Black Sabbath: Steel City Blues (1978)

First off: Rest in Peace, Ozzy Osbourne. You can argue until you’re blue in the face the face, but in the end there is no argument: the man was the personification of heavy metal. No one sounded like him, and no one lived the metal life quite like he did. Even as a doddering family man on reality TV, he still managed to embody spirit and fire that ignited an entire movement more than 50 years ago on February 13th, 1970 when the first Black Sabbath album enveloped the world in its darkened wings. After a night spinning all my favorite records from the man, it was inevitable I would get an entry in today, but I wanted to write about something different, so let’s look at the end of an era. Steel City Blues was recorded live in Pittsburgh in 1978, just as they were recording Never Say Die! A year later he’d be fired, but listening to this live broadcast all I hear is a band still capable of fire and passion.

ChrisJuly 23, 2025August 3, 2025Leave a comment

Vinyl

Joy Divison: That’ll Be The End (1980)

Some people believe the only “real” representation of the late, great Joy Division was their live shows, that the production meddling of Martin Hannett smothered their intensity into an otherworldly cold sheen on record. I love the production on those records, and while we can debate until the cows come whether that singular production was a help or hindrance to the band’s longevity, there’s no denying that live they were a different, more primal beast. That’ll Be The End documents their penultimate performance at the Ajanta Cinema Derby on April 19, 1980, less than a month before Ian Curtis’s tragic suicide. Like all of their live recordings it’s rough, not meant for official release, but unable to suppress the energy and control the band could hold over an audience.

ChrisApril 11, 2025April 11, 2025Leave a comment

David Bowie: Olympic Stadium, Montreal 1983

I haven’t really written about David Bowie yet on this site. When it comes to my favorite artists I need time to really think about how I want to frame their work and its impact on me. Of how my understanding of them change and grow over time, sometimes making them loom larger, sometimes smaller. He’s one who over time has become larger and larger in my life, and his death in 2016 was a galvanizing moment for me. So I’ll get to Bowie proper eventually; for now though we’ll use the opportunity of Bootleg Week to discuss this document from his Serious Moonlight Tour, Olympic Stadium Montreal 1983.

ChrisApril 10, 2025April 10, 2025Leave a comment

Pink Floyd: Live At Wembley Empire Pool (1974)

To be clear, this is NOT the standalone release The Dark Side Of The Moon Live at Wembley 1974 that came out in 2023, which I THINK was taken from the November 15-16 shows and is just the Dark Side of the Moon part of the show. Live At Wembley Empire Pool is the full show (with a mammoth bonus up front) presenting to my ears Pink Floyd at their absolute best: this is not only my favorite live recording of the band; it’s grown to become my go-to album anytime I want to listen to Floyd – at least the post Syd Barrett era of the band. Full of gargantuan solos and massive jams that almost but never lose sight of the fantastic song structures the group were known for it’s a fascinating document of the band not only playing with established classics but exploring the breadth and scope of songs that would become classics on future albums.

ChrisApril 9, 2025April 9, 2025Leave a comment

Led Zeppelin: Inner City Blues (1973)

Legend has it Led Zeppelin had recorded a number of concerts from late 1972 to early 1973 in anticipation of a live album. The band made a stop in Southampton, and after a lackluster first night amped it up for their second show, with was recorded for local radio. So think of Inner City Blues captured in the Old Refectory on 1/22/73 as a could have been, a contender for what was eventually released as The Song Remains The Same, and one of the best sounding bootlegs I’ve ever heard. The song selection is superb, the improvisational takes are inspired, and everyone is in fifth gear, these songs so completely embedded in their DNA. Even the flubs make it inspired, and this is one where the immersion is large and firmly in place.

ChrisApril 8, 2025April 8, 2025Leave a comment

Genesis: Getting In Tune (1976)

Live Month continues with Bootleg Week, which is admittedly odd considering my penchant for clear, immersive production when it comes to live music, something typically not the case with bootlegs. But for certain artists, getting to hear specific albums or eras, hearing bands really work and stretch out their tunes is an irresistible draw. This goes double for progressive rock, and Genesis specifically. Getting In Tune (terrible title, I know) showcases the band supporting A Trick Of The Tail, their first with Phil Collins taking over vocals from Peter Gabriel and with the legendary Bill Bruford taking the drum seat (ignore the inaccurate cover art – Chester Thompson would join in ’77). The recording, from their second night at London’s Hammersmith and broadcast for radio is solid, showing a band still fearlessly charging forth unabated by the lost of so prominent a front man.

ChrisApril 7, 2025April 10, 20251 Comment

Consuming the Tangible

We are what we consume

Tag: bootleg