There are some bands that just should not go on when they lose a crucial member. Steve Perry’s voice is Journey, and it’s a shame the band has continued their perennial nostalgia act after he bolted. But check out this show from the band’s heyday as they rocked the Philly Spectrum like Rocky Balboa rocked Clubber Lang. Not only do you get all of Journey’s greatest hits, you also get some Steve Perry solo classics like Oh Sherrie. Perhaps the best part of this show is that the bass player is none other than American Idol judge Randy “Dawg” Jackson. So “do your thing, dawg” and get on this…
Steve Miller Band — 06/25/78 SBD (FLAC)
There are many bands for which you only need one live show in your collection. This Steve Miller Band show from 1978 features incredible live versions of all their greatest hits. You’ll find out why Jerry Garcia sweated Miller back in the late ’60s.
Tenacious D — 10/7/01 SBD (FLAC)
At long last, Friday marks the release of Tenacious D: The Pick of Destiny. To prepare for the Greatest Motion Picture of All-Time, check out this great soundboard from the band’s first real tour. The Road, Tribute, and Karate are all amazing, and the Hot Blooded & Don’t Fear The Reaper segment is funny as hell.
Rose Hill Drive — 03/08/2006 SBD (FLAC)
It’s not easy to pull off a power trio that doesn’t sound exactly like either Led Zeppelin, Cream, or Double Trouble. Rose Hill Drive sort of meshes the sound of all three bands with a much needed dose of improv that makes each show unique. These youngsters made me feel very old when I saw them last summer, but upon listening to this show I can proudly report the band has gotten better with age.
Marvin Gaye — 11/13/79 SBD (FLAC)
It’s not often we take a stand at Hidden Track, but today we will make an exception. We are very against fathers shooting their sons. It’s just not cool. I have no doubt Marvin Gaye would still be kicking ass today if his father would have just put down the gun that fateful April Fool’s night in 1984. This show from Japan features Gaye belting out some hits, as well as some other nuggets that I had never heard before downloading this show. As usual with picks in this column, the quality of the recording can’t be beat.
Santa’s Boots Christmas Compilation — Various (FLAC)
This amazing mix of Christmas songs — both original and traditional — makes one helluva stocking stuffer. Break up the monotony of the classic versions of the typical Christmas songs with such gems as Silent Night, Xmas Card From A Hooker In Minneapolis, Silent Night reprise by Tom Waits. The highlights on this set are endless, running the gauntlet from Warren Zevon doing Winter Wonderland to Chris Isaak doing Dradle, Dradle to Rick Danko singing Christmas Must Be Tonight. Now you can be the son or daughter that spikes the eggnog and the CD player.
I didn’t hit on any Phish or Dead this week, but I couldn’t resist offering up some Bad Hat. Bad Hat was a Burlington supergroup featuring Jamie Masefield on mandolin, Stacey Starkweather on bass, Trey Anastasio on guitar, and Jon Fishman on drums. The resulting product sounds like bluegrass on steroids. This instrumental quartet offers takes on jazz classics, Jazz Mandolin Project originals, and Page McConnell’s Magilla. Usually a show appearing in this column gets my seal of approval, but this show gets the super-duper seal of approval. Download it now or forever be labeled a newb.
Enjoy your turkey, and we’ll see you back with another round next Wednesday…
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::installs flux capicitor into VW bus::
::quits job::
::stops showering::
::prepares bunk ludes::
::goes on Heart tour::
::impales rooster::
That might be the greatest picture of Marvin ever taken — it looks like he’s a pastor in a Pentecostal church. A pastor that’s about to get shot in the face like the other Marvin.
You think his dad looked at his friend Jules and said, “Oh man, I non-accidentally shot Marvin in the face”?