Despite deceptive traditionalism of the music STONE THE CROWS delivered – that highly charged compound of blues, folklore and rock, all given a tangible progressive angle – it’s difficult to understand why this Scottish collective didn’t get enough accolades to become genuinely popular over the last five decades. Fronted by Maggie Bell, the finest female warbler to have come from the Old World, stoked by Colin Allen’s intelligent and imaginative drumming, and featuring, in succession, such great guitarists as Les Harvey and Jimmy Jimmy McCulloch, the band’s blend of originals and covers proudly stood the test of time even on their studio platters, yet the quintet’s real power was always best manifested on-stage. Cue the array of concert releases, peaking with "Live At The BBC" from 2021 and complemented with a new box set which goes beyond the group’s BBC archives.
Titled “Transmissions” and planned for issue in early 2023, the set consists of four CDs and two DVDs capturing the Caledonian ensemble’s various line-ups in full flight in Europe – namely, Germany, France and Switzerland – between 1970 and 1973. Some audio come from the performances preserved on video, so there’s a bit of overlapping, although this approach allows the listener to concentrate on music. With scarcity of STC material on the ground, it’s impossible to overestimate the importance of what’s in the box.
Transmissions
CD 1 – Live at Beat-Club
Beat-Club – November 28th, 1970:
1. Danger Zone
2. Love 74
Beat-Club – December 26th, 1970:
3. Going Down
4. Blind Man
Beat Workshop – March 10th, 1973 (recorded in October 1972):
5. On The Highway
6. Going Down
7. Penicillin Blues
8. Niagara
9. Sunset Cowboy
10. Palace Of The King
11. Good Time Girl
12. Studio chatter
CD 2 – Pop Deux 1971-72
Pop Deux – February 20thm 1971 (from a concert at Taverne de l’Olympia, Paris):
1. Love 74
2. Hollis Brown
Pop Deux – October 25th, 1972 (concert at the Bataclan, Paris):
3. Penicillin Blues
4. Palace Of The King
5. Niagara
6. Good Time Girl
7. Going Down
CD 3 – Live at the Montreux Jazz Festival, 1970:
1. Friend
2. Penicillin Blues
3. Love 74
4. Danger Zone
5. Hollis Brown
6. Freedom Road
CD 4 – Live at the Rose d’Or, Montreux, 1973:
1. On The Highway
2. Come On
3. Mr Wizard
4. Penicillin Blues
5. Danger Zone
6. Going Down
DVD 1
Beat-Club – November 28th, 1970:
1. Danger Zone
2. Love 74
Beat-Club – December 26th, 1970:
3. Going Down
4. Blind
Beat Workshop – March 10th, 1973:
5. On The Highway
6. Going Down
7. Penicillin Blues
8. Niagara
9. Sunset Cowboy
10. Palace Of The King
11. Good Time Girl
12. Studio chatter
DVD 2
Pop Deux – Taverne de l’Olympia, Paris – February 20th, 1971:
1. Love 74 (excerpt)
2. Hollis Brown
Pop Deux – the Bataclan, Paris – October 25th, 1972:
3. Penicillin Blues
4. Palace Of The King
5. Niagara
6. Good Time Girl
7. Going Down
Live in Montreux Jazz Festival, 1970 (taken from Pop Hot):
8. Love 74
9. Danger Zone
10. Freedom Road
Rose d’Or Festival, 1973:
11. On The Highway
12. Come On
13. Mr. Wizard
14. Penicillin Blues
15. Danger Zone
16. Going Down
