The Rare Stuff

Mega-up-yours

2012-01-19T19:51:00.000-08:00

Though this blog has not been tended to in months, at least I could content myself (pardon the pun) that most of its content was still available. With today's action, that is no longer the case. That's a shame, but there is a much deeper issue here, and not just because this action was a blatant retaliation for the unprecedented public protest that took place on the web yesterday.

The Megaupload shutdown demonstrates that SOPA and PIPA are merely intended to codify actions the Federal Government ALREADY BELIEVES ITSELF empowered to perform. Just like NDAA; indefinite detention is already practiced, and now, clearly, is preemptive shutdown of websites without burden of proof. These are just measures to cover their asses legally.

So, as may you, I mourn the loss of my music files, but also, in a broader sense - and to risk sounding hyperbolic - be afraid, be very afraid. And I don't mean that they could shut down our blogs, but that they can shut down anyone, whenever. Remember, everything Hitler did was legal, too.

Hello again, and re: repost requests

2011-10-14T18:39:00.000-07:00

I'm glad people are still finding their way to the blog. Sorry for the links that are dead. Unfortunately, I've lost the compressed files and deleted the mp3s since posting, since I have the original CDs. So my delay in reposting those files is because I have to rip the discs, compress the files etc. all over again rather than just click and reup. Sorry, I know it's frustrating, especially since, as I designed, this is stuff you can't easily find elsewhere. I'll try to get 'em done over the next several weeks. And hopefully find time to post some new stuff, too.

R.E.M. - A Joyful Noise: In Time with R.E.M. [Radio Special and Exclusive Live Tracks]

2011-02-27T04:09:00.000-08:00

Now that the hype is gearing up for REM's new album (they turned in their punctuation marks a little while ago), I figured I should finally share this great promo item I promised a few months back. What we have here is an extensive and wide-ranging interview with Messrs. Buck, Mills and Stipe on the subject of their Warners years, released to promote the compilation In Time. It also features a bonus disc with six exclusive live-in-studio recordings. In the interest of avoiding piracy, I deleted six music tracks from the interview disc, however I left in a live version of "Drive" thinking it was exclusive to this disc; now I believe it's the same "Live at Greenpeace" version from the In Time Special Edition bonus disc. Don't tell.

I hope this is a good psycher-upper for the new disc, which is really supposed to be great -- and which, after all, marks the end of the band's Warner period, the last album under their contract with the major label they've been with since 1989. Enjoy -- link is in comments.

Wanna 'Mericana? Four from Marah, Three from Grant Lee Buffalo

2011-02-14T13:00:00.000-08:00

Just a quickie post today. Here are four great, rare tracks by Philadelphia's favorite sons, Marah, from a CD single and a promo EP from their awesome Kids in Philly album. If you don't know these guys, they are rock 'n' roll poets and true believers. The stompin' cover of Springsteen's "Streets of Philadelphia" is fun, the song about indie record shops brings a smile, and the two live versions of Kids tracks are smokin'.

Meanwhile, here are three live tracks from the Blue Plate Special EP released around the time of the first Grant Lee Buffalo album, Fuzzy. The version of Elvis' "Burning Love" is a hoot! The two album tracks on the EP are not included here. For that matter, neither is the "A" side of the "Point Breeze" Marah single.

A short, sharp shock of American rock, courtesy of Philly and Silverlake! Link in comments.

Radio Alert: Tim Buckley special today feat. his friend/lyricist, Larry Beckett

2011-02-11T00:01:00.000-08:00

Today (Friday, 2/11), from 1:30-3 PM Pacific time, I'll be hosting a special edition of my KBOO-FM Portland radio show, The Songcircle, paying tribute to Tim Buckley, who would have turned 64 this Valentine's day. I'm very excited to be joined by Tim's longtime friend and frequent lyrical collaborator, Larry Beckett. We'll count down his and Tim's ten favorite songs from their repertoire, with Larry sharing stories as well as an original poem about Tim.

Here's the link to the station if you want to listen live; I'll see about archiving the show online after it's done and let you know about that. Hope ya dig it!

http://kboo.fm/node/26636

Martha Wainwright: Factory EP (plus bonus track)

2011-02-10T15:22:00.000-08:00

Speaking of offspring of great singer-songwriters:

Weirdest thing just happened -- I put my copy of Martha Wainwright's self-released debut EP in the computer to import into iTunes, only to discover that rather than that EP -- the tracks of which are even listed on the disc itself -- it's actually a copy of her later, Factory EP. Which is still hard to find, so here it is, but I'll have to find myself a copy of the self-titled disc now. Damn, I've even passed one or two up in the store thinking I already owned it. I've had this disc for a while now. Guess I should've bothered to listen to it sooner! (That EP was preceded by a cassette release, Ground Floor. If anyone has digital copies of either, or one to sell, please get in touch.)

So, on to what we have here: a four-song EP from 2002, featuring a different, longer version of the title track than the one that eventually appeared on her (also self-titled) debut full-length three years later. The other tracks are "The Car Song", a version of "Bye Bye Blackbird", and "New York, New York, New York". I've also added Martha's great version of the latter-day Warren Zevon tune, "I Was in the House when the House Burned Down", which was released on her UK single for "When the Day is Short"

Check out Martha's great recordings right here.

Jeff Buckley: Grace Around The World - One-Hour Radio Special

2011-02-09T08:59:00.001-08:00

Sorry that the frequency of posts here means that this blog has been living up to its title, which was never my intention. So in the interest of getting this out to you, let's keep it short and sweet today. Buckley. Grace. Radio. Rare. What more do you need to know? Except that the link is in the comments, and that you should leave one when you get it -- how about a reminiscence of the first time you encountered the music of Jeff Buckley? Enjoy.

The Henrys (with Mary Margaret O'Hara) - Chasing Grace (1996)

2011-01-12T14:50:00.000-08:00

This is the album that got me through the winter of '97.

In the summer of 1996, I took a trip from my native D.C. to the West Coast, to decide where I wanted to live. L.A. was too much like D.C., just with more sunshine -- everyone rushing around in mindless obeisance to a fame-money-power-based dominant industry, and no real local character to the place. San Francisco was just too damn expensive for my economic situation at the time (OK, and, uh, today too). Seattle was too bloated, having exploded in size over the previous decade with no clue as to how to manage little things like traffic, development, environment, etc.; besides, it reminded me of a sprawling East Coast city, just with more trees. But when I got to Portland, I always describe it as my "Goldilocks experience" -- it felt juuust right.

And along with the good friend I visited there, that weekend I went up to the lovely Vancouver, B.C. (also a sprawling metropolis, but reminiscent, rather, of a European city) to attend the sublime Vancouver Folk Music Festival, which was a real eye-opener as far as what can be achieved through music and community. My one life-changing discovery there (besides all the great Portland people I met, which sealed the deal of my moving there the following year!) was the amazing singer-songwriter Dan Bern. More on him another time, perhaps. But another favorite act I caught there was The Henrys, a quartet performing oblique and wittily-titled instrumentals centered around Don Rooke's Hawaiian guitar.

That winter, I was back in D.C., feeling very far away from my newfound Portland friends and the magic and fellowship I'd experienced there. So I was surprised and delighted to come across The Henrys' CD in my local secondhand shop -- it was like a secret message from the summer before. Especially when, a week or so later, I came down with the flu, and was in bed with a high fever for a few days. Something about that loopy Hawaiian guitar and the weirdness of Mary Margaret O'Hara's wordless vocal contributions made Chasing Grace the perfect soundtrack for my fever dreams. It reminded me of my friends and the festival, and of the fact that I'd be returning to Portland to live that coming summer. I've been here ever since.

I hope this unique band helps you, friends, get through the winter of '11 -- but hopefully not the flu, too!

Best,

Jeff

P.S. Gotta love that cover photo!

Bob Dylan: Live at the Newport Folk Festival - One Hour Radio Documentary

2011-01-11T16:44:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone, happy new year, and welcome back to The Rare Stuff. Sorry to followers of the blog for the long delay since my last post.

Here's a long-promised radio special released to promote the Dylan DVD The Other Side of the Mirror, documenting his legendary appearances at the Newport Folk Festival. Despite my use of the DVD's cover art above, this file is NOT an audio rip of the DVD. Rather, it is indeed a stand-alone radio show with exclusive interviews not part of the actual documentary.

The link is in the comments. Thanks to those of you who have continued to discover the blog and leave comments during its "down time". I'll try to gear up to a more regular posting schedule -- there is certainly much that I'd like to share!

Enjoy Radio Bob.

Terence Trent D'Arby - TTDRe's (One [Baker's] Dozen Remixes)

2010-12-06T23:40:00.000-08:00

Here, as promised, are those lucky 13 D'Arby remixes -- but of just two songs! -- that are not available on any album. ELEVEN versions of "Do You Love Me Like You Say", and a pair of "Surrender"s. Enjoy, and I'll be back with more stuff soon. Link you-know-where. Leave you-know-what.

Terence Trent D'Arby - TTDB's (One Dozen Rarities)

2010-11-17T22:22:00.000-08:00

I posted a bleg for Terence Trent D'arby bootlegs a little while ago, and was quite tantalized by the response, but came up empty-handed. One commenter offered to send me a show, but then disappeared without ever doing so. Another reader emailed me and, after all the music I share on the blog for free while asking nothing in exchange (ok, except voluntary donations), insisted on asking me for a TRADE LIST in order to send me the rare recordings he had. Thanks a lot.

Here, FOR FREE, NOT FOR TRADE! GAH! are an even dozen TTD rarities. These are b-sides and compilation contributions that were not archived either on "Terence Trent D'Arby's Greatest Hits" or the limited 2-disc edition of its U.K. counterpart, "Do You Love Me Like You Say: The Best of Terence Trent D'Arby", as both those sets are still to be had, brand spankin' new, from your music retailer of choice.

Four tracks are provided by a pair of singles ("This Side of Love", "To Know Someone...") from his amazing 1989 album, Neither Fish Nor Flesh, which served notice that TTD was not the mere over-hyped R&B revivalist one might have thought from his debut, impressive as it was. These are perhaps the least exciting of the bunch, though, being two overlong solo-piano instrumentals, an extended version of an A-side, and a live take on a song from the debut. Most of the other material herein, though, consists of actual unreleased songs. One comes from the era of that album's follow-up, Symphony or Damn, and four more from singles released from his next, Vibrator. All three of these albums are fervently recommended! Three comp tracks, including a powerful, live version of "Holding On To You" and a masterful reading of Jackie Wilson's "To Be Loved", round out the set. (One remaining track, which I couldn't transfer from vinyl in time for this post, I hope to share soon.)

To tie this post, however tenuously, to the previous one, [UPDATE: The Springsteen radio show was removed due to a DMCA complaint.] in the liner notes for "Symphony," D'Arby thanks his then-label-mate Springsteen (as well as Prince) for support and encouragement of TTD's music, which, other than that more-easily-digested debut, never found the commercial success it so deserved. In his charmingly egotistical manner, he follows the above thank-yous with the phrase, "Name dropping be damned"!

At last, some non-radio-special music returns to The Rare Stuff! Enjoy. Link in comments as usual -- please leave one! Next comes a batch of remixes from TTD (or SM -- Sananda Maitreya -- as he now prefers to be called). I think between these two posts (and the additional, forthcoming song) I'll have archived almost all the otherwise unavailable tracks from the first phase of his career (possibly excepting one or two other live versions of released songs).

And again -- if anyone has rare TTD shows, especially from 1989 through the mid-'90s, PLEASE let me know if you're willing to SHARE them.

