Bill Nelson Radio/Concert Discography
This section deals with radio broadcasts, interviews, recorded concerts, and various other "bootlegs" involving Bill that have been taped.  Please note that this web page does not advocate or condone bootlegging in any way, shape, or form. Here is a list of things known.  If you have anything to contribute, please let me know at contribute@billnelson.com


Be Bop Deluxe:

Axe Victim, Bluesy Ruby, Tomorrow the World
Originally broadcast November 27, 1973. BBC Radio One. John Peel, DJ
Bill Nelson (guitar, vocal), Robert Bryan (bass), Ian Parkin (rhythm guitar), Nick Dew (drums)
Recorded November 6, 1973 at Langham House Studio 1. Producer Tony Wilson, engineer Bob Conduct

Third Floor Heaven, Adventures in a Yorkshire Landscape, Mill Street Junction, Fifteenth of July (invisibles)
Originally broadcast May 23, 1974. BBC Radio One. John Peel, DJ
Bill Nelson (guitar, vocal), Robert Bryan (bass), Ian Parkin (rhythm guitar), Nick Dew (drums)
Recorded May 9, 1974 at Langham House Studio 1. Producer Tony Wilson, engineer Bill Aitken

Maid in Heaven, Stage Whispers, Sister Seagull, Lights
Originally broadcast March 17, 1975. BBC Radio One. John Peel, DJ
Bill Nelson (guitar, vocal), Andrew Clark (keys), Charlie Tumahai (bass, backing vocal), Simon Fox (drums)
Recorded March 11, 1975 at Maida Vale Studio 4. Producer Tony Wilson, engineer Bill Aitken

Blazing Apostles, Crying to the Sky, Piece of Mine (listed as "Peace of Mind")
Originally broadcast February 23, 1976. BBC Radio One. John Peel, DJ
Bill Nelson (guitar, vocal), Andrew Clark (keys), Charlie Tumahai (bass, backing vocal), Simon Fox (drums)
Recorded February 10, 1976 at Maida Vale Studio 4. Producer Tony Wilson, engineer Mike Robinson

Mill Street Junction, Adventures in a Yorkshire Landscape, Still Shining
Originally broadcast January 25, 1977. BBC Radio One. John Peel, DJ
Bill Nelson (guitar, vocal), Andrew Clark (keys), Charlie Tumahai (bass, backing vocal), Simon Fox (drums)
Recorded January 17, 1977 at Maida Vale Studio 4. Producer Tony Wilson, engineer Dave Dade

Superenigmatix, Panic in the World, Possession, Love In Flames
Originally broadcast February 6, 1978. BBC Radio One. John Peel, DJ
Bill Nelson (guitar, vocal), Andrew Clark (keys), Charlie Tumahai (bass, backing vocal), Simon Fox (drums)
Recorded January 30, 1978 at Maida Vale Studio 4. Producer Tony Wilson, engineer Dave Dade


Bill Nelson

Rooms with Brittle Views, Stay Young, Sleep Cycle, Jazz
Originally broadcast June 15, 1981. BBC Radio One. John Peel, DJ
Bill Nelson (guitar, percussion, vocal), Ian Nelson (sax, keys), Don Snow (keys), Alan Quinn (bass, vocals), Bogdan Wiczling (drums). Also Richard Jobson (vocal on "Jazz")
Recorded June 2, 1981 at Langham House Studio 1. Producer Dale Griffin, engineer Mike Engels

Dancing on a Knife's Edge, Time Tracking, Contemplation, Indiscretion
Originally broadcast February 22, 1983. BBC Radio One. Dave "Kid" Jensen, DJ
Bill Nelson (all instruments), Jan Nelson (backing vocals)
Recorded January 13, 1983 at Bill's Echo Observatory home studio. Produced & engineered by Bill Nelson


Radio Interviews

National Public Radio, United States (broadcast June 23, 1996)
Live In Studio 4B
Sang live "Streamliner" and "Tomorrow Yesterday" with improvised guitar over backing tapes

World Cafe (1996)

Live at WFMU, East Orange, NJ (May 24, 1995)
Lengthy interview with Chris Beyer.
Bill plays several instrumental tracks live in the studio with tapes including an early Moon Rocket Highway, a beautiful untitled ebow piece, Signum Natura, and others from Altar Pieces. (although at this time he was in New York City for a promo of Practically Wired, there were no tracks played off this album live.)

Echoes (June, 1995)
Well-produced interview with Bill, covers Practically Wired and bits of Channel Light Vessel's Automatic. Also a wonderful explanation and demonstration of the ebow.

US Telephone Interview (1994)
A college student in Norfolk, Virginia asks Bill about ten questions over the telephone.
"I'm basically doing this for my school newspaper....." says the interviewer.

Channel Light Vessel - BBC Radio Interview (1994)
Bill, Kate, & Roger do an interview and perform live the following: Dreaming Spires. Little Luminaries, Laraaji's Gone Missing, Bill's Last Waltz, Faint Aroma of Snow, Cimbercon, Prayer for the Living, Ne Cede Melia, Sailing Boats Under A Threatening Sky, We Stay Still, Mister Bosco

BBC Radio 5 Interview (September, 1992)
Bill promoting Blue Moons and Laughing Guitars. Interview plus the DJ plays The Dead We Wake With Upstairs Drums and Girl From Another Planet.


Live Concert Recordings

Mick Ronson Tribute (1994)
Recorded at Hammersmith, London
Bill plays lead guitar on Ziggy Stardust

Live In Tokyo with Harold Budd at La Foret (February 1, 1992)
Bill and Harold play improvisation over Altar Pieces backing tracks and other compositions
120 minutes

The Savoy, New York City (May 5, 1984)
Into the Luminous Future, Everyday Feels Like Another New Drug, Do You Dream In Colour?, Another Day Another Ray of Hope

Toronto, Canada (May, 1984)
A Private View, Age of Reason, Glow World, Because of You, A Kind of Loving, Contemplation

BBC (1984)
Sleepcycle

Yukihiro Takahashi - Tokyo, Shibuya Kokaido (August 20, 1983)
100 minutes

Los Angeles, The Roxy (July 31, 1981)
70 minutes

Bill Nelson's Red Noise - BBC Session
10 minutes

Bill Nelson's Red Noise - Live In Sheffield (March, 1979)
Don't Touch Me (I'm Electric), Furniture Music, Stop/Go/Stop, The Atom Age, Posession, Substitute Flesh, A Better Home In The Phantom Zone, Radar In My Heart, Art/Empire/Industry, Revolt Into Style, Stay Young

Be Bop Deluxe - Live In Oxford (February, 1978)
Three tracks

Be Bop Deluxe - ??? (1978)
Drastic Plastic tour, 45 minutes

Be Bop Deluxe - Golders Green Hippodrome (January 19, 1978)
40 minutes

Be Bop Deluxe - Calderone Hall, New York City (December 6, 1976)
60 minutes

Be Bop Deluxe - Hammersmith London (1976)
Six tracks

Be Bop Deluxe - London Hippodrome (June 14, 1975)
Two tracks



If you want to let us know about anything else, send it to contribute@billnelson.com