The BBC Tapes

[fuzzytnth3]

Just a heads up as I just noticed that the BBC Tapes are being reissued with new cover artwork by Harry Pearce (http://www.pentagram.co.uk/en/partners-pearce.htm) (who seems like an alround good egg from his bio.

They will be available in September, as I found out as I was trying to order them but failed to spot this bit of info (it is noted just under the image of the 6 CD set) but Tracy replied very promptly to my email and put me right.

[pd]

There's a new version of Stormcock due imminently as well, with new liner notes and sleeve. I'm hoping that it'll be available by the Albert Hall gig!

[scotpaulabear]

Any extra tracks on Stormcock, Paul? Or would that ruin the symmetry? :wink:

[pd]

Not as far as I know, Paula. After all, it's impossible to improve on perfection. To be honest I'm not a great fan of extra tracks anyway; I'd rather a new release be made. This is probably because I am still an album oriented sort of person though, and for albums I know really well, it just seems wrong when some new music appears after the main part has finished.

[aspwatterson]

You never know with it's re-release it might suddenly reach the massess/ media at last and recognised for it's true worth? What's the price of fluid Mercury these days on the spot market?

It certainly has declined in value since 1970 - 99.99% pure Hg per 76 pound flask - despite a surge during the two World Wars :

http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/commodity/mercury/430798.pdf

http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/commodity/mercury/430495.pdf



I still think there's scope for recording it with extra effects available these days in recording studios as an extra offering but never demeaning / forgetting the masterpiece original... like the recently re-mastered surgically enhanced Beatles works last year?

andi

[pd]

I got the 6 BBC CDs in the post this morning, so hopefully they have or will soon make their way to everyone that's ordered them. My impressions are positive - the new sleeves are really nice and there are some good "period" photos in each one along with a full description of the original of the recording.

The music itself is as it was originally; there's been no remastering. Nevertheless, a very good update to the package of 6 CDs.

[SteveT]

That's good news - I was getting worried about mine because I ordered something else at the same time which turned up ages ago in a packet marked 1 of 2. I hadn't expected the 2nd of 2 to have been despatched at a different time. Anyway there's a card from Royal Mail today imploring me to collect a package tomorrow. Yippee.

[Oreb]

I've never heard these. What's the sound quality like?

[Barry]

Hi, these are a nice collection of Roy's sessions and concerts for the BBC in the 70's. There are 1 or 2 bits where the quality is poor but in the main it is excellent. Apart from some very good sessions there are 3 complete 1 hour concerts from 74, 75 & 78. The first is Roy solo, second with full band (Trigger) and last with Andy Roberts. They are well worth the £45 Roy is asking for the set of 6.

[pd]

Podcast 1 has a track from one of the BBC CDs. In general the sound quality is excellent, though very slightly short of full studio quality, and in some rare cases stuff is "off air" meaning that someone has recorded it off the radio at some point (presumably the BBC couldn't find the master tapes). It's essential for any fan of Live Roy, and particularly for the time periods that the BBC set covers (70's).