Terrific BBC session for No Road is the Right Road

[vermicious knid]

I have really been enjoying Christine's first album lately, even if No Road is the Right Road wan't one of the songs making much of an impression on me. HOWEVER, I found this wonderful performance of the song which really transforms it into something special. This performance has a lot more pizzazz than the album version!

https://youtu.be/Qxw_ylimDN4?si=4rzmZkPVlVTNXg9p

[jbrownsjr]

I love this, too! It's brighter and a bit warmer.

[Penguin Emeritus]

I love this, too! It's brighter and a bit warmer.

i agree! i really like this one.

--Lis

[vermicious knid]

This song was the b-side of her first solo single, released in October 1969, which would explain why she was performing it.

Judging by the documentation in the video, it appears that she also performed the a-side "When You Say" and "With Pen in Hand", a cover song. Where are those performances???? Can anyone say they have heard them? I wonder if they are "lost" performances that no has heard in decades or something. I really want to hear them also.

Wikipedia says "The single was a commercial failure, partly due to Perfect's refusal to appear on the BBC TV music show Top of the Pops in favor of a vacation with John McVie in Greece. However, McVie did record a performance of the song with the Derek Wadsworth Orchestra for a BBC Radio 1 radio programme presented by John Peel, which was broadcast on 1 November 1969."

So I guess this is the BBC Radio 1 performance, although I don't know why it says "Top of the Pops" in the document if that is a different thing.

[lazy poker]

I guess this is the BBC Radio 1 performance, although I don't know why it says "Top of the Pops" in the document if that is a different thing.
There was also a radio programme called "Top Of The Pops" which had no further connection to the TV show other than the name. It was produced for the BBC Transcription Services for broadcasting via overseas radio stations. It was presented by Brian Matthew (who is heard introducing the Christine track). More info see here: http://totp.torbenskott.dk/ The Christine tracks were originally recorded for "Top Gear".

[vermicious knid]

Very interesting, thank you! Clicking around on that webpage, I found a tracklist for the show (http://totp.torbenskott.dk/aspmaker1/track_listlist.asp?showmaster=Show_list&show_no=260) and it even includes an interview segment with her! All these recordings must exist somewhere. Hopefully they make their way to YouTube before long. At least I couldn't find them if they are already there.

[jbrownsjr]

Very interesting, thank you! Clicking around on that webpage, I found a tracklist for the show (http://totp.torbenskott.dk/aspmaker1/track_listlist.asp?showmaster=Show_list&show_no=260) and it even includes an interview segment with her! All these recordings must exist somewhere. Hopefully they make their way to YouTube before long. At least I couldn't find them if they are already there.

How cool it would be to hear this whole show?!

[dougl]

This album was recently released. You can hear snippets of the tunes here. Never heard “With Pen in Hand” before.

https://www.juno.co.uk/products/christine-perfects-chicken-at-the-bbc-1968-69-vinyl/1093527-01/

[vermicious knid]

Thanks for that. It is good to know that these songs are available to people. A bit strange that the album is under the Chicken Shack name when some of the songs have nothing to do with Chicken Shack, no? It's my understanding that the few songs from the "Top Gear" BBC session were done neither with Chicken Shack nor with the band from her solo album, but rather with the Derek Wadsworth Orchestra. It seems that that explains why the BBC version of "No Road is the Right Road" sounds so different than the album version. All different musicians aside from Christine!

[lazy poker]

A bit strange that the album is under the Chicken Shack name when some of the songs have nothing to do with Chicken Shack, no? It's my understanding that the few songs from the "Top Gear" BBC session were done neither with Chicken Shack nor with the band from her solo album, but rather with the Derek Wadsworth Orchestra.
That's right!

[jbrownsjr]

This album was recently released. You can hear snippets of the tunes here. Never heard “With Pen in Hand” before.

https://www.juno.co.uk/products/christine-perfects-chicken-at-the-bbc-1968-69-vinyl/1093527-01/

I love you dougl!!!

Now I want to hear all of these tunes in full! :woohoo:

[aleuzzi]

Whoever gets their hands on the full recording of “With Pen in Hand” needs to share it!!!!! Please!!!!

I’m fact, I’d love the whole recording but buying an lp is not useful since I don't gave a turntable….