As requested, here's a re-up of Nico's indelibly haunting debut John Peel session, recorded live for Top Gear on 2nd February 1971, & broadcast a week or so later. Unusually, though I originally wrote about them than 3 years ago, these 4 imposing elegies are still not listed in the BBC's official sessions archive. Clive Selwood's much missed Strange Fruit released them briefly (on vinyl) in 1988, & Castle reissued them (on CD) in 1991, but both versions will set you back £20 nowadays. Sadly, only "Secret Side" has been included on Island's recent deluxe edition of The End, despite there being ample room to accommodate them all. Sound quality is A+, Ms Päffgen & her harmonium have rarely sounded better...
Thank you so very much for sharing this recording.
ReplyDeleteNo problem, let me know if there's anything else you'd like me to re-up.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Mr. Rooksby! I vaguely recall Peel rebroadcasting this around 85-86. A few years ago I found the 74 sesh on t'net and assumed that was the one - probably due to the inclusion of Janitor Of Lunacy. Pleasant surprise indeed; and a superior to the 74 sesh methinks.
ReplyDeleteSlightly bizarrely, Madame Nico also appeared on an early '80s Rip Rig & Panic session. Weirder still, you can buy it on iTunes! Virtually nobody seems to know about it though, which suits me fine... (let me know if you want a copy)
ReplyDeleteI know the Nico/Rip Rig & Panic early 80s Peel session very well - Nico only sings on 1 track, a beautiful piano version of "Saeta" - but I can't find it on iTunes...there's only the 7" version and a live version available. (I do have my off-air cassette recording of the original session...) Cheers!
DeleteType "Rip Rig Panic Peel session" into the iTunes store & all will become apparent - Nico's contribution is the untitled 1st half of "Pullover No Sox" - I bought it a couple of years ago so can defo confirm this is 100% kosher...
ReplyDeleteHi,
DeleteThanks for the reply. I checked, and although the Peel session is available in the UK, it's NOT available via iTunes Australia - weird territorial restrctions, apparently....
Mystery solved! Typical BBC bollocks... I'll send you mp3s if you like, but I'm not posting it on here as it's "in print" (sort of) - send me your email address if you like, I won't print it...
ReplyDeleteBelated thanks. Helped myself to these a while back & meant to mention how good the session is / was...
ReplyDeleteCheers Andy, I've re-posted this session in better quality recently, so it might be worth DLing it again? And, yes, it's a stunning session &, for me, the best of her 2 Radio 1 sets...
ReplyDelete