ALBUM NOTES:

Live! In the Air Age is the fifth album by Be Bop Deluxe, and was recorded at unspecified gigs staged in 1977. It would prove to be the only live document of the band to be released during its existence.
   
The album appeared on vinyl and cassette, but had no single release at the time to aid its promotion (which is unusual, but not unheard of). However, the album itself included a 7" EP (as sides B and C of the album) that helped push playing time to around 55 minutes - which would have been too much music for a single album. Vinyl copies were released in a single sleeve, and the record was housed in an inner sleeve bearing a few live photos and a few explanatory words concerning the album's content.

For North American release, the EP included with the album was pressed on 12", and the package appeared in two pressings: standard black vinyl; and a combination of white vinyl (for the album) and black vinyl (for the EP). The musicians appearing on the live recording were the now established quartet of Bill Nelson, Simon Fox, Charlie Tumahai and Andy Clarke. Although the credits include an apparent fifth member in the shape of "Cabasa El Dubova", providing percussion on "Shine", this was in fact later revealed to be Nelson himself, who provided some post-production overdubs.

When reissued on CD in 1991, EMI chose not to include any additional material, although the songs that comprise the 3 track EP were designated as "bonus tracks" and tagged on to the end of the CD, rather than being placed in the centre as they had been on the original vinyl release. As with other releases in the series, informative sleeve notes penned by Kevin Cann provide useful context.

 

On 27 August 2021 Live! In The Air Age became the sixth Be Bop Deluxe album to be issued as a Deluxe Edition comprising:

• a deluxe 16 disc limited edition box set of the classic 1977 live album by Be Bop Deluxe

• the original album is newly remastered from the original master tapes restoring the correct album running order

• with an additional 14 CDs featuring every concert recorded on the Be Bop Deluxe UK tour of February and March 1977 all newly remixed from the original multi-track tapes by Sephen W. Tayler

• includes a BBC radio one John Peel session from January 1977

• also includes a DVD (NTSC/region free) of the 'Star Rider In Concert' TV film first screened in 1977, released here for the first time

• includes a lavishly illustrated book with many previously unseen photographs and new essay by Bill Nelson

• also includes postcards and a replica poster

 

The album is presented in a triple fold out digi-pack and contains a 68 page booklet with an essay penned by Bill Nelson, previously unseen photographs from the period, postcards and a replica poster.   

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A 3CD edition of the album is also being released at the same time as the Deluxe Edition which will also replace the standard download edition.  

 

The full track listing for the Deluxe Edition is:

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Disc One:

"Live! In The Air Age" Re-Mastered

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01)  Life In The Air Age

02)  Ships In The Night

03)  Piece Of Mine

04)  Fair Exchange

05)  Shine

06)  Sister Seagull

07)  Maid In Heaven

08)  Mill Street Junction

09)  Adventures In A Yorkshire Landscape

10)  Blazing Apostles

Bonus Tracks

11)  Still Shining (BBC John Peel Session – January 1977)

12)  Mill Street Junction (BBC John Peel Session – January 1977)

10)  Adventures In A Yorkshire Landscape (BBC John Peel Session – January 1977)

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Disc Two:

Leicester - De Montfort Hall 12th February 1977

Previously Unreleased

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01)  Introduction - Blimps

02)  Life In The Air Age

03)  Fair Exchange

04)  Piece Of Mine

05)  Sister Seagull

06)  Mill Street Junction

07)  Ships In The Night

08)  Swansong

09)  Maid In Heaven

10)  Shine

11)  Adventures In A Yorkshire Landscape 

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Disc Three:

Leicester - De Montfort Hall 12th February 1977

Previously Unreleased

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01)  Bill Nelson's Introduction

02)  Twilight Capers

03)  Modern Music Suite

04)  Forbidden Lovers

05)  Terminal Street

06)  Blazing Apostles

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Disc Four:

Leeds - Grand Theatre 13th February 1977

Previously Unreleased

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01)  Introduction - Blimps

02)  Life In The Air Age

03)  Fair Exchange

04)  Piece Of Mine

05)  Sister Seagull

06)  Mill Street Junction

07)  Ships In The Night

08)  Swansong

09)  Maid In Heaven

10)  Shine

11)  Adventures In A Yorkshire Landscape

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Disc Five:

Leeds - Grand Theatre 13th February 1977

Previously Unreleased

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01)  Bill Nelson's Introduction

02)  Twilight Capers

03)  Modern Music Suite

04)  Forbidden Lovers

05)  Terminal Street

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Disc Six:

Leeds - Grand Theatre 14th February 1977

Previously Unreleased

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01)  Introduction - Blimps

02)  Life In The Air Age

03)  Fair Exchange

04)  Piece Of Mine

05)  Sister Seagull

06)  Mill Street Junction

07)  Ships In The Night

08)  Swansong

09)  Maid In Heaven

10)  Shine

11)  Adventures In A Yorkshire Landscape

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Disc Seven:

