Steve Hackett - 2013-10-11 - Keswick Theatre, Glenside, PA

Steve Hackett
2013-10-11
Keswick Theatre, Glenside, PAAudience Recording, Very Good Quality
Available in both Lossless (FLAC) and Mp3 (320 kbps) versions

Following the Genesis Revisited album and Mini Japan tour, Steve went right back to work on more varied and diverse musical projects, producing in short order another classical guitar album, this time with Orchestral backing (A Midsummer Night's Dream, 1997), an acclaimed progressive album featuring dark but beautiful themes (Darktown, 1999), a collaboration with his brother John (flute) on a tribute album to classical composer Erik Satie (Sketches of Satie, 2000), and an album of songs originally composed in 1986, many intended for a second GTR album that never happened (Feedback 86, 2000). He continued his musical journeys with progressive, classical, rock, and classical albums (To Watch the Storms-2003, Metamorpheus-2005, Wild Orchids-2006, and Tribute-2008). Following some difficult times with messy divorces from both his wife and his business manager (including several lawsuits and the dissolution of his Camino Records), Steve continued his resurgent streak of acclaimed progressive rock albums with Out of the Tunnel's Mouth (2009) and Beyond the Shrouded Horizon (2011), followed by teaming up with Chris Squire (Yes) for a one album collaboration dubbed Squackett (A Life within A Day-2012). Next, Steve returned to reviving and re-creating more of his classic Genesis tracks in an even more extensive journey through the Genesis catalog for the double album Genesis Revisited II, in 2012, which was a big hit with progressive fans, resulting in his highest chart success since his early solo days. Once again, these were sensational new versions of Genesis classics, including the epic 'Supper's Ready' and great, but lesser-known songs such as 'Can-Utility and the Coastliners', 'The Chamber of 32 Doors', and 'Return of the Giant Hogweed'. For this collection, rather than offer distinctly different variations on the originals as he did in the First Genesis Revisited project, Steve chose to more closely re-create the original arrangements with some updates, and looking forward to live performances. Steve said his primary reason for re-doing more of these Genesis classics was because he really wanted to perform them live. So, starting in 2013, Steve began his extensive Genesis Revisited II World Tour, which continued all through 2014 as well, and was widely acclaimed, and resulted in the release of two different live albums and DVD concert collections (Genesis Revisited: Live at Hammersmith, 2013, and Genesis Revisited: Live at Royal Albert Hall, 2014). presented here is a great show from the U.S. leg, midway through the tour. I have added a bonus track of 'The Chamber of 32 Doors', a great song that was played at several dates early in the tour, but later dropped from the setlist. Throughout, Steve's great new versions of these songs are more than just nostalgia, but sensational new additions to his Progressive output. 

Tracklist:
01. Watcher Of The Skies
02. Dancing With The Moonlit Knight
03. Fly On A Windshield
04. Return of the Giant Hogweed
05. The Musical Box
06. Horizons
07. Blood On The Rooftops
08. Unquiet Slumbers For Sleepers ...
09. ... In That Quiet Earth
10. Afterglow
11. Band Introduction
12. Fountain of Salmacis
13. I Know What I Like
14. Dance On A Volcano
15. Supper's Ready
Encores:
16. Firth Of Fifth
17. Myopia
18. Los Endos
Bonus track:
19. Chamber of 32 Doors (2013-05-11 - Cardiff)

Steve Hackett - Guitar(s)
Roger King - Keyboards
Lee Pomeroy - Bass
Gary O'Toole - Drums, Percussion, Vocals
Rob Townsend - Sax, Flute, Woodwinds
Nad Sylvan - Vocals

FLAC - Steve Hackett_2013-10-11_Glenside,PA_FLAC.rar

mp3 -  Steve Hackett_2013-10-11_Glenside,PA_mp3.rar

Steve Hackett & Friends - 1996-12-19 - Osaka, Japan - PRRP 0042A - A Friendly Fold

