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IN THE HOUSE AND ON THE TURN TABLE: Jethro Tull

04 Friday Dec 2020

Posted by MICHAEL C. HODGKISS in #WhiteBoyBlues, Blodwyn Pig, Central Park, Fillmore East, Fleetwood Mac, jazz-rock, Jimi Hendrix, John Sebastian, Kevin Patrick, Madison Square Garden, Rock music, Ticket Stubs, Vinyl Records, Wollman Rink, Wollman Rink in Central Park

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JETHRO TULL: “My God…or How I developed a dislike for a great band…”

“This Was” JETHRO TULL: released (US)February 1969 Even with it’s unusual cover photo and liner notes so hard to visually decipher, I loved Jethro Tull’s first lp “This Was”. The music was incredible. Blues,folk, jazz, and rock all thrown together in a mix which made my 17 year old ears perk right up. The calendar had just turned to 1969(February) and this album was a fine addition to my ever expanding collection. I remember going to TSS which had a great record department to purchase “This Was” and “Fleetwood Mac” (Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac). From that afternoon, both pieces of vinyl found heavy rotation on the turntable in my upstairs bedroom.

So, here we are going into Spring of 69 and a new “favorite” guitarist joins my ever expanding list, MICK ABRAHAMS. Excitement filled the air in my tiny room every time that LP was played. CLIVE BUNKER on the kit, GLENN CORNICK on the bass, the flute and vocals of Ian (and Mick vocals) that album was a joy to listen to. Alas, my neighbor saw JETHRO TULL at STONY BROOK UNIVERSITY and again at FILLMORE EAST with JEFF BECK (July 69) and broke the news to me that MICK ABRAHAMS was out and a new guitarist was in, MARTIN BARRE. Geez, I was disappointed but my neighbor (3 years older than I) whom I considered to have had impeccable taste in the music told me the new guy was good.

“Stand Up” JETHRO TULL: released September 1969STAND UP is released in September 69, the second JETHRO TULL album, the first with MARTIN BARRE. It’s a bit different and I found listening to it quite enjoyable, but it wasn’t “This Was”.

NOVEMBER 1969: At one of the notorious weekend parties at a friend’s house, with TIME WAS being played in the background someone suggests we, the group, get tickets to see JETHRO TULL. I threw in my 11 bucks for two seats.

December, 1970 FILLMORE EAST:FAT MATTRESS up first, a band which was basically Noel Redding the ex-bassist for Hendrix’s Experience now playing lead guitar and fronting the group.They were terrible. (The band disbanded a few weeks later, with Noel walking out during the American tour) .GRAND FUNK RAILROAD was loud, very loud, fast and did I mention loud. There was a hair flowing lead guitarist running about on the stage. Geez, these schmoes got an encore and then another encore…WHAT? The Fillmore East crowd begging for multiple encores? Grand What? It was unusual even with my limited concert experience to see a support band called back more than once. Then, JETHRO TULL hits the stage with NOTHING IS EASY, a great opening tune. “Bouree”, “A New Day Yesterday, “My Sunday Feeling”, “Fat Man”, “Dharma For One” , “For A Thousand Mothers” along with a tune or two to which I was unfamiliar. Overall, a nice set by a band I was willing to see again.

April 70  Jethro Tull’s third album “Benefit” is released and I add it to my collection but overall was not too impressed with it.

May 1970: On a train with a large group of 12 friends we are off to the FILLMORE EAST late show featuring JETHRO TULL, supported by JOHN SEBASTIAN and CLOUDS, a strange mix of artists for his May 22 bill. CLOUDS a power trio from Scotland who shared management with Jethro Tull landed the opening slot and proceeded to assault our ears with their loud music, if that’s what it could be called. They were followed by JOHN SEBASTIAN, complete in his stoned out Woodstock tie dye outfit playing acoustic guitar, and harmonica. From a power trio to a stoned acoustic singer, we were mesmerized. Now, throw in JETHRO TULL as the closer. JETHRO TULL was now a five piece outfit, adding John Evans on piano, and the band was playing tunes from the recently released BENEFIT album along with the traditional STAND UP songs and a new one with a long diatribe introduction by IAN ANDERSON, “My God”. I pined for the THIS WAS era tunes and the only one they played this night was DHARMA FOR ONE(15 plus minutes) which is the drum solo.”Nothing Is Easy”,”My God”,”To Cry You A Song”, “With You There To Help Me”, “Sossity…”,”Reason For Waiting”, “Dharma For One”, “We Used To Know”, and “For A Thousand Mothers”.