Contents:

She's My Baby/Delicate [CD Single]

Letting Go/The Fan (Music From The Motion Picture)

Angels Fly Because/Holding On To You

Your Love Is Indecipherable/Holding On To You

Epilog/Holding On To You

Holding On To You (Live)/Modern Rock Live (Disc 1)

To Be Loved/Shake, Rattle, & Roll - Original Soundtrack

This Side Of Love [Extended Version]/This Side Of Love [Single]

Sad Song For Sister Sarah Serenade/This Side Of Love [Single]

Loose Variations On A Dead Man's Vibe In C#M/To Know Someone...

Rain (Live)/To Know Someone Deeply Is To Know Someone Softly

I Really Want You/Vibrator Maxi Single

Neil Young - Words and Music: Silver and Gold [Interview]

2010-11-03T01:42:00.000-07:00

Here's an interview with Neil Young about his 2000 acoustic album, Silver and Gold. Two segments, each featuring discussion and audio clips of several of the album's songs. Enjoy!

And check out our bundle of Neil Young EPs, and his new album Le Noise!

Willie Nelson: True Outlaw Stories: On the Road with Willie Nelson - One-Hour Radio Special

2010-10-27T22:20:00.000-07:00

I said "-ish", didn't I? :^) Thanks to those who've commented. I hope you enjoy part 2! Link in comments. And look into Willie's newest album, simply titled Country Music.

UPDATE: New Mediafire link in comments, for those who had trouble.

Willie Nelson: My Own Peculiar Way: The Songs of Willie Nelson - One-Hour Radio Special

2010-10-24T18:12:00.000-07:00

And the (promo) discs just keep on comin'. I'm happy to add another post featuring the great Willie Nelson to our earlier one of Willie's hard-to-find solo acoustic recordings on Who'll Buy My Memories: The I.R.S. Tapes.

This pair of specials was released in 2008 to promote the One Hell of a Ride career-retrospective box set. The first disc is called My Own Peculiar Way: The Songs of Willie Nelson. It will be followed here tomorrow(ish?) by True Outlaw Stories: On the Road with Willie Nelson. If you only know Willie as a pony-tailed, pot-smoking, tax-dodging, strange-voiced pop-cultural punchline, this is the perfect opportunity to raise your consciousness. He's one of the best songwriters, most creative song interpreters, and most inspiring artists of the past half-century. Check these shows and the solo recordings out, then try Phases and Stages, Red Headed Stranger, and, yes, Stardust as your next steps in discovering him.

Link in comments. Say hello, and tell us what Willie Nelson song or album speaks to you the most!

Jimi Hendrix: The Valleys of Neptune Tribute to Jimi Hendrix: One Hour Radio Special [FIXED]

2010-10-21T04:36:00.000-07:00

UPDATE: Sorry for the faulty upload in the previous, now deleted, version of this post. And thanks to the ONE COMMENTER who thought to let me know after EIGHTY-NINE downloads! I swear, I don't understand some of you people. I'm sure you have very good reasons for not leaving comments, but you won't even leave one to let me know the damn file wouldn't expand? Now that's carrying leeching to a ridiculous extreme!

Without further ado, HERE's a relatively rare radio special promoting Hendrix' Valleys of Neptune outtakes collection from earlier this year.

By the way, I won't be posting the Clash special I've mentioned, as I discovered it's still available from Mondo de Muebles, here.

Elvis Presley Radio Special (1992)

2010-10-06T20:01:00.000-07:00

This is a rare special produced in 1992 to promote the release of the Complete '50s Masters box set. Tracks 1-4 are the four-part special, 5-7 are promos, and 8-16 brief snippets of interviews on specific topics.

I hope you have fun with it!

Link in comments. Feel free to leave one!

Sly & The Family Stone: Family Affair - One Hour Radio Special

2010-10-05T01:50:00.000-07:00

Another informative and entertaining radio documentary produced under the auspices of Sony Music, this one from 2007, promoting that year's release of the box set and individual reissues of Sly and The Family Stone's seven classic albums for the Epic label. (See here for our post of an earlier, withdrawn CD version of Sly's Fresh album that mistakenly featured alternate mixes.) Any fan of the band's will be interested in the insights herein from Family Stone members Rose Stone, Larry Graham, Gregg Errico, and Andy Newmark, alongside oral historian Joel Selvin and legendary musicians Isaac Hayes and Chuck D. The special is hosted by longtime Rolling Stone journalist Ben Fong-Torres. Sly's own viewpoint is conspicuous by its absence, but that's just the way of the world.

Enjoy the latest in these radio special posts. Some of the artists still to come in our series (not necessarily in this order):

Bob Dylan (yep, another one!), The Clash, Johnny Cash, Jimi Hendrix, R.E.M.,
Willie Nelson, Neil Young, Ani DiFranco, Rickie Lee Jones, Dolly Parton, and more! These posts have been a little slower in coming than I'd like, due to some computer issues on my end, but do stay tuned.

Plus, if this series isn't exactly your bag, don't fret -- more non-radio-special music posts are are on the horizon too, such as Rare Stuff from The Waterboys, and more material from the lovely Mary Margaret O'Hara,

Happy October!

Link in comments, so why not leave one?

Terence Trent D'Arby bootlegs, anyone?

2010-09-12T23:09:00.000-07:00

Well, this worked when I did a "bleg" for boots by the even more obscure Winter Hours a few months back, so I can only hope some avid TTD collector will see this post and share his or her booty. (Get it, boot-y?) I'm a collector myself, at least insofar as owning on CD every track he officially released, but finding live stuff from him is exceedingly difficult -- OK, thus far, impossible. I was lucky to see him perform once in the '90s, and he was fantastic. I love all his work but actually like his most popular album, his debut, the least, compared to his sublime subsequent work -- so I would love to find some tapes of shows from later in his career, especially the Vibrator tour which was the one I saw him on. But really anything live would be great to hear. If you're out there, please get in touch, either in comments or by email (my address is under "About Me" in the right-hand column). Thanks a bunch!

Oh, and if anyone has Winter Hours boots, I'm still on the lookout for more of those, too.

More radio special goodness on the way, as well as all kinds of other Rare Stuff! Oh and a very big thanks to the individual who made a generous Paypal contribution a few weeks ago, it is GREATLY appreciated, and rest assured, the money's gonna go toward more music that will likely end up on this blog.

We Shall Overcome: Bruce Springsteen and the Seeger Sessions - One-Hour Radio Special

2010-09-08T21:36:00.000-07:00

Continuing our series of radio specials, here's the hour-long documentary on the making of Bruce Springsteen's 2006 folk homage, We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions. Thanks to springsteenlyrics.com for the scans I've borrowed of the packaging -- which, it should be noted, picture the 54-minute version produced for commercial radio; the special archived here is the 59-minute one made available to non-commerical stations, which consists of one track of the entire special, divided into segments with music breaks, followed by two promos for the program. Perhaps I'll substitute a scan of the appropriate cover when I have time.

I hope Springsteen, Seeger and folk music fans find this both entertaining and informative. It's about time the Boss showed his face around here!

Link in comments.

Dylan: Four One-Hour Radio Documentaries; Hosted by Patti Smith (Episodes 3 & 4)

2010-09-03T20:02:00.000-07:00

And now, the exciting conclusion of the Dylan doc series described below (links in comments). Enjoy! (And btw, don't you love how the cd case design matches the red cover of the Dylan compilation itself?)

Dylan: Four One-Hour Radio Documentaries; Hosted by Patti Smith (Episodes 1 & 2)

2010-09-01T21:09:00.000-07:00

Welcome back! We're rare, ready, and rarin' to go! Last weekend I acquired several discs of documentaries produced for radio by Sony Music to promote various archival releases, and I'll be posting them here. As the title says, these are hour-long documentaries, and are specifically the 59:00 versions produced for non-commerical radio, as opposed to other versions for commercial stations, which must have been edited further to leave room for ads.

Starting off, the item I was most excited to get ahold of is this 4-disc collection released to radio in 2007 to promote the compilation simply titled Dylan. The programs are hosted by the great Patti Smith, and feature interviews with the likes of Dylan cohorts Bob Neuwirth, Suze Rotolo, Dave Van Ronk, Roger McGuinn, and others; critics and historians such as Greil Marcus, Bill Flanagan, and Anthony DeCurtis; and musicians including John Hiatt, singer-songwriter Josh Ritter, and Rage Against The Machine guitarist Tom Morello.

These four shows bear some resemblance to podcasts that were made available on iTunes around the time of that release, but those installments were shorter than the documentaries here. Each show covers a different period of Bob's career, as suggested by their individual titles: Blowin' in the Wind, Like a Rolling Stone, Shelter from the Storm, and Oh Mercy.

In this first post, I'm sharing the first two of those parts. Each disc contains one 59-minute special, broken into three segments which are divided by minute-long music breaks, as well as an episode-specific 30-second promo and another promo for the series as a whole. This latter spot is identical through all four discs, so I've only included it as part of the first disc's download.

These are my first RAR files I've posted here, as opposed to ZIPs, and I hope everyone knows what to do with 'em! If not, you'll need to web search for a program called RAR Expander. I hope y'all enjoy these, and stay tuned for the next post featuring the other two parts. Following that, we'll offer similar documentaries on Dennis Wilson, Bruce Springsteen, Willie Nelson, and more!

Links in comments; if you take one, why not leave one?

del Amitri Family Album, 1984/5 (.pdf)

2010-08-13T22:37:00.000-07:00

This one's long overdue, as I originally planned to post this hot on the heels of the conclusion of our Definitive Del Amitri Rarities Series. But here it is now!

This is a great artifact from the early days of dels fandom, when men were men (well, as is apparent from the photos within, boys, actually.) and initial d's were lowercase. Once again caps must be doffed to the then-dels tireless then-manager, Barbara Shores, whose determination put the dels on the map in the U.K. and even made inroads in the U.S.A., which certainly set the stage for their eventual success -- such as it was, Justin Currie might well add. I'm sure Barbara was behind this little artifact. I'm not sure of its origins; I was a card-carrying member of the dels fan club, and received loads of memorabilia (more on that to come) but never saw this until I found it tucked in the sleeve of a used copy of their first LP several years later at good old Yesterday and Today Records on Rockville Pike in Rockville, Maryland (Respect!). But I can't say for a fact that the photo album originally came with that record album, in some limited edition release, or was just stored there by the previous owner. I suspect the latter, but if any other del-heads can shed any light, please do!

Meanwhile, here is the whole book, all 16 pages scanned as one .pdf file. They're not the cleanest scans in the world, no, some a bit crooked or with staples showing etc., but that'll just add to the authenticity of the experience of really thumbing through it, right? :^) Enjoy this trip down memory lane, to a more innocent time... when Justin's cynicism was still mostly feigned.

Oh, and as for that trove of other early dels memorabilia... that's for another post. Soon!

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=53CNGPT0

Elvis Costello Trainspotter Gap-Plugger Bonanza: Volume 3.1: Two Memories

2010-08-10T15:50:00.000-07:00

Here is a pair of tracks that fell through the cracks of our popular EC series, both from compilations of TV shows:

Just a Memory: VH1 Storytellers
Painted from Memory (EC and Burt Bacharach): The Best of Sessions at West 54th
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=6IAYCITE

Please click on the Elvis Costello tag below to find your way to our previous EC posts.

PS See comments for a list of other gap-pluggers available on iTunes, and one more download, too (Let's Misbehave - DeLovely Soundtrack).

