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Written by Michael McKibben. “THE STORY, THE MUSIC, THE PEOPLE – WE CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT EACH OTHER (Hам не жить друг без д руга).” The music by A. Pakhmutova, N. Dobronravov, English lyrics by Nancy McKibben; arranged and produced by Don Moen; recorded by Living Sound in 1980; executive co-producers Michael McKibben, Jon Karner, Herbert Murd and Artemy Troitsky; distributed in the USSR by Melodiya Records, Mosfilm, Gosconcert, Moscow Central Television in 1981. Living Sound Alumni Project, Mar. 3, 2013, Third Edition http://www.nancymckibben.com/media/li….
HD Version (1.6GB): http://www.nancymckibben.com/blog/liv… (29m57s)
VIDEO PRODUCER, SCRIPT WRITER, EDITOR: Michael McKibben, European Director, Living Sound, 1977-82. Script © 2013 mmckibben@leader.com, Mar. 3, 2013. RESEARCH: Steve Baker, Stormie Baker, Carlo Einarsson, Vladislav Eloyan, Todd Homme, Randy Innes, Nancy McKibben, Herbert Murd, Ulla (Kopli) Pope, Taavo Remmel, Mae Roos, Roman Sinelnikov, Dean Wynkoop.
WHY HAVE WE WAITED 33 YEARS TO TELL THIS STORY?
1. The KGB secret police monitored this activity.
2. Probably unbeknownst to Pakhmutova and our friends in Moscow, several friends involved served prison terms as a direct consequence of this activity, others were threatened.
4. Co-Producer Herbert Murd’s friend – a university professor and fellow prisoner – was murdered by prison guards.
5. Therefore, we needed to be assured that no one’s safety would be threatened by the telling.
On Nov. 2, 1979 in the middle of the night, Soviet, American, Canadian, British and Swedish musicians gathered in the Soviet Union at the Pravda House of Culture in Moscow to jam and dialogue. An exceptional concert tour was unfolding.
Soviet popular music was then controlled by “Social Realism” and featured censored bands and praise of the State. Unapproved rock & jazz groups were blacklisted and underground. Gospel rock & jazz groups were also underground, and were persecuted. Free expression was considered “anti-Soviet” activity.
Living Sound’s friend Herbert Murd contacted rock promoter Artemy Troitsky (Арте́мий Тро́ицкий). Troitsky contacted his underground Moscow music network.
For two nights Living Sound (GOSPEL) jammed with two Russian bands: Машина времени (“Time Machine”) — ROCK & Aрсенал (“Arsenal”) – JAZZ. Troitsky had called rocker Alexander Gradsky ((Алекса́ндр Бори́сович Гра́дский) who invited Composer Alexandra Pakhmutova (Александра Николаевна Пахмутова) to the jam sessions. Pakhmutova asked Living Sound to arrange and record her music. Living Sound was unaware that Pakhmutova represented “official” Soviet musicology, and that her awards included: 1974 – USSR State Prize, 1979 – Order of Lenin and she was a Member of the Supreme Soviet.
Despite the deadly ideological tension between the USSR and USA (Iran hostages, Afghanistan invasion, Olympic boycott), despite the risks on both sides, these musicians persevered. Living Sound’s Christian music was incompatible with the USSR’s militant atheism & ruthlessly suppressed. Time Machine’s and Arsenal’s free expression kept them underground and on the authorities’ blacklists. But in 1979 Pakhmutova had been awarded the Order of Lenin, and she had been appointed official composer for the 1980 Moscow Summer Olympics. . . . and Pakhmutova would not be denied her choice of music or musicians.
Living Sound IV Touring Artists, 1979, Jam Sessions: Kevin Fisher, Randy Innes, Gary Cass, Roger Friend, Karen Stewart, Sandy Cass, Oscar Payne, Ted Jeans, Craig Watson, Tom Stewart, Wayne Kent.
Living Sound IV Touring Artists, 1980-81, Soviet Central TV: Steve Baker, Gary Cass, Leesa Cherry, Carlo Einarsson, Todd Homme, Randy Innes, Ted Jeans, Dean Maertz, Lisa Mills, Mark Tedder, Danny Tuten, Raye Walter, Dean Wynkoop.
Living Sound Team IV performing on Soviet Central TV (CT USSR) July 23, 1981, Produced by Evgeny Ginzburg. The 500-seat studio was packed. All there knew this was unprecedented in the USSR.
Living Sound Soviet Central TV, July 23, 1981—Set List
1. YOU DIDN’T GIVE UP ON ME (D. Moen)
2. I’M FORGIVEN (M. Omartian /B. Hibbard /H. Hockensmith)
3. JESUS IS THE ANSWER (A. Crouch)
4. PART OF MY HEART (Ian Townsend)
5. WHY SHOULD THE DEVIL HAVE ALL THE GOOD MUSIC (L. Norman)
6. I HAVE BEEN SET FREE (T. Hawkins)
7. TOO LATE (A. Grant, B. Bannister, C. Christian)
8. GIVER OF LIFE (D. Mansfield)
9. GOOD FEELIN’ (R. Thomson, R. Thomas)
10. SPACE SHUTTLE (Instrumental, G. Cass)
11. I GO TO THE ROCK (D. Rambo)
12. INSTRUMENTAL PRAISE (Unknown)
13. I’VE GOT SOMETHING TO SAY TO YOUR (Russian Folk Song)
14. OLYMPIADA ’80 (D. Tukhmanov/N. McKibben)
15. WE CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT EACH OTHER (A. Pakhmutova/N. McKibben)
16. YOU GOTTA SERVE SOMEBODY (B. Dylan)—Encore