Leeds - Grand Theatre 14th February 1977

Previously Unreleased

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01)  Bill Nelson's Introduction

02)  Twilight Capers

03)  Modern Music Suite

04)  Forbidden Lovers

05)  Terminal Street

06)  Blazing Apostles

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Disc Eight:

London - Hammersmith Odeon 25th March 1977

Previously Unreleased

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01)  Introduction - Blimps

02)  Life In The Air Age

03)  Fair Exchange

04)  Piece Of Mine

05)  Sister Seagull

06)  Mill Street Junction

07)  Ships In The Night

08)  Swansong

09)  Maid In Heaven

10)  Shine

11)  Adventures In A Yorkshire Landscape

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Disc Nine:

London - Hammersmith Odeon 25th March 1977

Previously Unreleased

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01)  Bill Nelson's Introduction

02)  Twilight Capers

03)  Modern Music Suite

04)  Forbidden Lovers

05)  Terminal Street

06)  Blazing Apostles

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Disc Ten:

London - Hammersmith Odeon 26th March 1977

Previously Unreleased

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01)  Introduction - Blimps

02)  Life In The Air Age

03)  Fair Exchange

04)  Piece Of Mine

05)  Sister Seagull

06)  Mill Street Junction

07)  Ships In The Night

08)  Swansong

09)  Maid In Heaven

10)  Shine

11)  Adventures In A Yorkshire Landscape

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Disc Eleven:

London - Hammersmith Odeon 26th March 1977

Previously Unreleased

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01)  Bill Nelson's Introduction

02)  Twilight Capers

03)  Modern Music Suite

04)  Forbidden Lovers

05)  Terminal Street

06)  Blazing Apostles

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Disc Twelve:

Bristol - Colston Hall 27th March 1977

Previously Unreleased

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01)  Introduction - Blimps

02)  Life In The Air Age

03)  Fair Exchange

04)  Piece Of Mine

05)  Sister Seagull

06)  Mill Street Junction

07)  Ships In The Night

08)  Swansong

09)  Maid In Heaven

10)  Shine

11)  Adventures In A Yorkshire Landscape

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Disc Thirteen:

Bristol - Colston Hall 27th March 1977

Previously Unreleased

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01)  Bill Nelson's Introduction

02)  Twilight Capers

03)  Modern Music Suite

04)  Forbidden Lovers

05)  Terminal Street

06)  Blazing Apostles

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Disc Fourteen:

Bournemouth - Winter Gardens 28th March 1977

Previously Unreleased

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01)  Introduction - Blimps

02)  Life In The Air Age

03)  Fair Exchange

04)  Piece Of Mine

05)  Sister Seagull

06)  Mill Street Junction

07)  Ships In The Night

08)  Swansong

09)  Maid In Heaven

10)  Shine

11)  Adventures In A Yorkshire Landscape

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Disc Fifteen:

Bournemouth - Winter Gardens 28th March 1977

Previously Unreleased 

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01)  Bill Nelson's Introduction

02)  Twilight Capers

03)  Modern Music Suite

04)  Forbidden Lovers

05)  Terminal Street

06)  Blazing Apostles

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Disc Sixteen:

Be Bop Deluxe - Star Rider In Concert

Previously Unreleased

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01)  Fair Exchange (Star Rider In Concert Film)

02)  Ships In The Night (Star Rider In Concert Film)

03)  Maid In Heaven (Star Rider In Concert Film)

04)  Bring Back The Spark (Star Rider In Concert Film)

05)  Blazing Apostles (Star Rider In Concert Film)

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On 18 June 2022 Live! In the Air Age (The Hammersmith Odeon Concert 1977) was released separately to the above Deluxe and 3CD editions as a 3LP set, pressed on white vinyl released by Esoteric Recordings in a limited edition of 3,500 copies for Record Store Day available while stocks last at participating independent record shops.

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The track listing for the vinyl set is:

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A1)  Introduction - Blimps

A2)  Life In The Air Age

A3)  Fair Exchange

A4)  Piece Of Mine

A5)  Sister Seagull

B1)  Mill Street Junction

B2)  Ships In The Night

B3)  Swansong

B4)  Maid In Heaven

C1)  Shine

C2)  Adventures In A Yorkshire Landscape

​D1)  Bill Nelson's Introduction

D2)  Twilight Capers

D3)  Modern Music Suite

E1)  Forbidden Lovers

E2)  Terminal Street

F1)  Blazing Apostles

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CURRENT AVAILABILITY:

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The 3-CD set is available for purchase in the Dreamsville Store. 

