Something New At So Many Roads To Ease My Soul

A few weeks ago, we added a new page, called Rock Links, filled with links to sites about famous radio stations, major concert venues and historic concerts. Well, we just added something new to that page. You'll now find links to a host of "best of lists" such as Rolling Stone's Top 500 Songs of All Time and Time Magazine's Top 100 Albums ever. Great stuff to look up, then decide if you agree or not. Also, a sure fire way to start a friendly argument with folks you know. It's all subjective and no one's really right, but you sure can argue your case! Enjoy!

The Byrds - 1968-05-02 - Piper Club, Rome (SBD)

The Byrds
1968-05-02
Piper Club
Rome, Italy
Soundboard Recording
320 kbps
Artwork Included

01. Introduction > You Don’t Miss Your Water
02. Hickory Wind
03. Feel A Whole Lot Better
04. Chimes Of Freedom
05. The Christian Life
06. Turn, Turn, Turn
07. Medley: My Back pages > BJ Blues > Baby What You Want Me To Do
08. Mr. Spacemen

The Byrds - 1968-05-02 - Piper Club, Rome (SBD)

At 1968 began, the Byrds were down to two members: Roger McGuinn and Chris Hillman. David Crosby had been fired during the recording of the album Notorious Byrd Brothers, and drummer Michael Clarke was sacked just after the sessions ended. The two remaining members brought in Hillman's cousin Kevin Kelley as drummer, but before long, they realized they could not get the sound they wanted without a fourth member. Gram Parsons became the 4th member of The Byrds in February 1968, and it would be a short marriage highlighted by a amazing musical achievements and constant turmoil. Parson's love of country music inspired Hilman and McQuinn to also explore the genre, with the result being the album Sweetheart of The Rodeo. The album received positive reviews in the music press and today is seen as a seminal influence in country rock fusion, but the band's shift away from psychedelic music alienated much of its rock audience. Parsons presence also brought other trouble for the band, as he agitated for more money, asked for individual billing and was involved in legal disputes over prior contract commitments. By July, he was gone from the Byrds. This soundboard recording from May 2, 1968, 42 years ago today, captures The Byrds live in Rome with Parsons. It's an important moment in the band's history that you'll want in your collection.

Van Morrison - Hymns To The Silence

Believe it or not, 3 of the best concerts I've ever attended took place on April 27 and all at the same concert complex:

• Eric Clapton in 1987 at Madison Square Garden
• Van Morrison in 1992 at the Paramount, a 5,600 seat venue built underneath Madison Square Garden (later The Theater at MSG and today known as The WaMu Theater)
• Paul McCartney in 2002 at Madison Square Garden

I've already posted the Clapton show on this blog and later today, they'll be a post about the McCartney concert. So, that leaves Van the Man's show. Let me start by saying that my lovely bride and I both love Van's music. In fact, our wedding song is Someone Like You, an incredibly beautiful song by Van that far too few people know about. We've seen Van at least a half dozen times in concert, and know that, on occasions, he can be enigmatic, petulant and uninvolved. None of that was the case on April 27, 1992. Van was in tremendous spirits, even joking with the band and the audience. He played incredible versions of Tore Down A La Rimbaud, All Saints Day and Did Ye Get Healed during the main set, and had the entire audience on its feet with killer versions of Whenever God Shines His Light and In The Garden during the encore. For the complete set list, go here and search for the show. While he didn't play our wedding song, the show was a perfect pre-wedding gift, as we were married just a few weeks later.

All that said, even if I had a copy of the show, which I unfortunately don't, I couldn't post it on this blog. Mr. Morrison's representatives are opposed to anyone posting bootlegs of Van's shows. Post one and you'll get an email from the folks at Web Sheriff asking you to remove it immediately or face legal action. So, unfortunately, the dozen or so Van bootlegs I have will never see the light of day on this blog. In Van's own words, Hymns To The Silence.

Ian Hunter - 1980-04-19 - Rockpalast, Essen Germany (FM)

Ian Hunter

with Mick Ronson

1980-04-19

Rockpalast

Grugahalle

Essen, Germany

FM Broadcast

320 kbps

Artwork Included

01. Intro

02. F.B.I

03. Once Bitten Twice Shy

04. Angeline

05. Laugh At Me

06. Irene Wilde

07. I Wish I was Your Mother

08. Just Another Night

09. We Gotta Get Out of Here

10. Bastard

11. All The way To Memphis

12. Cleveland Rocks

Encore:

13. All The Young Dudes > Slaughter on Tenth Avenue

Ian Hunter - 1980-04-19 - Rockpalast, Essen Germany (FM)

In March 1979, Ian Hunter released the album You're Never Alone with a Schizophrenic, which was produced by his long time collaborator Mick Ronson. The album included the tunes Just Another Night and Cleveland Rocks, the videos for which would eventually get plenty of airplay on MTv. The album's success also earned Hunter an appearance at the Rockpalast, as captured in thius FM Broadcast from April 19, 1980, 30 years ago today.

