The Byrds & The Flying Burrito Brothers - 1970-09-19 - Whisky a Go Go, Los Angeles, CA

The Byrds & Flying Burrito Brothers
1970-09-19
Whisky A Go Go, Los Angeles, CA
Soundboard recording, very good quality
mp3@320 kbps
Artwork Included

Here is a rare gem of a recording that superbly documents a unique live event, the merging of the Byrds and Flying Burrito Brothers into a one big jam session at the Whisky A Go Go in fall 1970, and with very good sound quality, too.  This is another recording I recently obtained from Rocking-Byrd (Much Thanks!), and apparently it has only recently surfaced. It is such a delight I just had to share it here, too. This is a great pairing, and features what is arguably the best lineups from each band regarding their live shows (with Byrds featuring McGuinn and Clarence White and FBB featuring Hillman, Bernie Leadon, and newcomer Rick Roberts). I've already talked somewhat about the entwined histories of these bands, and the various lineups over the years, so I'll just put in here an excerpt from the review that came along with this recording that more fully explains this event (Full extended review included with download).
"...In 1970, Just three days after the release of Untitled, The Byrds new double album (featuring both live and studio recordings), both The Byrds and The Flying Burrito Brothers were booked for a series of six shows over three nights at the Whisky A Go-Go in their home town of Los Angeles. This run would also be Rick Roberts' debut with The Burritos, who were still yet to recognize the extent of his talent. The Whisky only held several hundred people and The Byrds hadn't performed there since October of 1968, so tickets were a hot commodity. Surrounded by family and friends (in addition to having a common fanbase), this run guaranteed a three-night party, playing to packed houses for every show.
Logistically, these shows were challenging as The Byrds' P.A. system was designed for much larger venues and because, between the two groups, there was a lot of equipment. Strict time constraints required the downtime to be minimal, so all equipment from both bands (including two drum kits) needed to be squeezed onto the tiny Whisky A Go-Go stage. To accommodate the Byrds' P.A., cabinets were wired to multiple locations around the room. Each 90-minute show was structured with the FBBs performing a 45-minute opening set, immediately followed by a 45-minute set by The Byrds. This basic format continued throughout the run until the final night, when the two groups hatched a plan for the late show. For this final show of the run, the FBBs would begin their set as usual, but after several songs, they invited The Byrds out for an informal jam session. The rest of the night would feature both bands performing together for the very first time." [Ed. Note: Actually, not the first time, as both bands, with somewhat different lineups, also performed together a year and a half earlier, on 2/23/69, their final night together in a series of Boston Tea Party shows. Unfortunately, a recording from this previous event, although rumored to exist, has never become available.]
"Until now, this event has been relegated to the stuff of legend, but presented here are the complete recordings of that very set, recorded by Byrds' sound engineer Dinky Dawson. Despite the challenging circumstances of such a tiny room, Dawson's soundboard cassette masters manage to capture a great deal, with all of the instruments and vocals audible. The balance is not perfect, but in this instance, the good far outweighs the bad. Surprisingly, the recording is also in stereo, with McGuinn and Hillman's vocals panned to opposite channels, allowing listeners to clearly enjoy each individually, as they sing together for the first time in years. The setlist is a Byrds-lover's dream, containing material from both Sweethearts Of The Rodeo and The Notorious Byrd Brothers albums, in addition to classic early material. Despite the unrehearsed and somewhat intoxicated nature of these performances, it is obvious these musicians are having an awful lot of fun together. Seemingly eager to dig in to every song, downtime is kept to a minimum, as The FBBs and The Byrds collaborate on stage for the first [make that second] time ever." (Alan Bershaw - text obtained from Rocking-Byrd's site).

