BEGGARS OPERA- LIVE 1972- MacArthur Park

[@sall1949]

Hello ... Martin Griffiths here, singer on this live CD. I remember we played at Cardano in Italy at the end of a long hard tour ..... we always played better when we were knackered. McArthur Park was one of my favourites .. a song you could get your teeth into! Shiloh Noone(author of Seekers Guide to The Rhythm of Yesteryear) said it was, according to Jimmy Webb, rated along with Maynard Ferguson's version as the finest version. My only regret was not being able to sing the second middle verse!

[@JOSE11db]

Hey, Martin!

[@JOSE11db]

Hey, Martin! You really want to keep alive the Beggars opera legacy!

[@maccesandholm]

Classic, thank you Martin

[@lorenzogiovagnoli]

@sall1949 Congratulations, I am a singer and composer in the italian band Odessa; I think that Beggars Opera had its own unique and distinctive sound and your voice was very original. Songs like this, or Hobo, Madame Doubtfire, have all been quite inspirational to me. Cheers

[@sall1949]

Hello Artrocksterandbro ..... here's wishing you and your band Odessa all the best. We played quite a lot in Italy. I remember we played a summer season in Rimini in 1972 at the Yeh Yeh Club with PFM. Best wishes from Martin.

[@VixNoelopan]

Despite it's poor sound quality this shines a true light on the power that this band must have been as a live act. Unfortunately I was too young then and have been living in a small village far from the next locations where they performed. But I do well remember the date when the album Pathfinder was released in Germany. My friends and me have all been set on fire instantaneously!

[@jonsilence]

I concur; as someone living in the U.S. when the classic Beggars Opera were active in the early 70s but never toured outside of Europe, this recording is the next best thing to seeing them in concert and is ample evidence of what must have been one helluva live show!

[@VixNoelopan]

@jonsilence: I'm sure you know this contribution: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hIqqcoKbirxsoaM This footage from a show called Beat Club was shot and broadcast by a German TV station in 1971. The piece is from their very first album (track B1), but was performed by the lineup of the 2nd one. Note Alan Park, keyboardist and main composer of the band. This guy was just about 21 then!

[@tombarton6302]

Very heavy brutal live version!

[@ignaziorocco4184]

If is by far the best version of the song, esp thanks to the vocalist. No other singer reads the “oh no” final phrase of the ref in the same amazing way.

[@jonsilence]

Fully agreed, the Martin Griffiths vocal on this track is my favorite of all the versions out there

[@HubertPausT]

Dear All + tks for the posting One of my first concerts was at Hannover where Beggars Opera played with Jeff Beck (there was big trouble when he plays) etc.. I was very pleased and loved the Band since that time. The unfolded Cover of Pathfinder decorated my Walls for Years. :-) Martin you are a great singer rgs Hubert

[@SILVERSHEEP45]

wow!! thanks good old music. i istened after a long absence.

[@sall1949]

Thanks for that Hubert .... Its quite a poster .... and rare to fine these days! Hope to meet you someday ... All the best from Martin.

[@henryhoodlum]

saw em live way back when....guess 71 or so .and still remember.what a blast we had

[@sall1949]

@155nani Hello ..... Thanks for your comments on MacArthur Park. The musical "Elizabeth and Frederick" is finished and ready to go .... just need production help. Watch out for 2013. Best wishes from Martin.

[@stephenbrewis7426]

Saw Beggars Opera at Sunderland Rink in1972, they eere on with Argent and they absolutely blew Argent off the stage. Brilliant.

[@1benvarrey]

@sall1949 hey Martin what you doing these days? Beggars Opera weren't the same when you left

[@Leonecon]

I GOTTA get a copy of this live album!!! Is it available? I've been featuring Beggars Opera on my radio show here in South Africa since the early 80's and have been following the band since day (Act) one!!

[@Yorisuke1166]

名カヴァー

[@schweizerbananen]

Gute Versiopn dieses Stücks. Ist auch das ganze Konzert auf Band vorhanden?

[@sall1949]

Hello 1benvarrey and Hubert ... Thanks for your kind comments. It's great to think that Beggars are being listened to after all these years! I have just finished reciting Shakespeare on my son Philip's new album ( Island Noises) with his group "Poor Genetic Material". At the moment I'm finishing off a musical set up in Heidelberg Castle which will feature this song among other songs from Beggars Opera. All the best from Martin.

[@kevinhewitson3536]

Just stumbled across this. Only got to see you guys once, at Hart Rock '71, held in Hartlepool United's football ground. You blew my socks off, been a lifelong fan ever since. Echoing an earlier comment, the band was never as good after you left. Can you answer a question for me......Virginia was present but I can't recall if it was Marshall or Gordon on bass, can you help?

[@troloquimicoxd69]

If it was 1971 it was most likely the bassman was Gordon

[@BillboardPenguin]

If you like this version, you may also like the one by Ethereal Architect.