Marshall Crenshaw - 2000-06-10 - Philadelphia

Marshall Crenshaw
2000-06-10
Tin Angel, Philadelphia, PA
Audience recording, good quality
mp3 @ 320 kbps.

Here's one more look at the music of master power popster Marshall Crenshaw, from his more recent years. Following the lackluster response (once again) to his wonderful 1991 album, Life's Too Short, Marshall was again left without a recording contract (Life's Too Short would be his last major label release), but after a couple years signed with the small independent label, Razor & Tie. With them Marshall released a series of albums, including Miracle of Science (1996) and #447 (1999), as well as a couple Live albums (1994 & 2001), none of which received much media attention or public interest. I have to admit that, although I had bought all of Marshall's albums up through Life's Too Short, that I never even heard of or knew about these releases at the time. But Marshall kept on going making quality music throughout his career. Here is a show from 2000, where we can hear a definitely older, somewhat mellower, and probably wiser version of Marshall Crenshaw, but he still had the goods, and delivers a high quality show that features new songs from the #447 album as well as a mix of songs (and covers) from throughout his career. 

Tracklist:
01. Little Wild One
02. Journey to the Center of the Mind
03. Cynical Girl
04. Anthemic Instrumental
05. Wanda & Dwayne (Dave Alvin cover)
06. Fantastic Planet of Love
07. Better Back Off
08. Television Light
09. Glad Goodbye
10. Dime a Dozen Guy
11. (You’re My) Favorite Waste Of Time
12. Love's Theme
13. Someday, Someway
14. TMD
15. Starlit Summer Sky

Link updated 10/9/21
Marshall_Crenshaw_2000-06-10_Philadelphia.rar

 

Marshall Crenshaw - 1992-08-21 - Philadelphia

Marshall Crenshaw
1992-08-21
Chestnut Cabaret, Philadelphia, PA
Soundboard recording, very good quality
mp3 @ 192 kbps.

Here's more from the great, vastly under-appreciated Marshall Crenshaw, from a few years later. In the late 'eighties, Marshall released two more very fine albums (Mary Jean and 9 Others, 1987; Good Evening, 1989) to increasingly disappointing responses by the public. By the time of Good Evening, Marshall was being pressured by his record company, Warner Brothers, to be more 'commercial', resulting in some changes in the production and style, and the inclusion of more covers. Nonetheless the album was still very good due to his superior songwriting skills and cover interpretations. However, after lackluster sales of Good Evening, he was dropped by Warners.  But Marshall came back in 1991 with Life's Too Short, on the fledgeling label, Paradox Records (a short-lived MCA subsidiary). Now, freed somewhat from the pressures of a major label, he was just able to make the record he wanted to make, and not have to fit into any pre-conceived style or role. The result was one of his very best albums, with many memorable songs moving seamlessly from different styles and influences, mixing in more elements of jazz, blues, rockabilly, etc., as he matured as a songwriter and a seasoned music veteran, yet still all retaining the characteristic Crenshaw magic, and still quite rockin'. The strength of the new material is evident in this Philly show from 1992, where he features 5 songs from his latest album, as well as a great mix of songs from previous albums and his unique takes on a variety of pop classic covers (including songs from The Ramones, Dave Alvin, Gene Vincent, Richard Thompson, Dylan, and The Beatles). A great show, and evidence that Marshall Crenshaw was not just an early 'eighties flash in the pan, as he continued to make great music and albums throughout the 'eighties, nineties, and beyond. 


Tracklist:
101. Fantastic Planet of Love*
102. Wanda & Dwayne (Dave Alvin cover)
103. Whenever You’re On My Mind
104. This Is Easy
105. Better Back Off*
106. The KKK Took My Baby Away (The Ramones cover)
107. Rockin’ Around In NYC
108. Somewhere Down The Line*
109. Right Now (Gene Vincent cover)
110. You Should’ve Been There
201. Everything’s The Truth*
202. Stop Doing That*
203. Monday Morning Rock
204. Calling Out For Love (At Crying Time)
205. Cynical Girl
206. Valerie (Richard Thompson cover)
ENCORE
207. Just Like A Woman (Bob Dylan cover)
208. Ask Me Why (The Beatles cover)
209. Someday, Someway
210. (You’re My) Favorite Waste Of Time

* songs from his current album (at that time), Life's Too Short (1991)

Marshall_Crenshaw_1992-8-11_Philadelphia.rar
Updated 10/9/21

These files were originally obtained from Big O Worldwide so thanks to him for making this available.