tracklist:
The Flying Burrito Brothers
1. The Train Song (1:14)
2. Payday (4:45)
3. Wake Up Little Suzie (4:46)
4. Colorado (4:48)
5. Break My Mind (2:32)
6. Trying To Reach My Goal (3:50)
The Byrds & The Flying Burrito Brothers together
7. Roll Over Beethoven (2:53)
8. You Don't Miss Your Water (4:06)
9. I'll Feel A Whole Lot Better (2:29)
10. Hickory Wind (3:49)
11. So You Want To Be A Rock 'N' Roll Star (2:36)
12. Bells Of Rhymney (3:44)
13. Close Up The Honky Tonks (2:47)
14. Time Between (2:28)
15. Mr Spaceman (3:30)
16. Turn Turn Turn (2:04)
17. Mr Tambourine Man (2:12)
18. Eight Miles High (15:49)
19. Wasn't Born To Follow (1:58)
20. Chimes Of Freedom (3:20)
21. You Ain't Going Nowhere (3:19)
22. Hold It (1:28)

The Flying Burrito Brothers :
Chris Hillman - vocals, bass, guitar, mandolin
Bernie Leadon - vocals, guitar
Rick Roberts - vocals, guitar
"Sneaky" Pete Kleinow - pedal steel guitar
Michael Clarke - drums, percussion

The Byrds :
Roger McGuinn - vocals, guitar
Clarence White - vocals, guitar
Gene Parsons - drums, percussion, vocals
Skip Battin - bass, vocals
Jim Seiter - percussion

New Link! (08/27/21):
 Byrds__Flying_Burrito_Brothers_Whisky-A-Go_1970-09-19.rar.html

New Year Reflections

Well, here we are at the start of a new year. As John Lennon so succinctly said 'Another year over and a new one just begun'. Many are glad that 2011 is finally over, as it has been a very tough year. But will 2012 be any better? Let's certainly hope so. Musically, however, 2011 was actually a very good year, with lots of great albums and songs, many new and emerging artists, and important albums from numerous iconic artists. Oh sure, the pop world was dominated by Adele, Lady Gaga, and Justin Bieber, but for the rest of us there were major new releases from Radiohead, Wilco, Tom Waits, My Morning Jacket, Ryan Adams, Bon Iver, The Black Keys, Coldplay, Fleet Foxes, and Blitzen Trapper, among many others. My Favorite among these was probably Wilco's The Whole Love, overall one of their very best albums. These fine albums coupled with the popular acceptance of traditional and roots-related artists, such as Mumford & Sons and Fleet Foxes, lead to one superb year of all kinds of different musical styles. But probably my favorite release of the year, and the one I have been playing the most over the past few couple months, is Ben Folds' 3-CD Retrospective: The Best Imitation of Myself, an excellent look at various aspects of Ben's great career output, featuring a 1-CD 'best of' compilation, 1-CD of previously unreleased live tracks, and 1-CD of (mostly) previously unreleased demos, rarities, and oddities. The single CD 'best of' version is great for people to get a feel for Ben's more mainstream music, but if you are interested in Ben at all, you have to get the 3-CD full-length version, as most of the stuff of interest to fans is located there. The whole thing is just a great listen.

OK, as for the blog, 2011 also was a pretty good year. The primary feature added last year was the exclusive presentation of previously unreleased audience recordings from David M, and it was great to be able to present these on the blog, and to the world. With these shows, the blog focus shifted a bit more towards classic Country-rock, at least temporarily, and it was a great run of shows throughout the year. The most popular of these were, not surprisingly, the Eagles and Neil Young shows, but Gram Parsons, The Souther Hillman Furay Band, The Flying Burrito Brothers, JD Souther, and Gene Clark also received very strong support and downloads. In total, all these newly available David M recordings together received nearly 20,000 downloads throughout the year. I certainly hope you checked some of those out, and enjoyed them as much as I did. Alot of other great stuff was also posted in 2011. Overall, the most popular posts were undoubtedly the Steely Dan stuff, particularly the outtakes. The Lost Gaucho Outtakes were downloaded more than anything else ever on this blog, with nearly 4000 downloads in less than a year. Once again, Neil Young, The Kinks, The Band, and Genesis posts, were also very popular, as well as Jackson Browne and America, and surprisingly, The Rutles. It was also great to see some of the lesser known stuff getting substantially more interest and downloads this year, such as The Fabulous Poodles, Deaf School, Steve Goodman, Timbuk3, and the Pousette-Dart Band .

