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Audience 8.8 - This is a significant recording mainly from a historical sense, but for all the wrong reasons too. Yes it is the infamous gig where 11 people died outside the venue waiting to get in. The band were not informed until after the show, so they play their set oblivious, and it is a fine set. It’s eerie now to hear this knowing what transpired earlier, thankfully it is actually a very fine recording. This is one of those things I have to encourage everyone to check out for all the RIGHT reasons though…but yeah there’s that. -
Soundboard 8.7 -
Soundboard 8.8 - A little wobbly at the start but clears up quickly. -
Soundboard - Most collectors will know of this, and this set does include the partial live performance segment as well. A nice snippet of a good year, 1971. -
Audience 7.2 - A low rating but at least .5 points higher than the original version. Someone did a Remaster which it desperately needed because it was flawed. Mainly, it’s surface noise from the vinyl source (original tape source never located). It wasn’t great to begin with either. If you needed to upgrade this for your collection – get this one .... Bonus is the great artwork and packaging. -
Audience 7.5 - Kind of a raucous tape, I mean it is The Who after all, but the music is all present if not in the same mid band range (highs aren’t bad). I have to recommend it, being a 1971 recording of which I am fond, it holds up. -
Studio Quality Demos -
Audience 8.6 - Easily the best of the European 72 Tour. Killer! -
Audience 7.3-7.7 - At some points in the show, the tape gets better and you get a great sense of the power of this band. -
Audience 7.5 - Overloaded tape, but surprisingly isn’t distorting, it just can’t contain the power of The Who in 1970. That being said, I bet even the casual fan will find something redeeming here – a loud concert whereby at least you can hear everything – loudly! I kind of got into it, by the time Young Man Blues kicks in, you are in this for the duration. -
Audience 7.1 - Somewhat distant and an underlying cacophony but there is a reason why Who collectors go for the 1972 European tour tapes – quality be damned – because the band was really peaking at this time. So, good show, average recording. -
Audience 7.3 - A little crunchy, and some sizzle on the cymbals – guitar behind the bass, and not great separation of instruments, but with all that happening, the tape isn’t in the dismal range sonically. -
Audience 7.2 - Distant, but another recording that would benefit from more volume. For 1967 era Who, I like this tape, I mean, it is not like a Hermans Hermits gig, this would have been ear-bleeding volume! -
Soundboard 7.8 - The main problem here is the funky mix. It may be a monitor mix, because where the instruments are placed and how they are mixed overall not only changes occasionally, but seem to indicate this is probably just that, a monitor mix. -
Audience 8.7 - This tape barely contains the driving, relentless energy of the Who. It does, in fact, manage to remain somewhat stable even if Roger gets a little lost in the mix. Sheer power, loudness that probably caused some major hearing loss for a few folks. -
Audience 7.1 - Stuck in the narrow mid band, while Roger soars above the din. Not a lot of clarity with the rhythm section, but thankfully enough I can get 80% of the guitar notes. Does not suck, but does not blow you away either. Simply average.