Marc Ford

All shows are being shared in the FLAC format. Along with the DropBox link for the complete show, there is also a link to the setlist (courtesy of marcbase.com).

Solo Performances

This is Marc Ford’s first performance following his dismissal from The Black Crowes earlier in August, 1997. This was an impromtu, jam-oriented performance with Ford and a few friends, later dubbed The Uninvited. In addition to Ford, the band included: Mike Stinson (drums), Eric Solton (guitars), Ed Lyon (keys) and Brian Lerman (bass). This is a soundboard recording and a very nice addition to any fan’s collection.

A very nice recording from the support tour for Ford’s first solo album, It’s About Time, featuring The Sinners as his backing band. So much good stuff here.

  • 2009.00.00 – Works Well With Others (Volume One)

A compilation I personally put together almost a decade ago, it features Marc sitting in with other bands over the years. Hopefully Volume Two will be forthcoming soon!

Disc One:

01. Blues Traveler – Mountain Cry (08/11/1995) (with Marc Ford)
Waterloo Village, Stanhope NJ (HORDE Festival)
02. Cubensis – Franklin’s Tower (08/28/1996) (with Marc Ford and Eddie Harsch)
03. Cubensis – Shakedown Street (08/28/1996) (with Marc Ford and Eddie Harsch)
04. Cubensis – Alabama Getaway (08/28/1996) (with Marc Ford and Eddie Harsch)
05. Cubensis – Wang Dang Doodle (08/28/1996) (with Marc Ford and Eddie Harsch)
06. Cubensis – Iko Iko (08/28/1996) (with Marc Ford and Eddie Harsch)
07. Cubensis – Get Out of My Life (08/28/1996) (with Marc Ford and Eddie Harsch)
American Pie, Santa Monica CA

Disc Two:

01. Ratdog – Big Boss Man (07/25/2003) (with Marc Ford)
02. Ratdog – Playing In the Band (07/25/2003) (with Marc Ford)
03. Ratdog – October Queen (07/25/2003) (with Marc Ford)
04. Ratdog – Mississippi Half-Step (07/25/2003) (with Marc Ford)
Naeba Ski Resort, Niigata JAPAN (Fuji Rock Festival)
05. Drive-By Truckers – Buttholeville (08/12/2006) (with Marc Ford)
Red Rocks Ampitheatre, Morrison CO
06. North Mississippi All-Stars – Hear My Train Comin’ (02/24/2008) (with Marc Ford)
07. North Mississippi All-Stars – All Night Long > Lovelight (02/24/2008) (with Marc Ford)
3rd & Lindsley, Nashville TN

A short but essential compilation put together by yours truly. The tracks are as follows:

“This Ride” – a demo from the lost sessions for what was intended to be the second Marc Ford solo album with The Sinners. The track had previously been recorded and performed with Federale and would see an official studio release (albeit in a much different form) on Ford’s 2016 solo album, The Vulture.

“Out of the Blue” – another demo from the lost Sinners sessions, this track has never seen an official studio release but was performed a considerable number of times live around the time of its recording. A fantastic track with a smokin’ guitar solo.

“Smoke Signals (Alternate Version)” – the origin of this version is unknown, but it is a somewhat different version than the more raw recording that would appear on Ford’s 2007 solo album, Weary and Wired. This track would be dusted off after some time for some of the Magpie Salute live performances in 2017.

“I Me Mine” – released as part of the now out-of-print George Harrison tribute album, Songs From the Material World, this is the last known studio recording by Ford with The Sinners.

“LA” – As part of the solo spot granted him during the 2005-2006 Black Crowes shows, Ford would often perform this obscure Neil Young cover, which originally appeared on his LP only 1973 release, Time Fades Away. This recording is from July 19th, 2006 at Jones Beach Ampitheater in Wantagh, NY and was “remixed” by me to make Ford’s guitar more prominent in the mix. This is a soundboard recording.

“Shalimar Dreams (Original Version)” – Before this track appeared on Ford’s 2016 solo album The Vulture, it was recorded by the original lineup of The Neptune Blues Club and made available for a short time via the Compound Studios website. This version has a somewhat different arrangement than that released on The Vulture and is a nice rare gem.

Burning Tree

Burning Tree were a three piece rock group active between 1987-1991, featuring Marc Ford on guitar and vocals, Doni Gray on drums and Mark “Muddy” Dutton on bass. The band released one self-titled album in 1990 and toured fairly extensively in support of it, including an opening slot with The Black Crowes. The band would record demos for a second record, but plans for that release were shelved as Ford opted to fill the open lead guitar slot with The Black Crowes upon the dismissal of their original lead guitarist, Jeff Cease. Gray and Dutton would pursue various solo projects following the demise of Burning Tree.

The three members of the band would reconvene in late 2006 for a handful of shows in the Los Angeles, CA area and to record Ford’s 2007 solo album, Weary and Wired. Dutton would stick with Ford for the album’s support tour and lent his bass guitar work to the album’s follow-up, Fuzz Machine (recorded in 2008 but not released until late 2010). Since that time, the members of Burning Tree have pursued separate musical endeavors.

Essentially raw version of many of the tracks from the band’s debut album. Very interesting listen for fans of that record. Tracks included: Last Laugh, Burning Tree, Crush, Playing In the Wind, Masquerade, Unknown #1, Same Old Story, Unknown #2, Baker’s Song, Unknown #3 and Turtle.

Released as a promotional only item, this live EP is a fantastic document of Burning Tree in a live setting. A must-have for fans of the band. Tracks included: Burning Tree, Fly On, Mistreated Lover, Same Old Story, Mistreated Lover (LP Version)

Federale

Emerging from the ashes of his first stint in The Black Crowes, Marc Ford teamed up with singer/songwriter Luther Russell to form the powerhouse known as Federale. The pair wrote and recorded several songs together and performed some stellar shows to captivated crowds. Interscope Records came knocking in early 1999 and it seemed that Federale was poised for greatness.

The stars were not aligned for Federale, however. After recording demos together (included here as “The Ventura Sessions”), inner turmoil at Interscope Records lead to interest in the band being abandoned. Ford and Luther went their separate ways and Federale was no more. Ford would incorporate some of the songs he wrote for Federale into his solo release over the following years, but sadly the band would never drift back together.

  • 1999.00.00 – The Interscope Demos (aka The Ventura Sessions)

The now infamous demos from Federale, including later Ford favorites “This Ride,” “It’ll Be Over Soon” and “Hell or Highwater.”

To start, here are two great shows from the band. The first, from Traxx in Charlottesville, was captured during an opening slot for Gov’t Mule. The second, from Magnolia Street Pub in Spartanburg, was a full-on headline show. Both are great documents of the band and are of remarkably good sound quality.