National Health - 1978-03-10 - Bordeaux, France

National Health
March 10th, 1978
Béret Cosmique, 
Bordeaux, France
Audience Master recording (by Erathostene), very good quality
Available in both Lossless (FLAC) and Mp3 (320 kbps) versions

Here's more from National Health, a couple years later, at a 1978 show, featuring songs from their 2nd album, Of Queues and Cures (1978), and more of their whimsically eclectic jazz/rock, with Phil Miller and Dave Stewart still there, but with Alan Gowen now gone (temporarily) and Pip Pyle on drums. Gowen would return after this tour (but then Stewart left) and continue until 1981, when Gowen died. After that, Stewart returned to do a final album with the band, D.S. Al Coda (1982), which featured primarily previously unreleased songs written by Gowen, as a tribute and finale for the band.  

Tracklist:
disc1
1-1. Also Sprach Zarathustra/The Bryden 2-Step (18:12)
1-2. The Lethargy Shuffle (11:40)
1-3. A Legend In His Own Lunchtime (12:02)
1-4. DS Improv/ The Collapso (7:21)
disc2
2-1. Dreams Wide Awake (12:33)
2-2. Mostly Twins and Trios (12:16)
2-3. Tenemos Roads (12:31)
2-4. Improv/ Elephants (18:50)
Total time : 01:46:38

Phil Miller - Guitar & Backing Vocals
Dave Stewart - Keyboards
John Greaves - Bass & Lead Vocals
Pip Pyle - Drums

FLAC - National Health_1978-03-10_Bordeaix_FLAC.rar

mp3 - National Health_1978-03-10_Bordeaix_mp3.rar
 

National Health - 1976-02-22 - Dundee, UK

National Health
February 22nd, 1976
Dundee, University of Dundee, UK
Soundboard recording, very good quality
Available in both Lossless (FLAC) and Mp3 (320 kbps) versions

Continuing with progressive rock bands associated with the Canterbury Scene in the '70's: In 1972, upon leaving Matching Mole, keyboardist Dave Sinclair and guitarist Phil Miller joined up with cousin Richard Sinclair again (who had also left Caravan by this time), along with Pip Pyle on drums to form the Canterbury jazz/rock band Hatfield and The North. However, Dave didn't stay long (returning to Caravan in 1973), and Dave Sinclair was replaced by keyboardist Dave Stewart. Hatfield and The North recorded 2 albums for Virgin (Hatfield & The North-1974, Rotter's Club-1975) before they split, with members Dave Stewart and Phil Miller, along with keyboardist Alan Gowen (from Gilgamesh), and drummer Bill Bruford (Yes, King Crimson) forming National Health in 1975. Bruford didn't stay long (as he was touring with both Genesis and Brand X around this time), and was replaced with Hatfield drummer Pip Pyle. Although the lineup shifted regularly (with a string of bass players and Stewart and Gowen alternately leaving and returning periodically), they recorded 2 albums in 1978 (National Health and Of Queues and Cures) and remained as a band until 1981 and the death of Gowen. A progressive, spacey, jazz/rock band that played lengthy, mostly instrumental compositions in the Canterbury groove, here's National Health in a show from 1976, while Bill Bruford was still with them.

Tracklist:
1. Tenemos Roads
2. Paracelsus
3. Trident Asleep
4. Clocks And Clouds
5. The Lethargy Shuffle
6. Agrippa
7. Elephants

Lineup:
Alan Gowen: Keyboards
Dave Stewart: Keyboards
Phil Miller: Guitar
Mont Campbell: Bass
Amanda Parsons: vocals
Bill Bruford: Drums

FLAC - National Health_1976-02-22_Dundee_FLAC.rar


mp3 - National Health_1976-02-22_Dundee_mp3.rar

Caravan - 1975-03-21 - Paris Theatre, London

Caravan
1975-03-21
Paris Theatre, London, UK
FM Broadcast Recording (BBC), excellent quality
Mp3 @ 320 kbps

Here's more Caravan, this one from an excellent 1975 radio show. Although more than half the show (2 songs) are songs already included in the previous 1974 show ('The Love in Your Eye' and 'For Richard'), these are excellent extended versions, and this show does feature 2 different songs ('The Dab Song Conshirtoe' from Cunning Stunts-1975, and the rousing audience participation fave 'Hoedown'). More great stuff from Caravan.

