Lanchester Festival 1972 – Roland Kirk

 

Lanchester Festival 1972 – Roland Kirk

by Pete Clemons

I had long thought that, when Pink Floyd appeared at the Lanchester Arts Festival 1972, that they had replaced David Bowie on the bill when they appeared at the Locarno. But it appears that this was completely incorrect. Yes, David Bowie had been scheduled to appear at that particular festival but it seems that his withdrawal was for entirely different reasons.

According to notes by festival organiser Ted Little that were released to a national music magazine it was stated that: David Bowie, a late addition to the Sunday evening concert, became a last minute withdrawal due to his management having second thoughts about his suitability for a festival topped by Rahsaan Roland Kirk.

The main interest in Kirk, who appeared at the 1972 festival but on a different evening to the Locarno gig, centred around extracts from the new material from his, then, new album 'Blacknuss' featuring compositions utilising only the 36 black notes on a piano.

Blacknuss was released by Atlantic Records and is Roland Kirk at his most visionary. As reported at the time 'Blacknuss is as deep as a soul record can be and as hot as a jazz record has the right to call itself'. Some of the arrangements are guitar heavy and the backbeats are decidedly uncouth, and that the record label probably influenced the choice of material, but that Kirk was comfortable with playing it'.

Kirk appeared in Coventry several times and was always a popular figure on the live circuit at that time. He also influenced a wide range of musicians. Many of who cited his albums as inspirational.

Track Listing for Blacknuss



1. Aint No Sunshine (Bill Withers)

2. What's Goin' On/Mercy Mercy Me - The Ecology (Marvin Gaye)

3. I Love You Yes I Do (Chris Allen, Johnny Cameron)

4. Take Me Girl, I'm Ready (Johnny Bristol)

5. My Girl (Smokey Robinson)

6. Which Way Is It Going (Rahsaan Roland Kirk)

7. One Nation (Princess Patience Burton)

8. Never Can Say Goodbye (Clifton Davis)

9. Old Rugged Cross (Traditional)

10. Make It With You (David Gates)

11. Blacknuss (Rahsaan Roland Kirk)


Incidentally and, interestingly, the set list for the closest date I can find for that cancelled David Bowie concert was as follows:



1. Fill Your Heart

2. Buzz the Fuzz

3. Space Oddity

4. Amsterdam

5. The Superman

6. Oh You Pretty Things

7. Eight Line Poem

8. Changes

9. Song For Bob Dylan

10. Andy Warhol

11. Queen Bitch

12. Looking For a Friend

13. Around and Around

14. I'm Waiting For The Man

Blacknuss