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Audience 7.8 - Perhaps the best of the audience May Blitz tapes, still very loud but much more separation of each instrument and loads of raw power on display. Frighteningly intense, brilliant acid psyche hard rock from a very underground band that should have been MUCH bigger. -
Audience 7.0 - Impossible to really document this band on amateur equipment, they were too loud. I kind of compare them to Blue Cheer, a more progressive, and British, Blue Cheer. That being said, believe it or not this is one of the better live tapes. Loud, crowded, noisy tape, all that yes but man, this is amazing! -
New York 1968 Soundboard 8.7/8.5 - This is a strange old tape, don’t get me wrong I am very happy to get to hear it, but it is a tale of two tapes…to my ears. It’s starts off, the first few tracks, as a relatively “clean” board feed, perhaps an AM radio live broadcast even, because it has that sound to it – like if you were listening to a radio broadcast with headphones (and took the headphones off slightly). Then, the tape changes to what I have to believe is another source, and one that is considerably more raucous and menacing. I can’t even say for sure the second part is a board, might be, but my guess is an on stage reel to reel recording (possibly done by John Sinclair?). It’s ok for what it is, both “sources” are welcomed into my personal collection since there’s so little of the live five out there.
Hollywood 1971 Audience 8.6 - Despite the lowish rating, this is very listenable. The main issue for me, and hence the low quality rating, is the drop off in the vocals. It’s not out front of the mix enough, but then, guitar (and bass) is the highlight so maybe that’s not so bad! Overall, I think if you love this band, this old tape is going to make you happy. One may wonder if a modern re-mastering would help this show come to life and the short answer is “maybe”, because it sounds like this one is already teetering on the edge of the bandwidth and to attempt sonic shenanigans might push it off the cliff. I’d like to hear an expert give it a try though.
MC5 - Flyin' With The Five New York 1968 Unknown Location Disc 1 1. -Teenage Lust 2. -It's A Man's Man World 3. -Black To Comm 4. -Ramblin' Rose 5. -Kick Out The Jams 6. -Come Together 7. -Rama Lama Fa Fa Fa 8. -Born Under A Bad Sign 9. -Shakin' All Over 10. -I Want You Right Now Disc 2 Hollywood, CA. Unknown Location Sept. 9th, 1971 1. Sister Anne 2. Baby Won't Ya 3. I Want You Right Now 4. Tonight 5. Looking At You 6. Ramblin' Rose 7. Kick Out The Jams 8. Black To Comm
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Soundboard 9.7 -
Audience 8.8 - Surprisingly good and clear! I get fine separation of instruments as well, hearing back up vocals, all guitars and drums in a good position and bass is there, not super defined and not boomy but there. Well done taper! Oh, and the performance is unbelievable. Meat Loaf 1978-06-08 Paris - Theatre Mogador Disc 1 01. Great Boleros Of Fire 02. Bat Out Of Hell 03. You Took The Words Right Out Of My Mouth (Hot Summer Night) - Wasted Youth 04. All Revved Up With No Place To Go Disc 2 05. Paradise By The Dashboard Light 06. Johnny B. Goode 07. River Deep, Mountain High 08. Two Out Of Three Ain't Bad -
Audience 8.3/8.5 - Despite the low approval ratings of these audio tapes, I have to say I still think they are important to the Megadeth collector for several reasons. There’s just not a lot of recordings from these early periods for some unknown reason, and these shows, having been cleaned up and re-mastered as well as could be done, represent listenable time capsules of perhaps one of the all-time greatest metal band. Megadeth do not get the same accolades as some of the other big metal bands (do I have to mention them?) but I always loved their complexity and sarcasm. I did listen to both of these shows and once my ears adjusted I stuck with it and wrote this review without bias. Average tapes that deserve a place in any collection because of the significance of this band.
