VA - Acoustic Blues Vol. 1-4 The Roots Of It All (The Definitive Collection!) [2013-2014] (8 x CDs)

ACOUSTIC BLUES

VA - Acoustic Blues Vol. 1-4 The Roots Of It All (The Definitive Collection!) [2013-2014] (8 x CDs)

Four double discs can look like excess on the shelf, but this set settles into something quieter once it begins. Bear Family Records issued these volumes across 2013 and 2014, each one carrying its own booklet, yet the intention only becomes clear when they are heard together. Eight discs, nearly a century of recordings, arranged with patience rather than urgency.

It does not open with a statement. The earliest sides arrive plainly, voices and guitars set down with little separation between performer and room. Blind Lemon Jefferson, Papa Charlie Jackson, Lonnie Johnson appear without framing, each track carrying its own weight. The sound is direct, sometimes fragile, sometimes steady, but always close.

What changes is not the style but the surroundings. Moving through the first volumes, the recordings begin to widen. Small additions appear, a second guitar, a fiddle, a bass line that holds the rhythm a little tighter. By the time Robert Johnson enters the sequence, the language is already established, his recordings sit inside it rather than standing apart.

The later volumes shift the perspective again. Instead of ending the story in the 1930s, the set continues forward, showing how that same acoustic approach survives in later decades. Performers such as Taj Mahal and Etta Baker appear with clearer recording quality, but the structure remains familiar, voice, guitar, and space.

Across all four volumes, the sequencing works by accumulation. The shifts are gradual, almost unmarked, one performance leading to the next without needing explanation. Early field recordings, studio sides, revival era sessions, they sit together as part of the same line.

Taken as a whole, the set feels less like a history lesson and more like a long continuity of sound. Leave it playing long enough and the decades begin to blur, the differences still there, but held together by a shared approach that never really disappears. (B)