On a personal level, it also became clear that I have only a limited amount of time I can devote to the blog, and although I enjoy it very much, the level of posting seen in 2011 is about all I can handle, at least for now. 2011 was for the first year that I have not increased the number of posts from the previous year, so I have basically hit the wall, I guess. So, although I know that most readers want to see more new posts and content regularly, for this blog, you'll have to accept that this rate, about 5-6 posts per month, is all you are going to get here. However, I will still try to maintain the high level of quality of the posts, and only post stuff that is not readily available elsewhere (and be stuff I really think is worthwhile). So, there you have it, a bit of a look back at the past year, and forward to the new one as well. May you all have a very prosperous and enjoyable new year. Stay tuned (even if you sometimes have to wait between posts).

Dan Fogelberg - 1984-05-29 - New York MSG

Dan Fogelberg (with full band)
May 29, 1984
Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
The Lostbrook Tape Series - Volume 83
Audience Recording, Very Good Quality
mp3 @ 320 kbps
Artwork Included

OK, here's another great Dan Fogelberg show, also from the Lostbrook Tape series (as promised), this one from a few years later (1984), and with a full band. The show features a great setlist and a nice balance between the full band songs and the quiet acoustic songs.

Tracklist
01 Times Like These - The Language Of Love - Wishing On The Moon
02 Heart Hotels
03 The Reach
04 Hard To Say
05 Empty Cages
06 Sweet Magnolia (And The Traveling Salesman)
07 Make Love Stay
08 Leader Of The band
09 Same Old Lang Syne
10 Down The Road - Morning Sky
11 Run For The Roses
12 Go Down Easy
13 Life Is Like A Mountain Railway - Band Intros
14 Tell Me To My Face
15 Let Her Go
16 Tulsa Time
17 Part Of The Plan
18 There's A Place In The World For A Gambler
19 Roll Me Little Sister
20 Run Run Run

New link! (Updated 12/18/13)
Dan_Fogelberg_1984-05-29_NY-Lostbrook83.rar

Dan Fogelberg - 1979-04-18 - St. John's University, New York

Dan Fogelberg (solo acoustic)
1979-04-18
St. John's University, New York, NY
Lostbrook Tape Series Vol. 21
Audience recording, very good quality
mp3 @ 320 kbps

Here's another show that has already appeared at a few other sites, but I thought it was also worth posting here. Somewhat recently (over the past year), several good quality Dan Fogelberg shows have become available, which has been great, since there were very few around. This is one, from a solo acoustic show at St. John's University in 1979. This is from the Lostbrook Tape series, which also has another very good Fogelberg show (If I get a chance, maybe I'll post that one too, or some other Fogelberg shows soon). This one is great, first, because it has very good sound, second, it is solo acoustic, and also because it is a little earlier in his career and features different songs than many of the other available shows. Anyway, enjoy this one, it makes a nice companion to the recently posted Jackson Browne acoustic shows.
     
Tracklist:
01 Introduction
02 Netherlands
03 Once Upon A Time
04 Stars
05 Crow
06 Old Tennessee
07 Song From Half Mountain
08 Someone's Been Telling You Stories
09 To The Morning
10 Paris Nocturne
11 Next Time
12 Manha De Carnaval
13 Guitar Etude No.3
14 Plastered In Paris
15 I Was Never Much
16 Full Moon Mansion
17 Same Old Lang Syne
18 Morning Sky
19 Illinois
20 Part Of The Plan
21 There's A Place In The World For A Gambler

New link! (Updated 10/08/21)
Dan_Fogelberg_-_1979-04-18_-_NY.rar

Jackson Browne - Song Traveler (Live Solo Acoustic Compilation 1970-2004)

Jackson Browne
Song Traveler
8-CD Compilation of Live Solo Acoustic Performances 1970-2004
Various audience recordings, mostly good to very good quality
mp3 @ 320 kbps

