I Need Your Help, Please!

I have recently announced the formation of the Steve Goodman Preservation Society and am currently searching for live, unreleased recordings to include in the archive and to share amongst this, and other, interested groups.

Steve's recording career began in 1970 when he was discovered performing in a Chicago club by Kris Kristofferson. As was Steve's way, he insisted that Kristofferson follow him down the street to hear an "even better" songwriter by the name of John Prine. Steve and John remained lifelong friends until Goodman's untimely death from Leukemia in 1984 at the young age of 36. You may know him best as the author of "City of New Orleans" ("the best damn train song ever written") which was a Top 40 hit for Arlo Guthrie in 1972. (There was a wonderful, though lengthy, tribute written by Jeff McLaughlin which was published in The Boston Globe at the time of Steve's death which I'd be glad to post here or e-mail, if anyone is interested.)

Steve was an extraordinary human being and a consummate performer and he seldom performed the same song, the same way twice, which is part of what makes listening to his performances so enjoyable. His self-effacing sense of humor would often lead him to taking off-beat requests from his audience and he'd often end up performing impromptu cover versions of songs like "16 Tons", "Staying Alive", "Sea of Love", "Winter Wonderland" and others -- often winging the lyrics as he went. He was a musician's musician and he forged and maintained lifelong friendships with many over the years. Despite being diagnosed with Leukemia at age 20, his passion for living, quick wit, and sense of humor were never diminished and are obvious in his compositions and performances.

While there are over a dozen of his shows in (fairly limited) circulation, some of the source tapes utilized were of inferior quality. Many other of his recorded performances have not seen the light of day in years (if ever) and are in danger of becoming permanently lost as they deteriorate in attics, garages, basements and closets throughout the world.

If you have tapes of Steve's performances -- be they live performance tapes, concert broadcasts, radio interviews, etc. (especially first or early generation tapes, or even shows you taped directly from broadcasts) -- or if you know someone who may -- would you please get in touch with me soon. With your help, I hope to be able to track down the best versions of all available tapes, archive them, and make them available for all who still remember and enjoy Steve's music, and for all who will come to know and enjoy it in the future. Please note: it does not matter if the recordings are of soundboard quality or audience quality -- all are worth preserving.

As Steve's death occurred before the advent of digital recording, it is likely any available recordings are going to be on cassettes or open reel tapes and will have been in storage for up to 30 years. I fear what will happen to them if they are not rescued soon.

Thank you for reading this rather long message. I welcome your thoughts, your concerns and especially your participation.

Warmest Regards,
John Epstein
Steve Goodman Preservation Society
SGoodmanArchive@aol.com