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All Pro Studio -
Soundboard 9.7 - Both as good as it gets. Pro all the way.…a must have! -
FM Radio Broadcast 9.6 -
Soundboard 8.8 - Another strange board tape, probably because they used different effects in their live performance that had to be run through the board. Sometimes you also get a little over-driving when the kick drum pedal hits. It’s a blasting board tape, extremely kinetic and strange at times but a lot of fun too. -
Audience 9.0 - Fantastic recording really, in fact I can only try and be real nitpicky to try to find anything outright bad about it. It’s close up, warm, atmospheric (I don’t mean echo or reverb either), and pretty good separation of instruments. Kick drum is even present, so it is also detailed. Good One! -
CD 1-2 - Audience 8.7 - Most Who collectors may already be familiar with this set, sounds like a good tape source is used and it is complete (hence the title) . But wait a minute – we have the second show now too – how is it? CD 3-4 - Audience 8.2 - Somebody tried heroically to remaster this and I have to say, knowing what it used to sound like, they did a great job. Still some noise artifacts present, but man they did bring out a LOT from this unappreciated recording. Kudos to the sound guy! Worth having this set now. -
Soundboard 9.0 - Fierce! -
Soundboard 9.3 -
Audience 8.8 - Perhaps lacking in sonic depth, it makes up for it in clarity and detail, the kind that allows you to hear the nuance because this band had nuance in spades. -
Audience 8.4 - A rather decent tape that delivers a clear representation of the music happening on stage. I found that maybe the levels were a tad hot, but I prefer that over low levels that you end up having to crank up causing terrible hiss. This one is not suffering at all from that problem! -
Audience 9.0 - Fantastic! Stunning performance and incredibly realistic feel of the show captured on this tape. Right up close, freakin’ PA’s pumping but recording levels are set proper and you get slammed in the face with a red hot Van Halen. Love this! -
Audience 7.8 - I can handle an average audience tape as long as the guitar is clear, and this one thankfully showcases guitar in the mix and man, I am glad because he is TEARING it up here! At times even the mix gets really good and clear, like the taper is maneuvering for better position so this is a strong 7.8. -
Soundboard 9.3 - Recently remastered to give a good board tape a much needed kick in the ass. I heard this tape years ago, and I love what was done to bring out the bad-assery this performance was. -
Audience 7.5 - Two complete shows from 1984 that see very limited trading and as far as I know there’s been no CD release for either. There is good reason for this – these recordings sucked ass. Unfortunate too, because both gigs are screamers. Now, the good news! Both shows have been re-mastered using the best technology available (whatever they did 35 years ago obviously did not do much) and the results are that you can hear music now, you can hear what Eddie is doing and you can hear the band. No, it is not going to be sonically superior, but it is sonically better than any previous versions, and that is saying an awful lot! Best way to enjoy these is to listen to the original recordings and then pop these discs in, and THEN you will understand the work that went into saving these gigs from obscurity. The packaging on this title is superb by the way. -
Soundboard 9.5 - Fantastic, sparkling, brilliance! Right up there with the Cleveland show from 1978. -
Audience 8.8 - Very nice and clear, with a great low end presence and warm atmosphere. Absolutely lovely to listen to and besides that it’s from a relatively poorly documented tour. Very worthwhile!