Peter Gabriel - San Jacinto [Plays Live] | jt1674

 

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ARTIST OF THE WEEK: Dick Jewell at Grace Mews

Dick Jewell won’t remember but he was one of the first artist’s books I stocked at MOMAOxford when I first ran the Bookshop there and he brought me copies of his wonderful ‘Found Photos’ (still a treasured possession) 

This started me on a mildly obsessive compulsive quest and found that I too found photos quite often in the street. I looked behind photo booths (still do and every time I read about Dick’s career I think to start again!) but it brought scant results maybe things were more productive where he was living then. 

My old friend and then Assistant Director at MOMAO

, Marco Livingstone, who confided he too found many discarded photos (many of his I still have) and I wondered about doing a companion volume or approaching Dick with our own found work. The only slight snag was that Marco (I am sure he won’t mind me saying!?) and my own finds were almost exclusively unpublishable filthy! Something about being near MOMAO in central Oxford perhaps but I found envelopes of pictures of a masochist doing quite unspeakable things to himself discarded in the street that I best not describe here! Marco also found some heart breaking discarded shots that featured often semi-clad young women with their faces obliterated or torn fragments thereof and scribbled over some showing intimate details of the body so that such a proposed volume for Dick would have needed an ‘X’ rating! I still have a mini-collection of Marco's and my found photos and it is all Dick Jewell's fault!! 

DICK JEWELL.COM

Peter Gabriel, 1979

© Dick Jewell. Courtesy of Grace’s Mews

(via Dick Jewell, the Artist Exploring the Bizarre Role of Images Today) 

https://www.gracesmews.com

More on Dick’s Found Photos here at Ian Walker

Peter Gabriel - BBC Sessions, Volume 4: In Concert - Mermaid Theatre, London UK 10-19-2011

Peter Gabriel - BBC Sessions, Volume 4: In Concert, Mermaid Theatre, London, Britain, 10-19-2011

Solisbury Hill 2011

Paul says: Here's the fourth and final album of Peter Gabriel performing for the BBC. (At least the fourth so far.) It's different from most Peter Gabriel concerts in that he is backed by a full orchestra.

Earlier in the month of October 2011, Gabriel released a new studio album, "New Blood." It consisted of orchestral re-recordings of songs from earlier in his music career. This concert is basically a live version of that album. But one key difference is he talked a lot between songs to explain their meanings. 

There also is a live album from this tour, called "Live Blood." But it's quite different, with a much longer run time. 

Note that a 2004 concert in Milan, Italy, was also broadcast by the BBC. But this was later released as the live album "Growing Up Live," which is widely available, so I didn't see the need to post that here.

This unreleased album is an hour and 16 minutes long.

01 talk 
02 Heroes 
03 talk 
04 Wallflower 
05 Intruder 
06 talk 
07 San Jacinto 
08 Signal to Noise 
09 talk 
10 Downside Up 
11 Mercy Street 
12 talk
13 The Rhythm of the Heat 
14 talk 
15 Father, Son
16 Red Rain
17 Solsbury Hill 
18 talk
19 Don't Give Up 
20 talk 

Peter Gabriel - Heroes (Live in Verona 2010)

 . . . and a message to everyone struggling with the politics of the day, the war and famine and loss, the mental health and state of play thtroughout the planet. STOP THE WAR NOW

Don’t Give Up - Peter G 2011 Live in London

Peter Gabriel ‘Steam' and ‘Your Eyes’ 1993 [Secret World Live]

 And again someone posted these clips (of 1.37 -1.45 minutes only) of Peter G at SNL . . . .do SNL not allow these on YouTube? It is ridiculous to post snippets! One is even the Peter G official Facebook page!

So here the versions from that year Secret World Live

Taken from the Secret World Live concert film, which captures Peter Gabriel’s extraordinary 1993 live show – conceived by Peter and Robert Lepage – was filmed across two nights (16 & 17 November) at the Palasport Nuovo in Modena, Italy. The Secret World Live tour itself was in support of Peter’s sixth solo album, US.

This performance of 'In Your Eyes' is taken from Peter Gabriel's 'Secret World Live' concert film and features the late, great Papa Wemba. 

more Friday Musics | Peter G - Solsbury Hill (early!)

