Coming Attractions

From September 11 to 20, we'll bring you:
Bruce Cockburn, Edie Brickell, Bruce Springsteen, Rick Derringer, David Bowie, Southside Johnny, Music For Montserrat, Jerry Garcia, Crowded House, Counting Crows,The Pretenders, Men At Work, Elton John, and Bob Weir!
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Friday, December 31, 2010

Allman Brothers Band – 1973-12-31 – San Francisco (SBD)

Allman Brothers Band
with Special Guests
1973-12-31
Cow Palace
Daly City, CA
Soundboard Recording
192 kbps
Artwork Included

CD 1:
1st Set
01. Wasted Words
02. Done Somebody Wrong
03. One Way Out
04. Stormy Monday
05. Midnight Rider
06. Blue Sky
07. In Memory of Elizabeth Reed

2nd Set: (Happy New Year)
08. Statesboro Blues

CD 2:
2nd Set (continued)
01. Southbound
02. Come & Go Blues
03. Ramblin' Man
04. Trouble No More
05. Jessica
06. Les Brers in A Minor >
07. Drums >
08. Les Brers in A Minor

CD 3:
2nd Set (continued)
Jerry Garcia, Bill Kreutzman & Boz Scaggs join in for remainder of the show

01. Whipping Post
02. Linda Lou > Mary Lou
03. Hideaway > You Upset Me
04. Bo Didley > Mountain Jam > Bo Didley

Disc 4
2nd Set (continued)
01. Save My Life
02. Blues Jam

3rd Set:
03. You Don't Love Me
04. Will the Circle Be Unbroken >
05. Mountain Jam


Here’s our 2nd New Year’s Eve post, the main event from the Cow Palace in San Francisco on December 31, 1973, 37 years ago today. This one features the legendary Allman Brothers Band. As you know from earlier posts, the Allmans and the Grateful Dead toured together throughout 1973, including the 2 monumental shows at RFK Stadium in June and the historic concert at Watkins Glen in August. As the year came to a close, the connection between the 2 bands continued, with the Allmans stepping in to play in the Dead’s traditional New Year’s Eve spot in San Francisco.  Of course, the Dead didn’t leave their musical brothers all by themselves. In the middle of set two, Jerry Garcia and Bill Kreutzman of the Dead, along with Boz Scaggs, hit the stage to join the Allmans for an incendiary version of Whipping Post. The 3 stayed for the rest of the show, with Garcia and Dicky Betts trading solos and driving each other to new heights. The 3 drummers, Kreutzman along with Butch Trucks and Jaimoe Johanson, laid down a thunderous rhythm that kept propelling the music forward. This is simply an exceptional performance and as good as any of the 1973 Allman/Dead combinations. Download this soundboard, turn it up loud, and ring in 2011 in style. Happy New Year!



Marshall Tucker Band - 1973-12-31 – San Francisco, CA (SBD)

Marshall Tucker Band
1973-12-31
Cow Palace
Daly City, CA
Soundboard Recording
320 kbps
Artwork Included

01. Hillbilly Band
02. Another Cruel Love Passing Me By
03. Take The Highway
04. Can't You See*
05. A New Life
06. Ramblin' On My Mind
07. Every Day I Have The Blues*
08. 24 Hours @ A Time*

*w/Toy Caldwell on Vocals


To close out 2010, we have 2 posts for you, both from the Cow Palace in San Francisco from December 31, 1973, 37 years ago this day. This post features the opening act that New Year’s Eve, The Marshall Tucker Band. The band had released their self titled debut album in April 1973, part of the growing Southern Rock movement that was gaining popularity at the time. The album featured 8 songs, all written by Toy Caldwell, including Can’t You See, which would become a staple of FM radio play. The disc was recorded at Capricorn Studios in Macon, Georgia, where the Allman Brothers also recorded. Given they shared the same studio, its only fitting that the Marshall Tucker Band served as the Allmans' lead-in on New Year's Eve 1973. Download this soundboard, then come back later today for the main set from Allman Brothers and some very special guests.



Wednesday, December 8, 2010

John Lennon - Imagine

December 8, 1980 - it's hard to believe it was 30 years ago today that John Lennon was taken from us. I'll never forget how I heard the news. I was a senior at Princeton, working for the school newspaper. We were up late, putting the finishing touches on our semi-annual Arts & Entertainment issue. The lead story was a review of Lennon's Double Fantasy, his first album in over 5 years. We were just about to go to press when over the AP news wire came a special report -- John Lennon had been shot and killed. The world mourned John Lennon, and so did we, though we were able to work through our grief by turning our special issue into a celebration of his life. Tale a minute today to remember John. All we are saying is give peace a chance!

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Anniversary Month Thanks At So Many Roads

To close our first anniversary month here at So Many Roads, I want to share some of the great thank you posts I’ve received in the last few weeks. I’ve shared some of these type of posts in the past (go here and here) and will continue to do so from time to time because these comments really help keep me going. As I’ve said on several occasions, this blog takes a lot more work than I ever thought it would and there are days when I wonder if I should keep it up. Then someone sends a thank you, and this whole endeavor seems worthwhile once again! My thanks to each and every one of you who have taken a moment to leave a comment! I really appreciate it. Looking forward to year #2 here at So Many Roads To Ease My Soul!

Anonymous said...
You have an astonishing blog! Really a very good taste and a complete selection of Rock artists.

iggy said...
Your kindness and generosity have made 2010 an exceptional year for music appreciation and enjoyment at my house. You run a top quality operation, and that shows in all you do here. Thanks so much and all the best to you.

Canadian rocker said...
I never get get a bad show from you-everything is FIRST class!!

Paul said...
Congrats and thanks for a fine year. Not only is the music top notch, but your write ups are always enjoyable. Keep up the great work!!!

arc said...
Well done and congratulations Speedy, for providing a fine and vast selection of elixirs for the ears.

Alex said...
Happy 1st anniversary Speedy! Keep up the good work, and Thank you :)

Jordan said...
Best of luck for your 2nd year, Speedy! This is a super-fine site.

staffie said...
Happy anniversary SMRTEMS 1 year old today! The first of many more I'm sure....
Great job speedy, long may you continue!

scousemike said...
Have a great 1st anniversary speedy & all the very best for the next 12 months. Your a great guy to know!

kath said...
Happy anniversary!! Love your blog. Your hard work is much appreciated!

