Yo La Tengo- Murdering The Classics 2016

photo: Carlie Armstrong (Pitchfork)

 Every March, WFMU holds their annual two week fundraising marathon. WFMU is a listener-supported independent community radio station in Jersey City, NJ. and the funds raised go towards keeping the station alive and the fundraising marathon relies on pledges and donations from it's listeners. Listeners are rewarded with prize giveaways and special surprise guests. It's become an annual tradition to have guests such as Yo La Tengo, who returned to play cover song requests for $100 /per pledge. I'm not exactly how many years YLT have performed during the fundraising drive, I'd estimate maybe 20 years(?) and it's definitely a show I hope surfaces each year somewhere. If you're not familiar with this format or Yo La Tengo's cover versions, have a listen to the officially release, Yo La Tengo Is Murdering The Classics released in 2006. It compiles highlights from past WFMU fundraiser performances from 1996-2003.

The setlist for the 2016 request show is conveniently split into six sets editing the banter, so it's an hour and a half of loose, sloppy fun, and not too serious covers of many classic songs. Part of the appeal is these off-the-cuff performances from Yo La Tengo is the challenge to improv their way through even the most obscure requests. Good humor and amazing musicianship from this always interesting band.

I pulled this recording from Dime and it's just too good not to share here. Thanks to the original poster, beatpop! The request from the original poster: "Please do not trade this in lossy format. Convert to lossy for personal use only". I'm posting this in it's original format (FLAC), so please respect the posters request.
Enjoy!!

YO LA TENGO
Murdering The Classics 2016

Live on Todd-o-phonic 
Todd's Request-a-Thon with Gaylord Fields
WFMU-FM's Monty Hall
Jersey City, NJ, USA
March 12, 2016
(6 sets from 3-6pm)

Broadcast by 91.1 WFMU-FM, Jersey City, NJ USA.
Lineage:
WFMU-FM > Sony XDR-F1HD > Edirol R-09HR (44.1/16) >
Sony Soundforge 10 > FLAC level 6 aligned on SB

Yo La Tengo Murders The Classics, Set 1:

01 - Dead Flowers (Jagger/Richards)  (3:05)
02 - Tears Of A Clown (Wonder/Cosby/Robinson)  (2:07)   
03 - Train Kept a Rollin' (Bradshaw/Mann)  (2:06)
04 - Don't Bring Me Down (Jeff Lynne)  (2:13)
05 - Beast Of Burden (Jagger/Richards)   (2:11)
06 - American Squirm (Nick Lowe)  (2:15)

Yo La Tengo Murders The Classics, Set 2:

07 - She Loves You (Lennon/McCartney)  (2:34)
08 - Stir It Up (Bob Marley)  (1:32)
09 - That's Entertainment (Paul Weller)  (2:03)
10 - Accident (Brian McMahon - The Electric Eels)  (2:38)
11 - Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere (Daltrey/Townshend)  (2:05)

Yo La Tengo Murders The Classics, Set 3:

12 - Those Were The Days (Adams/Strouse) > Those Were The Days (Fomin/Raskin)  (1:44)
13 - I'm A Little Dinosaur (Jonathan Richman)  (2:03)
14 - Tell Me Something Good (Stevie Wonder)  (3:18)
15 - Nobody But Me (Ronald Isley/Rudolph Isley/O'Kelly Isley, Jr.) (2:53)

Yo La Tengo Murders The Classics, Set 4:

16 - Queen of Eyes (Robyn Hitchcock)  (2:22)
17 - Hybrid Moments (Glenn Danzig)  (1:41)
18 - My Heart's Not In It (Yo La Tengo)  (2:45)
19 - Spirit In The Sky (Norman Greenbaum)  (2:08)
20 - Walk Away Renee (Brown/Calilli/Sansone)  (2:50)
21 - Surfin' Bird (Frazier/White/Harris/Wilson Jr.) (2:46)

