Twenty six years ago, Martin aka mrdisposablerazor recorded Verve performing live in the studio for the weekly Radio 5 show 'Hit The North,' presented by Mark Radcliffe. 'Hit The North' aired on Wednesday nights from 10:10pm to 12:00am.
Recorded on cassette, the unmarked tape was left in a drawer awaiting discovery many years later. Martin recalls having "no memory of recording it, and it's before I remember seeing them for the first time (supporting Ride at Liverpool Royal Court), but as soon as I heard it again while sorting out old tapes, I sensed it was a bit special."
Last month, English rock band The Charlatans put on a ten day exhibition (May 10-20th) at Barons Quay in Northwich, England which showcased instruments, memorabilia, and merchandise from the band's near-30 year history. Martin caught up with Peter Salisbury of The Verve at the exhibition's opening night. Peter has played for The Charlatans both on tour and in the studio. "I was able to tell Pete about the tape, and he recalled being in a different studio to the usual one at Oxford Road, and as the exhibition was opened by Mark Radcliffe, he later said they'd had a chat about it," says Martin.
Verve's debut 'Hit The North' radio session aired on February 5, 1992 and included performances of "Slide Away," "She's a Superstar," and "One Way To Go," plus an interview with Mark Radcliffe. The following week on February 13, 1992, the band would record the canonical John Peel Session which made the A Storm In Heaven box-set released in 2016. Many thanks to Martin for sharing this with The Verve online community.
