In celebration of their 50th anniversary, today Aerosmith have now released one of their earliest known recordings, Aerosmith – 1971: The Road Starts Hear (UMe), on CD and digital platforms.
This rare recording from 1971 was recently discovered in Aerosmith’s Vindaloo Vaults and was originally only available as a limited-edition cassette and vinyl release for Record Store Day in 2021. The heavily sought-after RSD release quickly sold out and debuted on the Billboard 200, hitting No. 2 on the Top Hard Rock Albums chart, No. 12 on the Top Rock Albums chart, No. 13 on the Vinyl Albums chart, and No. 19 on the Top Album Sales chart. In addition, the band’s official online store now features a new 1971 collection of exclusive merchandise.
This landmark early recording was made with Joe Perry’s Wollensak reel-to-reel tape machine in 1971 by Mark Lehman who owned the infamous van and became Aerosmith’s one-man road crew, either in the band’s Boston rehearsal room in front of a few select friends, or at a rehearsal the band did during a soundcheck for an early show. All that is certain is that the tape captures a young, hungry rock band one year before being discovered and signing with Columbia Records and two years before their self-titled major label debut was released that helped catapult the band to one of the biggest rock acts of all time. The album release was produced by Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, and Steve Berkowitz.
Aerosmith – 1971: The Road Starts Hear includes previously unseen archived photos, images of the original tape box, and liner notes written by Rolling Stone’s David Fricke with new interviews and comments from the band about this long-forgotten recording. The album features the original and current members of Aerosmith – Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, Tom Hamilton, Joey Kramer and Brad Whitford, with seven extraordinary tracks, this historic document showcases the early, unbridled talent of the future Hall of Fame members including a nascent version of “Dream On,” which they would later record and release on their 1973 eponymous major label debut. Aerosmith is one of the few bands to chart with the same song five decades later, the song was a hit in 1973 reaching No. 59 on Billboard’s Hot 100 and re-entered the charts in 2020 at No. 4 on the Hard Rock Streaming Songs chart.
Other tracks include early recordings of gems such as “Somebody,” “Movin’ Out,” “Walkin’ The Dog,” and “Mama Kin,” all of which would also later be recorded for their landmark debut. The Road Starts Hear also features “Reefer Head Woman,” which would later be recorded for their 1979 album Night In The Ruts, and the track “Major Barbara,” a song that would be featured on their 1986 release Classics Live.
As part of the continued celebration around their 50th anniversary, Aerosmith have also announced the return of their Las Vegas residency, AEROSMITH: DEUCES ARE WILD at Dolby Live at Park MGM, beginning Friday, June 17, 2022. The incredible show will be the first live concert experience presented in Dolby Atmos at Dolby Live. Dolby Live is one of the world’s most technologically advanced performance venues for enjoying live music in Dolby Atmos.
Aerosmith – 1971: The Road Starts Hear includes the following tracks:
SIDE A:
“Intro – Somebody”
“Reefer Head Woman”
“Walkin’ The Dog”
SIDE B:
“Movin’ Out”
“Major Barbara”
“Dream On”
“Mama Kin”.