Bruford - Back To The Beginning (Rock Goes To College, March 17th, 1979)

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Annette Peacock is one of those artists whose vocal approach polarises people. You either love her or hate her. Bowie loved her; Peacock allegedly turned down Bowie's request that she appear on ‘Aladdin Sane’. But bear in mind where she’s coming from, namely a 1960s New York City background of blues, jazz, avant-garde electronic music, rap and free-form poetry. Check her out on her first album ‘I’m the One’, described by John Fordham of the Guardian as “seismically influential”. Like all artists, in 1979 she was a work in progress - half-singing, half speaking her way to her own identity. Think Jack Kerouac’s ‘On the Road’, Gil Scott-Heron’s ‘The Revolution Will Not Be Televised’ and Allen Ginsberg’s ‘Howl’. This last one connects you of course to King Crimson’s ‘Beat’, and the track ‘The Howler’. Before Annette, female singers sang the given melody. After Annette, they could sing whatever the heck they wanted.
Annette Peacock - Vocals
Bill Bruford - Drums
Dave Stewart - Keyboards
Allan Holdsworth - Guitar
Jeff Berlin - Bass
Audio and video have both been sourced and restored from the original broadcast master.
Footage licensed from BBC Studios Distribution. All rights reserved.
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#BillBruford
#Earthworks #billbrufordsearthworks

[@U2WB]

Annette’s delivery is “outside” harmonically, yet absolutely dripping with sensuality.

[@PauloRoldan]

She adds a dreamy, ethereal quality to the song.

[@liecht]

Annette Peacock command of harmonies and rythm is superb,not to mention her interpretation,full of subtleties and modulations.This song is probably the best of the concert,and wouln't be that good without Anette.

[@zenstain]

This is the best band that has ever been assembled, in my opinion. I could listen to every song on those albums on endless loop. Unbelievable melodies and musicianship.

[@swiftusmaximus5651]

tip top shelf

[@garythain76]

I have loved this album and this song since it was released! and Annette Peacock!

[@dinodemauro4855]

"Mr. Bass" Jeff Berlin's grooving lines, graceful with effortless fluency and recall. Makes these lp's timeless favorites in a class of their own...

[@basslobster]

I love Annette Peacock (of course). She brings the fifth voice to this great quartet. She's just perfect!

[@snowfiresunwind]

Love this! I find Annette's vocals very easy to listen to though back in the day I guess it was unusual to hear female vocalist sound like this. She's a trailblazer. Fantastic band lineup here with Holdsworth being the icing on the cake for me.

[@MichelJay]

Stunning... out-of-this-worldy musicianship (Holdsworth on guitar, Berlin on bass... no comments) and the fantastic Annette Peacock manages to steal the show and simply kills it !

[@Bawookles]

Annette was/is great! She really gave the first Bruford album a special character.

[@VI-rt7sh]

I've never heard this before. It's incredible.

[@seekingwisdom8]

Reminds me so much of the late 50s, early 60s avant-garde jazz

[@PetarOrsin]

A wonderful reminder of the true masters

[@giovannipeirone3915]

Here Annette Peacock sings even better than in the studio recording, and this is a serious challenge: performing an impossible melodic line in a live situation is no easy task. I admire them all but she gives me goosebumps: I fell in love!

[@jazzfusioner9840]

Word...

[@louise_rose]

She has this cool, confidently sexy and unreachable feel - reminiscent of the German singer Ute Lemper or Billie Ray Martin of Electribe 101 (also German originally, though she formed the band in England) - or the way one could have imagined Sally Bowles (Liza Minnelli captured some of that tone in her superb performances in the film Cabaret). Very impressive and yes, I can see how hard it must have been to nail those vocal lines in concert.

[@chrislenox1812]

What a band this was... Anette brought such a cool vibe to the thing too. It's still fresh and fun, and I will probably never get enough of listening to these albums. I love that at the time many of Bill's contemporaries were either running out of gas creatively or breaking up, and here comes Bill distilling all of his experience and brainpower into a fresh set of tunes with a impossibly good new band.

[@Maguirearch]

Wow...Bruford, Stewart and Holdsworth all in the same band..wow..seriously serious talent....

