READERS WRITE

Here are the latest comments, memories and opinions from Repertoire Fans. Don’t forget – contact us via comments@repertoirerecords.com

Dear Repertoire

CURVED AIR BLOWING BACK

As a long-time fan of Curved Air, I have been long frustrated by the lack of their material in CD format, especially my favorite Curved Air album, Air Cut. I was thrilled to finally obtain a copy about two years ago. Finally, in October of 2008 a double-disc “Best of Curved Air” compilation was released. I immediately added the title to my Christmas wish list and my family ordered it for me from Tower Records. It was never delivered because it was supposedly on back order. I never did receive the CD set, and I believe Tower Records credited my account.

Now every online music e-tailer says that this title is no longer available from the manufacturer. What’s going on here? Was it EVER available?

Still frustrated,

Bill Sheehy

Hi Bill. Yours days of frustration are over. ‘The Best Of Curved’ is soon to be released as a double CD on Repertoire with a selection of great tracks, personally compiled by Sonja Kristina. The sleeve notes have an exclusive new interview with Sonja outlining the story of the band, comments on the songs and news about their latest activity. So keep an eye on our website for full details.

Dear Repertoire

I have just received a new copy of The Yardbirds CD, ‘Over Under Sideways Down’ with Canadian cover and it is excellent! It shows Repertoire and its people are a first class act. I am looking forward to purchasing more Repertoire products, a label that puts out great and rare reissues of past albums. Thank you!

ROBERT D’AOUST, Quebec, Canada

Thanks Robert for your kind and loyal comments. There are more great CD releases to come. Just keep an eye on Repertoire Entertainment for news about our schedule.
Oh, and check out our RepertoireInfo Twitter site for quick updates.

ARTWOODS `Live` MYSTERY

Hi Guys

Not sure if you can help me, but I have a query about The Artwoods. I too used to go to the 100 Club in London’s Oxford Street to see the Artwoods, back in the Swinging Sixties. I saw almost every show between mid 1965 and late 1966 until I emigrated
to Canada. As a great fan I have all their releases, along with a number of
`live` recordings and demos.

However, I have long searched for a particular recording made at the 100 Club in late 1965. Decca does not have anything in their archives. All they have is a note to say that reports all the master tapes were returned to the owners. They have no reference at all to `outtakes` or unreleased material.

I wonder if you have you ever heard of these legendary 100 Club tapes? Perhaps Chris Welch was there when it was recorded? I thought the Artwoods were at their best during this period and they were all such great musicians. I worked at the Hotel Russell in nearby Holborn and often attended their shows in `formal` business attire, only to rush out to get to work for a night shift.

Thanks and best wishes.

Tony Freer
Woodstock, Ontario
CANADA.

Chris Welch replies:

Hi Tony, I do remember seeing the Artwoods at the 100 Club but sadly don’t recall any `live` recording sessions. It maybe microphones were wired up to an outside recording truck, but no mention was made of this at the time.
Whenever there were recording sessions at the Klooks Kleek Club in West Hampstead for the likes of Zoot Money’s Big Roll Band the compere always made sure everyone knew about it!

The last time I saw the Artwoods at the 100 Club was when they organised a special darts match, which was a lot of fun. Maybe producer Mike Vernon will know if there are any mysterious ‘live’ tapes still in existence. It’s more than likely but they’re probably hidden in a suitcase lying forgotten in somebody’s attic! We’ll see what we can find out.

Hi Guys

I am looking for a specific Art of Noise album, I believe you folks were
the original producers of ‘Moments in Love.’ I understand there was a
version that was for Germany and then one for the UK/US market. The
second one had an additional cut of ‘Moments in Love’ on it, which is the
one I am looking for.

Can you tell me if you know if the ‘Moments in Love’ UK US Version is
available from anywhere?

Or if there is a place to download it from? There is a version (Moments
in Love Trance Mix) available for listening to on MySpace but one cannot
download it.

Thanks

Rob Dodson by e mail

PS. Anyone who has the power to make you believe absurdities has the power to
make you commit injustices.
Voltaire

Ed: Thanks for those thoughts. Old Voltaire sure was a mean philosopher. In the meantime we are asking Gladys, our bespectacled and diligent researcher to try and find out more about the record although she claims she’s not had any ‘Moments In Love’ for some years. Over to you Gladys.

