• Track Listing

Esoteric Recordings is proud to announce for RECORD STORE DAY 2002 a new re-mastered 3LP edition of LIVE! IN THE AIR AGE - THE HAMMERSMITH ODEON CONCERT 1977 by BE BOP DELUXE. This wonderful concert was recorded on the 1977 UK tour that resulted in the legendary live album LIVE! IN THE AIR AGE which was released in July 1977 and would prove to be the band's most successful album, peaking at number 10 in the UK charts. The band's UK tour began in late January and was an audio-visual extravaganza that featured the use of projection screens and excerpts from the 1927 German silent film Metropolis, director Fritz Lang's striking science fiction masterpiece. Continuing into February, fate would intervene to cause a postponement to the remainder of the tour. Travelling to a concert in Bristol on 15th February 1977, Bill Nelson and John Leckie were involved in a car accident which resulted in them being hospitalised at Huddersfield Infirmary. Thankfully, all involved recovered quickly from their injuries, but as a result of the accident, the remaining concerts were postponed until the end of March. The tour began again with two concerts at Hammersmith Odeon in London on March 25th and 26th 1977 which revealed the band to be on top form, feeding off the tremendous warmth of the audience. The concert this recorded at Hammersmith Odeon in London on 26th March 1977, was one of the stand-out concerts from that memorable tour and it has been mixed by Stephen W. Tayler and is presented here in full on vinyl for the very first time. The recording reveals the improvisational side of Be Bop Deluxe, particularly on pieces such as Shine and Blazing Apostles which made each Be Bop Deluxe concert unique. Cut at Abbey Road Studios and pressed on White vinyl, this special limited edition release is a fitting tribute to a fine live band and the creative vision of Bill Nelson.