Steve Hackett & Friends
December 19, 1996
Osaka Kouseinenkin Hall, Osaka, Japan
(PRRP 0042A - A Friendly Fold)
Audience recording (remastered), Good quality
Available in both Lossless (FLAC) and mp3 (320 kbps) versions

Following his departure from GTR in late 1986, Steve Hackett went back to following his own musical directions (after GTR's brief brush with success and more mainstream rock). Steve's next album, Momentum (1988), was another full album of instrumental classical guitar pieces. Then Steve formed his own label, Camino Records, and released his first Live album, Time Lapse (1992). Next was Guitar Noir (1993), a mix of prog rock, classical, and atmospheric guitar with a darker tone. Next, Steve changed things up by releasing an entire album of Blues music, from traditional to his own brand of proggy-blues, Blues With A Feeling (1994). Then, for his next project, he went back to the music of Genesis, with a tribute to the music of his former band for Genesis Revisited (1996). The concept for this album came after talking with some fans, who assumed that he had turned his back on the music from his Genesis days (since he never played it in his concerts), and that he wanted nothing to do with it anymore. This bothered Steve, because he loved the music he had been a part of creating with Genesis in these days. So, he decided to do an album paying tribute to and inspired by some of the great old music from his Genesis days. He gathered other musicians with an affinity for such music, including former King Crimson, Yes, and Weather Report alums like John Wetton, Ian McDonald, Bill Bruford, and Chester Thompson to help out. The album consisted of several songs from his days in Genesis (from classics to more obscure gems), as well as some new ones inspired by that music, and one old previously unfinished song (by Peter Gabriel). The versions played on the album ranged from careful re-creations to new re-arrangements to fanciful re-imaginings, adding new chapters and variations to these classics. The album was very well-received by his fans. However, touring was another issue, as the schedules for most of his guest artists made it impossible for any extended tour. But, Steve was able to schedule 4 dates in Japan, with an all-star band of John Wetton, Ian McDonald, Julian Colbeck (Steve's current keyboard player, formerly with Zappa), and Chester Thompson. Those four shows were the only ones for that 1996 mini-tour, but what a show it was. The setlist mixed several of the Genesis Revisited tracks with various other of Steve's own songs, as well as some early King Crimson (For John and Ian) and even an Asia hit ('Heat of the Moment', but performed as an acoustic ballad). The First two nights (in Tokyo) were recorded and filmed, and were later released as both an album (The Tokyo Tapes, 1998) and a DVD. Certainly unique and memorable shows. The second two nights (in Osaka and Nagoya) became available as audience recordings. The PRRP (Progressive Rock Remasters Project) people remastered the available tapes and released them as PRRP 0042. I have included just the Osaka show here (because sound quality a bit better than Nagoya show, and the setlist was the same both nights), as it is representative. However, if there is interest in thwe Nagoya show (0042B), I can also post that.    

Tracklist:
Disc 1:
01 Watcher Of The Skies  9:26
02 Depth Charge  4:48
03 Firth Of Fifth  10:10
04 Battle Lines  6:56
05 Camino Royale  9:11
06 In The Court Of The Crimson King  7:51
07 Horizons  2:13
08 Walking Away From Rainbows  3:35
Total Time 54:10

Disc 2:
01 Heat Of The Moment  4:46
02 In That Quiet Earth  4:37
03 A Vampire (With A Healthy Appetite)  7:44
04 I Talk To The Wind  5:44
05 Shadow Of The Hierophant  4:21
06 Drum Solo  4:54
07 Los Endos  8:24
08 Blood On The Rooftops - Black Light  2:11
09 The Steppes  7:21
10 I Know What I Like  8:33
Total Time 58:35

Steve Hackett - Guitars, harmonica, Lead & backing Vocals
John Wetton - Bass, Guitar, Lead & Backing Vocals
Ian McDonald - Keyboards, Flute, Saxophone, Lead & Backing Vocals
Julian Colbeck - Keyboards & Backing Vocals
Chester Thompson - Drums & Percussion

