Bruford Live @ The Venue 8/5/79

[@wallisliss]

Dave Stewart and his lead fishing weights holding down the organ keys for dronepad goodness. I asked him a year or two ago whether he still had them. They sit with reverence on a mantle in his home in England!

[@beenhonked5172]

Still holding keys

[@ANTHONYCUSHEN]

Allan. Alongside Gong and with Bruford. He even sounded happy! Any Allan was astonishing. This period eh, what pure joy.

[@Oenloveslife]

Wow Martin Westwood! I dream of any previously unheard Holdsworth recordings (I've got about 30 records of his/with him on them) and here we are! Thank you! And hearing Berlin, and Bruford, and Stewart in this snapshot is also stunning! Massive thank you!

[@zenstain]

This is the best group ever assembled. Each of these guys are an absolute master and STILL this band exceeds the sum of their parts. Amazing.

[@fiachra4266]

Normally it's BB's snare that cuts through everything but the bass drum here is supremely prominent without being booming. Love it.

[@aharchives]

Tracklist, comments and corrections welcome: 0:08 Hell’s Bells 4:27 Sample And Hold 11:01 Fainting In Coils (part 1) 17:38 Back To Beginning (guitar solo) 19:56 Fainting In Coils (part 2) 22:11 Forever Until Sunday 29:43 Joe Frazier 34:53 One Of A Kind 44:47 Travels With Myself - And Someone Else 52:47 Beelzebub 56:20 The Sahara Of Snow 1:11:12 Five G

[@paulkent8731]

The Sahara of Snow segues into "Adios a la pasada (Goodbye to the Past)"

[@aharchives]

@@paulkent8731 Yeah, I missed that! Pretty obvious now looking at the timestamps.

[@markheld5788]

Best album and band of all time ,fainting in coils is a religious experiance.

[@martincoles6824]

Hey Martin, I was there too, that night at The Venue. Holdsworth, Berlin, Bruford and THE Dave Stewart - what a band! And ofcourse they played their hearts out. They returned the next year with John Clark (Holdsworth I believe quit after 20 May 1979) still amazing, just not quite so amazing! Thanks for sharing this.

[@kramkalisthenics]

Oh wow! Thank you for this gold!

[@mojacarman]

Any time!

[@guitarcht]

Cool to hear Holdsworth improvising like he always wanted to - never play the solo from the studio recording. Thx!

[@joanstone6740]

is everybody sure this isn't the unknown John Clark

[@frizzonproject]

28:40 Bruford mentions Holdsworth to the audience. @@joanstone6740

[@Stewart.Gaskin]

@@joanstone6740 Dave Stewart here - It's Allan Holdsworth :)

[@joanstone6740]

Thank you huge admirer of yours dave so creative melodic textural love everything you do@@Stewart.Gaskin

[@rhythmfield]

@@Stewart.Gaskin great work Dave!

[@galbaribeirodefaria6104]

It's great! Thanks a lot!! From BRAZIL!!!

[@richardpascual5491]

a rare cd i've owned for years, nice FOH job to capture this line-up... thx Rp

[@mojacarman]

You're very welcome

[@johnbull333]

I remember at the concert in The Agora Ballroom, at 5 mts. From YOU, eye to eye, You throw me the stick of your piece of work, but a friend of mine told me... Hey watch that beautiful girl beside You, SO i turno My head to the girl, and i missed catching the stick of your drums, and some body els got it . I was so mad that i hit My friend. Becose y missed catching the stick thanks You throw too me. I Will never forget that moment. Shit. ❤

[@randyroten]

Mr. W, thank you so very kindly for sharing this excellent recording of a one-time event.

[@Ashanath-Music]

Hell yea some Allan I haven't heard yet. Thank you and subscription 🙏 🙌 ❤

[@Darrylizer1]

I saw this band but with John Clark on guitar at Painters Mill Music Fair in Maryland. I think it was 1980

[@jefferyroy2566]

Saw John Clark version about the same time. Missed seeing Allan, but had caught him in 1978 with UK.

[@Darrylizer1]

@@jefferyroy2566 I regret never seeing Allan live. UK was such a fantastic band.

[@jefferyroy2566]

@@Darrylizer1 Not to rub it in, but the opening act for UK was The Electromagnets, featuring Eric Johnson in his earliest recording group. The other time I saw Holdsworth was in an un-air conditioned back room at Fitzgerald's in Houston, August 1988. It was so hot, they had fans blowing over open chests of ice to cool the stage gear, from a safe distance, naturally. In the end, Ronnie Montrose played a fabulous openingset, and Allan was Allan. It was my hottest ever indoor entertainment experience, in a memorable way, not a good one.

[@Darrylizer1]

@@jefferyroy2566 Haha, pretty cool! (Except for Houston with no air conditioning, yikes!)