BILL'S THOUGHTS:

"Some of the Live! In The Air Age album was recorded there, (at the Grand Theatre), and my mother came along to one of the shows. I remember that I played a few bars of 'Jeanie With The Light Brown Hair' as part of my free-form solo guitar improv at the close of the concert for her.  (Mum's name is Jean, you see.) So long ago, so far away..."
_____

"The "Shine" track started life as a jam at Abbey Road studios. Charlie was away, (in New Zealand, I think), and the track was created simply by Simon, Andy and myself having a 'mess about'...a bit of fun. I played bass on the track as well as guitars. I also tried to make the bass part have some reference to Charlie's own style. In fact, we eventually did the number live with Charlie. I dreamt up the name 'Funky Phaser And His Unearthly Merchandise' to allow for the fact that it wasn't a 'proper' Be Bop Deluxe track as Charlie was missing from the equation."
_____

"The recently released Futurist Manifesto 5 CD set from EMI contains the only previously unreleased Live! In The Air Age recordings in existence." *

* This was correct until Cherry Red/Esoteric Recordings issued the Deluxe Edition on 27 August 2021.

_____

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"I also got permission from the widow of Fritz Lang to use stills from the film as cover art on Be Bop's Live! In The Air Age album."

_____

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[In response to a question from a fan regarding the equipment Bill used on the tour to get that guitar tone]

"Although it was recorded over 40 years ago, I can tell you exactly what equipment I used:

My guitar was a 1964 Gibson ES 345 STD Stereo guitar.

My amp set up was two separate 100 watt Carlsbro amp heads feeding six 2x12 custom built speaker cabs.

I also used a Pete Cornish custom built pedal board and an HH echo unit. The pedal board contained a Big Muff, a Little Muff, an MXR Phase 90, an Electric Mistress Flanger and a Univibe."

 

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ALBUM REVIEWS:

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Review on Outsider Rock

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Review on Echoes And Dust

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Review on Goldmine

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Review by Pete Pardo on Sea Of Tranquility

FAN THOUGHTS:

BFD:

"Recorded in England, Spring Tour 1977 - and still one of the very best (mostly) live albums of the 70's and a hard earned Top 10 hit in the UK. We are not worthy."


old_goat:

"It was 1977, I'm a sophomore in high school, over at a friend's house one afternoon playing backgammon. He's at the turntable blocking my view and says, "check this out", and cues up "Adventures in a Yorkshire Landscape" from Live in the Air Age. Eight minutes later, I'm trading my original Apple label blue album straight across for it."


Paul Andrews:

"Was it really thirty-five years ago I sat in my friends bedroom listening to Live! In The Air Age, ever so slightly "borrowed" from his elder brother's record collection? It was a world away from my normal listening habits at the time, hormonal teenager that I was. I remember it like the cold white light of revelation."


swampboy:

"I was at work when "Shine" from Live! In The Air Age came over the ceiling speaker. I slowly put down my tools and stared at the speaker as guitar licks bounced all over the room. The DJ announced the song and album and I bought it the next day. Of course, this led to me buying the rest of what Be Bop Deluxe had to offer."


felixt1:

"I can tell you that the live version of "Adventures In A Yorkshire Landscape" from Live! In The Air Age is one of the best pieces of rock guitar I've ever heard by anyone. I put it right up there with anything that Hendrix or Clapton etc. have done."


jazzman1:

"For me at the time of the release of Live! In the Air Age, that album was a musical milestone. The way Bill looked, his level of playing, particularly the solo on "Adventures in A Yorkshire Landscape" raised my aspirations."


Holer:

"Mid-70's - hanging out in someone's bedroom, listening to records. (Do kids still do that? I guess I still do!) My buddy played "Mill Street Junction" off of the BBD Live! In the Air Age LP. That was also the first time I ever saw a White Vinyl record."


Telecat:

"I was at the Grand Theatre for that show and remember going down the street at the side and seeing the Trailer with the "Studio" in it. I do remember having to leave early as at the time I was still at School and had limited funds so had to catch the Bus home!"


Paul Simpson (of The Wild Swans):

"Last time I saw them was doing the Live! In The Air Age stuff. Wonderful group and a big influence on me."


John Spence:

"A few years ago, when Bill and I mixed some previously unreleased recordings from that tour, the original session sheets showed that some recording also took place at the Colston Hall, Bristol. All done using the Stones Mobile and under the watchful eye of John Leckie.
An absolute delight to work on."


JohnR, commenting on the 'Music In Dreamland' book:

"Live! In The Air Age is stated to be based on four concerts - two at the Hammersmith Odeon, one at Bristol and one at Bournemouth. However, I went with a group of friends to a concert at a large theatre in the centre of Leeds where the Rolling Stones mobile was parked outside. I can remember it being announced that the concert was being recorded for a live album, which certainly galvanized the audience. At the end, when it came to the obligatory Terminal Street singalong, we dashed down to sit on the edge of the stage and face the audience to help drum up the singing. To my amazement, we weren't immediately booted off by bouncers and Bill seemed happy enough - we left thinking he was a top bloke!"

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