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(801 at The Reading Festival - Together for just a while to do some gigs and call it a day)

Very well received by the press at the time (1976), but not received all that well commercially (owing to a little thing called Punk in 1976), 801 was a sort of live-brainchild of Phil Manzanera and Brian Eno. Roxy Music (Manzanera's group and Eno's former group) temporarily split and 801 was conceived as a sort of performing stop-gap during the down time. Brian Eno had already established a solo career and was getting ready to branch off into bigger things. But 801 were great while they lasted. Primarily put together as a live band, the resulting albums have achieved a kind of cult status over the years - somewhat overshadowed by the introduction of Punk on to the scene, they've been revisited over the years and gained in popularity. Recent word is the original 801 Live album has been remastered, remixed and extended and should be out soon, if not already.

This track, Third Uncle closes the album and is off the original pressing. I understand the new version will have a different ending than this one.

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(Sadistic Mika Band - rumored to have been named in honor of Mika's cooking)

Sort of in keeping with the Prog/International feel of the week, I thought I would toss something a little different in the live concert department. The Sadistic Mika Band wasn't really characterized as a Prog-Rock band. They came about at a time Glam was starting to take off in 1972 and had the distinction of having their second and third albums produced by Chris Thomas (whom Mika wound up having an affair with and later marrying) and released in the UK, to good reviews and a decent following.

They toured as opening act for Roxy Music in October 1975 (where this concert comes from) to coincide with the release of their 3rd album "Hot Menu" and did several appearances on British television.

As usual, they were never issued by a label in the U.S. and had only the hardcore import collectors here for a following. Naturally, they never performed live in the U.S. even though there was a lot of press about them and a goodly amount of hype, which in turn made it possible for a number of other Japanese bands to explore popularity outside their own country during the middle and late 70's.

It's highly likely that the popularity in Europe for bands like Sadistic Mika made it possible for bands like Yellow Magic Orchestra (which morphed from ex-Mika Band members) and Ryuichi Sakamoto to establish themselves to English speaking audiences. Just as it was possible performers like Stomu Yamash'ta made it possible for bands like Sadistic Mika to be considered for release in the UK. Just speculating.

Vocals are a bit weak and not their strong suit. But the bulk of the tracks during this concert are instrumental, which are top notch and confirms the idea a lot of great musicians were not confined to a couple of countries.

After the affair surfaced, Mika and Kazuhiko Kato, the bands lead guitarist and estranged husband, divorced and left the band. Mika becoming Mrs. Thomas, Kazuhiko pursuing a solo career before becoming a TV personality, while the rest of the group continued for a time as simply The Sadistics.

Just a reminder that music is the universal language and its spoken everywhere and you don't necessarily have to understand it to get into it.

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(Phil Manzanera w/Andy McKay - Roxy Music and the splendid quirkiness)

Roxy Music were always one of those bands I loved no matter what they did or which direction they took. Because of that, they have maintained a pretty constant popularity for the better part of 35 years.

In the mid 1970's the various members of the band did side projects of solo albums. Some with great success and others not so memorable.

One of the more memorable solo albums was by Phil Manzanera, lead guitarist of Roxy Music and carried their indelible stamp on every cut.

This track, Miss Shapiro, opens the first side wonderfully well and sets the scene for the rest of the album which, if you've heard it, is memorable.