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Disc 1 Soundboard 8.8 - This sounds like it could be from a television special as it has that telltale compression, and to my ears it sounds dated but in a cool way. A little narrow but clear and retains a sharpness, so you get every nuance of guitar but at the expense of any real bottom end – still is very good for the early vintage. Disc 2 Soundboard 9.6 except last two songs Audience 9.2 - This disc showcases some of the very best stuff I’ve heard, really a joy and fine quality too. Disc 3 SDBRD 9.7 - I hate to say it, but this is almost too good. At times though, guitar is mixed a little low, but it seems it’s only when he is on a certain setting on his guitar for whatever reason. Mostly it’s mixed real well. The audio fidelity is crystal clear, I think it needs more atmosphere…although to be fair Roy’s guitar creates that in spades. Roy Buchanan Live History 1972-1987 Disc 1 The Crossroads Bladensburg, MD April 17, 1972 01. -Them Changes 02. -Sweet Dreams 03. -Johnny B Goode 04. -Down By The River 05. -Roy's Bluz (My Soul Died Last Friday) 06. -By the Time I Get To Phoenix Fillmore East 1971 07. -Bill Graham introduces Nils Lofgren 08. -Shotgun 09. -The Messiah Will Come Again Disc 2 1974-09-13 Ebbett's Field, Denver, Colorado 1. Too Many Drivers 2. Reelin' and Rockin' 3. My Soul Died Last Friday 4. You Don't Love Me 5. CC Rider 6. I Hear You Knockin' 7. Honky Tonk 8. The Messiah Armadillo World Headquarters Austin, TX September 2, 1978 9. -Instrumental 10. -Sunshine Of Your Love 11. -Instrumental 12. -Instrumental Toad's Place New Haven, CT January 20, 1981 13. -Audience 14. -Roy's Bluz (My Soul Died Last Friday) Disc 3 Rockefeller's Houston, Texas February 5, 1987 01 -Instrumental 02 -Peter Gunn - guitar intro 03 -When a Guitar Plays the Blues 04 -Can't Judge a Book 05 -Beer Drinkin' Woman - Down By the River intro 06 -Down By the River 07 -Green Onions 08 -Sunshine of Your Love 09 -Hey Joe - Purple Haze 10 -Short Fuse 11 -Green Onions 12 -Blues Instrumental - When a Guitar Plays the Blues 13 -Can't Judge a Book 14 -Beer Drinkin' Woman
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Audience 8.7 - I think this is an onstage recording, the audience sounds distant from the atmosphere as opposed to the band which sounds VERY close to the mic. It sounds like the mic is placed near the drummer and Roy’s amp, not the house mains (vocals are very low). This could also actually be a board tape, sometimes you get all the instruments and vocals are nonexistent because they are pushed exclusively through the main P.A. and the instruments usually have their own amplification. It’s hard to tell – sometimes you will swear this is a board tape, and other times a stage recording. It’s pretty good, a little muck in the middle when loud but mostly very good on your ears.
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Audience 9.5 - If the date of this show looks familiar, it’s because she’s opening for Black Sabbath! Now, while this music is a product of its time, it is not to say that it’s not worthy of examination – I’ll be the first to say I love this stuff. First, it’s just kick ass rock and roll, with loads of hooks and even though the majority of the song structures are standard barre chord blues-based riff rock, they have put enough creativity in them to make you take notice. Ruby is best known for being stage mates with Jim Dandy in Black Oak Arkansas, but whatever she learned from him she has taken very good notes and delivers primo stadium caliber boogie. Great “saucy” voice too! Ruby Starr and Grey Ghost Long Beach Arena Long Beach, CA September 7, 1975 01 You Need a Chain 02 Sweet Sweet Sweet 03 Long Wait 04 Let Your Love Drift Away 05 Money 06 Wall to Wall 07 I'll Come Back 08 Living Proof 09 Top Me Off With All Of Your Love
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Audience 9.2 - I love how this sounds! Geddy is so clear, the sound is very comfortable to my ears and I just love how the drums and bass are distinct – especially the bass because my gosh Geddy is such a badass and so on point here. This is kind of a historic gig in as way most would not even notice. 30 years prior to this date was the last time Rush played the Allentown Fair, and they played a few songs not yet released…welp, fast forward 30 years and they do the same thing here! How cool is that? One other personal detail that struck me was how the performance took me back to around 1979, I felt the performance and atmosphere, along with how the tape itself was recorded, all for some reason made me, at times, think this sounded like the late 70's. Rush The Great Allentown Fair Allentown, PA 2010-08-31 Disc One 1. The Real History of Rush (5:41) 2. The Spirit of Radio (5:24) 3. Time Stand Still (5:24) 4. Presto (6:26) 5. Stick It Out (4:36) 6. Workin' Them Angels (5:00) 7. Leave That Thing Alone (5:33) 8. Faithless (6:05) 9. BU2B (4:31) 10. Freewill (5:41) 11. Marathon (6:43) 12. Subdivisions (5:58) ~Intermission~ Disc Two 1. The Real History of Rush (3:17) 2. Tom Sawyer (4:58) 3. Red Barchetta (7:03) 4. YYZ (4:41) 5. Limelight (4:33) 6. The Camera Eye (10:17) 7. Witch Hunt (4:47) 8. Vital Signs (5:18) Disc Three 1. Caravan (5:52) 2. Love 4 Sale (7:54) 3. Closer to the Heart (5:11) 4. 2112 (7:03) 5. Far Cry (6:41) ~Encore~ 6. La Villa Strangiato (7:41) 7. Working Man (6:28) 8. Slappa Da Baas (6:28)
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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.
