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Pro FM 9.1 -
Soundboard and Audience 8.7 – 8.6 – 8.4 - The first two discs are soundboard but show signs of age and lack brightness although both are clear. Disc 1 sounds like it was broadcast over the air, and is slightly better than disc 2. Disc 3 is an audience recording that sometimes peaks in volume causing some high end distortion (mainly present in the cymbal crashes) but is not bad overall.
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Sale!
CD 1 - Audience 7.7 - A very rare tape that only recently surfaced. Hard to complain when presented with something as rare, so just be aware that the tape was recorded in the middle of the venue and features a boomy, echoey sound. CD 2 - A very good recording, clear and immersive, you can really get into this one. CD 3 Surprisingly clear, a welcome addition to the not so well documented 1977 period where the band starts to really fray around the edges (and in the middle!) but that is not evident here – this is the band in fine form. -
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 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. -
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). -
Soundboard 8.8 - A solid early 80’s show, tape does show some slight signs of age in that it does not have a crystal clear sharpness as many have come to expect from Prince soundboards. Do not let that stop you though, like the rating indicates it is still a great board tape. -
Soundboard 9.4 - This is what Prince collectors come to expect, a crystal clear board of an amazing performance. Funny thing when listening to live Prince, he’s never put on a bad show…ever. -
Audience 9.1 - Crisp and clear, rowdy audience that thankfully do not intrude into the music that much. It is strange to hear it put this way, but the nature of these funky songs lends itself well to having a sort of background of people whooping it up. It works in this case to great effect. A really fine one to enjoy whenever you need your fix of his Royal Purpleness. -
SDBRD 9.2 Excellent of course with some early pegging of the meters that gets worked out pretty quickly. I like where the bass is in this mix. -
Audience 9.3 -
Soundboard 9.4 -
Audience 9.6 - This one is crystal clear, a great mix full of vibe and energy on both parts. Guitar work/Well done. -
Audience 9.5 - This is what a professional audience recording sounds like. Why oh why would anyone bypass a recording of this fidelity simply because it isn’t a board? Ridiculous! This is killer. -
Audience 9.1 - Excellent fidelity, good and punchy with tight bass and airy vocals. -
Gong Collection Bonus on Disc 2 (track 6) Amougles Pop And Jazz Festival - Actuel Pop And Jazz Festival- Mont de I'Enclus, Amougies, Belgium-1969 Disc 1 Lyon January 19th, 1973 1. -Gnome intro 2. -Pot Head Pixies 3. -Zero the Hero & the Witch's Spell 4. -I am your Pussy 5. -Why are we Sleeping? 6. -Radio Gnome Invisible 7. -I Feel so Lazy 8. -It's The Time of Your Life 9. -Tropical Fish 10. -Dreaming it Disc two Lyon January 19th, 1973 1. -Flying Teapot - Improvisation 2. -More Teapot 3. -Lawrence The Alien 4. -Blues For Findlay 5. -Teapot Jam 6. -Rational Anthem (Amougies 1969) Disc 3 Sheffield City Hall 10-08-73 1. -Crystal Gnome 2. -Radio Gnome I & II 3. -Mister Pyxie 4. -Deep In The Sky 5. -Flying Tea Pot 6. -Wet Drum Solo 7. -Mange Ton Calepin 8. -You Can't Kill Me 9. -TiticacaDiscs 1 & 2 Soundboard 9.3 - Sounds to be professionally recorded possibly for a radio broadcast, but aside from very minor tape noise (I am nitpicking here), this tape is brilliant and has survived the passing of time in grand shape. Disc 3 Soundboard 9.6 - Superb, in almost every way!