 

Marshall Crenshaw - 1985-03-02 - Utica, NY

Marshall Crenshaw
1985-03-02
Mohawk Valley Community College, Utica, NY
Audience Recording, good quality
mp3 @ 320 kbps

Continuing with the sensational power pop, rockabilly, retro-rocker, tune-smith Marshall Crenshaw, after disappointing sales for his second album, the wonderful Field Day (1983), Marshall took his time before releasing his third album, Downtown, in 1985. The songs on Downtown were a bit more introspective, and perhaps even a bit melancholy compared to the brightness of his debut, but nonetheless featured his great songwriting, and exhibited great melodic pop mastery. Fans consider it among his very best. However, sales were dismal, and no songs received even marginal radio play. Here is a show (audience recording, but not bad) from his 1985 tour. Here he only played 2 songs from the new album, featuring many more from the first 2 albums, as well as a number of masterful pop oldies (from The Hollies, Jackie Wilson, Buddy Holly, and Elvis). Have a listen.

Tracklist
01.  For Her Love (cuts in)
02.  Our Town
03.  Little Sister
04.  There She Goes Again
05.  Shake Up Their Minds
06.  Soldier of Love
07.  One More Reason
08.  I'm Alive
09.  Reet Petite
10.  Mary Anne
11.  Monday Morning Rock
12.  Whenever You're On My Mind
13.  Big Hunk of Love
14.  Little Wild One (1 drop out on master)
15.  Cynical Girl
16.  She Can't Dance
17.  Someday Someway (cuts)
18.  Girls
19.  Endless Sleep
20.  Brown Eyed Handsome Man

Link updated 10/9/21
Marshall_Crenshaw_1985-03-02_MVCC-Utica.rar

 

Marshall Crenshaw - Radio Shows 1982-1983

Marshall Crenshaw
1982-83 Radio shows
King Biscuit Flour Hour & BBC Rock Hour
FM Broadcast recordings, excellent quality
mp3 @ 256 kbps

Marshall Crenshaw burst onto the music scene in 1982, with his bright, bouncy, throwback pop sound and the release of his fantastic, amazingly perfect, debut album, the eponymously-titled Marshall Crenshaw. 'Someday, Someway' was a top 40 hit, numerous songs received radio airplay, including 'Cynical Girl', 'Rockin Aroound in NYC', 'There She Goes Again', and 'Mary Anne' among others, and every track was an instant classic, just great from start to finish. Critics were beside themselves with superlatives, whereas the general public was a bit less enthusiastic ('Someday, Someway' was his only top 40 hit on an album that was loaded with potential hits). His follow-up album, Field Day (1983), was just as strong, but featured a bit heavier sound and production, and wasn't as well-received, but continued with great, catchy, pop melodies and brilliant songwriting (such as 'Whenever You're On My Mind'). Playing on his retro style and love for old pop songs, Marshall played Buddy Holly in the 1987 film La Bamba, as well as recording some of Holly's songs. Marshall continued making quality albums through the eighties and beyond, but fewer and fewer folks seemed to be listening. After awhile, Marshall stopped trying to find a particular sound or style that audiences would like and just wrote and played what he wanted to, making the best music he could, regardless of what style, which has lead to excursions into jazz and country, and more serious songs, as well as pop. Although certainly having changed over the years, Crenshaw's music has always been of high quality, good stuff, worth checking out. In recent years, he has been hosting a weekly radio show where he shares some of his extensive and encyclopedic knowledge of pop music and pop history. He also has successful completed music projects through Kickstarter and subscription campaigns, with support of devoted fans. The two classic radio shows presented here catch Marshall at the height of his early days, following the release of his first two albums, respectively. They are both of excellent quality and really show just how great, fun and memorable Marshall's music is.    

[1] KBFH
1982-05-15 - Capitol Theatre, Passaic NJ
01. I'll Do Anything
02. There She Goes Again
03. Move It
04. Mary Anne
05. Rockin' Around In NYC
06. Something's Gonna Happen
07. Someday, Someway
08. Gotta Lotta Lovin'
09. Brand New Lover
10. Soldier Of Love
11. She Can't Dance

[2] BBC Rock Hour
1983-06-27 - New Haven Veteran's Memorial Coliseum, New Haven CT
01. Monday Morning Rock
02. Brand New Lover
03. Presentation
04. I'll Do Anything
05. Here I Am
06. Whenever You're On My Mind 
07. Band Intro
08. I've Been Good To You
09. One Day With You
10. Mary Anne
11. Rockin' Around In NYC
12. Try
13. Move It
14. Cynical Girl
15. Someday, Someway
16. The Usual Thing

Marshall_Crenshaw_-_1982-83_Radio_shows.rar