Be Bop Deluxe: Live! In The Air Age, 15CD/1DVD Limited Edition Box Set

• A DELUXE 16 DISC LIMITED EDITION BOXED 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 & MARCH 1977 ALL NEWLY REMIXED FROM THE ORIGINAL MULTI-TRACK TAPES BY STEPHEN 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 & NEW ESSAY BY BILL NELSON
• ALSO INCLUDES POSTCARDS AND A REPLICA POSTER

Esoteric Recordings is proud to announce a new re-mastered super-deluxe expanded boxed set limited edition release (comprising 15 CDs and a DVD) of LIVE! IN THE AIR AGE by BE BOP DELUXE. This legendary live album 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 album was issued at a time of growing commercial success for the band and followed on the heels of two highly acclaimed studio albums in thirteen months, Sunburst Finish and Modern Music, both of which reached the top twenty of the UK album charts. Live! In the Air Age would be the band’s only live record and was recorded on a series of dates in the UK in February and March 1977 on the Rolling Stones mobile unit with John Leckie, who had engineered co-produced the band’s previous two albums, supervising the location recordings.

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, the first concert to be recorded was at the De Montfort Hall in Leicester on the 12th of that month. The following two nights saw concerts at the Grand Theatre in Leeds which were both captured on tape and saw Bill Nelson perform to an enthusiastic home audience. However, at this juncture 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. Further shows in Bristol and Bournemouth on the 27th and 28th March respectively also contained many fine moments. Bill Nelson and John Leckie selected the best performances for mixing at Abbey Road and Advision studios in London and LIVE! IN THE AIR AGE was released in July 1977.

Research of all of the Be Bop Deluxe master tapes revealed that multi track tapes of all the shows recorded on the UK tour of 1977 had survived. After digitising and listening through to all of the Rolling Stones mobile unit 24-track tapes it was decided to include each concert in its entirety in this expanded boxed set. The concerts were mixed over a period of several months by Stephen W. Tayler and are presented here for the very first time. They reveal the improvisational side of Be Bop Deluxe, particularly on pieces such as Shine and Blazing Apostles which made each concert unique.

This set features the original album, newly remastered from the original master tapes, and restores the correct running order of the original LP release and has three bonus tracks drawn from a BBC Radio One JOHN PEEL SHOW session from January 1977. This box also adds an NTSC / Region Free DVD of STAR RIDER IN CONCERT - BE BOP DELUXE, which was first screened on television in 1977 and appears exclusively in this boxed set for the first time. Finally, this limited-edition boxed set includes an illustrated 68-page book with many previously unseen photographs and an essay of recollections by Bill Nelson. Additionally, the set includes postcards and a replica poster. This special deluxe limited-edition boxed set of LIVE! IN THE AIR AGE is a fitting tribute to a fine live band and the creative vision of Bill Nelson.

Track Listing:

DISC ONE:
“LIVE! IN THE AIR AGE”
RE-MASTERED

1. LIFE IN THE AIR AGE
2. SHIPS IN THE NIGHT
3. PIECE OF MINE
4. FAIR EXCHANGE
5. SHINE
6. SISTER SEAGULL
7. MAID IN HEAVEN
8. MILL STREET JUNCTION
9. 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)
13. ADVENTURES IN A YORKSHIRE LANDSCAPE (BBC JOHN PEEL SESSION - JANUARY 1977)

DISC TWO:
LEICESTER – DE MONTFORT HALL
12TH FEBRUARY 1977
PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

1. INTRODUCTION – BLIMPS (LEICESTER 12.2.77)
2. LIFE IN THE AIR AGE (LEICESTER 12.2.77)
3. FAIR EXCHANGE (LEICESTER 12.2.77)
4. PIECE OF MINE (LEICESTER 12.2.77)
5. SISTER SEAGULL (LEICESTER 12.2.77)
6. MILL STREET JUNCTION (LEICESTER 12.2.77)
7. SHIPS IN THE NIGHT (LEICESTER 12.2.77)
8. SWANSONG (LEICESTER 12.2.77)
9. MAID IN HEAVEN (LEICESTER 12.2.77)
10. SHINE (LEICESTER 12.2.77)
11. ADVENTURES IN A YORKSHIRE LANDSCAPE (LEICESTER 12.2.77)

DISC THREE:
LEICESTER – DE MONTFORT HALL
12th FEBRUARY 1977
PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

1. BILL NELSON’S INTRODUCTION (LEICESTER 12.2.77)
2. TWILIGHT CAPERS (LEICESTER 12.2.77)
3. MODERN MUSIC SUITE (LEICESTER 12.2.77)
4. FORBIDDEN LOVERS (LEICESTER 12.2.77)
5. TERMINAL STREET (LEICESTER 12.2.77)
6. BLAZING APOSTLES (LEICESTER 12.2.77)

