Here's something that's pretty cool, as called to my attention by that esteemed enthusiast of fine music, Dr. Spex.

It's a Web site called Wolfgang's Vault: Where Live Music Lives, and it includes a section called Vault Radio that plays songs in the archives of the late Bill Graham, the legendary concert promoter best known for his shows at the various Fillmore venues. (Graham's real name was Wolfgang Grajonka. He escaped from Nazi Germany when he was a kid. But that's another story.)

At the moment, I'm listening to Santana perform "Persuasion" at the Fillmore West in December 1968, the band's sound already finely honed a good nine months before its career-making performance at Woodstock. If you're used to hearing Carlos play "Smooth," check this stuff out for quite a contrast.

And here comes "Peaches En Regalia," one of Frank Zappa's most enduring compositions, as performed by his band the Mothers. (Available on the album "Fillmore East June 1971" on Rykodisc.)

And here comes the Great Society, with Grace Slick singing the original version of "Somebody to Love" on June 10, 1966 - the year before she took it up the charts with Jefferson Airplane. (Available on the album "Collector's Item" on Columbia.)

Looks like I'll have my headphones on the rest of the day!