Disclosure – I flipping love the San Francisco Sound of the late 60s. So the rest of this is going to come with a little bias.
The Fillmore West was a huge, historic concert venue that was open from 1968 to 1971. In that time, it played host to so many great concerts that it can be difficult to keep track.
The venue shutdown on July 4, 1971. Before it closed, they did a five night run of shows that were filmed/recorded and released as a film and a 4 disc box set.
The film is really enjoyable to watch, and the boxed set is pretty enjoyable to listen to. Most critics panned the release, claiming that the selections chosen were too “safe” and that the tapes in circulation prove that there were better performances that week than the ones that were released. One critic went so far as to say “Fairly or not, the Fillmore album sounded kind of anemic in 1972 … I think Graham and his producers thought small and picked the wrong tracks. While I hardly think the week of June 29 – July 4, 1971 was the best week of San Francisco music, there was plenty of fine music played. I’m not guessing — almost all of it circulates on tape in one form or another. … They consistently chose the simplest and most accessible songs by each artist, and for the angular nature of Fillmore music that was not a good criteria.”
Years ago, after reading a review like that and listening to (and enjoying!) the official release, I found myself digging for copies of the tapes mentioned in the review. This was no easy task, further complicated by the illicit nature of tape trading and by my existence far removed from the era and the scene. I had all but given up on ever tracking down copies of these performances, much less finding them officially released, when I discovered Concert Vault earlier this year. Lo and Behold, Concert Vault has 211 tracks from 19 different artists from the last days of the Fillmore.
The quality varies wildly from performance to performance, and all of the other Officially released tracks are absent, but finding these shows scratched an itch that I had begun to suspect might be with me for the rest of my days. I’ve been listening pretty consistently, and have purchased downloads of the majority of the performances available in the playlist. What I’m saying is that, for fans of the SF music scene, this is an awesome resource.
Concert Vault is a subscription service. Some of the material on the website is available to stream for free, but most of it requires a $4 monthly or a $40 yearly membership. They do offer a free trial, which is nifty. I don’t know much about the company, or how the artists involve get paid, but for fans of live music it’s hard to imagine a better service.
Full track list of the playlist:
1 Stoneground / Bill Graham Introduction 00:04
2 Stoneground / It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Tr… 03:43
3 Stoneground / If You Gotta Go, Go Now 03:57
4 Stoneground / Queen Sweet Dreams 04:15
5 Stoneground / Looking For You 04:42
6 Stoneground / Added Attraction (Come And See Me) 02:24
7 Stoneground / Super Clown 05:01
8 Stoneground / Passion Flower 03:52
9 Stoneground / Get Rhythm 05:06
10 Stoneground / Richland Woman 04:50
11 Stoneground / Colonel Chicken Fry 04:15
12 Stoneground / Stroke Stand 05:10
13 Stoneground / Total Destruction To Your Mind 07:36
14 Stoneground / Big River (Incomplete) 05:37
15 Stoneground / Bill Graham Outro 00:17
16 The Flamin’ Groovies / Bill Graham Introduction 00:13
17 The Flamin’ Groovies / I Can’t Explain 03:51
18 The Flamin’ Groovies / Sweet Little Rock ‘N’ Roller 03:43
19 The Flamin’ Groovies / Have You Seen My Baby? 04:20
20 The Flamin’ Groovies / Road House 10:32
21 The Flamin’ Groovies / Doctor Boogie 04:07
22 The Flamin’ Groovies / Slow Death 05:41
23 The Flamin’ Groovies / Shakin’ All Over 06:21
24 The Flamin’ Groovies / Teenage Head 03:35
25 The Flamin’ Groovies / Louie Louie 07:48
26 The Flamin’ Groovies / Walkin’ The Dog 03:40
27 Cold Blood / You Got Me Hummin’ (Incomplete) 05:02
28 Cold Blood / Too Many People 04:51
29 Cold Blood / Lo And Behold 04:41
30 Cold Blood / Let Me Down Easy 05:25