The Jayhawks - B-Side the Green Grass

2010-08-05T12:20:00.000-07:00

Minnesota's Jayhawks are one of the best things to come out of the '90s. The harmonies of Mark Olson and Gary Louris are the closest thing contemporary music has to the Everly Brothers. Their songwriting blends melodies that are instantly indelible with lyrics that reveal their mysteries only after many listens and time to reflect. Their ensemble playing pairs a muscular crunch with a nimble, light touch, sometimes in the same song.

What we have here are 11 tracks culled from cd singles and a promotional EP released in conjunction with their two classic albums, Hollywood Town Hall and Tomorrow the Green Grass -- except "Sleepyhead", an outtake from their tepid, Olson-less Grass follow-up, Sound of Lies. My favorites are covers, "Last Cigarette" (by that great songwriter, Anonymous), sung by the band's keyboard player Karen Grotberg, and a romp through gospel standard "Up Above My Head". For those who love the band's elliptical songwriting, though, "Keith and Quentin" and "Leave No Gold" are up there with any originals on Hollywood -- though perhaps not those on the near-flawless Green Grass. Speaking of which, also here is an example of one of my favorite rock phenomena, a non-album title song, to go with that very album. The live tracks give a taste of the band's onstage power.

A flyer included with The Jayhawks' new reissue of their previously very rare, self-titled debut disc touts forthcoming "deluxe" reissues of those two great albums, HTH and TTGG, and most if not all of these tracks will likely appear there. Meanwhile, though, here they are on The Rare Stuff!

Last Cigarette Bad Time (Single)

Get The Load Out Bad Time (Single)

Sing Me Back Home Bad Time (Single)

Sleepyhead Big Star (Single)

Tomorrow The Green Grass Blue (Single)

Darling Today Blue (Single)

Leave No Gold Scrapple [EP]

Keith And Quentin Scrapple [EP]

Up Above My Head Scrapple [EP]

Sister Cry (Live) Settled Down Like Rain (Single)

Martin's Song / Settled Down Like Rain (Live) Settled Down Like Rain (Single)

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=2LCXL1QN

R.E.M. - Just a Touch (4 live tracks)

2010-08-04T13:47:00.000-07:00

Here's a quick-'n'-dirty post of live b-sides from a couple of R.E.M. singles. (Yes, I know the band has officially removed the "dots" from its name, but these are from back when they were there!) I don't believe these tracks have been collected elsewhere, but if they're not as rare as all that, please forgive their presence here.

From the single for the sublime "The Great Beyond" from the Man on the Moon soundtrack come three blistering tracks from the band's appearance at the 1999 Glastonbury Festival, especially a "The One I Love" that nobody's gonna mistake for a love song, and a "Man on the Moon" with a nice bite to it as well. I had a look 'round online to see if the whole '99 Glasto set is available but didn't find it. If anyone has it to upload, please leave word -- sounds like it was a hot one!

Also included is a medley called "Time After Time Etc." containing that song, Peter Gabriel's "Red Rain", and another song from Reckoning, "So. Central Rain". They are credited as "recorded live by VARA Radio Utrecht, Holland 14.9.87", and it comes from a CD single for "It's the End of the World as We Know It" released with the 1991 Best of R.E.M. UK compilation. The single says its "another in a series of collectable cd's" each with rare/live material, but its the only one I have. Again, if anybody has the other rare tracks from these and wants to post them somewhere, let us know!

The One I Love (Live at Glastonbury)

Everybody Hurts (Live at Glastonbury)

Man On The Moon (Live at Glastonbury)

Time After Time Etc. (Live)

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=L8QKBGRG

The Smithereens - 11

2010-07-30T12:07:00.000-07:00

Hi-Ho Blogger! The Rare Stuff rides again! To kick things back off in style, here's an album it's unreasonably hard to find online -- the third long-player from Hoboken's favorite sons, The Smithereens. It's called 11 because the band hired producer Ed Stasium to beef up their sound, which prior to that had been a bit indie-flimsy. As the liner notes say, a la Spinal Tap, "this one goes to eleven..."

This is, without a doubt, my favorite Smithereens album. Though they most certainly rock, the heavier first two numbers, which most show Stasium's influence, are not my favorite tracks of the bunch. But once the lovely, baroque strings of "Blue Period" kick in, I'm along for the ride. Pat DiNizio's and Belinda Carlisle's harmonies on that number are also exquisite. "Baby Be Good" and "Yesterday's Girl" are sweet, smart pop songs, and "Room Without a View" has the undercurrent of tension of classic, earlier Smithereens cuts like "Blood and Roses" and "Behind the Wall of Sleep". "Cut Flowers" is an adventurously structured and arranged short story in song. Speaking of short stories, "William Wilson" takes its name and paranoid atmosphere from the Poe tale of the same name. The thoroughly delightful "Maria Elena", meanwhile takes its name from Buddy Holly's widow. Closer "Kiss Your Tears Away" is an heart-tugging romantic ballad. The whole thing clocks in at an economical 34 minutes, just like the perfect '60s pop album.

The Smithereens' catalog is long overdue for a rehaul. If and when this fine collection is reissued, you'll wanna dump these tracks and upgrade. Meanwhile, though, this late-'80s power-pop high point deserves to be heard.

UPDATE 12/27/10: Link removed due to new information that this album is available for purchase at the Amazon MP3 Store, HERE.

Ray Charles Bootleg Question

2010-07-10T14:21:00.000-07:00

Hi all,

Just a shot-in-the-dark question, maybe someone knows something, or knows someone who knows something about this:

I once heard of a Ray Charles bootleg in which one of Ray's backing musicians suddenly gets on mike and starts berating his boss, telling the audience how Ray takes advantage of his musicians, doesn't pay or treat them well, etc.

Anyone else heard of this, know what this show is or where to find it?

Thanks,
Jeff TPC

The Definitive Del Amitri Rarities Series, Vol. 10: The Alternat(iv)e Versions

2010-07-07T17:35:00.000-07:00

The title of this post reflects the difference between the common U.S. usage, "alternate" takes, with the description that appears on all the Dels singles from which these tracks are drawn, "Alternative Version". As the sticker on the above cover says, the "Tell Her This" single which provides one song here contained four "postcards" -- actually just photos of the band on card, with the a-side's lyrics on the back. As a little bonus to our final DARS collection, (a bonus to the bonus tracks?) I have posted those photos below as well.

Yes, with this 11-track installment, the lion's share (pardon the pun) of our Del Amitri Rarities Series draws to a close. Over the course of ten posts, I have shared what I believe to be every single Dels track officially released* but not available on one of the band's six albums (including the reissue of the first album which added 3 b-sides) or the b-side compilation Lousy with Love. If I'm counting right, that's a total of 76 songs. Those six albums contain a total of 60-some songs (not gonna count 'em right now), so as I said at the series' inception, with these collections we have more than doubled the band's discography. The completist in me is del-ighted to have shared all of this, as this is one of the few bands whose every released track I believe I own.

Those who have just discovered this fine band through these posts are strongly urged to investigate those half-dozen proper albums, as well as leader Justin Currie's solo work. If you have enjoyed all his great songs here, you are encouraged to consider PURCHASING (gasp!) his new album, The Great War -- and if you get it or the others through my Amazon link, that would be one small way to contribute both to Mr. Currie and to this blog. (I say small because I get pennies per purchase and would have to accumulate a huge number of such purchases to get a payout. Those wishing to support The Rare Stuff more directly are most welcome to make a Paypal donation to jeffrosongshow AT aol DOT com.)

Don't fret, though, del-fans and Del-fans (see Vols. 1 and 2 for the distinction!), as I intimated earlier there will be a few more exclusive goodies on offer in the next few days as well.

*UPDATE - Oh yeah, they had a live version of "Roll To Me" on a VH1 CrossRoads compilation, plus, I think, the odd live track on exclusive radio station comps, that aren't here. But I'm sticking with "definitive"! :^)

Tracks:

Not Where It's At (Alternative Version) Cry To Be Found [Disc 2]

Don't Come Home Too Soon (Instrumental) Don't Come Home Too Soon

Spit In The Rain (Remix) Just Like A Man [Disc 2]

I Won't Take The Blame (Acoustic Version) Just Like A Man [Disc 2]

This Side of the Morning (live in a car park at 3 AM) Move Away Jimmy Blue [12"]

Food For Songs (Acoustic Version) Roll To Me

One Thing Left To Do (Acoustic Version) Roll To Me

Paper Thin (Ambient Mix) Some Other Sucker's Parade [Bonus Tracks]

Some Other Sucker's Parade (No Strings Version) Some Other Sucker's Parade [Disc 2]

When You Were Young (Alternative Version) Tell Her This [Disc 1]

Learn to Cry (Alternative Version) Tell Her This [Disc 2]

Link in comments -- which are warmly welcomed.

Patti Smith - Live aux Vielles Charrues 2004

2010-07-06T18:45:00.000-07:00

"We should like to thank, and show solidarity with, everyone in France who marched against the attack on Iraq by the Bush administration. We were one with the people of France, and we remember. We who march against the war are the true allies!"

With that righteous battle cry, Patti Smith introduces "Jubilee", which kicks off this smoldering set -- "enregisre par Radio France le 24 Juillet 2004 au festival des Vielles Charrues" -- from a bonus disc included with a limited-edition French release of her 2004 album, Trampin'. Patti's stalwart band -- old cohorts Lenny Kaye and Jay Dee Daugherty, with Oliver Ray and Tony Shanahan who started with Patti on her late-'95 comeback shows -- have never sounded tighter or more intense. Lenny, in particular, pulls off some guitar work that could've come right off the original Nuggets colllection of '60s psych-punk he curated back in 1972... unless it's Oliver playing those licks, that is! The great setlist is split about evenly between pre- and post-comeback material. I'm not completely sure whether this 72-minute disc features the entire show Patti performed that day, but it was a festival set, so that sounds about right. Here once again on The Rare Stuff is the High Priestess of Poetry and Rock 'n' Roll: the immortal Patti Smith!

Info in comments. If you get a link, let us know what you think!

Marvin Gaye - Vulnerable (Released 1997) and The Star-Spangled Banner (NBA All-Star Game, 1983)

2010-07-04T21:42:00.001-07:00

These recordings were the ones of his that Marvin Gaye held the most precious. In fact, he held on to them so tightly -- constantly re-arranging and re-recording his vocal perormances, obsessing over measuring up to the treasures of the Great American Songbook he had selected and the stunning arrangements he had commissioned -- that they never saw release in his lifetime. They were finally issued, as Vulnerable, in 1997, and have since lapsed out of print. So if you are snuggling up to your sweetie and feeling some "interdependence" at the end of this Independence Day, put this on and get ready to snuggle a little bit closer.

And if you need a gentle comedown from the fireworks and expressions of patriotism, I have added as a bonus track Marvin's radical reworking of The Star-Spangled Banner, which he performed at the NBA All-Star Game in 1983. It's as profound a deconstruction and reinterpretation of the National Anthem as Jimi Hendrix's was at Woodstock. And I've always loved the way Marvin's Gospel roots show in his version, as he sings, "Oh, say, does thy star-spangled banner yet wave", rather than "that".

Happy Independence Night. Enjoy.

Info in comments. If you take a link, let us know what you think!

Live Fireworks! Del Amitri, Hall & Oates, Bob Dylan with Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, and John Fogerty Rock Independence Day!

2010-07-04T01:01:00.000-07:00

Surprise! I wasn't expecting to post this, and it isn't part of our Dels rarities series because it isn't an official release, but a little lightbulb -- or sparkler? -- lit up over my head, and here is a holiday post for you Rare Stuff lovers! Fitting right in with our trend of live Del Amitri, this is a radio broadcast of the Dels themsel's, live in Chicago's Grant Park on Independence Day, 1996!

