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Audience 8.6/Pro 9.1 - This recording was not done on great equipment but it’s not a load of crap. The high frequency range is well represented but at times when the horns hit higher notes it gets a little screechy. The atmosphere is a touch bouncy and live, mid and low frequencies are present but not powerful. Overall it’s not bad, but it isn’t going to set the world on fire. The BBC material is a vast improvement from the ’77 stuff as it is a pro recording and broadcast. VAN DER GRAAF Chateau Neuf Oslo 9 March 1977 Disc 1 1. -Crying Wolf 2. -Lost And Found 3. -Rock And Role 4. -Arrow 5. -My Room Disc 2 6. -The Siren Song 7. -Time Heals 8. -When She Comes 9. -Urban 10. -Last Frame Bonus Tracks BBC In Concert 23 September 1971 11. -Man-Erg 12. -W 13. -Killer 14. -Theme One 15. -Dambusters March -
Audience 9.5 - A sparkling, vivid recollection of a moment in time when an evening of progressive rock music was being performed by masters of the craft, and it was sublime. A recording that has wonderful atmosphere, solid and deep, showcasing both guitar and bass in a manner so that each are distinct yet blended perfectly. Yes Long Beach Arena Long Beach, CA March 19, 1974 Disc 1 01 Pre-show 02 Intro: Firebird Suite excerpt 03 Siberian Khatru 04 And You And I 05 Close To The Edge 06 The Revealing Science Of God Disc 2 07 The Ancient: Giants Under The Sun 08 Musical Interlude - Prelude - Ritual (nous sommes du soleil) 09 Roundabout 10 Starship Trooper -
Soundboard 8.7 - The only flaw with this tape is that it features a typical video compression type sound but the mastering job mitigated a lot of that so that the sound does breathe a bit more. It’s still very good, a little rough maybe but I take it and I am happy with it especially if nothing else because all instruments are present, the bass work is surprisingly defined in this mix…I can actually hear individual notes being played and my goodness Michael Anthony was a boss! Van Halen Poliedro de Caracas Caracas, Venezuela 1983-01-16 01. Romeo Delight 02. Unchained - Drum Solo 03. The Full Bug 04. Runnin' With The Devil 05. Jamie's Cryin' 06. Little Guitars 07. Dance The Night Away 08. Somebody Get Me A Doctor (Incl. I'm So Glad) 09. Little Dreamer 10. Mean Street 11. Secrets 12. Everybody Wants Some!! 13. Ice Cream Man 14. Intruder 15. (Oh) Pretty Woman 16. Eruption 17. Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love 18. Bottoms Up! 19. You Really Got Me David Lee Roth: Vocals Edward Van Halen: Guitars, Backing Vocals Michael Anthony: Bass, Backing Vocals Alex Van Halen: Drums -
Audience 8.8 - This recording features tons of atmosphere and sometimes struggles over a loud audience. It is, however, very clear, with the majority of the sound mix favoring drums and bass but most prominently, Geddy’s vocals – which is fine – but Alex needs to be LOUDER man! He’s there, he’s just not up as front here as I would prefer. In my quest to obtain every 2015 recording, I do not decide a preference for which ones I offer as most of them are very good to excellent and this here is no exception. Rush US Airways Center Phoenix, AZ July 27, 2015 Disc 1 01 -Video - The World Is...The World Is 02 -The Anarchist 03 -The Wreckers 04 -Headlong Flight (with “Drumbastica” mini drum solo) 05 -Far Cry 06 -The Main Monkey Business 07 -How It Is 08 -Animate 09 -Roll The Bones 10 -Between The Wheels 11 -Subdivisions Disc 2 12 -Video - No Country For Old Hens 13 -Tom Sawyer 14 -The Camera Eye 15 -The Spirit of Radio 16 -Jacob's Ladder 17 -Hemispheres- Prelude 18 -Cygnus X-1 (with drum solo #2) 19 -Closer To The Heart Disc 3 20 -Xanadu 21 -2112 (Overture - Temples of Syrinx - Presentation - Grand Finale) 22 -Video - Mel’s Rock Pile 23 -Lakeside Park 24 -Anthem 25 -What You're Doing 26 -Working Man (with Garden Road teaser) 27 -Video - Exit Stage Left 28 -Outro music - Closer To The Heart (polka version) -