Peter Gabriel - ”Solsbury Hill” Live on Rockpalast 1978

Love this and we love Peter too

Peter Gabriel – vocals

Tony Levin – bass, vocals

Jerry Marotta – drums, vocals

Sid McGuiness – guitar, vocals

Larry Fast – synthesiser

Timmy Capello – keyboard, saxophone

Kate Bush - Christmas Special 1979 (Private Remaster) + Peter Gabriel | AQUARIUM DRUNKARD

 BOXING DAY YOU SAY?
OK! . . . . . . .  ALRIGHTY THEN . . . . . . . . 

Marianne loves Christmas! (Faithful that is O come ye, O come ye . . . . )

Now I am really not a Kate Bush fan and at the present moment that is tantamount to saying your a fan of Satan as opposed to Santa!! But I won’t go into why here . . . . . . . . well, not today anyway

There are lots of fans out there I am assured and this is a rare treat for fans and I AM a fan of Peter Gabriel and of course of AQUARIUM DRUNKARD who posted this

the whole article is well worth a read as ever this one by e hehr

Here . . . . . 

the-kate-bush-christmas-special-feat-peter-gabriel-1979

PETER GABRIEL, Larkin Poe, Harry Styles

 "SLEDGEHAMMER"

People posted a cover of Peter Gabriel's classic 'Sledgehammer' by duo Larkin Poe and it is nice enough I guess but I do find it funny that people find the  . . .what shall we call it? chutzpah? cojones? sheer effrontery!? ha ha ha  . . . . lets be kind and call it bravery, to cover classic pop songs when the definitive version by the master and the person who wrote it is still being performed and a significant part of their live set from the late 80s when it was written to their still doing it now! My caution is think very long and hard about whether you are good enough to cover such a song! Consider that maybe you are but also that you are nowhere near good enough to make it unique! If you can't make it unique but some kind of pub duo busking version what's the point? Make it unique like Hendrix did for Bobby's "All Along The Watchtower' or don't bother!

Someone who has covered it and surprised me by making it reverential and so close to the original it endears as it comes over as respectful (he did record it in Peter G's legendary recording studio! Real World Studios in Box, Wiltshire) and proves he can REALLY sing! is Harry Styles version . . . . . . . . . so  here we go!

LARKIN/POE

HARRY STYLES

Now there are some great versions on the net by Peter G (YouTube really) and one from '87 shortly after been written and the one from 'Growing Up Live' is great too but my favourite is this one from the Back To Front tour (2014?) TURN IT UP!

PETER G - LIVE!

On this day in music history: June 9, 1983 - “Plays Live”, the first live album (fifth overall) by Peter Gabriel is released. Produced by Peter Gabriel and Peter Walsh, it is recorded circa Autumn 1982. The sixteen track double album features live performances recorded during Gabriel’s 1982 tour of the US and Canada in support of the “Peter Gabriel 4”(aka “Security”) album. The album also includes the studio recorded track “I Go Swimming” (#38 Mainstream Rock) which receives significant airplay. “I Don’t Remember” is also issued as a single in both the US and UK. When the album is originally issued on CD in 1985 it is in edited form (as “Plays Live - Highlights”) so that it fits on one disc. In 2002, it finally is released in its complete original form as a two CD set. “Plays Live” peaks at number eight on the UK album chart and number forty four on the Billboard Top 200.

Help support the Behind The Grooves music blog with a donation by clicking on the link at: PayPal.Me/jharris1228

PETER GABRIEL 

- Growing Up Live 2016

Full Concert

Must have missed this and this is what I am listening to at the moment
Superb sound quality

Drink up dreamers, you're running dry . . . . . . . . 




Voodoo Wagon have an earlier who from Peter G from 1993

Peter Gabriel - Berlin 1993 Voodoo Wagon

the latest newsletter from Peter G after the summer has appeared this morning with lots of exciting stuff in it and it is essential to fans of Peter's work . . . . . . got to his website to subscribe

Highlights include for me this:

Daring to Dream Hipgnosis was the, now legendary, British art house and photo design studio co-founded by Aubrey Powell and concept artist and photographer Storm Thorgerson in London in 1968. Their radical, innovative ideas and complex, often surreal photographic images revolutionized album sleeve design forever.

To celebrate Hipgnosis’ 50th anniversary, Browse Gallery Berlin – in co-operation with Aubrey Powell – are presenting an exhibition, featuring many of the studio’s most recognisable album covers – including those created with and for Peter. Read more about the exhibition, which runs until the end of the month, and the legacy of Hipgnosis here

The image above, and the one in the header of this email, are by photographer Clive Arrowsmith, and they both feature in the forthcoming exhibition at the Museum of Bath Architecture, Peter Gabriel Reflections: Iconic Photographs in Bath. In 1978 Clive Arrowsmith photographed Peter in a number of key architectural locations around Bath, such as the Abbey and Roman Baths and near Solsbury Hill.