Anonymous said...
I read your stories and soon I'm interested even though the artist is not really one of my favorites. I want to say thank you for all this beautiful music and the way you tell the stories of it. Please continue, it's a great pleasure to visit it day after day.

Anonymous said...
A very happy first birthday. A lot of people derive a great deal of pleasure from all your hard and diligent work you do on your site.

Ken said...
Love your site, check it often. Thanks for what you do!

Anonymous said...
Happy birthday to your fantastic blog. Clever presentation of the shows with "xx years from today". You make happy a lot of people around this small planet so the best to you.

James said...
Thanks Speedy. This is my favorite bootleg blog. the shows are great and I especially like your descriptions. Some blogs don't do this so you have no idea what you're getting.

AvgJoe50 said....
A belated Happy Anniversary Thank You! Over the past year I have watched your blog grow into one of the best. The music you post is terrific, but I especially appreciate the time spent adding your personal notes. Makes it feel more personal, I would have loved to have attended some of these concerts with you.

Normski said...
Congrats Speedy, on a splendid site, and on your dedication.

Tunz Master said...
You are the one & only SPEEDSTER-ROO! happy anniversary

LakerCrazy said...
Brother Speedy....Like A Great Bottle Of Vino....Your Blog Just Keeps Getting Better And Better!...Thanks For Your Friendship....And May You Have Continued Success...

More Hidden Gems At So Many Roads

I received such positive feedback for my first "Hidden Gems" post, I decided to sneak one more in before our Anniversary Month ended. Check out these 5 shows for some excellent, but somewhat overlooked, music!

Jimmy Buffett - 2008-04-29 - Charlotte: All of Jimmy's classics, plus great covers of Scarlet Begonias (when Dead Heads meet Parrot Heads), Brown Eyed Girl, Southern Cross, While My Guitar Gently Weeps and Rainy Day Women #12 and 35.

The Who - 1996-07-18 - Madison Square Garden: Quadrophenia, in its entirety for the first time in over 20 years!

Dave Edmunds - 1990-04-07 - San Francisco: Dave Edmunds, with help from Kim Wilson (of the Fabulous Thunderbirds), Graham Parker, Steve Cropper and Dion make up the Rock 'N' Roll Revue.

Sheryl Crow - 1999-05-06 - Camden NJ: Ms. Crow plays all her hits, as well as stand out covers of George Harrison's What Is Life, Bob Dylan's Mississippi and Dobie Gray's Drift Away!

Crossroads Festival - 2007-07-28 - Bridgeview IL: EC hosts an all star guitar celebration, with help from folks like Jeff Beck, Willie Nelson, Buddy Guy, BB King, Albert Lee and Robbie Robertson, just to name an few. And he and Steve Winwood team up for a Blind Faith reunion!

Friday, November 26, 2010

Jerry Garcia Band - 1988-11-26 - Los Angeles, CA (SBD)

Jerry Garcia Band
1988-11-26
Wiltern Theatre
Los Angeles, CA
Soundboard Recording
320 kbps
Artwork Included

1st Set:
01. Cats Under The Stars
02. Forever Young
03. Someday Baby
04. Mississippi Moon
05. Dear Prudence
06. And It Stoned Me
07. How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)

2nd Set:
08. Harder They Come
09. Waiting For A Miracle
10. Evangeline
11. Don't Let Go
12. My Sisters And Brothers
13. That Lucky Old Sun (Just Rolls Around Heaven All Day)
14. Tangled Up In Blue


Whereas in prior years, the Jerry Garcia Band would play anywhere from 50 to 80 shows a year, beginning in 1988, they would reduce their workload to somewhere between 20 and 40 shows annually.  Each individual show, however, was now longer, with 2 sets becoming standard, unlike when I had seen the band in 1978, 1980 and 1984 and they performed only 1 set.   This soundboard, from November 11, 1988, 22 years ago today,  at the Wiltern Theater in Los Angeles, is a great example of the later era of the band.   Jerry plays a classic mix of his own tunes along with coves of songs from The Beatles, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Van Morrison, Jimmy Cliff, James Taylor, and Bruce Cockburn, just to name a few.  Download this one to hear how Garcia interprets the music of each of these rock legends!
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Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Hidden Gems At So Many Roads

Earlier this month, as part of our 1st anniversary celebration, we posted a list of the 25 most downloaded shows on this blog.  Well, today, we present a a slightly different list.  These are hidden gems, shows that may not be as popular as some others but which feature exceptional playing, historic moments and/or amazing sound quality.  If you haven't grabbed these yet, you should definitely need to check them out!

01) Grateful Dead - 1987-09-18 - Madison Square Garden, NY:  Best Grateful Dead concert I ever had the pleasure to attend.  An incredible 2nd set.  One of the Dead's best moments of the 1980s.

02) Eric Clapton - 1987-04-27 - Madison Square Garden, NY:  I was front row, behind the stage for this one, and EC made several visits to play to those of us in the cheap seats.  The whole show is amazing and the Badge into Let It Rain segue is as good as it gets.

03) Paul McCartney - 1993-06-15 - Charlotte, NC:  One of the best sounding boots I've ever heard.  Sir Paul really begins to embrace his Beatle heritage on this tour.

04) Pink Floyd - 1977-07-02 - Madison Square Garden, NY: The playing is excellent, and loud, as the band cranked up the amps to drown out fireworks erupting inside the building.  Waters snaps at the audience on several occasions, and the groundwork is laid for The Wall.

05) Elton John - 1977-05-07 - Rainbow Theatre: Elton, playing solo acoustic, with just a little help from Ray Cooper.  Great sound and a must have for any collector.

06) Creedence Clearwater Revival - 1971-07-04 - Fillmore West:  CCR closes the legendary Fillmore West on Independence Day in 1971.  Need I say more?

07) Grateful Dead - 1973-06-10 - RFK Stadium, Washington DC:  After the Dead play 2 incredible sets, they are joined by the Allmans for a 3rd set jam of epic proportions.

08) Neil Young - 1974-05-16 - Bottom Line, NY:  Neil does a surprise set after Ry Cooder finishes his performance! 

