Happy 2nd Anniversary at So Many Roads

Believe it or not, today marks the 2nd anniversary for So Many Roads To Ease My Soul. When I started this blog 24 months ago, I had no idea what it would grow into. We've posted almost 500 different concerts from over 100 different artists. Those posts have included such monumental events as Woodstock, Monterrey Pop, Knebworth and Live Aid. We've grown from a 2 column layout to a 3 column one, have added numerous special features such as set lists, artwork, trivia, etc., and have been through 17 versions of our front page banner. We now average over 700 visitors a day and have had folks from 144 different countries stop by. We've had over 390,000 unique visitors, and almost 1.3 million page views. Why, we even have 84 followers, visitors who have signed up to get notified every day of any new content that we post. I'm still amazed that so many folks have taken an interest in my little place on the web. Amazed and very appreciative.

It takes a significant investment of time and effort to keep So Many Roads going. Finding shows to post, especially great sounding shows, isn't easy. Researching each post to provide some historical context involves numerous hours of searching the web. Of course, writing something coherent, that will actually interest folks who stop by, just may be the hardest part. I sometimes wonder why the hell I do it, but then I remember 3 things. First, I love music, history and writing, so this place lets me pursue those passions. Second, whenever I get disgruntled, I wind up getting a comment like the one below and it makes it all worthwhile:

Anonymous said... Thank you for your generosity in posting these great moments in music history. Also, for the time you took to write comments for each show. Makes this site a new favorite, and shows how you hold the music in high regard.

Third, I've made some great Internet friends while running this site, folks like Dino, Normski, Andy, Laker, Volke, Beaker, Staffie, AZ,  Sterling, Scousemike, Wardy, Jordan, Justdave, T-Fred, Kat, Coop, Matt G, Zep, Doug B and many many more (sorry if I missed anyone). Dino helped me get started and you can visit him and all the regulars listed above at his amazing site, Bootleg Tunz World.  When you visit, be sure to join the community area where you'll find a treasure trove of concerts (none commercially released!), great music resources and a very active (and usually insane) chat box!

My thanks to everyone who has helped So Many Roads grow over the last 2 years. We'll have a very special concert for you later today to help celebrate. I look forward to year 3 and beyond as we continue this "long strange trip".

Eric Clapton - 1994-11-03 - Los Angeles CA (SBD)

Eric Clapton

1994-11-03

The Forum

Los Angeles, CA

Soundboard Recording

320 kbps

Artwork Included

CD 1:

01. Malted Milk

02. How Long

03. Kidman Blues

04. County Jail

05. Forty Four

06. Blues All Day Long

07. Standin' Round Crying

08. Hoochie Coochie Man

09. It Hurts Me Too

10. Blues Before Sunrise

11. Third Degree

12. Reconsider Baby

13. Sinner's Prayer

14. I Can't Judge Nobody

15. Someday After A Whil

CD 2:

01. I'm Tore Down

02. Have You Ever Loved A Woman

03. Crosscut Saw

04. Five Long Years

05. Crossroads

06. Groaning The Blues

07. Ain't Nobody Business

08. Sweet Home Chicago*

*with Jimmie Vaughan

Eric Clapton - 1994-11-03 - Los Angeles CA (SBD) 

In November 1994, Eric Clapton played series off shows at small intimate venues where the set list featured nothing but the blues. No Layla, no Sunshine of Your Love, no Lay Down Sally, etc. Nope, EC went back to his roots and broke out one traditional blues classic after another. This soundboard recording captures him during that tour in Los Angeles, on November 3, 1994, 17 years ago today.

Bruce Springsteen - 1999-10-21 - Los Angeles, CA (ALD Matrix)

Bruce Springsteen

& The E-Street Band

1999-10-21

Staples Center

Los Angeles, CA

ALD Matrix

320 kbps

Artwork Included

CD 1:

01. Intro - Meeting In The Town Tonight -

02. Don't Look Back

03. Adam Raised A Cain

04. Prove It All Night

05. Two Hearts

06. The Promised Land

07. Atlantic City

08. Intro / "It's A Brave New World"

09. Mansion On The Hill

10. The River

CD 2:

01. Youngstown

02. Murder Incorporated

03. Badlands

04. Out In The Street

05. 10th Avenue Freeze-Out

06. You Can Look (But You Better Not Touch)

07. Because The Night

08. Intro

09. The Ghost Of Tom Joad

10. Racing In The Street

CD 3:

01. Light Of Day (w/ Surfin' USA)

02. This Hard Land

03. Ramrod

04. Born To Run

05. Growin' Up

06. Thunder Road

07. If I Should Fall Behind

08. Land Of Hope And Dreams

Bruce Springsteen - 1999-10-21 - Los Angeles, CA (ALD Matrix) 

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 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 matrix recording captures Bruce & E-Streeters during the early stages of their reunion tour, on October 21, 1999, a dozen years ago today, in Los Angeles.

Elton John - 2009-10-02 - Paris, France (SBD)

Elton John

2009-10-02

Palais Des Congrés

Paris, France

Soundboard Recording

192 kbps

Artwork Included

Elton Solo

01. The One

02. Sixty Years On

03. The Greatest Discovery

04. Border Song

05. The Ballad Of The Boy In The Red Shoes

06. The Emperor´s New Clothes

07. The Weight Of The World

08. Rocket Man

09. American Triangle

10. Skyline Pigeon

11. Nikita

12. Tiny Dancer

13. Original Sin

14. Your Song

Elton with Ray Cooper

15. Funeral For A Friend > Tonight

16. Better Off Dead

17. Come Down In Time

18. Levon

19. Indian Sunset

20. I Think I´m Gonna Kill Myself

21. Daniel

22. Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word

23. Take Me To The Pilot

24. Carla Etude > Blessed

25. Don´t Let The Sun Go Down On Me

26. Honky Cat

27. Crazy Water

28. Saturday Night´s Alright (For Fighting)

Elton John - 2009-10-02 - Paris, France (SBD)

In the fall of 2009, Elton John played a short, 7 show solo tour in Europe.  Well, not exactly solo, as Ray Copper was backing him each night, on percussion. This  soundboard recording captures Elton with Ray in Paris on October 2, 2009, 2 years ago today.

