Stone the Crows - Live at the BBC

Stone the Crows - Live at the BBC - 2022

Formed in Glasgow in 1969, Stone The Crows cut their teeth in the pubs of Scotland and had everything going for them: not one, but two gritty singers, a talented guitarist, a rhythm section that had played with John Mayall, plus the kudos of having Led Zeppelin manager Peter Grant as their producer. 

With a slew of critically acclaimed albums, it was on stage and live in the studio that Stone The Crows really flew free, as these superb recordings from 1969-1972 attest.The undoubted jewel in their crown was lead singer Maggie Bell. 

Winner of several Top Female Singer awards in Britain, Bell had a raunchy, gutbucket voice which, although it fell short of the naked emotion and range of Janis Joplin’s, probably came closer to her style than any other female singer. 

When her powerhouse vocals caught the attention of Peter Grant, his visceral reaction – “stone the crows!” – led to the band changing their name.

Hewn from studio sessions with John Peel, Bob Harris and Mike Harding, as well as in-concert performances, this 4CD set captures the Crows’ burgeoning Blues/Rock prowess. 

From the original line-up featuring guitarist/songwriter Leslie Harvey, to their latter stages with a young Jimmy McCulloch on guitar, Live At The BBC brings together broadcast versions of tracks from their four albums together with songs often featured in their live sets. Compiled in conjunction with Ashley Wood, Disc 4 includes a further eight recordings from 1970. 

Disc 1 -  BBC Sessions 1969-1970

Recorded 24/11/69 for Top Gear presented by John Peel, broadcast 6/12/69

01. Raining In Your Heart

02. The Touch Of Your Loving Hand

Recorded 19/5/70 for Top Gear presented by John Peel, broadcast 30/5/70

03. Freedom Road

04. Hollis Brown

Recorded 13/5/70 for Sounds of the 70s presented by Alan Black, broadcast 26/6/70 and *31/7/70

05. Raining In Your Heart *

06. Friend

Recorded 28/10/70 for Sounds of the 70s presented by Alan Black, broadcast 13/11/70 and *4/12/70

07. Mad Dogs And Englishmen

08. Love 74

09. Things Are Getting Better *

Personnel: 

Maggie Bell - Vocals

Leslie Harvey - Guitar

Jimmy Dewar - Bass & Vocals

Colin Allen - Drums

John McGuinness - Keyboards

Disc 2 BBC Sessions 1971-1972

Recorded 7/6/71 for Sounds of the 70s presented by Alan Black, broadcast 2/7/71 and *30/7/71

10. Faces *

11. Let It Down

Recorded 6/9/71 for Sounds of the 70s presented by Pete Drummond, broadcast 16/9/71

12. Big Jim Salter

13. Keep On Rollin’

Recorded 11/4/72 for Friday Night Is Boogie Night presented by John Peel, broadcast 28/4/72

14. Going Down

15. On The Highway

16. Mr. Wizard

Recorded 6/9/72 for Sounds of the 70s presented by Bob Harris, broadcast 18/9/72

17. Good Time Girl

18. Penicillin Blues

19. On The Highway

Personnel:

Tracks 1 & 2:

Maggie Bell - Vocals

Leslie Harvey - Guitar

Jimmy Dewar - Bass & Vocals

Colin Allen - Drums

John McGuinness - Keyboards

Tracks 3-7:

Maggie Bell - Vocals

Leslie Harvey - Guitar

Steve Thompson - Bass

Colin Allen - Drums

Ronnie Leahy - Keyboards

Tracks 8-10:

Maggie Bell - Vocals

Jimmy McCulloch - Guitar

Steve Thompson - Bass

Colin Allen - Drums

Ronnie Leahy - Keyboards

Disc 3 Live In Concert At The BBC

Recorded 4/11/71 at the Palace Theatre, London broadcast 16/11/71

20. Keep On Rollin’

21. Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right

22. Big Jim Salter

23. Mr. Wizard

24. Going Down

Recorded 12/10/72 at the Palace Theatre, London broadcast 28/10/72

25. On The Highway

26. Palace Of The King

27. Penicillin Blues

28. Sunset Cowboy

29. Niagara

30. Good Time Girl

31. Ionian Highland Lilt

Personnel:

Tracks 1-5:

Maggie Bell - Vocals

Leslie Harvey - Guitar

Steve Thompson - Bass

Colin Allen - Drums

Ronnie Leahy - Keyboards

Tracks 6-12:

Maggie Bell - Vocals

Jimmy McCulloch - Guitar

Steve Thompson - Bass

Colin Allen - Drums

Ronnie Leahy - Keyboards

Disc 4 BBC Broadcasts

Recorded 28/5/70 for Sunday Concert presented by John Peel, broadcast 7/6/70

32. Freedom Road

33. Blind Man

34. Danger Zone

35. Hollis Brown

Recorded 7/7/70 for Sounds of the 70s presented by Mike Harding, broadcast 14/7/70

36. I Saw America Pt.1

37. I Saw America Pt.3

38. Sad Mary

Recorded 26/11/70 for Sunday Concert presented by John Peel, broadcast 6/12/70

39. Penicillin Blues

+@320