09) U2 - 2001-10-25 - Madison Square Garden, NY: Just weeks after 9-11. No words could describe the emotions that we all felt when the names of all the victims of that day scrolled on the video screens as U2 sang "One".

10) John Hiatt – 1988-10-07 – Bottom Line, NY:  John Hiatt is one of rock's most  under rated singers and song writers.  If you're not familiar with his work, down load this show to see what you've been missing.

11) Marshall Crenshaw - 1982-05-15 - Capitol Theatre, NJ:  If Hiatt is under rated, then Marshall Crenshaw is, unfortunately, an afterthought.  Not to famed rock critic Robert Christgau, however, who deemed Crenshaw's first 2 albums as perfect!  Download this show (or the 1983-06-27 one) and see why.

12) CSNY - 1974-09-08 - Westbury, LI:  This is the last show of CSNY's chaotic 1974 US tour, a 33 song marathon.  The band would not tour again for over 25 years after this one!

13) Grateful Dead - 1977-05-09 - Buffalo:  This is the night after the historic Barton Hall show, which fans say was the best Dead show ever.  The Dead's tape archivist, however, thinks that this show from Buffalo may have been better!

14) Traffic - 1970-10-16 - Portchester:  This one captures the rebirth of Traffic in 1970, just as the reformed band releases John Barleycorn Must Die.

15) The Byrds - 1968-05-02 - Piper Club:  A rare recording of The Byrds with Gram Parsons. 

16) Santana - 1971-03-23 - Los Angeles:  Classic Santana, with Neil Schon and Greg Rolle, as well as special guest Jose Feliciano.

17) Jerry Garcia Band - 1978-03-19 - Pittsburgh:  A great show to understand the differences between Jerry's solo work and his performances with the Dead.

18) Billy Joel - 1997-05-06 - CW Post:  Billy on his home turf in Long Island, before all the hype of The Stranger album!

19) Bruce Hornsby - 1993-11-20 - Cleveland: In 1993, Bruce Hornsby began to stretch his musical sound -- adding new songs with a jazzier feel to his repertoire, incorporating tunes from his stint with the Grateful Dead into his set list, and re-inventing some of his classics.

20) Steely Dan - 2003-10-01 - Los Angeles:  Always known for their studio work, this bootleg demonstrates just how good they are live!

I could have easily listed twice as many shows, but these 20 will get you started on exploring a host of music here on So Many Roads.  Enjoy!

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Paul McCartney - 2002-11-11 - Tokyo, Japan (HQ Aud)

Paul McCartney
2002-11-11
Driving Japan Tour
Tokyo Dome
Tokyo, Japan
HQ Audience Recording
320 kbps
Artwork Included

CD 1:
01. Hello Goodbye
02. Jet
03. All My Loving
04. Getting Better
05. Coming Up
06. Let Me Roll It
07. Lonely Road
08. Driving Rain
09. Your Loving Flame
10. Blackbird
11. Every Night
12. We Can Work It Out
13. You Never Give Me Your Money > Carry That Weight
14. The Fool On The Hill
15. Here Today
16. Something
17. Eleanor Rigby
18. Here, There And Everywhere
19. Michelle

CD 2:
01. Band On The Run
02. Back In The USSR
03. Maybe I'm Amazed
04. Let 'Em In
05. My Love
06. She's Leaving Home
07. Can't Buy Me Love
08. Live And Let Die
09. Let It Be
10. Hey Jude
11. The Long And Winding Road
12. Lady Madonna
13. I Saw Her Standing There
14. Yesterday
15. Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band > The End

Soundcheck
16. Jam


When Paul launched his Driving The USA tour in April 2002, his first tour since 1993, he had 24 dates scheduled over 2 months.  The shows proved so successful that he came back for another run in the states in the fall, performing another 23 shows.  He then took the tour to Mexico for 3 shows and finally to Japan for 5 concerts.  This high quality audience tape captures Sir Paul on his first night in Tokyo, November 11, 2002, 8 years ago today. As he was throughout this tour, Paul's in fine form, as is the new band he assembled for his return to performing; Brian Ray, Rusty Anderson, Paul "Wix" Wickens and Abe Laboriel Jr (who also plays drums for Clapton).  Despite the recent tragedies in his life -- the death of Linda, the passing of George Harrison, and the events of September 11, 2001 -- Sir Paul seems to have found peace.  Beatle songs abound throughout the performance, as Paul shows he has come to terms with his legacy!


Happy First Anniversary For So Many Roads

It is hard to believe that it was a year ago today that I put up the first post on So Many Roads To Ease My Soul. A lot has happened in those 365 days and the end result is nothing like I had imagined when I started. When I finally decided to start my own blog, after several months of sharing bootlegs with other sites, I really had no concrete idea of what I planned to do. Nor did I have any conception of what would be involved. I figured I'd post a classic rock bootleg from a band I liked every now and then, maybe write a few words about it, and then be done. I estimated 5 or 10 minutes of work, every 3 or 4 days, no big deal at all.

Within a few weeks, I realized I had taken on far more than I had expected. Finding good sounding shows wasn't easy, and uploading them with all the proper information, including artwork, took time. Writing something interesting about each show also consumed more time than I thought it would. I enjoy writing, and take pride in my work, so I spent plenty of time researching and editing each post. I soon realized that you could post a thousand concerts, but what good was that if no one knew your blog existed! Therefore, I had to spend time finding ways to publicize my blog, such as linking to other sites, and posting on blog search engines, such as Captain Crawl and Prognotfrog. In addition, I learned that I needed to post more frequently, and add more features, such as pictures, counters, gadgets, links to other blogs, etc., if I wanted So Many Roads to become a place folks would return to on a regular basis.  Updating the site to include all of those features took even more of my time,  Above all, I began to understand that I needed to establish a unique identity for So Many Roads, something that would make the site standout from other music blogs.

I finally hit on that unique idea in January. I decided to make each post on the site reflect that day in rock history. If the date was January 16, then I'd find a concert from January 16, sometime between 1 and 50 years ago. As I was a history major in college, that concept was right up my alley. That was the good news. The bad news was that I just made my life a thousand times more complicated because now I just couldn't post any old show on any old day. Now I needed a bootleg specific to whatever date was showing on the calendar. What the heck was I thinking?