"As we were walking back to the road I stopped in the field and photographed Peter again after noticing the long Giacometti style shadow his figure cast across the grass in the evening light. I was sitting in the boot of the car holding my Nikon as he jogged towards the car and we drove slowly away from him. What a strange surrealistic day with an amazing artist." Read more of Clive Arrowsmith's memories of the shoot

Clive had first photographed Peter for Vogue in the early 70s and the Bath shoot was their second shoot together, pursuing a more surrealistic and intimate vision than their first. Many of the images on show at the exhibition have never been seen before. The exhibition opens on 1 December.

Reflections: Iconic Photographs in Bath

Spotify links here

Real World subscription here Peter's website here . . . .

Naturally Peter G at his peak and this we bought on release was no exception turn it RIGHT up!

On this day in music history: July 26, 1986 - “Sledgehammer” by Peter Gabriel hits #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for 1 week. Written by Peter Gabriel, it is the biggest hit for the British singer and songwriter. Influenced by 60’s soul music, especially the Memphis soul sound pioneered by Stax Records, Gabriel hires the Memphis Horns (Andrew Love and Wayne Jackson) to play on the track, as well as features former Ikette P.P. Arnold, Dee Lewis and Coral Gordon on background vocals. Other musicians including Tony Levin (bass), Manu Katche (drums), and David Rhodes (guitar) also play on the track. The songs highly innovative and award winning music video directed by Stephen R. Johnson (“Pee Wee’s Playhouse”) also features contributions from the Aardman Animation Studio (“Wallace & Gromit”) and the Brothers Quay. The video is filmed using a stop motion camera technique in which Gabriel’s movements and lip synch are filmed one frame at at a time while lying on his back, under a sheet of plate glass for up to sixteen hours a day for eight days. The process is painstaking and slow, and the clip takes over a month to complete. Released as the first single from Gabriel’s fifth studio album “So” in April of 1986, “Sledgehammer” becomes an immediate hit. Entering the Hot 100 at #89 on May 10, 1986, it climbs to the top of the chart eleven weeks later. The video for “Sledgehammer” wins an unprecedented nine MTV VMA awards (still the record holder for the most wins in a single year), and by 2011 becomes the most played clip in the history of the channel. "Sledgehammer" is later sampled by 3rd Bass as the basis of their hit single “Pop Goes The Weasel” in 1991.

thanks as ever to Jeff Harris at his wondrous Behind The Grooves

PETER G - 'So!'

On this day in music history: May 19, 1986 - “So”, the fifth studio album by Peter Gabriel is released. Produced by Daniel Lanois and Peter Gabriel, it is recorded at Ashcombe Studios, near Bath, England from May 1985 - March 1986. It is Gabriel’s second collaboration with producer Lanois (having worked together on the “Birdy” Soundtrack in 1984), the songs are a mixture of his more experimental progressive rock sounds and world music combined with more radio friendly, pop oriented material. The results will yield his biggest selling album, spinning off five singles including “Sledgehammer” (#1 US Pop, #4 UK), “Big Time” (#8 US Pop, #13 UK), and “In Your Eyes” (#26 US Pop). The albums cover artwork is designed by graphic artist Peter Saville (New Order, Factory Records), and is the first to feature a clear photo of Gabriel on the front. It is also the first of his solo albums to bear a proper title, which he comes up with off the cuff, liking its simplicity and the fact that it had no specific meaning. In 1989, “In Your Eyes” is prominently featured in the Cameron Crowe written and directed film “Say Anything”, in a highly memorable scene featuring actor John Cusack, blasting song on a boombox outside his girlfriend’s (Ione Skye) window. The songs exposure in the film and soundtrack album, leads to it being re-released and charting a second time, peaking at #41 on the Hot 100 in July of 1989. In 2012, a three CD reissue to commemorate the album’s twenty fifth anniversary is released, containing a remastered version of the original album and a live concert recorded in Athens, Greece in 1987 during the “So World Tour”. A further box set edition is also released including the aforementioned contents along with a disc of demo recordings, two DVD’s including the Athens concert, the Classic Albums documentary on the making of the album, a remastered vinyl pressing of the LP, and a vinyl 12" single including two unreleased tracks and an alternate piano version of “Don’t Give Up”. “So” hits number one on the UK album album chart, peaking at number two on the Billboard Top 200, and is certified 5x Platinum in the US by the RIAA.

