Live at Treorchy

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Live at Treorchy
Live album by
Max Boyce
Released1974
Recorded23 November 1973
Treorchy, Rhondda
GenreComedy
LabelEMI
OU 2033
ProducerBob Barrett
Max Boyce chronology
Caneuon Amrywiol
(1971) 		Live at Treorchy
(1974) 		We All Had Doctors' Papers
(1975)

Live at Treorchy is a live album by

gold and was Boyce's breakthrough recording, helping make him a household name in Wales
and beyond.

Album history

Welsh entertainer Max Boyce had produced two albums prior to the release of Live at Treorchy, both on Cambrian Records, Max Boyce in Session and Caneuon Amrywiol (both in 1971). Neither album was very successful and Boyce continued touring clubs around South Wales. In 1973 and still an unknown outside Wales, he was spotted by EMI record producer Bob Barrett, stealing the show from headliner Ken Dodd at the Brangwyn Hall in Swansea.[1] Boyce signed a contract with the EMI producer while walking along a bridle path at Langland Bay, and was signed to a two-record deal overseen by Vic Lanza, head of EMI Records’ MOR music division.[1][2][3]

It was decided that the recording would be a live take of one of his dates on a pre-arranged tour, and the venue of

Treorchy Male Voice Choir, who added volume during the sing along choruses.[1] EMI had sent a three-man unit to record the show, including Abbey Road sound engineer Phil Hancock, who set up the mixing desks in the club changing rooms.[1] Recorded on 23 November 1973, Boyce was supported on the day by Welsh band Triban and the concert was compered by broadcaster Alun Williams, though neither appeared on the finished album.[1] Live at Treorchy album was completed in one take on one night, with the finishing mix completed at Abbey Road Studios.[1][2]

The album had a slow response on its release, but its popularity spread through word of mouth and although the album relied on Welsh humour and pathos, its content struck a chord across Britain.[1] The success of the album allowed Boyce to give up his day job and become a professional entertainer. His follow-up album, We All Had Doctors' Papers, released in 1975, reached number one in the UK Album charts.

Welsh historian Martin Johnes describes Live at Treorchy as 'important to an understanding of Welshness as anything Dylan Thomas or Saunders Lewis wrote.'[1]

"Hymns and Arias"

The songs on the album were mostly of a

Wrexham
matches.

Although "Hymns and Arias" had been released previously on his debut album Max Boyce in Session, it was Live at Treorchy which brought the song to a wider audience. The track was released the next year on 7" vinyl, but only as a promotional copy, and was not released to the general public.[5] The song and album have become icons of Welsh popular culture.'[1]

Chart history

Live at Treorchy was released in 1974, and first entered the

UK Album Charts on 5 July at number 35.[6] Although reaching a peak position of 21 on 11 October 1975 it kept a presence in the charts for 38 weeks, making a final appearance 22 April 1978.[6] The album went gold and although not Boyce's highest charting record it had the longest chart life.[7] It sold over half a million copies.[2]

Track listing

All songs and poems written and composed by Max Boyce.

  1. "9-3"
  2. "The Scottish Trip"
  3. "The Ballad of Morgan the Moon"
  4. "The Outside Half Factory"
  5. "Asso Asso Yogoshi"
  6. "Duw It's Hard"
  7. "Ten Thousand Instant Christians"
  8. "Did You Understand"
  9. "Hymns and Arias"

Personnel

Charts

Certifications and sales

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[10] Gold 100,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j McLaren, James (24 February 2011). "Max Boyce: Live At Treorchy". BBC Wales. Retrieved 6 March 2011.
  2. ^ a b c Robert, Trefor (1 February 2007). "Max Boyce's 35 years as a Welsh icon". Neath Guardian. Retrieved 6 March 2011.
  3. ^ White, Chris (23 January 2008). "Former EMI exec dies". Music Week. Retrieved 6 March 2011.
  4. ISBN 978-0-7083-1953-6
    .
  5. ^ "Boyce, Max – Hymns And Arias (Uk,1974,Emi 2291,PROMO 7)". discoogle.com. n.d. Archived from the original on 10 July 2011. Retrieved 6 March 2011.
  6. ^ a b "Live at Treorchy". Official Charts Company. n.d. Retrieved 6 March 2011.
  7. ^ "Max Boyce: Albums". Official Charts Company. n.d. Retrieved 6 March 2011.
  8. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
  9. ^ "Top Selling Albums For 1975" (PDF). Music Week. 27 December 1975. p. 10. Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 March 2021. Retrieved 30 November 2021 – via worldradiohistory.com.
  10. ^ "British album certifications – Max Boyce – Live at Treorchy". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
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