The Amazing Zig Zag Concert was a rock concert held at

The Roundhouse The Roundhouse is a performing arts and concert venue situated at the Grade II* listed former railway engine shed in Chalk Farm, London, England. The building was erected in 1846–1847 by the London & North Western Railway as a roundhouse, ...

on April 28, 1974 to celebrate the fifth anniversary of Zig Zag Magazine. Described as "one of the gigs of the decade", the concert "has taken on legendary proportions over the years" and featured

Michael Nesmith Robert Michael Nesmith or Mike Nesmith, (December 30, 1942 – December 10, 2021) was an American musician, songwriter, and actor. He was best known as a member of the pop rock band the Monkees and co-star of the TV series ''The Monkees'' (1966� ...

with

Red Rhodes Orville J. Rhodes, better known as Red Rhodes or O. J. Rhodes (December 30, 1930 – August 20, 1995), was an American pedal steel guitarist. His mother taught him to play the Dobro at the age of five, but at the age of fifteen he switched to ...

, John Stewart,

Help Yourself Help is a word meaning to give aid or signal distress. Help may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Films * ''Help'' (2010 film), a Bollywood horror film * ''Help'' (2021 theatrical film), a British psychological thriller film * '' ...

Chilli Willi and the Red Hot Peppers Chilli Willi and the Red Hot Peppers were one of the main British pub rock groups of the early 1970s. Later managed by Jake Riviera, who first worked for the band as a roadie, they reached their peak as part of the "Naughty Rhythms Tour" of ...

and Starry Eyed and Laughing. The concert was recorded, but was not issued until 2010, when it was released as a 5-CD boxed set.

Arrangement

The Concert was underwritten by

Tony Stratton-Smith Tony Stratton-Smith (29 October 1933 – 19 March 1987) was an English rock music manager, and entrepreneur. He founded the London-based record label Charisma Records in 1969 and managed rock groups such as the Nice, Van der Graaf Generator and ...

, founder of

Charisma Records Charisma Records (also known as The Famous Charisma Label) was a British record label founded in 1969 by former journalist Tony Stratton-Smith. He had previously acted as manager for rock bands such as The Nice, the Bonzo Dog Band and Van der ...

, who had just taken over Zig Zag Magazine from its founder

Pete Frame Peter Frame (born 10 November 1942 in Luton, Bedfordshire, England) is an English music journalist and historian of rock music. He has produced outlines of the history of rock bands for various magazines, such as ''Sounds'', ''NME'', '' Melody ...

, although Frame remained with the magazine as a writer. The selected acts were favourites of Frame and the other ZigZag journalists;

John Tobler John Hugen Tobler (born 9 May 1943) is a British rock music journalist, writer, occasional broadcaster, and record company executive. With Pete Frame, he was one of the founders of ZigZag magazine in April 1969. The magazine focused on the " un ...

, Andy Childs, and Connor McKnight. Andrew Lauder arranged and paid for

Vic Maile Vic Maile (1943 – 11 July 1989) was a British record producer. After starting his career as sound engineer with Pye mobile studios for the Animals on their song "We Gotta Get Out of This Place", Maile worked with some of the biggest names in th ...

to record the concert. In addition to the 5 acts featured on the CD release, Bristol folksinger Aj Webber, also played, but his performance was not recorded. Originally Chris Darrow and

Kilburn and the High Roads Kilburn and the High Roads were a British pub rock band formed in London by Ian Dury in 1970. The band released one studio album in 1975, disbanding the same year. AllMusic credits the band with being "an undeniable influence on punk and new ...

were also slated to appear, but Darrow was out of the country, and Kilburn canceled their appearance due to a scheduling conflict.CD booklet notes by Pete Frame, Nigel Cross, Andy Childs, John Tobler, Tom Sheehan and Deke Leonard

Reception

Ptolemaic Terrascope {{Infobox magazine , image_file = pto.png , image_size = , image_caption = ''Ptolemaic Terrascope'' logo , editor = Phil McMullen (1988–2005) Pat Thomas (2005-07) , editor_title = , staff ...