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Track lists

Vol. 1 CD1

01 Sylvester Weaver - Guitar Blues 2:58

02 Papa Charlie Jackson - Shake That Thing 2:58

03 Lonnie Johnson - Mr. Johnson's Blues 2:41

04 Blind Lemon Jefferson - Match Box Blues 3:03

05 Barbecue Bob - Mississippi Heavy Water Blues 3:04

06 Furry Lewis - Billy Lyons and Stack O'Lee 2:33

07 Jim Jackson - Jim Jackson's Kansas City Blues - Pt. 1 3:11

08 Blind Willie Johnson - Dark Was The Night - Cold Was The Ground 3:24

09 Frank Stokes - Downtown Blues 3:19

10 Mississippi John Hurt - Frankie 3:35

11 Ramblin' Thomas - So Lonesome 2:51

12 Rube Lacy - Ham Hound Crave 2:54

13 Henry Thomas - Bull Doze Blues 3:27

14 Scrapper Blackwell - Kokomo Blues 3:05

15 Tommy Johnson - Canned Heat Blues 3:42

16 Ishman Bracey - The Four Day Blues 3:25

17 Blind Willie McTell - Statesboro Blues 2:43

18 Curley Weaver - No No Blues 3:04

19 Hambone Willie Newbern - Roll and Tumble Blues 3:00

20 Henry Spaulding - Cairo Blues 2:49

21 Charley Patton - Pony Blues 2:59

22 Kansas Joe - When The Levee Breaks 3:08

23 Little Hat Jones - Little Hat Blues 3:15

24 Blind Blake - Diddie Wa Diddie 2:59

25 Charlie McCoy - Last Time Blues 3:08

26 Robert Wilkins - That's No Way to Get Along 2:58

27 Henry Townsend - Henry's Worry Blues 3:09

28 Clifford Gibson - Ice and Snow Blues 2:55

29 Blind Joe Reynolds - Outside Woman Blues 3:00

Vol. 1 CD2

01 Mississippi Sheiks - Sitting on Top of The World 3:10

02 Garfield Akers - Dough Roller Blues 3:14

03 Son House - My Black Mama - Part 1 3:08

04 Willie Brown - M & O Blues 3:05

05 Charley Jordan - Stack O'Dollars Blues 2:37

06 J. T. "Funny Paper" Smith - Howling Wolf Blues - No. 1 2:50

07 Skip James - I'm So Glad 2:50

08 King Solomon Hill - Times Has Done Got Hard 3:12

09 Big Bill Broonzy - Long Tall Mama 2:49

10 Josh White - Good Gal 3:11

11 Tampa Red - Black Angel Blues 3:32

12 Leadbelly - Midnight Special 3:09

13 Memphis Minnie - Chickasaw Train Blues (Low Down Dirty Thing) 3:19

14 Kokomo Arnold - Milk Cow Blues 3:04

15 Johnny Temple - Lead Pencil Blues (It Just Won't Write) 3:08

16 Sleepy John Estes - Someday Baby Blues 3:01

17 Blind Gary Davis - Cross and Evil Woman Blues 3:06

18 Blind Boy Fuller - Rag, Mama, Rag 3:13

19 Carl Martin - Crow Jane 2:56

20 Joe Williams' Washboard Blues Singers - Baby Please Don't Go 3:24

21 Casey Bill Weldon - Somebody Changed The Lock on My Door 3:22

22 Oscar Woods - Lone Wolf Blues 3:12

23 Robert Johnson - Cross Road Blues 2:41

24 Black Ace - Black Ace 2:46

25 Robert Lee McCoy - Prowling Night-Hawk 3:03

26 Bukka White - Shake 'Em on Down 3:01

27 Bo Carter - Old Devil 3:03

28 Sister Rosetta Tharpe - This Train 2:44

29 Tommy McClennan - Bottle it Up and Go 2:48

Vol. 2 CD1

01 Big Joe Williams - Crawlin' King Snake 2:51

02 Robert Petway - Catfish Blues 3:00

03 Brownie McGhee - Step it Up and Go No. 2 2:48

04 Tony Hollins - Cut Saw Blues 2:55

05 Robert Lockwood Jr. - Black Spider Blues 2:59

06 McKinley Morganfield - I Be's Troubled 3:06

07 Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup - If I Get Lucky 3:05

08 Buddy Moss - Unfinished Business 2:53

09 William Brown - Mississippi Blues 6:06

10 David "Honeyboy" Edwards - Water Coast Blues 5:59

11 Gabriel Brown - Stick With Me 2:43

12 Johnny Shines - Evil-Hearted Woman Blues 2:49

13 Lightnin' Hopkins - Katie Mae Blues 3:03

14 Josh White - Evil Hearted Man 2:32

15 Othum Brown - Ora-Nelle Blues 2:46

16 Johnny Young - Money Taking Woman 2:44

17 Little Boy Fuller - Blood Red River Blues 2:36

18 Back Porch Boys - Sweet Woman Blues 3:03

19 "Stick" McGhee & His Buddies - Drinkin' Wine Spo-Dee-O-Dee 2:18

20 Frankie Lee Sims and His Guitar Trio - Single Man Blues 2:51

21 K. C. Douglas Trio - Mercury Boogie 2:26

22 Lowell Fulson - The Blues is Killing Me 2:34

23 Alabama Slim - Boar Hog Blues 2:38

24 Sylvester Cotton - Ugly Woman Blues 2:44

25 Pinetop Slim - Applejack Boogie 2:39

26 Willie Lane - Prowlin' Ground Hog 2:41

27 Dan Pickett - Ride to A Funeral in A V8 2:33

Vol. 2 CD2

01 Dennis McMillon - Paper Wooden Daddy 2:43

02 Manny Nichols - Walking Talking Blues 2:36

03 Johnny Beck - You Gotta Lay Down Momma 2:37

04 James Tisdom - Model T Boogie 2:34

05 Soldier Boy Houston - Dallas Be-Bop Blues 3:06

06 Little David - You're Gonna Weep and Moan 3:05

07 Pig N' Whistle Red - Talkin' to You Mama 3:09

08 Lil' Son Jackson - Ticket Agent Blues 2:38

09 Luther Huff - 1951 Blues 2:39

10 Larks - Eyesight to The Blind 2:53

11 Luther Stoneham - 1949 Blues 2:38

12 William Stewart - Me Talking Boy 2:24

13 Nat Terry - Take it Easy Baby 3:24

14 John Lee - Down at The Depot 3:09

15 Julius King - If You See My Lover 3:05

16 Doug Quattlebaum - Don't Be Funny, Baby! 2:35

17 Sister O. M. Terrell - I'm Going to The City 2:51

18 Jimmy & Walter - Before Long 2:59

19 Jesse Thomas - Gonna Move to California 2:25

20 Big Son Tillis - Rocks is My Pillow 3:12

21 Jesse Fuller - San Francisco Bay Blues 3:30

22 Lick, Slick & Slide - I Love My Baby 2:33

23 Doctor Ross - Industrial Boogie 2:38