[@dinodemauro4855]

Honorable mention to "Mr. Bass" Jeff Berlin, WOW! effortless fluency/ massive chops...

[@stephangagnon3121]

Don’t forget Jeff Berlin! Underknown, underrated bassman

[@aeropilot4419]

Bruford jazz fusion work is crazy … so good on a level not seen in a long time 👏🏼

[@Prof.ArnonPalty]

Brings back so many memories!!

[@llarruda]

First time that I listening Annette Peacock. That was one day ago. And I can't stop. It's a complex music to sing. Maybe influenced Kim Gordon of Sonic Youth. Makes remember Pattern Recognition and so many others songs. When people say "love it or hate it" in general I love.

[@MJ98774]

Polarizing is a good way of putting it. Annette was perfect for that band. Feels Good to Me, Gradually Going Tornado and One of a Kind were such remarkable albums that I don't even listen to many other bands in comparison because you guys were so good that you just wiped the plate clean. 35 years later I try to recreate that moment when I heard Bruford in my early 20s and nothing has floored me the way those albums have and still do. Masterpiece is an understatement. I never wanted to see a reunion tour of any group except for Bruford.....wish I could've seen you all live before Allan passed.

[@umbertoyltp]

Allan Holdsworth left a huge void in music, the only guitaist that comes close to his style is Rick Beato IMHO

[@TheFissionchips]

@@umbertoyltp Rick Beato? lol. Listen to Tony MacAlpine - Holdsworth was actually in the same super-group as him for one LP - Planet X. Beato is not even on the same page, he's just a demin wearing fan boy.....and then there's Allan's mate Frank Gambale.

[@MJ98774]

@@TheFissionchips LOL the Beato comment was funny. I like his analysis and show, but I think even he'd admit he's not an innovator, he dissects tunes, more like a teacher. Frank Zapppa said "the guy doing anything original on the guitar is Allan Holdsworth" and I'd have to agree.

[@petestanton1945]

@@TheFissionchips denim-wearing demon? ; )

[@jamesconraadtucker]

@@umbertoyltp DH

[@johnbull333]

I AM proud to SEE this concert.

[@martinj40m]

First time I’d heard of AP and thought she was amazing. I think she complemented the band perfectly. I remember watching this when it was first broadcast and buying the album as soon as I could. Every member was playing to such a high standard. AH solos were and still are breathtaking in their skill and beauty. He remains to me the best whammy bar user of any guitarist. Watching again what also stands out is JBs bass. Solid, melodic and funky.

[@louise_rose]

Yes, I first heard Jeff Berlin on Patrick Moraz' superb solo album "The Story of i" which I discovered around the same time, in 1979 - I immediately noted the name, he sounded great there. Not being from the UK I missed out on this tv gig with Bruford and only saw it on dvd twenty-five years later....what a great show!

[@99beatmonster]

I love Annette Peacock's work both here and as an independant artist. Her music is as diverse as it is rich. Those who listen to a handful of tracks are missing out on some real gems...and then there is Allan Holdsworth...my ultimate improvising guitarist and a seriously under-rated composer. I saw this band minus Annette , once with Holdsworth and twice without. Thank you for the inspirational music Mr Bill.

[@snowfiresunwind]

Agreed that Holdsworth was a grade A composer - his writing so overlooked.

[@jazzkuramatto]

I really like Annettes vocals with Bruford. Brings great contrast and character to the music. It’s not difficult to imagine that Bowie loved her vocals, to me there’s somewhat of a similarity in the character of their vocals.

[@tikitorturedmf]

This is dream footage Bill! I’ve loved this song since the day the record came out. Never thought I’d see live footage of it. Her voice is so captivating. Thanks!

[@RogerMFox]

🎼🪄✨Thanks Bruford, I appreciate very much seeing Annette perform with you all, she's a TRIP, wonderfully different...Much love & respect, Foxy🌬💨🔥🎶🔥🎵🌞🌚🕶

[@mikejpassfilms]

Incredible song. I never knew about Annette until now.

[@dlsamson]

I've loved this album (& Annette) since I first heard it back in '79. Thank-you for the context as Gil Scott-Heron has also been a favorite artist & both Annette & Gil are worthy of the company of Kerouac & Ginsberg

[@michaelcollins6935]

I remember seeing this song on the Old Grey Whistle Test when the album came out. It really stuck in my head and particularly Annette Peacock's vocal style.. although what a band! Great to see a live version..