Here's a special gift for all the Jackson Browne fans out there, an 8-CD fan compilation that puts together "all the best available solo acoustic performances" from throughout Jackson's concert career (or at least from 1970-2004). Although Jackson is also fine when playing with a band, he is at his best in these solo acoustic performances, and they show off his artistry and mastery as a songwriter and performer, giving subtle new meanings to old and new favorites and classics. The first 5 discs contain Jackson's songs roughly arranged by songwriting period (from earliest to latest), with discs 6&7 devoted to covers, and disc 8 with rare and alternate versions of classic songs. It's a very thorough and impressive collection, and an undoubtedly painstaking and time-consuming endeavor, compiling performances from literally several dozens of shows. Naturally, the sound quality does vary somewhat from show to show, but overall quality is very good. Now, this is not my compilation, but I have no idea who originally put this excellent compilation together (I got it from another site, and it came with little supporting info). From a google search, one of the torrent sites attributes it to someone called Jayhawk, so thanks to them, or whoever it was, 'cause this is some great stuff. The compilation even includes a track from the 2002 Maine solo acoustic show I was at ('Nothing But Time', which was originally written and recorded after a show in Maine for the Runnin' On Empty album. Although listed here as being in Bangor, the show was actually in Orono, on the University of Maine campus). Anyway, although a bit too much to take in all at once, this is a real treat for us fans. Enjoy.

Tracklist:
Disc One (64:51) (1st album, For Everyman era songs)
01. A Child In These Hills - Hollywood 4-6-70
02. Jamaica Say You Will - Santa Monica 10-12-97
03. Looking Into You - Richmond 5-17-00
04. Colors Of The Sun - Philadelphia 1-23-72
05. Doctor My Eyes - Tokyo 4-22-04
06. I Thought I Was A Child - Jacksonville 4-10-00
07. Ready Or Not - Stamford 5-9-02
08. Redneck Friend - Greensboro 5-21-02
09. Under The Falling Sky - Berkeley 10-9-97
10. Something Fine - Paris 11-4-96
11. Song For Adam - Olympia 8-17-00
12. Rock Me On The Water - Olympia 8-17-00
13. Our Lady Of The Well - Paris 11-4-96
14. The Times You've Come - Paris 11-4-96
15. These Days - Baltimore 5-18-02
16. My Opening Farewell - Chicago 2-21-72
17. Together Again (Holiday Inn) - Syracuse 3-27-71

Disc Two (74:34) (Late For The Sky, The Pretender)
01. For Everyman - Hamburg 11-15-96
02. Before The Deluge - Hamburg 11-15-96
03. The Birds Of St. Marks - Providence 5-10-02
04. Fountain Of Sorrow - Richmond 5-17-02
05. The Late Show - Udine 11-28-04
06. Farther On - Paris 11-4-96
07. Shadow Dream Song - Syracuse 3-27-71
08. Here Come Those Tears Again - London 11-1-04
09. Walking Slow - Providence 5-10-02
10. The Road And The Sky- Osaka 4-27-04
11. For A Dancer - Greenville 4-9-00
12. Sing My Songs To Me - Toganga 8-20-04
13. Late For The Sky - Richmond 5-17-00
14. Linda Paloma - London 11-11-96
15. Sleep's Dark And Silent Gate - Berkeley 10-9-97
16. The Only Child - Nottingham 10-30-04
17. Take It Easy - Kansas City 11-14-03
18. Daddy's Tune - Linden 6-22-04

Disc Three (75:17) (Runnin On Empty, Hold Out, Lawyers in Love)
01. The Pretender - Cedar Rapids 7-10-00
02. You Love The Thunder - Omaha 7--6-00
03. Rosie - Cedar Rapids 7-10-00
04. Cocaine - Hilversum 12-8-76
05. Call It A Loan - Santa Monica 10-12-97
06. Of Missing Persons - Amsterdam 11-17-96
07. Love Needs A Heart - Barcelona 11-22-96
08. Nothing But Time - Bangor 5-6-02
09. Lawyers In Love - Stockholm 11-9-04
10. Tender Is The Night - Topeka 7-11-00
11. Somebody's Baby - Osaka 4-28-04
12. Soldier Of Plenty - Redwood City 2-27-02
13. For America - Udine 11-28-04
14. Your Bright Baby Blues - Santa Cruz 12-21-98
15. Running On Empty - London 11-11-96
16. The Load Out >>> Stay - Rome 11-5-96
17. Just Like Forever - Hollywood 10-16-77