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Audience 9.6 - Been looking for a great sounding 1981 show? Yeah, me too. Now, I am happy to say we have found it. This is as good as you would ever hope for, spacious and warm, with plenty of headroom to increase your volume, tone, whatever you want and it just gets better. Hasn’t left my player in a week. Rush Anaheim Convention Center Anaheim, CA June 12, 1981 Disc 1 01 2112 Overture 02 The Temples of Syrinx 03 Freewill 04 Limelight 05 Hemispheres Prelude 06 Beneath, Between & Behind 07 The Camera Eye 08 YYZ 09 Drum Solo 10 Broon's Bane 11 The Trees 12 Xanadu 13 The Spirit of Radio Disc 2 14 Red Barchetta 15 Closer to the Heart 16 Tom Sawyer 17 Vital Signs 18 Natural Science 19 Working Man 20 Hemispheres Armageddon 21 By-Tor and the Snow Dog 22 In the End 23 In the Mood 24 2112 Grand Finale 25 La Villa Strangiato
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Audience 8.9 - A very well balanced recording with lovely high end and a smoothness that is nice on your ears. The band is relaxed and having a great show. Band name: Rush Date: February 24, 1994 Venue: The Omni Location: Atlanta, Georgia, USA Tour name: Counterparts Disc 1 (63:09) Intro/Dreamline The Spirit Of Radio The Analog Kid Cold Fire Time Stands Still Nobody's Hero Roll The Bones Animate Stick It Out Double Agent Limelight Disc 2 (62:12) Mystic Rhythms Closer To The Heart Show Don't Tell Leave That Thing Alone The Rhythm Method The Trees Xanadu Hemispheres: Prelude Tom Sawyer Force Ten YYZ
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Audience 8.6 - I wanted to give this a better rating, and truth is it ain’t bad, but it is a little distant and the music lacks punch. It is clear enough though, and audience actually helps propel the energy level up a notch. Austin music fans are always up for a great concert and really show their enthusiasm. Also, I think the set list around this time was put together very well and flows nicely. Rush Date: January 30, 1988 Location: Erwin Special Events Center, Austin, Texas, USA DISC 1: 01 - The Big Money 5:46 02 - Subdivisions 5:30 03 - Limelight 5:03 04 - Marathon 7:05 05 - Turn The Page 4:51 06 - Prime Mover 5:34 07 - Manhattan Project 5:16 08 - Closer To The Heart 4:41 09 - Red Sector A 5:30 10 - Force Ten 4:54 11 - Time Stand Still 5:27 12 - Distant Early Warning 6:32 DISC 2: 01 - Lock And Key 6:45 02 - Mission 5:44 03 - Territories 6:16 04 - YYZ 2:40 05 - The Rhythm Method 1:24 06 - Red Lenses 0:27 07 - The Spirit of Radio 4:59 08 - Tom Sawyer 5:33 09 - 2112 6:10 10 - La Villa Strangiato 5:25 11 - In The Mood 2:49
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Audience 8.4 - A tape that I am sure has slipped through the cracks and has been forgotten by collectors when I don’t think it ought to be. It’s surely not the greatest recording, and it’s also not nearly the worst – but it’s from a really great period and tour, some of the best moments for Rush seemed to occur on the European leg of the 1979 tour. You can listen to the infamous Offenbach or Pink Pop tapes as proof, but this forgotten old tape, having been dusted off and given a fresh re-mastering, is ready to be added to your collection. Rush May 18, 1979 Poperinge, Belgium 01 - Anthem 4:20 02 - A Passage To Bangkok 4:04 03 - Bytor And The Snowdog 5:43 04 - Xanadu 12:26 05 - The Trees 5:31 06 - Hemispheres 20:20 07 - Closer To The Heart 3:17
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Audience 7.4 - A scratchy, distant, and cluttered recording of an energetic show (band and audience). Is it worth getting? It’s on the ragged edge if you ask me, but as a completist you will find that it is not unlistenable muck, thankfully. It is interesting to hear a veteran touring band giving it 100% effort even if the city is other than New York, LA or Chicago. Just another tour stop, in the deep south no less, but there’s Rush giving their fans their all, night after night. God Bless Rush!