Please Don’t Touch
The roar of the greasepaint ... the smell of the crowd ... the stage covered in smoke ... the cough of the Mellotron ... "Lets deafen ‘em lads" ... "What did you say Cap’n ...?" & "You’re on!"
Tigermoth
Sounds like the soundtrack to an imaginary ballet or the Sugar Plum Fairy’s nightmare. A brief, limited offensive but takes no prisoners.
Every Day
The only drug song this lineup ever sang. Life in the raw. "Can you light a fire in winter’s face?" Enough of this modern talk. Beware lest thou fallest upon the poisoned needle ... (and a plethora of Iambic Pentameters).
The Steppes
In those days many tunes were test driven live at first. This one, even in rough form, seemed to work on extreme dynamics alone. The element of surprise was everything.
Narnia
If not for the "The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe" there would have been no song. Bless you Mr C S Lewis for your supreme penmanship.
Red Flower of Taichi Blooms Everywhere
Propaganda and poetry cunningly linked in the title of this impressionistic piece. If you compare this live mix to the studio version you’ll find a rock band at it’s most versatile, if I may say so.
Sentimental Institution
A merciless send up of the Big Band and Crooner era, made possible courtesy of a well-tempered Optigan and Pete Hicks’ golden tonsils. Don’t throw away that mirror ball, it’s all coming back
Star Of Sirius
You cannot be Sirius you may say, and who would disagree with you? But if you are as much a fan of vocal harmonies we were, this one could be for you
Spectral Mornings
This tune started out as yet another vocal number, but when I originally played the melody to the band on guitar, they convinced me to keep it that way.
Clocks
Unashamedly designed as live bait but something that quickly found its way onto the band’s first studio album. This version finds John Shearer beating hell out of his colossal gleaming kit - a passionate solo often likened to a one man impression of a herd of rampaging elephants.
Bonus Tracks from Hammersmith Odeon - 30th October 1978
Ace Of Wands
A relentless pace, but the flute falters not - the fastest in the world (certainly in Pimlico at the time).
Hands Of The Priestess
Sir John The Flute ... lock up your daughters. Now a father of three and a pillar of the community.
Racing In A
Racing In A what? (In the key of A Major is the answer). Surprisingly steady pace on this one (clock the live three-part harmony guitars.) No mere strummers these boys ...
