OMD A Living History (USA March 2011)

Here's a great compilation that appeared on Dimeadozen a good few years ago (and apologies to the original uploader as I cannot find information in order to give credit). From the time of 'History Of Modern' (released in 2010), this collection is a mix of promotional appearances, soundcheck and gig at the Fonda Theatre in Los Angeles.

Here I must admit that I stopped buying OMD records after 'Dazzle Ships'. The first four albums are brilliant, but their poppier mid '80's material (the likes of 'Locomotion', 'Talking Loud & Clear' and 'Sailing On The Seven Seas') were far less appealing.... give me the bleak soundscape of 'Stanlow' any day!

Notwithstanding my indifference with respect to their later commercial material, Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark still stand out as great and pioneering post-punk band and a big part of my teenage years.

The artwork provided is in a 'big box' CD format.

FLAC: https://we.tl/t-Y3WykKxq7gx6QhN3

Artwork: https://we.tl/t-nvA4eb8LGjrkFHNQ

Disc One: A Brief History - Amoeba Records

01. A Brief Soundcheck
02. Electricity
03. History Of Modern (Part I)
04. If You Leave
05. Souvenir (Moby Version)
06. Maid Of Orleans
07. Sister Marie Says
08. Enola Gay

Disc One: A Practical History - Music Box Soundcheck

09. Taking Sides Again (Fades In)
10. Messages (Rehearsal Take)
11. Messages (Soundcheck)
12. Tesla Girls
13. Electricity
14. If You Leave
15. Sailing On The Seven Seas
16. Enola Gay
17. Joan Of Arc
18. New Babies: New Toys

Disc Two: A Complete History (Part I)

01. History Of Modern (Part III & IV)
02. New Babies: New Toys
03. Messages
04. Tesla Girls
05. Radio Waves
06. History Of Modern (Part I)
07. (Forever) Live And Die
08. If You Leave
09. Souvenir
10. Joan Of Arc
11. Made Of Orleans
12. New Holy Ground

Disc Three: A Complete History (Part II)

01. Green
02. Talking Loud And Clear
03. So In Love
04. Sister Marie Says
05. Locomotion
06. Dreaming
07. Sailing On The Seven Seas
08. Enola Gay
09. Encore Break
10. Walking On The Milky Way
11. Electricity

City Hall Sheffield 25th September 1983

 

Not London, but Sheffield for this 'Warriors' tour gig. Reasonable sounding audience recording.

FLAC: https://we.tl/t-tOrrL1e2qW

Artwork: https://we.tl/t-2u7NvF8dqS

Hammersmith Odeon Warriors Review (New Musical Express 29th October 1983)

A rare appearance of Numan in the pages of New Musical Express as the editors consented to include a live review of one of the Warriors dates in London. Perhaps unsurprisingly I am left wondering 'Why did they bother?' NME hated Numan in 1979 and there was no discerning shift in that position come 1983. Do not expect any insightful thoughts on the gig... you have been warned.

There is no way of telling which of the three nights the NME reviewer attended, but the Hammersmith gig of 13th October, part of which was broadcast by BBC Radio 1, as part of their 'In Concert' series can be located here.

New Musical Express 29th October 1983

Park West Theatre Chicago 8th November 1982

It's strange to think that on this day, Numan's birthday, he turns 68 years of age. That means that I am kicking at the door of 60 myself. Taking the anniversary thing one step further it will be 44 years in September since the release of 'I, Assassin', which he toured in the US playing 19 dates in all. This gig from the Park West Theatre in Chicago was the last night of that tour. 

It is a pity that the material from the 'Dance'/'I, Assassin' period never got much of an airing in the UK (exceptions being, from memory, 'Stories' (Teletour) and 'She's Got Claws', 'Cry The Clock Said' and a 'Metal'/'Moral' hybrid (Wembley). I guess having gone high profile with his retirement pronouncements of the previous year, which an ever hostile music press interpreted to be a case of 'Take the money and run', to tour the UK in 1982 would have seen Numan shredded by his detractors.

FLAC: https://we.tl/t-j8qozztaQ7

Artwork: https://we.tl/t-OzW3fTVTaQ

Melbourne Radio Interview May 1980

 

Here is a interview with Gary conducted at a local Melbourne based radio station ahead of his Touring Principle dates in the city at the Palais Theatre on the 19th and 20th May. In the interview Numan is typically self-effacing and happily laying out his career plans in music, video and air travel! 

I am assuming that this is a rebroadcast several years later on a more recent radio show as the commentary at the end is looking back (rather disparagingly it has to be said) at those dates in 1980. Only a short 10 minute interview but worth a listen if only for the gig promo ad which declared Numan to be the 'Bowie of the '80s'... oh how he must have squirmed!

MP3: https://we.tl/t-i0XjafyAnk

Kraftwerk Roundhouse, London 10th October 1976 Review (New Musical Express 16th October 1976)

New Musical Express (9th October 1976)

If the Sex Pistols caused a ripple of confusion through a sea of denim in the mid-70s then I am sure that the same can be said of Ralf Hütter and Florian Schneider of Dusseldorf's Kraftwerk. Kraftwerk turned heads for the exact opposite reasons to Sex Pistols and their followers. As reviewer, Miles, had it below 'They are a very neat band, all dressed in suits and ties and short hair like bank managers'. By October 1976, the band in some form (always around Ralf and Florian) had been making experimental noise already for more than six years. As time had gone by that noise had come to rely increasingly on electronics and a good power supply. By October 1976, the line up had settled into what was to be the 'classic' Kraftwerk quartet of Ralf Hütter, Florian Schneider, Karl Bartos and Wolfgang Flür. The band in this form had two classic albums under their belts, 'Autobahn' and 'Radioactivity' whilst live they were playing two tracks from what is perhaps their finest album 'Trans Europe Express' with the title track and 'Europe Endless' appearing in the set.

Unlike their contemporaries, Kraftwerk's music defies age, it is and still sounds timeless.

On 10th October they were in the UK appearing in a headline show at Camden's Roundhouse, a gig that the New Musical Express reviewed the following week.

New Musical Express (16th October 1976)

Kraftwerk Paradiso, Amsterdam 9th September 1976

 

Prior to hopping on to a Sealink ferry to cross the English Channel for dates in the UK including a night at London's Roundhouse, Kraftwerk played a gig in Amsterdam's legendary Paradiso. The sound on this is very good, especially when considering that the gig was played 50 years ago and recorded on the audio equipment that was available at the time.

These days Kraftwerk shows are note perfect, highly choreographed events. This is a little different, not in terms of slickness.... Kraftwerk never were a band with a reputation for cocking up! But its is great to hear these songs an a rawer, early form, not surprisingly most notably on the two 'TEE' tracks that were yet to be released.

FLAC: https://we.tl/t-RkB2j7NaE3

Artwork: https://we.tl/t-wj9MHrP4PM