[@pwrsrge2206]

I was also at the Painters Mill show. Saw Crimson there not long after (Nov ‘81) on the Discipline tour. And many other great shows. How I miss that venue! Great place till some idiots burned it to the ground trying to rob the safe. 😢

[@kevgamble]

Thank you for sharing this! Among other things, a nice treat to hear Joe Frazier with Holdsworth!

[@robertkaye5434]

Many thanks for this! Rare to find/hear a live recording of this 4tet with Holdsworth (R.I.P.). Having said that, their gig in Boston with John Clark is quite remarkable!

[@nicholashnatyk4470]

I saw Holdsy & Bill about 7 months before this @ the Orpheum with UK, but I missed any Boston appearance by this Bruford lineup, dammit😢. It was so damn hard to get advance concert info back then. Even WBCN-FM generally rather sucked in terms of caring about prog/fusion music & it was a royal PITA to have to shlep into Boston to get the weekly Phoenix or Real Paper free press rags who at least had fairly decent concert listings. So muchas gracias for this gem.

[@MikkelGrumBovin]

Gold ! 🥲

[@andreistroe4140]

superb, thanks.

[@higdaw]

wow what a treat and the tech details. cool. Cheers

[@pobinr]

Well done. I saw Allan a few months later with Nucleus in Southampton. How I wish I had a tape of that !

[@danaporteous1302]

Martin, Superbly done. Thank you so very much for sharing this amazing group of musicians at the top of their game. Encore!!

[@walterevans2118]

GREAT rendition of FOREVER UNTIL SUNDAY

[@VegasCyclingFreak]

Jeff Berlin is really on point on this gig

[@jeffreyjordan5325]

This is excellent, thank you! The more you turn it up, the better it sounds! Brilliant!

[@lesgoe8908]

Great posting. Thank you for sharing your secret stash.

[@jackriddle1135]

Best Christmas present....🎉😅😊...thanks Martin !

[@daveinma1107]

The "Live at the Venue" CD was recorded the following year, with John Clark having stepped into the guitarist slot after Holdsworth bailed out after the UK/France legs of the '79 tour.

[@Stewart.Gaskin]

Dave Stewart here. Allan handed in his notice on March 31st 1979 but agreed to stay on for the UK tour (May 5th- 20th), partly because press ads had already listed him as a Bruford band member. He recommended guitarist John Clark, who joined us for the French tour starting on May 26th and stayed until Bill broke up the band in 1980.

[@kevthebass]

Jeff Berlin plays dixie at 17:56, years before his solo Cd.

[@joanstone6740]

The always corny Jeff Berlin

[@tallpity4646]

Thanks so much, Martin. Great pleasure - I´m speechless!

[@bradking1536]

Thank you for sharing hope you are well God loves you deeply shalom 🤗🐼♥️✝️💐 Philippians 4:8

[@markrobinson8410]

This is one of the best live recordings i ever heard!

[@mkrpanixcom]

This is awesome. Thank you so much!

[@jeffreycollier1059]

Love it! Thank You so much! Mr. Westwood, the audio is great!!!

[@thomasbridges7323]

Wow nice

[@pdpatdeschamps29]

I always wanted to hear this work ! Thank you for sharing ❤🙏🎶

[@rickvenlo1362]

Fabulous indeed!!

[@walterevans2118]

WOW !! 😯😮

[@felixmarciano8661]

Wonderful !!!! Unbelievable !!! My many many tanks for this present, Martin !

[@jdc6681]

Wonderful! What a great gig you had back then. Thanks so much for sharing this!

[@Fender73472]

One of a kind tour? Saw this in the USA 1979 Allan left the band so the “unknown “ John Clark joined.😮and did a good job.

[@jonp4846]

I did as well, at a small venue in Providence, RI, called Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel (Lupo's to those that frequented the place). Seems like yesterday, although it was a lifetime ago.

[@Fender73472]

@@jonp4846 it was a lifetime ago, but it was the peak of jazz fusion music..

[@evetsnitram8866]

I saw John Clark a couple times in Hollywod with Bruford and he was having more fun with it. Holdsworth sounds like his heart wasn't in it here, could be he had short timers wanting to do his own music.

[@Fender73472]

What a résumé Yes King crimson Genesis Bruford Earthworks 🎉

[@bogeybast]

He even joined Gong on a European tour.

[@michaelrandle8316]

Don't forget Bruford / Moraz .

