After my tape deck crapped out in 1997, I was stuck listening to either the radio or full albums in whatever order the artist intended. That all changed in 2001, when the new-fangled MP3 technology got combined with my new CD burner.
In addition to the occasional series of CDs I had burned in order to keep abreast of new music, I had created a bunch of genre-specific mixes that could be used both in the car and at the gym. This week we will take a look at the first disc covering the world of live music. One of the best things about the confluence of music and the internet in the early 21st century was the availability of bootleg live performances that, at one time, would have been available only to serious collectors or the lucky few to attend the concerts. In fact, there was so much of it that this was the only collection to go beyond 2 discs. So, without further ado, I bring you Live Music, volume 1.
Tesla – Signs
Tesla’s biggest hit was this acoustic cover of the Five Man Electrical Band hit from 1971.
iTunes stats: 4 plays, most recently on 5/4/2011
Juliana Hatfield – Say It Ain’t So
This bootleg track has the indie darling covering the hit from Weezer’s debut album.
iTunes stats: Never played
Pearl Jam – My Way
This quirky cover of the Frank Sinatra standard came from a concert in (where else) Las Vegas.
iTunes stats: 5 plays, most recently on 9/6/2011
Veruca Salt – Seether
A live version of Veruca Salt’s biggest hit.
iTunes stats: Never played
Travis – Baby One More Time
The Scottish band, who I likely would have never heard from otherwise, covered the Britney Spears hit during a concert at The Bay Tavern in Robin Hood’s Bay, North Yorkshire, England.
iTunes stats: 13 plays, most recently on 11/27/2012
Def Leppard – Two Steps Behind
From a foreign version of their greatest hits package, recorded live in Sheffield on June 6, 1993.
iTunes stats: 4 plays, most recently on 5/1/2011
K’s Choice – Not An Addict
Recorded live at the 2001 Rock am Ring festival at the Nürburgring racetrack in Germany.
iTunes stats: Never played
Garbage – When I Grow Up
I’m assuming the live version on this disc is from the 2005 show at Metro that I attended. The only reason I’m not sure is that I have so many Garbage bootlegs, it’s hard to be sure.
iTunes stats: 6 plays, most recently on 1/6/2011
Stone Temple Pilots – Dancing Days
An acoustic version of their Led Zepplin cover, which I think may be from the Howard Stern show.
iTunes stats: Never played
Bon Jovi – With A LIttle Help From My Friends
Bon Jovi often covered this Beatles and Joe Cocker classic, of which I no longer seem to have an electroic version.
Liz Phair – Johnny Feelgood
This live version was performed locally at the Vic and broadcast on WXRT.
iTunes stats: Never played
Barenaked Ladies – If I Had $1,000,000
Arguably more well known than the studio version, this was recorded live at Metro.
iTunes stats: 26 plays, most recently on 6/15/2012
PJ Harvey and Björk – Satisfaction
PJ Harvey and Björk teamed on this Rolling Stones cover for the 1994 Brit Awards.
iTunes stats: 1 play, on 1/19/2013
Offspring and Vanilla Ice – Pretty Fly For A White Guy
Vanilla Ice joined the guys from Offspring for a mashup of their hits during 1998’s Almost Acoustic Christmas concert put on by LA radio station KROQ.
iTunes stats: 3 plays, most recently on 2/5/2013
Pearl Jam – Can’t Help Falling In Love With You
The Pearl Jam fan club Christmas single brought this version of the Elvis and UB40 hit to the public.
iTunes stats: 6 plays, most recently on 7/30/2012
Jodeci – Lately
Jodeci brought down the house with their version of the Stevie Wonder classic on MTV Unplugged.
iTunes stats: 12 plays, most recently on 9/21/2012
Tori Amos – Somewhere Over The Rainbow
Tori’s version of the Wizard of Oz standard was released as a bonus track on the Hey Jupiter CD single.
iTunes stats: 7 plays, most recently on 6/13/2012