Phil McMullen Phil McMullen is a British writer and music journalist. He was the founding editor of '' Ptolemaic Terrascope'' magazine from 1989 until 2005, at which time management of the publication was handed over to Pat Thomas in North America. McMullen c ...

described the recordings as "a vitally important document in the overall scheme of things" and "unashamedly" admitted that the

Terrastock Terrastock is a music festival organised periodically by Phil McMullen, formerly editor of the ''Ptolemaic Terrascope'' and since 2005 the publisher of the Terrascope Online website. The event typically features independent bands playing psyche ...

festivals "were directly influenced and inspired by the now legendary Zig Zag Benefit Concert" and concluded "It doesn’t get any better than this”. In

Record Collector ''Record Collector'' is a British monthly music magazine. It was founded in 1980 and distributes worldwide. History The early years The first standalone issue of ''Record Collector'' was published in March 1980, though its history stretches ba ...

Kris Needs Kris Needs (born 3 July 1954) is a British journalist and author, known for writings on music from the 1970s onwards. He became editor of proto-punk and early punk rock ''ZigZag'' magazine in August 1977 at 23 and has since written biographi ...

said the 5CDs "capture rapturously-received sets" "The sound is immaculate, that amazing atmosphere dripping from every whoop, holler and pin-dropped hush" and gave it a 5-star rating

CD boxed set

The recording of the concert remained unreleased until 2010 when Tony Poole (formerly of Starry Eyed and Laughing) edited and remixed the tapes. The 5 CD boxed set was issued on Tobler's Road Goes on Forever Records label, October 11, 2010.

CD1 - Starry Eyed and Laughing

This is the earliest released recording of Starry Eyed and Laughing, featuring their original drummer, Nick Brown, who left the band only a few weeks after this concert. Eight of the songs performed at the concert appeared on their eponymous debut album with new drummer Michael Wackford, released in October, 1974. ZigZag's Pete Frame was later to become their manager. ;Track listing Excluding song introductions, which the CD lists as separate tracks #"Going Down" (McGeeney) #"Nobody Home" (Poole) #"Never Say Too Late" (Whitmore) #"Down the Street" (McGeeney) #"Money is no Friend of Mine" (Poole) #"Everybody" (McGeeney) #"Oh What" (Poole) #" Chimes of Freedom" ( Dylan) #"50/50 (Better Stop Now)" (Whitmore) #"Living in London" (McGeeney/Poole) ;Personnel *Tony Poole - Guitar, Vocals *Ross McGeeney - Guitar, Vocals *Iain Whitmore - Bass, Vocals *Nick Brown - Drums, Vocals

CD2 - Chilli Willi and the Red Hot Peppers

were well known on the London pub-rock circuit, but it is felt that they never captured "the magical ambiance of their best live shows on record". This, their only officially released live recording, was made shortly before they recorded the album ''Bongos Over Balham''. Having met the band at this concert, Michael Nesmith produced five tracks at the ''Bongos'' recording session, although only two tracks appeared on the released album. ;Track listing Excluding song introductions, which the CD lists as separate tracks #"I'll Be Home" (Philip Charles Lithman) #"The Streets of Baltimore" (Tompall Glaser,

Harlan Howard Harlan Perry Howard (September 8, 1927 – March 3, 2002) was an American songwriter, principally in country music. In a career spanning six decades, Howard wrote many popular and enduring songs, recorded by a variety of different artists. C ...

) #"Papa and Mama Had Love" (

Doug Kershaw Douglas James Kershaw (born January 24, 1936) is an American fiddle player, singer and songwriter from Louisiana. Active since 1948, he began his career as part of the duo Rusty and Doug, along with his brother, Rusty Kershaw. He had an extens ...

) #"Midnight Bus" (

Jesse Winchester James Ridout "Jesse" Winchester Jr. (May 17, 1944 – April 11, 2014) was an American-Canadian musician and songwriter. He was born and raised in the southern United States. Opposed to the Vietnam War, he moved to Canada in 1967 to avoid b ...

