Derek and the Dominos - Speed Freaks

St. Louis, Mo. - November 27, 1970 - Mid Valley 300 - Aud 2

Track List:

1. Layla
2. Roll it Over
3. Blues Power
4. Stormy Monday
5. Got to Get Better in a Little While
6. Nobody Knows You
7. Tell the Truth
8. Let it Rain

Geetarz Comments:

A Mid Valley remaster and release of an otherwise very rare (and previously hoarded) recording. It's rare to say this, but in the case of this recording we prefer the original, unremastered audience recording. But this is a matter of personal preference, listen to both and form your own opinion!

What is the ultimate point of music? Why should plunking on a guitar, beating on some drums, or tickling the ivories on a piano have any value to society? The answer is that music - good music - is about communication, and the best music is about that connection between the members of a band, and between the band and the audience, in a symbiotic, organic mix that is more of the sum of its parts.

But for some sad, pathetic people, music isn't about communication, or learning, or making connections with other fans. It's about trying to add some perceived value to their empty lives by "collecting" items that other people don't have, in a self-delusional attempt to somehow add self worth that otherwise eludes them.

For years the recording of the Dominos' St. Louis show was buried in the vaults of these self-anointed "collectors" who would only discuss it privately, and guarded it carefully, only granting entry into that circle of apathy if one would agree not to share the recording with other fans.

The sorry thing is that many people agree to those terms in order to hear something they might enjoy, all the while not realizing they are in the process striking a faustian bargain that will begin the process of removing the joy of being a fan, which has its true roots in shared experience.

In some circles there is a strong anti-bootleg sentiment, and this is of course rooted in the ideal that music should be freely shared and traded, enjoyed by all. Although this idea is sound, it's a utopian goal that doesn't take the self appointed "collectors" into account. If it weren't for some of the bootleg labels - and the fact that everyone, ultimately, has a price - there are so many recordings that would never see the light of day and would otherwise be hidden away for all time.

From the Liner Notes:    "This show must rank amongst the best out there and deserves to be heard by all fans. Remember, it's only music folks, and it's meant to be shared!"

Many thanks to the wonderful crew at Mid Valley for rescuing this rare performance from the clutches of the small-minded "collectors" and releasing it so that the *true* fans can enjoy the music!

Visitor Comments:

I agree with you.

When I lived in LA, I got tight with some very high level Dylan collectors. These guy were so anal on trading - that say on a trade for this show they have that is know to be very rare - they negotiate like this - for my rare show, you owe me ten of these common shows if you want to trade.

Or I won't make you a dat of it, but I will record it on a low-fi tape. All in all to keep there position in the pecking order. I've see guys with a great video, Introduce a roll here or there as to "mark" the tape they traded or take it down a couple of generations as to still be a top dog with there stuff.

I know it is popular to bag on commercial boot traders and the alleged $$ they make. But who at the end of the day with a favorite show in their greasy little hand would pick either a mp3 or a cd-r over a silver disc??

One of the good things about the silver disc - is that there is a lineage. Like purebred dog you can trace the bloodlines. And hopefully all pollutions are nixed out of the gene pool.

- SK