So here we are, 1 year after So Many Roads To Ease My Soul was launched, and I must say, I'm feeling good about what this site has become. I never would have imagined that over 130,000 folks from 122 different countries would visit in year 1. Nor would I have believed that I'd be averaging over 550 visits a day. The Internet does make the world a much smaller place. I've also made some great friends through sharing this music, folks that I chat with daily over at Dino's incredible site. In addition, I've received some amazing comments about this site from visitors. On those days that I've wondered if all the time and effort is worth it, that positive feedback has helped me to stay motivated to keep So Many Roads alive. In fact, I plan a post later this month as part of our anniversary celebration in which I'll share some of those wonderful comments.

I took the title of this blog from one of the last songs Jerry Garcia wrote before his death. For me, all the different types of music I enjoy are like "so many roads to ease my soul". Now, as year 1 of So Many Roads comes to a close, and year 2 begins, I'm reminded of another famous Grateful Dead lyric ... "what a long strange trip it’s been". Here's hoping that this is just the start of this blog's long strange trip, and that many more years of sharing the music are still to come.

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Most Popular Shows At So Many Roads

As part of our 1st Anniversary celebration, I thought it would be fun to post the 25 shows that have been downloaded the most here at So Many Roads To Ease My Soul:
  1. Allman Brothers - 1971-03-30 - New Orleans
  2. Allman Brothers - 1971-01-31 - Fillmore West, SF
  3. Bob Dylan & The Band - 1974-01-31 - Madison Square Garden, NY
  4. Beatles - Ed Sullivan Shows 1964 & 1965 - New York
  5. Led Zeppelin - 1979-08-11 - Knebworth
  6. Rolling Stones - 1989-09-03 - Exhibition, Hall, Toronto
  7. Bruce Springsteen - 1984-08-20 - Byrne Arena  
  8. Bruce Springsteen - 2009-06-28 - London
  9. Paul McCartney & Wings - 1976-06-23 - Los Angeles 
  10. Grateful Dead (with Bob Dylan) -  1987-07-12 - Giants Stadium, NJ      
  11. Led Zeppelin - 1975-02-12 - Madison Square Garden, NY   
  12. Rolling Stones - 1969-07-05 - Hyde Park, London
  13. Neil Young - 2003-04-22 - Sweden
  14. Bob Dylan & The Band - 1974-02-14 - Los Angeles
  15. Jimi Hendrix - 1969-06-20 - Newport
  16. Beatles - 1963-10-24 - Stockholm 
  17. Rolling Stones - 1978-06-14 - Capitol Theatre, NJ
  18. Rolling Stones - 1973-02-27 - Ranswick, Sydney
  19. CSNY - 1970-06-06 - Fillmore East, NY
  20. Paul McCartney - 1992-12-10 - Up Close MTV Special, NY  
  21. Jimi Hendrix - 1967-09-10 - Lund, Sweden 
  22. The Band - 1973-08-01 - Roosevelt Stadium, NJ
  23. Eric Clapton - 1975-04-14 -Brisbane
  24. Allman Brothers - 1973-06-09 - RFK Stadium, Washington, DC
  25. Elton John - 1972-05-03 - Notre Dame, Indiana 
The list is dominated by The Beatles (and Sir Paul), Dylan, Jimi, The Stones, Led Zep, Bruce and The Allmans!  That said, I'm surprised that Pink Floyd and The Who didn't crack the top 25. Only 1 show from Clapton is also a bit of a shock!

Check out all 25 of the shows above if you haven't already.  And come back later this month for a list of shows that may not have made the top 25, but should definitely be on your list to download.

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Grateful Dead - 1969-11-02 - San Francisco CA (SBD)

Grateful Dead
1969-11-02
Family Dog at the Great Highway
San Francisco, CA
Soundboard Recording
320 kbps
Artwork Included

01. Cold Rain And Snow
02. In The Midnight Hour
03. Seasons
04. Mama Tried
05. Next Time You See Me
06. Good Lovin'
07. Big Boss Man
08. Casey Jones
09. Dancin' InThe Streets (tape flip in middle)
10. Dark Star >
11. St. Stephen >
12. The Eleven >
13. Death Don't Have No Mercy

As the decade of the 1960s came to an end, the Grateful Dead were beginning to take the improvisational style to new heights. Their concerts at The Fillmore West in late February/early March that year, from which the album Live Dead was culled (and more recently a 9 disc box set of the entire run) found the band exploring the depths of space on tunes such as Dark Star and St. Stephen. At the same time, with Pigpen at the helm on vocals, they could produce powerful down and dirty blues numbers such as Alligator or Turn On Your Lovelight. When the Live Dead disc was released in late 1969, it marked the first time the band had released a live performance on disc. At the time, Robert Christgau wrote that side two of the album "contains the finest rock improvisation ever recorded." This soundboard recording captures the band during that historic year, on November 2, 1969, 41 years ago today, in their home town of San Francisco. The band was in peak form at the time, as evidenced by the fact that the show 6 days later was released as Dick’s Picks 16.



Monday, October 25, 2010

Elton John - 2001-10-25 - Mexico City, Mexico (SBD TV)

Elton John
2001-10-25
Auditorio Nacional
Mexico City, Mexico
TV Audio Recording
192 kbps
Artwork Included

01. Funeral For A Friend > Love Lies Bleeding
02. Someone Saved My Life Tonight
03. Bennie And The Jets
04. Philadelphia Freedom
05. Ballad Of The Boy In The Red Shoes
06. The Wasteland
07. Rocket Man
08. Daniel
09. Daniel (repeat)
10. I Guess Thats Why They Call It The Blues
11. I Want Love
12. Take Me To The Pilot
13. The Greatest Discovery
14. Your Song
15. The One
16. Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word
17. The Train Don't Stop There Anymore
18. Sacrifice
19. Nikita
20. Blue Eyes
21. Mona Lisa's And Mad Hatters
22. Holiday Inn
23. Tiny Dancer
24. I'm Still Standing > The Bitch Is Back
25. Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me
26. Crocodile Rock
27. Candle In The Wind


On October 1, 2001, Elton released Songs From The West Coast, his 26th studio album. The disc marked a return to some of his early roots, as he once again collaborated with lyricist Bernie Taupin and drummer Nigel Olssson returned to the band on a full time basis. Elton received 3 Grammy nominations for the album, which climbed to #15 on the Billboard charts. This concert from October 25, 2001, 9 years ago today, captures Elton on tour in support of Songs From The West Coast. Please note that while the source for this show is the audio from a TV broadcast from the concert, the sound isn’t quite as crisp as most soundboards or FM broadcasts.