FLAC - Steve Hackett_1996-12-19_Osaka_PRRP0042A_FLAC.rar

mp3 - Steve Hackett_1996-12-19_Osaka_PRRP0042A_mp3.rar
 

GTR (with Steve Hackett and Steve Howe opening acoustic sets) - 1986-07-21 - California Theatre, San Diego, CA

GTR
(With Steve Hackett and Steve Howe opening solo acoustic sets)
July 21, 1986 (1986-07-21)
California Theatre,
San Diego, California, USA
 Audience recording, good quality
Available in both Lossless (FLAC) and mp3 (320 kbps) versions

Back to my ongoing Progressive Rock feature, and continuing with the career of guitarist Steve Hackett. We last left Steve in the early 1980's. Following the Cured tour (1981), Steve went back to the studio to create Highly Strung (1983), which was his last album for Charisma (record label), was more "Prog" than the previous album, but still with a sort of prog-pop blend. Steve left Charisma due to his desire to do more varied and a wider range of styles (and less mainstream) of music. For his first album on his new label (Lamborghini Records), Steve released Bay of Kings (1983), which was a full album of acoustic instrumental classical guitar compositions, and the type of album Charisma refused to release. But Steve was back to rock (as well as Brazilian and world music influences) for his next album, Til We Have Faces (1984).
Then, in 1985, Steve teamed up with another renowned prog guitarist also named Steve, Steve Howe, formerly of Yes and Asia, to form the new Supergroup GTR. Hackett has said that the idea for the band came one day when the two Steve's had lunch and began lamenting the fact that the guitar had been largely replaced in eighties rock music by synthesizers, drum machines, and sequencers, and that they should work together try to bring the guitar back into the spotlight. The announcement of this coming together of these two legendary virtuoso guitarists to form a new band was greeted with much excitement and enthusiasm among progressive rock fans. In addition to Hackett and Howe the band consisted of Max Bacon on vocals, Phil Spalding on bass, and Jonathan Mover on drums. The album, GTR, was released in 1986, sold very well, going gold and producing a top 20 single, 'When The Heart Rules the Mind'. However, although it is a solid album and contains much guitar virtuosity, many fans (particularly progressive rock fans) were disappointed with the album, its slick, more mainstream rock production, and the feeling that the songs were just not up with the best by either of the two dynamic stars. They wanted and expected more from this collaboration. And yes, the style is certainly more in line with Asia and other '80's rock than the classic progressive rock of their earlier days. But the tour of the band featuring these superstars performing together was something else. Both Howe and Hackett were able to fulfill a long-held dream of theirs to open their show with an acoustic guitar set, which they did every night, Hackett, then Howe, and then a new acoustic duo with the two of them together, before each GTR show. The band setlist consisted of the entire GTR album with the addition of a couple Genesis/Hackett and Yes tracks to rile up the crowd. I saw them on their only tour in 1986, and it was a great show, but the highlight for me (and many others) was the opportunity to see each of them play their opening acoustic sets and their acoustic duo, just shear joy watching them play. However, by the end of the tour, Hackett was ready to move on to other things, and promptly quit the band. Howe began work on recording a second album without Hackett, but abandoned the project (and the band) after several tracks were finished, but never released (Tracks from the aborted second album, titled Nerotrend, is available as a bootleg). Thus, GTR was another one and done band. Once again, Hackett left in order to pursue more varied and less mainstream forms of music.  Here is a full (including opening sets) show from the U.S. leg of the GTR tour. It's not a great recording, but it is the best (unreleased) one that I have from this tour. In 2015, a deluxe edition of the GTR album was released that included a full live show (GTR songs only, not opening acoustic sets) as a second disc. They also released a live disc from their King Biscuit Flower Hour broadcast show. Those are probably the best quality live recordings available, but there are numerous audience recordings of several other shows available as bootlegs.