I love 'So'  and think it is Peter Gabriel's best album (prolly!) and yes thanks to artist Graham Dean who turned me onto his work early on I bought this when it came out largely thanks to the video and single of ''Big Time' -  I think he is a true artist and renaissance man not to say polymath from his computer groundbreaking work, his advocating of Third World Musics (WOMAD and Real World Records) peace envoy and award winner, composer and rock musician! Extraordinary man!

Because it's Saturday . . . . . .Peter G

I was never a Genesis fan - they always seemed to try too hard, too self aware, too smug or middle class too knowing and too smart somehow too ex-public schoolboy . . . . . . I don't know
the best thing Peter G ever did was to leave IMHO and I followed everything he did since leaving and thought this was a song that made me sit up and take notice . . . well most of them did. Look what the band did without him!? The drummer takes over vocals, I guess he has his followers but . . . . . . . pas pour moi. That Mike and The Mechanics should do something worth listening to later, oh so much later, speaks volumes to me

On this day in music history: February 25, 1977 - “Peter Gabriel 1 (Car)”, the debut solo album by Peter Gabriel is released. Produced by Bob Ezrin, it is recorded at The Soundstage in Toronto, Canada from July 1976 - January 1977. Following his departure from Genesis in 1975, Gabriel takes an extended hiatus to spend with his family and write material for what becomes his first solo effort. The album features Gabriel backed by a group musicians that include King Crimson guitarist Robert Fripp and bassist Tony Levin. The first single “Solsbury Hill” (#13 UK, #68 US Pop) is an autobiographical account of his feelings about leaving his former band Genesis. The album’s closing track “Here Comes The Flood” is later re-recorded by Gabriel in 1990 for the hits compilation “Shaking The Tree”. The album is released without a title (the first of four that are untitled), it becomes known by fans as “Car” due to the LP’s cover art that features a photograph of the back end of a car (taken by Peter “Sleazy” Christopherson of Hipgnosis) with a photo of Gabriel superimposed in the back window. First released on CD in 1987, the album is remastered and reissued in 2002. It is also reissued as a limited edition vinyl LP by audiophile label Classic Records the same year. Another limited issue released as a double vinyl set mastered at 45 RPM is issued in 2009 by Classic Records. Most recently, another double vinyl 45 RPM set is released on Gabriel’s Real World Records in 2015. “PG 1 (Car)” peaks at number seven on the UK album chart, number thirty eight on the Billboard Top 200, and is certified Gold in the US by the RIAA.

thanks to the most excellent Jeff Harris' blog 'Behind The Grooves

Don't think I bought this when it came out but the album later and this single stuck in my head for the extraordinary brilliant video. I had begun to believe this was the artwork of the future 
Always admired Peter G and 'Us' and 'So' must be up there in the pantheon . . . .  great artist and musical ambassador via his work to spread the word about World Musics through his founding WOMAD etc

On this day in music history: September 29, 1992 - “Us”, the sixth album by Peter Gabriel is released (UK release is on September 28, 1992). Produced by Daniel Lanois and Peter Gabriel, it is recorded at Real World Studios in Box, Wiltshire, UK from October 1989 - June 1992. Issued as the long awaited follow up to his breakthrough album “So”, the songs explore the numerous issues in Gabriel’s personal life, including the break up of his first marriage, his relationship with actress Rosanna Arquette, and growing distance in his relationship with oldest daughter Anna-Marie. It spins off three singles including “Digging In The Dirt” (#24 UK, #52 US Pop), “Kiss That Frog” (#46 UK) and “Steam” (#10 UK, #32 Pop). The music videos for “Digging In The Dirt” and “Steam” win Gabriel Grammy Awards for Best Shortform Video in 1993 and 1994. The musician also supports the album with the “Secret World Live” Tour which is documented with a concert video (also winning a Grammy Award for Best Longform Music Video in 1996) and album released in 1994. The album is remastered and reissued on CD and as a double vinyl LP in 2002, and again on CD in 2010 when Gabriel reacquires the rights to his master tapes from Virgin and Geffen Records. A limited edition, numbered double vinyl LP pressing, mastered at 45 RPM is released in 2016, with a standard half speeded mastered 33 1/3 double vinyl set following in 2017. “Us” debuts in its peak position of number two on the Billboard Top 200, and is certified Platinum in the US by the RIAA.

