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Audience 8.4 - This is a case of a show, actually let me re-phrase that, this WAS a show that many collectors lamented as being a superb performance marred by very marginal sound quality. Not anymore! Friends, this new direct from master source and re-mastered version of this totally excellent gig is simply a joy to get to listen to in this improved quality. Not that it is astounding, in fact it still has issues, but the jump from what it was (about a 7.3) to what it is now is too great an improvement to not shower heaps of praise upon it. Note: It doesn’t get good until about halfway through the first song, then there is a little cut in the tape, and then it gets noticeably better and better. -
Audience 8.6 - Sometimes, a rating cannot reflect the magnitude of a recording. I can specifically say that this one is only an 8.6 in a sonic sense, which means it is very good and worthwhile, but man, let me tell you what this show REALLY is – it’s an 11. Why? Because this is, quite simply, Rush in an unbelievable fine form playing their (arguably) best stuff, and the recording has captured that and a very palpable atmosphere at the same time. A little clarity is lost in the bass/guitar separation as they seem to sound as one unit which is not such a bad thing as it creates a sonic roar, a lion’s roar it is too, but it does get a little crowded in that frequency range. But, it captures an amazing power those two had on stage, the sound is ferocious and menacing. -
Audience 7.7 - While the ratings may show this to be an average sounding tape, let me reveal my own bias for a moment. This is Rush’s best tour. You may argue with that, I mean, the previous two tours were pretty amazing too. I find the set list and performances of the Permanent Waves tour to be exceptional, and this show, while maybe not the best of the lot, does reveal yet more of the Rush mystique. A recording that requires 10 minutes to adjust to but eventually begins to sound pretty decent apart from a guitar that sits behind the action a little (except during solos). A little boomy but not a deal breaker. A good, not great, tape. -
Soundboard 9.4 -
Soundboard 8.8 - A good and clear tape. -
Audience 8.8 - This is a really nice one, pretty atmospheric without being reverby and hollow and the live sound mix is pretty right-on. The sound separation here presents itself as what feels like stereo to me, whether or not taper used two mics I do not know but it does sound like it. The band is really hot! -
CD 1 - Soundboard 8.6 - Sounds very low gen but the tape seems somewhat compressed, but very clean, and thankfully can be turned up loud without breaking up. CD 2 - Soundboard 8.6 - A lot like disc one, occasional phasing on one or two tracks, but again it is pretty clean and a mix that reveals how good each player is in this band. CD 3 - Soundboard 8.4 - A step down from the first couple of discs but it has a little more brightness to it, and a little more noise and a strange sort of echo on the guitar which does not bother me, it is just different than the other discs. All in all, collectors will find much to like here. -
Audience 7.4 and 8.4 -
Audience 8.7 - Actually not bad but it’s very close to the main PA and thus loud and noisy. There’s an annoying frequency somewhere between the mid and high that needs to be compressed. At first I thought this was a soundboard, it might be mistaken for one. It’s so close to the speakers, I mean this recording puts you in the front row. I do like it despite my concerns. -
Audience 7.2-7.6 - From various locations (taper tries very hard and sometimes moves equipment to a better spot, so quality varies). -
Audience 8.3 - A serviceable tape that presents a very round bottom end but has a good solid middle during less frenetic jams, and in turn this also reveals great snappy highs. What I think it is, it’s a loud kick drum that intrudes during active sections, not too badly, but it does push itself too far into the mix. Still GREAT stuff and highly recommended. -
Audience 8.5 - Taken from the master source, this high energy show reveals a band on the rise. Captured from the balcony, the sound is pretty much what came from the house P.A. system and is, as could be expected, insanely loud and therefore not clear and distinct but certainly forceful and once the ears adjust, is pretty realistic. Coming from a master source, it is free of tape noise and other artifacts. -
Audience 8.6 - Clean, and solid dynamics make for a great listen. -
Various sources, all generally very good to excellent. Well worth picking this up. -
Radio Broadcast 8.7 - The organ sounds killer on this. Vocals up front, mixed for radio. -
SDBRD 8.8 - Good quality broadcast with some static in places, maybe some old school FM radio compression but nothing that really offends the ears. This is quite good.