Megadeth The Windy City Gigs Disc 1 Metro, Chicago, IL (USA) June 30, 1985 01. -Last Rites - Loved To Death 02. -Killing Is My Business 03. -Skull Beneath The Skin 04. -These Boots 05. -My Last Words 06. -Looking Down The Cross 07. -Chosen Ones 08. -Mechanix 09. -Bad Omen 10. -Encore break 11. -Good Mourning - Black Friday 12. -Rattlehead Disc 2 (U.I.C) Pavilion University of Illinois Chicago, IL 1987-02-12 1. -Intro 2. -Wake Up Dead 3. -The Conjuring 4. -My Last Words 5. -Bad Omen 6. -Rattlehead - Dave's talking about Chicago 7. -Peace Sells 8. -Devil's Island 9. -The Mechanix
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Audience 8.3 - This has been mastered, because where the sounds are placed actually helps better define this recording – the vocals “should” be buried deep but they aren’t, and the bass and the drums are in their own space too. Remarkable to get this so clear because it sounds like at one time it may have been a mess. Bochum 1987 - Audience 8.7 - Wow the bass is kicking, and so defined! -
Brand New - Sealed Sound quality on all releases on this label is excellent. -
Soundboard 9.0 -
Soundboard 8.3 - I found a lot to sink into with this very early Megadeth recording. First off, it’s better sounding than the old tape that floated around for a while, as someone took the time to re-master it and pitch correct it which makes a big difference. It’s still a little narrow and thin, but you’ll be blown away by what you are hearing, if you have even a mild interest in the formative years of Megadeth, this show is a must. Band: Megadeth Venue: Country Club: Reseda, CA, USA Date: September 19, 1985 Time: 42:20 The last show with Mike Albert (who was replacing Chris in the tour). Setlist: 1. Last Rites - Loved To Death 2. Killing Is My Business 3. Skull Beneath The Skin 4. Chosen Ones 5. These Boots 6. My Last Words 7. Looking Down The Cross 8. Mechanix 9. Bad Omen 10. Good Morning-Black Friday -
Audience 9.6 - Scary good! It would be easy to dismiss this offhand simply because it is 2007 and maybe you are thinking it is not indispensable Megadeth right? Wrong answer. This recording will give you newfound respect and appreciation for this band, with their ultra tight, ultra-sophisticated sense of craft and ability, you will say “yes, time to rediscover this band again” just like I did after listening to this. -
Brand New - Sealed Sound quality on all releases on this label is excellent. Live In Denmark 1981. -
Brand New - Sealed Sound quality on all releases on this label is excellent. Live In Holland 1984. -
Soundboard 8.7 - Signs of age on the old tape, it’s not from a master source but you know, it’s early Metallica in soundboard quality! You don’t have to be a metalhead to be able to appreciate what this band did, and listening to a decently mixed board allows you to hear more of the musicality and musicianship. -
Soundboard 9.1 - This is a strong, powerful sounding board with a pretty decent sound mix, although not super clear, but not a muddy mess…somewhere in between the two but leans toward being mostly clear. Metallica Live in Davenport, IA - DEAD HEROES May 30, 1986 Coliseum Ballroom Damage, Inc. Tour 1. Master Of Puppets 2. For Whom The Bell Tolls 3. Welcome Home (Sanitarium) 4. The Thing That Should Not Be 5. Cliff Burton Bass Solo 6. Damage, Inc. 7. Seek & Destroy 8. Creeping Death 9. Am I Evil? 10. Whiplash 11. The Four Horsemen 12. Motorbreath -
Soundboard 8.7 - This is the kind of soundboard that was probably meant just for soundman audio reference. It’s fine though, and generally speaking, way better than any audience tape because Metallica, especially in 1986 (I know because I saw them in ’86 and it was the loudest concert I’d ever heard) was so loud there wasn’t any way to get a good capture unless you had excellent gear with mic level adjustment. Metallica - Metal, Inc. Live @ The Coliseum, El Paso TX May 12, 1986 1. Master Of Puppets 2. For Whom The Bell Tolls 3. Ride The Lightning 4. Welcome Home (Sanitarium) 5. Seek And Destroy 6. Creeping Death 7. Am I Evil? 8. Damage, Inc.