Aerosmith I Ain't Got You/Mother Popcorn LIVE on Vinyl

Tracks 14 & 15 from their sixth project and first live album “Live! Bootleg” released in 1978 copyright Columbia Records. It was common for bands of the day, with a few albums already under their belts, to release a double record live album. It was a popular practice with record companies because they could save the costs of studio time and other expenses, increasing their profits. Aerosmith decided to add a twist to theirs, making it a concept album. They decided to mimic the qualities of “bootleg” albums, which were unauthorized, illegal recordings made by fans at concerts and then hastily packaged and sold to the public. They had poor sound quality, which the producers duplicated, even recording several performances direct to cassette tape. Any flaws were left as is, with no studio overdubs added later. Most songs were recorded from shows in 1977 & ’78 when the band was at the height of their hard rock powers. The covers “I Ain’t Got You” by the Yardbirds and “Mother Popcorn” by James Brown were recorded in an intimate club setting known as Paul’s Mall in Boston. The show was broadcast live by WBCN-FM in April, 1973. Reviews at the time trashed the album, mostly for its poor sound quality. Although it was intentional as a part of the “bootleg” concept, most critics and even Columbia Records just didn’t get it. Others noted what they perceived as lacklustre performances and were disappointed by the album. Despite the reviews, the album reached No. 13 on the Billboard chart. It achieved Gold status immediately and went Platinum within a couple of months. Recorded from the original vinyl. Written by Calvin Carter/James Brown & Pee Wee Ellis and produced by Jack Douglas, Aerosmith, David Krebs & Steve Leber. Featuring: Steven Tyler – Lead vocals & harmonica Joe Perry – Slide, lead & rhythm guitars, talk box & background vocals Brad Whitford – Rhythm & lead guitars & background vocals Tom Hamilton – Bass & background vocals Joey Kramer – Drums, percussion & background vocals Special guests: Mark Radice – Keyboards & background vocals David Woodford – Sax on “Mother Popcorn”