Live

Van Morrison: 5 Wonderful Versions of “Vanlose Stairway”

Posted on by Egil Mosbron

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_message message_box_color=”mulled_wine” icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-quote-left”]Send me your picture
Send me your pillow
Send it through Krishna
On the Vanlose Stairway[/vc_message][/vc_column][/vc_row]

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_message message_box_color=”mulled_wine” icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-quote-left”]..A larger point to be made with “Vanlose Stairway” is that no matter what words Morrison is singing, it is the music and singing itself that offers a glimpse at the soul — the true inspiration of the term soul music. And Morrison is nothing if not a soul singer. The lyrics just happen to add to the soul-stirring music. It does not matter that most people have no idea what Vanlose refers to, especially given that Morrison does not pronounce it correctly. But the descending three chords of the verse — played by a horn section and turnaround uplifting chorus — hit the listener on a gut level, especially on the powerful live recording of the song on A Night in San Francisco (1994), which truly transcends anything mere words could communicate.
-Bill Janovitz (allmusic.com)[/vc_message][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Vanlose Stairway is track 7 on his 1982 album, Beautiful Vision. It has been performed 729 times live (289 times as part of a medley) according to ivan.vanomatic.de (great website btw).

Continue reading “Van Morrison: 5 Wonderful Versions of “Vanlose Stairway”” →

Tom Waits: Two Classic Concerts London 1979 and Chicago 1975 – No Visitors After Midnight

Posted on by Hallgeir Olsen

First we get a BBC television concert documentary, Tonight In Person, filmed at the BBC television Theatre in London/UK (aired July 26, 1979, probably taped earlier in the spring). Shortened version rebroadcast in 1998 in “Later on… Tom Waits” aka “Later With Jools Holland”, presented by Jools Holland. Producer: Serena Cross
Executive Producer: Mark Cooper. BBC, 1998 for UK-Arena.
There is a download for an audio bootleg of the performance over at Aquarium Drunkard.

“The concert might be regarded as a straight taping of a live show but it also included elements that were more theatrical and seemed to be incorporated into the show as if it were an in-studio taping, a bit like when standup comedians bring in an audience for something that is understood by everyone present to be a recording of a TV special. That’s how this program feels, anyway, it doesn’t feel like a regular concert.”
– Dangerous Minds

The second show is a PBS television show on Tom Waits and Mose Allison. Chicago/USA (aired December 22, 1975, probably recorded November 3, 1975).
With Kenny Soderblum on alto sax
Jim Atlas on upright bass.

Great opening opening number, Tom Waits does an a capella performance of “Eggs and Sausage” that is both soulful and dramatic. He is sitting at the counter of a diner, smoking. We see waitresses, bored patrons, sizzling burgers. Het is the snapping his fingers and slapping his leg. Finishing the song, he turns to a waitress and asks for another cup of coffee.

His voice is more mellow on the 1975 concerts and it’s lovely to get such an early document of Waits as a performer.

Both shows are essential for all Tom Waits fans, enjoy!

Continue reading “Tom Waits: Two Classic Concerts London 1979 and Chicago 1975 – No Visitors After Midnight” →

Tom Waits: Songs After Closing Time – Denmark TV Concert 1976

Posted on by Hallgeir Olsen




This is the pro-shot of a rare concert from Tom Waits at the Danish TV Channel in 1976, Sange efter lukketid/Songs After Closing Time also known as Elephant Beer Blues – Songs After Closing Time.

The whole show (songs and words) is subtitled in Danish. Tom is standing in the bar with a Carlsberg Elephant Beer (a very strong beer), hence the alternative title, while giving a good long rant along a jazzy tune. He then moves over to the piano and the real concert starts.

00:00 – Elephant Beer Blues (Incl. “Ghosts Of Saturday Night”, “Gee Baby Ain’t I Been Good To You” and others)
09:24 – New Coat of Paint
12:05 – Warm Beer Cold Women
18:21 – Emotional Weather Forecast
24:39 – Bad Liver And A Broken Heart
27:10 – Semi Suite
30:44 – Spare Parts I

DR TV Studios (Copenhagen, Denmark).
June 1976:

Continue reading “Tom Waits: Songs After Closing Time – Denmark TV Concert 1976” →

Van Morrison: 4 Great Live Versions of His Brilliant “Orangefield”

Posted on by Egil Mosbron

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_message message_box_color=”mulled_wine” icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-quote-left”]On a gold autumn day
You came my way in Orangefield
Saw you standing by the riverside in Orangefield
How I love you then in Orangefield
Like I love you now in Orangefield[/vc_message][/vc_column][/vc_row]

This great song from the album Avalon Sunset (1989) was first performed live May 18, 1989 (Swansea, Wales), and last time VM played it in concert was August 24, 2014 (Orangefield High School,
Belfast). It has been performed 92 times live, mostly in 1989 & 1990.

Here are 4 great versions…

Stadtpark Freilichtbühne, Hamburg, Germany
June 4, 1989

Continue reading “Van Morrison: 4 Great Live Versions of His Brilliant “Orangefield”” →

May 1: Johnny Cash released “I Walk The Line” in 1956 – here are 5 great live versions

Posted on by Egil Mosbron

I keep a close watch on this heart of mine
I keep my eyes wide open all the time.
I keep the ends out for the tie that binds
Because you’re mine,
I walk the line

“I Walk The Line” was written by Johnny Cash & recorded on April 2, 1956 @ Sun Studio, Memphis, Tennessee. It was released May 1, 1956 on the Sun label.

Celebrating this masterpiece today, here are 5 great liver versions.

Live at The Tex Ritter Show (1956?):

Continue reading “May 1: Johnny Cash released “I Walk The Line” in 1956 – here are 5 great live versions” →

Classic concert: Dolly Parton Live and Well 2002 (full concert video)

Posted on by Hallgeir Olsen

Live and Well is a live album by Dolly Parton, released on September 14, 2004. It was recorded during her 2002 Halos & Horns Tour, her first in years; the performances on December 12 and 13, 2002 were used. A DVD of the concert was released simultaneously with the album. This was Dolly Parton’s first concert DVD.

“The show, also released as a double album, is far more successful with the visuals, since Parton is noticeably having a great time. Also, the patter that interrupts the flow of the audio-only version works to the advantage of the DVD as watching Dolly naturally interact with the crowd is so integral to her persona. Everything about the singer, from her makeup to her hair and curvy body is exaggerated, but with the songs conversely stripped down to their basics, the effect is impressive. Her voice is clear and strong so she doesn’t need costume changes, fancy light shows or backdrops, which would distract from her talent.”
– Hal Horowitz (allmusic)

Continue reading “Classic concert: Dolly Parton Live and Well 2002 (full concert video)” →