Aztec Camera - Whistle Test On The Road

[@stephengraham1430]

Forget the 80s, “high land, hard rain” is one of the best albums EVER. pure genius....

[@jonstern7511]

It's an amazing album. I felt he never equalled it again. Not only albumwise but even live like this. Things started to sound a bit 80s and either over produced or with that tinny 80s sound when he needed analog and earthy tones. Not sure if this makes sense to anyone. I've never enjoyed a first album so much and never been so disappointed with subsequent ones

[@timpindar]

@@jonstern7511 My thoughts exactly. Everything you said, I agree with.

[@michaelobrien9825]

try listening to the cd LOVE, Stephen.

[@michellecrossen3291]

Agreed!!! I saw them in San Francisco in 1985 and they were amazing!!

[@kenmccormack7297]

@@jonstern7511 ... yes, I always thought it was a shame that he didn't work with Thomas Dolby, rather than Mark Knopfler. The keys/synths on Knife sound dated very quickly, despite the songs being rather good. Love, produced by no other than Tommy Lipuma (see: Miles Davis' producer) was v synthy and programmed, at a time when the music tech lacked RF's innate authentic musicality (but... no doubt made sure he wasn't gonna be broke!) How old was he when he did that? But... after that, Stray is beautiful, Frestonia is magic (Rainy Season - recorded by Clive Langer and Alan Whinstanley, a real treat for the ears), Dreamland has songs like Sister Ann and Pianos and Clocks... then after that, his solo stuff - any of it - is littered with his best work... The North Star (Here Comes The Ocean), Surf (Surf). I think he's always been one of Britain's best harmonic writers - on every album there is a song where I think "ahhh... no-one else can do that". Nat King Cole's voice is a bit like that - the second you hear it you remember that you haven't heard anything that cool since his last one. So, check that out :) Lastly, pop is pop... that genre doesn't let you be as deep, and of course synthetic instruments don't ring and chime in harmony...

[@itzoccor]

I'm ashamed to say that while I liked the singles (Oblivious, Walk out to Winter) when they came out, I did not pay much attention to 'High Land, Hard Rain' at the time. Recently I listened to the excellent BBC podcast 'Classic Scottish Albums', re-discovered this terrific début album, and utterly fell in love with it. Songs like 'We Could Send Letters' and 'Release' will stay with me for a long while...

[@nmtg]

itzoccor me too. I just rediscovered them in the KZbin vortex. Thank goodness. Roddy frame is one of the greats

[@andymoody8363]

Oh man, I was there! Brilliant evening, Roddy was and is a god.

[@lupodelupis3672]

My favourite UK groups of those years were The Smiths, Prefab Sprout, The Housemartins, Echo & The Bunnymen, but for Aztec Camera I have had always a soft spot....btw this live is great!

[@s.k.9401]

same!!

[@VideoMcVideoface]

I saw the Love tour in SLC. Usually, a live show will have more energy but less polish than the studio recording, but not the case with that show. Everything about it was amazing! I remember Roddy dropping his pants down low on his hips (at the time, not a thing) and dancing with the backup singers at the front of the stage. The whole band was perfect; lots of energy and fun!

[@s.k.9401]

if I had a time machine, I would go see aztec camera live tbh

[@michaelobrien9825]

RODDY STILL OCCASIONALLY PLAYS TO THIS DAY, JUST NOT THAT OFTEN.

[@muhammadilhamabdurrauf3818]

Backdoor to Heaven 00:00 Walk out to Winter 4:21 Orchid Girl 7:40 Back on Board 10:21 The Bugle Sounds Again 15:17 The Boy Wonders 18:35 Release 21:45 Oblivious 25:48 Set The Killing Free 29:25 We Could Send Letters 32:54

[@deBuchias]

I have played the guitar since i was 16 - but he was bloody 19 here - how do you get that good that quick - amazing talent - I've only just learned to play walk out to winter - i can see why i was always too lazy to learn it as it's a very complex chord changes - awesome...

[@thebeatlesbeat]

Justin Salmon having grown up beside him and went to school with both him and Campbell, didn't know Roddy that well though he did live in the same street, but from other friends I do know that he was amazing on guitar at the age of around 13/14

[@guyinsf]

The Bugle Sounds Again is so amazing live!

[@popincourtmusic571]

A genius and a gentleman

[@35sixer]

First two albums are absolute Gold Gems... Love Roddy and the talent he has been blessed with.. True genius..Thank you for posting this rare live footage for us Yanks in the USA..

[@slowandcrystal]

This was the first music gig I recorded on VHS...so glad to see it again! Sublime!

[@tracywwwdot]

A trip down memory lane for me. I saw him play the Knife tour at Birmingham Odeon. So much passion even then. Love this. Thank you 🙏

[@infindebula]

Thanks for posting this - it's a great concert. I think Roddy's voice took a couple of songs to settle down, and he is visibly agitated about it during the first song. I can't recall ever hearing "Orchid Girl" live before. Love it.

