For a self confessed ‘journeyman’ musician who has spent most of his 50 year career on the road live Michael Chapman albums are curiously rare items and even more rare from his earlier years. This one, recorded by dutch “hippie” radio station ‘VPRO’ on 6th May 1971 is the earliest known live recording so far discovered of Michael Chapman after he started releasing records on the legendary UK based Harvest / EMI record label in 1969. This period is for Chapman fans the classic period, that more recently has drawn belated media coverage and recognition in response to the more recent kudos bestowed upon Michael from the likes of Thurston Moore, Kurt Vile, Jim O’rouke and the late, great, Jack Rose. A beautiful clear, warm and intimate recording of Chapman duetting with long time collaborator Rick Kemp on electric bass and which documents material from all three albums in a free flowing improv inflected style very much in favour at the time. it is with this free flowing vibe in mind that we include with both CD & vinyl editions the complete 90 minute concert via a download code card so listeners can experience the whole set. Chapman sounds in a confident, gentle and relaxed mood. The Audience Is Initially Tentative, Possibly Unfamilar With chapman’s work but gradually warming to his complex dexterous ‘not folk’ playing. The recordings make for a fascinating snapshot of the time, with a loose and open approach that offers a rare chance for guitar buffs to evesdrop between songs on some those bespoke Chapman guitar tunings!. The set begins with another very rare Chapman item – a cover version – in this case of Tim Hardin’s 1965 “A Reason To Believe’. A song which had just reappeared that year as the A side of a Rod Stewart solo single (The B side being ‘Maggie May’!).