Album review: JOHN WETTON – Concentus (10-CD box set)

David Randall chatted to John Wetton in April 2009. This interview was first broadcast on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio 19 April 2009 and now reissued in “The GRTR! Archive” series.

Spirit Of Unicorn Music/Cherry Red Records [Release date 15.11.24]

‘Concentus – The John Wetton Live Collection Volume One’ is the latest in a planned series of albums featuring John Wetton and spanning the years 1994-1997. Following last year’s compendium of solo studio work it brings together gigs from places as far apart as Amsterdam and Argentina.

The 10-CD box set is a great entry point for those who have more recently discovered the wealth of Wetton as a solo artist, often overshadowed by his more overt activity in bands such as King Crimson, UK and Asia (there were many more!). All are represented in some shape or form in this collection.

Inevitably there is much duplication in terms of setlists, and buyers should also be aware that some of these recordings first surfaced on the old Voiceprint/Blueprint label. It is a sad indictment of the industry that the hardcore fan may be forced to re-purchase those earlier albums because the box set provides unreleased material, the ubiquitous ‘bonus tracks’, and has been completely remastered by the redoubtable Andy Pearce.

Amongst the genuinely new stuff, a solo tour of Germany in 1995 is captured with bonus rehearsal tracks and a set at Progfest in May 1997 (although three tracks appeared on the ‘Progfest ’97′ CD). There’s also an April 1997 gig from Amsterdam. It appears that the date of the featured 1996 Osaka gig may actually be 2 October 1997 based on the earlier release and contemporary setlists. Jerry Ewing’s liner note is fairly light on the detail of these recordings preferring a career overview approach which I assume has been replicated on the previous box set.

Wetton was an interesting musician, flexible, and a fine vocalist. He told me in 2009 how an early church music background influenced the structuring of his own music and how it was The Beatles that made most impact on his early musicianship.

Amongst the musicians appearing with Wetton in these shows are keyboard players Martin Orford (IQ) and John Young (Asia), members of It Bites, and drummer Thomas Lang.

These live recordings may inspire you to seek out the original solo albums with superb songs like ‘Crime Of Passion’, ‘Caught In The Crossfire’ and ‘Hold Me Now’. The cognoscenti will debate which of these gigs best captures the ‘Heat Of The Moment’ but overall a fine overview from this continuing and celebratory retrospective. ****

Review by David Randall

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.
In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.

Next session: Sunday 1 December

Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio

David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 3 November 2024.

UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 29 October 2024.

How to Listen Live?

Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)

Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.

More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com

Power Plays w/c 11 November 2024

ARCANE MOON Hello Sun (indie)
S8NT ELEKTRIC XTC (Long Branch Records)
ARCANA KINGS Here We Go (Curtain Call Records)
KLOGR face The Unknown (Zeta Factory)
BEYOND UNBROKEN Dance With The Dead (FiXT)
REVENGIN Decadent Feeling (Wormholedeath)

Featured Albums w/c 11 November 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Singer Songwriter)