When is a live album not a live album?

Subject: When is a live album not a live album?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 15 Nov 04 - 03:22 PM

On falling in love with the Incredible String Band last tuesday in Brightom I bought 2 albums. I wanted a new one and an old one so I let the sound man pick. They are both fabulous in their own way even if the old one is very '60's experimental' at times;-) Anyhow. the latest, Nebulous Nearness, recorded in 2003 at Peter Gabriels studio is a 'live studio' album. Recorded in front of a live audience but with all the benefits of the studio facilities. The result is great!

But I am not asking if this is realy live. On the sleve notes it says 'Joe Boyd repeatedly exhorted the band to release a live recording but for one reason or another it never happened. And so that is it, apart from a smattering of live tracks on their later albums and some brief concert footage etc etc... '

Imagine then my surprise when the second of my luckt dips was a live album of the IBS at the Philadelphia Folk festival in 1969!

Was this album not realy live? Did they not release it? How come there is an apparant contradiction. I guess I should really write to Mike Heron or Clive Palmer - But I bet you guys can tell me quicker? :-)

Cheers

DtG

Subject: RE: When is a live album not a live album?
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 15 Nov 04 - 04:52 PM

When it's recorded, and the band mimes to it!

Subject: RE: When is a live album not a live album?
From: Nerd
Date: 15 Nov 04 - 05:36 PM

Check the release dates. The live album, though recorded in 1969, was long available as a bootleg only. I think it was officially "released" in 2003. So the liner notes on the other live album were probably written before that.

Subject: RE: When is a live album not a live album?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 15 Nov 04 - 07:15 PM

Aaaaahhh - The dawn breaks! Thanks, Nerd. I thought there must be some explanation. The albums are not in front of me right now but I will indeed check.

Thanks again

:D

Subject: RE: When is a live album not a live album?
From: chris nightbird childs
Date: 15 Nov 04 - 07:26 PM

When there are overdubs..........

Subject: RE: When is a live album not a live album?
From: Blissfully Ignorant
Date: 15 Nov 04 - 07:48 PM

You can tell it's not a live album if there aren't any screw-ups in it....

Subject: RE: When is a live album not a live album?
From: chris nightbird childs
Date: 15 Nov 04 - 07:55 PM

hahaha... that's true...

Subject: RE: When is a live album not a live album?
From: Davetnova
Date: 16 Nov 04 - 03:30 AM

But the Incredibles didn't do screw ups. They did unrehearsed performance enhancements.

Subject: RE: When is a live album not a live album?
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 16 Nov 04 - 03:38 AM

...when it's a fish.

RtS

Subject: RE: When is a live album not a live album?
From: red max
Date: 16 Nov 04 - 04:02 AM

When it's Fairport's "In real time"

Subject: RE: When is a live album not a live album?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 16 Nov 04 - 04:13 AM

Yep - Nerd was spot on!

Cheers

DtG

Subject: RE: When is a live album not a live album?
From: Nerd
Date: 16 Nov 04 - 05:13 PM

So was red max!

Subject: RE: When is a live album not a live album?
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Nov 04 - 02:20 AM

When it's been made by the Grateful Dead?

CB

Subject: RE: When is a live album not a live album?
From: fat B****rd
Date: 17 Nov 04 - 06:03 AM

When it's James Brown at the Apollo not R'n'B at the Marquee

Subject: RE: When is a live album not a live album?
From: catspaw49
Date: 17 Nov 04 - 07:53 AM

Seems to me that if you're listening to it and you're alive, it's a live album even if it was recorded in front of an audience of stiffs. If you listen to it and you're not alive, there is no way it's a live album even if it was recorded in front of a breathing audience because it's current audience is has cashed in it's chips.

Well, it's something to think about anyway...........

Spaw

Subject: RE: When is a live album not a live album?
From: GUEST
Date: 21 Nov 04 - 09:41 AM

As someone who worships the ISB just this side of idolatry I have to say sadly that in my opinion the versions of the songs on "Nebulous Nearness", even if recorded live, are inferior to the original. Judging also from the audience response (just brief polite clapping) they were of the same opinion. All of the tunes I have on vinyl and while I think the basic selection of songs is great, the performance is lacklustre and "watered down".

Unfortunately Mike Heron's voice is not what it was (having deepened with age I think it is less appropriate for the sort of songs he sang in the 1960s/1970s). Then Robin Williamson does not perform on this album at all, since he had left the ISB not too long before. His voice and instrumenation (eg the bowed gimbri on "Chinese White" are sadly missed, though I suppose his voice is also less appropriate than it used to be. Most of all his voice in missed on "Ducks on a Pond" (replaced by Clive Palmer).

Again just a personal opinion (JAPO), but a "live album" is neither fish nor fowl. If you want to hear a band or performer live, go and see them live. If you want to listen to an album, get one which has been recorded properly in a studio with mistakes ironed out and (hopefully appropriate) enhancements made.

JAPO, but I often find formal concerts disappointing, whereas with an album you can wait until the right time of the day or week when you are most in the mood for a particular type of music. At a concert it may be too cold/hot/stuffy/crowded, or there may be annoying people talking or making a nuisance of themselves near you.


No doubt there are a few live albums which are as good as those made in a studio. The proof of the pudding is in the eating, so I am less concerned about whether an album is "live" or not. It certainly won't be live wben you are listening to it.