Yo La Tengo Murders The Classics, Set 5:

22 - Dance This Mess Around (Pierson/Schneider/Strickland/Wilson/Wilson)  (4:04)
23 - Totally Wired (Smith/Hanley/Riley/Scanlan)  (2:30)
24 - Riding In My Car (Al Anderson)  (3:35)
25 - Ziggy Stardust (David Bowie)  (2:57) 
26 - Slow Death (Jordan/Loney)  (4:24)

Yo La Tengo Murders The Classics, Set 6:

27 - Thus Spake Zarathustra  (1:03)
28 - Time  (2:58)
29 - Holy Cow (Allen Toussaint)  (3:42)
30 - Love Potion No. 9 (Leiber/Stoller)  ( (1:37)
31 - (What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding (Nick Lowe)  (4:03)
32 - You Tell Us (Bryan Ferry)  (4:22)
33 - It's All Too Much (George Harrison)  (13:01)
      With references to:
    Rebel Yell
    White Wedding
    Sorrow
    I will Dare
    Paint Your Wagon
    That Summer Feeling
    I Don't Wanna Play House
    I've Been Bitten By a Love Bug
    Let's Go Surfin'
    El Paso
    Call Me Maybe
    There Is A Light That Never Goes Out
    The End
    It's All Too Much
    Yellow Submarine   

Total Running Time: 1hr 37min 50sec

Personnel:
Georgia Hubley - drums, vocals
Ira Kaplan - guitar, vocals
James McNew - bass
Bruce Bennett - guitar, vocals

YO LA TENGO- 2016-03-12, WFMU-FM FLAC. rar

Elvis Costello- The Complete Flip City Demos

One of my favourite things about listening to music and following favourite artists is to get the full  picture of the artist. Apart from the released discography available on LP, tape, CD and digital formats, there is a whole world of other versions, alternative tracks and demos that for whatever reason hasn't been officially released to the public. Live recordings are similar because when a band or performer performs songs in concert, it is never the same (at least shouldn't be exactly) as the studio version of the song and artists sometimes test out new material which may or may not be released later. To me, live and demo tracks are interesting, not only because "I can't get enough of their music", but because I want to hear the good and bad with all their hits and misses.

Elvis Costello is no exception, many of his alternative tracks, demos and b-sides have appeared on compilations (Taking Liberties comes to mind) and as bonus tracks on deluxe reissues of his earlier albums. Before Elvis's first album, 1977's My Aim Is True, Elvis, then known as Declan P. MacManus was in a band called Flip City. The band played the pub rock circuit in England, much like bands like Ducks Deluxe and Brinsley Schwarz, and though they never officially released anything, they did record three sessions worth of original and cover songs. These songs are interesting not only because of their historical significance, but also it gives a preview of some songs that would later appear on Costello albums in different, rewritten versions. Pay It Back and a early version of Miracle Man (Baseball Heroes) re-emerges on My Aim, while Living In Paradise and a revamped version of Radio Radio (Radio Soul) appears on This Year's Model. These Flip City demos have been around in bootleg form for years and I have the mp3 version of these tracks downloaded on the web.

The Flip City Demos version I have here, I also found posted online and I'm sure the original poster wouldn't mind it being shared here. This version is the complete demos with even more versions of certain songs and some songs not included on earlier available versions. This is truly worth a listen for all you hardcore Elvis Costello fans! The sound quality is excellent and this is the first time I've seen the uncompressed version of the demos in WAV and FLAC format. Get this now!!

Thanks to hungrypirate, the original poster for making this recording available!
Enjoy!


