ARTICLE: UK SPRING PROGRAM TOUR 1980
- ON THE ROAD WITH THE JAMES LAST ORCHESTRA -
In 1967 the Last sound hit the English charts and, quite amazingly, four albums jumped into the hit parade in the same week. Last "Party Sound" was becoming the rage of Europe - not least in his own home country where in 1968 his band were voted Top Orchestra of the Year by the German distributors organization. Live appearances were naturally demanded and it is typical of Last's professional and meticulous approach that he insisted, when the band went on the road, that it must produce precisely the same sound as on record. Just what that insistence has meant in terms of expense and effort over the years is difficult to convey in a fewwords.
In the summer of 1969 James made his North American debut at the Canadian Expo '69 which was a huge success and encouraged him to broaden his horizon still further, beginning that same year with a tour of Holland. 1970 saw the band playing the grand ball at the Berlin Film Festival - a sell out that was to set the pattern for the years ahead. The following year he toured his home country, culminating in a massive "Voo Doo Party" in Hamburg which attracted 10,000 fans. The band also broke the Iron Curtain to play four concerts in the USSR and followed that with concerts in South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and Hong Kong.
ON THE ROAD WITH THE JAMES LAST ORCHESTRA
