LP>Play #055 feat. Deep Purple, The Who, Hawkwind and seven others
An hour’s worth of top tracks also including Robert Plant, Bruce Springsteen, Caravan, Supertramp, The Beatles, RPWL , and Steven Wilson
I post an LP>Live Play of the Day in Substack Notes. Notes are short posts that are displayed in a feed – think social media without the advertising. You only see posts from publications you are subscribed to. If you’re setting this and are not yet a subscriber to LP, now is a good time to join, and then see Notes here.
Listening Guide #055
Deep Purple, ‘Smoke on the Water’ from Made in Japan [Steven Wilson Remix] 1972/2025
Any one want to make a list of albums Steven Wilson hasn’t remixed? Soon it will be shorter than a list of the ones he has (not Genesis, though, as apparently he doesn’t like them, so he’s not right about everything). Anyway, he’s had a go at Made in Japan, a live album with a reputation almost as high as The Who’s Live at Leeds. ‘Smoke’ seems the best way to sample it. I’ll leave it to dedicated Purple fans to say what this remix brings, how it differs, better or worse etc. What remix/reissue projects like this do is remind us of the past and encourage us to dig out an old copy, or buy/stream the new version, thus keeping our culture alive. And that’s important.
The Who, ‘Naked Eye’ from Live at the Oval 1971
A year after Live at Leeds The Who played the Oval cricket ground for charity. Modern technology has resolved various issues with the original eight track recording. Pete Townshend’s sleeve notes for the studio cut of ‘Naked Eye’, in the Odds and Sods compilation of unreleased tracks, he says it was never issued because they wanted to get a good live version. All the time, they had this incredible performance in the bank.
The YouTube video is the version from Charlton 1974 – ‘Naked Eye/Let’s See Action/My Generation Blues’. 15 minutes of Who at the height of their powers.
Hawkwind, ‘Hurry on Sundown’ from Hawkwind (1996 remaster) 1970
This first version of Hawkwind included Huw Lloyd-Langton on lead guitar (he was credited just as Huw Lloyd originally). I’ve just read the memoir of his life and tales from the road written by his wife, Marion (there will be a review of A Wandering Minstrel in LP later this week). The video I’ve included is Lloyd-Langton’s solo version at Hawkfest in 2008. He left the band for a while after this first album following an unfortunate experience with a drink spiked with LSD, but later rejoined and was also active in bands such as Widowmaker, Budgie, and his own set-up.
RPWL, ‘Sleep’ (Revisited) from World Through My Eyes Revisited 2005/2025
The German prog rock band’s album is celebrating its 20th anniversary and has been given a remix and remaster, including a new Dolby Atmos 5.1 mix. The album’s concept is our multiple aspects of seeing and classifying ourselves in the world.
Robert Plant, ‘Gospel Plough’ from Saving Grace 2025
This is a song with a deep backstory as a traditional African American spiritual. It also goes by the titles ‘Hold On’ and ‘Keep Your Hand on the Plow’. Dylan recorded a version on his first album, and now here’s Robert Plant with his interpretation on what is shaping up to be an excellent new solo album. His arrangement is contemporary yet the roots are showing too. I know some wish he would just be the Led Zep Plant, but that ship sailed long ago and there’s more to his musical universe than the Zep brand would allow.
Bruce Springsteen with the Sessions Band, ‘Eyes on the Prize’ from Live in Dublin 2006
Or, of course, there’s this version with yet another title from Springsteen’s rootsy, trad, folky project of a few years ago, away from the E Street Band. Springsteen’s version builds slowly, morphs into a ragtime jazz riot, and ends gently. The sheer range of Springsteen’s music, both originals and covers, is incredible.
Caravan, ‘Love to Love You (And Tonight Pigs Will Fly)’ [Steven Wilson New Stereo Mix] from In the Land of the Grey and Pink (deluxe edition) 1971/2011
Caravan from the Canterbury Scene which produced so much excellent, if sometimes unusual (good thing) music. They have a larged boxed set of live recordings out called The Shows of Ours, which reminded me of one of favourite albums. This beautiful song, based around a simple and hypnotic riff, is a brief sample. Look who remixed it when the 40th anniversary came around, 14 years ago.
Supertramp, ‘If Everyone Was Listening’ from Crime of the Century 1974 (half-speed remastered vinyl released 29 Aug 25)
This Supertramp album, along with Crisis, What Crisis? Have been remastered for their 50th anniversaries. They had a run of terrific melodic prog albums in the 1970s, none better than Crime. This song, with the lyric “you don’t know what you’ve done, the finale’s begun” (Davies/Hodgson), remains horribly relevant. Sometimes it seems nobody is listening, and there’s little chance we can save the global show.
The Beatles, ‘Free as a Bird’ (2025 Mix) from Anthology 4 1995/2025
It’s the act you’ve known for all these years, coupled with 2025 technology to boost John Lennon’s vocal. Sounds better than it did all those years ago, but they’re still fixing a hole. I’m not sure that Anthology 4 is an essential purchase unless you’re a Beatles completist, especially as currently the only way to buy it is with vols. 1-3 (although those have been given a wash and brush-up too, it seems).
Kate Rusby, ‘Light Beyond the Lines’ (single) 2025
Kate’s new song was written as part of BBC Radio 2’s 21st Century Folk series and now released as a single. Living folk, maintaining and upholding tradition. The story behind the events that inspired this song: “During a mental health crisis, Charlotte intended to end her life. Train driver Dave stopped his train and spoke to Charlotte, persuading her to go home. Months later, they reconnected. They're now married with children.” Find out more about the series here.
Steven Wilson, ‘Routine’ from Hand. Cannot. Erase. 2016
Full circle, of a sort, and back to the collected works of Steven Wilson. Now one of his own albums – some say his best - is spruced up and reissued. It’s a heartbreaking song, sung with Ninet Tayeb, from an album “about a woman growing up, who goes to live in the city, very isolated, and she disappears one day and no one notices. She was young, she was popular, she was attractive, she had many friends, she had family, but for whatever reason, nobody missed her for three years.” – Steven Wilson
The YouTube playlist has the same artists and songs, but specific versions may vary.
I post here regularly. There are no ads; nothing is AI or algorithmic, and it will always be handcrafted. Subscribe to receive posts to your inbox, and please consider a paid subscription at just £4.00 per month/£38 per year (or equivalent) to participate in the musical circular economy, as I reinvest your payment into buying more music. Thank you!
Coming next on LP
My review of The Who’s Live at the Oval 1971. If you enjoyed ‘Naked Eye’ in this playlist, don’t miss it. Subscribe now. LP>Play #056 will be with you in a couple of weeks.
Cheers, Ian! More proggy deliciousness. I was listening to Matching Mole's "God Song" sung by Robert Wyatt. Worth the effort.
The Who and the Fabs. What's not to like?