Welcome to the second half of my fantasy command performance. The artists selected are there because I would love to see them – and for no other reason. In the next two hours, Greil Marcus will introduce;
Jeff Beck will play ‘Beck’s Bolero’. Jeff will be joined by Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, Nicky Hopkins and Keith Moon for this performance.
Andres Segovia will play ‘Sonatina’ (Torroba)
Billie Holiday and Sarah Vaughan will perform a medley of their best known songs, including; ‘I Cover the Waterfront’, ‘Lover Man’ and ‘Body and Soul’. The orchestra will be conducted by Duke Ellington, at the piano.
Jimi Hendrix, Billy Cox and Buddy Miles – The Band of Gypsies – will perform ‘Machine Gun’, ‘Foxy Lady’, ‘Earth Blues’ and ‘Purple Haze’.
The Miles Davis Sextet will play ‘Stella by Starlight’
The Rolling Stones will perform ‘Can’t You Hear Me Knocking’, ‘Wild Horses’ and ‘Moonlight Mile’.
John Lennon and The Plastic Ono Band will perform ‘I Found Out’, ‘Love’ and ‘Well Well Well’.
Neil Young and Crazy Horse will perform ‘Mr Soul’, A Man Needs a Maid’, ‘Ohio’ and ‘Cortez the Killer’.
Muddy Waters and The Blues Brothers Band, featuring Willie Dixon, will play ‘Still A Fool’, Nineteen Years Old’, Baby Please Don’t Go’, ‘Long Distance Call’ and ‘Mannish Boy’. They will be joined by Eric Clapton, Steve Marriott and Peter Green during the set.
The show will be closed by Aretha Franklin and the company performing ‘Amazing Grace’.
A word from the author; I hope that you enjoyed the show – I certainly did. I was appalled at who I left out – but as I said at the beginning, it was a difficult and surprising exercise. The hardest decision was to omit Nirvana. But looking at the line-up, I think they belong in a whole other concert. Kia ora.