31 Cold Blood / Funky On My Back 08:22
32 Cold Blood / Stage Announcement 00:35
33 Cold Blood / Your Good Thing (Is About To End) 05:35
34 Cold Blood / Watch Your Step 09:53
35 Cold Blood / Shop Talk 08:16
36 Cold Blood / I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free 08:15
37 Cold Blood / Understanding 06:21
38 Cold Blood / I Just Want To Make Love To You 11:35
39 Cold Blood / I’m A Good Woman (Incomplete) 02:53
40 Boz Scaggs / I Feel So Good (Incomplete) 04:46
41 Boz Scaggs / We Were Always Sweethearts 05:24
42 Boz Scaggs / Painted Bells 04:46
43 Boz Scaggs / I Will Forever Sing (The Blues) 06:09
44 Boz Scaggs / We Been Away 04:13
45 Boz Scaggs / Hollywood Blues 02:42
46 Boz Scaggs / Baby’s Calling Me Home 08:55
47 Boz Scaggs / Stepping Stone 04:02
48 Boz Scaggs / Country Girl 03:06
49 Boz Scaggs / Loan Me A Dime 17:40
50 Boz Scaggs / I’ll Be Long Gone 05:32
51 Boz Scaggs / I’m Easy 04:46
52 Boz Scaggs / Near You (Incomplete) 05:12
53 Boz Scaggs / Sweet Release 07:40
54 Boz Scaggs / Jam (We Gonna Rock) 06:40
55 Boz Scaggs / Jam (Long And Tall) 12:23
56 The Pointer Sisters / You Got Me Hummin’ 04:04
57 Linda Tillery / I Found A Love 06:12
58 Linda Tillery / Why I Sing the Blues 07:23
59 Elvin Bishop / I’m Goin’ Fishin’ 03:05
60 Elvin Bishop / Let It Flow 12:20
61 Elvin Bishop / Blues Jam 12:25
62 Taj Mahal, Elvin Bishop, Boz Scaggs & Friends / We G… 06:40
63 Taj Mahal, Elvin Bishop, Boz Scaggs & Friends / Long… 12:24
64 Lamb / Hello Old Friend 03:19
65 Lamb / Reach High With Your Life 04:06
66 Lamb / Want To Love 02:39
67 Lamb / Joshua 04:05
68 Lamb / Visions Of Blackbirds 02:09
69 Lamb / River Boulevard 03:23
70 Lamb / Band Introduction 01:00
71 Lamb / Together 04:23
72 Lamb / Paper Airplanes 03:26
73 Lamb / I Need A Man To Be Good To 08:32
74 Lamb / Real Believers 06:51
75 Lamb / Old Fashioned Remedy 04:51
76 It’s a Beautiful Day / Creed Of Love 06:42
77 It’s a Beautiful Day / Bye Bye Baby 04:39
78 It’s a Beautiful Day / Hot Summer Day 07:05
79 It’s a Beautiful Day / Bitter Wine 07:42
80 It’s a Beautiful Day / White Bird 09:28
81 It’s a Beautiful Day / Hoedown 03:27
82 It’s a Beautiful Day / 20/20 Vision 04:34
83 It’s a Beautiful Day / Good Lovin’ 05:48
84 It’s a Beautiful Day / Let A Woman Flow 05:30
85 It’s a Beautiful Day / Don And Dewey 08:58
86 It’s a Beautiful Day / Anytime 06:01
87 It’s a Beautiful Day / Place Of Dreams 03:11
88 It’s a Beautiful Day / Bombay Calling 12:38
89 It’s a Beautiful Day / Wasted Union Blues 12:11
90 It’s a Beautiful Day / Bulgaria 05:54
91 It’s a Beautiful Day / Time Is 10:51
92 The Rowan Brothers / Bill Graham Introduction 00:30
93 The Rowan Brothers / Hickory Day 02:42
94 The Rowan Brothers / Heavens To Betsy 03:06
95 The Rowan Brothers / Outside Clover 02:51
96 The Rowan Brothers / Grumbling Angel 02:59
97 The Rowan Brothers / Better Off Dead 03:33
98 The Rowan Brothers / Peace & Happiness 03:04
99 The Rowan Brothers / Mama Don’t You Cry 04:27
100 The Rowan Brothers / We’re Gonna Get Higher (Incompl… 02:13
101 The Rowan Brothers / Livin’ The Life On The Farm 05:58
102 The Rowan Brothers / Move On Down 02:59
103 The Rowan Brothers / Bill Graham Outro 00:26
104 The New Riders of the Purple Sage / Bill Graham Intr… 00:21
105 The New Riders of the Purple Sage / Workin’ Man Blues 03:49
106 The New Riders of the Purple Sage / Superman 04:05
107 The New Riders of the Purple Sage / I Don’t Know You 04:50
108 The New Riders of the Purple Sage / Down In The Boon… 04:18
109 The New Riders of the Purple Sage / Dirty Business 10:06
110 The New Riders of the Purple Sage / Glendale Train 05:34
111 The New Riders of the Purple Sage / Portland Woman 05:38
112 The New Riders of the Purple Sage / Henry 04:32
113 The New Riders of the Purple Sage / Sailin’ 04:30
114 The New Riders of the Purple Sage / Last Lonely Eagle 07:16
115 The New Riders of the Purple Sage / Louisiana Lady 04:15
116 The New Riders of the Purple Sage / Honky Tonk Women 04:50
117 The New Riders of the Purple Sage / The Weight 08:04
118 Grateful Dead / Bill Graham Introduction 00:53
119 Grateful Dead / Bertha 06:01
120 Grateful Dead / Me And Bobby McGee 08:01
