Steppenwolf - Live In London 1972

This is Steppenwolf live in London, at some point in the summer of 1972. This concert has circulated on vinyl and Cd as 'Five Fingered Discount'.

Source: Possibly soundboard, however the recording sounds more like FM, sorry cannot confirm.

Sound Quality: Stereo 320kbps mp3 (Good clean sound).

Genre: Rock, from 60's psychedelic to Boogie and Blues.

Set: Edited to 45.30 minutes - vinyl album running length, there are a few 'harsh' edits between some tracks.

Set List:

01. Magic Carpet Ride 3:47
02. Sookie Sookie 3:28
03. Five Finger Discount 4:38
04. Hey Lawdy Mama 3:40
05. The Pusher 3:51
06. News I Can Use 5:05
07. Monster 9:03 --> a) Monster
--> b) Suicide
--> c) America
08. Nothin Like It 3:52
09. Hot Summer Night 3:18
10. Born To Be Wild 4:43

Links: Official web site HERE.

Comments: There are few details regarding this particular concert.

John Kay toured Europe as The John Kay Band in 1972, and also as Steppenwolf on the same bill, John Kay fronting both groups.

It is therefore likely to be from one of these gigs, and so, this might be the complete 'Steppenwolf' show, from the tour (are you still with me?)...

Whatever this is a feisty performance with the London audience clearly loving every minute.

Reloaded August 2015 see comments.

Mott The Hoople - Santa Monica Civic Auditorium - 1974

This is a very good copy of the classic Mott The Hoople bootleg, known on a double (original version vinyl) album as 'Rest In Peace' and on CD as 'Flash And Crash'.

The 'boot' notes suggest the concert recording was performed on the 13th April, however the poster from the gig, gives the concerts (matinee and evening or was it evening and very late evening?) as Friday 12th April 1974, perhaps they performed over two days at this venue.

The venue itself, was definitely the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, Santa Monica, California, USA.

Whatever! it was a long time ago, mind you, the support act seems familiar...

Source: FM Radio Broadcast (stereo local station).

Sound Quality: Very good - and as I understand from CD rip, hey just listen).

Genre: Rock, Hard and Boogie, Glam Rock (ouch I hate that expression).

Set: Not complete. This version of the show was edited to accommodate the Cd's running time, and omits the Jupiter intro, Here Comes The Queen (with guitarist Ariel Bender on vocals) and Born Late 58 (with bassist Overend Watts on vocals).

Set List: (this edition).

1. American Pie

2. Golden Age Of Rock 'n' Roll

3. Sucker

4. Roll Away The Stone/Sweet Jane

5. Rest In Peace

6. One Of The Boys

7. Hymn For The Dudes

8. Marionette

9. Drivin' Sister/Crash Street Kidds

10. Violence

11. All The Way From Memphis

12. All The Young Dudes

13. Walkin' With A Mountain

Links: The 'official' site recently developed for the bands 40th anniversary London gigs scheduled (and sold out) for October 2009, has a great selection of other links, and of course is of interest in it's own right. - Just click HERE. Wikipedia history HERE.

Comments: This has been copied from a Mott The Hoople fan site.

The show (the second that day!) finds Ian struggling with bronchitis, but this is only noticeable at the start of the set. Sucker bristles with menace as always, and the Roll Away The Stone/Sweet Jane coupling is always a delight. Hymn For The Dudes is another delight before the band launch into Marionette - brutal on record and visually totally stunning. They then crank up the octane even more for the medley Drivin' Sister/Crash Street Kidds/Violence.

The same article goes on to recommend this concert as the best bootleg available for Mott The Hoople, in terms of sound quality and content.

Was it just five short years (1969 - 1974) that Mott The Hoople did their thing ? As reforming goes, you have to hand it to them !

Reloaded - 29/May/2015 - download link in comments. 
Buy mp3's at Amazon.co.uk - Mott The Hoople

The Sugarcubes - Live In Manchester - 1988

This is The Sugarcubes, arguably Iceland's most successful 'contemporary' music band, and as I am sure you already know, inclusive of Bjork, who within and outside of Iceland, has gone on to even greater musical success.

Recorded at Manchester University Student's Union, Manchester, England on the 14th May 1988, this is part of The Sugarcubes gig that night, that was then broadcast on BBC Radio One.

Source: FM Radio Broadcast (BBC Radio).