[@agus6115]

Holdsworth on an early version of Joe Frazier?! 🤯

[@leo78915]

alan holdworth就是想盡辦法用吉他彈john coltrane即興樂句的吉他手!Holdsworth 是位用腦型的吉他手!智商頗高天賦尚可

[@randyroten]

"Allan Holdsworth is a guitarist who tries his best to play John Coltrane's improvisational phrases on the guitar! Holdsworth is a cerebral guitarist! He has a high IQ and is quite talented. "(thank you Google Translate)

[@bobbyshroyer440]

I saw this tour in Cincinnati in '79. A guy named John Clarke was the guitar player... Great show. I remember Bill telling the audience on one tune that 'this tune is designed to make you feel like you're falling off your chair'. Sure did...

[@written12]

Wasn’t 1979 the year of that stampede at the Who concert at Riverfront? Nothing against the Who, but attending smaller shows, prog(ish), fusion shows is always a more pleasant experience. On a good night, rock concerts are always too crowded, noisy, rowdy etc

[@bobbyshroyer440]

​​@@written12Yep. I agree with you. A lot of my favorite shows/concerts were in small theaters or clubs. I will have to say tho, that three of my top concerts were in bigger "concert" venues. First time I ever even heard of Yes or even heard prog! '72. First time I ever heard fusion & Mahavishnu Orchestra! '72. First time I ever saw the mighty Zep! '75. The list is frightening! Lol

[@rickvenlo1362]

And which tune was that? Do you recall?

[@bobbyshroyer440]

Sorry, I don't. I wish I did. But then again, don't they all? Lol​@@rickvenlo1362

[@bogeybast]

Truth Has A Sliding Floor?

[@MrThomas1958]

cool

[@RonWinter335]

Sweet! Thanks!

[@rhythmfield]

Such a fat, buttery groove here, yet typically quirky and original. The Groove makes me think of Memphis soul fatback grooves for some reason; Bill sits back on it, yet Everyone keeps things exciting. Uncategorizable music.

[@aharchives]

Thanks a lot for posting this! I'll see if I can come up with a track list. NB! I notice when comparing a track to the studio version that this is pitched slightly below the album, which probably means that the cassette is running a wee bit too slow.

[@mojacarman]

Or possibly the band playing live at a slightly different speed to the album ?

[@aharchives]

@@mojacarman That would not affect the pitch. Analogue tape changes both speed and pitch when played faster or slower. There are a few other possible explanations. One is that the band tuned lower for the live gig. I find that very unlikely. (Not sure if Bill brought his tuned percussion on tour, but if he did they would tune to that.) The other possibility is that the studio tape was sped up. This happens sometimes, but most of the time it's due to the tape recorder as I suggest here. Cassette tape players and recorders are notorious for being off by a percent or two. And you don't notice until you play back on another deck.

[@winstonschwarz1636]

Nice one mate. Berlin is actually great on here. Allan sounds hesitant and kinda microtonal. Dave is one of my heros. Bill is unique. Always interesting. Love the Roto Toms. Many thanks.

[@johnsharp71]

It's John Clark on guitar, not Allan.

[@emmadetten]

nah it's Allan. The peak of his whammy days. And also, they only play joe frazier from gradually going tornado, and he doesn't quite nail it

[@mojacarman]

Sorry to correct but I was FOH engineer on this tour and it`s definitely Allan@@johnsharp71

[@johnsharp71]

Happy to apologise to you, Allan and Winston. I was casually listening in the kitchen on my laptop, thinking it was from the 1980 shows that Bruford did with Brand X at The Venue - all of which I attended; John Clark was definitely playing on those! Alas, I never got to hear Allan play live.

[@edbernardmusic3599]

Hell's Bells solo threw me off. It's odd to hear Allan clam it up.@@johnsharp71

[@louise_rose]

Not the more well-known Dave Stewart (would have been a very interesting combination to hear him with Bruford and Berlin!) but still a great band. :) Thank you!

[@rickschmiderer1380]

This Dave Stewart is an actual musician. 🌞

[@philippem4400]

👍

[@walterevans2118]

JEFF wrote some great BASS HOOKS in JOE FRAZIER there ....(Sorry ,,,,Terrible Joke ) 🥴😖

[@jkdbobby]

He wrote the tune.

[@nogbadthebad2609]

Thanks Martin this is fantastic, is this The Venue, Victoria Street, London. I saw Jan Akkerman play there in '84.

[@mojacarman]

It was indeed

[@paulkent8731]

Not like there was a Peacock crooning, tho

[@written12]

Did Dave Stewart, this Dave Stewart, play with one of the Canterbury prog bands?

[@latheofheaven1017]

Hatfield and the North and also National Health.

[@BobRoss-gr9px]

...also Egg.

[@bogeybast]

Also Uriel/Azachel AND Khan with THE Steve Hillage

[@rickschmiderer1380]

Yes he did 🌞

[@royderousse718]

Thanks, Martin! This sounds great. Is it available somewhere in a lossless (e.g. FLAC) format? Thanks again.