[@davepointon6273]

... on OGWT and shortly thereafter on Sight & Sound - from which this is an excerpt ( the full version is lurking somewhere on YT)

[@davidraymer397]

So great to see a high quality master of this finally.

[@ZenarchersLair]

Incredible line-up. Owned these albums on release back in early college days. Almost pains me to say I missed the few tours due to work and school. Each release transcended all, and still punches through most everything released since, including today. Finally realized my wish when Bill toured for Discipline, but these works are genius.

[@violoncelo1000]

what a fantastic bass player.. the groove.. omg...

[@jazzfusioner9840]

Catz name...Jeff Berlin...

[@violoncelo1000]

@@jazzfusioner9840 thank you very much.. big hug!!!

[@michaelshore2609]

Annette is fabulous, a genuine artiste, and it speaks volumes about Mr. B that she worked with him. Her "come n ger it" entry on this tune on the "Feels Good To Me" LP is one of the most startlingly sexy things I've ever heard. Her X-Dreams album is fabulous and Bill's drumming on "Real and Defined Androgens" on that LP is magnificent.

[@grahamnunn8998]

Love how Annette is greeted with a few wolf whistles and just stares them down with a look that says "you f#$cking dare!". A singer totally in the moment,

[@darkcharles7472]

Lets be realistic. The Bruford record would have been better without her

[@arfshesaid4325]

@@darkcharles7472 wow , thank fuck taste is strictly a very personal thing

[@saracinesca9864]

I liked this singer right away, from the first moment I listened to this record .. I immediately went to look for her: she is truly unique and special, a voice that touches the strings! Once again, THANK YOU, Mr. Bill Bruford!

[@freddiesoverbite6162]

Jeff Berlin man….. Bill always made sure to have an epic bassist with him.

[@totallyunmemorable]

I remember when this first came out. I thought Annette Peacock was the most amazing thing I'd ever heard. Stunningly original. It kinda doesn't quite work live in comparison, but it's still pretty great.

[@fucheduck]

Rush's Geddy Lee said in a 1979 interview this was his favorite band. Neil Peart also admitted to it having some inspiration in his own drumming style.

[@jorgitorock]

Rock ON 🖤

[@user-vf2xg5ux1n]

It's refreshing that Allan is playing SG. From Japan

[@jimmumford4733]

Alan's guitar tone reminds me of a saxophone, at times. ✌️🤘😎👍🖖

[@evanjazzista]

Allan originally wanted to play the saxophone, so this explains that.

[@lemokolyon]

A good song from a good album. Thank you for the vidéo version.

[@kniknayme9865]

Love that triangle setup! These clips are great.

[@bogatibokorakos]

Love her!!!!

[@davidwatkinson1226]

This track has so much in it. I remember when it was first released on TV, I saw John Martyn in Manchester in the RGTC era. She is the perfect match and not sure how they wrote this but its complex simple funk jazz feeeform and yeah...all that. Thanks Bill. 👏

[@jacobtapianieto9655]

At first I couldn't believe that this song was written in the late 70's (I heard the studio version first). It sounds way ahead of its time.

[@this_is_angel74]

Love all this

[@SKarthikeyan75]

Such fun! thanks, Bill. Much admiration from India

[@_Helm_]

mr. Bruford in the chance you read the comments - and why not, it's all coming to a close - I wanted to tell you how good Feels Good to Me is, still, what a positive impact it had on me and many others. Thank you for all the music, thank you for all the effort and jubilance that went into every drum hit.

[@BasicDrumming]

Great video.

[@7karlheinz]

Loving these YT video installments, thanks, Bill!

[@JellyMonster1]

Not heard this in ages - great footage.

[@jabizabalegi240]

Fantastic!!!!

[@tuknchuk]

Super Fun & Exciting Live Stream !!!! Thanks for Sharing 🙏

[@wowoisworo2156]

Wow..great picture! I'v loved this from the beginning ❤

[@karelvandervelden8819]

Thank you. Incase listeners here do not know it....check out this other great band: ¨The Bad Plus¨ with Wendy Lewis - album: ¨For all I care¨.

