The Vault - 1970's

What's in the Vault? What is the Vault? Who owns the Vault?

For the purpose of this entry and several entries to follow, the Vault will serve as the professionally filmed material of Messrs Gibbons, Hill and Beard. Over the years a number of concerts have been recorded and assumedly preserved for some future, although ultimately ignored, endeavor or venture. Likely due to Bill Ham's former white knuckle grip on the group very little of this material has ever been made public; what has been is not in it's entirety. More on the reasons for this later on.

Starting with the 1970's...

1976 - Video - Largo, MD

Featuring a performance of "Chevrolet" this video shows the group pre-beards and looking ever bit the part of young and hungry rising stars. Good sound and fair video make this clip highly desirable. Currently the video is easily found on Youtube via the search function.

An early 1990's documentary on the group featured live footage from this time period, in much better video and audio quality than the section available on Youtube. It is likely the documentary footage is the Largo, MD show - but then again the band were known (and still are) to wear the same stage outfit night after night. Maybe the documentary footage is from another night in '76, or perhaps later in '77 as part of the World Wide Texas Tour.

1977 - Video - World Wide Texas Tour

Some low quality audience shot material exists, with limited date and city information. Very likely that at least one concert was filmed in its entirety.

12/30/1977 - Video?? - San Antonio, TX

An above average  (for the time period) audience recording exists of this show. The performance features a very early and embryonic performance of "I Thank You", two years before it would make it to vinyl. "Neighbor Neighbor" and several rarities from Rio Grande Mud are also played; it would appear either the band knew this would be one of the last shows for awhile (turns out almost two years) or Mr. Ham requested they put on a special performance for his cameras - which he has been known to do and will be discussed later.

12/31/1977 - Ft. Worth, TX - video

Average quality video and audio shows the band performing "Arrested for Driving While Blind" as the countdown to the New Year approaches. The band stops the song early  and counts down with the audience, then plays "Auld Lang Syne" while hundreds of balloons drop from the venue's rafters. Very likely that more of this show was recorded and is hiding away somewhere. Sure would be nice to see it.

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If "Double Down Live" featuring Germany 1980 can be released in excellent quality than certainly some of the above material could be publicly sold as well. Anything from the World Wide Texas Tour would undoubtedly sell very well. This video, and other similar material, could be owned solely by Mr. Ham. Hard to tell - more discussion later.

Anyone who knows of more footage from the 1970's please comment. It wold be very interesting to know.

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Next time: The Vault - 1980's