PETER GABRIEL - JEUX SANS FRONTIERS

singles bought when they came out . . . . . . .another from Jeff Harris' wonderful music blog 

On this day in music history: May 30, 1980 - “Peter Gabriel 3” (aka “Melt”), the third studio album by Peter Gabriel is released. Produced by Steve Lillywhite, it is recorded in Bath, UK with the Manor Mobile Studio, and The Town House in London from Summer and Autumn 1979 - Winter 1980. With his first two albums receiving critical acclaim, but only garnering modest sales in the US, Atlantic Records drops Peter Gabriel from their roster at the suggestion of A&R man John Kolodner. Kolodner hears Gabriel’s third album, believing that it “isn’t commercial enough”. Mercury Records acquires the rights to release the album in the US. It features guest appearances from musicians such as Kate Bush, Paul Weller, and Gabriel’s former Genesis band mate Phil Collins who plays drums and sing background vocals on several tracks. Like his previous two albums, it is issued without an official title. It becomes known as “Melt” because of the cover photo by Hipgnosis which features a Polaroid snapshot of Gabriel that has been rubbed with a pencil eraser while developing, smearing the emulsion. It spins off three singles including “I Don’t Remember” (#107 US Pop) and “Games Without Frontiers” (#4 UK, #48 US Pop). With the album becoming Gabriel’s biggest seller to date, John Kolodner realizes his error in having the musician dropped from Atlantic, and signs him to Geffen Records in 1981 after he becomes the head of A&R for the label. Reissued several times since making its CD debut in 1987, it is most recently remastered and reissued in 2011. Both the original English and German language versions of “Melt” are remastered and reissued in 2015 as double vinyl 45 RPM 180 gram pressings, and are half-speed mastered. Both are individually numbered with the German version limited to 3,000 copies and the English version limited to 10,000 copies worldwide. “Peter Gabriel 3” hits number one on the UK album chart, peaking number twenty two on the Billboard Top 200, and is certified Gold in the US by the RIAA.

I should come clean and confess that as I sound as middle class as it gets buying albums and singles from about the age of 13 onward, often I found the singles mentioned here in jukebox clearance sales for a matter of pence and some were almost unplayable. The more unpopular the single the better the condition. This single which I adored not least for seeing it on The Old Grey Whistle Test with Whispering Bob 'Bomber' Harris, the condition revealed that it was probably hardly played on the jukebox from whence mine came. under 50p for sure . . . I wasn't made of money!

More from Peter G - singles I bought when they came out . . . . .an ongoing series

7,757 plays

Sledgehammer // Peter Gabriel

On this day in music history: May 19, 1986 - “So”, the fifth studio album by Peter Gabriel is released. Produced by Daniel Lanois and Peter Gabriel, it is recorded at Ashcombe Studios, near Bath, England from May 1985 - March 1986. It is Gabriel’s second collaboration with producer Lanois (having worked together on the “Birdy” Soundtrack in 1984), the songs are a mixture of his more experimental progressive rock sounds and world music combined with more radio friendly, pop oriented material. The results will yield his biggest selling album, spinning off five singles including “Sledgehammer” (#1 US Pop, #4 UK), “Big Time” (#8 US Pop, #13 UK), and “In Your Eyes” (#26 US Pop). The albums cover artwork is designed by graphic artist Peter Saville (New Order, Factory Records), and is the first to feature a clear photo of Gabriel on the front. It is also the first of his solo albums to bear a proper title, which he comes up with off the cuff, liking its simplicity and the fact that it had no specific meaning. In 1989, “In Your Eyes” is prominently featured in the Cameron Crowe written and directed film “Say Anything”, in a highly memorable scene featuring actor John Cusack, blasting song on a boombox outside his girlfriend’s (Ione Skye) window. The songs exposure in the film and soundtrack album, leads to it being re-released and charting a second time, peaking at #41 on the Hot 100 in July of 1989. In 2012, a three CD reissue to commemorate the album’s twenty fifth anniversary is released, containing a remastered version of the original album and a live concert recorded in Athens, Greece in 1987 during the “So World Tour”. A further box set edition is also released including the aforementioned contents along with a disc of demo recordings, two DVD’s including the Athens concert, the Classic Albums documentary on the making of the album, a remastered vinyl pressing of the LP, and a vinyl 12" single including two unreleased tracks and an alternate piano version of “Don’t Give Up”. “So” hits number one on the UK album album chart, peaking at number two on the Billboard Top 200, and is certified 5x Platinum in the US by the RIAA.

another from Jeff Harris' wonderful music blog  

FEBRUARY MUSICS

Music from the month of my birth . . . . . sourced mostly from the wonderful blog BEHIND THE GROOVES: a music blog by Jeff Harris