‘Well, it seems ‘Moments In Love’ was a track on ‘Who’s Afraid Of The Art Of Noise?’ released back in 2001, but not currently in our catalogue.’

Hi Chaps!

I was surfing the net and found your article about the Lou Reisner ‘Tommy’ album. I remember seeing the ‘live’ show being performed at the Rainbow Theatre, back in 1972. Then I saw the bit about Pete Dello and Honeybus. It might amuse you all to learn that two weeks ago I coughed up £3.99 at Sainsbury’s for a Hits Of The 60s album, purely on the strength of it containing ‘I Can’t Let Maggie Go’ which was an all-time favourite of mine back in the day, not least because I stepped out with a Yorkshire lass called Margaret for about two years when I lived in Skipton – but she left me for a karate instructor. Great song though… and I always wondered why a musician who was capable of writing that didn’t go on to greater things. But I had to have ‘Maggie’ on my iPod. That’s how much I liked it.

Cheers

Chris Charlesworth, London, England

Guess you’ll be buying the Pete Dello CD on Repertoire now! Ed.

RENAISSANCE – LIVE AT CARNEGIE HALL/REMASTERED BY EROC – WOW!!!

Today I received my copy of the newly remastered “Live at Carnegie Hall” by Renaissance from Repertoire Records (REP 5124). Remastering done by our forum member Eroc.

His name doesn’t show up on the disc or cover but I know he did it from a reliable source, namely Eroc himself. 

And you can hear it ! I never heard this recording in a better sonic quality before, not even on vinyl. Rich, detailed and smooth. 

Very well done, Eroc ! 

Thanks for making one of my favourite records sound this great.

Achim

Anduandi, via e-mail

 
STEAMHAMMER MEMORIES

A Steamhammer fan writes with personal memories of a meeting with the late Keiran White.

I was visiting my brother in Portland Oregon about 16 years ago. He is a truck driver and we went to a blues festival on the river in Portland. I was sitting on the grass listening to the music when Keiran White arrived. My brother introduced me and said that he and Keiran worked together. At that time Keiran was recently divorced and was quite despondent. I too was recently divorced and not too keen on dating.

But we struck up a friendship, sharing our love for music and song writing. We went on a few dates and became quite close. But alas, I had to return to work in Nashville, Tennessee so we parted ways. We corresponded via mail and Keiran begged me to either come back to Portland or he would come to Nashville. I was a little too fresh out of my divorce and broke things off. We parted friends, shared ideas for a song or two and that was it.

A year later my brother called to say that Keiran was gravely ill and dying. Keiran was an avid biker and had recently taken a very long bike trip to Canada. Upon his return his health went down and we lost him. My brother and I grieved his loss. The Keiran I knew was very kind and loving. I knew nothing of his youthful musical background with Steamhammer, but he was very active musically, writing and going to Los Angeles to record.

One of the last things he said to me was about how amazed he was to see his work from Steamhammer being rereleased by Repertoire. He also asked my permission to write a song about a story I had told him about my childhood called ‘The Backyard Ballet’. I don’t know if he ever finished writ ing it. He was so strong & vital when I last saw him and it was unbelievable that his illness took him away so soon. I think of him often and wonder what wonderful songs might have been written had he lived on.

Dee Dee Vogt, Portland, Oregan, USA



Rock journalist Chris Welch has been a member of the Repertoire team for twenty years. He has written hundreds of CD liner notes for a huge range of album releases since joining the company in 1988. His comprehensive knowledge of the rock and pop world is based on a career that began in the Swinging Sixties.

As Features Editor on Melody Maker he wrote about all the major rock and pop groups including The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Cream, The Who, Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin. Each week he reported on rising stars such as Jimi Hendrix, Tom Jones, Scott Walker, Marc Bolan, David Bowie, Rod Stewart, Phil Collins, Peter Gabriel and Jiving K.Boots.

After 40 years Chris is still writing about pop and rock and playing the drums. His current favourite group is Kings of Leon. Each fortnight Chris reminisces about his adventures as a music journalist and reports on the latest news ('Elvis To Tour Shock'), in CHRIS’ CORNER.