Disc Four (74:48) (Lives in the Balance, World in Motion, I'm Alive)
01. I'm Alive - Madrid 3-21-99
02. In The Shape Of A Heart - Madrid 3-21-99
03. Lawless Avenues - Santa Monica 10-12-97
04. Black And White - Brooklyn 5-5-99
05. Enough Of The Night - Portland, Or 10-29-98
06. Everywhere I Go - Hamburg 11-15-96
07. Miles Away - Shreveport 6-9-00
08. Nino - Brighton 10-18-04
09. Too Many Angels - Olympia 11-17-00
10. Two Of Me, Two Of You - London 11-9-96
11. World In Motion - Chicago 10-17-00
12. Lives In The Balance - Greenville 4-9-00
13. When The Stone Begins To Turn - Tokyo 9-30-89
14. Take This Rain - Birmingham, Uk 11-14-04
15. Lights And Virtues - London 11-11-96
16. Sky Blue And Black - Richmond 5-17-00
17. All Good Things - Stamford 5-9-02

Disc Five (70:55) (Looking East, Naked Ride Home)
01. The Naked Ride Home - Rochester 5-17-02
02. The Night Inside Me - San Francisco 8-30-02
03. For Taking The Trouble - Stamford 5-9-02
04. The Barricades Of Heaven - Los Angeles 3-3-98
05. About My Imagination - Den Haag 11-24-04
06. Casino Nation - New York City 10-25-02
07. Alive In The World - Hamburg 11-15-96
08. The Rebel Jesus - Santa Cruz 12-21-98
09. Looking East - Washington 4-25-98
10. Some Bridges - Washington 4-25-98
11. World In Motion - Chicago 10-17-00
12. The Next Voice You Hear - Chicago 10-17-00
13. Never Stop - Stamford 5-9-02
14. I'm The Cat - Hamburg 11-15-96
15. Sergio Leone - Osaka 4-28-04
16. My Stunning Mystery Companion - South Bend 10-19-03

Disc Six (50:50) (Covers)
01. The Crow On The Cradle - Los Angeles 8-15-99
02. Hasten Down The Wind - Columbus 10-16-03
03. Jazzbird - Seattle 6-1-01
04. Jesus In 3/4 Time - Syracuse 3-27-71
05. Mohammed's Radio - Udine 11-28-04
06. Long Distance Love - Greenville 4-9-00
07. Lawyers, Guns And Money - South Bend 10-19-03
08. Redemption Song - Amsterdam 11-17-96
09. The Road - Udine 11-28-04
10. Roland The Headless Thompson Gunner - Stockholm 11-9-04
11. Sweet Little Sixteen - Chicago 2-21-72
12. Tiki Torches At Twilight - Stamford 5-9-02
13. Waterloo Sunset - Tokyo 9-30-90
14. I Am A Patriot - Madison 7-19-86
15. Pretty Girl Rules The World - Culver City 3-14-94
16. Danza Da Lua En Santiago - Madrid 3-19-97
17. Tracks of My Tears - ? 1995)
18. When A Man Loves A Woman - ? 1987

Disc Seven (45:27) (Covers)
01. Man Of Constant Sorrow - Los Angeles 8-15-99
02. Peaceful Easy Feeling - London 5-18-72
03. Across The Borderline - Nagoya 4-30-04
04. Poor Poor Pitiful Me - Rockford 11-7-03
05. Desperados Under The Eaves - South Bend 10-19-03
06. Tell Me Why - Topanga 9-3-04
07. El Salvador - Spilinbergo 7-24-97
08. My Personal Revenge - San Francisco 4-29-90
09. Mutineer - Melbourne 4-16-04
10. Shaky Town - Osaka 4-27-04
11. Werewolves Of London - Hamburg 11-15-96
12. Carmelita - Melbourne 4-16-04
13. Freebird - Little Rock 6-7-00
14. Volunteer - Washington, Dc 10-27-03
15. You **** You - Pittsburgh 5--14-02

