Ludlow Garage 1970

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About Ludlow Garage 1970

Product Description NRBQ, the combo that's been the epitome of eclecticism over the past four decades has finally agreed to unleash its stunning live concert, Ludlow Garage 1970, on compact disc by Sundazed. Sketchy cassettes of this epic engagement have been circulating ever since it occurred, and now the real story can be told, direct from the original soundboard masters! Ludlow Garage 1970 catches the dynamic original lineup of NRBQ -- lead singer Frank Gadler, keyboard man Terry Adams, guitarist Steve Ferguson, bassist Jody St. Nicholas (aka Joey Spampinato) and drummer Tom Staley--at the peak of their powers, as they shift gears wildly from their own unique originals, to the interplanetary sounds of New Thing jazz, to frantic covers of Wilson Pickett, Little Richard and others. With special focus on Ferguson's absolutely astounding six-string technique, here's the very best material from their legendary 1970 shows at the fabled Cincinnati nightspot, as personally selected by Adams, with the full story recounted in the liner notes by longtime band pal Chandler Travis (Incredible Casuals). It's no damn wonder NRBQ has been described as nothing less than a band that always wove its own magical musical-tapestry. Amazon.com By the time Columbia released NRBQ's self-titled debut in 1970, the band was already having fractious dealings with their label (a pattern that would become all too familiar over the course of their nearly 40-year career). This live date at Cincinnati's Ludlow Garage has circulated clandestinely among fans for some time, and is finally being released in stunning clarity. The 18 songs are a veritable tour through the vast musical landscape that captured the band's imagination. Besides originals, there are covers of songs by Sun Ra, Little Richard, Carla Bley, Wilson Pickett, and Rahsaan Roland Kirk, among others. NRBQ's sense of both tradition and invention is remarkable for musicians who were in their early 20s at the time. They were accidental iconoclasts, refusing to adhere to any of the expectations of the day, honoring their musical inclinations at every turn. It's also amazing to hear the sound of the audience slowly gather momentum as they're transformed from baffled newcomers to fans. --David Greenberger