Tracklist:
Steve Hackett solo acoustic set
01.[01:15] Steve Hackett Introduction
02.[04:24] Traditional Exercise/Blood on the Rooftops
03.[03:27] Calmaria
04.[04:14] Cuckoo Cocoon/Caval Canti
05.[02:50] Bouree/Horizons - Steve Howe Introduction
Steve Howe solo acoustic set
06.[03:09] Surface Tension
07.[03:16] Mood For a Day
08.[02:39] Ram
09.[02:56] Second Initial
10.[03:39] Georgia's Theme
11.[03:40] Clap
12.[00:43] Hackett Introduction
Hackett and Howe Duet
13.[03:55] From a Place Where Time Runs Slow
GTR Set
14.[06:07] Jekyll and Hyde
15.[05:48] Here I Wait
16.[05:26] Prizefighters
17.[07:16] Imagining
18.[02:30] Hackett To Bits
19.[10:09] Spectral Mornings/After The Ordeal/In That Quiet Earth/I Know What I Like
20.[04:52] Toe the Line
21.[02:57] Sketches in the Sun
22.[05:00] Pennants
23.[09:06] Roundabout
24.[07:00] The Hunter
25.[07:45] You Can Still Get Through
26.[06:15] Reach Out (Never Say No)
27.[06:46] When a Heart Rules the Mind
Total 2:07:04

GTR
Steve Hackett : Lead Guitars, Acoustic Guitar and Backing Vocals
Steve Howe : Lead Guitars, Steel Guitar, Acoustic Guitar and Backing Vocals
Max Bacon : Lead Vocals
Jonathan Mover : Drums & Percussion
Phil Spalding : Bass Guitar
Special Guest:
Matt Clifford : Keyboards


FLAC - GTR_1986-07-21_San Diego_FLAC.rar

Mp3 - GTR_1986-07-21_San Diego_mp3.rar

Getting back to it

Ok, sorry to take so long to get back here. Didn't intend for my short 'Holiday Break' to last more than last 6 weeks, but several factors converged, ranging from family obligations, a lack of Internet access, extreme weather conditions, and even the extended U.S. Govt. shutdown, that made it very difficult to return or continue posting to the blog. But, I am back now, and ready to carry on. A new music post will follow very shortly. Welcome to 2019. Stay tuned.

BB's Christmas Collection-2018 - A BB Chronicles Christmas Compilation

BB's Christmas Collection 2018
A BB Chronicles Christmas Compilation
Various Artists & Recordings
Mp3 @ mostly 320 kbps (a few @ 192)

Taking a short Holiday break from the Progressive Rock features: It's the Christmas season and time for another of my biennial Christmas compilations (because every year is just a bit too much for this type of thing, every other year just about right). This year I've got a another wonderful overstuffed hodgepodge of eclectic selections for your seasonal enjoyment. This 2018 edition highlights cuts from several new holiday releases (2017-2018) from popular artists, including Eric Clapton, Michael McDonald, The Mavericks, Ingrid Michaelson, and Cheap Trick, as well some oldies, classics, and a healthy dose of power pop. A few of the traditional Christmas songs are included, but (as usual), the bulk are non-traditional. One mini-theme this year embraces some attempts to raise previous novelty songs to full-fledged serious Christmas fare, as with The Chipmunks' 'Christmas Don't be Late' (done as a ballad by She & Him), SNL's cheesy 'I Wish It Was Christmas Today' (with full rock treatment by Cheap Trick), The Beatles fragment 'Christmas Time is Here Again' (fleshed out as a mashup with 'Flying' and "Baby You're A Rich Man' by The Weeklings), and Slade's 'Merry Xmas Everybody' (polished up into a power pop beauty by Sloan). Also included is a nod to my recent progressive rock features, with a couple holiday tracks from Yes veterans Jon Anderson and Chris Squire, as well as a holiday remembrance to the departed Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin. Also, I have to give a special Thank You (and apology?) to Angelo from the Power Pop Criminals blog, because I leaned heavily on (stole?) several tracks from his own 2017 Power Pop Christmas Compilation (Very Merry Christmas), as he really knows Power Pop and does these things so very well (with inclusion of great songs by bands I never would have known), so great job there (and check his blog for all the previous years of great compilations and other stuff). Being pressed for time, I put this together really quickly, but I think it turned out great (at least I am really enjoying it). Anyway, hope you all check this out and enjoy it. Merry Christmas to all and wishes for a very Happy Holiday season!