24 Big Bill Broonzy - Willie Mae Blues 3:36

25 Elizabeth Cotten - Freight Train 2:46

26 Snooks Eaglin - See See Rider 3:12

27 John Lee Hooker - Burning Hell 3:19

28 Fred McDowell - Keep Your Lamp Trimmed and Burning 2:46

Vol. 3 CD1

01 Mance Lipscomb - Shake, Shake, Mama 2:52

02 John Lee Hooker - Tupelo 3:21

03 Rev. Gary Davis - Samson and Delilah 4:07

04 Robert Pete Williams - I’ve Grown So Ugly 2:51

05 Lightnin' Hopkins - Mojo Hand 3:05

06 Lonnie Johnson - Moaning Blues 4:03

07 Smoky Babe - Hottest Brand Goin’ 4:09

08 Herman E. Johnson - I Just Keeps on Wanting You 2:48

09 Scrapper Blackwell - Shady Lane 5:29

10 Pink Anderson - I Got Mine 3:09

11 Pete Franklin - Prison Bound 4:24

12 Shirley Griffith - Bye Bye Blues 4:13

13 Robert C. Smith - Please Don’t Drive Me Away 2:27

14 Memphis Willie B. - Wine Drinking Woman 3:38

15 Baby Tate - What Have I Done to You 2:44

16 Leroy Dallas - She Caught The M & O 3:45

17 Sleepy John Estes - Vernita’s Blues 2:21

18 J. D. Short - I’m Just Wastin’ My Time 4:37

19 Muddy Waters - Feel Like Going Home 3:54

20 Buddy Moss - Amy 2:44

21 Johnny Young - Want My Lovin’ 3:32

22 Arvella Gray - Corrine, Corrina 2:15

23 Mississippi John Hurt - Candy Man 2:55

24 Maxwell Street Jimmy - Alberta 2:56

Vol. 3 CD2

01 Son House - Empire State Express 3:43

02 Fred McDowell - Frisco Lines 4:01

03 J.B. Lenoir - If I Get Lucky 3:02

04 Skip James - Sickbed Blues 4:08

05 R.L. Burnside - Long Haired Doney 2:47

06 Furry Lewis - Old Original Furry Lewis Blues 3:48

07 Joe Callicott - Lonesome Katy Blues 3:06

08 John Jackson - Rocks and Gravel 3:18

09 Babe Stovall - Worried Blues 3:35

10 Howlin' Wolf - Ain’t Goin’ Down That Dirt Road #2 4:09

11 Larry Johnson - Four Women Blues 2:35

12 Jack Owens - I Love My Baby 4:52

13 Johnny Shines - Your Troubles Can’t Be Like Mine 4:21

14 Brownie McGhee - My Last Suit 3:55

15 Juke Boy Bonner - Tired of The Greyhound Bus 2:28

16 Tarheel Slim - So Sweet, So Sweet 3:21

17 Tom Shaw - Baby Be A Boy Child Named Him After Me 5:46

18 Eddie Taylor - Bullcow Blues 3:12

19 Bill Williams - Salty Dog 4:39

20 Guitar Shorty - Jessie Jones 4:00

21 Reverend Pearly Brown - It’s A Mean Old World to Try to Live In 2:26

22 Louisiana Red - Dead Stray Dog 3:58

23 David "Honeyboy" Edwards - Big Fat Mama 2:58

24 Henry Townsend - Can’t You See 3:19

Vol. 4 CD1

01 Archie Edwards - The Road is Rough and Rocky 4:33

02 Frank Hovington - Lonesome Road Blues 5:27

03 Guitar Slim - I’m Feelin' Lonesome 4:46

04 Sam Chatmon - Sam’s Blues 3:37

05 Boogie Bill Webb - Big Road Blues 2:33

06 Arzo Youngblood - Bye Bye Blues 2:48

07 John Cephas - Reno Factory 4:45

08 Eugene Powell - Worried Blues 3:05

09 Albert Macon - Mean Old Frisco Blues 3:46

10 James "Son" Thomas - Devil Blues 4:46

11 Henry Townsend - Heartbroken Man Blues 4:06

12 James Brewer - Pea Vine Whistle 3:54

13 Rory Block - Future Blues 3:06

14 Sparky Rucker - Kind-Hearted Woman 4:12

15 Ted Bogan - That’ll Never Happen No More 2:14

16 Taj Mahal - Fishin’ Blues 4:31

17 Jo-Ann Kelly - Try Me One More Time 4:34

18 Etta Baker - Broken Hearted Blues 4:53

19 Paul Rishell - Trouble Blues 2:43

20 John Dee Holeman - Early Morning Blues 3:33

21 Guy Davis - Take Me Back, Babe 4:35

Vol. 4 CD2

01 Homesick James - Bein’ With The One You Love 3:04

02 Paul Geremia - Kick it in The Country 4:13

03 Alvin Youngblood Hart - Big Mama’s Door 3:50

04 Keb' Mo' - You Can Love Yourself 2:32

05 Doug MacLeod - Old Country Road 4:35

06 Corey Harris - High Fever Blues 3:12

07 Jimmie Lee Robinson - Angry Lover 3:33

08 Geoff Muldaur - Sloppy Drunk 4:25

09 Robert Lockwood Jr. - C.C. Rider 3:54

10 Jerry Ricks - I Will Turn Your Money Green 4:18

11 Roy Book Binder - Can’t Do That No More 3:29

12 Precious Bryant - You Don’t Want Me No More 2:52

13 Robert Belfour - Pushin’ My Luck 4:33

14 Eric Bibb - Come Back Baby 4:41

15 Jimmy "Duck" Holmes - Nightmare 4:00

16 John Paul Hammond - Statesboro Blues 3:25

17 Del Rey - Plymouth Rock 3:50

18 Chris James - Black Spider Blues 3:28

19 Bonnie Raitt - Ain’t Nothin’ in Ramblin’ 3:41

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Music weaves itself into the fabric of our emotions, dances through the corridors of memory, and whispers to the soul of who we are. Sharing these stories deepens the connection, turning the experience into something timeless and profound.

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VA - Liberation Blue Acoustic Series Sampler One [2005] + VA - Liberation Blue Acoustic Series Sampler Two [2006]

AUSTRALIAN ACOUSTIC

VA - Liberation Blue Acoustic Series Sampler One [2005] + VA - Liberation Blue Acoustic Series Sampler Two [2006]

Released as promotional companions to the Liberation Blue Acoustic Series, these two samplers offer a warm, stripped-back snapshot of Australian rock and pop artists reimagining their own catalogues in acoustic form. Far from being mere unplugged retreads, the performances across Volumes 1 and 2 reveal new emotional textures—songs softened, sharpened, or completely transformed by the intimacy of the format.

