Horslips: At The BBC (4xCD + DVD Boxset)

Disc 1 begins the journey in 1973–74, landmark years in which Horslips took their fusion of mythology and musicianship to the airwaves and concert halls of Britain. Included are performances from Radio 1’s In Concert, The Old Grey Whistle Test, Radio 1’s Sounds of the 70s, 2nd House (BBC 2) and Radio 1’s John Peel Show, showcasing the group in full flight, brimming with invention and zeal.

By 1979, fresh from the inevitable hard slog of trying to conquer America, Horslips returned to Radio 1’s In Concert with a set that captured their ability to fit in with the times and the power of their live performances. Disc 2 continues with an unplugged ‘comeback’ session from 2010 and a BBC NI performance in 2019 of ‘Sideways to the Sun’ – written about magical Irish beings disappearing from mortal sight – which would, perhaps fittingly, prove to be their last official recording.

Disc 3 presents Horslips’ unique 2011 performance with the Ulster Orchestra at Belfast’s Waterfront Hall, in its previously unreleased BBC Radio Ulster broadcast mix. Including epic suites from classic albums The Táin and The Book Of Invasions and fan favourites like the eight-minute ‘I’ll Be Waiting’, a showcase for late guitarist Johnny Fean (d. 2023), many – including band members – view this concert as Horslips’ finest hour (and a quarter).

Disc 4 is a bonus disc, comprising recently discovered 1979 ‘working mixes’ of the album Short Stories, Tall Tales, recorded at Dublin’s Windmill Lane. They offer an intimate glimpse into a band in transition, shifting from the US FM rock that had influenced recent albums towards the spikier, sharper British New Wave sound.

At The BBC is completed by a DVD bringing together clips from The Old Grey Whistle Test, 1974 documentary material and magical fan footage of two songs from the 2011 Waterfront Hall concert, synced to sparkling BBC audio.

Presented in a deluxe hardback book package with rare photographs and extensive liner notes by band biographer Mark Cunningham, legendary BBC producer Jeff Griffin and curator Colin Harper, At The BBC is a celebration of a band whose influence still echoes through the decades. The mastering is shared by Eroc in Germany and band associate Cormac O’Kane who mastered the acclaimed 2023 Horslips box set More Than You Can Chew.

Disc 1

1. DJ Alan Black intro (Radio 1 in Concert 9/2/74)
2. Setanta (Radio 1 in Concert 9/2/74)
3. Maeve's Court (Radio 1 in Concert 9/2/74)
4. Charolais (Radio 1 in Concert 9/2/74)
5. The March (Radio 1 in Concert 9/2/74)
6. You Can't Fool the Beast (Radio 1 in Concert 9/2/74)
7. The Clergy`s Lamentation (Radio 1 in Concert 9/2/74)
8. More Than You Can Chew (Radio 1 in Concert 9/2/74)
9. DJ Alan Black announcement (Radio 1 in Concert 9/2/74)
10. Ferdia`s Song (Radio 1 in Concert 9/2/74)
11. Gae Bolga (Radio 1 in Concert 9/2/74)
12. Dearg Doom (Radio 1 in Concert 9/2/74)
13. Faster Than the Hound (Old Grey whistle test (BBC2) 17/2/74)
14. Dearg Doom (Old Grey whistle test (BBC2) 17/2 74)
15. Ferdia's Song (Radio 1 Sounds of the 70s 4/3/74)
16. More Than You Can Chew (Radio 1 Sounds of the 70s 4/3/74)
17. Charolais (2nd House (BBC2) 4/5/74)
18. Maeve's Court (2nd House (BBC2) 4/5/74)
19. Dearg Doom (2nd House (BBC2) 4/5/74)
20. Furniture (Radio 1 Sounds of the 70s 24/9/73)
21. The Clergy`s Lamentation (Radio 1 Sounds of the 70s 24/9/73)
22. An Bratach Ban (Radio 1 John Peel Show 16/10/73)
23. Dearg Doom (Radio 1 John Peel Show 16/10/73)
24. Knockeen-Free (Radio 1 John Peel Show 16/10/73)
25. The Silver Spear (Radio 1 John Peel Show 19/2/74)