And I've also gathered links from three other music blogs, to three terrific-sounding recordings of concerts that took place on our nation's birthday three years in a row in the 1980s. I checked, and their download links are all still active. If you do grab 'em, you might say thanks and tell 'em who sent ya!

First, from Addicted to Vinyl, comes a show dubbed "The Liberty Concert", and once released on VHS though never yet reissued on DVD: Hall & Oates in Jersey City, NJ's Liberty Park on July 4, 1985.

Next, at The Midnight Cafe, we find Bob Dylan with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers in the heat of their True Confessions Tour, in Buffalo, NY on July 4, 1986.

And finally, from the great blog The Clock That Ran Backwards Again, an epic moment from the Vietnam Veterans tribute concert at Capital Centre in Largo (a.k.a. Landover), Maryland near Washington, D.C., July 4, 1987.

This was a long-overdue, televised, public "welcome home" concert for Vietnam vets, an opportunity for them and all of America to make peace with the difficult legacy of that war. At the time, Fogerty had long been embroiled in vicious lawsuits with his former label head, Saul Zaentz, mostly over the rights to his classic songs from the Creedence period. For years, he had refused to perform any of his '60s material so as not to put another dime in that man's pocket. Zaentz even went as far as suing Fogerty for ripping off his own song, "Run Through The Jungle" -- a favorite of Vietnam-era troops, for obvious reasons -- which Zaentz "owned", in his comeback single, "The Old Man Down The Road". Fogerty began his set for the vets with a vamp on the intro to "Old Man", but then dramatically stopped his band and suddenly shifted instead into the Creedence classic "Born on the Bayou", followed by "Down on the Corner", after which he addressed the audience:

"I just want to tell you something real short and sweet. I'm talking to vets here. I myself had gone through about 20 years of pain, and I finally faced that pain. I looked it right in the face and said, well, got a choice: you can do it for 20 more years, or you can just say, "That's what happened. " You can't change it, that's just what happened. So I'm telling you guys, thats what happened. You got the shaft. you know it, we know it, it's reality. So drop it. In fact -- [crowd reaction] You got it. Send me a letter, Berkeley, Californa, but you promise me something: you send the letter, you drop it in the box, and then you drop all that shit you been carrying around. Is that a deal? And get on with it, buddy!"

With that, Fogerty launched into "Who'll Stop the Rain", another song that was central to American soldiers' experience in Vietnam, generally taken as a metaphor for the war. And he proceeded to play a whole set of those Creedence songs right down to "Fortunate Son", one of the most amazing catalogs in rock 'n' roll history, getting over his issues with his past to honor and inspire the courage of those veterans to face theirs, in order to free themselves of its hold on them. I was a 19 year old watching at home, and even for me, it was a total goosebump experience.

So that's my message to you this Independence Day, music lovers. Honor the sacrifices and wounds of the past, and the triumphs, too. But don't let them rule you. Face them in order to better turn and face the future. We all have the freedom to declare independence from our history, let go, and "get on with it, buddy!"

Happy Fourth!

-Jeff

Del Amitri, July 4th, 1996 @ The Rare Stuff (Tracklist in comments)

Hall & Oates, July 4th, 1985 @ Addicted to Vinyl

Bob Dylan with Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, July 4th, 1986 @ The Midnight Cafe

John Fogerty, July 4th 1987 @ The Clock That Went Backwards Again

Also highly recommended: Graham Parker - The Live Vandelay, Chicago, July 4th, 1988! @ Amazon and iTunes

If you get a link, let us know what you think!

The Definitive Del Amitri Rarities Series, Vol. 9: Live at Abbey Road

2010-07-03T21:48:00.000-07:00

Yes, our previous post found our boys channeling rock history by recording themselves "Live at Leeds", and this time around, we find them in the hallowed halls of Abbey Road. And perhaps it's fitting that this is our last time 'round, as far as live Del Amitri goes, just as the Beatles' swan song was the album that bears the legendary studio's name. But fret not, Delheads, this is still not the end of our series.

This disc was included as a bonus with one version of the compilation The Best of Del Amitri: Hatful of Rain. Released simultaneously was the b-sides collection Lousy With Love we've mentioned several times here. It was sold in a slipcase that left room for the matching Hatful collection, but I don't know that it was ever sold in a set as Hatful with Lousy as an actual bonus disc. Apparently, there was some sort of slipcase to the Abbey Road two-fer, too, but my copy didn't have it. So if anyone has and can make a better scan of the above cover, please do. I found this low-res one online.

Any comments comparing, contrasting, and critiquing the four live Dels posts are eagerly welcomed. I haven't even listened to all this material in a while, so I might have to catch up with you all to form an opinion!

Coming up soon is a set of alternate versions of songs -- remixes, acoustic takes, instrumentals, and one performed "live in a car park at 3 AM" -- to round out our trip through the fine print of the Del Amitri (and del Amitri!) catalog. Following that, though, are another few surprise Currie favors (HAH!), so keep it tuned to The Rare Stuff!

Download info in comments. If you get the link, let us know what you think! :^)

The Everly Brothers: Live at the BBC

2010-07-03T11:39:00.000-07:00

The Everlys? Again? Hmm, let's see, how can I put this...

If you love music, you love the Everly Brothers! If you love American music, harmony singing, rock 'n' roll, country-rock, folk-rock, ROCK, you love the Everlys because they are in its DNA. They are in the DNA of the Beatles. They are in the DNA of Bob Dylan. They are in the DNA of Simon & Garfunkel. They are in the DNA of The Byrds. I could go on. Their harmonies are among the fundamental building blocks of the music you likely love today.

But don't think the Everlys are a corny oldies act. Don't think their music is something you have to tilt your head and squint at to like. It goes down easy. Their songs are clever, not corny. Well, I should say, even the corny ones are clever. Their originals are great, and the other songs they debuted by such great songwriters as Carole King and Felice and Boudleaux Bryant, are gems. They are real rockers, playing tough, crisp rhythm and lead guitar and always leading the best bands. (Warren Zevon played in their band early in his career, to name one.) They were performing on the radio with their dad and mom before their ages were in double-digits. In the '60s they were one of the few first-generation rock 'n' roll acts to retain creative viability, recording an album backed by The Hollies, and covering the Beatles and Tim Hardin and songs from Hair (all of those in just one wild, trippy medley from 1969's The Everly Brothers Show). And, of course, there are those justly famous, chilling, heart-tugging sibling harmonies, a hair's breadth apart. John and Paul, Paul and Art, Gram and Emmylou, The Eagles, Nick Lowe and Dave Edmunds, The Jayhawks' Mark Olson and Gary Louris, those are just the first pairs of singers that come to mind who have taken the Brothers as their ideal. But as much as others might emulate their trademark sound, there's no substituting for the magical connection of Phil and Don.

Anyway, the downloads of their stuff are lagging behind much of the other stuff here, so I thought I'd put in a good word for 'em with you all! Here is their out-of-print Live at the BBC collection. The first nine tracks are from the first stage of their career, three early tracks including a rare version of "Baby What You Want Me To Do", and six from the later '60s, featuring the immortal "Walk Right Back" and their great last hit, "Bowling Green". The other six are from their reunion concert in 1983, of which I may post the whole thing later if there's interest (hint!) as it's gone out of print, too.

Link in comments. 320kbps.
UPDATE: New Mediafire link posted for those having difficulties with Megaupload.

Patti Smith - One Common Wire: A Gung Ho Conversation with Patti Smith [Interview, 2000]

2010-07-02T22:38:00.000-07:00

Hi all, I don't have too much energy to type a lot tonight, so I'll just let Patti do the talking. And boy is she a brilliant and fascinating talker, as you might imagine. So even if you think an interview might bore you, this one might not.

I've removed the six Gung Ho album tracks from the running order of the interview disc. If you want to put them back in, this is their original placement:

Track 1: "Glitter In Their Eyes:

Track 9: "Lo And Beholden"

Track 17: "Persuasion"

Track 23: "China Bird"

Track 30: "Gone Pie"

Track 38: "Grateful"

One other fun fact I realized while preparing this post: Patti's producer on the "Gung Ho" album was one Gil Norton, who also produced the Change Everything album for none other than Del Amitri. Six degrees of Del Amitri, anyone?

Link in comments. Feel free to leave one when you get it.

The Definitive Del Amitri Rarities Series, Vol. 8: Live at Leeds

2010-07-01T21:56:00.000-07:00

Well, Del Amitri are great, but they aren't quite The Who, are they? So rather than releasing a Live at Leeds album of their own, they put three tracks each from the famous concert locale on the three CD singles for the title song from their penultimate album, Some Other Sucker's Parade. Actually, the tracks were originally due to appear on singles for the song "Medicine", but that release was withdrawn for ridiculous reasons pertaining to the BBC's arcane rules banning songs that might possibly be interpreted, by someone with a third grade education, bad hearing, and a hypertrophic imagination, to be commenting on current affairs. I don't remember what disaster its would-be release coincided with, and the whole thing's so stupid I don't even feel like looking it up right now.

Anyway, here are the nine Live at Leeds songs from the "Sucker's" singles, suckers! :^)

Driving With The Brakes On (Live at Leeds)/[Disc 1]

Move Away Jimmy Blue (Live at Leeds)/[Disc 1]

The Ones That You Love Lead You Nowhere (Live at Leeds)/[Disc 1]

Roll To Me (Live At Leeds)/[Disc 2]

Here And Now (Live At Leeds)/[Disc 2]

Hatful Of Rain (Live At Leeds)/[Disc 2]

Some Other Sucker's Parade (Live At Leeds)/[Disc 3]

Always The Last To Know (Live At Leeds)/[Disc 3]

Stone Cold Sober (Live At Leeds)/[Disc 3]

Link in comments, why not leave one when you get it?

The Definitive Del Amitri Rarities Series, Vol. 7: The Twisted Live Bonus Disc

2010-07-01T10:42:00.000-07:00

Yes sir, the next train from Delsville's pulling into the station. This disc was part of a limited edition release -- actually, "Strictly Limited Edition", to quote the cover sticker! -- of the Twisted album. When I first saw it in the Import section of the old Tower Records in Washington, D.C., I instantly knew I HAD to have it, right then and there, despite the $30-something price tag. Why, you ask? Besides the fact that I'm obviously a hopeless Dels completist collector geekhead? Because from the background photo on that cover sticker, I immediately had a suspicion that I knew just where and when it had been snapped... and when I got the thing open to reveal the u-card behind the swinging CD tray (reproduced above), that hunch was delightfully confirmed: those pics were taken in the grungy basement dressing room of the old 9:30 Nightclub in D.C. in August of 1995 -- and I was there the night they were taken! No, not just at the show, but actually down in that dressing room after it! I had a beer (or two) out of that plastic tub on the cover sticker (see below)! I sat on that bench that Justin and Ian are sitting on -- maybe that's my butt out of frame on the right? (OK, probably not. I remember being frightened of Ian.) It was only the second time I'd had the opportunity to see Del Amitri, since their first American concert back in the summer of 1986 as I mentioned earlier, and I'm happy to say that Justin at least vaguely recognized me when I went in and greeted him (or maybe it was just the way I greeted him, "Justin, Justin, Justin...", that caused him to ask, "Do I know you?").

That dressing room -- in the OLD 9:30, mind you, not the beautiful rock palace that bears its name today -- had to be among the coolest, skankiest, rock'n'rollingest ones in history. You can see that graffiti-laden wall behind Justin and Ian. It sometimes functioned like a bulletin board on which touring bands would scrawl teasing messages for other bands they knew were a day or a few behind them on the same route. But the room's most defining feature was a pipe overhead (visible on the upper left corner of the sticker), which huge rats would actually, brazenly crawl right across from a hole in the wall that led to the alley outside, in full view of anyone in the room, with absolutely no hesitation. Another memorable time I was down there, before a show on Sheryl Crow's first tour just as "All I Wanna Do" was starting to break, I watched her band lure a rat along the pipe by putting a slice of pizza up there, followed by Sheryl serenading the rodent with a few lines from her former boss Michael Jackson's "Ben"! (That's a love song to a pet rat, for those who don't know; Sheryl was Michael's backup singer early in her career.) But I digress. Props to the photographer, Mario Sorrenti, whom I met that night, and who took those pics as well as all the photos for the Twisted album and accompanying singles, including those great hanging-out-the-window candids as seen on the "Roll to Me" sleeve in the Twisted B-Sides post. A gentleman and bon vivant.

OK, now that we've clearly established how incredibly cool I am ;^) here are the tracks. The disc says "Mixed live for radio broadcast" but has no other info about date or location. But I believe this "Strictly Limited Edition" is among the Rarest Stuff in the Del catalog -- so enjoy!

Oh yeah -- and how do you like the new blog redesign? I did it because I wanted a wider space for the posts so they'd be easier to read and didn't go so far down the page, but I think I ended up with a much more attractive and fun-to-read site into the bargain!

LINK IN COMMENTS, so please leave one when you take it, won't you?

The Definitive Del Amitri Rarities Series, Vol. 6: The Live B-Sides

2010-06-30T11:58:00.000-07:00

Here's the first of four posts of officially-released but out-of-print live tracks from the mighty Dels. Forthcoming after this one are:

Twisted: Live Bonus Disc

Live at Abbey Road (Hatful of Rain Bonus Disc)

Live at Leeds ("Some Other Sucker's Parade" Singles B-Sides)

Now, among these four posts, as you might expect, there will be some repetition of certain songs. Here's how it breaks down. Three versions each of "Move Away Jimmy Blue", "The Ones That You Love Lead You Nowhere", "Always The Last To Know", "Hatful Of Rain", and "Stone Cold Sober". Plus two takes each of "Here And Now" and, perhaps surprisingly, "When I Want You". You may not feel like you need 'em all, or you might wanna compare and contrast.

So, to lead off, a grab bag of eight tracks from four singles:

Being Somebody Else (Live In Chicago)/Cry To Be Found [Disc 2]

Stone Cold Sober (Live)/Here And Now [Disc 2]

Always The Last To Know (Live)/Here And Now [Disc 2]

When I Want You (Live)/Here And Now [Disc 2]

Tell Her This (Live)/Tell Her This [U.S.]

The Ones That You Love Lead You Nowhere (Live)/When You Were Young [Disc 1]

Kiss This Thing Goodbye (Live)/When You Were Young [Disc 1]

Hatful Of Rain (Live)/When You Were Young [Disc 1]

@320 kbps. Enjoy.

LINK IN COMMENTS. Please leave one when you take it. Because courtesy shouldn't be The Rare Stuff.

The Everly Brothers: Jones Beach, NY 7/25/1984

2010-06-29T12:32:00.000-07:00

As I said in my earlier Everly Brothers post, ANY bootlegs of the famous duo automatically qualify as Rare Stuff. Even official live releases are few and (literally) far between. In that prior post of a 1997 show, I also mention that the only other Everlys boot I've ever found was a 1984 show from Jones Beach, NY, and I included a link to it over at Nathan's Rock Moat. But that blog has been shut down and relaunched since then, and the concert is no longer archived there. So, now it's archived here -- making this "your exclusive source of rare Everly Brothers shows on the net!" I like the sound of that! Though I'd be delighted to have somebody prove me wrong (see below).

The most unique thing about this tape is that the Brothers perform an actual, bona fide NEW SONG here. Except for these few years in the '80s when they actually had some new material to plug, almost all their shows are strictly oldies affairs (but what oldies!). This concert takes place shortly before they are to go into the studio to record the release of their terrific comeback album, EB '84 (currently to be found over at Never Get Out of the Boat, alongside its likewise excellent follow-up, Born Yesterday), and they perform the reggae-tinged new Don composition, "You Make It Seem So Easy". Immediately after, though they make a near-fatal mistake: Don proceeds to tell the audience that Paul McCartney has penned a song especially for the forthcoming album -- but "we're not going to do that one for you right now." The audience practically riots, demanding that they play it! They clearly have no concept of a band actually having to REHEARSE a song before they perform it. You can bet the boys learned a lesson and never made that mistake again ("I'm sorry I said anything!" says Don)! Not to mention learned that song ("On The Wings Of A Nightingale") right quick.

That's why I sure hope some tapes might emerge of Everlys concerts in the months and years after this show, featuring "Nightingale" as well as more of the top-notch material from those two mid-'80s albums. Anyone know anyone who knows anyone who might have such things tucked away somewhere and wouldn't mind sharing 'em? Meanwhile, if I want to know what they'd sound like... all I have to do is dream!

SETLIST:

The Price of Love

Walk Right Back

Claudette

Crying in the Rain

Love is Strange

When Will I Be Loved

Band intros

Bowling Green

So Sad (To Watch Good Love Go Bad)

Bird Dog

Be Bop A-Lula

Bye Bye Love

Gone Gone Gone

All I Have To Do is Dream

You Make It Seem So Easy

Wake Up Little Susie

Devoted to You/Ebony Eyes/Love Hurts

Cathy's Clown

'Til I Kissed You

Lucille

Let It Be Me

The Price of Love (vamp)

Good Golly Miss Molly

You Send Me

The Price of Love (vamp)

SUPER-SPECIAL BONUS TRACK!

Paul McCartney's lovely, hard-to-find original 1984 demo of "On The Wings Of A Nightingale". If that audience only knew! :^)

All tracks @192kbps. The concert tape, it must be mentioned, has a very distant sound, with crowd noise and chat unfortunately much more prominent in the foreground than the music. It can get frustrating, but I reconcile myself to it while listening because of the rarity of the performance; I figure it sounds not much worse than it would if you were actually sitting in the audience at the show, in a not particularly good seat, with some noisy folks nearby -- except that you can't turn around and shush 'em. With that said -- enjoy! As always, much gratitude to the original taper and those who have shared it since.

PS: As with the Big Star post below, if anyone wants to use this photo or another to make some proper cover art for this, please feel free to share it with the rest of the class!

LINK MOVED TO COMMENTS -- so leave one when you get it, or it will be removed altogether. This is the only place you will find this tape. The least you can do is say thank you, or something about the artist. Courtesy shouldn't be The Rare Stuff.

Big Star: Beale Street Breakdown [WLYX Memphis 1975]

2010-06-28T18:49:00.000-07:00

Some find the 1975 Memphis radio set by the post-Sister Lovers Big Star (only remaining members Alex Chilton and Jody Stephens, as on the album) disturbing -- those who have found it at all, that is. Me, I love it, dangerously high levels of inebriation, absence of any sense of shame and all. Willfully bizarre deconstructions of songs by Chilton's own Box Tops, the Bonzo Dog Band, and, yes, Dolly Parton sit uneasily alongside hazy takes on four songs from Third. Seriously, what other artist's repertoire encompasses both Dolly and the Bonzos? Here's the boot, known as Beale Street Breakdown, though I couldn't find any cover art online; the pic above of Chilton and Stephens will have to do for now, unless someone out there wants to take it and add some spiffy titles?* The clean radio sound balances out the age and generation of the tape, for a solid B, sound-wise. It's here @192k, as I once found it.

Two posts in one day -- for this blog, that's the Rare Stuff!

*URL for original photo in comments!
UPDATE: Reader OleD has submitted a cover -- link in comments! Thanks!

LINK MOVED TO COMMENTS -- so leave one when you get it, please. This is the only place you will find this tape. The least you can do is say thank you, or something about the artist. Courtesy shouldn't be The Rare Stuff!

The Definitive Del Amitri Rarities Series, Vol. 5: The Late-Period B-Sides

2010-06-28T09:36:00.000-07:00

Supposedly, for the past several years, Del Amitri has been on indefinite hiatus rather than "broken up", but I'll believe it when I see 'em back at work. (Meanwhile, I encourage you once again to check out Justin Currie's solo albums.) So, until further notice, I'm calling the period spanning the band's last two releases on either side of their Hatful of Rain compilation "Late Period" Del Amitri, and lumping the b-sides from those three releases together in this ten-track post. Once again, live cuts and songs which were tapped for inclusion on Lousy With Love are not included here.

From the era of the band's Some Other Sucker's Parade album (not my favorite, but I love the title's implicit "motherf***er"!) comes three tracks that appeared on the two "Not Where It's At" singles (I also love the idea of an answer song to Beck's "Where it's At", with a typical bit of Currian self-effacement; the Dels would never be hipsters' favorites). Then we have songs from the singles that only appeared on Hatful, "Don't Come Home Too Soon" and "Cry to be Found", and finally, four tracks from the "Just Before You Leave" singles from the final D.A. album, Can You Do Me Good?

(Continuing Currie's tradition of negatory inversions of famous song titles, "I'm an Unbeliever" appears here. His latest example, from his new The Great War album, actually changes a negative to a positive: "You'll Always Walk Alone". Ouch! But perhaps his most concise transformation is the addition of a mere comma into a famous Springsteen title: "No, Surrender". The song of that name, from What is Love For, is a real masterpiece, a long and scathing societal rebuke on the order of Dylan's "It's Alright Ma" -- and that's not a comparison I'd make lightly.)

Here endeth our collection of Justin's songs that were exclusive to the various Dels singles -- a total of THIRTY-TWO songs over and above what's on their albums (I'm not counting the 3 cover tunes, re-recorded "Hammering Heart", or original take on "The Difference Is" among their number), plus another 13 B-side tunes on Lousy, three more added to the first album's reissue (again, not counting the one cover there), and three more A-sides only collected on the best-of! Is there any other band with that many non-LP songs (51!) over the course of a six-album career? That averages out to more than eight extra songs per album.

And yet, we're only halfway through this series! Still ahead in Delsville are a slew of live bonus discs and b-sides, and alternate versions of various songs, totaling another 41 tracks(!) and rounding out Del Amitri's officially released Rare Stuff. (And perhaps I'll go ahead and post "Lousy With Love" after all to close with, just for completeness' sake.) Plus a few extra goodies for Del fans, so do stay tuned. And keep those comments comin'!

Contents (Title/Source):

Canned Laughter Cry To Be Found [Disc 1]

One Step At A Time Cry To Be Found [Disc 1]

Three Little Words Don't Come Home Too Soon

The Septic Jubilee Just Before You Leave [Disc 1]

Belong Belong Just Before You Leave [Disc 1]

I'm An Unbeliever Just Before You Leave [Disc 2]

You Love Me Just Before You Leave [Disc 2]

Spare Pair Of Laces Not Where It's At [Disc 1]

A Grimace Not A Smile Not Where It's At [Disc 2]

Low Friends In High Places Not Where It's At [Disc 2]

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=13OOBJJ0

Thanks, readers!

2010-06-27T11:12:00.000-07:00

Hi folks,

I just wanted to take a moment to thank publicly a few readers who've made valued contributions to me and the blog of late:

Thanks to reader Todd who sent a link to the missing Patti track, "Perfect Day", I requested in that post; that track is now available via the link now posted in the comments there.

Thanks to reader William who fulfilled my request for long-sought boots by Winter Hours, the great N.J.-based, '80s folk-rock band who had a huge impact on me back in my youth. Those tracks will be posted here in the near future for those who loved 'em to relish, and those who never heard of 'em to discover.

And finally, thanks to the reader (and fellow blogger) who made a donation to Paypal in appreciation of the music I shared here, specifically prompted by my request on one of my Elvis Costello Trainspotter posts. Anyone wishing to emulate such behavior would be most welcome! :^)

Seriously, gentlemen, thank you one and all. And everyone who comments on posts here is much appreciated as well. It's a pleasure sharing all this great music with people, and feedback like all of the above makes it even more worthwhile.

If you'd like to chip in yourself, just consider checking out one or two of those commercial messages in the right column each time you visit, and/or making Amazon purchases through the links in these posts.

Regards,

Jeff, the PopCulturist

Patti Smith: 18 Rarities

2010-06-24T19:05:00.000-07:00

In tribute to Patti Smith, the High Priestess of Poetry and Rock 'n' Roll, I've assembled this collection of 18 hard-to-find recordings dating from the period since her return to the music world in the mid-'90s, to share with you all.

A pair of CD singles for "Summer Cannibals", from her 1996 comeback album Gone Again, contribute four exclusive tracks: live versions of "Gone Again" and "People Have The Power" from Later with Jools Holland; an adaptation, with new verses by Patti, of Robert Johnson's "Come On In My Kitchen"; and an otherwise unreleased original (co-written with Lenny Kaye), "Come Back Little Sheba".

An obscure benefit concert album called Liss Ard, Vol. 1 offers us two songs from 1997's Peace and Noise, "Don't Say Nothing" and "Last Call", the latter featuring Michael Stipe as guest vocalist, as well as another version of "People Have The Power". (NOTE: Please consider purchasing the Liss Ard compilation CD, still available new from Amazon; I assume the funds still benefit the Irish nature reserve of the title. In addition to Patti's tracks, the disc features three exclusive live cuts by Nick Cave, alongside others by The Frames and David Gray.)

From a promo EP released along with the 2000 Gung Ho album, we have another stompin' version of "Gone Again" alongside "Beneath The Southern Cross" and "Spell (Footnote to Howl)", Patti's rendering of Allen Ginsberg's incantatory poem (NOTE: language NSFW!), featuring her adventurous clarinet playing. The cover lists these tracks as "Recorded live at the WXRT show at Riviera Hall, Chicago, 11/22/98". The disc also provides yet another "People Have The Power" "Recorded live at the Tibetan Freedom Concert, Randall's Island, NYC, 6/7/97".

Another pair of songs here were released in tandem with Patti's covers album, Twelve: R.E.M.'s "Everybody Hurts" appeared as a bonus track on a limited, import edition of the album, while The Decemberists' "Here I Dreamt I Was An Architect" is from "Two More", a limited edition 7". (This track is encoded at 192 kbps.) If anyone has the version of Lou Reed's "Perfect Day" that was on the other side of that record and can make it available for download, please let us know via email or in the comments! UPDATE: see comments for a separate link to the version of Lou Reed's "Perfect Day", the other song from the Two More single.

Two more tracks hail from, respectively, a promo single for Patti's career overview, Land (1975-2002) with a version of the song "Higher Learning", subitlted "(Contemplation)", live in Switzerland in 2001 and also featuring Patti blowing a clarinet; and the KCRW compilation Rare On Air Vol. 3, with an acoustic "Dancing Barefoot" featuring Patti singing to a lone guitar (probably played by either Lenny Kaye or Oliver Ray; this track is encoded at 128 kbps).

Finally, we have three explicitly political tracks self-released by Patti over the past decade. "Walker (Poor Fellah)" is about so-called "American Taliban" John Walker Lindh, a teenager captured by U.S. forces in Afghanistan in 2001, and the target of much post-9/11 rage; this appeared on a single-track CD recorded live on New Year's Eve at New York's Bowery Ballroom. The other two were made available on Patti's website: "Qana" responded to the Israeli airstrike on the Palestinian village of the title, which killed many civilians including several children. "Without Chains" concerns the plight of Murat Kurnaz, a Turkish citizen wrongfully detained in Guantanamo Bay for some four years.

Stay tuned in the coming days and weeks for more great Patti stuff, including a powerful live disc recorded in France in 2004 and included as a bonus with an edition of the album Trampin', and a nice interview released to promote Gung Ho, plus a few more scattered tracks I didn't have ready in time for this post -- Rare Stuff from a truly rare talent who's definitely got the stuff.

"i believe everything we dream

can come to pass through our union

we can turn the world around

we can turn the earth's revolution"

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=KRBERT8B

Except where indicated, all tracks encoded at 320 kbps to provide you aural pleasure.

More Del Amitri soon!

The Definitive Del Amitri Rarities Series, Vol. 4: The Twisted B-Sides

2010-06-22T00:31:00.000-07:00

Like Change Everything, the following Del Amitri album, Twisted, contributed many of its non-album b-sides to the Lousy with Love compilation, so this brief installment consists of only five songs. There are some other, live tracks that appeared on singles and a limited edition bonus disc, which will be posted in a whole big "live" segment later on in this series (which I probably shoulda mentioned in the Change Everything post, since there were a few live tracks on those singles, too). Meanwhile, here are five swell little tunes from Justin and the lads -- it's Rare Stuff, y'all!

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=2RCZFGLB

Contents (Title/Source):

A Better Man/Tell Her This [Disc 1]

Life By Mistake/Driving With The Brakes On

A Little Luck/Driving With The Brakes On

Queen Of False Alarms/Here And Now [Disc 1]

Someone Else Will/Roll To Me [U.S.]

The Definitive Del Amitri Rarities Series, Vol. 3: The Change Everything B-Sides

2010-06-17T07:14:00.000-07:00

Justin Currie was in some kinda zone when it came to writing songs for Del Amitri Mk. II's second album, Change Everything. So much so that just as many great songs appeared only as single b-sides as made it on to the album. Such was the high quality of these songs that several of them were tapped for the band's must-have official b-sides compilation, Lousy With Love, which explains why several classics among these -- e.g. "Whiskey Remorse", "Long Journey Home", "The Verb To Do" -- are not present here. What is here are three covers (Neil Young's "Don't Cry No Tears", The Faces' "Cindy Incidentally", and The Go-Betweens' "By Bye Pride" [sic]); one instrumental ("Kestrel Road"); and the period's remaining four still-pretty-darn-great, otherwise-unreleased sides. "The Heart Is A Bad Design" is a particular fave.

Thanks for the comments on the posts thus far, but keep 'em coming please -- it sure helps inspire me to keep a'postin' all this Del-icious Rare Stuff!

And don't forget to check out Justin Currie's newest album, The Great War -- he's on a (sadly very short) tour through the States as I write, and there are supposedly still tickets for the late show at NYC's Joe's Pub this weekend!

Contents (Title/Source):

Learn To Cry/Always The Last To Know

Angel On The Roof/Always The Last To Know

Lighten Up The Load/Be My Downfall

The Heart Is A Bad Design/Be My Downfall

Don't Cry No Tears/Just Like A Man

Bye Bye Pride/Just Like A Man

Cindy Incidentally/Just Like A Man

Kestrel Road /When You Were Young [Disc 2]

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=AJV73EJP

My Favorite Boots, Part 2: Blood, Sweat & Tears WITH AL KOOPER!!!

2010-06-12T10:36:00.000-07:00

Hot off the press at the great Guitars 101 forum, something of a dream find for me -- what may well be the only known live recording of the Al Kooper-led, original lineup of Blood, Sweat & Tears! The whole crew from the immortal Child is Father to the Man album is here, along with two songs from that debut -- though one takes 18 minutes to play through here!; an early version of You've Made Me So Very Happy before David Clayton-Thomas got his clumsy mitts on it; and, amazingly, a Traffic cover! Also there's a long, and also somewhat clumsy, interview with Kooper and others, which makes me wonder whether this really is an audience tape as listed here, or just a poor-quality radio broadcast, perhaps from a college or community station that couldn't afford good enough equipment to record a show with an eight-piece rock band in '68. Anyway, I 'bout hit the roof when I came across this baby the other night, and Zeppo who posted it on G101 kindly allowed me to pass it on to you all here. Thanks Zep -- YOU've made ME so very happy, with these delicious morsels of The Rare Stuff! :^D

UPDATE: On Track 2, "You've Made Me So Very Happy" is followed by "I Love You More Than You'll Ever Know" on the same track. Anyone wanna split 'em up and re-up, feel free - just let us know! Also, from the stage someone (probably Kooper) says that this gig is actually only the first time the band has played out of its hometown of NYC, and only the third venue (though not, I don't think, the third show) they've ever played. In the notes to the Child reissue Kooper says they only went on a "brief promotional tour" before he was booted from the band, so this really is a rare show indeed - thank goodness it was taped! It took place, by the way, two days after the release of the album. The interview, meanwhile, is with Jim Fielder, who also played with latter-day Buffalo Springfield, and is worth a listen if you're curious about the band. Oh, and I guess I shouldn't have been so shocked at the Traffic cover -- turns out their version appeared on the first post-Kooper, self-titled BS&T album that was released a year later and sold a bajillion copies. Meanwhile, "Camille", Kooper says onstage, "will be our first single if everything goes as it should". Obviously, everything didn't! The track ultimately appeared on his first solo album, I Stand Alone.

Blood Sweat & Tears - 1968-02-23 - Boston, MA

The Psychedelic Supermarket

Boston, Massachusetts

February 23rd, 1968

Excellent Audience Recording

Al Kooper - Organ, Vocals

Steve Katz - Guitar, Vocals

Jim Fielder - Bass

Bobby Colomby - Drums

Fred Lipsius - Alto Sax

Dick Halligan - Trombone

Jerry Weiss - Trumpet

Randy Brecker - Trumpet

1. More & More

2. You’ve Made Me So Very Happy/
I Love You More Than You'll Ever Know

3. Morning Glory

4. Camille

5. Smiling Phases

6. Somethin’ Goin’ On

7. Interview

http://rapidshare.com/files/397166473/BSTBM68.rar

The Definitive Del Amitri Rarities Series, Vol. 1: The Lowercase Years

2010-06-11T07:48:00.000-07:00

As promised, we're skipping back in time from the debut of the re-tooled, modern-rock Del Amitri with Waking Hours in 1989, to the debut of the original, alt-coustic, small-d del Amitri in 1985. Actually, in this brief five-song installment, we're going back even further than that, to the band's indie-label first single from '83, Sense Sickness b/w The Difference Is. The latter song was re-recorded as a b-side of the Hammering Heart 12" single, but that was later appended to the excellent Superfecta reissue of the first album along with three other b-sides (two originals and a cover of "Brown Eyed Girl") which are therefore not included here. However, the A-side of that 12" was a hot, re-recorded version of Hammering Heart, which was not included on the cd reissue, so it is here! Perhaps the rarest track here is "Out In The Wind", which appeared only on a 12" single included with an issue of UK music rag Record Mirror, and seems to date from the period of the first album or just after. The final song here is the very silly "Charlie's Bar", a free fan-club flexi-disc Christmas record from late 1986. Intriguing and fun but not necessarily good for too many repeat listens, maybe just once a year around the holidays. Just like the Xmas records the Beatles used to make!