Neil Young - 1984-09-27 New Orleans, LA (SBD)

Neil Young

& The International Harvesters

1984-09-27

World's fair International Amphitheatre

New Orleans, LA

Soundboard Recording

256 kbps

Artwork Includedel

01. Hawks And Doves

02. Comes A Time

03. Bound for Glory

04. Are There Any More Real Cowboys

05. Fingers

06. Heart 0f Gold

07. Amber Jean

08. Roll Another Number

09. Love Is A Rose

10. Southern Pacific

11. The Needle And The Damage Done

12. Helpless (5:25)

13. California Sunset

14. It Might Have Been

15. Flying On The Ground Is Wrong

16. Soul Of A Woman

17. In The Field Of Opportunity, It's Plowing Time Again

18. Old Man

19. Powderfinger

Encore:

20. Band Intros

21. Get Back To The Country

22. Four Strong Winds

23. Down By The River Intro

24. Down By The River  

Neil Young - 1984-09-27 New Orleans, LA (SBD)

For Neil Young, 1984 was the first year since 1966 in which he did not release an album. Neil was engaged at the time in a series of battles with his label, Geffen records. After Neil’s 2 prior albums, Trans and Everybody's Rockin', both experimental in nature, failed to do well commercially, David Geffen sued Neil for making music that was "unrepresentative" of his past work. In other words, Neil was accused of not making Neil Young music! In addition, Young was annoyed that the label refused to release Old Ways, an album of country music he had written. So Neil took to the road, backed by a country band called the International Harvesters, playing songs from an album not yet released. This soundboard recording captures Neil in New Orleans on September 27, 1984, 27 years ago today.

A New Feature At So Many Roads

If you are a regular visitor to So Many Roads, you already know that each post reflects the current date in rock history. In other words, if the date is January 16, then I post a concert from January 16, sometime between 1 and 50 years ago. I've always loved history and music, so this blog as enabled me to combine 2 of my passions.

I've now added a new feature to So Many Roads that keeps with the rock history theme. If you scroll down the left sidebar, right above the first CD Artwork Slide Show, you'll find a box entitled "Today In Rock History". In that box is a preview of a website called Eight Days A Week, which lists key events in rock and roll history that transpired on the date in question. Just click on the link and you'll be taken to the Eight Days A Week site where you'll find a list such as this one from yesterday, September 13:

• David Clayton-Thomas of Blood, Sweat & Tears ("Spinning Wheel") is 70
• Peter Cetera ("Glory Of Love" and one-time member of Chicago) is 67
• The late Charles Brown ("Please Come Home For Christmas") is born in 1922
• Ringo Starr's son, Zak Starkey is born in 1965
• Barbra Streisand marries actor Elliot Gould (they divorce eight years later), 1963
• Elvis Presley first meets 14 year-old Priscilla Beaulieu while in the U.S. Army in West Germany, 1959
• Chubby Checker's "The Twist" goes to #1 the first time in 1960 (it will return to the top in 1962)
• The Kinks' Ray Davies' musical, "Come Dancing", opens in London, 2008
• Little Richard records "Tutti-Frutti", 1955
• Shirley Ellis cuts "The Nitty Gritty" in 1963
• Joe Tex records "Skinny Legs And All", 1967

I thought those of you who enjoy the write ups that accompany each concert I post, would enjoy this link!

By the way, if you really like rock history, than visit The Bootleg Tunz World Community Area (to become a member, you just need an email address!) and check out Today in Music History By Normski!  And while you're visiting, you'll also find thousands of shows to download.

Elton John - 2009-09-11 - Naples, Italy (SBD)

Elton John

2009-09-11

Plebiscito Square

Naples. Italy

Soundboard Recording

320 kbps

Artwork Included

01. The One

02. Your Song

03. Sixty Years On

04. The Greatest Discovery

05. I Need You To Turn To

06. Border Song

97. Ballad Of The Boy In The Red Shoes

08. Daniel

09. Honky Cat

10. Rocket Man

11. Tiny Dancer

12. Nikita

13. Philadelphia Freedom

14. Don´t Let The Sun Go Down On Me

15. O Sole Mio > Song For Guy > Take Me To The Pilot

16. Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word

17. Candle In The Wind

18. I Guess That´s Why They Call It The Blues

19. Carla Etude

20. Tonight

21. Bennie And The Jets

22. Crocodile Rock

23. I´m Still Standing

24. Circle Of Life > Can You Feel The Love Tonight

Elton John - 2009-09-11 - Naples, Italy (SBD)

When Elton John launched a solo tour of Europe on September 11, 2009, 2 years ago today, it was just one week after his keyboard player, Guy Babylon, had died of a sudden heart attack. Elton pays tribute to Guy throughout the show, including an opening dedication and a heartfelt rendition of Song For Guy. This soundboard recording captures the entire show from Naples, Italy, unlike the truncated FM version that also circulates. Download this one, then come back on September 24 for part 2 of this “Same Tour, Different Show” entry.