JULY 17, 1970: RANDALL’S ISLAND FESTIVAL: Tull played the identical set as of the FILLMORE EAST show a few weeks ago.

August 3, 1970: WOLLMAN SKATING RINK in Central Park, JETHRO TULL is supported by HAYSTACKS BALBOA  a band playing their very first major venue gig, and it showed.  JETHRO TULL open up with “To Cry You A Song” followed by the almost identical introduction to “My God” as Anderson did in May. Ian Anderson tried to entertain the crowd with dialogs between some songs but I found this nonsense to show him as a weird dude and getting weirder by the moment. That night I lost all momentum to follow this band any further. ”With You There To Help Me”, “A Song For Jeffrey”,”Sossity, You’re A Woman” (loved it), the obligatory “Dharma For One” (about 15 minutes) and the traditional closer, “For A Thousand Mothers”.

April 29, 1971; JETHRO TULL @ New Paltz It was Spring Break and TULL was one of the major acts performing in the gym. The sound was muffled, the nonsense between tunes unbearable, and it was hotter than hell in the hall.

May 5,1971: JETHRO TULL at FILLMORE EAST, from a cancelled show last month.Yuck.

May 71 AQUALUNG released and Tull goes to MSG, I did purchase the lp, gave it a few spins and traded it away. Didn’t even consider buying a ticket for The Garden show.

May 72 THICK AS A BRICK: Nope/done

2020: Ian Anderson is still going and I only have the first two Tull records in my collection but did add an incredible THIS WAS (live) recorded by MICK ABRAHAMS THIS WAS BAND. Also, filed away are the two BLODWIN PIG records.

TICKETS TORN IN HALF:(THE REAL and FAKE) FLEETWOOD MAC-Various Nights in Various Places with Various People

27 Sunday Jan 2019

Posted by MICHAEL C. HODGKISS in #WhiteBoyBlues, Academy of Music,NYC, ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND, Fillmore East, Fleetwood Mac, Grateful Dead, Indie records, Jefferson Airplane, Joe Cocker, King Crimson, Madison Square Garden, PALLADIUM,NYC, Rock music, The Action House, The KinKs, The Rock Pile, Ticket Stubs, Uncategorized, Vinyl Records, Wollman Rink in Central Park

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TICKETS TORN IN HALF:(THE REAL and FAKE) FLEETWOOD MAC-Various Nights in Various Places with Various People

(1968) I’m a sixteen year old, living across the street from a nineteen year old college student, a bohemian kinda guy who enjoyed music as much as I did. When he had time to be seen with a young punk we would (occasionally) engage in a conversation about the bands he saw. He told me about The LOVING SPOONFUL early on in their career, a little later THE AIRPLANE, and once he mentioned seeing FLEETWOOD MAC(December of 1968 @ Steve Paul’s THE SCENE ). This guy raved about the group, especially their singer/ guitarist. I jotted the name of the band in my trusty notebook thinking this is a band to be on the look out for. Then,I heard nothing about them for quite some time and no matter where I searched I could not find any of their recordings. A few months passed (early 69) when I found A Hard Road (February 1967 release date), the third John Mayall album (and the first to feature Peter Green who I still did not know was the singer/guitarist in question). “A Hard Road” was amazing, especially “The Stumble” which I thought would make the perfect “break song” for my band, “Another Kinda Love”, and …”The Supernatural”. Who is this guitarist?Peter Green? Who?

My kid brother was a THREE DOG NIGHT fan and a budding concert goer. Pop always said it was the double breasted suits, Beatle boots, and music which led him astray from the priesthood. So, with a few friends he attended a July 1969 show at THE (NYS) PAVILION in Queens, NY. On the bill was FLEETWOOD MAC.While my brother raved about how fantastic THREE DOG NIGHT’s performance was, he said little about FLEETWOOD MAC except to say I would like them. A few nights later my buddies (sans me) saw Ten Years After @ WOLLMAN RINK in Manhattan and lo and behold FLEETWOOD MAC opened. The guys loved both bands. For me it was another missed opportunity. But alas, a few weeks later I found “Then Play On” in the record store, also “Fleetwood Mac”, the one with the garbage can on the cover. I was mesmerized by the music, and now realized Peter Green from Mayall’s “A Hard Road” was the guitarist/singer in question.

