Curved Air

Curved Air - Live At The BBC - 1995 - Band Of Joy

With eight recordings from their early 1970-71 days, and a final five tracks from a January 1976 performance, Live at the BBC is typical of BBC rock compilations, with alternate live radio versions that serious fans will find highly enjoyable, though more casual admirers will find the material unnecessary. The sound is very good throughout, and the band's blend of rock, classical-influence progressive arrangements, and some folky sensibilities is accomplished, though it's a bit idiosyncratically pretentious. As might be expected, the dominant ingredients are Sonja Kristina's dramatic, at times overarching vocals, and Darryl Way's aggressive, at times slashing violin. Songs from the first album dominate the 1970-71 recordings (cut at three separate sessions), with six of those eight numbers coming from the band's debut, Air Conditioning. The five tracks from the '76 session document a later, more conventional, and less interesting phase of the band, although they do include future Police-man Stewart Copeland on drums. © Richie Unterberger © 2010 Rovi Corporation. All Rights Reserved http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:jzfwxqwhldje

TRACKS / COMPOSERS

1 Vivaldi - Darryl Way 6:25
2 Propositions - Francis Monkman 5:23
3 It Happened Today - Sonja Kristina, Francis Monkman 4:39
4 Young Mother In Style - S.K. Linwood, Darryl Way 5:14
5 Situations - Bobby Martin, Darryl Way 5:38
6 Blind Man - Martin, R./Darryl Way 2:45
7 Thinking On The Floor - Kirby, Sonja Kristina 4:01
8 Stretch Francis Monkman, Darryl Way 4:34
9 Stark Naked - Bobby Martin, Darryl Way 5:44
10 Woman On A One Night Stand - Sonja Kristina, Norma Tager 5:43
11 Midnight Wire - Norma Tager, Darryl Way 6:20
12 Hot 'N' Bothered - S.K. Linwood, Darryl Way 3:02
13 The Fool - Mick Jacques, Norma Tager, Darryl Way 6:43

Tracks 1-3 recorded in session 28/4/70. Tracks 4-6 recorded in session 5/1/71. Tracks 7-8 recorded in session 27/1/71.Tracks 9-13 recorded in concert at Paris Theatre, London 29/1/76

MUSICIANS

Vocals - Sonja Kristina
Guitar, Keyboards - Francis Monkman (tracks: 1 to 8)
Guitar - Mick Jacques (tracks: 9 to 13)
Bass - Ian Eyre (tracks: 4 to 8) , Robert Martin (tracks: 1 to 3) , Tony Reeves (tracks: 9 to 13)
Drums - Florian Pilkington-Miksa (tracks: 1 to 8) , Stewart Copeland (tracks: 9 to 13)
Violin, Vocals - Darryl Way