Thursday, December 31, 2009

Elvis Costello - 1981-12-31 - New York


Elvis Costello & The Attractions
1981-12-31 New Year's Eve Show
The Palladium
New York City, NY
Soundboard, Good Quality Recording
mp3 @ 192
Artwork Included

Happy New Year, everyone! New's Year's Eve has always been a big night for rock concerts. I guess it's just very appealing to ring in the new year watching, listening, and singing along with your favorite music artists. There have been many legendary New Year's Eve shows and bootleg recordings available over the years, most notably featuring artists like Bruce Springsteen and The Grateful Dead, but also acts such as the Allman Brothers, Santana, U2, Stevie Ray Vaughn, etc. I have previously featured 2 great NYE shows on this blog (The Kinks-1980 and The Band-1971). In looking back through my collection of NYE shows, for this NYE post I decided to go with a show that was a little different and not as readily available, and that also features another of my favorite artists that I have not yet posted anything by. So, here is a unique NYE show from Elvis Costello, from 1981, the time between his Almost Blue all-covers 'Country' album and his pop masterpiece Imperial Bedroom. This show features an extensive and eclectic setlist, including most of the songs (seldom-performed) from the underrated Almost Blue album, and several 'previews' of new songs ('Pidgin English', 'Kid About It', 'Shabby Doll', 'Human Hands', 'The Long Honeymoon', 'Beyond Belief') from the yet-to-be-released Imperial Bedroom, as well as the usual faves from that period. The set even includes Steve Nieve's intermission solo performance (which includes Auld Lang Syne). The set also includes old friend John McFee (from Clover and Elvis's first album) sitting in on pedal steel guitar for a few songs. A very unique and wonderful show. Sound quality is good, but not great (a bit tinny sounding, with not much low end), but the show is well worth the listen. In fact, this show, which is from the Palladium in NY, follows exactly one year later (at the same concert hall) as the Kinks 1980 NYE Palladium show, already posted here. How's that for continuity?

Disc 1
01. Lipstick Vogue
02. Watching The Detectives
03. Accidents Will Happen
04. Secondary Modern
05. Oliver's Army
06. Green Shirt
07. Radio, Radio
08. Sittin' And Thinkin'
09. Success
10. Good Year For The Roses
11. Psycho
12. Brown To Blue
13. How Much I Lied
14. Sweet Dreams
15. Tonight The Bottle Let Me Down
16. I'm Your Toy
17. Why Don't You Love Me (Like You Used To Do)?
18. Honey Hush
19. instrumental - Steve Nieve solo
20. (What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love And Understanding?
21. Strict Time

Disc 2
22. Pidgin English
23. Watch Your Step
24. The Beat
25. Kid About It
26. New Lace Sleeves
27. Big Tears
28. Human Hands
29. Hand In Hand
30. Shabby Doll
31. Almost Blue
32. High Fidelity
33. The Long Honeymoon
34. Temptation
35. Clowntime Is Over
36. Beyond Belief
37. Clubland
38. I've Been Born Again/King Horse
39. Big Sister's Clothes
40. I Can't Stand Up For Falling Down
41. From A Whisper To A Scream
42. Mystery Dance
43. (The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes
44. Alison (Performed but not on disc)

New Links! (Updated 07/12/21)

Friday, December 18, 2009

Bruce Springsteen - Live Christmas Compilations

Bruce Springsteen
Santa Boss is Coming to Town
Live Christmas Compilation (various dates and venues)
The SPL Collection Vol. 6. Santa Boss Is Coming To Town
Very good recording, mostly soundboard
mp3 @ 192

I usually don't post Springsteen shows, not because I have anything against the Boss (actually I am a big Fan), but because there are so many other places and sites devoted to Springsteen (and that do a much better job than I could), there just isn't any reason. However, for these Christmas collections, which I haven't seen posted at very many other sites, it just seemed to be the right thing to do. I really wanted to post something Christmas related, and these are just seemed the most appropriate Holiday themed boots around. So, here are a couple of 1-disc Christmas compilations that are just the thing for the holiday season. As most everyone knows, over the years, Springsteen has been known to put on some big Holiday Extravaganza shows (mostly from his hometown of Asbury Park), complete with guest stars and special holiday songs. These are two different collections of some of the highlights from these shows. Although they both contain many of the same Christmas songs, they are all from different shows, thus every song is at least somewhat different from every other. The first collection (Santa Boss) compiles all of the different Christmas-themed songs from over the years, while the second (Merry Christmas from Asbury Park) tries to capture the feel of the Holiday shows, just in a much-shortened format, thus including Springsteen classics along with the Holiday fare. Both are very good. Hope you enjoy them and have a very Merry Christmas and Holiday Season.

Tracklist
01. Jingle Bells (0:51) Christmas Holiday Night Convention Hall, Asbury Park, NJ 18/12/00
02. Blue Christmas (5:01) Christmas Holiday Night Convention Hall, Asbury Park, NJ 18/12/00
03. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town (8:11) Winterland Night Winterland Ballroom, San Francisco, CA 15/12/78
04. Merry Christmas Baby (4:45) Nassau Night Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale, NY 31/12/80
05. The Wish (7:26) Freehold Night St. Rose of Lima School, Freehold, NJ 08/11/96
06. Pilgrim In The Temple Of Love (6:26) Sydney Night Capitol Theatre, Sydney, Australia 12/02/97
07. Run Run Rudolph (4:05) Christmas Holiday Night Convention Hall, Asbury Park, NJ 18/12/00
08. Deck The Halls (0:35) Jingle Bell Night Convention Hall, Asbury Park, NJ 07/12/01
09. Jingle Bell Rock (3:38) Jingle Bell Night Convention Hall, Asbury Park, NJ 07/12/01
10. Christmas Baby Please Come Home (3:34) Jingle Bell Night Convention Hall, Asbury Park, NJ 07/12/01
11. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town (7:00) Christmas Holiday Night Convention Hall, Asbury Park, NJ 18/12/00

Bruce Springsteen
Merry Christmas From Asbury Park
Live Christmas Compilation (various dates and venues)
Very good recording, mostly soundboard.
mp3 @ 192

Compiler's notes: “My goal was to create a one-disc sampler of the best tracks from the Asbury Park Convention Hall holiday shows - structured loosely along the lines of a typical show. I tried to include a good mix of Christmas favorites and essential Springsteen tracks.”

