The Bangles - 1986-05-15 - Live in New York

The Bangles

1986-05-15
New York, NY (unknown venue)
FM broadcast (WNEW) recording, very good quality
Available in both Lossless (FLAC) and Mp3 (320 kbps) versions

Let's continue with more great female rock vocals, in what just may be turning into a 'September Gurls' feature. And who better to feature than '80's sensations, the Bangles. So here are the Bangles in 1986, still fairly early on with their rich layered vocals and rockin' power pop style and approach. And in this show they actually even play a cover version of the Big Star song 'September Gurls'. The Bangles were first formed in 1981 in Los Angeles, CA, with Susanna Hoffs (guitar, vocals), sisters Vicki (guitar, vocals) and Debbi Peterson (drums, vocals), and Annette Zilinskas (bass, vocals). They were originally called The Colours, then renamed as The Bangs, but when they received their first record deal, they found out another band already had the name The Bangs, so they became the Bangles (and Michael Steele, from The Runaways, replaced Zilinskas on bass). After an introductory EP, the Bangles first full album, All Over the Place, was released in 1984, featuring a driving, punchy power pop with stellar vocals and harmonies. By their second album, Different Light (1986), which showed a more polished pop sound, they scored big hit singles with 'Manic Monday' (written by Prince) and 'Walk Like an Egyptian' and reached pop stardom (but at the expense of their earlier harder-rockin' style). But they showed they could still rock in this show from 1986, which featured songs from their first 2 albums. However, with their subsequent album, Everything (1988), their sound would be further diluted with excessive pop production and sappy ballads (resulting in their biggest hit, 'Eternal Flame'). But internal conflicts in the group caused them to disband in 1989, with Susanna Hoffs going on to a solo career, and the others going their separate ways. The band re-formed in 1998, however, released a new album in 2003 (Doll Revolution) as well as in 2011 (Sweetheart of the Sun) and continue to perform together (although now with original member Annette Zilinskas replacing Michael Steele). But here is the band in their glory days back in the mid-eighties, delivering some very tasty power pop and pop-rock confections in this very good FM broadcast recording.

Tracklist:
01. Let it Go
02. Restless
03. Walking Down Your Street
04. James
05. He's Got a Secret
06. September Gurls
07. If She Knew What She Wants
08. Return Post
09. In a Different Light
10. Going Down to Liverpool
11. Live
12. Angels Don't Fall In Love
13. Hero Takes a Fall
14. Manic Monday
15. Walk Like an Egyptian
16. Dover Beach

Susanna Hoffs - vocals and rhythm guitar
Debbi Peterson - drums and vocals
Vicki Peterson - lead guitar and vocals
Michael Steele - bass and vocals

MP3 - Bangles_1986-05-15_Live in New York_mp3.rar

FLAC - Bangles_1986-05-15_Live in New York_FLAC.rar
 

Renaissance - 1978-06-18 - Capitol Theatre, Passaic, NJ

RENAISSANCE

June 18, 1978
Capitol Theatre, Passaic, NJ
FM Radio Broadcast, very good quality
Available in both Lossless (FLAC) and Mp3 (320 kbps) versions

Here's more from Annie Haslam and  Renaissance, this time from a few years later than the previous post, but still during their classic years. This very good radio broadcast show features the band on their tour promoting their recently released album A Song For All Seasons (1978), and following two of their most successful albums, Scheherazade and Other Stories (1975) and Novella (1977). Thus, they were pretty much at their peak here, and feature extended versions of songs from throughout their catalog in this 2-hour show. Unfortunately, however, this would essentially be the end of their 'classic' period, as in their subsequent album, Azure d'Or (1979) they would move away from lush orchestrations and long songs to more short songs and use of syntheisizers, This resulted in losing fans, lower sales, and being dropped by their record company. John Tout and Terryu Sullivan then left the band. Although the band continued into the '80's with additional albums (Camera Camera-1981 and Timeline-1983), their attempts to adjust to the times by moving toward a more synthpop and new wave style was not successful, leading to dissolving the band by the mid-eighties. Various attempts in the '90's to revive the band (with different bands led by Haslam and Dunford separately) were not very successful, But by 2000, a partial reunion with Haslam, Dunford, and Sullivan produced a new album, Tuscany, in 2001. Various other incarnations of a Renaissance-like band, mostly lead by Haslam) have gotten together throughout the subsequent years. Michael Dunford died of a cerebral hemorrhage in 20212 and John Tout died of lung failure in 2015, but Annie still continues on with a new line-up still performing the songs of Renaissance. But here, you can enjoy the unique and refreshing song stylings of this wonderful band still during their peak years.  