[@joamau2628]

Great❤

[@craigfazekas3923]

Happy Birthday, BB !!!!! 05.17.22. As a result ? All Bill tracks, all day long......

[@Tyrell_Corp2019]

Love her 👏

[@braedeenn]

i loved Annette’s performance of these songs on the record but it’s not doing it for me live and idk why… amazing song regardless. love playing it on drums :)

[@VersatileRecords]

Annette is so classy!

[@markjacobsen8335]

What a band!

[@sophietellier41]

Oh my god, it's so weird, it sounds like a rehearsal. It's so great 😂

[@briansilcox5720]

I had both of those recordings going regularly in 1980… I was a big AH fan, but Bill’s talent for assembling talent expanded that notion greatly. Annette was something entirely different.

[@Laughingmonkeymusic]

looking forward!

[@peterthart531]

Thanks for this. For me those albums are at the top and her vocals suited the feel. In fact I quoted one of the songs on my year book-but the publisher decided to drop it without notice...oh well

[@EloyGijon67]

Tough girl in a kingcrimsonian environment. Nice 👍

[@zappatx]

She's like Patrick Moraz's keys at the microphone.. Or Tony Kaye's clothing selections.. But I couldn't put it any better than you said - Finding her way or work in progress. I'll check out her other material.

[@richardmurphy8744]

When I heard her voice, I was ready for a beauty of her mind, but just for the time of her sayings! ❤👊🕶️

[@sandrocavali9810]

Wow!

[@MJ98774]

Bill, do you have a high quality clip of your perfomance with King Crimson on that show "Fridays" you did in 1980, where you played Elephant Talk? I have it on VHS (somewhere) and all of the clips on KZbin are poor quality. Would love to see a higher def version of that show as well. Thanks! and subbed.

[@hubbsllc]

I saw that when it aired and I was...unsettled, but in a good way. *Nobody* in that band was doing *anything* normal. At all. At any point.

[@polishrocker93]

There already is a high quality version here on KZbin. Look for the version from the channel “VPR2B.” The channel also has a performance of Thela hun Ginjeet” from the same show. I can’t imagine the video looking any better than those uploads.

[@MJ98774]

@@hubbsllc +1. I saw that as a teenager and thought "Mind Blown" A++++ for originality.

[@MJ98774]

@@polishrocker93 Thanks!

[@eniojosepenz8908]

The BEST

[@petestanton1945]

Yes, see also Patti Smith & Exene Cervenka

[@Maguirearch]

This song reminds me allot of "I never glid before" by "Gong"

[@awaken4945]

Please Bill , can you tune my snare ( thank's )

[@francoisgagne5999]

Sublime of a vocalist Wow (-; Not bad of a band too🤩

[@luisfernando-mm3jt]

Nice

[@shawnbruce6934]

Annette is Amazing. Sexy, Provocative and Witty. And She Sings Torch Very Nicely.

[@TheRealRonMoses]

I would certainly never use the word "hate" to describe my feelings about Annette Peacock's vocal talents. I am, however, far from the "love" camp. When I assembled my Bruford playlist on Spotify, I couldn't bring myself to include any of her tracks, which is sad, because there is some fine music there. Now Jeff Berlin, there's a top-flight vocalist if there ever was one. 😐

[@TrevorDennis100]

I started a comment saying much the same thing, but couldn't bring myself to post it. The vocals were flat too many times and painful to listen to at first. She got better later on, but not by enough to save it.

[@LittleManFlying]

Go with your initial impulse.

[@johngreiner3879]

Agreed. I find Peacock's unusual rhythms and melodies interesting, and they fit the music, but I can't say I love them. In this performance, the vocals get lost without enough power or amplification.

[@kevgamble]

To my ears, there's a pronounced Jack Bruce influence in Berlin's vocals. The "out"-ness of what he was singing would always be a little challenge for the rock listener to follow; I'm not sure the effects they sometimes applied to his voice helped (it sounded a little distracting to me).

