It feels like forever since we posted a Grousing The Aisles, but it’s only been two weeks. We’re gonna make up for lost time by posting three incredible soundboards by legendary artists and linking to an additional five at the end of the piece As my mom likes to say “Don’t ever say we never gave you anything.” Let’s get down to business…

Sly and the Family Stone 09/01/1969 SBD [FLAC, MP3]

Much has been made about Sly Stone’s reappearance onto the scene. Sly clearly has seen better days, so instead of looking at his present, let’s take a look at a golden oldie from the days when crack was just the line on your ass. Just this week we came across an incredible soundboard of Sly and the Family Stone’s groundbreaking performance at the Texas International Pop Festival in 1969. You can hear the urgency in Sly’s voice as he sings early versions of songs that would soon be classics.

The whole band absolutely kills this material throughout the set. M’lady brings the funk, Sing A Simple Song shows a bit of a harder edge and Stand! gives the crowd a feel for the more political side of Stone’s music. All of Sly’s musicians are having a great night, especially bass player Larry Graham. Other highlights include a bombastic Dance To The Music and the whole filler, especially the guitar-driven Thank You (Fallentime Be Mice Elf Again). If you want to see what Sly and the Family Stone was all about, download this set or check out the Woodstock video, but whatever you do don’t pay $75 to see them play. Read on for tasty boots from Paul Simon, the Dead and more…

Paul Simon 05/07/1978 SBD [FLAC, MP3]

Paul Simon did what any good Jewish rock star would do and brought his World Tour to Israel in 1978. Simon didn’t go by himself — he brought friends Toots Thielemans and the Jessy Dixon Singers to help bring some fun to the Jewish State. You can’t go wrong with any of the tunes on this recording. I particularly dig the American Tune, Sounds of Silence, America sequence towards the end of the show. Simon does a beautiful job emoting during American Tune leading our friends at Talkin’ About My Revolutions to write a full post about that song.

Simon has always surrounded himself with good musicians (except that Garfunkel guy), and the ‘78 tour was no exception. It doesn’t get much better than a rhythm section of Tony Levin and Steve Gadd. Those guys really propel the performance, especially during 50 Ways To Leave Your Lover. Both Thielemans and the Jessy Dixon Singers have their opportunities to shine throughout the set. Thielemans adds harmonica to a number of tunes you wouldn’t expect to typically use a harp. The singers do a nice job of backing up Simon until a segment in the middle of the show where they take the lead. But this night was all about Paul Simon’s trip to the motherland. Paul sounds terrific, and seems genuinely excited to be in Israel. After returning home Simon took the band into the studio for a few years to produce the magnificent One Trick Pony. We bet he was quite inspired from his trip.

Grateful Dead 12/07/1968 SBD [FLAC, MP3, STREAM]

Our dear friend Chappy is back to tell us about an amazing remastered Dead show that just entered circulation:

Newly unearthed Grateful Dead SBDs are a rarity and cause for celebration. Perhaps this little beauty has seen the light of day in years past, but it has never crossed my path in over 25 years of Grateful Dead “tape” collecting. This has been mastered by Charlie Miller (who else?) and recently seeded in lossless format on bt.etree. However, for ease of consumption I have ripped at 256 kbps (a no-no for purists, I know) for you Deadheads who’d like a quick fix. The thought of the Grateful Dead playing in Kentucky in 1968 puts a big smile on my face. I hope the music puts a smile on yours. This is vintage stuff.

Here are five other must download soundboards currently being seeded at the major torrent sites: