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The Tubes - Darted In My Own Armchair - 1976

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My first memories of The Tubes , was hearing Radio Caroline play 'Don't Touch Me There' back in 1976, at a time when BBC Radio & the UK's fledgling commercial stations bent over backwards to ban anything that was remotely risque, or questionable... well anything! A number of The Tubes band members were students at the same high school in Phoenix, Arizona, as Alice Cooper, what were they putting in the water back there and then? This recording was made at a time when The Tubes were arguably moving towards their first creative peak, which was both visual and musical. This then is The Tubes live at the Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, USA, on the 26th June 1976. Source: Tricky one this. I thought it was definitely an expanded version of a King Biscuit Flower Hour recording, however their site partly contradicts this, any how it's a professionally mixed recording. Sound Quality: Very good stereo soundboard quality @ 192kbps. Genre: Rock, from Pop Rock to New Wav...

Nils Lofgren - Pinkpop Festival 1977

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It was the UK's NME (New Musical Express), that introduced me to Nils Lofgren , way back when I was a much, much, younger person in the second half of the 1970's. I was so impressed I went about purchasing his earlier material with 'Grin', and feel a strange personal satisfaction that has been such a key member of Bruce Springsteen's 'E Street Band'. This then is Nils Lofgren and band, back on the 30th May 1977, at the Pink Pop Festival, Geleen, Holland. Source: Local FM radio broadcast. Sound Quality: Very Good quality FM Stereo off air recording converted to 320kbps MP3. Genre: Rock, Blues Rock, high quality guitar and vocals. Set: Part of the festival set (as far as I know), for FM broadcast featuring key songs. Set List: 1.Incidentally it's over. 2.Like rain. 3.Code of the road. 4.Keith don't go. 5.Moon tears. 6.I came to dance. Total Playing Time 38:01 Links: Official Site (very good) HERE . Informative Wikipedia entry HERE . Comments: Nil...

The Rutles - Rehearsals

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Who can forget the legend that was Ron, Dirk, Stig, and Barry? The 'Prefab Four' remain in our hearts forever, a legend in their own lunchtime, always to be remembered as The Rutles . OK I hope you know the story, and some of the music, if not, and if you like The Beatles and love a good laugh this is the perfect parody. This particular recording is from The Rutles pre tour rehearsals, not sure where, its great music though, and also known as 'Sweet Rutles Tracks'. Source: Studio rehearsals 1978. Sound Quality: Good quality stereo (studio rehearsal 'live' recording). Genre: Parody, comedy, musically think The Beatles. Set: Part of studio rehearsal's with some archive Rutles video soundbites. Set List: We've Arrived 3:25 Now She's Left You 1:41 Number One 2:40 Love Life 3:23 Goose-Step Mama 2:34 It's Looking Good 1:56 I Must Be In Love 2:17 Baby Let Me Be 2:44 Good Times Roll 3:08 ...

Rockpile - Live In Concert 1979

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This Rockpile live in concert collection was originally circulated on bootleggers 'Great Live Records' (GLR 9235). It is in fact an edit from two concerts, predominately the latter part of two gigs, both most likely to have been recorded in New York, USA, towards the end of Rockpile's fourth USA tour. Source: Most likely from two FM broadcasts, King Biscuit Flower Hour recorded their final tour show, (however this specific concert does not appear on their site), so their is some guessing on the set list sources below, (any music detectives out there who know more?). Sound Quality: FM stereo, all good listenable standard, you will note a change in audio levels on the last four tracks. Genre: Rock, Rockabilly, Pub Rock. Set: Ten songs split over two gigs. Set List: (Probable Palladium New York 20th August 1979) 1. Crawling From The Wreckage 3:03 2. Girls Talk 3:34 3. Cruel To Be Kind 3:07 4. I Hear You Knocking 2:29 ...

New (and not so new) Music Round Up - March 2009

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Having taken a rather long break from this site for the latter part of last year, I still have a rather sizable backlog of musical recommendations to share, however lets start with something brand spanking new ! Pree , (pictured) led by May Tabol (formerly of Le Loup) emerged onto the DC (USA) music scene with a 'string of compelling and intimate shows' during the summer of 2008. The Washington Post describe them as 'a cross between Joanna Newsom and Modest Mouse' , for my part I would also relate them to Regina Spektor, however all of that said, they have a unique sound, and to put it simply, having listened to their forthcoming release last night, they are superb. Their debut release 'A Chopping Block' (5 song EP), is officially released on March 24th. Take a listen to 'In The Parlor' for a flavour of this exciting band. Listen: MP3: In The Parlor Web Link: My Space Pre-Order - Kora Records Amazing Baby are currently mixing their debut album in New ...

Steppenwolf - Live In London 1972

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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 ...

Mott The Hoople - Santa Monica Civic Auditorium - 1974

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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 Th...

The Sugarcubes - Live In Manchester - 1988

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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 ...

Midnight Oil - Acoustic 1993

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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 o...

Steve Earle & The Train Band - Live in Atlanta 1995

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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 L...

Madness - Aqua Folies - New York 1983

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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 ...

Nick Lowe - Live In New York - 1985

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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. S...

Amy MacDonald - Live in Germany - 2008

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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...

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

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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 ...

X-Ray Spex - Live at CBGB's 1978

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This is X-Ray Spex playing live at CBGB's in New York USA, on the 17th March 1978. X-Ray Spex were one of the few female (Poly Styrene) fronted punk bands from that era and were summed up more recently by John Lydon as follows - "Them, they came out with a sound and attitude and a whole energy - it was just not relating to anything around it - superb ." Source: Possibly soundboard (levels and audience noise suggest this is the case). Sound Quality: 1970's punk - come on don't expect Hi-Fi - highly listenable good quality stereo will have to do! Genre: Punk (UK) - New Wave Set: Full live concert Set List: 1 - Artificial 2 - I'm obsessed with you 3 - Let's submerge 4 - Identity 5 - Plastic bag 6 - I live off you 7 - Germ free adolescents 8 - I'm a poser 9 - Genetic engineering 10 - I'm a cliche 11 - The day the world turned dayglo 12 - Oh bondage up yours! 13 - Artificial 14 - Identity Links: Official Website HERE ,...

Garbage - Dallas Texas - 1998

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With one of Scotland's (UK) finest female vocalists, it's easy to forget that Garbage are primarily an American band from Madison Wisconsin. This is Garbage back on the 15th October 1998 live in concert at the Bronco Bowl, Dallas, Texas, USA. Source: I am uncertain, the originator of this copy suggests soundboard, however it may be from local FM (anyone shed some light on this?). Sound Quality: Highly listenable (soundboard?) good stereo at 160kbps. Genre: Indie / Alternative Rock Set: Full live concert Set List: 1. Temptation Waits 2. Not My Idea 3. I Think I'm Paranoid 4. Special 5. My Lover's Box 6. Hammering In My Head 7. Thirteen 8. #1 Crush 9. Stupid Girl 10. Vow 11. Wicked Ways 12. Queer 13. Push It 14. Only Happy When It Rains 15. You Look So Fine 16. Milk 17. Trip My Wire 18. When I Grow Up Links: Official Website HERE MySpace site HERE and Wikipedia HERE . Comments: It seems likely Garbage have run their course, which is preferable to releasing a tire...

Amy Macdonald - Live In Stockholm - October 2008

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Amy Macdonald performed close to one hundred gigs last year, along with a host of promotional appearances. This is Amy in concert on the 29th October 2008, live at Debaser Medis, Stockholm, Sweden. Source: Audience recording, front area, close to centre. Sound Quality: For audience - excellent! stereo (mixed as a labor of love - just listen) low audience noise - highly listenable. Genre: Indie Pop - acoustic plus band. Set: Full live performance with two tracks missing in action, lets hope they make it home. Set List: 01 Bag pipe introduction 02 Poison Prince 03 L.A. 04 Youth of Today 05 Barrowland Ballroom 06 Footballers Wife 07 Mr. Brightside (08 I wish for something more - sorry missing from this edit) 09 Mr. Rock and Roll 10 Next Big Thing 11 This is the Life 12 Hallelujah 13 Troubled Soul 14 Run 15 'Crowd encore' (16 Dancing in the dark - sorry missing from this edit) 17 'Band presentation' 18 The Road to Home 19 Let's Start a Band Links: Official site HE...