Please Note: Based on recommendation, I have removed the download link for this show. It is a fact that this show is featured on the official release of Talkin’ Blues, however, there is a noticeable difference between the raw audio from the soundboard and the remastered audio on Talkin’ Blues. Nonetheless, I can’t risk heat coming down on the blog with this in mind.
The Wailers are making their way up and down the California coast when they are asked to play a radio spot for KSAN radio at the Record Plant in Sausalito, CA on October 31, 1973. They book this gig based on their recent lively performances at The Matrix in San Francisco. KSAN hyped The Wailers from the start, always spinning their music on the progressive rock station.
The Record Plant was a series of three famous recording studios which were founded by Gary Kellgren and Chris Stone, beginning in New York City in 1968. The next year, Kellgren and Stone opened a second studio in Los Angeles. In 1972, the company expanded again with a third location in Sausalito, California. On October 28, 1972, Kellgren and Stone opened the Northern California location in Sausalito, throwing a Halloween party to celebrate Studio A going on line. Ginger Mews, ex-manager of Wally Heider Studios, was named studio manager of Sausalito Music Factory, doing business as Record Plant, and construction continued on the similarly equipped Studio B with completion expected in February 1973. The 10,700-square-foot building was a former office suite covered with diagonal redwood siding in an industrial park near Sausalito’s harbor facilities. Kellgren worked with Hidley to design Studio A and Studio B to have the same size and the same “dead” acoustics, and both were fitted with Hidley-designed Westlake monitors.
“Live From The Plant” premiered in 1973 as a live radio showcase for new and existing talent. It was broadcast on Donahue’s album-oriented rock station KSAN (FM) from time to time over the next two years, primarily on Sunday nights, and it featured various artists such as the Grateful Dead, Jerry Garcia, The Tubes, Peter Frampton, Bob Marley & The Wailers, Pablo Cruise, Rory Gallagher, The Marshall Tucker Band, Jimmy Buffett, Bonnie Raitt, Link Wray, Linda Ronstadt and Fleetwood Mac.
An interesting note about The Record Plant-To satisfy the wishes of Sly Stone, one of the office spaces at the studio was turned into an unusual recording studio dubbed “The Pit”. The Pit was a 140-square-foot, acoustically dead room that had the engineer’s controls sunk 10 feet into the foundation of the building, this pit was surrounded on all sides by a ground level area intended for the musicians. Its appearance was futuristic, with bright maroon plush carpet on the floors, walls, ceiling, and stairs. Psychedelic murals and embroidery added to the visual atmosphere.Sly Stone recorded in it from time to time but mostly it remained an unused curiosity—a “white elephant”, according to producer Jimmy Robinson—a room that new arrivals were shown to elicit an “oh wow, what a trip” response.
Another interesting note about the Record Plant Sausalito: Fleetwood Mac recorded the legendary Rumours album here in 1976-1977.
The Record Plant Sausalito closed it’s doors in 2008.
The Wailers, stuck in Las Vegas after Sly and the Family Stone drop them from the tour, and hitchhike to California to make the scheduled appearance on KSAN-FM. They manage to get to San Francisco and make their appearance, being met by an enthusiastic audience. Audiences on the California coast maintained a special affinity for Bob and the Wailers throughout the existence of the band. The KSAN performance comprises a blazing set of songs. The broadcast begins with Bob, Peter, and Joe Higgs performing “Rasta Man Chant” acoustically with just traditional Rastafarian hand drums as accompaniment. They then launch into a series of songs from the Catch A Fire and Burnin’ albums.
I have included the lossless (FLAC) audio files for the show and an article from the Long Beach Independent Press Telegram published on May 4, 1973 which discusses reggae as an emerging force in music.
Set List
1. Intro,
2. Rastaman Chant,
3. Bend Down Low,
4. Slave Driver,
5. You Can’t Blame The Youth,
6. Stop That Train,
7. Burnin’ & Lootin’,
8. Kinky Reggae,
9. Get Up Stand Up,
10. Lively Up Yourself,
11. Walk The Proud Land,
12. Outtro
© Lee Jaffe
About this photo says Jaffe:
“San Francisco. 1973. We were staying in a motel about a mile from the venue–a club with capacity of about 800, aptly called The Matrix. We were on tour supporting the Burnin’ album. The morning after the gig–which for me until now was the most incredible performance I have been witness to–I rushed out to see if we had a review in the newspaper, The San Francisco Chronicle. I quickly flipped to the entertainment section. The headline said “Wailers Apocalyptic”….I was thrilled. We were a virtually unknown band and I had never seen a performance by band described anyway like that. I rushed to show Bob the ebullient review. He read it methodically then raised his eyes to me–barely smiled. A next step in the struggle. It was time to hit the road..”
LEGENDARY REGGAE 
It’s hardly surprising this audio is easy to find since it has been officially released on Talking Blues (edited certainly but still officially released) surely you should know that!
I recently posted the Exodus & Kaya Horn mixes on my blog: 100 greatest bootlegs and was hit by a DMCA notice even though the mixes have not been offficially released!
Anyway some great research on your blog, very informative, keep on posting the rasta sounds
You are correct. It has been released to an extent on Talking Blues, though remastered and mixed differently. I can’t believe they hit you for the Exodus and Kaya horn mixes though. Those tracks in that mix have never been officially released to my knowledge. Where is your blog? I want to follow it. Thanks for commenting and I’ll hope for the best I guess.
Better yet. I think I’ll remove the download link. I don’t need heat. I just don’t get. The tracks are different from the raw to the officially released.
I decided to discontinue my blog Midnight Raver, I couldn’t believe the hassle I was getting with DMCA notices, it’s been taken over by a friend and he posts his favourite bootlegs from a large collection he has acquired over the years
I even got a DMCA notice for the Burnin demos which are very similar to the official releases but on listening closely there are differences which mean they are not the same as the official releases.
That was the reason for informing you as I didn’t want you to attract the attention of whoever is issuing them. I should have done it a bit more tactfully, apologies for not doing so and as you correctly state there is a difference in the mixes. But it is strange how there are so many blogs posting official releases and they remain untouched.
Anyway I just wanted to say keep up the good work, I admire your dedication and hard work in providing such an interesting and informative site for not just Bob Marley & the Wailers but other reggae acts too.
The Lee Perry tour looks great definitely one not to miss
You’ve got to be kidding. This is sad news. If it happens to you it can happen to any of us. With the DMCA notice, you have no recourse. Anyone can claim rights to a media file, but they do not have to provide any proof. The blogger, however, is saddled with the burden of proof. No Justice…I cannot tell you how much this angers me. Please shoot me an email at midnightraverblog@yahoo.com so we can discuss. I give many thanks for the warning.