The band's sound at this point was kinetic and original, with intersecting, angular acoustic guitar lines that always remind me of a folkier, more melodic -- and romantic -- version of Television, as I said in my last post. I should note that, in addition to Justin Currie and Iain Harvie (the only two permanent Dels), the band members during this period included Bryan Tolland playing one of those interesting, intersecting guitars and the convivial Paul Tyagi on drums. Credit is also due to the band's early manager, Barbara Shores, for working diligently to build them a fan base both in the UK and in the States, where they did a fan-sponsored "Whistle Stop Tour" in the summer of 1986. I was privileged to attend the band's very first American concert at Maxwell's in Hoboken, as well as receive lots of correspondence and free goodies from the band back in the day. Thanks Barbara! Wherever you are, this installment of The Rare Stuff is dedicated to you!

(Vinyl rips>wav>mp3@320)

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=QF455X74

The Definitive Del Amitri Rarities Series, Vol. 2*: The Waking Hours B-Sides

2010-06-08T21:07:00.000-07:00

Glaswegian pub-rockers Del Amitri don't exactly have legions of fans. But among those who do love the band, there are no doubt many who own all six of their studio albums (save, perhaps, their self-titled debut, about which more later), plus the Best-Of compilation which featured a handful of non-album singles, and think they have all the material available by the band. What they don't realize is that there are actually scores of Dels tracks that were only released as b-sides of singles or on limited-edition versions of their albums. If you add up the many otherwise-unreleased original songs, plus live and alternate versions, the band's discography literally more than doubles!

One album-length collection, Lousy With Love: The B-Sides, was released as a companion to the Best Of compilation, Hatful of Rain, but that disc contained only a baker's dozen (plus one hidden track) of those rare songs. (Since that album is still in print in the U.K. - available at Amazon through the above link - its songs will not be included in these posts.)

And these rare tunes are not tossed-off filler! In fact, many of them rank with the best stuff Dels leader Justin Currie ever wrote. It's a shame that more of these tracks have not been compiled and made available to the public, instead of languishing obscurely on long-out-of-print singles or import editions.

So let me do my part to rectify that! Today's post is the first in a TEN-PART SERIES that will, collectively, offer a whopping SEVENTY-SIX TROMBONES -- er, TRACKS :^) -- which were officially released, but are no longer in print!

If you're not familiar with the band's output, today's batch o'tracks is as good a place as any to start. If you haven't been convinced of Currie's brilliance as a songwriter by the time you get to the two tracks from the Nothing Ever Happens single, I guess these guys just aren't for you. Musically, they're far from the most original band on the planet, as they themselves would no doubt admit, but Currie's clever, grousy, funny, misanthropic lyrics mark them as a great band, nonetheless.

Actually, though, on their self-titled debut from 1985, del Amitri -- then spelled with a small "d", mind you! -- DID have a strikingly original sound, taking the spiky, linear, intersecting guitar sound of seminal New York band Television, and rendering it with acoustic guitars in more melodic songs. Many fans of the band the dels eventually became (i.e. the Dels!) neglect or disavow this material, since it does sound so different from the rest of their output. Still, the debut remains my favorite album of theirs, and one of my favorites of all time. I wanted to start off this series with these tracks from their second disc, Waking Hours, since they will no doubt have broader appeal. But their are a handful of early tracks which were not appended to the great reissue of the debut from a few years ago (which added three bonus tracks), which I will offer next as Vol. 1 in the series, before continuing chronologically through the band's career. There will be posts of uncollected songs from each stage of their career, followed by a series of live and/or alternate recordings.

I'm really excited to share this material, the secret history of Del Amitri, a band that deserved more attention than they got. Speaking of which, I'd be most remiss if I didn't direct your attention to Justin Currie's new, second solo album, The Great War, a strong follow-up to his masterful solo debut, What Is Love For. If these posts leave you hungry for more, make sure you hear what he's up to today! Meanwhile, get ready for plenty of The Rare Stuff -- Del Amitri style!

Contents (Title/Source):

No Holding On/Kiss This Thing Goodbye

Slowly, It's Coming Back/Kiss This Thing Goodbye

Fred Partington's Daughter/Kiss This Thing Goodbye [10"]**

Another Letter Home/Move Away Jimmy Blue

April The First/Move Away Jimmy Blue

More Than You'd Ever Know/Move Away Jimmy Blue

Don't I Look Like The Kind Of Guy You Use To Hate?/Nothing Ever Happens

Evidence/Nothing Ever Happens

Talk It To Death/Stone Cold Sober

As usual, encoded at 320kbps for your aural pleasure.

* Volume 1 to follow (see above)

** The track here is actually from Twisted-era single Tell Her This, but it originally appeared on a 10" single of Kiss This Thing Goodbye.

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=CRVSRN7T

Winter Hours boots, anyone?

2010-06-05T14:26:00.000-07:00

Just a quick "bleg", haven't done this before, but I'm looking for tapes of shows by East Coast '80s folk-rock band Winter Hours. Their sole major-label release, a self-titled album from '89, has just been beautifully reissued by the Arena Rock Recording Company indie label, by the way, and comes with a bonus download of a 1989 show. But I'm dying for earlier shows, from their indie years, '86 give or take. I've seen notices of torrents from this period but never had any luck downloading 'em.

Also, I'm dying for a copy of the Elvis Costello concert, April 11, 1984 at DAR Constitution Hall in Washington, DC. First time I saw him, unforgettable night. I have tapes of three other shows from that same week, but again, once saw the torrent for this show but couldn't download it for whatever reason (as I said on my very first post, I've had bad luck with downloading torrents).

Any help hugely appreciated! Willing to trade! Thanks!

Willie Nelson - Who'll Buy My Memories: The I.R.S. Tapes, Vols. 1 & 2

2010-06-01T16:20:00.000-07:00

Willie Nelson was in hot water in the early nineties for years worth of tax evasion, which he blamed on his financial manager. In order to pay his back taxes, he made a two-volume, solo acoustic album on the cheap, which he sold by mail order through television commercials, acknowledging the humor of the situation by calling the project "Who'll Buy My Memories: The I.R.S. Tapes".

This is an intimate trip through some of Willie's greatest lesser-known songs, obviously among those that mean the most to him. The performances are restrained, stately, haunting and full of life.

In particular, on this day after Memorial Day in the U.S., I'd like to call attention to the powerful but subtle anti-war song "Jimmy's Road", which Willie placed prominently as the second track on the first volume. God bless our troops, and God damn those who send them needlessly to death and dismemberment and psychological destruction. And those of them who use war as a license for inhuman behavior. And those who justify the above.

Excuse the digression. Anyway, these discs are changing hands for at least $40-something used and, respectively, $230 and $135 on Amazon. Not as huge as Willie's tax bill, but way too high a price for such valuable (in a non-monetary sense) recordings! Here they are at The Rare Stuff, encoded at 320 for your aural pleasure. (Of course, if you care to contribute to my own tax bill, please use the Paypal link to the right, or kindly check out one or two of our sponsors!)

Vol 1:

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=DKF1PGQD

Vol. 2:

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=HQB7764C

My Favorite Boots, pt. 1: David Blue, Kirsty MacColl

2010-05-24T18:40:00.000-07:00

So far, I've tried to avoid posting stuff on TRS that's available on other blogs -- hence the name of this blog! If it was something I got from another source, but that blog or its links were no longer active, I've re-upped and posted it here. But as far as the boots that are still sitting out there in some blogosphere backwaters, it occurred to me that, even though I myself have spent wayyy too many hours scouring the 'net for obscure recordings of my favorite artists, that doesn't mean that other interested parties know they're out there. So I'm starting a series of posts pointing you to other blogs you might not stumble across, and you can follow their links to the files in question. While you're there, scout the rest of their blogs out, and if you like, tell 'em I sent ya!

Today, two wonderful recordings from artists I was amazed to find had even been bootlegged at all (kinda like when I found the Mary Margaret O'Hara boot I posted). First, from back in '67, we have Dylan cohort David Blue at Boston's Unicorn Coffee House. The sound is a bit fuzzy but amazing for a tape of that vintage. And whatever it lacks in clarity, the show is ESSENTIAL for anyone who likes Blue at all, even if all you like his one undeniably great song, "These 23 Days in September" -- because this is the DEFINITIVE RECORDING of that one. The titular album version is good and atmospheric, if a bit too brooding overall. His later remake is pointless in the extreme. Some cover versions have been nice, but not quite perfect. But here, backed by some of New York folk-rock's finest (no credits, but I'm betting that's Paul Harris on keys, for one), and taking the tune at a brisk but still contemplative pace (kudos to that drummer), all the song's atmosphere rises and audibly fills the room. And Blue's singing, strangely, sounds better live than he usually sounded in the studio.

Let me say this again so it jumps out:

THIS is the DEFINITIVE VERSION of one of the GREATEST FOLK-ROCK BALLADS of the SIXTIES!

OK, I'll calm down. The second tape is from England's sweetheart, the poor, late great Kirsty MacColl. This tape, from a BBC broadcast, finds her at the Guinness Fleadh festival in London in '93, at one of my favorite points of her career -- having just released Electric Landlady but still doing plenty of stuff from previous album Kite. The EL songs sound great in live band format, especially "Walking Down Madison", in contrast to the more studio-bound sound of that album. And her personality shines through in her stage banter as well. R.I.P. Kirsty.

Thanks to the original posters -- hope you guys don't mind me linking to ya -- not to mention the original tapers! Especially whomever hauled some no doubt clunky recording equipment down to the Unicorn Coffee House in December of '67 -- you were a visionary!

Scoot on over and enjoy these two stellar examples of The Rare Stuff!

Mr. Blue:

http://sinsetasnohayparaiso.blogspot.com/2008/05/david-blue-unicorn-coffee-house-1967.html

Ms. MacColl:

http://mixingdesk.blogspot.com/2008/12/kirsty-maccoll.html

Elvis Costello Trainspotter Gap-Plugger Bonanza: Volume 3

2010-05-21T15:25:00.001-07:00

And here's the back half of my latest collection of Elvis Costello b-sides, alt-versions, comp tracks and guest spots. The first half contained a track called "April 5th", this one's got "May 17th", so at least we've got about a month and a half covered! The latter track, a brief instrumental, is one of the harder-to-find items here, having only appeared on a CD included with the book Ferrington Guitars. It features EC playing three different guitars made by master luthier Danny Ferrington. Other highlights are the three bonus tracks from the ballads album North, the additional song from the Shakespeare settings on John Harle's album that did not appear on the Juliet Letters bonus disc, one more demo from the Wendy James songs, a rare acoustic version of When I Was Cruel track "Tart", and covers of Randy Newman, Charles Mingus, the Grateful Dead, and, yes, a song from Waiting for Guffman. Also, there's some uncertainty about the origins of the version of "Watching the Detectives" here; it originally appeared on a long-ago free cassette given away with the NME. It was listed there as a demo, but is now believed to be a live performance from Top of the Pops, November 2, 1977. See previous post for a link to the master list of "gaps" in EC's discography.

Speaking of the previous post, I thought I had come up with a sure-fire way to generate responses -- ask people to donate money, or barring that, leave a comment! Unfortunately, all but four people chose option "C" -- neither! If you enjoy adding this stuff to your collection, do me the kindness of letting me know! Or don't, whatever. I can't count the number of times I myself have downloaded without comment. But it's too bad that on the web these days, courtesy is often "The Rare Stuff"! :^)

The ECTSGPBV3 contains:

Impatience Elvis Costello North

Little Goody Two Shoes Elvis Costello & The Attractions Out Of Our Idiot

London's Brilliant Elvis Costello London's Brilliant Parade 12"

May 17th Elvis Costello Ferrington Guitars

Mistress Mine: When That I Was And A Little Tiny Boy John Harle feat. Elvis Costello Terror & Magnificence

My Mood Swings Elvis Costello with the Brodsky Quartet Moodswings

North Elvis Costello North

A Penny for Your Thoughts (Waiting for Guffman) Elvis Costello thephoenix.com/onthedownload

Radio, Radio Elvis Costello Saturday Night Live: The Music

Real Emotional Girl Elvis Costello with the Brodsky Quartet Moodswings

Ship Of Fools/It Must Have Been The Roses Elvis Costello Stolen Roses: Songs Of The Grateful Dead

Tart (Acoustic) Elvis Costello Cruel Smile [Japan]

Too Blue Elvis Costello North

Watching The Detectives [Demo/Live?] Elvis Costello NME Pogo A Go Go cassette [Top of the Pops(?)]

