Those that seek only one good bootleg representation of an artist will be well served to track down a copy of Empress Valley's LED ZEPPELIN "St. Louis Blues". There have been a number of reviews posted around the usual haunts, as well as GSparaco's own take that is posted here at HotWacks On-line. I have just spent the better part of the last week giving this release a couple of listens and I have to concur with the others, it is absolutely wonderful. Nearly perfect! This is a newly discovered soundboard of the St. Louis, February 16th, 1975 concert and is musically complete, from what I can ascertain...and one of those must-haves. It takes about 20 minutes for the band to smooth out the edges in this performance but they quickly hit all cylinders which makes this a very enjoyable set to listen to. The soundboard balance is outstanding and the show features fantastic versions of "The Song Remains The Same/Rain Song", "Kashmir", "Trampled Underfoot" and the "Heartbreaker" encore is superb. It should be noted that the show was recently posted at EZ Torrent so, make sure you take advantage of that if it's still being seeded. This title ranks #2 for me in my Top Ten Boots for 2004, right behind EV's "Conspiracy Theory", which just edges the others out due to its' previously undocumented date and an all around surprise to ZEPPELIN collectors (and a coup for Empress Valley to keep them at the top of Premium Japanese Bootleg Labels)...On a related note, Genuine Masters has firmed up the Street-date for "Mystic San Diego"...their next DVD-Audio/Video Montage release will be shipping January 21st and is said to be an upgraded source to the EV version.

Earlier today, Risk Disc sent details on their new ROLLING STONES release, "Tumbling Nice", out to their mailing list. The 2CD set features a very good stereo audience recording from Nice, France on June 13th, 1976 and is nearly complete, missing the opener "Honky Tonk Women". The set is pressed on Silver Discs, and Risk Disc has even posted samples for collectors to have a quick listen at
http://www.rollingstones.co.yu/nice76/



A few other new releases we heard about over the weekend are... QUIET RIOT "L.A. 1979" from Power Gate DVD, features the Pro-shot video from the Whiskey A-Go Go in Los Angeles on September 22nd, 1979...and from Power Gate CD THE BLACK CROWES "Cosmic American Music" which is a Stereo Soundboard on double-CDR, recorded live at Nakano Sunplaza, Tokyo, Japan, June 11th, 1992...Reel Masters honors the talent and the passing of legendary British Bluesman, Dick Heckstall-Smith with the title, COLOSSEUM "February's Valentine", a Soundboard Recording from the Boston Tea Party on February 22nd, 1969...Trial CDR have a couple of new titles as well..DARYL HALL & JOHN OATES "Sydney 1980" which documents the bands' Capitol Theater Performance in Sydney, Australia on October 14th, 1980 in Soundboard quality...and also ELTON JOHN "Peachtree Road In London" recorded during a recent peformance at the Hammersmith Apollo on December 13th, 2004 on 2CDRS.

As we pointed out the other day, 2005 has started out strong for ELVIS PRESLEY collectors! Just out is a previously unreleased soundboard from Audionics titled, "El Goes El Paso". The title features the 8:30 PM show from El Paso, Texas on June 2nd, 1976, and this is a performance that has never been documented in any other recordings either, so it is indeed brand new. The tape runs 62 minutes and is said to feature Elvis in a very good mood and in strong voice. The set is also accompanied by a deluxe 12-page color booklet, featuring pictures from the May/June 1976 Tour. In other Elvis Bootleg release news...the Bilko Label released a compilation a few weeks ago called "Bilko's Gold Cuts", which is a project that brings the best of the outtakes released by Bilko over the years, including 3 previously unreleased tracks: "Fame & Fortune", "Sweet Caroline" (Las Vegas, February 23rd, 1970 Closing Show), & "Never Been To Spain" (Las Vegas, February 1972). The other tracks included are said to be presented in upgraded quality from Bilko's previous releases and also comes with a 12-page booklet, chalk full of rare photos.

Here are some new releases to look for soon...from Bondage Music is VAN HALEN "First UK Invasion" which combines the Soundboard from the Hammersmith Odeon, London on June 1, 1978 with the infamous Gazzari's '74 Soundboard Tape...the next PINK FLOYD title from Highland will be "Crystal Echoes", featuring their Crystal Palace Bowl concert in London on May 15th, 1971...also coming from Highland is a self-titled KANSAS single soundboard CD recorded at the Syria Mosque in Pittsburgh on October 31, 1976. Mainstream is about to release DAVID CROSBY "Everybody Here Can Be In The Band", soundboard from his "If I Could Only Remember My Name" Sessions, recorded at Wally Heider's Studio in San Francisco 1971...finally, just released is MICK TAYLOR "Lone Star Cafe 1986" taken from the soundboard recording that has been in circulation from the performance on December 28, 1986 in New York.

In closing, I should plug in here that if you have a few minutes over the next week, please visit our Bulletin Board Page and click on the Miscellaneous category. There we are urging our membership to plug in their own Top Ten Boot Releases or even Recordings that surfaced or were released in 2004. You may be pointing out titles others didn't know were in circulation, or just missed completely.

Sorry for the late posting this week but, unforseen things! Keep checking in often as we have a full slate of reviews to upload during the next few days. I'll meet you back here next week for the latest Bootleg News and a summary of the week. Have a good one.

Svengi
January 9th, 2005