Disc 2

1. DJ Alan Black intro / The Man Who Built America (Radio 1 In Concert 24/2/79)
2. The Power and the Glory (Radio 1 In Concert 24/2/79)
3. Trouble (With a Capital `T`) (Radio 1 In Concert 24/2/79)
4. Loneliness (Radio 1 In Concert 24/2/79)
5. Sword of Light (Radio 1 In Concert 24/2/79)
6. Warm Sweet Breath of Love (Radio 1 In Concert 24/2/79)
7. Dearg Doom (Radio 1 In Concert 24/2/79)
8. Presenter intro (BBC NI, 2010)
9. Trouble (With a Capital `T`) (BBC NI, 2010)
10. Green Star Liner (BBC NI, 2010)
11. Sideways to the Sun (BBC NI, 2019)
12. Documentary including band interviews (Radio Ulster 20/3/10)

Disc 3

1. DJ John Toal intro / band intro (Belfast (BBC Radio Ulster 17/3/11))
2. Daybreak (Belfast (BBC Radio Ulster 17/3/11))
3. The Power and the Glory (Belfast (BBC Radio Ulster 17/3/11))
4. Fantasia (My Lagan Love) (Belfast (BBC Radio Ulster 17/3/11))
5. Drive The Cold Winter Away (Belfast (BBC Radio Ulster 17/3/11))
6. Ride to Hell (Belfast (BBC Radio Ulster 17/3/11))
7. Sideways to the Sun (Belfast (BBC Radio Ulster 17/3/11))
8. Dusk (Belfast (BBC Radio Ulster 17/3/11))
9. Sword of Light (Belfast (BBC Radio Ulster 17/3/11))
10. John Toal first half putro (Belfast (BBC Radio Ulster 17/3/11))
11. John Toal 2nd half intro / band intro (Belfast (BBC Radio Ulster 17/3/11))
12. Setanta (Belfast (BBC Radio Ulster 17/3/11))
13. Maeve's Court (Belfast (BBC Radio Ulster 17/3/11))
14. Charolais (Belfast (BBC Radio Ulster 17/3/11))
15. More Than You Can Chew (Belfast (BBC Radio Ulster 17/3/11))
16. March Into Trouble (Belfast (BBC Radio Ulster 17/3/11))
17. Trouble (With a Capital `T`) (Belfast (BBC Radio Ulster 17/3/11))
18. Dearg Doom (Belfast (BBC Radio Ulster 17/3/11))
19. DJ + band interview (Belfast (BBC Radio Ulster 17/3/11))
20. Rescue Me [inc. Barry outro] (Belfast (BBC Radio Ulster 17/3/11))
21. Ghosts (Belfast (BBC Radio Ulster 17/3/11))
22. King of the Fairies (Belfast (BBC Radio Ulster 17/3/11))
23. Barry Devlin intro (Belfast (BBC Radio Ulster 17/3/11))
24. I`ll Be Waiting (+ outro thanks) (Belfast (BBC Radio Ulster 17/3/11))

Disc 4

1. Summer's Most Wanted Girl (Windmill Lane 6/9/79)
2. Mail Order [AKA Amazing Offer] (Windmill Lane 6/9/79)
3. Back In My Arms (Windmill Lane 6/9/79)
4. Rescue Me (Windmill Lane 6/9/79)
5. Soap Opera (Windmill Lane 6/9/79)
6. Hotel Inexpensive [AKA Law on the Run] (Windmill Lane 6/9/79)
7. Guests of the Nation (Windmill Lane 6/9/79)
8. The Life You Save (Windmill Lane 6/9/79)
9. Ricochet Man (Windmill Lane 6/9/79)
10. Unapproved Road (Windmill Lane 6/9/79)

Disc 5

1. Dearg Doom (Video)
2. Faster Than the Hound (Video)
3. Charloais (Video)
4. Maeve's Court (Video)
5. Dearg Doom + documentary content (Video)
6. The Man Who Built America (promo video + presenter Annie Nightingale intro) (Video)
7. Trouble (With a Capital `T`) + interview (Video)
8. Green Star Liner + intro (Video)
9. Sideways to the Sun + interview (Video)
10. I'll Be Waiting (Ulster Hall, 17/3/11) (Video)
11. Trouble with a Capital T (Ulster Hall, 17/3/11) (Video)