Then, it was my turn,November 22,1969@Fillmore East, JOE COCKER and THE GREASE BAND headlining with FLEETWOOD MAC and KING CRIMSON as support bands; I saw Cocker in August, Crimson was unheard of (another story)…It was a Fleetwood Mac night to remember, at least for me. PETER GREEN was phenomenal as was the rest of the band. So,so good they were.My girlfriend thought they were not even close to Cocker’s Grease Band. What?I need to rethink girlfriends.

Two months later, Friday night, January 23, 1970 FLEETWOOD MAC is headlining locally (Island Park) at The Action House with Frost opening. Knowing I had QUICKSILVER tickets for the next night I only stayed for one, long fabulous set by THE MAC. Again, they did not disappoint and Peter Green was brilliant…”Black Magic Woman”,”The Supernatural”, “Albatross”,“The Green Manalishi”, “Rattlesnake Shake” (which went on for about 15 minutes),”Jumping at Shadows”,and “Shake Your Moneymaker”.Whew.

A few years ago I was discussing the merits of DUANE ALLMAN with a like minded spirit when the guy told me his remembrance of the JANIS JOPLIN/ GRATEFUL DEAD show at FILLMORE EAST February 11, 1970. JOPLIN was debuting her new band@ Fillmore East. At the late show the DEAD were doing their thing when they invited Duane Allman (Allman Bros. opened the show) AND Peter Green up to the stage for a jam.Peter was in town as Fleetwood Mac was opening for SLY and The FAMILY STONE at Madison Square Garden.Recently I listened to a decent recording of this event and, well, mind-blowing is all I can say.

After these performances (late 69 early 1970), I hear no more about FLEETWOOD MAC shows or recordings, which is strange as the summer schedule (Central Park,etc) was released and I expected their name to pop up. It appears the band had a few difficulties, one being the leader, PETER GREEN walked away (May 28,1970) leaving Fleetwood Mac (version #4) as Jeremy, Danny, John, and Mick. A #5 version appears (August 70-Feb 71) by adding CHRISTINE PERFECT (from CHICKEN SHACK) aka Christine McVie.

Late Summer, the FILLMORE EAST lineup is finally announced and there they are August 28-29, 1970 SAVOY BROWN/FLEETWOOD MAC/FAIRPORT CONVENTION. I send in my SASE for tickets
for what later would be one of my favorite shows of that summer despite some personnel changes and relationship problems in the bands and for me. I had two FAIRPORT CONVENTION albums and knew seeing them live would be unique. Unfortunately Sandy Denny (vocalist) had left the band but I became a huge fan of Richard Thompson (guitar/vocals) that night. Next up, Fleetwood Mac was missing Peter Green which was a huge disappointment for me, they/he were/was the reason I was there. But this newer FLEETWOOD MAC (version #5) now had Christine Perfect on keys /vocals and they introduced KILN HOUSE stuff which rocked. Quite a huge departure from the Peter Green stuff. Finally, Savoy Brown had no Chris Youlden on vocals. Lonesome Dave did the voice, and shades of FOGHAT were born. Despite the fact that all three bands were missing a key component, all were oh so good.
It appears (May 1970) Green left the band, suffering the early onset of mental illness thought to be the result of an unsolicited LSD experience in Munich, Germany.

FLEETWOOD MAC (#6) occurs February 15,1971 when Jeremy Spencer disappears the day the band hits Los Angeles, joining a cult known as THE CHILDREN of GOD, thereby denouncing his career, his band, his wife and two children.
“…given the news of Spencer’s action, the group called on Peter Green in London to rejoin them for the duration of the tour. After an hour on the phone, Green agreed – but only to finish out the tour, which ends in Long Island March 27th. Green, whose departure was partly attributable to his own devotion to Christianity, flew in on Friday, the 19th, to join the band in San Bernardino, California. He refused to talk about the Spencer case and emphasized only that the reunion with Fleetwood Mac is temporary.(Rolling Stone:March 18,1971)

Correction: His devotion was not to Christianity as Peter Green is actually Peter Greenbaum, of Jewish decent. Green did not like the music business, actually gave away all his money at one point.