Friday, October 1, 2010

Robert Hunter - 1997-10-01 - Cincinnati, OH (SBD) 12

Robert Hunter
1997-10-01
Bogarts
Cincinnati, OH
Soundboard Recording
320 kbps
Artwork Included

1st Set:
01. Box Of Rain >
02. Mr. Charlie
03. Easy Wind
04. Hill And Gully Run
05. Mason's Children
06. Cumberland Blues
07. Drunkard's Carol

2nd Set:
01. Wharf Rat
02. Brown-Eyed Women
03. New Speedway Boogie
04. Mountains Of The Moon
05. Stagger Lee
06. Promontory Rider
07. It Must Have Been The Roses
08. Born To Run
09. Tennessee Waltz
10. Doin' That Rag
11. Encore break*

Encore:
01. Wind Blows High>
02. Terrapin Station
03. Ripple
04. Boys In The Barroom

*near total silence


In 1997, 2 years after his Jerry Garcia’s death, Robert Hunter was on tour, playing his unique versions of the classics that he and Garcia had penned for the Grateful Dead. This soundboard recording captures Hunter in Cincinnati on October 1, 1997, 13 years ago today. 



Friday, September 17, 2010

Steely Dan - 1994-09-17 - Irvine Meadows, CA (SBD)

Steely Dan
1994-09-17
Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre
Irvine CA
Soundboard Recording
320 kbps
Artwork Included

01. True Companion
02. Aja
03. Reelin' in the Years
04. Josie
05. Hey Nineteen
06. Down in the Bottom
07. Sign in Stranger
08. Peg
09. Babylon Sisters
10. Black Friday
11. Royal Scam > Parker's Band
12. The Fez
13. Green Earrrings
14. Bodhisattva
15. Deacon Blues
16. Tomorrow's Girls
17. Hard up Case
18. Chain Lightning
19. Third World Man
20. Kid Charlemagne
21. My Old School
22. FM (No Static At All)  


After an Independence Day concert in Santa Monica in 1974, Steely Dan retired from touring to focus on studio recordings. Band leaders Walter Becker and Donald Fagan had tired of the grind associated with live performing and preferred to focus on song writing and album production. After producing 4 more albums (Kati Lied, The Royal Scam, Aja & Gaucho) between 1975 and 1980, Becker and Fagan announced a split in their partnership in June 1981. It would be another 12 years before the two would formally reunite, ironically, to produce 2 solo albums. Becker produced Fagan’s album Kamakiriad, while Fagan returned the favor by serving as co-producer on Becker’s 11 Tracks of Whack. Even more irony followed, as the two then reformed Steely Dan, not to record an album, but to go on tour! While their 2 solo albums didn’t sell all that well, their live concerts received rave reviews. They had such a good time on the road in 1993, they “did it again’ in 1994. This soundboard recording captures the band on September 17, 1994, 16 years ago this very day.



Saturday, September 4, 2010

Jimmy Buffett - 2005-09-04 - Chicago, IL (FM)

Jimmy Buffett
and the Coral Reefer Band
2005-09-04
Wrigley Field
Chicago, IL
FM Broadcast
192 kbps
Artwork Included

CD 1
01. Star Spangled Banner
02. Piece of Work
03. Ragtop Day
04. Hey Good Lookin'
05. I Will Play For Gumbo
06. Changes in Latitudes
07. Come Monday
08. Last Mango in Paris
09. Woman Going Crazy on Caroline Street
10. License to Chill
11. Son of a Son of a Sailor
12. Cheeseburger in Paradise
13. Volcano
14. Brown Eyed Girl

CD 2
01. Intro
02. Why Don't We Get Drunk
03. La Vie Dansante
04. Banana Republic
05. Southern Cross
06. School Boy Heart
07. A Pirate Looks at Forty
08. Take Me Out to the Ballgame
09. The City
10. It's 5 O'Clock Somewhere
11. One Particular Harbor
12. Margaritaville

Encore 1:
13. Fins
14. Band Intros
15. Scarlet Begonias

Encore 2:
16. Intro
17. City of New Orleans


In September 2004, Jimmy Buffett played 2 concerts at Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox. Just a few weeks later, the Sox beat the Yankees in the playoffs (much to my chagrin) and went on to win the World Series. After 86 years, the Sox had broken the Curse of the Bambino and were on top of the baseball world. A year later, Buffett played at another legendary ballpark, Wrigley Field, home of another snake bit team, the Chicago Cubs, who had not won a world series since 1908. The Cubs had their own jinx, the Curse of the Billy Goat, and their fans were hoping that Buffett’s appearance might work as well for them as it did for Red Sox fans. Unfortunately, the Cubs fans had no such luck and the curse continues to this day.!! That said, folks who attended Buffett’s concert at Wrigley on September 4, 2005, 5 years ago today, did get a great night of music. Download this FM broadcast of that show to hear it for yourself!


Saturday, August 28, 2010

U2 - 1997-08-28 - Leeds, UK (FM)

U2
1997-08-28
PopMart
Leeds, UK
FM Broadcast
192 kbps
Artwork Included

01. Taped Pop Muzik by "M"
02. Mofo
03. I Will Follow
04. Gone
05. Even Better Than The Real Thing
06. Last Night On Earth
07. Until The End Of The World
08. New Year's Day
09. Pride (In The Name Of Love)
10. I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For
11. All I Want Is You
12. Staring At The Sun
13. Singing In The Rain
14. Miami
15. Bullet The Blue Sky
16. Please
17. Where The Streets Have No Name
18. Lemon Perfecto Mix
19. Discotheque
20. If You Wear That Velvet Dress
21. With Or Without You
22. Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me 23. Mysterious Ways
23. Mysterious Ways
24. One
25. Rain

When U2 released their 9th studio album, Pop, in March 1997, it had been 4 years since their last disk, Zooropa. Clearly fans were anxiously awaiting he disc, as upon release it went to #1 in 35 different countries. The band would eventually release 6 singles from the disc, more than from any other album they had produced. Yet, despite that incredible early commercial success, Pop would eventually become one of the more disappointing moments in U2’s long, storied career. The album was a new direction for the band, combining influences from genres such as techno, dance, and electronica, and utilizing techniques such as sampling, loops, and programmed drum machines. Neither fans nor critics knew what to make of the band’s new sound. While Rolling Stone praised the disc, giving it a 4 star rating (out of 5), famed critic Robert Christgau called it “a dud”. To be honest, he didn’t write anything, he just used a picture of a bomb to indicate his displeasure! The band eventually agreed with that assessment, recording numerous songs from the album for re-release, and dropping most of the material from it during their later tours. In 1997, however, they were still in full support of the album, launching the massive Popmart tour that would feature 94 shows on 6 different continents. This FM broadcast captures the band during that tour on August 28, 1997, 13 years ago today.








