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CD 1 and 2: Madrid - Aud 7.8 - Focus on the guitars here, so less than stellar but good for listening to the amazing guitar interplay which is superb during this show CD 3 and 4: Niagara Falls - Aud 8.4 - A remastered version of a pretty good gig, sound is very bright and lively, and that helps convey the manic energy of the band and audience, who respond overwhelmingly. Both shows offer benefits to the Priest fans.
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Both Nights Vastly improved because you now get as complete a show as possible with the two source merge using the audience and the soundboard sources. The second show is pretty decent audience, around 7.8 really but it’s very interesting to get the back to back performances to hear the differences.
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Audience 9.3 - Another superb audience highly rated for not only the good clean capture but also for the show itself and the dynamics and effect it all has on the listener emotionally. It’s truly a time capsule, and the DVD is the icing on the cake. This set is now expanded to include the soundboard portion of the show. This is a must own!
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Multiple sources used to make up this first volume of the 70’s series. * The first is a really cool 1967 show that is professionally recorded in an amateur fashion. So, yes, a pro recording but whoever engineered it was slow on the uptake, levels are peaked, the mix is funky, oh well, it could have been much better but for a super early Spirit show this is PURE GOLD and the surprise is how jazzy they are here. * The second disc comes from another early gig (1969) from Seattle and is Audience 8.3 for the clarity but has some hiss, and is not exactly hi-fi but you can hear everything very nicely and clear, pretty much, maybe vocals are a little buried but that is all. * Disc 3 is the continuation of the previous plus begins the Chicago 1975 gig (Disc 4) which is Soundboard 8.8 and has lovely atmosphere, and I think it is in stereo, or at least the way it is panned, mimics a stereo effect.
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Studio and Live - Excellent source material used, especially the studio stuff. The June 10, 1979 performance is perhaps the weakest tape here but one can still hear all the action from the stage even if it sounds a little far back. Fans consider the Accolades set to be a classic piece, it’s easy to hear why.
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CD 1-2 - Audience 8.7 - Most Who collectors may already be familiar with this set, sounds like a good tape source is used and it is complete (hence the title) . But wait a minute – we have the second show now too – how is it? CD 3-4 - Audience 8.2 - Somebody tried heroically to remaster this and I have to say, knowing what it used to sound like, they did a great job. Still some noise artifacts present, but man they did bring out a LOT from this unappreciated recording. Kudos to the sound guy! Worth having this set now.
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Audience 10 - This is the first 10 rating I have ever issued. Why? Simply put, this recording is BREATHTAKING. The detail, the precision, the mix, the dynamics, the atmosphere, the playing, the quality is nothing short of PERFECT. So, if I had the information on these tapers I would ask them for copies of anything else they recorded. It’s THAT GOOD folks.
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Audience 7.5 - Two complete shows from 1984 that see very limited trading and as far as I know there’s been no CD release for either. There is good reason for this – these recordings sucked ass. Unfortunate too, because both gigs are screamers. Now, the good news! Both shows have been re-mastered using the best technology available (whatever they did 35 years ago obviously did not do much) and the results are that you can hear music now, you can hear what Eddie is doing and you can hear the band. No, it is not going to be sonically superior, but it is sonically better than any previous versions, and that is saying an awful lot! Best way to enjoy these is to listen to the original recordings and then pop these discs in, and THEN you will understand the work that went into saving these gigs from obscurity. The packaging on this title is superb by the way.
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This set contains both shows recorded on Halloween night at the Felt Forum in NYC back in 1974. Early Show - Audience 8.5 - Right in the middle of the road, its good, not great. Late Show - Audience 8.9 - The only way I can explain this tape is that it starts off similar to the early show and at some point the taper moves to a hotter spot and the tape explodes with Frank’s amazing guitar right in your face. Even Frank himself makes a comment about his incendiary guitar work, I won’t spoil it though.
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Early Show - Audience 8.4 - Not a tape that delivers a lot of dynamic range but is clear and everything on stage is heard. Also, some slight tape hiss present. A good recording maybe slightly above average. Late Show - Audience 8.8 - A lot more dynamic and brighter than the early set, this is a well recorded show.
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CD 1 - Audience 8.4 - A lively, jumping tape that is a fun listen but the limitations include some minor over-saturation which surprisingly does not ruin anything, but keeps the rating in the mid 80’s technically speaking. I like this recording personally, I find it exhilarating! CD CD 2 - Audience 8.8 - A very well made recording with a great balance to it, a warmth and tone that is pleasing to the ears. Lovely! CD 3 - Audience 8.2 - A tape with a preponderance of low end, to the point where you can’t ignore it, not that it is particularly muddy, just that it is bass heavy. I do get the other instruments thankfully, but like I said…bass. CD 4 - Same as disc 3, but I will say this much, on songs where the bass work is minimized, it sounds excellent.
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Audience 8.8 & 8.7 - Same taper for both nights, and thankfully this is someone who knew what they were doing as you can tell they diligently set their levels and position to maximize the end results, and man, what end results these are! More probably for the outstanding performance and great house mix, but the tapes have held up well with just maybe a touch of overload in very loud parts that do not annoy, just you may notice it on occasion. Great performances by the band especially Craig who just rips on the guitar on practically every song and even Grace is in excellent form. A must!