I tired having worked a KinKs concert (March 26)getting to my room about 5AM but knew I had to solder on as PETER GREEN was in town playing with FLEETWOOD MAC/ EDGAR WINTER’s WHITE TRASH/TIN HOUSE March 26/27,1971@ Rockpile aka The Action House. Again, he did not disappoint,taking the band back to their roots of blues, beautifully played blues. And then he was gone, again

FLEETWOOD MAC(version 7) is now young DANNY KIRWAN (another soon to be rock n roll tragedy) and CHRISTINE McVIE’s band. “Future Games” (71) was Danny’s shining moment as lead guitarist with BOB WELCH added to the line up on rhythm. The blues were dropped from their repertoire. “Bare Trees” (72) is considered the lp which erases everything in the past, a true Kirwan masterpiece, to some. During the promotional tour Danny Kirwan was fired from Fleetwood Mac in the (fall of 1972). His alcoholism and increasing mental instability had made him a difficult bandmate and collaborator. Version 8 is Bob and Christine’s show and so on…they were a mess financially,had troubles with internal relationships and external relationships. They added members, dropped folks, changed management ,moved to LA, back to England,etc

January 26,1974, Academy of Music- FLEETWOOD MAC/KISS/SILVERHEAD. I’m there for FLEETWOOD MAC (not knowing who was still in the band). SILVERHEAD, well I had no idea who they were, still don’t. KISS was on a return performance from their debut at the same venue on New Years Eve. Their set was cut short as Gene Simmons set his hair on fire.(I saw Kiss twice at THE DAISY in Amityville the summer before but then KISS was not like this. Tonight, KISS set the entire venue of 3000 on fire. A great show, lights, fire breathing,fully costumed and ear drum shattering loud. Then, FLEETWOOD MAC appears. I notice MICK FLEETWOOD is not on the kit, No John McVie, No Christine…strange looks around the crowd, “who are these guys” playing instrumentals and no noticeable MAC tunes. Boos start, getting louder by the moment. An announcement is made that refund vouchers are available at the box office, to which I took my two. This was a bogus FM, a band put together by the owner (a past manager) of the “brand name” FLEETWOOD MAC, which hit the road while the true members were sorting out problems with alcohol, drugs, relationships, etc.Immediately after this, the true band grab the reins and hire Buckingham and Nicks, the rest is history.

To me,of all the guitar giants to emerge from the British blues boom Peter Green was perhaps the most naturally gifted. B.B.King famously said this about him: “He has the sweetest tone I ever heard; he was the only one who gave me the cold sweats.” That’s really is all you need to know about the man. Duane Allman acknowledged Green’s influence on him and the twin guitar approach of the Allman Brothers Band, And PETER GREEN penned “Black Magic Woman”.

TICKETS TORN IN HALF:August 18,1973: MAHAVISHNU ORCHESTRA

18 Saturday Aug 2018

Posted by MICHAEL C. HODGKISS in Central Park, John Hammond, Rock music, Ticket Stubs, Uncategorized, Vinyl Records, Wollman Rink in Central Park

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TICKETS TORN IN HALF:August 18,1973: MAHAVISHNU ORCHESTRA/Wet Willie/JOHN HAMMOND opened, love his album SOURCE POINT but no WetWillie from what I wrote in my notebook. Another strange bill but MAHAVISHNU (second time) is again amazing.

Mahavishnu CP 73

TICKETS TORN IN HALF:August 11,1980-THE RAMONES@Wollman Rink

12 Sunday Aug 2018

Posted by MICHAEL C. HODGKISS in #WhiteBoyBlues, Kevin Patrick, Rock music, The Ramones, Ticket Stubs, Uncategorized, Wollman Rink in Central Park

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TICKETS TORN IN HALF:August 11,1980-THE RAMONES(4)@Wollman Rink in Central Park This is becoming a summer tradition.The first four albums were a blast but this END OF THE CENTURY shit is not too good. But I was adapting to MARKY (MARC BELL from DUST and VOID OIDS) RAMONE on drums.(Getty Images has some great photos from that evening.For the life of me I have no recollection nor notes on an opening act.

TICKETS TORN IN HALF:August 6,1979-THE RAMONES / SYLVAIN SYLVAIN and THE CRIMINALS@ Wollman Rink in Central Park.