Tracklist:

01.Can You Hear Me?

02.Carpet Of The Sun

03.Things I Don't Understand

04.Northern Lights

05.Mother Russia

06.Day of the Dreamer

07.Midas Man

08.The Vultures Fly High

09.Running Hard

10.Song For All Seasons

11.Prologue

12.Ashes Are Burning

TT 121:57

Annie Haslam - lead vocals
Jon Camp - bass, vocals
John Tout - piano, keyboards
Michael Dunford - guitar
Terrance Sullivan - drums  

FLAC - Renaissance_1978-06-18_PassaicNJ_FLAC.rar

Mp3 - Renaissance_1978-06-18_PassaicNJ_mp3.rar

Renaissance - 1974-05-17 - Academy of Music, New York, NY (FM)

Renaissance

1974-05-17
Academy of Music, New York City, NY
FM broadcast recording (WNEW), very good quality

Available in both Lossless (FLAC) and mp3 (320 kbps) versions

Hearing Annie Haslam in the previously posted Intergalactic Touring Band (1977) project reminded me of how wonderful her vocals are (when she's singing worthy material) and that I haven't listened to her with Renaissance for quite some time (and also that I somehow haven't posted any Renaissance here previously). So, here is some classic Renaissance, from 1974.

Renaissance was an English progressive rock band that combined heavy influences from classical, folk, and jazz into their version of progressive rock, and focused on strong female vocals (from Annie Haslam) and a prominent role for piano and classically styled pieces. Renaissance was first formed in early 1969 by former Yardbirds musicians Keith Relf (guitar/vocals) and Jim McCarty (drums/vocals), who wanted the new band for experimentation with rock, folk, and classical forms. The original lineup also included bassist Louis Cennamo, pianist John Hawken, and Relf's sister Jane as an additional vocalist. They released their first album, self-titled Renaissance, later in 1969, and began work on a second album. But by mid-1970, Relf and McCarty left, and other personnel changes led to various temporary and short-lived lineups being brought in to keep the band going. Guitarist Michael Dunford and keyboardist John Tout joined in late 1970, and vocalist Annie Haslam came on board in early 1971. The album Prologue (1972) was the first to really get the attention of the growing progressive rock fan base, with its unique style and sound. But several more lineup changes continued before what is considered the 'classic' lineup was finalized in 1973, consisting of Haslam, Dunford, Tout, and Jon Camp (bass) and Terry Sullivan (drums), and the beginning of their most successful and celebrated albums [Ashes Are Burning (1973), Turn of the Cards (1974), Scheherzade and Other Stories (1975), Novella (1977), Azure d'Or (1979). Interestingly, this 'classic' lineup did not contain any of the original members of the band. 

Featured here is a great show from 1974, which was right around the time of the release of Turn of The Cards. This the show features many songs from that new album as well as the previous album Ashes Are Burning, and features a guest appearance from Wishbone Ash guitarist Andy Powell on the epic title track from that album (he also played on the album track itself), and also includes accompaniment.  by a 24-piece Orchestra (and this was the first time the band had played live with an orchestra). So, check out Renaissance from back in 1974. 

 

Tracklist:
disc one: 53:13
01: dj, intro music
02: Can You Understand?
03: Black Flame
04: Carpet Of The Sun
05: Cold Is Being
06: Things I Don't Understand
07: Running Hard
disc two: 40:08
01: Ashes Are Burning*
02: Mother Russia
03: Prologue
04: dj outro

Annie Haslam - vocals
Michael Dunford - Guitar
Jon Camp - Bass
John Trout - Keyboards
Terence Sullivan - Drums
with 24 piece orchestra
*w/ Andy Powell (Wishbone Ash) on guitar,
promoter Howard Stein on piano
 

 mp3 - Renaissance_1974-05-17_NYC_mp3.rar 

FLAC - Renaissance_1974-05-17_NYC_FLAC.rar