Band: Stone The Crows
Album: Live at the BBC
Release: 2021
Genre: Blues Rock
Country: Scotland
Quality: FLAC | lossless

Formed in Glasgow in 1969, Stone The Crows cut their teeth in the pubs of Scotland and had everything going for them: not one, but two gritty singers, a talented guitarist, a rhythm section that had played with John Mayall, plus the kudos of having Led Zeppelin manager Peter Grant as their producer. With a slew of critically acclaimed albums, it was on stage and live in the studio that Stone The Crows really flew free, as these superb recordings from 1969-1972 attest.The undoubted jewel in their crown was lead singer Maggie Bell. Winner of several Top Female Singer awards in Britain, Bell had a raunchy, gutbucket voice which, although it fell short of the naked emotion and range of Janis Joplin’s, probably came closer to her style than any other female singer. When her powerhouse vocals caught the attention of Peter Grant, his visceral reaction – “stone the crows!” – led to the band changing their name. Hewn from studio sessions with John Peel, Bob Harris and Mike Harding, as well as in-concert performances, this 4CD set captures the Crows’ burgeoning Blues/Rock prowess. From the original line-up featuring guitarist/songwriter Leslie Harvey, to their latter stages with a young Jimmy McCulloch on guitar, Live At The BBC brings together broadcast versions of tracks from their four albums together with songs often featured in their live sets. Compiled in conjunction with Ashley Wood, Disc 4 includes a further eight recordings from 1970. Remastered by Eroc for optimum sound quality, the package includes a photo-laden booklet with informative notes by Repertoire’s Chris Welch and features a new interview with Maggie Bell.

Tracklist:
Disc 1 BBC Sessions 1969-1970
Recorded 24/11/69 for Top Gear presented by John Peel, broadcast 6/12/69
1. Raining In Your Heart
2. The Touch Of Your Loving Hand
Recorded 19/5/70 for Top Gear presented by John Peel, broadcast 30/5/70
3. Freedom Road
4. Hollis Brown
Recorded 13/5/70 for Sounds of the 70s presented by Alan Black, broadcast 26/6/70 and *31/7/70
5. Raining In Your Heart *
6. Friend
Recorded 28/10/70 for Sounds of the 70s presented by Alan Black, broadcast 13/11/70 and *4/12/70
7. Mad Dogs And Englishmen
8. Love 74
9. Things Are Getting Better *

Total playing time: 61.00

Personnel: Maggie Bell (Vocals), Leslie Harvey (Guitar), Jimmy Dewar (Bass & Vocals), Colin Allen (Drums), John McGuinness (Keyboards)

Disc 2 BBC Sessions 1971-1972
Recorded 7/6/71 for Sounds of the 70s presented by Alan Black, broadcast 2/7/71 and *30/7/71
1. Faces *
2. Let It Down
Recorded 6/9/71 for Sounds of the 70s presented by Pete Drummond, broadcast 16/9/71
3. Big Jim Salter
4. Keep On Rollin’
Recorded 11/4/72 for Friday Night Is Boogie Night presented by John Peel, broadcast 28/4/72
5. Going Down
6. On The Highway
7. Mr. Wizard
Recorded 6/9/72 for Sounds of the 70s presented by Bob Harris, broadcast 18/9/72
8. Good Time Girl
9. Penicillin Blues
10. On The Highway

Total playing time: 50.34

Personnel: Trs 1 & 2: Maggie Bell (Vocals), Leslie Harvey (Guitar), Jimmy Dewar (Bass & Vocals), Colin Allen (Drums), John McGuinness (Keyboards); Trs 3-7: Maggie Bell (Vocals), Leslie Harvey (Guitar), Steve Thompson (Bass), Colin Allen (Drums), Ronnie Leahy (Keyboards); Trs 8-10: Maggie Bell (Vocals), Jimmy McCulloch (Guitar), Steve Thompson (Bass), Colin Allen (Drums), Ronnie Leahy (Keyboards)

Disc 3 Live In Concert At The BBC
Recorded 4/11/71 at the Palace Theatre, London broadcast 16/11/71
1. Keep On Rollin’
2. Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right
3. Big Jim Salter
4. Mr. Wizard
5. Going Down
Recorded 12/10/72 at the Palace Theatre, London broadcast 28/10/72
6. On The Highway
7. Palace Of The King
8. Penicillin Blues
9. Sunset Cowboy
10. Niagara
11. Good Time Girl
12. Ionian Highland Lilt

Total playing time: 72.16

Personnel: Trs 1-5: Maggie Bell (Vocals), Leslie Harvey (Guitar), Steve Thompson (Bass), Colin Allen (Drums), Ronnie Leahy (Keyboards; trs 6-12: Maggie Bell (Vocals), Jimmy McCulloch (Guitar), Steve Thompson (Bass), Colin Allen (Drums), Ronnie Leahy (Keyboards)

Disc 4 BBC Broadcasts
Recorded 28/5/70 for Sunday Concert presented by John Peel, broadcast 7/6/70
1. Freedom Road
2. Blind Man
3. Danger Zone
4. Hollis Brown
Recorded 7/7/70 for Sounds of the 70s presented by Mike Harding, broadcast 14/7/70
5. I Saw America Pt.1
6. I Saw America Pt.3
7. Sad Mary
Recorded 26/11/70 for Sunday Concert presented by John Peel, broadcast 6/12/70
8. Penicillin Blues

Total playing time: 62.35