Detroit 1973 Audience 8.4 - A somewhat average but clear enough tape that has some sort of wobbling effect during at least the beginning portion but evens out thereafter. I think this may not be complete when compared to any other performance during the tour – including the one that is paired in this set. San Bernadino 1974 - Audience 8.6 Keith Emerson and vocals clearly stand out in this recording, while drums and bass seem to not be as distinct. There is a small amount of tape hiss indicating the age of this tape, but I won’t slag this one off because it isn’t that bad at all. I think some top notch remastering work would really help this one out because the sounds are there – in fact they are pretty well and truly “in your face” as it Emerson, Lake & Palmer Live 1973/74 Disc 1 Cobo Hall Detroit, MI. 1973-12-04 01. Hoedown 02. Jerusalem 03. Toccata 04. Tarkus 05. Karn Evil 9 1st Impression Disc 2 Swing Auditorium San Bernadino, Ca. U.S.A. February 9, 1974 1. -Hoedown 2. -Jerusalem 3. -Toccatta 4. -Tarkus (incl. Epitaph) 5. -Benny The Bouncer 6. -Take A Pebble 7. -Still, You Turn Me On 8. -Lucky Man Disc 3 9. -Take A Pebble - Piano Improvisation 10. -Take A Pebble (reprise) 11. -Karn Evil #9 1st Impression 12. -Karn Evil #9 2nd Impression 13. -Pictures At An Exhibition Keith Emerson: piano and many keyboards and synthesizers (including Moog) Greg Lake: lead vocals, bass and acoustic guitar Carl Palmer: drums, tympani, percussion were. -
Soundboard 9.4 - This is not a pure board and by that I mean it sounds like some of the instruments are not direct patches through the board onto the tape. It sounds like a hybrid where some of it is a direct feed and some of it is mic’d up. You can tell it is something like that when listening to the difference between the keyboards and vocals, and drums (especially the kick). Either way it’s great. Genesis Rio De Janeiro,Brazil 15-May-77 Disc 1 1.1 Introduction 0:59 1.2 Squonk 6:53 1.3 One For The Vine 10:22 1.4 Robbery, Assault & Battery 7:40 1.5 Inside And Out 7:59 1.6 Firth Of Fifth 9:05 1.7 ... In That Quiet Earth 4:56 1.8 Afterglow 4:36 1.9 I Know What I Like 9:04 Disc 2 2.1 Supper's Ready 25:36 2.2 Dance On A Volcano 5:03 2.3 Los Endos 7:31 2.4 The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway 4:45 2.5 The Musical Box 4:27 -
Audience 9.5 - Astounding clarity and dynamics! Good evening sir and welcome to the Forum. Looks like you’re seated here in row 3 center, please enjoy the show! Genesis The Forum Inglewood, CA August 9, 1982 Disc 1 01 Dance On A Volcano 02 Behind The Lines 03 Follow You Follow Me 04 Dodo - Lurker 05 Abacab 06 Paperlate * 07 No Reply At All * 08 Story Of Romeo And Juliet 09 Supper's Ready Disc 2 10 Misunderstanding 11 Man On The Corner 12 Who Dunnit? 13 In The Cage - Cinema Show - Colony Of Slippermen 14 Afterglow 15 Turn It On Again 16 Drum Duet 17 Los Endos 18 The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway ** - Watcher Of The Skies ** * w/Phenix Horns ** w/Bill Bruford -
Audience 9.4 - A tape that is almost TOO good…and by that I mean it has captured with sonic clarity the exact sound coming from the P.A. – which in this case was a P.A. that had some really pumping upper mid’s and high range frequencies! No wonder people often leave home from a concert with a ringing in their ears…for weeks! This show would have had me moving farther back to be honest. That being said it is just my own preference for sound – but the casual listener will find this recording damagingly good. Genesis Fox Theater, Atlanta, Georgia, USA June 1, 1980 Disc 1 1.1 -Deep In The Motherlode 1.2 -Dancing With The Moonlit Knight (Intro) 1.3 -Squonk 1.4 -One For The Vine 1.5 -The Story of Albert 1.6 -Behind The Lines 1.7 -Duchess 1.8 -Guide Vocal 1.9 -Turn It On Again 1.10 -Duke’s Travels 1.11 -Duke’s End 1.12 -The Lady Lies Disc 2 2.1 -Ripples 2.2 -Band Intros 2.3 -Misunderstanding 2.4 -In The Cage 2.5 -Afterglow 2.6 -Follow You, Follow Me 2.7 -Dance On A Volcano 2.8 -Drum Duet 2.9 -Los Endos 2.10 -I Know What I Like -