ELVIS COSTELLO
(The Complete) Flip City Demos 
BBC's Maida Vale Studios, 1974
Hope and Anchor Pub, Attic Studio, Islington, early 1975
Hope and Anchor Pub, Attic Studio, Islington, 1975
(studio soundboard)
FLAC

01. Exiles Road (version 1)
02. Baseball Heroes
03. Radio Soul (1)
04. Third Rate Romance (1)
05. Living In Paradise
06. Radio Soul (2)
07. Radio Soul (3)
08. Pay It Back
09. Imagination Is A Powerful Deceiver (1)
10. Imagination Is A Powerful Deceiver (2)
11. Imagination Is A Powerful Deceiver (3)
12. Third Rate Romance (2)
13. Knockin' On Heaven's Door
14. I'm Packing Up (1)
15. I'm Packing Up (2)
16. (Please Mister) Don't Stop The Band
17. Exiles Road (2)
18. Wreck On The Slide
19. On The Road
20. You Win Again
21. Sweet Revival

Flip City:
Declan P. MacManus - guitar, lead vocals
Mich Kent - bass, vocals
Steve Hazelhurst - guitar, vocals, keyboards, sax
Malcolm Dennis - drums (early session only)
Ian Powling - drums (last sessions)
Dickie Faulkner - percussion, vocals (last sessions)

ELVIS COSTELLO- The Complete Flip City Demos (1974-1975) FLAC. rar

The Weakerthans- Table Of Contents

Last July, according to drummer, Jason Tait the beloved Winnipeg band, The Weakerthans were officially "done". It's hard to believe, but the band was together for 18 years. They hadn't played a live show together in over two years and their last studio album, The Reunion Tour was released back in 2007 and their last release was 2010's, Live At Burton Cummings Theatre, so really it's no surprise they would call it quits. There is always the hope for a "reunion tour" and the members are still in the "biz", so this isn't beyond the realm of possibility. John K. Samson continues with his solo career and operating Arbeiter Ring Publishing, Stephen Carroll works at Manitoba Film & Music and Jason Tait currently drums for Bahamas.

According to Songkick, the Weakerthans last official show was in Edmonton, August 31, 2013. If this isn't correct let me know and if any live recordings from their final shows (including Riot Fest) are floating around, I would be interested. The last time I saw the Weakerthans live was back in December 2010 when they performed 4 shows at 4 different venues playing each album in chronological order each night. I attended 3 of the 4 shows. For the final night at the Burton Cummings Theatre, the band performed all four of their records from the most recent back to their debut. This amazing feat was recorded in it's entirety (almost) by myself and posted here. It's posted in mp3 format (I wasn't posting in FLAC yet), but I have it also in FLAC format and if there's an interest I can re-post (please let me know in the comments).

I'll get together more Weakerthans live recordings to post in the future, but for now here's an interesting collection of B-sides and rarities that include live tracks, alternate versions and covers. I saw this on the Besides Asides blog, but it is now unavailable for download, so I thought I should share this here. Unfortunately, I only have this version in mp3, so it'll fit nicely on your iPod or pad or smartiPhone. I always love compilations like this and some tracks would work well as bonus tracks if their albums ever get reissued and get the special edition treatment. An enjoyable listen and great memories from this well accomplished and important band of the past two decades.
Enjoy!!

THE WEAKERTHANS
Table Of Contents (B-Sides & Rarities)

1. My Favourite Power Chords
2. Ringing of Revolution [Phil Ochs cover]
3. Bad Time To Be Poor [Rheostatics cover]
4. Past Due [Alternate Version]
5. Confessions Of A Futon-Revolutionist (Country Style)
6. Everything Must Go [Alternate Version]
7. Utilities [Alternate Version]
8. Illustrated Bible Stories For Children [Live on CKUW]
9. The Last Last One [Live on CKUW]
10. Left and Leaving [CBC Version]
11. The Reasons [CBC Version]
12. Psalm for the Elks Lodge Last Call [CBC Version]
13. One Great City [CBC Version]
14. Reconstruction Site [CBC Version]
15. Utilities [CBC Version]
16. Judy G [Sarah Harmer cover]
17. Swingin' Party [Replacements cover]

