Customer Reviews
36 tracks recorded for the BBC between 1971 and 1973 - By: Jimbo Starr, 03 Apr 2009 
This value for money 2CD set captures Lindisfarne at the height of their commercial success, performing an eclectic range of material. It comprises studio & live recordings made for the BBC during their stay with The Famous Charisma Label. The 1971 & 1972 tracks feature the classic Mk I line-up of Rod Clements, Si Cowe, Alan Hull, Ray Jackson & Ray Laidlaw, & there's a 1973 "In Concert" from the underrated Mk II band. Lindisfarne regularly appeared on BBC Radio at this time, although sadly many of their recordings for the corporation no longer exist - this release rounds up the ones that do.
The first of three "Sounds of the 70s" studio sessions here, from 8th June 1971, showcased three numbers from the band's then imminent second album Fog on the Tyne. Alongside the Alan Hull-penned title track & `City Song' was `Train In G Major', written by Rod Clements. The other songs were the instrumental `Scotch Mist' & Alan's Edgar Allan Poe-influenced `Lady Eleanor'.
From 24th June 1971, the next six songs are taken from a concert for John Peel. Four songs from the previous session were performed, along with a wild rendition of Rod's rootsy `Knackers Yard Blues' & Alan's `We Can Swing Together' which features some virtuoso harmonica from Jacka.
CD1 concludes with a John Peel "In Concert" from 2nd December 1971. Once again `Lady Eleanor', `Train In G Major' & `Fog On The Tyne' made an appearance, along with a cover of Woody Guthrie's `Jackhammer Blues' (Guthrie was a noted influence on Rod & Jacka), future B-side `No Time To Lose', & two further songs from "Fog On The Tyne" - Rab Noakes's `Together Forever' & Alan Hull's `January Song'. Alsoin the set from the new album was Rod Clements's `Meet Me On The Corner', which reached #5in the UK singles chart the following March. Rod's song introductions towards the end of the set bear a certain similarity to the show's host, which is not lost on Alan who remarks "Doesn't he speak like John Peel?"
CD2 begins with two more "Sounds of the 70s" sessions. The first, recorded for Peel on 8th May 1972, featured two new Alan Hull songs (`Mandolin King' & `Poor Old Ireland') that would appear on the prolific group's third long player Dingly Dell which was releasedin September of that year & reached #5. The other songs were `Lady Eleanor', & Clements's `Road To Kingdom Come' from Nicely Out of Tune.
The second session, for Bob Harris, was recorded at Aeolian Hall on 14th June 1972. There was a song apiece from the first two albums (a raucous take on Rab Noakes's `Turn A Deaf Ear', & Hull's `Passing Ghosts') & band recordings of two Alan Hull songs which he would later record for his 1973 debut solo album Pipedream - `Drug Song', inspired by his time as a psychiatric nurse, & `Country Gentleman's Wife'. Alan's risqué lyrics & salacious delivery on the latter nonetheless escaped BBC censorship here.
The original line-up splitin 1973 with Clements, Cowe & Laidlaw going on to form Jack The Lad with Billy Mitchell. Hull & Jackson retained the Lindisfarne name & recruited Kenny Craddock, Tommy Duffy, Charlie Harcourt & Paul Nichols.
This new line-up would record the Roll on Ruby album for Charisma & seven of the ten tracks were presentin their "In Concert" set which was recorded at Golders Green Hippodrome on 14th December 1973. `Steppenwolf', `Taking Care Of Business' & `When The War Is Over' were written by Hull, the Kenny Craddock / Colin Gibson writing partnership contributed `Roll On River' & `Tow The Line' (Gibson, a member of Snafu, had played alongside Craddockin Ginger Baker's Airforce & on Hull's "Pipedream"), while bassist Tommy Duffy wrote `North Country Boy' & `Moonshine'. The audiences still craved Mk I material, hence the inclusion here of `No Time To Lose' & `Lady Eleanor'.
The package includes an 8 page booklet containing sleeve notes & several period photographs of the band.