Disc Eight (77:03) (Rare, Alternate Versions)
01. Don't You Want To Be There (Guitar Version) - Osaka 4-26-03
02. Rock Me On The Water (Guitar Version) - Rome 11-5-96
03. Jamaica Say You Will (Guitar Version) - Stony Brook 2-24-72
04. Doctor My Eyes (Early Version) - London 5-18-72
05. Cocaine (Rehab Version) - Ballybofey 7-31-97
06. For Taking The Trouble (Early Version) - Ojai 11-5-00
07. These Days (Piano Version) - Cedar Rapids 7-10-00
08. These Days (Early Guitar Version) - Syracuse 3-27-71
09. Never Stop (Newer Lyrics) - London 11-1-04
10. Black And White (Guitar Version) - Spilinbergo 7-24-97
11. Alive In The World (Guitar Version) - Barcelona 3-21-99
12. Linda Paloma (Piano Version) - Hilversum 12-8-76
13. Your Bright Baby Blues (Alternate Arrangement) - Udine 11-28-04
14. Late For The Sky (Alternate Arrangement) - Osaka 4-26-03
15. Doctor My Eyes-About My Imagination - Richmond 5-17-00
16. Running On Empty (Alternate Arrangement) - Santa Barbara 3-28-04
17. Don't You Want To Be There (With Trumpet) - Santa Barbara 3-28-04

New Links! Updated 02/01/24
disc1 - Jackson_Browne_Song_Traveler_d1.rar
disc2 - Jackson_Browne_Song_Traveler_d2.rar
disc3 - Jackson_Browne_Song_Traveler_d3.rar
disc4 - Jackson_Browne_Song_Traveler_d4.rar
disc5 - Jackson_Browne_Song_Traveler_d5.rar
disc6 - Jackson_Browne_Song_Traveler_d6.rar
disc7 - Jackson_Browne_Song_Traveler_d7.rar
disc8 - Jackson_Browne_Song_Traveler_d8.rar

America - 1972-02-? - Sigma Sound, Philadelphia FM

America
February 1972 (specific date unknown)
Sigma Sound Studios, Rainbow Room, Philadelphia, PA
WMMR-FM Broadcast, very good sound quality

NEW - Upgraded quality: Now available in Lossless (FLAC) as well as mp3 (320 kbps) versions (04/17/15)

I've got several items of great interest that I have accumulated from other sites over the past couple months that I also want to share here, and will try to post before the end of the year. Here is the first one, a great early America show that is just the thing that all America fans have been hoping would eventually turn up. It's a complete show radio broadcast from early 1972, when America was still performing as an acoustic trio. It's the most complete show that has surfaced from these early days, and in addition to the half dozen songs from their first album, the performance features a few that would later appear on Homecoming and Hat Trick, as well as four unreleased songs (that they refer to as 'experimental') that were only played at these early shows, then were dropped. And it is a very good quality recording. As I've said before, there are very few recordings available from these great early years of America, when their acoustic guitars, stellar vocal harmonies, and folk-rock style shined the brightest, and before George Martin turned them into a slick pop radio band a few years later. So, this was just a joy to find. I picked this up from T.U.B.E (theultimatebootlegexperience), so have to give him credit for making it available (don't know who first posted the torrents), but I also just had to post it here, as this is great stuff. Enjoy!

Tracklist:
01. Riverside
02. Sandman
03. I Need You
04. Submarine Ladies Part 2
05. Don't Cross The River
06. Winter of Our Love (Unreleased song)
07. Children
08. Three Roses - Comin' Into Los Angeles
09. Living Isn't Really Giving (Unreleased song)->;
10. The Rain Song (Unreleased song)
11. Horse With No Name
12. How Long Must This Go On (Unreleased song)
13. California Revisited

Gerry Beckley - vocals, guitars, bass
Dewey Bunnell - vocals, guitars
Dan Peek - vocals, guitars, bass, harmonica

There was a cut at ~4:50 mark of track 8, lasting about 7 seconds, due to a tape flip. However, I have fixed this by splicing in the missing section from an alternate tape source of this same show (recording from 1973 BBC broadcast) with a relatively seamless edit. So the recording is now complete, and this has been fixed in this upgraded version of the show.

