album: "McCartney", released in April 1970, something that was supposed to be a secret for the other three Beatles.

The project was renamed now "Let It Be", but the director of the film suggested to the Beatles that the album be retouched, once again, with the intention of looking more like the content of the film, with this is the optional line-up: 

Side A: (20:44)

1.- Don´t Let Me Down. (3:19) (*)

2.- I´ve Got a Feeling. (3:36) (*)

3.- One After 909. (2:50) (*)

4.- Dig a Pony. (3:43) (*)

5.- Get Back (3:53) (*)

6.- Let It Be. (4:01) - (Jan.25.69)

(*) live at The Rooftop Concert. January 30.1969 3 Savile Row, London, UK

Side B: (20:48)

1.- For You Blue. (2:16) - (Jan.25.69)

2.- Two Of Us. (3:23) - (Jan.24.69)

3.- Mailman. Bring Me No More Blues. (1:54) - (Jan.29.69) (+)

4.- Dig It. (1:02) - (Jan.24.69) (Alternate unreleased edit)

5.- The Long And Winding Road. (3:38) - (Jan.26.69)

6.- Rock Medley: Rip it Up/Shake,Rattle N´Roll/Blue Suede Shoes. (3:08) - (Jan.26.69) 7.- I Me Mine. (1:45). (Jan.3.70)

8.- Across The Universe. (3:37). (Feb.4 & 8.68)

(+) Not on film.Added to complete the minutes per side.

John, fed up with so many inconveniences, said to Paul: let's finish with this now. Called the producer Phil Spector, gave him the work that Glyn Johns had done and asked him to set up his own version, something that bothered Paul McCartney especially.

Finally in May, film and album (Phil Spector version) were published; The weekend 8th to 10, in United Kingdom were released film with the soundtrack, the last Beatles album: "let it be"..The13th in the United States.

The film won the Oscar for best soundtrack, (best musical adaptation) of 1970 for the song "Let It Be"; however, at the awards ceremony of the academy, Quincy Jones was the one who picked up the prize since none of the fab four attended. Isn´t it a pity?.

Enjoy it as always.