DISC FOUR:
LEEDS – GRAND THEATRE
13th FEBRUARY 1977
PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

1. INTRODUCTION – BLIMPS (LEEDS 13.2.77)
2. LIFE IN THE AIR AGE (LEEDS 13.2.77)
3. FAIR EXCHANGE (LEEDS 13.2.77)
4. PIECE OF MINE (LEEDS 13.2.77)
5. SISTER SEAGULL (LEEDS 13.2.77)
6. MILL STREET JUNCTION (LEEDS 13.2.77)
7. SHIPS IN THE NIGHT (LEEDS 13.2.77)
8. SWANSONG (LEEDS 13.2.77)
9. MAID IN HEAVEN (LEEDS 13.2.77)
10. SHINE (LEEDS 13.2.77)
11. ADVENTURES IN A YORKSHIRE LANDSCAPE (LEEDS 13.2.77)

DISC FIVE:
LEEDS – GRAND THEATRE
13th FEBRUARY 1977
PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

1. BILL NELSON’S INTRODUCTION (LEEDS 13.2.77)
2. TWILIGHT CAPERS (LEEDS 13.2.77)
3. MODERN MUSIC SUITE (LEEDS 13.2.77)
4. FORBIDDEN LOVERS (LEEDS 13.2.77)
5. TERMINAL STREET (LEEDS 13.2.77)

DISC SIX:
LEEDS – GRAND THEATRE
14th FEBRUARY 1977
PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

1. INTRODUCTION – BLIMPS (LEEDS 14.2.77)
2. LIFE IN THE AIR AGE (LEEDS 14.2.77)
3. FAIR EXCHANGE (LEEDS 14.2.77)
4. PIECE OF MINE (LEEDS 14.2.77)
5. SISTER SEAGULL (LEEDS 14.2.77)
6. MILL STREET JUNCTION (LEEDS 14.2.77)
7. SHIPS IN THE NIGHT (LEEDS 14.2.77)
8. SWANSONG (LEEDS 14.2.77)
9. MAID IN HEAVEN (LEEDS 14.2.77)
10. SHINE (LEEDS 14.2.77)
11. ADVENTURES IN A YORKSHIRE LANDSCAPE (LEEDS 14.2.77)

DISC SEVEN:
LEEDS – GRAND THEATRE
14th FEBRUARY 1977
PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

1. BILL NELSON’S INTRODUCTION (LEEDS 14.2.77)
2. TWILIGHT CAPERS (LEEDS 14.2.77)
3. MODERN MUSIC SUITE (LEEDS 14.2.77)
4. FORBIDDEN LOVERS (LEEDS 14.2.77)
5. TERMINAL STREET (LEEDS 14.2.77)
6. BLAZING APOSTLES (LEEDS 14.2.77)

DISC EIGHT:
LONDON – HAMMERSMITH ODEON
25th MARCH 1977
PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

1. INTRODUCTION – BLIMPS (LONDON 25.3.77)
2. LIFE IN THE AIR AGE (LONDON 25.3.77)
3. FAIR EXCHANGE (LONDON 25.3.77)
4. PIECE OF MINE (LONDON 25.3.77)
5. SISTER SEAGULL (LONDON 25.3.77)
6. MILL STREET JUNCTION (LONDON 25.3.77)
7. SHIPS IN THE NIGHT (LONDON 25.3.77)
8. SWANSONG (LONDON 25.3.77)
9. MAID IN HEAVEN (LONDON 25.3.77)
10. SHINE (LONDON 25.3.77)
11. ADVENTURES IN A YORKSHIRE LANDSCAPE (LONDON 25.3.77)

DISC NINE:
LONDON – HAMMERSMITH ODEON
25th MARCH 1977
PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

1. BILL NELSON’S INTRODUCTION (LONDON 25.3.77)
2. TWILIGHT CAPERS (LONDON 25.3.77)
3. MODERN MUSIC SUITE (LONDON 25.3.77)
4. FORBIDDEN LOVERS (LONDON 25.3.77)
5. TERMINAL STREET (LONDON 25.3.77)
6. BLAZING APOSTLES (LONDON 25.3.77)

DISC TEN:
LONDON – HAMMERSMITH ODEON
26th MARCH 1977
PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