    Track 1 originally appeared on Take Penacilin Now. G7 Welcoming Committee Records 2005.
    Track 2 originally appeared on Return of the Read Menace. G7 Welcoming Committee Records1999.
    Track 3 originally appeared on The Secret Sessions. Zunior 2007.
    Track 4 originally appeared on Hopelessly Devoted to You Vol. 4. Hopeless Records 2002.
    Track 5 originally appeared on Hopelessly Devoted to You Vol. 3. Hopeless Records 2000.
    Track 6 originally appeared on Sub City: Take Action sampler. Hopeless/Subcity 1999.
    Track 7 originally appeared on Help: A Day in the Life. Sony/BMG Recordings 2006.
    Tracks 8 & 9 originally appeared on the Watermark CD Single. G7 Welcoming Committee Records 2001.
    Tracks 10-14 are not commercially available. Recorded live in-studio at the CBC.
    Track 15 originally appeared on CBC Radio 3 Sessions, Vol. 1. 2004. It is credited on the CD to John K. Samson only because at that point the song had not been recorded by the full-band on any commercial releases.
    Tracks 16-17 are Not commercially available. Recorded live at Glenn Gould Studio, Toronto, Ontario on November 18, 2005. Sarah Harmer assists on "Swingin' Party".

WEAKERTHANS- Table Of Contents (B-sides & Rarities) mp3. rar

David Bowie- Hemel Hempstead 1972 R.I.P.

It's been almost 2 months since the untimely passing of David Bowie. During that time, many reminisced, remembered and listened to his music. There were tribute concerts, tribute albums and cover versions of his songs performed. For me, it was an opportunity to rediscover his music and though I listen his music frequently, especially the early 70's Ziggy-era, I thought I should branch off and deluge deeper into his vast discography. I actually only have a handful of his live recordings (which I will seek out more of), and I had the opportunity of seeing Mr. Bowie live during the Serious Moonlight Tour and the Glass Spider tour.

One of the shows I had before Bowie's death was this fine sounding recording from 1972. The sound is a little rough to start, but improves soon after. I downloaded this from Dime many years ago. I meant to post this a couple days after Bowie's passing, but never completed this post until now. I've included the text from the original upload for a little more background on this recording. Enjoy!

 Here is the text of the original upload:
This show is one of the most sought after. It was rumoured to be around in "certain circles" for quite a long time and only one song was open to a wider public until now: Gotta Get A Job. So I was really excited when I got it in a trade not so long ago. There will follow a remaster which will be uploaded later. 

The show itself is really great and soundwise it is close to the Kingston Polytechnic from one day earlier. It is a bit annoying that there are cuts between the songs but there always things to complain about. It's simply another great document of the early Ziggy phase with powerful versions of Moonage Daydream (David shouting all his passion out) or Waiting For The Man with a mind-blowing guitar solo of Mick Ronson.

I have attached a really nice cover I found on the Bowiesleeveart web page. Unfortunately no longer publically accessible. 

Also he performs some tracks only present in the early Ziggy phase like I Feel Free or Gotta Get A Job/Hot Pants.

DAVID BOWIE
Pavilion, Hemel Hempstead, UK
May - 07 - 1972
setlist (length 75:14):

01 Hang On To Yourself
02 Ziggy Stardust
03 Superman
04 Queen Bitch
05 Song For Bob Dylan
06 Changes
07 Starman
08 Five Years
09 Space Oddity
10 Andy Warhol
11 Amsterdam
12 I Feel Free
13 Wild Eyed Boy From Freecloud
14 Moonage Daydream
15 Whit Light, White Heat
16 Got Get A Job – Hot Pants
17 Suffragette City
18 Waiting For The Man

The band:
David Bowie – vocals, guitar, harmonica
Mick Ronson – guitar, vocals
Trevor Bolder – bass
Mick "Woody" Woodmansey – drums
Matthew Fisher – piano

DAVID BOWIE- 1975-05-07 Hemel Hempstead FLAC. rar