Sound Quality: Very Good stereo 'off air' recording, converted to 320kbps mp3 quality.

Genre: Alternative Rock, popular in both Europe and on USA College radio at the time.

Set: Live recording for BBC Radio - as I understand part of the nights gig. (Total playing time 29:48 minutes).

Set List:

1.Motorcrash.
2.Tidal Wave.
3.Planet.
4.Deus.
5.Traitor.
6.Water.
7.Sick For Toys.
8.Birthday.
9.Delicious Demon.

Band Line Up:

Björk Guðmundsdóttir (vocals, keyboards)
Einar Örn Benediktsson (vocals, trumpet)
Sigtryggur Baldursson (drums)
Þór Eldon (guitar)
Bragi Ólafsson (bass)
Einar Melax (keyboards)

Links: The Sugarcubes have very low commercial or informative web presence. To check out their discography use Bjorks official site HERE. The Sugarcubes record label (One Little Indian) pages are HERE.

Comments: The Sugarcubes were far more than just Bjork, you only have to listen to their music to know that, and yet without Bjork a key element of their chemistry and sound, would be missing.

I would imagine that I, along with many people in the UK, became aware of The Sugarcubes through John Peel's late night BBC radio show, and having listened, bought and enjoyed their music as a direct result. Their seemingly untimely conclusion was a disappointment.

However Bjorks solo debut album, built very naturally on their 'then' sound, and was very real compensation.

That said The Sugarcubes unique and adventurous sound should never be under estimated, as I am sure Bjork would continue to endorse.

Download link in comments below or click the picture.

Buy DRM free mp3's at Amazon.co.uk - Sugarcubes

Midnight Oil - Acoustic 1993

This is Midnight Oil performing live at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club in London, on the 23rd June 1993.

Source: Soundboard.

Sound Quality: Excellent stereo at 192kbps

Genre: Rock, Alternative Rock.

Set: Live acoustic performance, duration of recording: 00:53:54


Set List:

01 - Feeding Frenzy
02 - The Dead Heart
03 - My Country
04 - Blue Sky Mine
05 - Sell My Soul
06 - Truganini
07 - Warakurna
08 - Short Memory
09 - Beds Are Burning
10 - Earth And Sun And Moon

Band Line Up:

Bones Hillman: Bass, Vocals
Martin Rotsey: Guitars, Vocals
Robert Hirst: Drums, Vocals
Peter Garrett: Lead Vocals
Jim Moginie: Guitars, Keyboards, Vocals

Links: The official (record label) site HERE, and another comprehensive Wikipedia entry HERE.

Comments: This concert first surfaced as a bootleg in September 1993, titled 'Acoustic 1993'. The recording was notable for the excellent sound quality, which for acoustic sets makes all the difference.

Midnight Oil are one of Australia's finest rock bands in my personal opinion, both in the studio and in concert, this little gem, gives some insight into one aspect of the band, I have another 'electric' performance, that will follow in due course to provide the 'balance'.

Reloaded - 29/May/2015 - download link in comments. 
Buy DRM free mp3's at Amazon.co.uk - Midnight Oil

Steve Earle & The Train Band - Live in Atlanta 1995

This is Steve Earle & The Train Band live in concert at the Variety Playhouse, Atlanta, GA, USA, on the 30th November 1995.

Source: Very low generation copy of stereo soundboard recording.

Sound Quality: Excellent (very clean, slightly remastered when transferred to digital).

Genre: From Country to Rock (very diverse & hard to categorise at times in his career).

Set: Full concert including encores.

Set List:

Part One:

1. Mystery Train Part II
2. Hometown Blues
3. The Devil's Right Hand
4. Tom Ames' Prayer
5. Angel Is The Devil
6. Sometimes She Forgets
7. You Know The Rest
8. Goodbye
9. Band intros
10. The Other Kind
11. My Old Friend The Blues
12. Someday
13. South Nashville Blues
14. Ellis Unit One

Part Two:

1. I Ain't Ever Satisfied
2. Rivers Of Babylon (Dowe/McNaughton)
3. Nothin' Without You
4. When Will We Be Married? (Trad)
5. Ruby Ridge (Rowan) *
6. Free Mexican Air Force (Rowan) *
7. I'm Looking Through You (Lennon/McCartney)
8. White Freight Liner Blues (Van Zandt)
9. Jordan Am A Hard Road To Travel (Emmett) **
10. Northern Winds (Blake)
11. Ben McCulloch
12. Copperhead Road

Encores:

13. Guitar Town
14. Down The Road

* with: Peter Rowan on lead vocals
** with: Norman Blake on lead vocals

Train Band Line Up:
Peter Rowan - vocals, guitar.
Norman Blake - vocals, guitar.
Roy Husky Junior - upright bass.

