A friend of mine & I were discussing the relative virtues of Portishead's Roseland NYC Live album. After several listens, we both agreed that these are some of the best versions of their songs. Not all live recordings live up to the studio versions. We wondered if the venue had its own part to play in the overall superiority of these tunes.
After listening to this mix of live recordings, I believe that the artists have more to do with the outcome than the venue. The AC/DC live set is particularly weak. It's a bootleg with the vocals almost lost in the mix. "Whole Lotta Rosie" was the best sounding track with the least audience chatter. There is a December 2009 live version from River Place floating around on UChewb if you want a better taste. But as for the subject of this post, Portishead were just fantastic live that night at Roseland because of their supreme talent.
The original Roseland Ballroom was opened in Philadelphia in 1917 by Louis Brecker with financing coming from Frank Yuengling of the famed D. G. Yuengling & Son brewing dynasty. Philadelphia had some of the toughest Blue Laws prohibiting beer sales & nightclubs from operating on Sundays. In 1919, to escape these Blue Laws, Brecker & Yuengling moved the venue to 1658 Broadway at 51st Street in Manhattan, NYC on the second floor of that five-story building, opening on December 31, 1919. Originally it was a "whites only" dance club.
The all-white, ballroom-dancing atmosphere of the club changed gradually with the ascendanc of jazz played primarily by African-American bands on the New York nightclub scene. In 1924 Piron's New Orleans Jazz Orchestra was the first "race music" group to play the ballroom. The Fletcher Henderson band played an extended run at Roseland in the 1920s & 1930s. Louis Armstrong, Count Basie ("Roseland Shuffle"), & Chick Webb followed with their orchestras. Many big-band performances were broadcast live from Roseland by radio networks; recordings survive of several NBC broadcasts of 1940, featuring the young Ella Fitzgerald fronting the Chick Webb band. That will be the starting point for this compilation.
The original New York Roseland was torn down in 1956. The venue then moved to its new home on West 52nd. Brecker attempted to maintain its ballroom dancing style, banning rock & roll or disco. Brecker sold the building in 1981 to Albert Ginsberg. Under Ginsberg's management Roseland began regularly scheduled "disco nights". As disco waned, the variety of music expanded greatly.
On October 18, 2013, it was announced that Lady Gaga would headline seven shows on March 28, 30, 31, April 2, 4, 6, 2014, which would be the final performances at the venue. A seventh show was added, held on April 7, 2014, which officially closed the venue. "G.U.Y." was the final song performed at Roseland Ballroom. That song will round out this compilation.
Between Ella Fitzgerald & Lady Gaga will be much of Portishead's Roseland NYC Live along with other select tunes showcasing the variety that was the Roseland Ballroom. All recorded live at the famed Roseland Ballroom. Give it a listen.
Only You - Portishead July 24, 1997
Mary Juana - Nelson Gonzalez March 10, 1978
Abrasions Mount the Timpani - The Mars Volta May 5-6, 2005
Not Fragile - Bachman-Turner November 16, 2010
Love on Top - Beyoncé August 14-18, 2011
Come as You Are - Nirvana July 23, 1993
Glory Box Portished
Take the Veil Cerpin Taxt (Gust of Mutts & And Ghosted Pouts) - The Mars Volta
American Woman - Bachman-Turner
Over - Portishead
Whole Lotta Rosie - AC/DC March 11, 2003
Strangers - Portishead
Kind of Bird - Gov’t Mule December 31, 1995
Earthquakey People (the Sequel) October 9, 2012
Humming - Portishead
G.U.Y. - Lady Gaga April 7, 2014...the last song ever Roseland Ballroom
Enjoy,
NØ