[@mojacarman]

Nope, sorry just this version transferred from my original cassette tape to my pc without any enhancements

[@royderousse718]

@@mojacarmanDepending on how you transferred it from tape to PC, you do have a lossless copy - for example, if you transferred it from tape to WAV files. KZbin does some compression when you upload it. Regardless, this show sounds fantastic. Thanks again!

[@nicholashnatyk4470]

For me, even more retro de facto proof about what broke up the initial promise of UK several months before. It seems clear that Wetton in particular was hungry for a more commercial - friendly approach - more like Yes or Roxy or ELP with radio-friendly vocal AOR "hits" or some such crap. I bluntly don't believe that would have worked in the American market in 1978 as he & Jobson thought. American FM radio was Punk & New Wave, & soon dopey Disco dance music came to dominate almost everyhing. TEN years later Wetton's vision DID work with the far more poppish 'progressive' Asia group lineup & marketing. With UK, he apparently convinced primary group composer Jobson there was more success & $$s to be had & they dug their heels in. Bruford & Holdsy CLEARLY were FAR more interested in the freedom of improvisational & instrumental approaches, so there was an impasse. Ultimately, WE the FANS lost out on UK's possible future potential. I believe there was room for both groups to have succeeded, but Wetton/Jobson's scales & expectations were WAY too high & off target for '78. At the Oct. 1978 UK Orpheum show I saw, the 2000+ seat place was only half full. Mere blocks away @ the 15,000 seat Boston Garden Jethro Tull was playing their annual sellout appearance. That's also when/where Bill Bruford picked up Jeff Berlin fresh out of Berklee College & got all those spoked "B" NHL Boston Bruins logo t-shirts like the red one he wore in the 'Rock Goes To College' video. Ironic that Jobson would later end up playing with Tull.

[@stevehall2187]

Is this the same Martin Westwood who was the roadie for Byzantium?

[@mojacarman]

Indeed it is, one & the same !

[@stevehall2187]

@@mojacarman Don't know if you remember Steve from 584 ? Long time ago I know.

[@mojacarman]

Hmm Steve, well yes I did work at the 584 for 2 years directly after leaving school but you will have to forgive my poor memory of those long off times !! If you want to jog my memory you can contact me on [e-mail] @@stevehall2187

[@john8451]

Was this The Venue in New Cross? Is it still open? Last time I drove past it was all tribute bands.

[@mojacarman]

No it was in Victoria St, Victoria, London

[@andreistroe4140]

where is this Venue?

[@mojacarman]

It was in Victoria in central London

[@StefanoBreseghello-e4g]

Thanks!!! But why with 2 mics the recording is absolutely MONO?

[@mojacarman]

Simple answer, in large venues a genuine stereo mix means audience at extreme left or right only get half of the sound

[@nonchai]

thanks! - non-expert Q here: wouldnt it have been better to just take a direct stereo/mono feed/tap off the desk directly into the tape recorder?

[@mojacarman]

Aah that depends. In this instance I was making reference tapes of each night`s shows for Bill and it was his preference to hear exactly what the audience was hearing. The thing is board tapes from smaller venues wouldn`t always be an accurate reflection because of stage levels affecting the actual board mix.

[@written12]

@@mojacarman nice to hear that Bill realized the important thing to evaluate was how the audience was hearing the show. Too many concerts are either too loud, improperly balanced so you see a player (or 2 or 3) with an instrument in his hand but don’t really hear the damn thing.

[@stevewelovnick7064]

Unknown Jon Clarke on this recording, Alan already had left the band.

[@mojacarman]

@mojacarman 7 days ago If you listen at 1hr 9 mins you can hear Bill introduce the band members

[@rickschmiderer1380]

@@mojacarman Without the introduction, it’s clearly Alan

[@BobRoss-gr9px]

christ, could Berlin possibly overplay some more...and still nail the transitions? Not sure if I should be disgusted or impressed!

[@joanstone6740]

Jeff Berlin is one of the greatest banjo players ever

[@kevgamble]

You should be impressed. There are other places to go for fans of whole notes. :)

[@Snardbafulator]

Not a huge fan of the sound, though it's well-balanced and undistorted. But there's so little of this band live out there and I love this period of Holdsworth, post-SG but pre-Charvel.

[@raymondkarlsson9794]

Great band but a Alan is a waste hete

[@christheghostwriter]

I'm unfamiliar with most of Bruford's work outside of Yes. What makes you say this about Alan?

[@rickschmiderer1380]

Disagree totally

[@Brainded-z4q]

Nice !

[@rhythmfield]

Such a fat, buttery groove here, yet typically quirky and original. The Groove makes me think of Memphis soul fatback grooves for some reason; Bill sits back on it, yet Everyone keeps things exciting. Uncategorizable music.