Links: A concise summary of Steve Earle's eventful career to date HERE. Official website (kept up to date) HERE.

Comments: If you are a fan of Steve Earle's music, you will love this, if not, this makes a pretty good starting point.

This concert took place around a year after Steve had been released form jail (for fire arms and drug offences). He kicked his long standing drug habit in prison, and when released set about recording and touring.

His music diversified and the live performances improved substantially.

Steve continues to be a very active, this concert is just a point in time, and as previously mentioned a good point to discover the man.

Download links in comments below.

Buy Steve Earle mp3's at Amazon.co.uk - Steve Earle

Madness - Aqua Folies - New York 1983

This is a classic Madness bootleg originally circulated on CD as 'Aqua Folies' no doubt, as a result of the concert taking place at 'The Pier', Hudson River, New York City, USA.

This was part of their late summer (1983) USA tour, the actual gig took place on the 22nd August 1983.

Source: FM stereo broadcast, with advertisements and presenter links removed.

Sound Quality: Superb, 320kbps mp3 stereo version, fans and audio 'buffs' will not be disappointed.

Genre: Two Tone (how many record labels becomes a genre?), English Ska, OK it's great pop, that stands the test of time.

Set: Full set including encores, nicely edited as mentioned above.

Set List:

1. House Of Fun
2. Disappear
3. Close Escape
4. My Girl
5. Night Boat To Cairo
6. Tomorrows Dream
7. Razor Blade Alley
8. Tomorrows Just Another Day
9. Grey Day
10. Shut Up
11. Madness
12. Baggy Trousers
13. Our House
14. Madness (Is All In The Mind)
15. It Must Be Love
16. Primrose Hill
17. One Step Beyond

Links: A reasonably well rounded Wikipedia summary HERE. My Space (with forthcoming tour details) HERE.

Comments: I have only seen Madness live once, (in London, UK), and much later on than this.

I was absolutely 'blown away' by the fun, musical quality, showmanship, energy, and commitment, along with the fact that the audience very soon became a part of the whole event.

This concert does justice to that memory. There's probably a little more adrenalin and raw talent, and a tad less 'audience interaction' than they get on home soil, but all in all, it confirms to me they have been a consistently great band since those early, ground breaking days in the latter 1970's.

Download links in comments below.

Madness albums can be purchased at Amazon.co.uk - Madness

Nick Lowe - Live In New York - 1985

This is Nick Lowe and His Cowboy Outfit (featuring Paul Carrack), Live at The Ritz Theatre, New York, on the 19th October 1985.

Source: WNEW 102.7FM stereo broadcast.

Sound Quality: Stereo very good 'off air' recording - first generation.

Genre: Pub Rock, New Wave, from rock to country to soul to pop.

Set: Majority of concert (cannot confirm if WNEW edited out any stage of the gig).

Set List:

1. Raging Eyes 2:37
2. She Don't love Nobody 3:43
3. Cracking Up 2:41
4. Mary Provost 2:58
5. One Woman Man 2:11
6. Saint Beneath The Paint 3:26
7. Your My Wildest Dream 3:06
8. Shake And Pop 4:03
9. Tempted 4:03
10. Cruel To Be Kind 3:43
11. Rose Of England 3:30
12. Darling Angel Eyes 2:41
13. Seven Nights OF Rock 3:12
14. I Knew The Bride 3:10
15. I Need You 3:28
16. How Long 6:44
17. Half A Boy 2:59

Links: Very good Wikipedia synopsis HERE. Official site HERE.

Comments: Nick Lowe is one of those artists, that I assume is always busy doing something.

Either touring, producing, creating, always an individual, busy in the very 'engine room' of rock'n'roll.

These day's he can fill London's Albert Hall for live shows rather than a sweaty, smoke filled pub venue, somewhere in the suburbs.

Take a look at the Wikipedia article if you have five minutes, and remind yourself of his creative achievements, influence, and down to earth pretentious free career. If only more rock'n'roll stars were like this !

Download link in comments below.