New Links! Upgraded Files (08/31/21)
mp3  - America_1972_Philadelphia_FM_upgrade-mp3.rar

FLAC - America_1972_Philadelphia_FM_upgrade-FLAC.rar

BB Chronicles Christmas Chollection (2010)

BB Chronicles Echlectic Christmas Chollection 2010 (repost)

A unique mix of live and rare versions of Christmas, Winter, and Holiday Season songs from various artists.
Various recordings (FM, SBD, audience) of varying quality (mostly good to excellent)
mp3 @ 128 to 320 kbps

Here, once again, is my compilation of some lesser-known holiday songs that I put together last Christmas. Last year, however, by the time I got this put together and posted, it was so late in the season that many may have missed it, so I am highlighting it once again. Also, last year, I posted it in such a rush that I didn't get a chance to say much about it. So, this year I wanted to at least jot down a few notes about this compilation for anyone interested. I put this together from various versions and tracks I have compiled over the last several years. All of the versions here are live, otherwise unreleased, or available as free downloads, thus some of the versions are not the best quality (compared to the commercial releases). But, I think it is a fun and entertaining collection. I know there are many who are not that fond of Christmas songs in general, and modern versions of the same traditional songs in particular. But I happen to love the seasonal Christmas songs, and love to hear new and different versions of old classics, as well as original new Christmas-related songs. Thus, this collection features a mixture of old and new songs, heartfelt and jovial, serious and silly, but most probably by artists and versions you may not have heard before. Some of these tracks have been included in various other well-dispersed Christmas boots (Like Santa's Boots & Upon This Night), but there are several others that are unique to this compilation. I have purposely not included some of the more famous tracks & artists, but have gone with lesser-known versions and other stuff that I really like. Another thing I liked about putting this together is that it gave me chance to feature some of my favorite female vocalists that I have not had a chance to post here before.

I start  things off with a couple by the wonderful Aimee Mann (from a radio broadcast promoting her 2006 unconventional Christmas album, One More Drifter in the Snow, and as you might expect from her, it's not the most cheery Holiday album, but still very good), first a rather somber, but spirited 'God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman', followed by one of her own powerful originals, 'Calling Mary'. Next up is one I consider a Christmas Classic, but is not very well-known. It is the very beautiful, but melancholy 'Christmas Face' by Fisher. I first heard this over 10 years ago on the old mp3.com site, and it is just a gorgeous song. Fisher has survived their entire career solely on internet sales of their music, and they regularly offer their Christmas songs, including this one, for free download at their website. This is a seasonal favorite at my house. As good a start as those songs are, however, it was really time to lighten things up, so who better to bring some fun to the Holidays but The Barenaked Ladies, and their 'Jingle Bells' is a riot, perhaps the best version of this song ever (It starts all slow, overly serious, and pretentious, but then bursts into all out childish fun and glory, even including the perennial grade school variation verse [you know, 'Batman smells...' etc.]). Then things get even more ridiculous as Horatio Sanz and his SNL buddies take the stage with their ultra-cheesy, yet somehow cool, 'I Wish It was Christmas Today' taken from the original SNL broadcast (This may have been Horatio Sanz' finest moment on SNL). Then the 'Ladies are back with a clever and original ditty,'Elf's Lament' (from their excellent 2004 Barenaked for the Holidays album), a twisted take on a labor dispute at Santa's Workshop. Next, we return to somewhat more traditional holiday fair with Marti Jones' version of 'Rockin Around the Christmas Tree'. For those not familar with Marti, she was a wonderful female vocalist who had a string of fine albums in the '90's (Again, this is one of the best versions of this song I've heard). Then there is Bruce Cockburn with a gritty 'Early on one Christmas Morn', followed by Jackson Browne actually doing a cover of the little-known Timbuk3 satirical holiday protest song 'All I Want For Christmas is World Peace'. Next, is Steven Page (from BNL) in a fun duet with Rita MacNeil (Canadian TV hostess?) from her TV show. Next is another internet oldie, a song I discovered from the old mp3.com site over 10 years ago, a vocalist that went by the name C. Basinet doing 'Santa Baby' (I don't know anything about her, or what happened to her after this, but again, this is one of the best versions I have heard of this song). Then we have slightly different versions of some traditional songs done by Dave Alvin and Brian Setzer's Swing Orchestra, and a Greg Lake solo version of ELP's 'I Believe in Father Christmas', followed by a hilarious rebuttal by The Kinks, who have quite a different take on 'Father Christmas' (Unfortunately, the quality of this live version is sub-par, but it was the only decent unofficial recording of this classic I could find. If you have the original studio version, by all means substitute it in place here). Next is a short Christmas ditty from Yo La Tengo, a moving rendition of 'Please Come Home for Christmas' by Fiona Apple, and Rick Danko's 'Christmas Must Be Tonight'. Another underrated vocalist, Shawn Colvin, contributes a touching 'Merry Little Christmas', followed by a beautiful, stirring version of Joni Mitchell's classic 'River'. The Christmas portion of the collection comes to a rousing finish with Darlene Love's yearly revisit of 'Christmas (Please Come Home)' for the David Letterman Show (this was the 2006 version) of what has become a twenty-something-year TV holiday tradition. Then we move on to New Year's as Dave Edmunds rings it in with Chuck Berry's 'Run Rudolph Run' from an MTV NYE Bash (I think Edmunds studio version of this song is THE definitive version, even better than Chuck's own). Then Graham Parker gets serious and enlightens us about the 'New Year's Revolution', a great and compelling song. And finally, we close the whole thing out with a suitably austere and touching 'Auld Lang Syne' by Fisher. Anyway, so there it is, hope you like it. Let me know what you think of this compilation relative to other offbeat Christmas collections out there.

