The Bottom Line Archive Series, preserving performances from the late, renowned New York club, will roll out a new trio of releases on October 30. Joining previous entries from artists including The Brecker Brothers, Harry Chapin and Janis Ian are new titles from Tony Orlando, Doc Watson, and the duo of Pete Seeger and Roger McGuinn.
One 1994 evening at The Bottom Line, famed disk jockey Vin Scelsa joined folk legend Pete Seeger and The Byrds' Roger McGuinn for one-of-a-kind exchange of songs and stories. The two men had shared a long history together; The Byrds' chart-topping 1965 recording of Seeger's "Turn! Turn! Turn!" was credited by Seeger for putting his kids through college! This Bottom Line Archive Series volume of the In Their Own Words program captures this spirited set of conversation and music, with songs including "Chestnut Mare," "If I Had a Hammer," "Eight Miles High," "Bells of Rhymney" and "So You Want to be a Rock 'n' Roll Star."
A master of folk, bluegrass, blues, gospel and country, Doc Watson (1923-2012) was a Bottom Line regular. He had played the club over 30 times before taking the stage for the 1992 performances captured on his Live at The Bottom Line volume. The guitar virtuoso used his good humor and easy charm to spellbind the intimate audience on a set including such eclectic tunes as "Shady Grove," "T for Texas," "Black Mountain Rag" and "Nights in White Satin." This release has been culled from Watson's final two Bottom Line performances, just before and shortly after his 69th birthday.
The Bottom Line Archive Series presents the first live album by pop music great Tony Orlando. This post-New Year's Eve gig from 2001 found the superstar entertainer in a setting far-removed from the usual casino showrooms and theatres he played. Hits from Orlando's long career were represented in his Bottom Line set including "Candida," "Knock Three Times" and "Tie a Yellow Ribbon 'Round the Ole Oak Tree" from his Dawn days, right up through three then-new original songs including "Caribbean Jewel."
These three titles aren't all that's coming from The Bottom Line. The label promises a quarterly rollout of 24 titles over the next two years, including the past six releases and this upcoming three. Future releases will include performances by Rory Gallagher, Jack Bruce and Ralph Stanley. In the meantime, watch for Pete Seeger and Roger McGuinn, Doc Watson and Tony Orlando on October 30. No track listings have yet been revealed, but you can pre-order at the links below!
Pete Seeger and Roger McGuinn, Live at the Bottom Line: In Their Own Words (Bottom Line, 2015) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)
CD 1
- Vin Scelsa Introduces Pete Seeger
- A Little Bit of This
- Vin Scelsa Introduces Roger McGuinn
- Jolly Roger
- Building His House
- Introduction to If I Had a Hammer
- If I Had a Hammer
- Fonda, Dylan and Easy Rider
- The Ballad of Easy Rider
- Introduction to Eight Miles High
- Eight Miles High
- Letter to Eve
- So You Want to Be a Rock 'n' Roll Star
- Meeting Pete, Bobby Darin and Beach Ball
- Writing 'You Showed Me' with Gene Clark
- You Showed Me
CD 2
- Get Up and Go
- Introduction to Chestnut Mare
- Chestnut Mare
- Woody Guthrie and Alan Lomax
- Introduction to Progress Song
- Progress Song
- On and On We Go
- Anna
- Where Have All the Flowers Gone
- Whistle Song
- The Midnight Special
- Bells of Rhymney
Doc Watson, Live at the Bottom Line (Bottom Line, 2015) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)
CD 1
- Shady Grove
- Dream of the Miner's Child
- Train Whistle Blues
- C. Rider
- Doc Tells Stories
- Workin' Man Blues
- South Coast
- Stand by Me
- Make Me a Pallet on Your Floor
- I Am a Pilgrim
- Nothing to It
- I'm a Stranger Here
- Florida Blues - Version 1
- Introduction to I'll Never See My Home Again
- I'll Never See My Home Again
- Stony Creek
- T for Texas
- Ready for the Times to Get Better
- Nights in White Satin
- Black Mountain Rag - Version 1
- Bye Bye Blues
CD 2
- Introduction
- Telephone Girl
- Hannah
- Freight Train
- Daybreak Blues
- Walk On Boy
- Summertime
- Black Mountain Rag - Version 2
- Little Sadie
- Corrina, Corrina
- Eastbound Freight Train
- Eight More Miles to Louisville
- James Infirmary Blues
- Trouble in Mind
- In the Pines
- Movin' On
- Florida Blues - Version 2
- You're Not a Drop in the Bucket
- Jimmie's Mean Mama Blues
- Kinfolk in Carolina
- I Got the Blues and Can't Be Satisfied
- Alabama Jubilee
Tony Orlando, Live at the Bottom Line (Bottom Line, 2015) ( Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)
- Tie a Yellow Ribbon ('Round the Ole Oak Tree)
- I've Got Rhythm/Fascinating Rhythm
- Introduction to Candida
- Candida
- Knock Three Times
- He Don't Love You (Like I Love You)
- Harmonizing Nights (I Did It All for You)
- Spanish Harlem
- Stand by Me
- Introduction to Caribbean Jewel
- Caribbean Jewel
- Introduction to Papito Played the Trumpet
- Papito Played the Trumpet
- Say, Has Anybody Seen My Sweet Gypsy Rose
- New Year's Countdown
- When the Saints Go Marching In
- Beatles Medley 1
- Beatles Medley 2
- Tie a Yellow Ribbon (Reprise)
Zubb says
Tony Orlando seems like such an odd choice, even to play the Bottom Line.
John Ryan Horse says
Actually, Doc Watson would have been 68 or 69 in 1992, not 79. Look forward to the McGuinn/Seeger set, and later Jack Bruce...
Joe Marchese says
Doc's age of 79 at the time of the concert came directly from The Bottom Line's press release. It was likely a typo on the label's part, but I will correct. Thanks.
Shaun says
Seeger and McGuinn would be cool. May have to check that out!
Pretty safe bet the famed Bottom Line performances by Billy Joel and Bruce Springsteen will NOT be a part of this collection. Though it would be cool! Really, Sony oughta just release those on their own.