Sunday, August 22, 2010

Bruce Springsteen - 1999-08-22 - Boston, MA (ALD)

Bruce Springsteen
& the E-Street Band
1999-08-22
Fleet Center
Boston, MA
ALD Soundboard Recording
192 kbps
Artwork Included

CD 1:
01. Adam Raised A Cain
02. The Promised Land
03. Two Hearts
04. Prove It All Night
05. Trapped
06. Factory
07. Point Blank
08. Youngstown
09. Murder Incorporated
10. Badlands
11. Out In The Street
12. Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out       

CD 2:
01. Loose Ends
02. Working On The Highway
03. The Ghost Of Tom Joad
04. Streets Of Philadelphia
05. Backstreets
06. Light Of Day
07. Hungry Heart
08. Bobby Jean
09. Born To Run
10. Thunder Road
11. If I Should Fall Behind
12. Land Of Hope And Dreams


In 1999, after a long, 11 year separation, Bruce Springsteen, decided, to paraphrase the immortal words of John Belushi in The Blue Brothers, to put the band back back together. The Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band reunion tour launched in April 1999 and stretched until July 2000. On highpoint of the tour was a record sold-out, 15-show run at Continental Airlines Arena in New Jersey. Another was a 10-night, sold-out engagement at New York City's Madison Square Garden. At key points in each show, usually during Tenth Avenue Freezeout and his newest song, Land of Hope and Dreams, Springsteen played the role of preacher, calling on his disciples in the crowd to feel the healing power of the Ministry of Rock and Roll. Another special moment each night occurred during If I Should Fall Behind, a song written while Springsteen was away from the E Street band. With the band reunited, the song became a vow of togetherness, with Springsteen, wife Patti Scialfa, Steve Van Zandt, Nils Lofgren, and The Big Man, Clarence Clemons each singing a verse, promising to wait for each other. It was clear that the Boss was glad to be back with his old comrades. This ALD soundboard recording captures Bruce & The E-Streeters during the early stages of their reunion tour, on August 22, 1999, 11 years ago today, in Boston.















Thursday, August 5, 2010

The Even Better Than Before Bootleg Tunz World

D&P's Bootleg Tunz World has always been one of the best sites on the web for high quality (FM or Soundboard) bootlegs, as well as 24 by 7 bootleg radio! Well, now its even better.  Check out the new site here, complete with a brand new community area featuring requests, artwork links, set list links and much much more.  It's still under construction, but you'll be impressed by what you find. Go there now, register and be part of the best bootleg community on the web!

A Request for A Friend: Steely Dan from 2009-08-01

A good friend of mine - Normski, who you can meet at the chat box on D&P's Bootleg Tunz World - has been searching for months trying to find a really good boot of Steely Dan at The Beacon Theatre in NY with Larry Carlton. He's read that the Aug 1st, 2009 show was broacast in its entirity on WBAI 99.5 on the 'Morning Dew' show. He's hoping someone might have taped that show.

If anyone has a copy of that show (or any FM or Soundboard recording of Steely Dan with Larry Carlton) could they leave a comment on this post with a link where it can be downloaded.

Thanks in advance for helping out Normski!

Saturday, July 31, 2010

Reposting Some Shows At So Many Roads To Ease My Soul

Starting this month, we'll slowly start reposting some shows from the early days of this website.  Why you might ask?  Well, we want to make all our posts consistent with the theme we've established over the last several months.  In the early days, we simply posted shows as we felt like it, starting with some of our favorite bootlegs.  Over time, the website has evolved and taken on a "This Day In Rock History Theme".  For example, yesterday, July 30, we posted Creedence from that very same day, 40 years ago in 1970!   So, we're going to move many of our early posts to bring them in line with the actual date they occurred.  When we do, we may expand and enhance the write up about the show to add some additional historical context.  Again, some of the early posts lacked any real detail because at that point we hadn't really figured out what we were doing

We've already taken the above steps with a Led Zep show in June and a Linda Ronstadt concert in July.  We'll have another repost tomorrow, when we feature The Band from August 1, 1973.   I think we have 3 or 4 others that we'll repost later in August, and we'll keep that up until all our shows fit in with our theme.  Don't worry, though, because these reposts will not reduce the amount of new concerts we feature.  We'll still post 15 to 20 new bootlegs every month, just as we have in the past.   Enjoy the music and leave a comment if there's something you really liked!

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Steely Dan - 1996-07-21 - Manassas, VA (SBD)

Steely Dan
1995-07-21
Nissan Pavilion
Manassas, VA
Soundboard Recording
320 kbps
Artwork Included

CD 1:
01. Do It Again
02. Bad Sneakers
03. Everyone's Gone To The Movies
04. Josie (with Drum Solo)
05. Jack Of Speed
06. Hey Nineteen
07. FM > Band Introductions)
08. Green Earrings
09. Any Major Dude
10. Green Flower Street
11. Rikki Don't Lose That Number

CD 2:
01. Peg
02. East St. Louis Toodle-Oo
03. Glamour Profession
04. My Waterloo
05. Wet Side Story
06. Midnite Cruiser
07. Black Cow
08. Home At Last
09. Kid Charlemagne
10. I.G.Y.
11. My Old School


On July 5, 1996, Steely Dan launched their Art Crimes tour, their 3rd series of live performances since Walter Becker and Donald Fagan reformed the band in 1993. A two month run in the US would be followed in September with their first European shows in over two decades. The band brought the tour to a close in October with a series of concerts in Japan. This soundboard recording captures them early on during the US leg of the tour, in Manassas, on July 21, 1996, 14 years ago today.





