Eddie and the Hot Rods
Radio Stars
Squeeze
Live at the Top Rank, Brighton, February 15th 1978
Gary and AndyhÕs master cassettes > Audacity > WAV > FLAC > Here!
These three torrents make up the whole bill for the first night of the ÒLife On The LineÓ tour; Eddie and the Hot Rods, Radio Stars and Squeeze. This show was at the Top Rank Suite, Brighton, UK, on Wednesday, February 15th 1978. I think the tickets were £1.25.
We recorded the shows on a nameless, generic stereo cassette recorder with two of the cheapest microphones known to man, from the centre of the balcony, directly facing the stage.
The sound is good, all things considered. There is a full, room sound and a strong mix throughout. There was always good sound at the Top Rank.
The headliners had just released their second album and were at the height of their powers. In truth, their time at the top was beginning to run out.
Second on the bill was Radio Stars, a band whoÕd had a couple of minor underground hits that grazed the charts with their novelty value. Nonetheless, they were great musicians and, with Andy Ellison on vocals, had someone with a real pedigree; he was in JohnÕs Children with Marc Bolan in the sixties. Things were expected to get better for this band, but they too stalled after another couple of albums.
Bottom of the bill was a band that very few of the nightÕs punters had heard much about. It was pretty obvious from the start that they could play; this lot were serious musicians. Jools Holland was still in the band. As it turned out, Squeeze outlasted the two bands above them on the bill.
This tour was very much of its time really. Every band that was new back then, was deemed to be a New Wave, or even a Punk, band. Spitting was rife and, by 1978, the bands were getting very pissed off with it, as youÕll hear.
There will be artwork to follow, and mp3 samples as well.
Feel free to listen to this in whatever digital format suits you. What business is it of mine?
Squeeze
1. Sex Master
2. Bang Bang
3. Strong In Reason
4. Model
5. The Call
6. First Thing Wrong
7. Backtrack
8. Cat On A Wall
Total playing time: 27.35
Chris Difford, guitar, vocals, Glenn Tilbrook, guitar, vocals, Jools Holland, keyboards, Harry Kakoulli, bass, Gilson Lavis, drums.
Radio Stars
1. Intro
2. Good Personality
3. Talking ÔBout You
4. Is It Really Necessary
5. Arthur Is Dead Boring (LetÕs Rot)
6. The Beast of Barnsley
7. Nice Girls
8. Eric
9. Nervous Wreck
10. Johnny Mekon
11. No Russians In Russia
Total playing time: 32.00
Andy Ellison, vocals, Martin Gordon, bass, Ian MacLeod, guitar, Steve Parry, drums
Eddie & the Hot Roads
1. Intro - Pomp and Circumstance
2. Money
3. Telephone Girl
4. 96 Tears
5. WhatÕs Really Going On
6. Quit This Town
7. I Might Be Lying
8. Schoolgirl Love
9. Life On The Line
10. Why CanÕt It Be?
11. The Kids Are Alright
12. Do Anything You Wanna Do
13. Ignore Them
14. Beginning Of The End
15. Get Out Of Denver
Total playing time: 58.12
Barrie Masters, vocals, Dave Higgs, guitar, Graeme Douglas, guitar, Paul Gray, bass, Steve Nicol, drums.
Gary and Andy's master cassettes
Recorded on a nameless, generic stereo cassette recorder with two of the cheapest microphones known to man, from the centre of the balcony, directly facing the stage. The sound is good, all things considered. There is a full, room sound and a strong mix throughout. There was always good sound at the Top Rank.
Barrie Masters, vocals, Dave Higgs, guitar, Graeme Douglas, guitar, Paul Gray, bass, Steve Nicol, drums.