Weird Nightmare Elvis Costello Weird Nightmare: Meditations on Mingus

The World And His Wife [Live] Elvis Costello & The Attractions Punch The Clock [Ryko]

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=YW4SE65C

Elvis Costello Trainspotter Gap-Plugger Extravaganza, VOLUME TWO!!!

2010-05-16T13:15:00.000-07:00

At last! Here's the long overdue, second full-length installment of our trip through Elvis Costello's back pages. The entire group of rare items I've compiled for this next batch totaled 32 tracks; I have placed them in alphabetical order and split 'em in half. Here's the first half of the batch, featuring the tracks listed below. In addition to uncompiled tracks from the '90s Rykodisc reissues of his catalog, bonus tracks from import versions of some albums, and a few guest spots and/or compilation contributions, I've also thrown in two tracks (one in each part) which were made available only through "official" free downloads from media sources; specifically, The New York Times' nytimes.com (the excerpt of the writing demo of the Costello/Cash/Kristofferson collaboration "April 5th," which the three would ultimately perform on Spectacle); and the Boston Phoenix' phoenix.com (the delightful version of Waiting for Guffman's "A Penny For Your Thoughts" from an award ceremony for Christopher Guest). I included these last two because they're semi-official, lots of fun, and many might not know they exist. Apart from those two, these tracks are all (well, almost all) out-of-print and otherwise unavailable; none are available to purchase for download (at least in the U.S.), and all are, generally, hard to find on the 'net. I should mention that a very few tracks here differ only slightly from some that have been officially released, in the forms of remixes or alternate takes; here, again, is the master list of "gaps" from the great Costello wiki.

Sorry I've kept the faithful waiting so long, but here's one half of a heaping helping of The Rare Stuff, Costello-style! Next part posting later this week -- I promise. Meanwhile, enjoy.

Oh, and I'd be doing myself a disservice if I didn't also take this opportunity to ASK FOR CONTRIBUTIONS. I've spent oodles of dough over the years to gather these rare tracks -- and more recently, specifically for the purpose of sharing them with you. I know times are tight, but if you can bestow any thanks in the form of a small donation to the Paypal address in the right column -- a mere fraction of what you'd have to pay to purchase all these recordings -- it would make a humble blogger very happy. I know, I know, everything online's supposed to be free. If you can't swing anything, don't feel bad, of course, please help yourself to the tracks and enjoy the heck out of 'em! But at least please leave a comment, and perhaps investigate a commercial message or two to the right as well. Every little click helps.

The Gap-Pluggers, Part 2 are:

April 5th (excerpt) Elvis Costello, Rosanne Cash & Kris Kristofferson nytimes.com

Cry, Cry, Cry [Live] Elvis Costello & The Attractions Almost Blue [Ryko]

Deportee Elvis Costello Goodbye Cruel World [Ryko]

Dirty Rotten Shame Elvis Costello Complicated Shadows 7"

Do You Know What I'm Saying? Elvis Costello 13 Steps Lead Down 7"

Don't Get Above Your Raising Ricky Skaggs w/Elvis Costello Live In London

Don't Throw Your Love Away Elvis Costello & Amsterdam Liverpool - The Number Ones Album

...Dust Elvis Costello My Flame Burns Blue: Live with The Metropole Orkest [Japan]

Egypt Elvis Costello Labour Of Love: The Music Of Nick Lowe

The End Of The Rainbow Elvis Costello The Anti-Heroin Project: It's A Live-In World

Everyday I Write The Book [Live] Elvis Costello & The Attractions Punch The Clock [Ryko]

Forgive Her Anything [Original Version] Elvis Costello & The Attractions Blood & Chocolate [Ryko]

Get Yourself Another Fool Elvis Costello & The Attractions Out Of Our Idiot

Gloomy Sunday Elvis Costello Gloomy Sunday - Ein Lied von Liebe und Tod - O.S.T.

He's Got You [Live] Elvis Costello & The Attractions Almost Blue [Ryko]

I Almost Had A Weakness [Live] Elvis Costello with the Brodsky Quartet Live at New York Town Hall

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=8INIK51L

Warner Bros. "Words + Music" promo interview CDs: Paul Simon [Songs From The Capeman], Brian Wilson and Van Dyke Parks [Orange Crate Art]

2010-04-24T13:20:00.000-07:00

Here are two approximately half-hour discs, interspersing album excerpts with comments from the respective artists. Songs from The Capeman and Orange Crate Art might not be their creators' best works ever, but there is certainly great stuff to be found in both albums, and these discussions of the process involved in their creation should be interesting for fans. For an additional entry in the "Words + Music" promo series, see my Elvis Costello Interview Trifecta post. Oh yeah, and I try and say "The Rare Stuff" towards the end of every post -- so there, I just did! :^) Enjoy!

Paul Simon:

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=5XRPIA63

Brian Wilson and Van Dyke Parks:

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=D707GPON

Elvis Costello Trainspotter Gap-Plugger Stopgap (Vol. 1.9)

2010-04-17T15:36:00.000-07:00

Hello Elvis Lovers,

Sorry y'all have been waiting so very long for the next mega-batch of odd socks from Elvis Costello's copious back catalog. But I have been acquiring a few more items in order to make it as groovy and inclusive as possible. In fact, I spent a little bit of birthday cash on one last release that should arrive in the next few days, whereupon I will wrap it all up nice and it will be my present to you!

Meanwhile, in honor of my birthday (yesterday), and Record Store Day (today), here's a mini-post of remixes from EC's mid-'80s period, when seemingly every single had to be fed through an electronic blender to produce some sort of vaguely dance-y extended version, no matter how inappropriate or self-consciously "modern". Funny how the more up-to-date an artist tried to sound in the '80s, the more dated that work is today.

Of course, Elvis being Elvis, some of these are at least a bit more tasteful and cool than the above mini-rant might imply. But I know this isn't the juicy rare meat Costellians have been salivating for here, just a 12" plate of salad greens to whet your appetite.

The tracks are:

Everyday I Write The Book (Extended Mix)

Everyday I Write The Book (Special Version)

Everyday I Write The Book (Instrumental)

Let Them All Talk (Extended Remix)

I Wanna Be Loved (Extended Smoochy 'n' Runny Version)

I Wanna Be Loved (Version Discotheque)

The Only Flame In Town (Version Discotheque)

Pump It Up (1984 Dance Mix)

... all credited to Elvis Costello & the Attractions. None of these tracks are available on an EC album release. Hope this tides you over for a few more days until The Rare Stuff can present the ECTSGPB (the "B" is for "Bonanza"!) Volume 2!

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=2ATEXQTF

Michael Jackson: THIS IS IT LIVE: The REAL Soundtrack! (Music from the Film)

2010-04-02T22:46:00.000-07:00

This Is It, the film made up of rehearsal footage from what would have been Michael Jackson's comeback tour, made it look like that tour would have been a great success and definitely answered the naysayers. It had some great moments but due to obvious circumstances was ultimately unsatisfying, building your anticipation like many "making-of" documentaries, but without the ultimate payoff that's the climax of such films. Plenty of foreplay, but no actual gettin' busy!

Even more unsatisfying, to put it mildly, was the "soundtrack" album released as a tie-in, which featured... not a minute of music from the actual film! It was just one more tired greatest-hits cash-in, with the title song tacked on.

So when it comes to This Is It -- THIS is it!!! The ACTUAL soundtrack of the movie, boot-style, in pristine sound, all performances from the film itself. Some tracks here might not quite measure up to other versions, some (such as the medley of Jackson 5 songs) being just sketches, though they're all fascinating. But at least one track here, "Human Nature", is probably as good as any singing he's ever done, especially those keening "hey-yeahhh"s following the choruses -- and in the film you can see he wasn't even trying 100% in that particular rehearsal, but what he does while holding back is what other vocalists would work their entire lives to achieve! Don't let that long pause after the line "Reaching out..." fool ya, it's just for dramatic effect! The slow-burn intro to "The Way You Make Me Feel" is another highlight.

I found this on the excellent boot forums at Guitars 101. What a resource! But I can't find it elsewhere online. Thanks a million to the original ripper/poster. Not just this recording, but Michael's talent, qualifies as The Rare Stuff, so I'm pleased as punch to offer it to y'all here in lovely 320k. RIP MJ. Enjoy! And as always, I'd love to hear from you. :^)

~~http://www.megaupload.com/?d=ZSXFFMWL~~

Link dead. New one in comments. Why not leave one if you get it?

Paul Pena - Paul Pena (self-titled debut), 1972

2010-03-26T22:07:00.000-07:00

Blind San Francisco bluesman Paul Pena penned "Jet Airliner", which Steve Miller re-jiggered for a huge hit. The royalties from that alone probably kept Pena alive for years longer than his fragile constitution might otherwise have been able to hold out. He finally achieved long-overdue recognition as an artist in 1999 with the release of Genghis Blues, a fascinating documentary relating how Paul was introduced to the exotic Tuvan throat-singing technique in the wake of his wife's death, and improbably, learned it almost instantly as a vehicle for expressing his grief. He mastered it so completely that he traveled halfway around the world to Tuva itself -- no small feat in itself for an ill and disabled man -- and went on to win an international competition. If you haven't seen the film, you must if you care about music. The soundtrack album is great too, featuring Paul melding his newfound throat-singing chops with his natural, acoustic blues-rock style, with plainspoken, personal lyrics just like "Airliner"'s.

Once Pena had some buzz upon the film's release, his never-released album New Train was issued in 2000, and was a revelation. The album was produced by Steve Miller Band member Ben Sidran -- who turned Miller on to Pena's tune; the contrast between Pena's organic original and Miller's juggernaut is fascinating -- and features guest spots from Jerry Garcia and Merl Saunders. Pena's soulful songwriting, singing, and picking cast a spell here. It's simply a classic '70s album, reminiscent of nothing so much as Van Morrison's Moondance. Get it and impress your friends.

Far more obscure is Pena's self-titled first album, released by Capitol in 1972, which is long out of print and has never been reissued on CD or LP. It's not quite the masterpiece that is New Train, but it satisfyingly introduces Pena's gifts of straightforward folk-blues songwriting and soulful vocals. This album's hard to find online. I'm frankly not sure where I got this 250Kbps rip of it; if you recognize it as yours, thank you VERY much, and please credit yourself in the comments! On this terrific post from a blog called Music Maven, the album's tracks stream individually, along with New Train and Genghis Blues tracks and video clips. While it once had a home on the great Time Has Told Me blog, it seems to be currently unavailable for download anywhere on the web, so The Rare Stuff it is! Enjoy, and remember, comments, clicks, Amazon purchases through the above links, or donations are always appreciated.

Paul Pena passed away in 2005. I had the wonderful opportunity to meet him a few years prior to that, and he was a remarkably gentle soul in a remarkably fragile body. He was no monk though, and his other senses were sharp indeed -- he grabbed my lovely young then-girlfriend and pulled her in for a very snug hug before she knew what hit her! Rest in peace, Paul, and I'm glad to help share your music.

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=YZMEK5BX