Be Bop Deluxe
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Developed a real like for this band sometime in the mid/late 70’s when a friend turned me on to one of the best live albums I’d ever heard: “Live! In the Air Age”. Didn’t know the studio stuff then but this live set of lyrical flaming guitar driven prog rock that quirkily ran from glam to experimental jazz to heavy metal, to techosomething grabbed my attention. The fact that it was pressed on white vinyl and include a extra 12” EP didn’t hurt its cool value either. It was re-released in 1997 as a CD, and apparently over-pressed, as it is available pretty cheap several places on the net. Got me one on the way..
.Be Bop Deluxe was basically guitar player/singer/songwriter Bill Nelson's band. Besides "Live! In the Air Age" they released five studio albums between 1974 and 78. Bill cleaned house after the first album, “Axe Victim”, and replace both his bandmates for the second album “Futurama”, but retained the name "Be Bop Deluxe". By the third album, “Sunbrust Finish” a keyboard player was added to form a quartet and the guitar dominated pyrotechnics of the first two albums gave way to a somewhat less busy, poppier, catchier style, that allowed Nelson's songwriting skill be displayed as never before. Of their studio work this is their best album. With the fourth album, “Modern Music”, they had evolved their image from glam rock metal to a sophisticated pop group, featuring highly imagistic lyrics and probably too overly complicated arrangements to truly pass as pop. Then before releasing their final studio album, “Live! In the Air Age” was released. It proved to be their best seller and was a tight set of live songs, that didn’t rehash the studio versions of the songs but allowed them to be expanded on and set Bill free to unleash some wicked flaming fresh guitar work. Their last album “Drastic Plastic” added in a futuristic, pre-industrial electronic tone and set the stage for the even more experimental solo work Bill pursued after the end of the band..I don’t have any digitalized stuff of theirs to share (at least not yet – hopefully that CD I ordered will be here in within the week) but did find some videos available of the band. Unfortunately, the sound quality is only so-so, but here’s the three I liked the best, and they form a pretty representative sample of the music..First, from the “Futurama” album - “Maid in Heaven” ..Second up is, “Fair Exchange” from the “Sunbrust Finish” Album. Dig the lapels on that jacket. (Wish that annoying time counter wasn’t there.)..And, to finish up for now from “Drastic Plastic”, “Dangerous Stranger”. (Rather preppy sweater, no?). .While there is one post on the MOG for Bill Nelson, counting this as a gap filler as it's the first for Be Bop Deluxe specifically.
.Be Bop Deluxe was basically guitar player/singer/songwriter Bill Nelson's band. Besides "Live! In the Air Age" they released five studio albums between 1974 and 78. Bill cleaned house after the first album, “Axe Victim”, and replace both his bandmates for the second album “Futurama”, but retained the name "Be Bop Deluxe". By the third album, “Sunbrust Finish” a keyboard player was added to form a quartet and the guitar dominated pyrotechnics of the first two albums gave way to a somewhat less busy, poppier, catchier style, that allowed Nelson's songwriting skill be displayed as never before. Of their studio work this is their best album. With the fourth album, “Modern Music”, they had evolved their image from glam rock metal to a sophisticated pop group, featuring highly imagistic lyrics and probably too overly complicated arrangements to truly pass as pop. Then before releasing their final studio album, “Live! In the Air Age” was released. It proved to be their best seller and was a tight set of live songs, that didn’t rehash the studio versions of the songs but allowed them to be expanded on and set Bill free to unleash some wicked flaming fresh guitar work. Their last album “Drastic Plastic” added in a futuristic, pre-industrial electronic tone and set the stage for the even more experimental solo work Bill pursued after the end of the band..I don’t have any digitalized stuff of theirs to share (at least not yet – hopefully that CD I ordered will be here in within the week) but did find some videos available of the band. Unfortunately, the sound quality is only so-so, but here’s the three I liked the best, and they form a pretty representative sample of the music..First, from the “Futurama” album - “Maid in Heaven” ..Second up is, “Fair Exchange” from the “Sunbrust Finish” Album. Dig the lapels on that jacket. (Wish that annoying time counter wasn’t there.)..And, to finish up for now from “Drastic Plastic”, “Dangerous Stranger”. (Rather preppy sweater, no?). .While there is one post on the MOG for Bill Nelson, counting this as a gap filler as it's the first for Be Bop Deluxe specifically.
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