Wednesday, July 14, 2010

New Home Page Picture At So Many Roads

Woke up today and decided my home page needed a little artwork to make it more inviting to all the folks who are kind enough to visit.  So I dabbled around in Paint and came up with the compilation of logos that now sits right below the blog title.  I think it fits quite well with the theme of this place, but what do you think?  Leave a comment and let me know!  And thanks again for visiting So Many Roads To Ease My Soul.

Friday, July 9, 2010

Eric Clapton - 1974-07-09 - Montreal, Canada (SBD)

Eric Clapton
1974-07-09
Montreal Forum
Montreal Canada
Soundboard Recording
320 Kbps
Artwork Included

CD 1:
01. Smile
02. Easy Now
03. Let It Grow
04. Layla
05. Have You Ever Loved A Woman
06. Let It Rain
07. Willie And The Hand Jive > Get Ready

CD 2:
01. Presence Of The Lord
02. Badge
03. Steady Rollin’ Man > Crossroads
04. Mean Old World
05. Little Wing
06. Little Queenie
07. Blues Power


After returning to the stage in January 1973 at the Rainbow Concert, and finally kicking his addiction to heroin, Eric Clapton went into the studio in April 1973 to record his first solo album. The resulting disc, 461 Ocean Boulevard, went to #1 on the Billboard charts, as did the single I Shot The Sheriff, a remake of the Bob Marley classic. Clapton went on tour in the US in late June 1974, about the same time as the album was released. Incredibly, soundboard or FM recordings exist for almost every show of that tour. Those recordings reveal a more laid back EC, who was now battling a new addiction, alcohol. This soundboard captures him on July 9, 1974, 3 dozen years ago today, at the Forum in Montreal. Download this one to hear EC, the man behind such legendary bands as Cream, Blind Faith, and Derek and The Dominos, on his first solo tour.



Sunday, July 4, 2010

Happy Independence Day

Hope everyone enjoys their 4th of July celebration. Please remember why we celebrate this day. The 2 documents below symbolize what makes this country great.



Wednesday, June 30, 2010

The Band - 1971-06-30 - New York, NY (HQ Aud)

The Band
1971-06-30
Schaefer Music Festival,
Wollman Skating Rink
Central Park, NY
HQ Audience recording
320 kbps
Artwork Included

01. W.S. Walcott Medicine Show
02. King Harvest
03. Time To Kill
04. The Weight
05. I Shall Be Released
06. Stage Fright
07. The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down
08. Across the Great Divide
09. Unfaithful Servant
10. Up In Cripple Creek
11. Loving You (Has Made My Life Sweeter Than Ever)
12. Genetic Method
13. Chest Fever
14. Rag Mama Rag
15. The Shape I'm In
16. Baby Don't Do It


Today we have a high quality audience recording of The Band during the 1971 Schaefer Festival, from June 30 of that year, 39 years ago today. The setlist features 4 songs from their 1970 album, Stage Fright - Time to Kill, The Shape I'm In, The W.S. Walcott Medicine Show and the title track - but none from the disc, Cahoots, which would be released just 3 months after this concert in September. That the group did not preview any of their new work seems curious. Perhaps that was the result of the tensions that were emerging between Robbie Robertson and Levon Helm, as the former took more and more control over the group’s direction and song writing. Perhaps that’s also why Cahoots was their last album of new material for over 4 years. In any event, those issues were not yet impacting the quality of The Band’s live performances. Later that year, they would play the famed Academy of Music shows which would be recorded for the live disc Rock Of Ages. Download this one, therefore, to hear The Band while they were still at their peak.


Sunday, June 27, 2010

Jimmy Buffett - 2009-06-27 - Mansfield, MA (FM)

Jimmy Buffett
2009-06-27
Comcast Center
Mansfield, MA
FM Broadcast
320 kbps
Artwork Included

1st Set:
01.Jimmy Backstage Interview
02.Hot Hot Hot
03. Lage Nom Ai
04. Stars on the Water
05. Summzercool
06. It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere
07. Mañana
08. Conky Tonkin’
09. Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes
10. Grapefruit-Juicy Fruit
11. Cheeseburger in Paradise
12. Come Monday
13. Son of a Son of a Sailor
14. Volcano
15. Brown Eyed Girl
16. One Particular Harbour
17. A Lot to Drink About

2nd Set
01.Intermission - One Love
02. My Head Hurts, My Feet Stink and I Don’t Love Jesus
03. Pencil Thin Mustache
04. Last Mango in Paris
05. Home Again
06. Nobody from Nowhere
07. Surfin’ in a Hurricane
08. Southern Cross
09. A Pirate Looks at Forty
10. Gypsies in the Palace
11. Margaritaville
12. Fins

1st Encore:
01. We Are the People Our Parents Warned us About
02. Yellow Submarine

2nd Encore:
01. He Went to Paris  


The 2009 Summerzcool Tour, named after the song of the same name, saw Jimmy and the Reefers play 33 concerts between February and November, starting with 3 shows in Hawaii.  This FM Broadcast catures Buffett during that tour, in Mansfield on June 27, 2009, 1 year ago today.



Monday, June 14, 2010

Merle Haggard - 2009-06-14 - Manchester, TN (HQ Aud)

Merle Haggard
2009-06-14
This Tent
Bonnaroo
Manchester, TN
HQ Audience Recording
320 kbps
Artwork Included

01. Intro
02. A Working Man Can't Get Nowhere Today
03. Big City
04. I Think I'll Just Stay Here And Drink
05. Folsom Prison Blues
06. Mama Tried
07. White Line Fever
08. Silver Wings
09. Workin' Man Blues
10. I Have A Little Gal
11. If I Could Only Fly
12. Are The Good Times Really Over
13. If You Got The Money (I've Got The Time)
14. That's the Way Love Goes
15. Honky Tonk Night Time Man
16. Jackson
17. Motorcycle Cowboy
18. The Running Kind
19. Rainbow Stew
20. Fightin' Side Of Me
21. If We Make It Through December
22. Okie From Muskogee
23. Outro


After an early life of crime, Haggard became one of the leading lights of country music, with over 30 number one hits. He helped develop the “Bakersfield Sound”, a harder edged genre of country that as a reaction against the slickly produced, string orchestra-laden Nashville sound, which was becoming popular in the late 1950s. Haggard was later associated with the outlaw country movement, along with such legends as Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson and Kris Kristofferson. His songs, such as Sing Me Back Home and Mama Tried, were covered by such rock legends as the Grateful Dead, Joan Baez and The Everly Brothers. Twenty years after he published his autobiography, Haggard continued to record and tour. In 2010, he was recognized for his lifetime of musical contributions at the annual Kennedy Center Honors ceremony. Merle’s a living legend, and no music collection would be complete without one of his live performances. This high quality audience recording captures Merle at Bonnarro a year before the Kennedy Center ceremony, on June 14, 2009, just a year ago this very day. 




Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Another Great Thank You!

Several folks have left comments over the last few days and I thank all of you for taking time to share your thoughts! One in particular though, really struck home with me:

Anonymous said....
Thanks for sharing all these fantastic moments in music. I love the "This Day In History" theme. Your descriptions filled with your personal connection to a particular concert are priceless. Sometimes, after listening to a concert that I could not have possibly attended, I feel as though I shared the experience with the crowd. ...if only I could've had you as a history teacher in high school.

Believe it or not, I actually studied history in college. And, I always thought about being a teacher, but opted for a road that brought more income, though maybe didn't provide quite the contribution to society that teaching might have. In any event, it's wonderful to know that someone out there thinks I might have done a nice job if I had pursued a career in teaching. Thanks for the wonderful compliment! Please continue to visit So Many Roads and enjoy all the music! And remember - "once in a while, you get shown the light, in the strangest of places, if you look at it right!"

Friday, May 14, 2010

Bob Dylan - 1966-05-14 - Liverpool, UK (SBD)

Bob Dylan
1966-05-14
Odeon Theatre
Liverpool, UK
Soundboard Recording
320 kbps
Artwork Included

Electric Set
01. Tell Me Momma
02. I Don't Believe You
03. Baby Let Me Follow You Down
04. Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues
05. LeopardSkin PillBox Hat
06. One Too Many Mornings
07. Ballad Of A Thin Man
08. Like A Rolling Stone

Bomus Tracks
1996-05-19
Glasgow, Scotland

01. God Save The Queen
02. What Kind of Friend Is This
03. I Can't Leave Her Behind

LINK REMOVED - OFFICIALLY RELEASED

Our Bob Dylan post today takes us to Liverpool, home of the Beatles, on May 14, 1966, 46 years ago today. Unlike the triumphant 1965 tour that we covered in our May 7 post, Dylan’s 1966 sojourn to England was filled with controversy. Having gone electric at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival, Dylan brought The Hawks (later The Band) with him on tour, the first time he had gone on the road with a backing band. Each show consisted of an opening acoustic set and a closing electric one. Those electric sets became a lightning rod for open hostility from his audiences, who felt betrayed that he no longer played just acoustic folk songs. At the May 17 show in Manchester, which has been officially released, someone in the crowd screamed “Judas”, to which Dylan responded by telling the Hawk’s to “play it f***ing loud” as the launched into Like A Rolling Stone. At other shows, portions of the audience walked out during the electric sets. Even the critics took swipes at Dylan’s electric set, with one reviewer complaining that Dylan was “sacrificing lyric and melody to the God of big beat”. Unlike the crowds and critics in 1966, we here at So Many Roads are glad to Dylan went electric. So in honor of that, we have this soundboard recording of the electric set from May 14, 1966, 44 years ago today, which the web site Bob’s Boots says may have been the best such set of the tour. Download this one and when you listen, follow the instructions that Bob gave the Hawks!



Tuesday, May 11, 2010

A Thanks For The Thanks

Since I started this blog exactly 6 month ago on November 11, 2009, I have earned a few lessons:
  1. It's more work than I thought
  2. It takes up far more time than it should
  3. It's hard to find excellent quality shows to post
  4. It's often a thankless "job"
  5. Despite lessons 1 to 4, I still love doing it

Of course, it sure doesn't hurt my mood and willingness to work on my little blog when I get some great feedback. The comments left by folks who visit this site really help keep me going. Below you'll find just a sampling. When you read them, you'll quickly see why such comments help make it all worthwhile. My thanks to each and every one of you who have taken a moment to leave a comment! I really appreciate it. You keep the comments coming, and I'll keep the great music flowing! And remember, if you get confused, listen to the music play!

Dino and Janice said...
SPEEDY~ UR DAH BOMB! Many shows we post are sent in by SPEEDY folks.........we couldn't do what we do without him! THANX BRO!!!!

John in Cincinnati said...
A great blog too I might add. Thanks for all you do. Keep on rockin' and I'll be back for more. Keep up the great work.

Wheresizzy68 said...
Thank you so much for sharing this great music!

Normski said...
Nice to see folks offering thanks Sppedy. This is a damned fine place, I surf in regularly (daily if i'm honest) for some great stuff and to see whats new. Keep at it man, you're one of the best.
Along with 'TUBE' and 'DINO' you are the best I've found in my searches.

dugg said...
many thanks for all the work of putting this blog together!

Paul said...
Hey there, Great blog you have here. Thanks for all your hard work.

Anonymous said...
Looking for Clapton and found your blog, what a treasure trove you have here. Thanks for sharing.

Dwight said...
Just so you know - I don't leave many comments but I do appreciate all the work and time you put in - great job with the recent dead stuff by the way

Anonymous said...
Just recently discovered your blog and bookmarked it - today I finally got to actually look at it and read your wonderful explanations - thank you for all your hard work and dedication for bringing some sunshine and great tunes into the life of this music junkie....

dee25 said...
Should have said thanks along time ago. Anyway love your site and I am a huge fan of the Grateful Dead and fan of classic rock(esp bootlegs). I am also a fan of The Ramones and collect their bootlegs as well....too cool!!
Keep up your great work, I love your blog.

Anonymous said...
Great website! I check it everyday, and even when I don't download what you've posted I always love to see whats out there. Keep up the great work!

and finally

Anonymous said...
You are doing god's work my friend..keep the tune's coming