[@pilarzj]

gives me chills…..just too wonderful

[@zeepilote]

14:45 “Oh, do you not understand me? That’s cool, then. Well, I don’t understand YOU. I don’t know where you’re coming from, man. With your long hair and your sweatshirt. You’re real dapper!” Hilarious.

[@Daisypetal100]

Wow Roddy Frame is only a teenager here.

[@monicaspector2388]

Wow...so much love for this music.

[@AishahHarden]

Shit this is so good and has all their best songs. Thanks for uploading

[@theok04]

This is a fantastic show-thanks for uploading!

[@jamespaterson2084]

Got a very long crowded bus down to Birmingham for this , the. Slept rough until we got the bus home .... worth it

[@thomaswalker7032]

I grew up with this band love every song and I'm older than roddy

[@lupodelupis3672]

High land hard Rain is one of The best album of The 80's

[@brettjansen7702]

ever

[@Mu_de_Aries]

Asi es! muy buen disco, melodico y popero

[@futsal1958]

Golden era for the band.

[@ebeyslough]

Wow thanks for the upload. The quality is great and I love Roddy's love performances.

[@troygaspard6732]

Thank you!! Old Grey Whistle Test is a goldmine.

[@san-panico]

This was really good. A blast from the past. Cheers for the upload mate!

[@MemskiBobSki]

Thanks for the upload. This was the second time I watched Aztec Camera, after their debut on The Old Grey Whistle Test. Irony that he calls Oblivious 'the biggest hit', band is tight, but doesn't Malcolm Ross's acoustic guitar sound like a elastic band? A mere hint of a quite varied album history, no two albums repeat themselves, his Aztec peak for me is Dreamland, while Western Skies stands out as Roddy's best solo album. Search for his version of Jump which he recorded during the Knife album sessions.

[@kateperry4010]

I adore this.

[@maverickminstrel1557]

certainly surpassing what johnny marr was doing at the time as a guitarist...plus roddy was younger too..

[@itzoccor]

I don't understand why everything must be turned into a contest. They were both amazing guitarists, passionate about their craft and utterly dedicated to it, both creating great timeless art.

[@s.k.9401]

@@itzoccor fr! they’re both my favorite guitarists

[@orangefell]

Thanks for sharing! Fantastic!

[@Mu_de_Aries]

Que maravilla ♥️✨🎶🎵

[@Daisypetal100]

He's very talented and very attractive.

[@s.k.9401]

agreed

[@bryanharris9034]

I was there!

[@russnelson1926]

Coooourse you were

[@Lani012]

Amazing. Thank you :)

[@jesselbaltazar7933]

found it! thanks, Steve! Amazing!

[@wallytbm]

Such a talent - Love it!

[@mrsuperger5429]

Oh, Roddy ! Why did you slow down Backdoor To Heaven on the Knife album. ? This version is much better.

[@michaelobrien9825]

RODDY FRAME ANOTHER ONE OF SCOTLANDS FINEST SINGER/SONGWRITERS/MUSICAL TALENTS.

[@sergioalcayagachelme]

I Like Roddy and his group. Greetings from Chile!

[@gillstrachan7486]

Awwww look how cute Roddy is. 😍 Roddy is god ❤️

[@JulioCarlos69]

este es corto pero debe ser uo de los mejores conciertos porque es la era Hard land hard rain

[@marksheridan7260]

Happy memories,so gifted Roddy was . Mark Sheridan

[@strumbolli]

+Mark Sheridan He's not dead. You have the same name as my brother ,weird that and he likes this too.+

[@brettjansen7702]

still is

[@IndigoDavei]

Recorded this gig when it was shown on TV, but I think there was some interference or patterning on the picture, so I didn't keep it. But I did copy Backdoor to Heaven to audio cassette (as it was a new song). Anyway, it's great to see the concert again here. I think there was another televised Aztec Camera gig in the August of the following year, but that was mainly songs from Knife. Both should have been keepers.

[@dago3336]

7:42 sublime

[@geofflee6038]

wow!

[@woz1709]

Nice little reveal as what was to come with Knife!

[@83279061]

share some more. thanks.

[@jeffjohnson9842]

Genius

[@319zota]

I love Aztec Camera.

[@nicennice]

Bob Dylan, The Clash, David Bowie and Al Green all rolled into one (giant spliff). God Bless 19yr old Roddy Frame.

[@MemskiBobSki]

The intro to the show - wasn't that David Hepworth talking over Backwards and Forwards

[@riley1446]

25:55

[@riley1446]

18:26

[@mattpalmer5123]

Is that Malcolm Ross on second guitar?

[@MemskiBobSki]

Yeah this band recorded Knife.

[@brettjansen7702]

also of Orange Juice

[@tobiwalker1367]

Beautiful concert, good sound, thanks so very much. But is Roddy Frame wearing a raccoon on his head?

[@damiansesiuk6702]

Hello

[@tobeetheonehoneydove2887]

Times gone bye

[@jamespaterson2084]

2;30 velvets are in the building

[@NickFlores_Music]

rip bernie clarke :(

[@stivesclaret76]

I just want to be Roddy...

[@neilus]

He really does look like a very young John Lennon.