Neil Innes: "Quiet Talks and Summer Walks" at the Bottom Line in 1985

On Febuary 20, 1985, I filmed one of my favorite musicians of all time, Neil Innes, doing two solo shows at The Bottom Line in New York City. I only filmed in VHS, but Neil helped me get an audio feed directly from the sound board. Thus his singing and playing sound nice and clear here, at least for a 40-year old home-made VHS tape. However, there was no mic on the audience, so please note that the laughter and applause were actually about ten times as loud as they are on this recording! "Quiet Talks and Summer Walks" first appeared on the Bonzo Dog Band's 1969 album "Keynsham" and was one of a number of songs Neil wrote which added beauty and poignance to the Bonzos' trademark comic anarchy and musical dissonance. After the Bonzos broke up, Neil helped form GRIMMS, a multi-media troupe. My one foray into rock and roll journalism was an article in "Trouser Press" #17 about GRIMMS, for which Neil gave me an interview, which is how I got to know him in the first place. Neil also worked frequently with Monty Python's Flying Circus and helped create the Rutles. He was always very friendly to me and he once did something amazing for my sister Catherine. After hearing her play one of his instrumental songs, “Twyfords Vitromant,” on the piano, he sent her his original sheet music - not just a copy, but the original - saying she played it better than he did! Typical Neil Innes generosity and modesty.