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Audience 8.1 - I’m always amazed that tapes keep turning up just when you think you’ve discovered them all. Here’s one that is new for me, and it’s not bad. Now, you aren’t gonna crank this on the hi-fi and use it to impress your buddy or anyone for that matter – but for those of us who understand what we are dealing with, I think you will appreciate this tape and find probably more good points than bad. For one thing, it is not a muddy mess, and your ears will adjust to it and you’ll get sucked into it like I did and find it to be a decent one. -
FM Broadcast 9.5 - Both shows are professional radio broadcast recordings and are excellent. -
Soundboard 9.1 - The source used for this CD is a DAT tape made from a direct transfer of Joey Molland’s tapes of the show. Whether that means it is the same as what else is out there, I do not know, but it is possible that the radio station did their own recording for broadcast and other releases use the FM broadcast. This is not that! The sound quality is uneven at times while the levels are adjusted but after that it’s smooth sailing. -
FM Broadcast 9.2 - This was a real revelation for me because I had not known much about this band other than “The Devil Went Down To Georgia”. I find them to be similar in a lot of ways to maybe Marshall Tucker Band and Allman Brothers, where perhaps if Allmans were Southern Comfort then CDB would be Jack Daniels. This period of the band features Billy Cox (Hendrix/Band of Gypsys) on bass too, which I never knew about either (I would have lost on Jeopardy). -
Audience 8.9 - A little bit of tape noise comes through on quieter passages but this is a very strong recording for the vintage. I’d like to know what the taper used for this. -
Audience 8.8 - Quite an amazing find! A very rare and previously uncirculated show that sounds very clean and close, and it’s the original line-up! I have to categorize this as a must have. -
Audience 8.6 - The recording here leans toward the bright and trebly side but that lends an excellent opportunity to hear specifically what the guitar is doing, and the bass now has articulation so it’s not just a loud, dull rumble like most recordings tend to be with these blasting grunge bands. Chris sounds brilliant, and he’s maybe the clearest instrument on the stage too. Once you get used to the general timbre of the sound, it’s a fun, wild ride. -
Audience 9.4 - For the uninitiated, well all I can say is be careful because you are diving into the deep end of the pool with this one! Bristling with improvisational madness at times magnificent and other times lost in the woods but always right on the ragged edge. Very daring music, which if played today would be met with blank staring faces but here the audience is in total rapture. -
Audience 9.0 - This band is certainly an acquired taste for many, but every ear can agree to the quality of this recording. Airy but right there in a very comfortable mid range with very detailed high end and a smooth, round bass. Terrific! -
FM Radio 9.4 - Pretty slammin’ stuff here. The band is pretty hot around this time, very confident, with a good set list. Occasional static does make a presence on this tape, but it kind of lurks behind the music rather than over the top of it. -
Pro FM 9.1 -
Audience 8.8 - A great, atmospheric and electrically charged show! Not a lot of heaviness to the bottom, but there is a roundness there, a pleasant to the ears mid rangy kind of sound with a lot of articulation on the high end (not shrill!) which causes the slide work from Duane to fill the hall and make for tons of electricity. Collectors will love this one. Now, one small thing to report, there is sometimes some minor static on the tape (barely noticeable) but it’s no bother. Get this! -
Audience 8.3 - A pretty clear recording that would benefit from some boosting here and there but that’s not to say you can’t just crank this one up a little. Very worthwhile! -
Audience 8.3 - Do not let the “average” sound rating prevent you from selecting this AMAZING rarity. I could write paragraphs on why this is a must have for any self-respecting Priest fan, but suffice it to say that this is why I even collect live music. The details of the recording are but one small part of the equation, but I will note that the tape suffers from two main problems – it’s a little muffled and it’s a little hissy. There is also an unfortunate cut where the solo begins in Victim of Changes (could it not have happened on any other song?), I think this is the tape flip. The quality worsens a bit after that, but there’s also good news to report: The tape has been remastered, revealing much more music that was probably buried under muck and noise for decades. What you end up with is a very intense show, and an audience absolutely being blown to smithereens. I can imagine after having to deal with mediocre top 40 and disco music, new wave, etc. having a band like Judas Priest I mean, that had to be like a sledgehammer to the skull because let’s face it, for 1979 these guys were way heavy, and not in a punkish Motorhead heavy but a very competent, sinister kind of heavy. That does come through on this tape. Without a remastering it would have been tough to listen to it, but it’s actually not hurtful on the ears, the actual frequency range is comfortable, and there are times where it is even very decent. Overall it is simply one of those you really have to just get and appreciate for what it is because it quite simply is DEVASTATING. -
Audience 8.4 - This is the August ’72 show and the sound is pretty decent with clarity, average depth and dynamics but regardless it’s a very enjoyable listen. Perhaps it could be said this is one of the better ’72 tapes in circulation. -
Audience 8.9 - A very bright and lively recording with plenty of electric atmosphere. The band is “tight but loose” and quite frankly I don’t hear the weariness in Steven Tyler at all, in fact the whole band seems very comfortable here. A really really good one!