Hi Hank,

I found your name on the ArloNet rare tape registry website. Some of my fondest memories as a child were listening to a set of tapes of Arlo & Pete performing at Wolftrap Farm in VA. I'm pretty sure my father had taped the concert off the radio (NPR), and we listened to it constantly...

It had this hilarious riff about people using "tuning arrows" to tune their guitars (this was a fictitious "invention" of Arlo). Since it would be embarassing to flip one's guitar over to see the arrows on the underside of the pegboard, he had to invent an "auxiliary mirror" so that the arrows could be seen while staring intently at the mirror on the floor -- as though listening for the string to finally hit the right note. He drew out the whole bit for maximal comedic effect, wonderful stuff.

It also featured an absolutely over-the-top version of the Motorcycle Song that was a complete riot. Alice's Restaurant had many embellishments as well.

I can't find a recording of this show anywhere... the August 8th 1993 commercially available CD is much too late. I remember listening to the one I'm looking for in the mid to late 1980s.

I don't think it was the 8/23/78 PBS show either, because that one doesn't feature Alice or the Motorcycle song from what I've found. Also, I don't remember Shenadoah included from the show I am recalling, and they were definitely there in 1978.

I'm pretty sure it was the Arlo/Pete July 24th 1985 show, as described in this article:
http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1 ... 10,3484754

Unless they had multiple dates in 1985 @ Wolftrap, I'd wager that your tapes here are from that exact same show:
http://www.arlo.net/rtr/db.cgi?db=defau ... _records=1
http://www.arlo.net/rtr/db.cgi?db=defau ... _records=1

Is there any way for me to get a hold of these recordings?

Thanks so much for taking the time to read my memory lane ramblings!


Abbot Cooper
Hampton, NH