06 Monday Aug 2018

Posted by MICHAEL C. HODGKISS in #WhiteBoyBlues, Central Park, Rock music, The Ramones, Ticket Stubs, Uncategorized, Wollman Rink in Central Park

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TICKETS TORN IN HALF:August 6,1979-THE RAMONES / SYLVAIN SYLVAIN and THE CRIMINALS@ Wollman Rink in Central Park. This is our third outing to see the legendary RAMONES. We took our son Michael, all of one years old, in his stroller to this show.Why not? His mother was six months pregnant when I took her to see The Ramones/The Runaways show, and the baby kicked for days after that.Tonight, in his stroller he danced up a storm. The Ramones with new drummer Marc Bell from the band DUST onboard played about 30 songs, I lost count early in the set. This was the intro to ROAD TO RUIN material, all good stuff. And Sylvain (NY DOLLS fame) as an opener was a treat.

Joey Ramone grave

 

TICKETS TORN IN HALF: August 3,1970-JETHRO TULL @WOLLMAN Rink

03 Friday Aug 2018

Posted by MICHAEL C. HODGKISS in Jethro Tull, Rock music, Ticket Stubs, Uncategorized, Vinyl Records, Wollman Rink, Wollman Rink in Central Park

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TICKETS TORN IN HALF: August 3,1970-JETHRO TULL @WOLLMAN Rink

Jethro Tull and Haystacks Balboa at Central Park was another one of those bills were the head act brings along a lesser known label mate to open the show. This lesser known act included Leslie West’s brother on guitar (HB) and they stunk. Then, Jethro Tull was introducing some new songs, one being MY GOD. Overall, Tull was musically good but lyrically not my cup of tea any longer and most of the crowd was unfamiliar with the new stuff. Musically, it was a tough night. However, TULL was destined for bigger things and real soon. And I got a MY GOD bootleg outside the venue, for free. But, that’s another story altogether.

Jethro Tull Haystacks CP

TICKETS TORN IN HALF July 30, 1975: POCO/KINDERHOOK CREEK @ Central Park

30 Monday Jul 2018

Posted by MICHAEL C. HODGKISS in Central Park, Kevin Patrick, Rock music, Ticket Stubs, Uncategorized, Wollman Rink in Central Park

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TICKETS TORN IN HALF July 30, 1975: POCO/KINDERHOOK CREEK @ Central Park It rained heavily before the show and if you have ever been in the orchestra pit of WOLLMAN SKATING RINK after a heavy rain you know that your shoes will be in a few inches of water as the drainage was non-existent.To make matters worse we drank too much wine before the show while awaiting to hear if it was postponed which it wasn’t. Me, dancing like FRED ASTAIRE sliding across the edges of a fountain I fell ass first into said fountain. Soaked from head to toe with a severally sore butt. The three compatriots for the evening, my bride Niki,  my brother Kevin Patrick and our friend Kim all roared with laughter. Good thing Kim was carrying my smokes.Yet later Kim somehow lost his sneakers during the show as they floated away so he went home barefooted. This was POCO without RICHIE FURAY, a fun night but musically I missed RICHIE.

Poco: Creek CP 75

TICKETS TORN IN HALF: July 23,1976- Judy Collins@ CENTRAL PARK

23 Monday Jul 2018

Posted by MICHAEL C. HODGKISS in Uncategorized, Wollman Rink in Central Park

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TICKETS TORN IN HALF: July 23,1976 Judy Collins@ CENTRAL PARK A friend told me that John Platania (Caledonia Soul Orchestra) was playing guitar in Judy’s band so this I had to see, lo and behold John was there and fabulous, too.

Judy Collins 76

TICKETS TORN IN HALF July 22, 1980: DEVO @ Central Park.

22 Sunday Jul 2018

Posted by MICHAEL C. HODGKISS in Central Park, Kevin Patrick, Rock music, Uncategorized, Wollman Rink in Central Park

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TICKETS TORN IN HALF July 22, 1980: DEVO @ Central Park. This was bizarre to put it mildly but oh, so much fun. WHIP IT, Girl You Want, S.I.B.,Satisfaction,Mongoloid and more, all for 5 bucks and my bride was 6 months pregnant with our second child. After one time you knew we would be back.

TICKETS TORN IN HALF July 17, 1975: MARSHALL TUCKER/GRINDER SWITCH

18 Wednesday Jul 2018

Posted by MICHAEL C. HODGKISS in #WhiteBoyBlues, Uncategorized, Wollman Rink in Central Park

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TICKETS TORN IN HALF July 17, 1975: MARSHALL TUCKER/GRINDER SWITCH @ Central Park (no notes) I have the ticket stub but no recollection or notation in my journal as to what they played so it must have been “one of those night”.

 

 

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