1. INTRODUCTION – BLIMPS (LONDON 26.3.77)
2. LIFE IN THE AIR AGE (LONDON 26.3.77)
3. FAIR EXCHANGE (LONDON 26.3.77)
4. PIECE OF MINE (LONDON 26.3.77)
5. SISTER SEAGULL (LONDON 26.3.77)
6. MILL STREET JUNCTION (LONDON 26.3.77)
7. SHIPS IN THE NIGHT (LONDON 26.3.77)
8. SWANSONG (LONDON 26.3.77)
9. MAID IN HEAVEN (LONDON 26.3.77)
10. SHINE (LONDON 26.3.77)
11. ADVENTURES IN A YORKSHIRE LANDSCAPE (LONDON 26.3.77)

DISC ELEVEN:
LONDON – HAMMERSMITH ODEON
26th MARCH 1977
PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

1. BILL NELSON’S INTRODUCTION (LONDON 26.3.77)
2. TWILIGHT CAPERS (LONDON 26.3.77)
3. MODERN MUSIC SUITE (LONDON 26.3.77)
4. FORBIDDEN LOVERS (LONDON 26.3.77)
5. TERMINAL STREET (LONDON 26.3.77)
6. BLAZING APOSTLES (LONDON 26.3.77)

DISC TWELVE:
BRISTOL – COLSTON HALL
27th MARCH 1977
PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

1. INTRODUCTION – BLIMPS (BRISTOL 27.3.77)
2. LIFE IN THE AIR AGE (BRISTOL 27.3.77)
3. FAIR EXCHANGE (BRISTOL 27.3.77)
4. PIECE OF MINE (BRISTOL 27.3.77)
5. SISTER SEAGULL (BRISTOL 27.3.77)
6. MILL STREET JUNCTION (BRISTOL 27.3.77)
7. SHIPS IN THE NIGHT (BRISTOL 27.3.77)
8. SWANSONG (BRISTOL 27.3.77)
9. MAID IN HEAVEN (BRISTOL 27.3.77)
10. SHINE (BRISTOL 27.3.77)
11. ADVENTURES IN A YORKSHIRE LANDSCAPE (BRISTOL 27.3.77)

DISC THIRTEEN:
BRISTOL – COLSTON HALL
27th MARCH 1977
PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

1. BILL NELSON’S INTRODUCTION (BRISTOL 27.3.77)
2. TWILIGHT CAPERS (BRISTOL 27.3.77)
3. MODERN MUSIC SUITE (BRISTOL 27.3.77)
4. FORBIDDEN LOVERS (BRISTOL 27.3.77)
5. TERMINAL STREET (BRISTOL 27.3.77)
6. BLAZING APOSTLES (BRISTOL 27.3.77)

DISC FOURTEEN:
BOURNEMOUTH – WINTER GARDENS
28th MARCH 1977
PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

1. INTRODUCTION – BLIMPS (BOURNEMOUTH 28.3.77)
2. LIFE IN THE AIR AGE (BOURNEMOUTH 28.3.77)
3. FAIR EXCHANGE (BOURNEMOUTH 28.3.77)
4. PIECE OF MINE (BOURNEMOUTH 28.3.77)
5. SISTER SEAGULL (BOURNEMOUTH 28.3.77)
6. MILL STREET JUNCTION (BOURNEMOUTH 28.3.77)
7. SHIPS IN THE NIGHT (BOURNEMOUTH 28.3.77)
8. SWANSONG (BOURNEMOUTH 28.3.77)
9. MAID IN HEAVEN (BOURNEMOUTH 28.3.77)
10. SHINE (BOURNEMOUTH 28.3.77)
11. ADVENTURES IN A YORKSHIRE LANDSCAPE (BOURNEMOUTH 28.3.77)

DISC FIFTEEN:
BOURNEMOUTH – WINTER GARDENS
28th MARCH 1977
PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

1. BILL NELSON’S INTRODUCTION (BOURNEMOUTH 28.3.77)
2. TWILIGHT CAPERS (BOURNEMOUTH 28.3.77)
3. MODERN MUSIC SUITE (BOURNEMOUTH 28.3.77)
4. FORBIDDEN LOVERS (BOURNEMOUTH 28.3.77)
5. TERMINAL STREET (BOURNEMOUTH 28.3.77)
6. BLAZING APOSTLES (BOURNEMOUTH 28.3.77)

DISC SIXTEEN:
BE BOP DELUXE –
STAR RIDER IN CONCERT
PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

1. FAIR EXCHANGE (STAR RIDER IN CONCERT FILM)
2. SHIPS IN THE NIGHT (STAR RIDER IN CONCERT FILM)
3. MAID IN HEAVEN (STAR RIDER IN CONCERT FILM)
4. BRING BACK THE SPARK (STAR RIDER IN CONCERT FILM)
5. BLAZING APOSTLES (STAR RIDER IN CONCERT FILM)