Sampler Vol. 1 [2005] features standout acoustic reinterpretations from James Reyne, Mark Seymour, and The Church. Tracks like “Reckless” and “Throw Your Arms Around Me” lose none of their anthemic pull but gain a kind of weathered grace. The Church’s “Under the Milky Way” is especially haunting in this setting, its spacey shimmer replaced by stark vulnerability. The production is clean and unfussy, letting the performances breathe.

Sampler Vol. 2 [2006] expands the roster with contributions from Dragon, Jenny Morris, Michael Spiby, and the Choirboys. There’s a playful energy here “Are You Old Enough?” and “Break in the Weather” feel refreshed, not reduced. Spiby’s “Green Limousine” and “Halo” are highlights, revealing the soul beneath the pop polish. The acoustic arrangements aren’t just quieter—they’re more revealing, often exposing lyrical nuance or melodic turns that were buried in the original mixes.

Both CDs were issued as limited promotional samplers, not sold separately, and only available with purchases from the Liberation Blue Acoustic Series catalogue. That scarcity has made them collector’s items, especially among fans of Australian pub rock and singer-songwriter traditions. The packaging is minimal, but the sequencing is thoughtful, each disc flows like a live set, with emotional peaks and valleys.

Taken together, Vol. 1 and 2 serve as a kind of acoustic time capsule, capturing a moment when legacy artists were invited to revisit their work with fresh ears and open hearts.  And for archivists, they’re essential listening: rare, regionally specific, and emotionally rich. (B)

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Track lists

CD1

01 Diesel - Everybody's Talkin' 2:40

02 The Black Sorrows - Hold on to Me 4:42

03 Stephen Cummings - How Come 4:15

04 Mick Thomas - Father's Day 4:17

05 Diesel - She Won't Need Words 3:32

06 The Black Sorrows - The Chosen Ones 5:26

07 Stephen Cummings - When Love Comes Back to Haunt You 4:57

08 Mick Thomas - I'll Remember 3:34

CD2

01 James Reyne - Tennessee Plates 2:40

02 Mark Seymour - 43 in The Shade 3:39

03 Nick Barker - Senseless 3:50

04 The Church - 0408 5:19

05 James Reyne - Slave 4:54

06 Mark Seymour - Whats A Few Men 3:38

07 Nick Barker - Time Bomb 4:08

08 The Church - Metropolis 3:23

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Music weaves itself into the fabric of our emotions, dances through the corridors of memory, and whispers to the soul of who we are. Sharing these stories deepens the connection, turning the experience into something timeless and profound.

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VA - Demo Diaries, Acoustic Origins (A Butterboy Compilation) (4 x CDs)

ACOUSTIC DEMO's

VA - Demo Diaries, Acoustic Origins (A Butterboy Compilation) (4 x CDs)

Alright, music lover, this one’s for you. Presented here is a 4 x CDs set that is a front-row seat to the creative spark behind some of the most iconic and obscure songs ever written. These aren’t just demos, they’re acoustic demos. That’s an important distinction. You won’t find alternate studio takes, live versions, or band rehearsals here. What you will find is the songwriter alone with their instruments, often in a quiet room, capturing the first breath of a song before it’s dressed up for the world. It’s often raw, intimate, and often breathtaking.

Expect a genre-hopping ride through decades of music history. You’ll hear early rock ’n’ roll, folk, psych, glam, indie, country, and even proto-punk, all rendered in stripped-down form. Dion’s 1961 take on “Fever” is all swagger and restraint, while Nirvana’s “Pennyroyal Tea” aches with quiet desperation. The Beatles are here in force, with their legendary Esher demos “Revolution,” “Dear Prudence,” “Glass Onion” offering a glimpse into the White Album’s skeleton. Lennon’s solo acoustic versions of “God” and “Watching the Wheels” are meditative and deeply personal. Springsteen’s “Born in the U.S.A.” demo is a revelation, not the stadium anthem we know, but a quiet protest song with grit and sorrow.

Acoustic demos matter because they reveal the emotional blueprint of a song. You hear the pauses, the breath, the uncertainty. Sometimes the lyrics are unfinished, sometimes the chords are still searching. But that’s the beauty, it’s real. It’s vulnerable. It’s the artist saying, “Here’s what I’ve got so far.” And when it works, it really works. Elliott Smith’s “Miss Misery” demo is heartbreak in miniature. Bowie’s “Space Oddity” feels like a bedroom transmission to the cosmos. Even Pink Floyd’s “Money” shows up in skeletal form, proving that even the most complex arrangements start with a simple strum.

