The Bottom Line:
Over 30 rarely seen archive performances, one of which by John and Danny.
Most tracks are preceded by newly filmed introductions presenter Bob Harris, Roddy Frame, Rick Wakeman, producer Mike Appleton, Roger Daltrey, Hamish Stuart, Nick Lowe, Robin Trower, Jools Holland, Anne Nightingale, Edwyn Collins, Andy Kershaw and Mark Ellen.
In retrospect Roger Daltrey reflects on the CD and how it killed an artform; on vinyl and on the music industry.
Rick Wakeman looks back on the meaning of the OGWT and how marketing took over the power from the musicians.
Roddy Frame talks about the rise of punk.
Bob Geldof was not a fan of the program and connects it to the late sixties phenomenon of the 'Implosion' at the old Roundhouse 'where you could see the worst bands in the world.' The studio lacked an audience and it was inevitable the artists took to video clips instead. He talks with high regard though of the professionals of the OGWT team that helped him put Live Aid together.
Playing time is 144 minutes.
Track listing
| nr | track | artist | author(s) | time | performance date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Meet Me On The Corner | Lindisfarne | [Rod Clements] | 2:34 | 12 Oct 1971. Good old folk. |
| 02 | Oh You Pretty Things | David Bowie | [David Bowie] | 3:13 | 8 Feb 1972. Strange piano sound. |
| 03 | Jamaica Say You Will | Jackson Browne | [Jackson Browne] | 3:01 | May 1972. Very alone at not-so-grand piano. |
| 04 | Born To Be Wild | Steppenwolf | [Mars Bonfire] | 3:08 | 26 Sep 1972. Just like the single. |
| 05 | I Get By | Stealers Wheel | [Joe Egan] | 3:13 | 7 Nov 1972. Good hippie fun; just like the single. |
| 06 | Giving It All Away | Roger Daltrey | [Dave Courtney/ Leo Sayer] | 3:10 | 13 Mar 1973. Real drama. |
| 07 | Black Coffee | Humble Pie | [Ike & Tina Turner] | 3:36 | 20 Mar 1973. Best fun on this disk. |
| 08 | Brilliancy Medley | Fairport Convention | [traditional] | 3:52 | 17 Apr 1973. Fast folk. |
| 09 | Boogie Funk | Freddie King | [Freddie King] | 5:10 | 31 Jul 1973. Rhythm. And Blues. |
| 10 | Surrender To The Rhythm | Brinsley Schwarz | [Nick Lowe] | 3:16 | 6 Nov 1973. A very young Lowe. |
| 11 | A Little Bit Of Sympathy | Robin Trower | [Robin Trower] | 3:18 | 17 Apr 1974. How to impersonate Jimi Hendrix. |
| 12 | Dreamer | Supertramp | [Rick Davies/ Roger Hodgson] | 3:23 | 22 Oct 1974. Just like the album. |
| 13 | Jumping Jack Flash | Johnny Winter | [Mick Jagger/ Keith Richards] | 5:36 | 29 Oct 1974. They actually jump. |
| 14 | A Heart Needs A Home | Richard and Linda Thompson | [Richard Thompson] | 3:59 | 7 Mar 1975. Home grown. |
| 15 | At Seventeen | Janis Ian | [Janis Ian] | 5:12 | 12 Oct 1976. Looking young for such an old lyric. |
| 16 | Year Of The Cat | Al Stewart | [Al Stewart/ Peter Wood] | 6:15 | 30 Nov 1976. Just like the single. |
| 17 | Couldn't Love You More | John Martyn, Danny Thompson [& Gaspar Lawal] |
[John Martyn] | 2:28 | 1 Mar 1977. With wing commanders but no intro. |
| 18 | Fires Of Spring | Chris Rea | [Chris Rea] | 3:25 | 16 May 1978. One Two Three Four. A young Rea. |
| 19 | 'A' Bomb In Wardour Street | The Jam | [Paul Weller] | 2:37 | 23 May 1978. Paul Weller with chewing gum. |
| 20 | When It All Comes Down/ Hold On | BB King | [Will Jennings/ Joe Sample] | 8:17 | 17 Oct 1978. Big Band Blues. |
| 21 | I Don't Want to be Nice | John Cooper Clarke | [Clarke/ Hannett/ Hopkins] | 3:14 | 7 Nov 1978. Looks like punk. |
| 22 | Sunday Papers | Joe Jackson | [Joe Jackson] | 4:27 | 20 Feb 1979. With real rolling eyes and echo. |
| 23 | Chelsea Girl | Simple Minds | [Charlie Burchill/ Jim Kerr] | 4:44 | 27 Mar 1979. Not romantic yet. |
| 24 | Frame By Frame | King Crimson | [Adrian Belew/ Bill Bruford/ Robert Fripp/ Tony Levin] |
3:58 | 18 Mar 1982. Absolutely AWESOME. Same goes for the suit. |
| 25 | Rip It Up | Orange Juice | [Edwyn Collins] | 4:06 | 8 Oct 1982. New wave, new keyboard. |
| 26 | No-one Is To Blame | Howard Jones | [Howard Jones] | 3:14 | 29 Jan 1985. Solo electric piano. With singer. And hair. |
| 27 | Is It A Crime | Sade | [Sade Adu/ Paul Denman/ Andrew Hale/ Stuart Matthewman] |
6:08 | 5 Feb 1985. The answer is No. |
| 28 | In A Hole | Jesus & Mary Chain | [Jim Reid/ William Reid] | 3:07 | 12 Mar 1985. Sounds like noise. |
| 29 | Sweet, Sweet Baby (I'm Falling) | Lone Justice | [Little Steven & the Disciples of Soul/ McKee/ Tench/ VanZandt] |
4:03 | 4 Jun 1985. Failed attempt to stardom. |
| 30 | All I want for Xmas Is A Dukla Prague Away Kit | Half Man Half Biscuit | [Nigel Blackwell/ Simon Blackwell/ Neil Crossley/ Paul Wright] |
3:12 | 6 May 1986. You can have it. Just stop singing. |
| 31 | Walk Like An Egyptian | Bangles | [Liam Sternberg] | 3:19 | 1 Jul 1986. Looks nice. Which was probably the whole point. |
Extra features are contributor profiles, contributor links, artists gallery and audio commentary by David Hepworth, Mark Ellen and Andy Kershaw.