BOOTLEG PROMO 2017

What have we got here for you? A reggae version of a classic song by a rock artist, a legendary reggae artist playing acoustic, a tribute to Tom Petty, a rare Banshees session track, two killer sounding instrumentals and as they say much, much, more. Available for all, the link is at the bottom of this post.

I'm really pleased with the way this has turned out, especially the sequencing and sound levels which are quite balanced. As a diverse compilation of unreleased music it really flows well together. I hope you think so and enjoy it over the holidays. Festive greetings to everyone and have a great new year in 2018.

The 2017 Bootleg promo was compiled from stand-out tracks from bootlegs that were excluded from the document 'Best Bootlegs 2015-17' (the annual update will be available in January). Some of the tracks included were from sessions or live show broadcasts of only two or three tracks and it didn't seem feasible to include such short part sets. These tracks were saved in a folder throughout the year before finalising the selections for this compilation. Those selected for the best bootlegs document are the best, but this promo download will give you an idea of the quality that was necessary to have been included in the forthcoming document.

A previous promo disc from 2015 was mentioned in a Hi-Fi forum, a member was using it to test their audio equipment. Now I know that these tracks are high quality but that was a bit too much, certainly a compliment to the selections and the tapers that recorded them but I would suggest using official studio releases for that purpose.

As for the best boots document itself, work is ongoing. I've dropped the 'Best of the Rest' section (five of those titles have been added to the main body of the document), it was essentially a stop gap to deal with the avalanche of new and upgraded music that invariably appears each Christmas holidays. The season of goodwill certainly extends to the amazing efforts of collectors and uploaders responsible for this deluge.

BOOTLEG PROMO 2017

01. BECK - Black Tambourine (KCRW session, Santa Monica, CA. November 7, 2017) FM
Recorded live in front of a small audience, this is a standout not just from this session but of the album it appeared on. A rhythmic masterpiece from Beck

02. STEVE MILLER BAND - The Joker (live Beacon Theatre, New York. April 12, 1975) FM
An absolute classic and what a performance this is, Steve gets his reggae vibe on during this live extended version.

03. PETER TOSH - Creation (acoustic solo) (WHFS, Bethesda, MD. March 14, 1979) FM
A difficult to find CD 'I Am That I Am' was released with Peter's appearances on US radio, this track is still unreleased.

04. ANTHONY D'AMATO - I Won't Back Down (BBC RS session, Glasgow. November 28, 2017) FM
A poignant tribute for the sad loss of Tom Petty, a true American great.

05. LEONARD COHEN - First We Take Manhattan (live Kongresshaus, Zurich. May 21, 1993) FM
Sadly missed, Leonard is at his humourous best on this track. Taken from the upgraded FM source and not the bootleg included in the 100 greatest bootlegs listing.

06. SIOUXSIE & THE BANSHEES - The Double Life (BBC R1 session 1994) FM
An electronic dance rhythm collides with the Banshees 80's style on a rare session track, their last ever for the BBC?

07. SLY & ROBBIE - Taxi (BBC R1Xtra session, Jamaica 2017)
One of the most famous Jamaican dancehall riddims ever. The only lossy track here, from a digital BBC radio station session.

08. AUTOMATIC DLAMINI - Johnny Pineapple (Unreleased album 1990) SBD
From an unreleased album, ex-members Polly Jean Harvey and John Parrish went on to greater things but this is an impressive early song.

09. THE FALL - Dramatic (unreleased studio outtake, 2002 or '03) SBD
This instrumental has a real Joy Division feel to it and would have made an epic album track. An outtake from The Country On The Click album aka The Real New Fall Album.

10. SAVAGES - Adore (live Kagelbanan, Stockholm. March 6, 2016) FM
A standout track on this all-girl band's second album 'Adore Life'. This brilliant version is from a live show in Sweden.

11. WILCO - Cry All Day (live Chicago Theatre, Chicago, IL. February 25, 2017) FM
A live performance of one of the better songs from their latest album. This show warrants further investigation.

12. LUCINDA WILLIAMS - Car Wheels On A Gravel Road (acoustic solo) (WFMU session, East Orange, NJ. September 15, 1998) FM
An acoustic version of the title track from Lucinda's best known album.       

13. MARTIN SIMPSON - Blues Run The Game (BBC R3 session, London. September 8, 2017) FM
A heartfelt cover of the Jackson C. Frank 60's classic.                

14. NIRVANA - Marigold (studio outtake with cello)
Appeared during the Elmo leaks as an mp3, here it is in lossless.

15. RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS - Californication (live Whiskey-A-Go-Go, Hollywood, CA. August 31 2000) FM
A rare intimate! show in front of an extremely animated crowd at this small venue. A showcase for the talents of guitar player John Frusciante.

16. STATUS QUO - Roadhouse Blues (live Radiohuset, Stockholm. November 24, 1971) FM
While not reaching the heights of the 1976 version on the 'Live!' album, this is nevertheless a prime example of early Quo.

Dedicated to all those we have lost during 2017...............and for the Hi-Fi guys in France! Try this one on your sound system.

Compiled by the basement67 for the 100 greatest bootlegs blog (December 2017)

PROMO 2017 is here