Chet Nichols, “Black and White” album. “Live” at Cowtown Ballroom in Kansas City. MO – Show and Recording notes.

This song is from a historical, solo "Live Performance" that Chet Nichols did on 09/11/1972 at the Cowtown Ballroom in Kansas City, MO.

That night, Chet opened for The Kansas City Philharmonic Orchestra. It was the first night that a Philharmonic Orchestra had ever performed in a rock 'n' roll venue.

A lot of work went into preserving Chet's performance that night and it is the only (to this date) recording of one of Chet's 1960's-1970's shows, which is odd because he played so many concerts during his touring dates and days. BUT, he was usually working as a hired-gun, opening act and the main acts usually were the acts being recorded.

This recording has some mic-shifting going on because the sound team was clearly using Chet's show to help them set the mics and levels for recording the full-philharmonic orchestra that would take the stage after Chet's set. Still, the performances were spot on and featured Chet singing, playing an amazing acoustic guitar, did a whole song just playing some great harmonica and then played the title track to his first album, "Time Loop", playing piano and singing.

What we love is that Chet played some of his most intricate and sophisticated songs featuring his bevy of unique guitar tunings...using just one acoustic guitar. So, we hope you enjoy this collection of songs. For a live show in 1972, it is a great representation of Chet's talents as a songwriter, inspiring lyrics, mastery of the acoustic guitar and pure vocalist talents.

Chet decided to call the album, “Back and White”, it was just him performing solo. It was simply Chet in “black and white” with no frills. Just he, his songs, his instruments and his voice.

PS This album also contains the only known recording of Chet's infamous blues song he wrote when he was 13, "I'm The Ice Cream Man". This version is what Chet refers to as the "Hippie Version" of the song .... which at the time, was just fun and funny, so enjoy it as such, a song about street-corner "activity" in the 70's.

Also, a very special “shout out” to Stephen Barncard in San Francisco for saving this tape so we could make it available for people to enjoy. Chet had worked with Stephen on several of his early albums and other projects in the past.