Soundboard 9.3 - Listen to the beginnings of something happening, you can feel it about to take off. It’s a bunch of free-thinking kids who’ve smoked a little something, maybe popped a few little somethings…and then whaddya know the blues and folk and country and all kinds of music you grew up with sounds a whole lot better if you amp it up and throw some wild licks here and there…maybe let the sound feedback some…the birth of the San Francisco sound of the 60’s. Some minor bumps and bruises with the old tape but it also sounds like it’s right in your living room so the minor hiccups don’t even phase you. Quicksilver Messsenger Service Matrix Coffeehouse San Francisco, California 1966-08 01. -Little Dandelion 02. -All Night Worker 03. -Hoochie Coochie Man 04. -Duncan & Brady 05. -Pride Of Man 06. -You Don't Love Me 07. -Dino's Song 08. -Hair Like Sunshine 09. -Babe I'm Gonna Leave You 10. -Mona 11. -Got My Mojo Working 12. -Remember Me 13. -I Hear You Knocking 14. -Runaway 15. -Smokestack Lightning 16. -Suzie-Q 17. -You Don't Love Me 18. -Dino's Song 19. -Hair Like Sunshine -
Audience 9.6 - This venue has always been very acoustically prime for capturing from the audience. There is great atmosphere, the kind that not only adds feeling to the recording but also the kind that inspires the artist. This tape showcases everything one looks for in a sound recording.
Steve Morse Band Bottom Line New York City, NY August 22, 1984 Disc 1 01 On The Pipe 02 The Introduction 03 Pride O’ The Farm 04 What If 05 Ice Cakes 06 Steve Talks - Band Introduction 07 Mountain Waltz 08 Northern Lights 09 Picture This 10 The Whistle 11 Steve Talks - Jazz Vamp 12 Donna Lee Disc 2 13 Out On The Tiles 14 Dregs Medley -Take If Off The Top -I”m Freaking Out -Road Expense -Bloodsucking Leeches -Assembly Line -Night Meets Light 15 Huron River Blues 16 Cruise Missile 17 Freeway Jam 18 Cruise Control -
Audience 9.6 - Exciting and full bodied, this is what I want from any recording from the modern era…there’s no excuse for a sub-par bootleg post 1980 in my opinion. PA’s were better, recording gear better (that may be subjective), but the point is it SHOULD sound great from 1991 and this does – and not only that but the band JAMS!
Steve Winwood Pacific Amphitheatre Costa Mesa, CA May 10, 1991 Disc 1 01 I’m A Man 02 While You See A Chance 03 Hearts On Fire 04 Another Deal Goes Down 05 One And Only Man 06 In The Light Of Day 07 Valerie 08 The Low Spark Of High Heeled Boys Disc 2 09 Glad 10 Feelin’ Alright? 11 Medicated Goo 12 Split Decision 13 The Finer Things 14 Roll With It 15 Higher Love 16 Back In The High Life Again 17 Gimme Some Lovin’ Russ Kunkel - Drums Larry Byron - Guitar, Keyboards Randall Bramlett - Saxophone Michael Rhodes - Bass Luis Conte - Percussion -
Studio 9.2/9.6 - Not a lot to complain about here except maybe just the little bit of tape hiss (unremarkable). I found it interesting to hear the early takes because on some of the tracks it really shows less of the Southern influence and more of the psychedelic influence (listen to their cover of Evil Ways). Marshall Tucker Band "The Lost Demos" (1968-1971) Studios-Greenville, SC 1971 01. -Can’t You See (demo) 02. -See You Later I’m Gone (demo) 03. Southern Woman (demo) Muscle Shoals Sound Studio-Sheffield, AL 1971 04. -Cookin' (demo) 05. -Ramblin' (demo) 06. -Take The Highway (demo) 07. -Hillbilly Band (demo) Southeastern Music Corporation 1968 08. -It’s A Rainy Night In Georgia 09. -In A Moment (I Can Tell If You Love Me) 10. -Evil Ways (Santana) -
Birmingham 1976 Pro Radio 9.5 - Obviously this should be excellent quality seeing as how it was recorded for British Biscuit radio broadcast. Well, yeah, it’s really good!