On this day in music history: February 21, 1966 - “Daydream” by The Lovin’ Spoonful is released. Written by John Sebastian, it is the third single release for the pop/folk-rock band from New York City. Right on the heels of their first two singles “Do You Believe In Magic” (#9 Pop), “You Didn’t Have To Be So Nice” (#10 Pop) and their debut album, The Lovin’ Spoonful quickly follow up those hits with the first taste of their sophomore effort. Guitarist and primary lead vocalist John Sebastian draws inspiration from an unlikely place when writing the bands third single. Sebastian gets the initial idea for “Daydream” from The Supremes’ number one hit “Baby Love”, trying to figure a way to re-write that song. Born and raised in New York’s Greenwich Village, ground zero of the city’s vibrant folk music scene and blues music revival, John also draws on those influences, combining them with his innate sensibility for writing great pop melodies and hooks. After finishing the song, The Lovin’ Spoonful record “Daydream” at Bell Sound Studios in New York in late 1965. The title track of the Spoonful’s second album, it takes off immediately, becoming their biggest hit to date. Entering the Hot 100 at #76 on February 26, 1966, “Daydream” peaks at #2 on April 9, 1966. The song proves to have long lasting popularity and influence long after its run on the charts. “Daydream” provides Paul McCartney with the inspiration for writing “Good Day Sunshine”, featured on The Beatles’ masterwork “Revolver”. The Lovin’ Spoonful’s hit is widely covered by numerous artists over the years, including versions by Bobby Darin, David Cassidy, Ricky Nelson, Art Garfunkel, The Guess Who, Dino, Desi, & Billy, The Sweet, Gary Lewis & The Playboys, Maria Muldaur and Chet Atkins. The Spoonful’s original recording has been featured in movies, television shows and commercials, including a popular advertisement for Jeep Cherokee.

The Lovin' Spoonful were really important to me as an early teenager and I adored them. I bought pretty much everything but the album 'Hums . . . ' was the most important. John B Sebastian was my hero as was guitarist Zal Yanovsky (Eric Clapton rated him!) 'Nashville Cats', 'Voodoo in My Basement' and 'Rain on The Roof' were American songwriting at it's best and most varied. 'Daydream' is right up there too although curiously 'Summer In The City' wasn't in my top twenty tracks. Too obvious somehow but even the sentiment of earlier tracks bowled me over. I loved them. By the Spoonful!

On this day in music history: February 23, 1985 - “Diamond Life”, the debut album by Sade is released (UK release date is on July 16, 1984). Produced by Robin Millar, it is recorded at Power Plant Studios in Willesden, North West London from Late 1983 - Mid 1984. Formed out of the remanants of the Latin soul band Pride, Sade centers around its Nigerian born (and British raised) lead singer and lyricist Helen Folasade Adu along with guitarist and saxophonist Stuart Matthewman, bassist Paul Spencer Denman and keyboardist Andrew Hale. The band sign with the UK division of Epic Records and US subsidiary Portrait Records in the Fall of 1983. The album is issued in the US following its success in the UK, it spins off three singles including “Smooth Operator” (#5 Pop and R&B), “Hang On To Your Love” (#5 Club Play, #14 R&B), and “Your Love Is King” (#35 R&B, #54 Pop, #8 AC). US and UK versions of the album differ slightly, with the original UK release containing an earlier version of “Smooth Operator”. The US version contains the second recording of the track, first issued as a UK single, which becomes the common version around the world. First editions of the US vinyl LP come packaged in a gatefold jacket, which are discontinued briefly after its release, being replaced with a single pocket sleeve with the inner gatefold contents regulated to the inner sleeve. “Diamond Life” peaks at number three on the Billboard R&B album chart, number five on the Top 200, and is certified 4x Platinum in the US by the RIAA.