Tracklist:
1. Intro
2. The Love In Your Eye
3. For Richard
4. The Dab Song Conshirtoe
5. Hoedown
Total Time: 56:30

Musicians:
- Mike Wedgewood / bass
- Richard Coughtan / drums
- Geoff Richardson / violin, guitar
- Pye Hastings / guitar, vocals
- David Sinclair / keyboards

Caravan_1975-03-21_Paris Theatre_London.rar

Caravan - 1974-11-10 - Record Plant, Sausalito, CA

Caravan
1974-11-10
Record Plant, Sausalito, CA
FM broadcast recording, excellent qualty
Available in both Lossless (FLAC) and Mp3 (320 kbps) versions

Staying with progressive rock bands associated with the Canterbury Scene, here is Caravan, a band that featured a wonderful mix of rock, jazz, and folk, and deserved much more success and acclaim than they received. Caravan was formed in 1968 from the remnants of an earlier band, Wilde Flowers, after Robert Wyatt and Hugh Hopper had left to join The Soft Machine. The original lineup consisted of cousins David and Richard Sinclair (keyboards and bass/vocals, respectively), Pye Hastings (guitars/vocals), and Richard Coghlan (drums). In their first album, Caravan (1969), they were still finding their identity within the emerging progressive rock scene, but by their second album (and first on the Decca label), If I Could Do It All Over Again, I'd Do It All Over You (1970), they had settled into their signature sound and style, an intriguing mix of pop, gentle English folk, rock jams, jazz explorations, and eccentric and humorous tales. Their next album, In the Land of Grey and Pink (1971) became their most critically acclaimed, but struggled to find an audience. Frustrated by their lack of success, Dave Sinclair left the band to join Robert Wyatt in his new band, Matching Mole. Caravan added new keyboardist Steve Miller for their next album, Waterloo Lily (1972), which took them in a bluesier direction. But Miller's more straight jazz/blues style clashed with the rest of the band, and he was soon out. By 1973, Dave Sinclair returned to the band (Matching Mole didn't last long, followed by a short stint with Hatfield and The North), which had now also added Geoffrey Richardson on viola and flute (but Richard Sinclair was now gone, joining Hatfield and The North) for their next album, For Girls Who Grow Plump in the Night (1973), which was another highlight for the band, followed by a Live album with orchestra, Caravan and the New Symphonia (1974). Although gaining a dedicated following, the band could never quite break through to popular success. In 1974, and their first U.S. tour (now with Mike Wedgewood on bass), they attempted to make it in America, and following a successful tour, their next album Cunning Stunts (1975) did finally crack the charts in both the UK and U.S., but just barely. Sinclair left after that, and subsequent more mainstream albums Blind Dog at St Dunstans (1976) and Better By Far (1977) failed to expand their fanbase, resulting in the band calling it quits after that. An eighties revival of the band resulted in a couple of subsequent albums, but could not match the earlier band's ouput. But as seems to be the pattern, the original lineup reunited for an event in 1990, which re-ignited interest, and resulted in re-forming and touring shortly after, and various forms of the band has continued to play right up to the present.
Here we have the band in their first U.S. Tour in 1974, in an excellent radio broadcast recording featuring the band plying songs primarily from their excellent For Girls Who Grow Plump in the Night Album, along with some earlier favorites. A fine show from a wonderful band that never quite got their due.     

Tracklist:
1. Announcement by radio dj
2. Memory Lain, Hugh
3. Headloss
4. For Richard
5. Band introduction / Virgin On The Ridiculous
6. Be All Right
7. Chance Of A Lifetime
8. The Love In Your Eye

Total time 1:05:40

Pye Hastings - Guitar & Vocal
Geoffrey Richardson - Viola, Guitar, Flute
Dave Sinclair - Keyboards
Mike Wedgwood - Bass & Vocal
Richard Coghlan - Drums

FLAC - Caravan_1974-11-10_Record Plant_FLAC.rar
links updated 08/25/21
mp3 - Caravan_1974-11-10_Record Plant_mp3.rar

Gong - 1974-11-04 - Postaula, Bremen, Germany

Gong
1974-11-04
Postaula, Bremen, Germany
Pre-FM Recording, very good quality
Available in both Lossless (FLAC) and mp3 (320 kbps) versions