[@angelgarcie]

Everything was good until you mentioned Jeff Berlin as a singer,just like Jack Bruce he had one of the most uninspiring voices ever

[@bristolfashion4421]

he twok and dibble and poot - foota poota wubble wubble bocka tocka wocka innit plonk plonk this is music we jiggle about whoosh poosh boosch hahahaha there are numbers and bounces wubba wubba (then have a beer maybe or else run)

[@trentnunyabiz6204]

Never understood the hate for Annette, she's got a good voice and aside from your onos and bushes i can't think of anyother female vocalist who is as accomplished as she is polarising. And bill and the boys are on top form as usual.

[@fleursbruyantes4177]

She does this whisper voice thing which alienates people but she's very much in control of her voice. She sings it almost exactly the way she sung it on the album.

[@hubbsllc]

@@fleursbruyantes4177 Various commenters on various posts of this video have been AP haters but clearly she can hit pitches when she feels like it...but she doesn't always feel like it. Also important to note that she comes in on the right beat every time...YOU try it! :) Anyway, I love this song; I think it's cool.

[@bytoriasnowdoggy]

Dig it!

[@neilloughran4437]

Fantastic quality footage. Has this been cleaned up by Topaz VEAI perhaps? ALways loved this track..

[@julesdrums6167]

Annette Peacock appears to be properly stoned

[@Maguirearch]

Holsworthy and a blind jazz pianist called Lennie Tristiano were major major influences on Joe Satriani and his approach to guitar trickery, new techniques, etc, etc

[@BLUEPLANETJAZZ]

Presence

[@WarrenPostma]

It's like an alternative universe where David Byrne is an attractive lady.

[@mariuspoppFM]

Intriguing idea

[@paulkim1521]

Is keyboardist Dave Stewart soon to be pop 80s duo The Eurythmics in the 80s or is it different Dave Stewart?

[@RustyKnorr]

This is as challenging as some of Panzerballet’s vocal music. I appreciate it, but I prefer the instrumental pieces.

[@randybrickson4290]

well goddam

[@tomaburque]

To me, Bill on Fragile was the first drummer with a really good snare sound. Listening to recordings before Fragile came out drums sounded like wet cardboard.

[@chuckcribbs3398]

Um, Carl Palmer is the Master of the Snare Drum. But Bill is a fantastic drummer. Big Yes and KC fan.

[@eren7350]

my man looking like Tom Scott here

[@davidsempau2973]

What snare does Bill use?

[@hubbsllc]

An ordinary Ludwig steel snare. It's all in the tuning and the playing.

[@user-uq7fn7vx8h]

О чем песня? What about this song? Вот эбаут зис сонг?

[@rolfdejonge3915]

✌️🤠💥🌟🌀🌐 @#rolfdejonge@

[@innocentoctave]

Nice to hear this. Shame that Annette's vocal and Holdsworth's guitar are both too low in the mix.

[@michaelmarino3013]

Heavy shit

[@ismailcanguven5837]

what is that on the mic?

[@zachjohnson637]

Pie. It was thrown in the face of the MC at the beginning of the show.

[@ismailcanguven5837]

@@zachjohnson637 oh, it is clear now :)

[@marcelopenaonfray5827]

Very Steven Wilson's vibes

[@fusionhar]

Annette told me, Allan Holdsworth is the last real guitar hero!

[@bigfootpegrande]

Muse, muse, muse...

[@SingularlyNaked]

Clearly whoever edited the video hated Allan Holdsworth. C'mon, at least focus on him during the solo!

[@davidfloyd9316]

Bingo. Knowing the music should be the basic requirement if you're manning the cameras. Good to see Dave Stewart, though. One of the most brilliant and underrated composer/keyboardists in rock

[@totallyunmemorable]

I know that feeling all too well. Click my avatar and watch how much the camera man hated me (the guitar player), to say nothing of the audio guy.

[@pooginmouse]

My thought exactly. He played an crazy good solo and the showed shots of everyone else in the band. Not a single good shot of him. What a shame.

[@nathandodge665]

Wish the guitar was louder

[@neilloughran4437]

Someone should attempt an "AI" remix on this... can work wonders...

[@cobbycaputo3332]

That was my one criticism of this entire show, based on the videos I have seen. The keys are little too loud and the guitar is way too far back in the mix. As always, your mileage may vary.

[@LuDux]

@2:32 she "hits" cymbal with elbow

[@frizzonofficial]

That's so cool I didn't notice that

[@PhilipPedro2112]

She was 38 in this video.