A selection of Nick's CD's are available at Amazon - Nick Lowe

Amy MacDonald - Live in Germany - 2008

Amy Macdonald understandably made the most of the 'consistently warm reception' she received in Germany last year, clearly enjoying performing live, as we can hear on two specific gigs she along with her excellent band, had recorded for German radio networks.

She also made a number of promotional appearances for both TV and radio in Germany, and was filmed in Berlin towards the end of 2008.

These particular recordings have been circulated as 'The German Radio Broadcasts 2008 (FM)' either on double CD or as FLAC files on a few file sharing forums.

Source: Radio Broadcasts from WDR 2 and Radio Bremen.

Sound Quality: Excellent stereo recordings converted to MP3 @ 320kbps, very high quality.

Genre: Indie Pop - acoustic plus band.

Sets: In three parts:

Part One: Four promo recordings (from February 2008), with intros by Amy MacDonald, acoustic solo sets for WDR 2 recorded at the radio station and subsequently broadcast during the month.

01. This Is The Life
02. Poison Prince
03. Mr. Brightside
04. Mr. Rock & Roll

Part Two: Live in concert recorded at Kleiner Sendesaal, Cologne, on the 1st June 2008, for WDR 2 - Musikclub, and subsequently broadcast on the 15th June 2008.
01 Poison Prince
02 Mr Rock & Roll
03 Youth Of Today
04 This Is The Life
05 Mr Brightside
06 Footballers Wife
07 Barrowland Ballroom
08 Dancing In The Dark
09 Road To Home
10 Caledonia
11 Run

Part Three: Again live in concert (recorded on the 18th September 2008), for the 'New Pop Festival 2008' at Kurhaus, Baden-Baden, Germany. This appears to be a new syndicated venture for some European major radio groups, this copy broadcast on Radio Bremen (programme Bremen Vier Intensiv) on the 12th November 2008.

01 Poison Prince
02 L.A.
03 Youth Of Today
04 Mr. Rock'n'Roll
05 Next Big Thing
06 Footballers Wife
07 Mr. Brightside
08 Run
09 Dancing In The Dark
10 This Is The Life
11 Let's Start A Band

Links: Official site HERE,

Comments: All these performances were captured in top quality audio, more importantly the music and performances are sharp and feisty.

Amy's interaction with the audience makes for a great time for those who were fortunate enough to be there, and those of us who can listen again now.

Reloaded August 2015 see comments.

Neil Innes - Live at Maxwell's New Jersey - 2001

This is Neil Innes live in concert at Maxwell's Club in Hoboken, New Jersey, USA in the summer of 2001 with Yo Le Tango as the backup band.

Neil's pedigree as I am sure you well know, includes The Bonzo Dog Band, The Rutles, along with plenty of solo projects down the years. He is of course also known for his collaborative work with Monty Python.

Source: Audience recording - don't be put off, this is well beyond 'collectors' only.

Sound Quality: As audience goes - 'superb quality' with low audience noise and the sound levels are solid and consistent. I have left it as a Nero music file, you may want to convert to mp3 or download a free Nero media player.

Genre: Parody, Rock, Comedy, Wonderful - very British.

Set: Full concert to my knowledge.

Set List:

1 - I'm The Urban Spaceman 3:52

2 - Goose Step Mama 2:42

3 - Between Us 2:56

4 - Real World 4:16

5 - Piggy Bank Love 4:24

6 - Under The Electric Sun 5:33

7 - Crystal Ball 6:17

8 - Godfree Daniel 3:12

9 - L'amour Perdue 3:53

10 - Double Back Alley 5:19

11 - Humanoid Boogie 4:40

12 - Song For Europe 3:02

13 - Shangrila 6:01

14 - I Want To Be With You 3:15

15 - Ouch! 2:06

16 - I Must Be In Love 4:04

17 - Let's Be Natural 4:00

18 - Mr Apollo 5:13

Links: Official Website HERE. Doo Dah Diaries (a project to compile the complete history of the Bonzo's HERE.

Comments: This boot was originally circulated on a CD as 'Piggy Bank Love' a 'Bonzo Dog Band' song reference. I will as requested keep the source of this particular version to myself, however, I now know there are many other fans with great archive material, both sides of the Atlantic ocean.

Neil Innes performs solo, Bonzo's and Rutles material during this performance, with his own distinctive interaction with the audience.

Reloaded - 20/May/2015 - download link in comments.
Purchase Amazon mp3's - Neil Innes