Going back to the early days of Soft Machine, when singer-guitarist Daevid Allen was denied re-entry into the UK following a French tour (1967), he settled in Paris, and along with his partner, vocalist Gilli Smyth, formed a new band, called Gong. Although both the personnel and style of the band shifted regularly through the early years and their first album (Magick Brother, 1970), by their 2nd album, Camembert Electrique (1971), they had established the sort of hippie, progressive, psychedelic/space-rock they became known for. Their next three albums (Flying Teapot-1972, Angel's Egg-1973, and You-1974) comprise the continuing story of their Radio Gnome Invisible trilogy, which chronicles the adventures of Zero the Hero, the Good Witch Yoni and the Pot Head Pixies from the Planet Gong (yes, it's that kind of band), and is generally considered the prime period of Gong. Although lineups still fluctuated regularly, this period featured the classic lineup of Daevid Allen (vovals, guitar), joined by Steve Hillage (guitar), Mike Howlett (bass), Didier Malherbe (saxes, flute), Tim Blake (synthesizers), Pierre Moerlen (drums, percussion), Mirelle Bauer (percussion), and Gilli Smyth (vocal improvisations). Most of this form of the band also participated in recording Steve Hillage's first solo album, Fish Rising, around this time. However, this stage of the band came to an end when in 1975, Daevid Allen suddenly refused to go on stage citing a "wall of force" preventing him doing so, and abruptly quit the band. Gong continued without him (and Tim Blake, who had quit earlier) but Steve Hillage was increasingly uncomfortable in the band without Allen, and left during the recording of their next album, Shamal (1976). At that time, the band was split into 2 factions, with Howlett wanting to continue with vocals, and Moerlen and his cohorts pushing for an all instrumental, more jazz fusion-focused band. Moerlen won out and began shaping the band into a mallet percussion-based progressive jazz-rock band. The first album under this new direction was Gazeuse! (1976, re-titled Expresso in North America). Although the band retained the name Gong for an additional album, Expresso II (1978), due to contractual reasons, this band had little in common with the original Gong, and subsequently changed it's name to Pierre Moerlen's Gong for all subsequent albums (more on them later). But Daevid Allen was not quite finished with Gong-related bands either, and would form and/or encourage several other incarnations in subsequent years, forming Planet Gong from Here & Now in 1977 and New York Gong in 1979, and Gilli Smyth (with Allen's approval) also formed Mother Gong around this time, all keeping the Gong sound going. In later years, Allen started Gongmaison in 1989, which eventually went back to just being Gong permanently in 1992, and has continued on in various forms since then, even after the deaths of Daevid Allen (2015) and Gilli Smyth (2016).
Here we have a great Pre-FM recording from the tale end of the classic period of the band, in late 1974 touring to support You, and featuring a variety of pieces from their Radio Gnome Invisible Trilogy, and various weirdness    

Tracklist:
01. Magick Mother Invocation / Master Builder
02. Perfect Mystery
03. Tropical Fish
04. I Never Glid Before
05. Sun Song (I Love It's Holy Mystery)
06. Flute Salad
07. Oily Way
08. Outer Temple Gliss
09. Inner Temple Gliss
    Gliss Gliss (Flying Teapot)
    A Sprinkling Of Clouds
10. You Can't Kill Me
11. On The Isle Of Everywhere
12. Get It Inner
13. Ya Never Blow Your Trip Forever
14. Why Don't You Try

Daevid Allen (guitar,voc)
Steve Hillage (guitar,voc)
Mike Howlett (guitar, bass)
Didier Malherbe (sax,flute)
Tim Blake (synth)
Laurie Allen (drums)
Miquette Giraudy (voc,dance)
Lisa Bois (percussion)
Venus Deluxe (Sound mixing)

FLAC - Gong_1974-11-04_Bremen_FLAC.rar


mp3 - Gong_1974-11-04_Bremen_mp3.rar

Soft Machine - 1975-01-10 - Enschede, The Netherlands

Soft Machine
1975-01-10
Vrijhof Cultuurcentrum, Universiteit Twente
Enschede, The Netherlands
Soundboard recording (unknown lineage), very good quality
Available in both Lossless (FLAC) and Mp3 (320 kbps) versions
 
Continuing with Soft Machine and the Canterbury Scene in the '70's: With original drummer Robert Wyatt's departure in late 1971 (and the formation of his new band, Matching Mole), followed by the loss of reeds man Elton Dean, Mike Ratledge was the last original member of the band left to carry on. So, in came John Marshall (drums) and Karl Jenkins (reeds, keyboards) for the recording of their sixth album (Six, 1973), and a further progression into jazz fusion. Bassist Hugh Hopper was then replaced by Roy Babbington for Seven (1973) as Jenkins took over the role of leader and primary composer. In 1975, another major change took place with the addition of fusion guitarist Alan Holdsworth, marking the debut of guitar as a prominent melody instrument to the band's sound, and the release of Bundles (1975). Although Holdsworth didn't stay long, guitar remained a prominent sound on their subsequent album Softs (1976), with John Etheridge replacing Holdsworth. But this was essentially the end of Soft Machine (for the time being), as original member Ratledge left during the recording of that album. However, the band did continue to tour into 1978. In the '80's, various members put together short-lived variations on the band, and later ('90's, '00's), various combinations and reunions of sorts formed under such band names as Soft Ware, Soft Works, and Soft Machine Legacy. Soft Machine Legacy was the longest-lasting of these (with John Etheridge, Elton Dean, Hugh Hopper, and John Marshall) releasing several albums through the mid-2000's, and continuing on even after further member losses (Dean died in 2006, replaced by Theo Travis; Hopper died in 2009, replaced by Roy Babbington), all the way to 2015. In 2015, the remaining band (Etheridge, Travis, Babbington, Marshall) went back to the original name, Soft Machine, and continues right up to the present day. The music featured here today is from the 1975 lineup that featured Alan Holdsworth and Karl Jenkins.
 
