A Year With A Collapsed Lung: Brian Eno + The Winkies, 1974
I was listening to the 1974 Brian Eno/Winkies Peel Session and thought gee, such a bummer there aren’t more recordings of Eno and this band. Fortunately, Sleeve from the Shards of Beauty blog informed me that there is, in fact, a recently surfaced live gig, and he kindly provided me with it! So I’ve packaged up that show along with the aforementioned (utterly essential) BBC Sessions to create what I think is the definitive Eno/Winkies document (feel free to prove me wrong, Internet). Eno recruited the Winkies following the release of Here Come The Warm Jets to be his touring band. But after only a handful of shows, the hard-partying Eno suffered from a collapsed lung and, with just a few exceptions, pretty much gave up the touring life. It’s a shame — the Winkies sound like an amazing band, tight, glammy and able to follow Eno to the outer regions. Some of the versions here may even surpass the Warm Jets versions. However, as amazing as they sound, don’t expect amazing things, sound-quality wise. The live recording (from Kings Hall in Derby on Feb. 13, 1974) is extremely lo-fi. But this is all we’ve got people! It’s the only place you’re going to hear Eno doing the Who’s “I’m A Boy” or the Velvet Underground’s “What Goes On” and several other tunes… So until some perfect soundboard of Eno and the Winkies comes along (let us pray), enjoy this historic recording!
Edit: If you want the show in lossless format, Sleeve just posted it!