Dallas 1981 Pro Radio 8.9 - Sounds maybe a gen or two down (but no tape hiss) or perhaps just the age of the tape this was recorded on as it was presumably tapes off the air. Still, it’s very good and I am sure with some EQ touches could really bring more of the highs out.
Marshall Tucker Band Disc 1 The Odeon, Birmingham, England November 29th, 1976 1 -British Biscuit Intro 2 -Long Hard Ride 3 -Searching For A Rainbow 4 -Can't You See 5 -This Old Cowboy 6 -Fire On The Mountain 7 -Take The Highway THE BAND Doug Gray lead vocals percussion Toy Caldwell lead electric and acoustic guitar steel guitar Tommy Caldwell bass guitar backing vocals George McCorkle electric and acoustic guitar banjo Jerry Eubanks flute alto baritone and tenor saxophone backing vocals Paul Riddle drums Disc 2 Wintergarden Theater Dallas, TX March 15th 1981 1 -K.B.F.H. Intro 2 -It Takes Time 3 -See You One More Time 4 -Tell The Blues To Take Off Tonight 5 -This Time I Believe 6 -Take The Highway 7 -Fire On The Mountain 8 -In My Own Way 9 -Ramblin' 10 -This Ol' Cowboy 11 -KZAM THE BAND Toy Caldwell Guitars Steel Guitar Background Vocals Doug Gray Vocals Jerry Eubanks Flute Saxophone Keyboards Background Vocals Paul Riddle Drums Background Vocals George McCorkle Guitar Franklin Wilkie Bass Background Vocals -
Soundboard 9.2 - What I like most about this board tape is that it emphasizes Bill Wyman, and I mean where you can hear individual notes that he is playing, while also laying down a strong, sonically speaking, low end (so it’s not just bass notes being plucked out). This is a new, and good way to listen to another ’81 Tour board tape without being bored…’cause we all know the set list didn’t change at all.
Rolling Stones Rosemont Horizon Des Plaines, IL. 11-23-1981 Disc 1 1. -Take The A Train - Under My Thumb 2. -When The Whip Comes Down 3. -Let's Spend The Night Together 4. -Shattered 5. -Neighbours 6. -Black Limousine 7. -Just My Imagination 8. -Twenty Flight Rock 9. -Going To A Go Go 10. -Let Me Go 11. -Time Is On My Side 12. -Beast Of Burden 13. -Waiting On A Friend 14. -Let It Bleed Disc 2 1. -You Can't Always Get What You Want 2. -Band Intros 3. -Little T&A 4. -Tumbling Dice 5. -She's So Cold 6. -Hang Fire 7. -Miss You 8. -Honky Tonk Women 9. -Brown Sugar 10. -Start Me Up 11. -Jumping Jack Flash 12. -Satisfaction 13. -Star Spangled Banner - School Day -
Soundboard 8.8 - Not your typical board tape here, in fact I hesitate to even call it one because to me it sounds like a stage recording. Either way, it is decent but not great. What is great, however, is this period of the band and this performance is indicative of that peak they attained. Marvelous playing throughout – and like I said the sound quality is decent and enjoyable but I expected more from a professional recording.
The Coliseum St Austell, UK 28th April 1982 Disc 1 01 -Blackout 02 -Dont Make No Promises 03 -Loving You Sunday Morning 04 -Make It Real 05 -We'll Burn The Sky 06 -Coast To Coast 07 -Lovedrive 08 -Always Somewhere 09 -Holiday Disc 2 01 -Cant Live Without You 02 -He's A Woman She's A Man 03 -Another Piece Of Meat 04 -Dynamite 05 -The Zoo 06 -Steamrock Fever 07 -Cant Get Enough -
Audience 9.3 - A beautiful wide, spacious, and clear recording of a band absolutely demolishing it. How much friggin’ better do you want it? I’ve heard major label released live albums that didn’t sound as good as this.
Black Sabbath Stadthalle Offenbach, Germany 1980-06-02 Disc 1 101 Supertzar 102 War Pigs 103 Noen Knights 104 N.I.B. 105 Lonely Is The Word 106 Sweet Leaf 107 Drum Solo 108 Sweet Leaf (Reprise) 109 Children Of The Sea Disc 2 201 Black Sabbath 202 Heaven And Hell 203 Iron Man 204 Guitar Solo 205 Die Young 206 Paranoid 207 Children Of The Grave