I was all set to do a review of the new Herbie Hancock today, but it turns out there really isn’t all that much to say about the new Herbie Hancock, unless you’re a big fan of tasteful piano jazz, which I guess I’m not. I’d say the John Mayer, Paul Simon, and maybe even the Aguilera tracks are the strongest, but those are all over the place already, so the hell with it. The new Herbie Hancock is dead to us here.

And I’m on my way out for the day, meaning there will be no time for allegedly witty commentary from yours truly. But have no fear! I’ve left you some playthings in my absence!

Here’s a stack of demos, live cuts, and assorted other byproducts of Paul McCartney and Elvis Costello’s Meeting of Pop Royalty in 1987. Most of you are probably already aware that these sessions produced much of what made McCartney’s Flowers in the Dirt listenable, not to mention Costello’s last hit, “Veronica.” (But see how cleverly I informed those of you who weren’t aware? Aha!)

Speaking of McCartney, every time he puts out a new record, it’s accompanied by a wave of adoring press, and I always fall for it. After the steaming turd that was Driving Rain, I thought I was done with him for good, but oho, here comes Chaos and Creation in the Backyard. Yes, it’s a stupid title for an album, and yes, it’ll probably mostly suck. But he’s got Jason Falkner on board, and I’m a sucker for just about anything involving a former member of Jellyfish. Watch this space in the coming days as I run hopefully toward Chaos, Charlie Brown-style, only to have McCartney pull yet another Lucy Van Pelt on my stupid ass.

But I digress. Like McCartney? Like Costello? Like getting free music? Get your download on!

The Lovers That Never Were (download)
Tommy’s Coming Home (download)
Twenty-Five Fingers (download)
Veronica (Costello demo) (download)
You Want Her Too (Costello live) (download)
You Want Her Too (download)
You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away (download)
Back On My Feet (download)
Don’t Be Careless Love (download)
Mistress and Maid (live) (download)
My Brave Face (download)
My Brave Face (version 2) (download)
One After 909 (download)
Pads, Paws and Claws (Costello live) (download)
Playboy to a Man (download)
Shallow Grave (Costello live) (download)
So Like Candy (download)
Step Inside Love (download)
That Day Is Done (download)

Bootleg City, Music

About the Author

Jeff Giles

Jeff Giles is the founder and editor-in-chief of Popdose and Dadnabbit, as well as an entertainment writer whose work can be seen at Rotten Tomatoes and a number of other sites. Hey, why not follow him at Twitter while you're at it?

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