Hope you all have a Very Merry Christmas and Holiday Season.
Tracklist
01. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen - Aimee Mann (2006-12-11 - KCRW Santa Monica)
02. Calling Mary - Aimee Mann (2006-12-11 - KCRW Santa Monica)
03. Christmas Face - Fisher (free download - www.fishertheband.com)
04. Jingle Bells - Barenaked Ladies (2004-12-14 - WTMX Chicago)
05. I Wish It Was Christmas Today - SNL (H.Sanz, J.Fallon, C.Kattan, T.Morgan - TV)
06. Elf's Lament - Barenaked Ladies (2004-12-14 - WTMX Chicago)
07. Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree - Marti Jones (1995-12 - Birchmere FM)
08. Early On One Christmas Morn - Bruce Cockburn (1992-12-20 - NY FM)
09. All I Want For Christmas Is World Peace - Jackson Browne (1993-12-12 - NY FM)
10. Baby It's Cold Outside - Steven Page & Rita MacNeil (1993 Canada TV)
11. Santa Baby - C. Basinet (2000? - from old mp3.com site)
12. I'll Be Home For Christmas - Dave Alvin (1992-12-25 - Hollywood FM)
13. Sleigh Ride - Brian Setzer Orchestra - 2009-12-12 - Thackerville)
14. I Believe in Father Christmas - Greg Lake (1994-12 NY TV)
15. Father Christmas - The Kinks (1977-12-13 - Pawtucket)
16. It's Christmas Time - Yo La Tengo
17. Please Come Home For Christmas - Fiona Apple (live)
18. Christmas Must Be Tonight - Rick Danko (1997-12-08 - Wash. DC)
19. Merry Little Christmas - Shawn Colvin (1998-12-24 KGSR Austin FM)
20. River - Shawn Colvin (1998-12-24 KGSR Austin FM)
21. Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) - Darlene Love (2006-12-22 - Letterman Show TV)
22. Run Rudolph Run - Dave Edmunds (1986-12-31 - MTV RocknRoll Ball)
23. New Year's Revolution - Graham Parker (1994-12-18 FM)
24. Auld Lang Syne - Fisher - (free download - www.fishertheband.com)

New Link! Updated 12/05/23
BBChronicles_Christmas_2010.rar.

Some other Christmas-themed offerings still available here on the blog are:

A couple of Bruce Springsteen Live Holiday Collections available Here

Chicago's Live Christmas Show from 1998 available Here