Tracklist [# title-artist(album-yr)]:
01. At Christmas Time - Dan Fogelberg (The First Christmas Morning-1999)
02. Christmas Time Is (Coming 'Round Again) - The Mavericks (Hey! Merry Christmas!-2018)
03. Christmas Time - Jeremy (Very Merry Christmas-PPC Compilation-2017)
04. Christmas Time is Here Again - The Weeklings (Very Merry Christmas-PPC Compilation-2017)
05. It's Christmas - Eric Clapton (Happy Xmas-2018)
06. What Christmas Means To Me - Stevie Wonder (Someday at Christmas-1967)
07. Merry Christmas Time - Somerdale (Very Merry Christmas-PPC Compilation-2017)
08. Happy, Happy Christmas - Ingrid Michaelson (Songs for the Season-2018)
09. Something Bout This Time Of Year - Mike Daly (Very Merry Christmas-PPC Compilation-2017)
10. Christmas Dream - The Grip Weeds (Very Merry Christmas-PPC Compilation-2017)
11. Merry Xmas Everybody - Sloan (Very Merry Christmas-PPC Compilation-2017)
12. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen - Crash Test Dummies (Jingle All The Way-2002)
13. Joy to the World - Aretha Franklin (Joy to the World (2006)
14. Riu Chiu - The Monkees (The Christmas Album-2007)
15. Christmas Christmas - Cheap Trick (Christmas Christmas-2017)
16. Remember (Christmas) - Harry Nilsson (Son of Schmilsson-1972)
17. The Christmas Dance - Ringo Starr (I Wanna Be Santa Claus-1999)
18. The Flower Carol (Good King Wenceslas) - David Grisman Acoustic Christmas-1983)
19. White Christmas - Eric Clapton (Happy Xmas-2018)
20. Christmas Don't Be Late - She & Him (Christmas Party-2016)
21. I Wish It Was Christmas Today - Cheap Trick (Christmas Christmas-2017)
22. Ding Dong Merrily On High - Jon Anderson (3 Ships-1985)
23. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas - Michael McDonald (Season of Peace:The Christmas Collection-2018)
24. A Very Merry Christmas - The Beatphonics (Very Merry Christmas-PPC Compilation-2017)
25. Day Of Days - Jon Anderson (3 Ships-1985)
26. Run With the Fox - Chris Squire (Chris Squire's Swiss Choir-2007)
27. Winter Wonderland (feat. Jake Shimabukuro) - Michael McDonald (Season of Peace:The Christmas Collection-2018)
28. Hey! Merry Christmas! - The Mavericks (Hey! Merry Christmas!-2018)

One other note: I've always thought Stevie Wonder's 'What Christmas Means to Me' was a great contemporary Christmas song that has been underappreciated and underutilized (few covers). So, I was delighted to see it get some respect and inclusion in multiple new Christmas releases this year, including new versions done by Pentatonix, John Legend, and Michael McDonald, and intended on including the best of these new versions on my new compilation. However, after hearing them, none quite captured the essence and spirit (or coolness) of the original version, so I (of course) went back and included the original 1967 Stevie Wonder version instead. Sometimes you just can't improve on the original.

New Link! Updated 09/29/23
BB's Christmas Collection-2018.rar

 

Reminder of all the previous Christmas & Holiday music here

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all!