On this day in music history: February 28, 1970 - “Moondance”, the third album by Van Morrison is released. Produced by Van Morrison and Lewis Merenstein, it is recorded at A&R Studios in New York City from August - November 1969. Following the highly acclaimed (but only modestly selling) “Astral Weeks”, the Northern Irish singer and songwriter returns with what becomes one of his best and most beloved works. Moving to upstate New York, he’ll spend nearly ten months writing the material that make his next full length release. The albums blend of R&B, Jazz, Folk, Country and Rock firmly establishes Morrison as one of the premier singer/songwriters of his generation. Several songs including “Crazy Love”, “Into The Mystic”, “Caravan”, and the title track become album rock radio staples over the years. The album is remastered and reissued as a 180 gram vinyl LP in 2008 by Rhino Records. In 2013, the label remasters and reissues this classic title on CD in an expanded five disc edition (4 CD’s + Blu-Ray disc). The first CD features the original ten song album, with the second, third and fourth CD’s featuring outtakes and alternate mixes from the sessions. The Blu-ray disc features newly remixed high resolution stereo and 5.1 surround mixes of the original album, from the original multi-track masters. “Moondance” peaks at number twenty nine on the Billboard Top 200, is certified 3x Platinum in the US by the RIAA, and is inducted into the Grammy Hall Of Fame in 1999.

On this day in music history: February 19, 1972 - “Without You” by Nilsson hits #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for 4 weeks. Written by Pete Ham and Tom Evans, it is the biggest hit for the Brooklyn, NY born singer, songwriter, and musician. Badfinger guitarist Pete Ham and bassist Tom Evans compose the song in 1970, including it on their album “No Dice”. Harry Nilsson hears the song at a party, initially mistaking it for a Beatles song. He decides to record the song for his album “Nilsson Schmilsson” with producer Richard Perry. Recorded at Trident Studios in London, the track features instrumental support from musicians including Gary Wright, Jim Keltner and Klaus Voorman. On the day of the session, Harry abruptly changes his mind, telling Perry he doesn’t want to record the song after all. Nilsson argues with Perry, who in turn suggests that they discuss the matter over tea at the Dorchester Hotel in near by Mayfair. When Perry finally persuades Nilsson to go through with the session, they hop into a taxi and go straight to the studio, where the singer records his lead vocal in a single take. Entering the Hot 100 at #99 on December 18, 1971, it climbs to the top of the chart nine weeks later. The single wins Nilsson his second Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male in 1973. “Without You” is certified Gold in the US by the RIAA.

On this day in music history: February 19, 1971 - “Another Day” by Paul McCartney is released. Written and produced by Paul McCartney, it is the first post-Beatles solo single for McCartney. It is written as a “thematic sequel” to “Eleanor Rigby”, describing a woman as she struggles to make it through the “drudgery and sadness” of her daily life. Recorded at A&R Studios in New York City in December 1970, it is cut during the sessions for his forthcoming second solo album “RAM”. Backed with the mid tempo rocker “Oh Woman, Oh Why”, the two tracks are released as a stand alone single. Picked for release by engineer Dixon Van Winkle, it is quickly mixed with acetates sent to one hundred radio stations who begin airing it immediately. The mono mix sent to AM radio stations features heavy compression with an elevated amount of bass, that is not present on commercially issued copies which are issued in stereo only in the US. “Another Day” peaks at #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 on April 17, 1971. Later in the year, John Lennon makes reference to “Another Day” in his song “How Do You Sleep?” (from the “Imagine” album), with him taking a swipe at his former Beatle band mate, with the lyric “The only thing you done was Yesterday, and since you’ve gone you’re just Another Day”. The song is his response to McCartney after he believes that the songs “Too Many People”, “3 Legs” and “Dear Boy” (on “RAM”) are critical of him. “Another Day” is not issued on an album until 1977 when it is included on the compilation “Wings Greatest”. “Another Day/Oh Woman Oh Why” is reissued in as a limited edition 7" single (packaged with a replica of the original Norwegian picture sleeve) for Record Store Day in April of 2012, and as bonus tracks on the CD reissues of “RAM”.

On this day in music history: February 26, 1966 - “These Boots Are Made For Walkin’” by Nancy Sinatra hits #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for 1 week. Written and produced by Lee Hazlewood, it is the first chart topping single for the daughter of pop vocal legend Frank Sinatra. Signed to her fathers’ label Reprise Records in 1961, Sinatra records and releases fifteen singles over the next four years with little to no success. In 1965, she is paired with producer Lee Hazlewood (Duane Eddy, Dean Martin), who sets about writing and producing a hit for her. Recently divorced from singer and actor Tommy Sands, Hazlewood talks to Nancy about that relationship and its aftermath, and uses it as the inspiration to write what becomes her signature song. The track is recorded at Western Recorders in Hollywood, CA on November 19, 1965 with members of The Wrecking Crew which include Hal Blaine, Carol Kaye, Chuck Berghofer, Billy Strange and Tommy Tedesco. Hitting the airwaves shortly before Christmas in 1965, and released in early January of 1966, “Boots” quickly takes hold on radio. Entering the Hot 100 at #74 on January 22, 1966, it leaps to the top of the chart five weeks later. The song has an enduring impact on popular music and culture. Nancy Sinatra’s original version is featured in numerous films and TV programs over the years (“Full Metal Jacket”, “Austin Powers: International Man Of Mystery”, “China Beach”, “CSI”), and is covered many times by various artists. “The Boots Are Made For Walkin’” is certified Gold in the US by the RIAA.

