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The Rolling Stones release more audio from their legendary 1977 shows at the El Mocambo in Toronto

Come next week (May 13), tapes of a couple of 1977 performances at the El Mocambo in Toronto that have been lost (okay, in long-term storage) will finally be officially released through Universal Music.

Live at the El Mocambo documents an interesting time in Stones history. Playing in a tiny dive bar in Toronto was one thing, but this was also when (a) Margartet Trudeau (wife of the then-prime minister and the mother of Justin Trudeau) showed up in all her groupie glory (sans panties, too, according to some pictures that made the rounds), and (b) Keef and girlfriend Anita Pallenberg were busted for heroin possession when the cops raided their room at what was then called The Harbour Castle Hilton. (Keef faced considerable jail time but got off with a warning and an order to play a benefit for some deaf kids.)

The Stones–billed as The Cockroaches and supported by April Wine, who also recorded their gigs–played the Elmo on March 4 and 5, 1977. A few tracks showed up on the Love You Live album but were restricted to covers on one side of a double album. This package features three songs from March 4 (which was essentially a warm-up show) and the entire March 5 performance.

Here’s another sample of what to expect.

Here’s what the vinyl package looks like. It also comes in a two-CD set.

Read more here.

Alan Cross

is an internationally known broadcaster, interviewer, writer, consultant, blogger and speaker. In his 40+ years in the music business, Alan has interviewed the biggest names in rock, from David Bowie and U2 to Pearl Jam and the Foo Fighters. He’s also known as a musicologist and documentarian through programs like The Ongoing History of New Music.

Alan Cross has 38025 posts and counting. See all posts by Alan Cross

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