Two More New Features At So Many Roads To Ease My Soul

Two more pages are up and running on this site. The first is a complete list of every concert that I've attended since 1976! Just click on My Concerts near the top of the home page. Many of those shows have been topics for posts on this blog, and I'm fortunate to have recordings of a good number of them. I'll be sharing more of those bootlegs in the coming months. Check back soon as I'm trying to figure out a way to add the lead-in bands to the list, without making the page look cluttered.

The second new page is a host of other Rock & Roll links that you might find interesting. Just click on Rock Links to find links to web sites for famous radio stations, important concert venues, and historic concerts and festivals. Check back often for updates.

The ticket stub page is still in the works but I hope to have that up in May.

As always, if you like what you see (and hear after you download), please leave a comment on the post! Enjoy the music!

Grateful Dead - 1983-04-10 - Morgantown, WV (SBD)

Grateful Dead
1983-04-10
Coliseum, W.V University
Morgantown, W.V.
Soundboard recording
320 kbps
Artwork Included

1st Set:
01. Samson and Delilah                  
02. Friend of the Devil               
03. Me & My Uncle >                     
04. Mexicali Blues                      
05. Althea                            
06. Little Red Rooster                
07. Tennessee Jed                      
08. My Brother Esau                    
09. Might As Well                    

2nd Set:
01. Touch of Grey >                      
02. Man Smart, Women Smarter                
03. Uncle John's Band >                  
04. Playing in the Band >               
05. Drums>                            
06. Space >                             
07. The Wheel >                       
08. Playing in the Band >               
09. China Doll >                         
10. Sugar Magnolia                    

Encore:
01. U.S. Blues 

Grateful Dead - 1983-04-10 - Morgantown, WV (SBD)

When the Grateful Dead visited Morgantown, WV,  on April 10, 1983, 3 27 years ago this very day, it's hardly surprising that the first set had a host of "cowboy" songs, including Friend Of The Devil, Me & My Uncle, Mexacali Blues, Little Red Rooster and Tennessee Jed. The Dead would often adjust their set list to the venue they were in or the weather conditions they encountered. For example, when I saw them in July 1989 a Giants Stadium, they played a blistering version of The Music Never Stopped during a thunderstorm that drenched the crowd and threatened to halt the show. Then in October 1993, after the New York area had been experienced storms for several days,, they opened a show at Madison Square Garden with a a very appropriate cover of The Beatles Rain.  Download this soundboard recording to hear the Dead fit right in with their West Virginia audience!

Bruce Springsteen - 2000-04-04 - Tacoma, WA (SBD ALD)

Bruce Springsteen

2000-04-04

Tacoma Dome

Tacoma, WA

SBD ALD recording

320 kbps

Artwork Included

CD 1:

01. Introduction

02. My Love Will Not Let You Down

03. Prove It All Night

04. Two Hearts

05. Darkness On The Edge Of Town

06. The Promised Land

07. My Hometown

08. The River

09. Youngstown

10. Murder Inc.

11. Badlands

12. Out In The Street

CD 2:

01. Tenth Avenue Freeze Out

02. Because The Night

03. The Ghost Of Tom Joad

04. Born In The USA

05. Jungleland

06. Light of Day

CD 3:

01. Bobby Jean

02. Born To Run

03. Thunder Road

04. If I Should Fall Behind

05. Land Of Hopes And Dreams

06. Ramrod

07. Something In The night *

08. Candy's Room *

09. My Love Will Not Let You Down *

*soundcheck

Bruce Springsteen - 2000-04-04 - Tacoma, WA (SBD ALD)

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. Some highlights included a record sold-out, 15-show run at Continental Airlines Arena in New Jersey and a 10-night, sold-out engagement at New York City's Madison Square Garden, which ended the tour. At key points in each show, usually during Tenth Avenue Freezeout and his newest song, Land of Hope and Dreams, Sprinsgteen 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. Now 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 soundboard ALD recording captures Bruce and the E Street Band near the end of the tour, on April 4, 2000, 10 years ago today in Tacoma. Download this one, turn it up load, and praise the lord with the power and the glory of rock and roll.