Max Webster - Massey Hall, Toronto, ON

All songs composed by Mitchell/Dubois (except track 6 by Mitchell and 11 by Watkinson). Massey Hall - Toronto, ON June 9, 1977 Kim Mitchell - guitar & lead vocals Terry Watkinson - keyboards & vocals Mike Tilka - bass & vocals Gary McCracken - drums Carla Jensen - vocals Judy Donnelly - vocals 1) Oh War! 2) Gravity 3) In Context Of The Moon 4) Diamonds Diamonds 5) Lily 6) Research (at Beach Resorts) 7) Words To Words 8) On The Road 9) Summer’s Up 10) America’s Veins 11) Rain Child 12) Coming Off The Moon 13) Toronto Tontos 14) Only Your Nose Knows 15) Hangover Compiled from two different tape sources, this is a nearly complete recording of one of Max Webster’s greatest shows. This is the “they’ve made it“ gig - for years they owned the Toronto bar scene, and now they’re headlining Massey Hall. They’d opened for Rush there a few times (including the three shows recorded for All The World’s A Stage), and now they’re top of the bill themselves. Rick Ringer from CHUM FM introduces them to the stage. This is one of the few times Max performed a proper acoustic set a la Led Zeppelin, but the tour de force here is Research (at Beach Resorts). Part of a later Max Webster song is heard in the interlude, missing from earlier, more primitive live versions of it - and I shan’t ruin the surprise for you. A monstrous part of their creative process is revealed here. Before Toronto Tontos Pye Dubois is introduced on stage for the first time, dispelling rumours that he may have been a mythical creation in the album sleeves. Until this moment plenty of people believed Paul Woods (du bois - “of the woods“ - get it?) may not even have been a real person. Max have a couple backing vocalists on stage at this show - Carla Jensen and Judy Donnelly join the band for a few songs, and would later be credited for backing vocals on Mutiny Up My Sleeve and A Million Vacations. Only the last two songs are missing - one of which may be the first ever live version of The Party, which Mitchell hinted at in a radio interview with Rick Ringer (who also introduced the band on stage) a week prior to the gig. But what is captured here is fantastic and well worth a gander. Photo taken by Scott Feeney.