John Cale & Band Live

John Cale & Band Live – 1983 Zeche Bochum & 1984 Grugahalle Essen

Even today, JOHN CALE is renowned for having been a member of The Velvet Underground alongside Lou Reed, Maureen Tucker and Sterling Morrison. Though less known to many fans are his early collaborations with avant-garde musicians like John Cage or La Monte Young. His solo works have always been a mixture of classical influenced avant-garde, orchestral works and dynamic, experimental Rock. He has worked as a musician, producer (Nico, Patti Smith, Happy Mondays, to name a few) and arranger. His collaborations with artists such as Brian Eno, Kevin Ayers or Little Feat are legendary.

When he was invited for the Rockpalast-Festival on October, 14^th 1984, he had just released the desolate masterpiece “Music For A New Society” (1982), “Caribbean Sunset” (1983) and “John Cale Comes Alive” (1984). Compared to the official live album, JOHN CALE’s performance at the Rockpalast was far more intense, desperate and wild. He performed the songs with a very hard edge, sometimes even deconstructed them (“Heartbreak Hotel”), receiving a mixed reaction from the audience, that just has survived performances of Level 24, Huey Lewis & The News and Chalice. When JOHN CALE appeared onstage it nearly was 3 o’clock in the morning, the atmosphere in the hall was as tense and menacing as the concert that followed.

Starting with the selfironic “Autobiography” (a song that has never been played or released before or after!), this concert represents the rock-musician JOHN CALE, playing highlights from the last studio album “Caribbean Sunset” as well as all-time-classics like “Fear Is A Man’s Best Friend”, “Paris 1919” and a breathtaking version of the Velvet Underground-classic “Waiting For The Man”. Supported by David Lichtenstein (drums), Andy Heermans (bass) and David Young (guitar) JOHN CALE presented the songs in very rough, sparse, nearly minimalistic arrangements, always cutting the edge and strictly coming the point in every song.

Up to this day, this performance remains one of the most spectacular concerts in the history of the Rockpalast-Series. In sharp contrast to this performance you will find a second concert at Zeche Bochum from 1983. Here you will find the more introverted JOHN CALE: a man and his piano performing his all-time-classics, including an extremely expressive version of “Fear Is A Man’s Best Friend”.

Altogether, this set perfectly represents the many facettes of the JOHN CALE in the early 80s – it is a historic document which stands the test of time.

+++ Correction: Unfortunately there was an error during the production. The concert on CD2/DVD2 was accidentally indicated as “Loreley, 21.06.1998″. Of course, the recording was made at March 6, 1983, at Zeche Bochum. We apologize. +++

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Tracklisting:

CD1/DVD 1:

October 14, 1984 at Grugahalle Essen

1. AUTOBIOGRAPHY 04:39
2. OOH LA LA 02:38
3. EVIDENCE 03:24
4. MAGAZINES 03:36
5. MODEL BEIRUT RECITAL 03:29
6. STREETS OF LAREDO 02:40
7. MUDD 03:46
8. LEAVING IT UP TO YOU 05:43
9. CARIBBEAN SUNSET 04:40
10. THE HUNT 03:45
11. FEAR IS A MAN’S BEST FRIEND 03:44
12. HEARTBREAK HOTEL 04:01
13. PARIS 1919 03:49
14. WAITING FOR THE MAN 06:09
15. MERCENARIES (READY FOR WAR) 09:13
16. PABLO PICASSO/LOVE ME TOW TIMES 09:03
17. CLOSE WATCH 02:38

 

CD2/DVD 2:

March 6, 1983 at Zeche Bochum

1. GHOST STORY 02:47
2. SHIP OF FOOLS 02:55
3. LEAVING IT UP TO YOU 03:58
4. AMSTERDAM 02:49
5. CHILD’S CHRISTMAS IN WALES 04:03
6. BUFFALO BALLET 02:57
7. ANTARCTICA STARTS HERE 02:36
8. TAKING IT ALL AWAY 02:41
9. RIVERBANK 03:36
10. PARIS 1919 03:54
11. GUTS 03:06
12. CHINESE ENVOY 03:38
13. THOUGHTLESS KIND 02:14
14. ONLY TIME WILL TELL 02:22
15. CABLE HOGUE 03:37
16. DEAD OR ALIVE 03:17
17. WAITING FOR THE MAN 04:46
18. HEARTBREAK HOTEL 04:41
19. CHORALE 02:49
20. FEAR IS A MAN’S BEST FRIEND 03:53
21. CLOSE WATCH 02:50
22. STREETS OF LAREDO 02:25

 

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Tracklisting Vinyl:

Side 1:
1.    Autobiography 04:47
2.    Oh La La 02:44
3.     Evidence 03:23
4.    Magazines 03:36
5.     Model Beirut Recital 03:30
6.     Streets Of Laredo 02:33
Total: 20:33

Side 2:
1.    Dr. Mudd 03:42
2.    Leaving It Up To You 05:43
3.    Caribbean Sunset 04:39
4.    The Hunt 03:46
5.    Fear Is A Man’s Best Friend 03:40
Total: 21:30

Side 3:
1.    Heartbreak Hotel (Vinyl Edit) 02:32
2.    Paris 1919 03:49
3.    Waiting For The Man 06:05
4.    Mercenaries (Ready For War) 09:02
Total: 21:28

Side 4 – Bonus Tracks:

Encore Concert Essen 1984:
1.    Pablo Picasso/Love Me Two Times 09:04
2.    Close Watch 02:37

Selected Tracks, Concert Bochum 1983:
3.    Buffalo Ballet 03:00
4.    Antarctica Starts Here 02:36
5.    Guts 02:36
6.    Fear Is A Man’s Best Friend 03:25
Total: 23:19

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Video

Photos

Photos by Manfred Becker