Bootlegs are few and far between in the modern age. But back in the day, it was always a delight when a supposed unreleased secret track or live recording from one’s favorite band started to float around. The following four tracks, specifically, are some of the most memorable bootlegs of all time. Let’s dive in!
1. “The Palace Of The King Of The Birds” by The Beatles
This is probably the most famous rock bootleg of all time, at least for Beatles fans. “The Palace Of The King Of The Birds” is a psychedelic, oddball work from the Fab Four that was recorded during the Let It Be sessions back in 1969. It’s a great example of how good the band was at instrumental tracks, and it showed just how psychedelic they could have gotten if they had continued on through the 1970s instead of breaking up.
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2. “Over You” by The Velvet Underground
This Velvet Underground bootleg was recorded live in 1969. That guitar solo from Sterling Morrison is gorgeous and quite organic-sounding, and Lou Reed’s melody is uncharacteristically calming. It’s kind of wild that “Over You” never made it to a formal album.
3. “Sweet Song” by Al Green
Al Green’s soulful voice could make anything sound like a sonic prayer, and that much is true on the bootleg “Sweet Song”. It’s one of many recordings from Green that never made it to a proper album, but it’s truly wild that they couldn’t find anywhere to put “Sweet Song”. It is, aptly, a sweet and spiritual tune.
4. “Roses Are Blooming” by Harry Nilsson
You’ll be hard-pressed to find this song anywhere on the internet, but it’s nonetheless one of the most memorable bootlegs of all time. The whole of the unofficial CD it was released on, Harry Does Skip, is quite gorgeous for a bootleg.
Part of why this song is so rare likely stems from the fact that Harry Nilsson rarely ever performed live. He was a pop icon in his own right, but his anxiety prevented him from showing his talents to the world outside of recordings. Nonetheless, “Roses Are Blooming” blends misery with joy, and Nilsson shows off his vocal range like a true pro on this song.
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