) #"Older Guys" (

Gram Parsons Ingram Cecil Connor III (November 5, 1946 – September 19, 1973) who was known professionally as Gram Parsons, was an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, and pianist who recorded as a solo artist and with the International Submarine Band, ...

Chris Hillman Christopher Hillman (born December 4, 1944) is an American musician. He was the original bassist of and one of the original members of the Byrds, which in 1965 included Roger McGuinn, Gene Clark, David Crosby and Michael Clarke. With frequent ...

Bernie Leadon Bernie Leadon (pronounced ''led-un''; born July 19, 1947) is an American singer, musician, songwriter and founding member of the Eagles, for which he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998. Prior to the Eagles, he was a member ...

) #"Desert Island Woman" (Philip Charles Lithman) #"Friday Song" (Philip Charles Lithman) #"Goodbye Nashville, Hello Camden Town" (Philip Charles Lithman) #"

Walkin' Blues "Walkin' Blues" or "Walking Blues" is a blues standard written and recorded by American Delta blues musician Son House in 1930. Although unissued at the time, it was part of House's repertoire and other musicians, including Robert Johnson and ...

" (

Robert Johnson Robert Leroy Johnson (May 8, 1911August 16, 1938) was an American blues musician and songwriter. His landmark recordings in 1936 and 1937 display a combination of singing, guitar skills, and songwriting talent that has influenced later generati ...

) #"Just Like the Devil" (Traditional; arranged by Martin Stone) #"

Boppin' the Blues "Boppin' the Blues" is a 1956 song written by Carl Perkins and Howard "Curley" Griffin and released as a single on Sun Records in May 1956. The single was released as a 45 and 78, Sun 243, backed with "All Mama's Children", a song co-written by P ...

" (

Carl Perkins Carl Lee Perkins (April 9, 1932 – January 19, 1998)#nytimesobit, Pareles. was an American guitarist, singer and songwriter. A rockabilly great and pioneer of rock and roll, he began his recording career at the Sun Studio, in Memphis, Tennes ...

, Howard "Curly" Griffin) #"

Choo Choo Ch'Boogie "Choo Choo Ch'Boogie" is a popular song written by Vaughn Horton, Denver Darling, and Milt Gabler. The song was recorded in January 1946 by Louis Jordan & His Tympany Five and released by Decca Records. It topped the R&B charts for 18 weeks fro ...

" (Vaughn Horton, Denver Darling,

Milt Gabler Milton Gabler (May 20, 1911 – July 20, 2001) was an American record producer, responsible for many innovations in the recording industry of the 20th century. These included being the first person to deal in record reissues, the first to sel ...

) #"Fire on the Mountain" (Traditional; arranged by Chilli Willi) #"Drunken Sunken Redneck Blues"(Philip Charles Lithman) #"

Six Days on the Road "Six Days on the Road" is an American song written by Earl Green and Muscle Shoals Sound Studio songwriter Carl Montgomery, made famous by country music singer Dave Dudley. The song was initially recorded by Paul Davis (not the same as the better ...

" (Earl Green, Carl Montgomery) ;Personnel * Phil "Snakefinger" Lithman - Guitar, Steel Guitar, Vocals * Martin Stone - Guitar, Vocals *

Paul "Bassman" Riley Paul Riley (born 3 October 1951, Islington, London) is an English bassist, singer and record producer. He was a member of Chilli Willi and the Red Hot Peppers and Roogalator in the 1970s. Biography His career in music began at the beginning of ...

- Bass, Vocals *Paul "Dice Man" Bailey - Guitar, Banjo, Sax, Vocals * Pete Thomas - Drums, Percussion *Will Stallibrass - Harmonica

CD3 - John Stewart

John Stewart and his bass player Arnie Moore flew in from the US for the concert and borrowed Chilli Willi's drummer Pete Thomas. Stewart had recorded '' The Phoenix Concerts'' the previous month, although this had yet to be released. Many songs appear on both albums, but with a stripped-down sound on this album, as ''The Phoenix Concerts'' had a larger band. ;Track listing Excluding song introductions, which the CD lists as separate tracks All tracks were written by John Stewart #"Wheatfield Lady" #"

Daydream Believer "Daydream Believer" is a song composed by American songwriter John Stewart shortly before he left the Kingston Trio. It was originally recorded by the Monkees, with Davy Jones singing the lead. The single reached No. 1 on the U.S. ''Billboard ...