There are magical moments scattered throughout this set. Janis Joplin’s solo acoustic “Me and Bobby McGee” is spine-tingling. The Housemartins covering “You’ve Got a Friend” is unexpectedly tender. Marc Bolan’s acoustic fragments “Girl,” “Cat Black,” “The Road I’m On” are glittery ghosts, brief and beautiful. Carole King’s piano demos feel like you’re sitting beside her at the keys. And the inclusion of lesser-known artists like Archie Roach, Kak, Goldebriars, and Tracey Russell adds a layer of discovery that makes this set feel personal.

This set is a celebration of the creative spark and a preservation of musical soul. By focusing strictly on acoustic demos, it honours the purity of songwriting and the intimacy of creation. It’s a set that invites repeated listening, not for polish, but for presence. Each track is a moment captured before the world got hold of it. And that, in itself, is magic. Press play and let the magic unfold. (B)

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Track lists

CD1

01 Beatles - Revolution (Acoustic Demo) 4:06 1968

02 Dion - Fever (Acoustic Demo) 2:54 1961

03 Carole King - Take Good Care of My Baby (Acoustic Piano Demo) 2:15 1961

04 Bee Gees - Black Diamond (Acoustic Demo) 4:02 1970

05 Go-Betweens - Girl Lying on a Beach (Acoustic Demo) 3:23 2003

06 Bruce Springsteen - Born in The U.S.A (Acoustic Demo) 3:11 1982

07 David Bowie - Space Oddity (Acoustic Demo) 5:05 1969

08 Rolling Stones - 100 Years Ago (Piano Demo) 2:43 1973

09 Buffalo Springfield - Flying on The Ground is Wrong (Acoustic Demo) 3:11 1966

10 Gene Clark - So You Say You Lost Your Baby (Acoustic Demo) 3:11 1967

11 Gregg Allman - Multi-Colored Lady (Acoustic Demo) 4:40 1973

12 Housemartins - You've Got A Friend (Acoustic Demo) 3:31 1986

13 Beatles - Back in The U.S.S.R. (Acoustic Demo) 2:59 1968

14 Beatles - Glass Onion (Acoustic Demo) 1:55 1968

15 Pink Floyd - Money (Acoustic Demo) 1:41 1973

16 Lou Reed - Perfect Day (Acoustic Demo) 3:20 1972

17 Marc Bolan - The Road I'm on (Gloria) (Acoustic Demo) 2:41 1967

18 Liam Gallagher - Once (Acoustic Demo) 3:51 2019

19 Beatles - Happiness is A Warm Gun (Acoustic Demo) 1:55 1968

20 Beatles - Dear Prudence (Acoustic Demo) 4:47 1968

21 Paul Simon - Loves Me Like a Rock (Acoustic Demo) 3:24 1973

22 John Lennon - Watching The Wheels (Acoustic Demo) 3:03 1980

CD2

01 John Lennon - God (Acoustic Demo) 2:45 1970

02 Go-Betweens - Caroline and I (Acoustic Demo) 4:20 2003

03 Go-Betweens - Poison in the Walls (Acoustic Demo) 4:10 2003

04 Pearl Jam - Acoustic #1 (Acoustic Demo) 2:49 1991

05 Shoes - Karen (Acoustic Demo) 2:02 1977

06 Lou Reed - Hangin' 'Round (Acoustic Demo) 3:57 1972

07 XTC - 1000 Umbrellas (Early Acoustic Run Through) 1:40 1986

08 Janis Joplin - Me and Bobby McGee (Previously Unreleased Solo Acoustic Demo) 4:48 1970

09 Dears - There Goes My Outfit (Acoustic Demo) 4:00 2003

10 Nirvana - Pennyroyal Tea (Acoustic Demo) 3:28 1993

11 Elliott Smith - Miss Misery (Acoustic Demo) 2:55 1996

12 Paul Westerberg - Dyslexic Heart (Acoustic Demo) 3:43 1992

13 Uncle Tupelo - If That's Alright (Acoustic Demo) 3:03 1992

14 Replacements - Can't Hardly Wait (Acoustic Demo) 3:51 1985

15 Joni Mitchell - Talk to Me (Acoustic Demo) 3:55 1977

16 Carole King - Tapestry  (Acoustic piano Demo) 3:02 1971

17 Cilla Black - Step Inside Love (Acoustic Demo) 2:53 1968

18 Collective Soul - Over Tokyo (Acoustic Demo) 3:36 1997

19 Elvis Costello - Veronica (Acoustic Demo) 3:03 1989

20 Gameface - Frames (Acoustic Demo) 4:34 1994

21 Whitesnake - Seasons (Acoustic Demo) 1:06 1990

21 Shambles - The Colour Swirl (Acoustic Demo) 1:26 1987

23 John Lennon - Whatever Gets You Thru The Night (Acoustic Demo) 2:53 1974

CD3

01 Kak - I've Got Time (previously Unissued Acoustic Demo) 2:06 1969

02 Incredible String Band - First Girl I Loved (Acoustic Demo) 4:58 1967

03 Fairport Convention - Now and Then (Acoustic Demo) 3:49 1968

04 Archie Roach - I Don't Wanna Go (Acoustic Demo) 5:51 1990

05 Dave Cousins - Lemon Pie (Acoustic Demo) 2:40 1973

06 T-Rex - Left Hand Luke (Acoustic Demo) 1:58 1973

07 T-Rex - The Groover (Solo Acoustic Demo) 1:50 1973

08 Please - Gently as You Feel (Acoustic Demo) 2:42 1969

09 Please - Gently as You Feel (Acoustic Demo 2) 3:10 1969

10 Mirage - Ebaneezer Beaver (Acoustic Demo) 2:02 1974

11 Barbara Pittman - I'm Getting Better All the Time (Acoustic Demo) 1:36 1956

12 Melvin Carter - I've Got Memories (Acoustic Demo) 3:14 1972

13 Buckingham Nicks - Without You (Acoustic Demo) 3:42 1973

14 Big Star - Lovely Day (Acoustic Demo) 1:54 1974

15 Alex Chilton - It Isn't Always That Easy (Demo) 2:32 1975

16 Tim Buckley - Wings (Acoustic Demo) 2:25 1966

17 Tommy Bolin - I Can’t See the Sun (Acoustic Demo) 1:13 1975

18 GoldeBriars - Pretty Girls and Rolling Stones (Acoustic Demo) 2:02 1964

19 Alarm - Howling Wind (Acoustic Demo) 4:18 1984

20 Paul Weller - Light Nights (Acoustic Demo) 3:07 2008

21 Hawkwind - The Only Ones (Acoustic Demo) 4:39 1980

22 Echo & The Bunnymen - The Game (Acoustic Demo) 3:57 1987

23 22-20s - Only Way I Know (Acoustic Demo) 3:19 2004

CD4

01 Beatles - Something (Acoustic Demo) 3:19 1969

02 22-20s - Purple Heart (Acoustic Demo) 3:57 2004

03 Beau Brummels - Another (Acoustic Demo) 3:14 1965

04 Heart - Dog & Butterfly (Acoustic Demo) 4:57 1978

05 Linda Lewis - Red Light Ladies (Acoustic Demo) 2:42 1973

06 Mark Wirtz - Avalon (Acoustic Demo) 3:59 1967

07 Smashing Pumpkins - Perfect (Acoustic Demo) 3:18 1998

08 Jefferson Starship - Sunrise (Grace's Acoustic Demo Tk. 8) 1:21 1976

09 Warren Zevon - Networking (Acoustic Demo Version) 3:14 1987

10 Whitesnake - Surrender (Acoustic Demo) 3:35 1987

11 Dolly Parton - My Blue Tears (Previously Unissued Acoustic Demo) 2:24 1971

12 Ernie Maresca and The Belmonts - Cry and Be on Your Way (Acoustic Demo) 2:25 1962

13 Fairport Convention - Fotheringay (Acoustic Demo) 3:05 1969

14 Nick Drake - Man in a Shed (Acoustic Demo) 3:06 1968

15 Marissa Nadler - Leave The Light on (Demo) 3:13 2004

16 Tracey Russell - Make Me Your Baby (Acoustic Piano Demo) 2:39 1965

17 Kinks - I Go to Sleep (Demo Version) 2:46 1965

18 Superchunk - Florida's on Fire (Acoustic Demo) 2:54 1995

19 Beatles - Strawberry Fields Forever with Overdubs) 2:39 1996

20 Triffids - Fairytale Love (Acoustic Demo) 2:17 1985

21 Marc Bolan & T.Rex - Girl (Acoustic Home Demo) 0:40 1967

22 Marc Bolan - Cat Black (Acoustic Demo) 1:20 1967

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Music weaves itself into the fabric of our emotions, dances through the corridors of memory, and whispers to the soul of who we are. Sharing these stories deepens the connection, turning the experience into something timeless and profound.

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VA - Acoustic Rock Favorites + MORE Acoustic Rock Favorites + EVEN MORE Acoustic Rock Favorites (A Butterboy Compilation) (6 x CDs)

ACOUSTIC ROCK

VA - Acoustic Rock Favorites + MORE Acoustic Rock Favorites + EVEN MORE Acoustic Rock Favorites (A Butterboy Compilation) (6 x CDs)

The roots of rock music arguably lie in acoustic traditions. When singer-songwriters begin crafting a new song or demo, it’s often the acoustic guitar they reach for first. Some of these compositions evolve into electrified anthems, but others are so compelling in their raw form that they remain acoustic, and in doing so, become part of the acoustic rock canon. In fact, some artists sound their most authentic when stripped back. While many bands outside the Unplugged spotlight rarely venture into acoustic territory, those who do often find success across genres and formats. And yes, even the best acoustic rock bands may plug in from time to time, but that doesn’t diminish their acoustic legacy.

Unplugging isn’t as simple as it sounds. Hand an acoustic guitar to someone used to the comfort of distortion, feedback, and effects pedals, and they’ll feel exposed. Acoustic playing demands precision, clarity, and more often than not strong songwriting. It can breathe new life into familiar tracks, offer fresh interpretations of covers, and spotlight lyrical and melodic brilliance that might otherwise be buried in the mix.

These selections are just a glimpse into the world of acoustic rock. I’m sure you have your own favorites that deserve a place in the conversation. While more volumes will find there way to you in the future, I’ll be sharing other musical flavors first, my tastes, as you know, are wonderfully varied.

In the meantime, enjoy these tracks. You might stumble upon a forgotten gem or discover an artist you’ve never heard before. Either way, I hope you’re pleasantly surprised.

These were originally shared across separate posts. I've now brought them together in one consolidated post for easier access. (B)

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Track lists

Acoustic Rock Favorites CD1

01 Bad Company - Seagull 4:05 1974

02 America - Donkey Jaw 5:15 1971

03 Duran Duran - Ordinary World 5:10 1993

04 Led Zeppelin - Tangerine 3:10 1970

05 Rolling Stones - Angie 4:32 1973

06 Oasis - Wonderwall 4:19 1995

07 Cat Stevens - Lady D'arbanville 3:44 1970

08 John Lennon - Working Class Hero 3:48 1970

09 John Mayer - Daughters 3:59 2003

10 Damien Rice - Cannonball 5:10 2002

11 Dolly Parton - Jolene 2:42 1974

12 Radiohead - Fake Plastic Trees 4:43 1995

13 Jose Feliciano - Light My Fire 3:07 1968

14 James Taylor - Fire and Rain 3:14 1970

15 Mr. Big - To Be With You 3:28 1991

16 Simon & Garfunkel - The Sound of Silence 3:02 1964

17 Over the Rhine - Who Will Guard the Door 5:06 2005

18 Creedence Clearwater Revival - Have You Ever Seen the Rain 2:40 1970

19 John Denver - My Old Man 4:33 1969

20 Neil Young - The Needle and the Damage Done 1:58 1972

21 Ray Lamontagne - Trouble 4:01 2004

22 Beatles - Blackbird 2:18 1968

23 Deep Purple - Soldier of Fortune 3:16 1974

24 Joni Mitchell - Both Sides, Now 4:29 1969

25 Steve Young - Seven Bridges Road 3:22 1969

Acoustic Rock Favorites CD2

26 Doobie Brothers - Toulouse Street 3:14 1972

27 Uriah Heep - The Wizard 3:01 1972

28 Replacements - Here Comes a Regular 4:46 1985

29 Neil Young - Old Man 3:19 1972

30 Eric Clapton - Tears in Heaven 4:40 1992

31 Kings of Convenience - Mrs. Cold 3:06 2009

32 Lindsey Buckingham - Never Going Back Again 2:43 1977

33 Guns 'n' Roses - Patience 5:56 1988

34 Smiths - Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want 1:52 1986

35 Ryan Adams - When the Stars Go Blue 3:32 2001

37 Rolling Stones - Wild Horses 5:37 1971

38 Black Crowes - She Talks to Angels 6:16 1990

39 Who - Behind Blue Eyes 3:37 1971

40 Beatles - Norwegian Wood 1:58 1965

41 Colin Hay - Overkill 3:47 1983

42 America - A Horse With No Name 4:03 1971

43 Pearl Jam - Just Breathe 3:35 2009

44 Goo Goo Dolls - Iris 4:49 1998

45 Frente! - Bizarre Love Triangle 2:00 1986

46 Don McLean - American Pie 8:33 1971

48 Janis Ian - At Seventeen 4:42 1975

49 Jim Croce - I Got a Name 3:15 1973

50 Bon Jovi - Wanter Dead Or Alive 5:14 1988

MORE Acoustic Rock Favorites CD1

01 Fools Garden - Lemon Tree 3:06 1995

02 Seal - Crazy (Acoustic) 4:05 1995

03 Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds - Deanna (Acoustic Version) 2:51 1988

