Bootlegs - what's the point?

Thanks to the internet, bootleg recordings of live concerts by bands are easier to come by than ever before. No longer do you need to trawl the obscure record shops of the world, in underground grimy basements to check out a new white vinyl sleeve recording of a concert some 1970s supergroup performed before you were even born.

These days, you only need Google and a Rapidshare account, and the world of bootleg recordings is at your fingertips - often within hours or days of the actual gig finishing.

Record companies and many acts themselves have long tried to squash the bootleg business, saying that you only get poor quality recordings, or the songs weren't as you were meant to hear them. The point was that they considered that they were missing out on the money themselves of their own performances that bootleggers would be getting. And you can see their point - why should some bootlegger be making money out of their songwriting and performance?

But now that, bar a Rapidshare (or other provider) fee, these bootlegs are now free to all with a sturdy web connection. And now we are left to debate these recordings on their merits - they provide the thrill of a live gig that you could not have attended, presenting the band (for better or for worse) in their raw, naked glory with no studio trickery to hide behind.

As a huge fan of Pink Floyd, it's a revelation to hear live versions of the band performing as a four-piece unit, without rows of extra musicians to hide behind, and to be able to hear elements from their sound often neglected in the studio recordings - in the Floyd's case, hearing Roger's bass licks or Nick's kick drums and their tight interplay together.

You also get extended, jammed out versions of songs, or DJ mix sets that only existed in that place at that time - the uniqueness of the event is now recorded for posterity. As for sound quality - this obviously varies, but some oustandingly good quality recordings are out there - you just have to search through the junk!

So, go out and grab some bootlegs, now! I'll be detailing some of my favourite bootlegs in later posts, and include some links as to where you can get them. Stay tuned.