Suggestaholic!

 I was doing Google searches a few days ago, trying to find a place where I could download a well-known Replacements bootleg, called “Shit, Shower, and Shave.”  I never got there, but during my travels I stumbled upon a great little website that caused my inner-music geek to become fully engorged.
.
It’s called That Truncheon Thing, and was maintained by two true believers in Atlanta.  Apparently the site isn’t being updated anymore, but the remaining entries are very good indeed. These guys clearly love music, and know their stuff. The writing is solid, and the enthusiasm is obvious. It’s a shame they pulled the plug on the project…
.
But there’s more than just excellent articles and postings to be found there, lots more. Mixed into the updates is a recurring feature called Classic Bootleg Series, complete with links that allow you to download the recordings in their entirety. Usually the artwork is available as well.
.
And they ain’t lying when they say classic. They’ve got legendary bootlegs of Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, the Replacements, Led Zeppelin, REM, Elvis Costello, the Clash, and on and on. It’s a freakin’ treasure trove of incredible.
.
So get over there and start downloading, before the site disappears. I’ve got everything I was interested in (which is all of ‘em, except two – care to guess the two?), and now it’s your turn.
.
And just so you know (not that anyone asked): I was never a huge fan of bootlegs. I had a couple of bad experiences early on, and became gun shy.
.
I remember throwing caution to the wind and buying a Bruce Springsteen double-album boot (at a store in Lexington, KY), for some enormous amount of money. And the thing sounded like it was recorded on a Sony Walkman. You could actually hear two guys in the audience carrying on a conversation, and the music was happening way off in the muffling distance.
.
I’d paid so much for that piece of crap, it made me sick and ashamed whenever I flipped past it in my record stacks.
.
But if I’d started with stuff as high-quality as what’s being featured at That Truncheon Thing, I would’ve undoubtedly been hooked forever. So, maybe it’s a good thing the sickness didn’t take hold until the internet era?
.
Now, do any of you have “Shit, Shower, and Shave?” I need that thing.     

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!