04 Matthew Sweet - Divine Intervention (Recorded Acoustically at Home  8 Set 92) 3:06 1992

05 Jack White - Love is the Truth 1:39 2016

06 Dion - Doctor Rock'n'roll 2:26 1970

07 Arborea - Daughters of Man 4:50 2013

08 Elliott Smith - Son of Sam (Acoustic) 3:04 2000

09 Eagle-Eye Cherry - Falling in Love Again 3:31 1997

11 Sheryl Crow - Wildflower (Acoustic Version) 3:55 2005

11 First Aid Kit - The Lion's Roar 5:07 2011

12 Ian Skelly - I See You 4:39 2013

13 Klaus Weiland - Monkey River Magic 3:58 1999

14 Peter Frampton - Show Me the Way 4:05 2016

15 Bruce Cockburn - Islands in a Black Sky 7:42 1973

16 Turin Brakes - Underdog (Save Me) 3:31 2001

17 Gabrielle - Rise (Acoustic Version) 3:53 1999

18 Alanis Morissette - Hand in My Pocket 4:30 1995

19 She & Him - God Only Knows 2:43 2014

20 The Coral - 1000 Years 2:49 2010

21 Tom Petty - Free Fallin' 4:16 1989

22 Big Star - Thirteen 2:37 1972

23 Love - Alone Again Or 3:14 1967

24 Crazy Horse - I Don't Wann Talk About It 5:18 1971

25 Marc Bolan - Get it On 5:06 1971

MORE Acoustic Rock Favorites CD2

26 Emerson, Lake & Palmer - From the Beginning 4:08 1972

27 Natalie Imbruglia - Torn 4:06 1997

28 Fiona Apple - Across the Universe 5:08 1999

29 Elton John - Candle in the Wind (Acoustic Mix) 3:53 1973

30 Colin Hay - Who Can it Be Now 3:25 2003

31 Richie Havens - Just Like a Woman 5:17 1966

32 Feeder - Dry 3:46 1999

33 Richard Thompson - I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight 2:54 1974

34 Both - Milwaukee 3:47 2014

35 Extreme - More Than Words 5:39 1990

36 Mazzy Star - Fade Into You 4:53 1993

37 Simple Minds - Glittering Prize 4:07 1982

38 Rickie Lee Jones - Chuck E's in Love 3:29 1979

39 R.E.M. - Pop Song '89 2:59 1988

40 Ayreon - Dreamtime 4:17 1995

41 Neil Young - Old Man 3:19 1972

42 Simon & Garfunkel - The Boxer 5:06 1970

43 Supertramp - Give a Little Bit 4:09 1977

44 Crowded House - Weather With You (Bbc Session) 2:59 1991

45 Seven Mary Three - Cumbersome (Acoustic Remix) 3:55 1995

46 Travis - Why Does it Always Rain on Me 4:27 1999

47 Glenn Frey - Hotel California 6:23 1976

12 Bob Marley - Redemption Song 3:48 1980

49 U2 - Staring at the Sun 4:36 1994

50 Lenny Kravitz - Sister 7:29 1993

EVEN MORE Acoustic Rock Favorites CD1 

01 Gotye (Walk Off the Earth) - Somebody That I Used to Know 4:09 2011

02 Nick Drake - Cello Song 4:33 1969

03 Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show - Sylvia's Mother 3:51 1972

04 David Bowie - Starman 4:06 1972

05 Ben Harper - Diamonds on the Inside 4:26 2003

06 Move - Flowers in the Rain (Acoustic Version) 2:34 1968

07 Turin Brakes - Fishing for a Dream 4:27 2005

08 Jethro Tull - Mother Goose 3:52 1971

09 Travis - Flowers in the Window 3:27 2001

10 John Farnham - You're the Voice (The Acoustic Chapel Sessions) 3:58 1986

11 Eagles - Journey of the Sorcerer 6:30 1975

12 Led Zeppelin - Stairway to Heaven 8:02 2007

13 Who - Pinball Wizard 3:44 1969

14 George Ezra - Budapest 3:22 2014

15 Beatles - Here Comes the Sun 3:05 1969

16 Gomez - In Our Gun 5:14 2002

17 John Mayer - Paper Doll 4:17 2013

18 Depeche Mode - Personal Jesus (Acoustic) 3:27 1990

19 Passenger - Let Her Go (Acoustic) 4:26 2012

20 Lloyd & Will Cole - Perfect Skin 3:21 1984

21 Kings of Convenience - Toxic Girl 3:07 2001

22 Foo Fighters - Stranger Things Have Happened 5:21 2007

23 Metallica - Nothing Else Matters 6:28 1991

24 Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds - The Mercy Seat (Acoustic Version) 3:45 1988

25 Green Day - Good Riddance 2:37 1997

EVEN MORE Acoustic Rock Favorites CD2

26 Elvis Presley - In the Ghetto 2:55 1969

27 Led Zeppelin - Going to California 3:32 1971

28 Glenn Shorrock - Will You Stand With Me 4:33 2000

29 Johnny Thunders - Joey 3:39 1983

30 Black Sabbath - Changes 4:42 1972

31 Anastacia - Cowboys & Kisses (Unplugged Version) 3:58 2000

32 Indigenous - Now That You're Gone 3:40 1998

33 Patti Smith - Beneath the Southern Cross 4:37 1996

34 U2 - A Man and a Woman (Acoustic) 4:27 2004

35 Steve Miller Band - The Joker 4:26 1973

36 Rush - Different Strings 3:50 1980

37 Wolfmother - Sundial (Acoustic) 3:53 2009

38 Chris Cornell - Billie Jean 4:41 2006

39 Lynyrd Skynyrd - Free Bird 7:25 1973

40 Pink Floyd - Mother 5:32 1979

41 Kansas - Dust in the Wind 3:25 1977

42 Los Lobos - Papa Was a Rolling Stone Into I Can't Understand 6:58 1993

43 Jack Johnson & the Voices - Relate to Me 1:34 2003

44 Seven Mary Three - Cumbersome (Acoustic Remix) 3:55 1997

45 Supergrass - Caught By the Fuzz (Acoustic) 3:01 1995

46 Hayden - Hollywood Ending 2:54 2004

47 Jebediah - Yesterday When I Was Brave 3:57 2002

48 John Lennon - Watching the Wheels (Acoustic Demo) 3:03 1980

49 America - A Horse With No Name 4:03 1971

50 Marc Bolan - Spaceball Ricochet 4:41 1972

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Music weaves itself into the fabric of our emotions, dances through the corridors of memory, and whispers to the soul of who we are. Sharing these stories deepens the connection, turning the experience into something timeless and profound.

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