Various Artists – The River (Live from Greenbelt)

Description

The River (Live from Greenbelt) is a multi-artist sampler cassette featuring 16 live recordings by both American and British artists, released in the UK on What? Records in 1991. The album was recorded (during the 1990 Greenbelt festival) and mixed by Andrew Rayner for RAS with Rayner and David Hughes producing. (Digitally recorded and mastered.)

This is technically a release from a label – a small label, but one with major national distribution. What? Records is known for releasing classics by Iona, Tonio K, Dave Perkins, Ideola, and others. But I can’t find this release listed anywhere online. It also appears to have some underground-ish acts on it. All tracks were recorded live at the 1990 Greenbelt Festival.

– We all know who Iona is, and they deliver a very Celtic ethereal live track here.
– Martyn Joseph is probably more well known over in the UK than here; he plays two acoustic songs from a couple of his late 80s albums.
– I can’t find out exactly who Armstrong is – solo act or band? There are two acoustic tracks with male vocals that have a bit of grit and soul.
– Sam Hill plays a couple of acoustic tracks as well, one from Thunder and Rain.
– The Woebeggones appear to be a band that formed to play at Greenbelt festivals and grew from there. They perform a down home cover of a gospel classic here – something you will see many artists did for this compilation.
– River City People play two songs off of their EMI debut along with a traditional song
– Nannette Welmans, who seems to be known for funk/pop music at this time, covers a jazz standard and a gospel standard in a very jazzy style that Norah Jones would popularize years later.
– Ben Okafor plays live versions of two of his songs from two late 80s albums.
– Mechanic Manyeruke closes out the live set with a traditional jazz standard as well.

[Christian Tape Underground, March 5, 2023]

Cassette tracklist:

Side One
A1. Iona – “Iona”
A2. Martyn Joseph – “Power of Your Love”
A3. Martyn Joseph – “4 the $”
A4. Armstrong – “Ain’t No Honor”
A5. Armstrong – “His Love”
A6. Sam Hill – “What Are You telling Me”
A7. Sam Hill – “Now Then Forever”
A8. The Woebeggones – “I Hear a Train Coming” (traditional)

Side Two
B1. River City People – “Huskerson Street”
B2. River City People – “Every Day I Carry the Blame”
B3. River City People – “Hush Little Baby” (traditional)
B4. Nanette Welmans – “My Baby Just Cares for Me”
B5. Nanette Welmans – “Swing Low Medley” (traditional)
B6. Ben Okafor – “No Matter What It Is”
B7. Ben Okafor – “Stay Here With Me”
B8. Mechanic Manyeruke Et Al – “O When the Saints” (traditional)