Born on this day: February 26, 1932 - Country music icon Johnny Cash (born J.R. Cash in Kingsland, AR). Happy Birthday to “The Man In Black” on what would have been his 85th Birthday. Here singing the wonderful drug and alcohol comedown song by Kris Kristofferson

On this day in music history: February 25, 1977 - “Peter Gabriel 1 (Car)”, the debut solo album by Peter Gabriel is released. Produced by Bob Ezrin, it is recorded at The Soundstage in Toronto, Canada from July 1976 - January 1977. Following his departure from Genesis in 1975, Gabriel takes an extended hiatus to spend with his family and write material for what becomes his first solo effort. The album features Gabriel backed by a group musicians that include King Crimson guitarist Robert Fripp and bassist Tony Levin. The first single “Solsbury Hill” (#13 UK, #68 US Pop) is an autobiographical account of his feelings about leaving his former band Genesis. The album’s closing track “Here Comes The Flood” is later re-recorded by Gabriel in 1990 for the hits compilation “Shaking The Tree”. The album is released without a title (the first of four that are untitled), it becomes known by fans as “Car” due to the LP’s cover art that features a photograph of the back end of a car (taken by Peter “Sleazy” Christopherson of Hipgnosis) with a photo of Gabriel superimposed in the back window. First released on CD in 1987, the album is remastered and reissued in 2002. It is also reissued as a limited edition vinyl LP by audiophile label Classic Records the same year. Another limited issue released as a double vinyl set mastered at 45 RPM is issued in 2009 by Classic Records. Most recently, another double vinyl 45 RPM set is released on Gabriel’s Real World Records in 2015. “PG 1 (Car)” peaks at number seven on the UK album chart, number thirty eight on the Billboard Top 200, and is certified Gold in the US by the RIAA.

On this day in music history: February 27, 1989 - “Oranges And Lemons”, the tenth album by XTC is released. Produced by Paul Fox , it is recorded at Ocean Way Studios in Los Angeles, CA in Late 1988. Under pressure from their record label to produce a hit and paired with a first time producer (who later goes on to produce The Sugarcubes, 10,000 Maniacs, Phish), sessions for the album will not always go smoothly. In spite of all this, the end result is the bands most successful album in the US, spinning off two singles including “Mayor Of Simpleton” (#1 Modern Rock) and “King For A Day” (#11 Modern Rock). The albums title is inspired by song lyric from their previous album, which in itself refers to an old English nursery rhyme. Remastered and expanded reissues of the album featuring new 5.1 surround remixes by Steven Wilson, and the original stereo on CD and blu-ray, and an audiophile LP pressing on 180g vinyl are released on Partridge’s label Ape House Records on October 30, 2015. “Oranges And Lemons” peaks at number twenty eight on the UK album chart, and number forty four on the Billboard Top 200.

On this day in music history: February 17, 1966 - The Beach Boys begin recording “Good Vibrations” at United/Western Recorders in Hollywood, CA. Written by Brian Wilson and Mike Love, it is the twentieth single for the legendary pop band from Hawthorne, CA. The inspiration for “Good Vibrations” has its origins in a conversation that Wilson has with his mother Audree as a child, who tells him that dogs bark at some people and not at others because of the “vibrations” they sense coming from them. the initial recording session has Wilson working with members of The Wrecking Crew cutting twenty six takes of the instrumental track. Seventeen more sessions at three other recording studios take place over the next six months as the song is refined. The end product generates over 90 hours of tape and cost an unprecedented $50,000. At the time of its October 1966 release, “Good Vibrations” is the most expensive single ever recorded. First issued as a stand alone single, it is intended to be the cornerstone of the album “Smile” which is originally scheduled for release in early 1967. However, Brian Wilson’s fragile emotional state, exacerbated by drug use and inner band conflict over the direction of the project, lead to the album being shelved until 2011. “The Smile Sessions” deluxe box set edition devotes an entire disc to “Good Vibrations” as a work in progress, as well as an including an alternate stereo mix of the song on the first disc. Part of the recording sessions for the landmark single are also recreated in the film “Love And Mercy” in 2014.