121 Grateful Dead / Next Time You See Me 05:13
122 Grateful Dead / China Cat Sunflower 07:25
123 Grateful Dead / I Know You Rider 06:01
124 Grateful Dead / Playing In The Band 09:00
125 Grateful Dead / Ain’t It Crazy (The Rub) 05:36
126 Grateful Dead / Loser 10:12
127 Grateful Dead / Me and My Uncle 04:16
128 Grateful Dead / Big Railroad Blues 03:49
129 Grateful Dead / Hard To Handle 08:03
130 Grateful Dead / Deal 07:20
131 Grateful Dead / Promised Land 03:20
132 Grateful Dead / Good Lovin’ 18:25
133 Grateful Dead / Sugar Magnolia 07:12
134 Grateful Dead / Sing Me Back Home 10:42
135 Grateful Dead / Mama Tried 04:01
136 Grateful Dead / Dedication to Owsley 00:54
137 Grateful Dead / Cryptical Envelopment 02:06
138 Grateful Dead / Drums 05:16
139 Grateful Dead / The Other One 16:18
140 Grateful Dead / Big Boss Man 06:14
141 Grateful Dead / Casey Jones 06:39
142 Grateful Dead / Not Fade Away 04:11
143 Grateful Dead / Goin’ Down The Road Feelin’ Bad 08:39
144 Grateful Dead / Not Fade Away 09:26
145 Grateful Dead / Johnny B. Goode 03:57
146 Yogi Phlegm / Introduction 00:05
147 Yogi Phlegm / Back To Macon 11:30
148 Yogi Phlegm / Who (Heaven Only Knows) 05:49
149 Yogi Phlegm / Poppa Can Play 05:25
150 Yogi Phlegm / Beside You 03:22
151 Yogi Phlegm / Healthy Woman 02:56
152 Yogi Phlegm / Right On (Incomplete) 04:32
153 Yogi Phlegm / Without Love 04:42
154 Hot Tuna / Bill Graham Introduction 00:58
155 Hot Tuna / That’ll Never Happen No More 05:19
156 Hot Tuna / How Long 07:35
157 Hot Tuna / Candyman 06:49
158 Hot Tuna / New Song For The Morning 06:31
159 Hot Tuna / Keep Your Lamps Trimmed And Burning 08:48
160 Hot Tuna / Uncle Sam Blues 08:17
161 Hot Tuna / John’s Other 06:00
162 Hot Tuna / Rock Me Baby 08:51
163 Hot Tuna / Babe, I Want You To Know 06:51
164 Hot Tuna / I Know You Rider 10:13
165 Hot Tuna / Been So Long 05:12
166 Hot Tuna / Come Back Baby 10:21
167 Hot Tuna / Feel So Good 22:25
168 Quicksilver Messenger Service / Bill Graham Introduc… 00:28
169 Quicksilver Messenger Service / Fresh Air 05:43
170 Quicksilver Messenger Service / Mojo 04:52
171 Quicksilver Messenger Service / The Hat 09:28
172 Quicksilver Messenger Service / Who Do You Love 14:31
173 Quicksilver Messenger Service / What About Me 07:52
174 Quicksilver Messenger Service / Call On Me 08:43
175 Quicksilver Messenger Service / Freeway Flyer 12:59
176 Tower of Power / Bill Graham Introduction 01:04
177 Tower of Power / Let A Man be A Man 10:14
178 Tower of Power / Social Lubrication 09:36
179 Tower of Power / Back On The Streets Again 07:39
180 Tower of Power / You’re Still A Young Man 06:07
181 Tower of Power / Skating On Thin Ice 06:19
182 Tower of Power / You Got To Funkifize 05:31
183 Tower of Power / You’re Gonna Need Me 06:14
184 Tower of Power / The Skunk, The Goose And The Fly 07:26
185 Tower of Power / Sparkling In The Sand 10:26
186 Tower of Power / Knock Yourself Out 09:41
187 Tower of Power / Encore Sounds 01:53
188 Tower of Power / Don’t Fight It 05:38
189 Tower of Power / Bill Graham Outro 00:55
190 Creedence Clearwater Revival / Tuning 01:47
191 Creedence Clearwater Revival / Born On The Bayou 05:22
192 Creedence Clearwater Revival / Green River 03:55
193 Creedence Clearwater Revival / It Came Out Of The Sky 03:31
194 Creedence Clearwater Revival / Door To Door 03:25
195 Creedence Clearwater Revival / Travelin’ Band 03:30
196 Creedence Clearwater Revival / Fortunate Son 02:21
197 Creedence Clearwater Revival / Commotion 04:13
198 Creedence Clearwater Revival / Lodi 04:02
199 Creedence Clearwater Revival / Bad Moon Rising 02:15
200 Creedence Clearwater Revival / Proud Mary 04:08
201 Creedence Clearwater Revival / Up Around The Bend 03:32
202 Creedence Clearwater Revival / Hey Tonight 03:04
203 Creedence Clearwater Revival / Sweet Hitchhiker 02:48
204 Creedence Clearwater Revival / John Fogerty Speech 01:08
205 Creedence Clearwater Revival / Keep On Chooglin’ 08:07
206 Creedence Clearwater Revival / Bill Graham Outro / I… 02:32
207 Santana / Incident At Neshabur 05:30
208 Santa/ Gumbo 05:23
209 Santana / Toussaint L’Overture 06:17
210 Santana / Black Magic Woman 06:08
211 Santana / Oye Como Va 04:21