Boston 1990 cover
(click on cover image
for larger version)

A Van-L CD-R Tree Production
From Galway To Boston Town
(Orpheum Theater
Boston, MA
April 20, 1990)

No label

CD 1

  1. Yeh Yeh (5:20) (Georgie Fame)
  2. Cat's Eyes (5:20) (Georgie Fame)
  3. I Will Be There (2:00)
  4. Whenever God Shines His Light (4:20)
  5. It's All In The Game (5:17)
  6. Orangefield (2:51)
  7. Tore Down a la Rimbaud (3:05)
  8. Just Like A Woman (3:36)
  9. When Will I Ever Learn To Live In God (3:55)
  10. Did Ye Get Healed (4:47)
  11. Green Onions (3:51) (Georgie Fame)
  12. Ain't It Funny How Time Slips Away (3:29) (Georgie Fame)
  13. Benediction (2:18)
  14. Raglan Road (3:31)
  15. Carrickfergus (3:32)
  16. Full Force Gale (2:06)
  17. Summertime In England (12:54)
    Total time: (72:11)

CD 2
  1. Caravan (7:08)
  2. Moondance / Fever (11:54)
  3. Vanlose Stairway (4:42)
  4. Star Of The County Down (2:07)
  5. Northern Muse/Solid Ground / Auld Lang Syne / When Heart Is Open (4:16)
  6. In The Garden (8:34)
  7. Have I Told You Lately (3:14)
  8. Gloria / Shakin' All Over / Night Train (7:32)
  9. Buona Sera Senorita (4:25)
  10. Send In The Clowns (4:52)
    Total time: (58:45)

Administration & Liners:
Tree administration for this tree was by the indefatigable Linda Beatty! Richard Batey was again the designer of some great jewel-case liners for this show.

Notes:
This classic performance has been painstakingly remastered to CDR from a high-quality audience recording. It features over two hours of Van in top form, playing to an enthusiastic audience. Band members include Georgie Fame, Haji Ahkba, Richie Buckley, Steve Gregory, Neil Drinkwater, and more.

Review from Bob Schultz:
As I sit up late working with my headphones on listening to the Boston discs, I feel compelled to offer some initial comments.

First, thanks to whoever did the master. There are many audience boots that I cannot take with headphones. The recording/production problems are too great. No such problem with these discs. Someone probably spent a great deal of time cleaning these up and it is appreciated. I am currently remastering some soundboards for a different project and know the work that it takes.

Second, I have heard and seen lots of Van performances. Van aloof, Van angry, Van happy, Van joking, Van airmailing the show, etc. This show captures Van in a state of joy - something that is most rare. I will treasure these discs for that reason. Van was connected to the stream of life during this period and we catch him definitely in the flow. The arrangements are quite uptempo. To give an example, Van turns in a complete Full Force Gale in less than 2 minutes! It's not because he is just rushing though, it is his joy seeping into the arrangement. One can even see Van "jump for joy" during SIE (this will make sense when you get your discs). Just Like a Woman is the only song that suffers from the uptempo arrangement.

Third, a great song selection and some really good Georgie Fame material - Whenever God..., When will I ever learn?, Raglan, Full Force Gale, Caravan, Star of County Down, the Solid Ground/Heart is Open combo that I love from this period, and In the Garden. The version of Caravan on this disc will cure headaches, hangovers, and mild depression. For those of you, like me, who think that In the Garden is one of the best songs ever written - you will love the version on this disc, from whispers to shouts. Georgie brings a nice Cat's Eyes and Green Onions, he and Van do a nice Mose tune together.

Fourth, I loved Van shows from this era when he would come out and do about an hour or 75 minutes and then return for an hour of smokin encores. The SF shows with the JB horns were the epitome of this type of show for me. The sets build to a great climax. The show could have ended after Gloria for me. Bouna Sera and Send in the Clowns are a bit of an anti-climax.

All in all, this is a must have disc and we are blessed that Linda has made it possible for all of us to share it. There are many better recorded shows out there but not many more joyous performances. If I was naming the show, I would have called it Blissed Out in Beantown.

Van Tree Policy:
Please respect the efforts and the wishes of the dedicated bands of volunteers who put countless hours of time and energy into producing and treeing these rare live performances: please do not offer any of these tree volumes for sale.

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