Check out the new Christmas offerings for this year. But don't forget about all my previous Christmas-related collections and posts! There are plenty of Christmas, Winter, Holiday-related posts and downloads available here. So, if you haven't previously checked out my delightful and eclectic Christmas collections, I invite you to do so now (links to those pages below). In addition, there are several other Christmas-related shows and compilations that have been posted previously. To see all the Christmas-related posts check here. As I've said before, personally, I love Christmas music of all types, classical, rock, pop, jazz, etc., from the traditional to the outrageous, the serious to the silly, the classics to the newest ditties, and these compilations contain some of my favorites. Enjoy the season while it lasts. 



BB's Christmas Collection 2018 - New, Old, and Revived


BB's Chronicles Christmas Collections 2016 (featuring 2 full collections - Bright and Blue)


BB's Christmas Chronicle 2014 - Tiny Tree Christmas


BB Chronicles Holiday Sampler 2012 - No Rest for Ye Merry Gentlemen


BB Chronicles Echlectic Christmas Chollection 2010


Other Christmas posts:

Aimee Mann and Ted Leo Christmas Shows: 2014 - Boston ; 2015 - Boston

Bruce Springsteen Live Christmas compilations

Chicago - 1998 Christmas show

Bill Kirchen's Honky Tonk Holiday Party - 2010 - Northampton, MA 

All links recently updated! Enjoy!.

Steve Hackett - 1981-10-20 -The Agora, Clevelend OH

Steve Hackett
1981-10-20
The Agora, Cleveland, OH, USA
Cured Tour 
Soundboard recording (Remastered SHRP-08), very good quality
Available in both Lossless (FLAC) and Mp3 (320 kbps) versions
     
Continuing with virtuoso progressive guitarist Steve Hackett: After the success of Spectral Mornings (1979) and its subsequent tour, Steve followed up with Defector (1980), which became his highest charting album in the UK. After that he followed with somewhat of a change of pace, with Cured (1981). First, for Cured, Steve changed his backing band, keeping only keyboardist Nick Magnus (and his brother John) from the previous group, and used mostly programmed drum tracks throughout (It was essentially a multi-layered duo of Hackett and Magnus on most songs). In addition, although previously Steve had mostly relied on other vocalists to sing lead, he did all the lead vocals himself this time. And although Cured still displayed plenty of progressive rock, it also featured shorter songs and a more upbeat pop-rock style. The result was a refreshing change of pace providing many new songs and more emphasis on vocals. For the Cured tour, Steve added a new bass player and drummer, and hit the road. The show featured here is a great soundboard recording from his 1981 American tour, and in addition to popular songs from the earlier albums, Steve added 4-5 new songs from each of The Defector and Cured albums, resulting in a great show and great song selection. I added an additional Cured song from another show on the tour as a bonus track, as this song was only played at a limited number of shows.

Tracklist:
01. The Air-Conditioned Nightmare 05:32
02. Jacuzzi    05:45
03. Funny Feeling 05:12
04. Ace Of Wands 08:16
05. Picture Postcard 08:16
06. The Steppes 06:54
07. Every Day 07:01
08. The Red Flower Of Tachai / Tigermoth 06:24
09. Horizons 02:43
10. Kim 02:20
11. Overnight Sleeper 04:30
12. Slogans    06:30
13. A Tower Struck Down 03:18
14. Spectral Mornings 08:15
15. Land Of A Thousand Autumns / Please Don't Touch 09:19
16. Band Intro 00:42
17. The Show 04:42
18. Clocks 06:58
Bonus Track
1981-12-07 - Vancouver, B.C. (FM Broadcast)
19. Hope I Don't Wake

Steve Hackett - Guitars / Vocals
Nick Magnus - Keyboards
Chas Cronk - Bass
Ian Mosley - Drums
John Hackett - Flute / Bass pedals

FLAC - Steve Hackett_1981-10-20_Cleveland_FLAC.rar

mp3 - Steve Hackett_1981-10-20_Cleveland_mp3.rar