While working on the WIKI page for the Communiqué album Jean-Francois and me discussed if there is a 12-string on Angel of Mercy on the studio version (Mark's rhythm guitar). I know he played the Baldwin 12-string live in 1980/81.

I paste in our email discussion, maybe some others can help with their suggestions.

>>

JF: About guitars 2 and 3 in Angel of Mercy:
- I'm quite 100% sure that it's the same guitar on left channel, for rhythm and solo

I: Yes, I don't hear a gap or some sound change either, so you might be right.

JF:  I don't think it's a 12 strings, but a normal one with a little bit of chorus

I: This is possible. It is sure that he played a 12-string on the MM tour (I would say on all concerts, the Baldwin by the way). On the Communiqué tour he played bottle-neck, so the black Tele would be my no 1 guess here.

I wondered where he got the idea with the 12-string from, so I listened again to that rhythm guitar on the album. Chorus and 12-string can sound really similar (a chorus in a way imitates a 12 string), and I think Mark did possibly not play a higher octave string for the g strings (I think otherwise he can't play the lead licks he played on the MM tour)

JF: – I've a few recordings from the On location tour:
              – Emerald city 12/11/80
              – New York 14/11/80
              – Wiesbaden 05/05/81
              – Bruxelles-Werchter 05/07/81
              – Luxembourg 06/07/81
I can't really hear 12 strings sounds in Angel of mercy in any of these gigs. Can you confirm on which gig he played it?

I: Should be on all, just listened to Wiesbaden to check again (the band introduction section). As said, there does not seem to be an octave string for the g, and I guess the string pairs are rather close on the Baldwin, othewise you cannot play lead lines. He even bends some strings slightly it seems !

Unfortunately I don't have a Baldwin, and not even a 12-string at all, so I cannot check how exactly to do it :(

My mistake, I was not precise: I don't think the ones from late '79 are slide, I refered to the ones from early '79.

Angel of mercy was played as an encore on the bootlegs Düsseldorf Febr. 13, 1979, Mannheim Febr. 14 (on Stolberg Febr. 15 they played Nadine instead), and on Febr. 18 they played both.

I was sure someone will ask ;) so I immediately started to write this article with an audio clip. Enjoy ! :)

Did you see the cool picture from the link in the comments below the article (link in post above)?

It seems he actually played slide on the 12-string Baldwin on Angel of mercy !!