Tracklist:
CD 1
1. The Floating World
2. Bundles
3. Land Of The Bag Snake
4. Ealing Comedy
5. The Man Who Waved At Trains
6. Peff
7. North Point
8. Hazard Profile Pt. 1
9. Hazard Profile Pt. 2
10. Hazard Profile Pt. 3
11. Hazard Profile Pt. 4
12. Hazard Profile Pt. 5
CD 2
1. Four Gongs Two Drums
2. Improv 1
3. audience
4. Song Of Aeolus
5. Improv 2
Bonus:
6. Dave DiMartino interview with Mike Ratledge & Allan Holdsworth
   (East Lansing, Michigan, 3 November 1974)

Allan Holdsworth - guitar
Mike Ratledge - organ, synth
Karl Jenkins - oboe, sax, recorder, piano
Roy Babbington - bass
John Marshall - drums
 

FLAC - Soft Machine_1975-01-10_Enschede_Netherlands_FLAC.rar

mp3 - Soft Machine_1975-01-10_Enschede_Netherlands_mp3.rar
 

Soft Machine - 1970-1971 - Rotterdam, Breda, The Netherlands

Soft Machine
1970-10-24
De Doelen, Rotterdam, Netherlands
Plus:
1971-03-15
Het Turfschip, Breda, Netherlands
Soundboard recordings, very good quality
Rotterdam show available in both Lossless (FLAC) and Mp3 (320 kbps) versions
Breda show only available as Mp3 (320 kbps)

Soft Machine (originally The Soft Machine) were one of the pioneering psychedelic/progressive rock bands of the '60's with a free-form improvisational style that paved the way for what would become jazz-rock fusion. Originally formed in London in 1966 by Daevid Allen (guitar), Kevin Ayers (bass, guitar, vocals), Robert Wyatt (drums), and Mike Ratledge (organ, keyboards), Soft Machine were involved in the early UK Underground scene and developed a growing reputation around Europe. However, this form of the band didn't last long, as when returning from a series of gigs in France in 1967, Daevid Allen (an Australian) was denied entry to the UK due to overstaying his visa. So, Allen was out and went back to Paris and formed another influential prog rock band, Gong (more about them later). Soft Machine continued on as a trio for awhile, recording and releasing their first album (The Soft Machine, 1968), considered an essential root album of psychedelic/progressive rock/jazz fusion. However, Kevin Ayers also left the band (to record a solo album) following a successful US tour (as the opening act for Jimi Hendrix) in 1968, and was later replaced by Hugh Hopper, for the recording of their 2nd album (Volume Two, 1969). At this time they transitioned away from the more psychedelic aspects to all instrumental and more of a pure jazz fusion style. Saxophonist Elton Dean was added in late 1969 and this lineup remained for their next 2 albums (Third-1970, Fourth-1971). Third was notable for its 4 extended suites (One per side of the double album), and became their best-selling and one of their most famous albums. This is the timeframe of the included shows here, from late 1970 and early 1971 following the release of each of these albums featuring this line-up. But shortly after this, the line-up would change again, as Wyatt left the band before the end of 1971, and Dean would also leave in 1972, leaving Mike Ratledge as the only original member going forward. Soft Machine was one of the early and central bands of what became known as the Canterbury Scene, which referred to a loose assemblage of intertwined bands and musicians originally based in and around the Canterbury region in the '60's and early '70's, that developed their own improvisational progressive style, incorporating a certain whimsicality with touches of psychedelia into a progressive rock/jazz fusion. Other notable Canterbury scene bands included Gong, Caravan, Hatfield and the North, and National Health (more from some of these later). So, here is Soft Machine and the progressive-proto jazz fusion era of Wyatt, Ratledge, Hopper, and Dean. 
   
Tracklist:
1970-10-24
01. Teeth  8:26
02. Slightly All the Time > Kings And Queens  16:17
03. Esther's Nose Job  10:38
1971-03-15 (incomplete)
04. Facelift
05. Virtually
06. Fletcher’s Blemish
07. Out-Bloody-Rageous
08. Eamonn Andrews
09. All White
10. Pigling Bland

Elton Dean - alto sax, saxello
Hugh Hopper - bass
Mike Ratledge - keyboards
Robert Wyatt - drums

FLAC (1970-10-24 show only) - Soft Machine_1970-10-24_Rotterdam_FLAC.rar

Mp3 - (both shows together) - Soft Machine_1970-1971_Rotterdam,Breda_Netherlands_Mp3.rar
Links updated 08/25/21