I picked this up from BigO Worldwide, so thanks to everyone wjho made these available.

Track 01. Deck The Halls (12/08/01) (894k)
Track 02. Incident On 57th Street (12/08/01) (12.6MB)
Track 03. Blue Christmas (12/17/00) (5.9MB)
Track 04. Christmas Day (12/06/01) (9.0MB)
Track 05. Merry Christmas (I Don’t Want To Fight Tonight) (12-08-03) (6.1MB)
Track 06. Shine Silently (12/17/00) (8.9MB)
Track 07. The Wish (12-08-03) (7.7MB)
Track 08. Kitty’s Back (12/17/00) (14.3MB)
Track 09. Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) (12/06/01) (4.6MB)
Track 10. My City Of Ruins (12/17/00) (8.7MB)
Track 11. I Don’t Want To Go Home (12/17/00) (5.4MB)
Track 12. Rosalita (12/17/00) (10.3MB) (10.3MB)
Track 13. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town (12/17/00) (7.9MB)
Track 14. WMMR Christmas Message (831k)

New Links! (Updated 09/28/21)

Wishing everyone the Happiest of Holiday Seasons, Merry Christmas to All.

Friday, December 11, 2009

Blitzen Trapper - 2009-10-16 - Urbana, IL


Blitzen Trapper
2009-10-16
Canopy Club, Urbana, IL
Soundboard/Audience Matrix,
very good sound quality
mp3 @ 256 kbps (vbr 224-320)

Now this is an example of how great it is to have the availability of the internet and all these great music blogs. I never would have heard about or been interested in a band like Blitzen Trapper if it weren't for the music blogs (particularly those that have song samples. I think I heard these guys first through Aquarium Drunkard). I have long ago stopped trying to keep up with the hippest 'indie' or 'experimental' bands. It's just not worth it for me (probably because most are worthless). But every now and then you come across a really special and exciting 'new' group that blows you away. These guys have been called 'indie' and 'experimental', but really they are good old-fashioned 'edgy folk-rock', and have a retro sound that is really satisfying. They fit right in with other 'roots rock' type groups, but are a rarity and a revelation among most 'modern' indie bands. Check 'em out.

Disc 01:
01. Intro
02. Sleepytime In The Western World
03. God & Suicide
04. Stolen Shoes & A Rifle
05. Wild Mountain Nation
06. Canyon's Edge
07. Gold For Bread
08. Jericho
09. Love U
10. Echo11. Silver Moon
12. Furr
13. Country Rain
14. The Man Who Would Speak True

Disc 02:
01. Not Your Lover
02. Black River Killer
03. Lady On The Water
04. Going Down
05. Fire & Fast Bullets
06. Big Black Bird
07. Devil's A-Go-Go
08. Booksmart Baby
09. Saturday Night
10. Harvest [Neil Young]
11. Country Caravan
12. Miss Spiritual Tramp

Friday, December 4, 2009

BoDeans - 1988-04-20 - Boston

BoDeans
1988-04-20
The Metro, Boston, MA
WBCN FM Radio Broadcast
Sound quality A-
mp3 @ 320

Here's another great Midwestern 'Roots Rock' band that never quite got the recognition and appreciation they deserved. Lead by Sam lllanas and Kurt Neumann, The BoDeans have endured through thick and thin as a hard-working rock band, and they are still performing today. Unfortunately, for a band that has toured extensively over the years, there are very few shows available. This is the best one I've come across, a high quality radio broadcast from 1988 that highlights songs from their first two albums. However, this comes a full year before what I consider by far their best album and touring period (Home, 1989, tours 1989-1993), thus, as good as this is, it doesn't include any of my most favorite BoDeans songs. If anyone has or knows of the existence of good quality shows from the 1989 or 1991 tours, I would love to get them. But, for now, this serves as a fine introduction to the BoDeans.

disc 1 [64:24]
01. intro / 69 Blues (You Ain't Around)
02. Only Love
03. Still the Night
04. Angels
05. The Strangest Kind
06. Fadeaway
07. Don't Be Lonely
08. Forever Young (The Wild Ones)
09. What It Feels Like
10. Dreams
11. That's All
12. Stella
13. Say You Will
14. Misery
15. She's a Runaway

disc 2 [38:00]
01. Say about Love
02. Good Work / band intro
03. The Ballad of Jennie Rae
04. Sylvia
05. Lookin' for me Somewhere
06. Can't Hardly Wait [Replacements]
07. I Wanna be Sedated [Ramones]
08. Land Of 1,000 Dances [Cannibal & The Headhunters]
09. I'm in Trouble Again / outro

Sam Llanas -- vocals & guitar
Kurt Neumann -- vocals & guitar
Bob Griffin -- bass
Susan Julian -- piano
??? -- drums

Tape flips between 11 and 12, and between 205 and 206.
Tracks 2-02 and 2-05 include 60 secs of announcer gab during encore breaks

New Links! (Updated 09/28/21)
disc 1: BoDeans-1988-04-20-Boston_D1.rar