" #"You Can't Look Back" #"California Bloodlines" #"Armstrong" #"Road Away" #"Last Campaign Trilogy" #"July You're a Woman" #"Runaway Fool of Love" #"Lady and the Outlaw" #"Cops" #"Mother Country" #"Never Goin' Back (to Nashville Anymore)" #"Let The Big Horse Run" ;Personnel *John Stewart - Guitar *Arnie Moore - Bass * Pete Thomas - Drums

CD4 - Help Yourself

had disbanded in August 1973 and reformed to appear at this concert; Morley, Whaley and Leonard flying in from Switzerland where

Man A man is an adult male human. Prior to adulthood, a male human is referred to as a boy (a male child or adolescent). Like most other male mammals, a man's genome usually inherits an X chromosome from the mother and a Y chromo ...

, who they were all then with, were on tour. Whaley, their original bass player, started off the set, with Burton, who replaced him, playing the later numbers, along with Leonard, who had briefly been a member in 1972. ;Track listing Excluding song introductions, which the CD lists as separate tracks #"Running Down Deep" (Morley) #"Reaffirmation" (Burton/Treece/Morley) #"American Mother" ( Tyla/Morley) #"Blown Away" (Morley) ;Personnel *

Malcolm Morley Malcolm A. Morley (June 7, 1931 – June 1, 2018) was a British-American artist and painter. He was known as an artist who pioneered in varying styles, working as a photorealist and an expressionist, among many other styles. Life Morley was ...

- Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals *Richard Treece - Guitar *

Ken Whaley Ken Whaley (5 November 1946 – 8 May 2013) was a rock music bass guitar player, best known as a founding member of Help Yourself and Ducks Deluxe, and as a member of Deke Leonard's Iceberg, Man and The Tyla Gang. He also played with The ...

- Bass (Tracks 1-2) * David Charles - Drums *Paul Burton - Bass (Tracks 3-4) *

Deke Leonard Roger Arnold "Deke" Leonard (18 December 1944 – 31 January 2017) was a Welsh rock musician, "serving a life sentence in the music business".Michael Nesmith Robert Michael Nesmith or Mike Nesmith, (December 30, 1942 – December 10, 2021) was an American musician, songwriter, and actor. He was best known as a member of the pop rock band the Monkees and co-star of the TV series ''The Monkees'' (1966� ...

brought his pedal steel guitarist

with him and quickly established a rapport with the audience, playing "the storytelling troubadour" with thoughts, asides, and introductions. Tony Stratton-Smith tempted Nesmith to travel to the UK for the concert by asking him to produce

Bert Jansch Herbert Jansch (3 November 1943 – 5 October 2011) was a Scottish folk musician and founding member of the band Pentangle. He was born in Glasgow and came to prominence in London in the 1960s as an acoustic guitarist and singer-songwriter ...

's album '' L.A. Turnaround'', on which Nesmith and Rhodes also play. ;Track listing Excluding song introductions, which the CD lists as separate tracks All tracks are credited to Michael Nesmith on the CD slipcase, although "Wax Minute" was actually written by Richard Stekol #"Joanne" #"Some of Shelly's Blues" #"Silver Moon" #"Different Drum" #"Propinquity" #"Grand Ennui" #"Wax Minute" #"Tomorrow and Me" #"Upside of Goodbye" #"Roll with the Flow" #"Marie's Theme" ;Personnel *

- Guitar, Vocals *

- Pedal Steel Guitar

Credits

and

- Concept *

- Promoter *

- Recording Engineer (1974) * Paul Conroy - Organization *Tony Poole - Editing and Mastering (2010)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Amazing Zigzag Concert 1974 live albums Michael Nesmith albums John Stewart (musician) albums Albums produced by Vic Maile