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Audience 8.9 - Two different evenings in Boston, each three years apart. For one thing, it's a well balanced capture all the way around (both gigs). Hearing the differences between stadium acts performing in '74 and then in '77 reveals subtle changes in music and delivery. I like being able to notice things like that and sets like this really allow the listener to immerse themselves in their own analytics as they listen. The sound is very good especially because a well done remastering job refreshed the tapes. I love this, this is a treat for people who wished they got to hear the opening acts too but tapers seldom saved tape for them. Boston Chronicles Vol. III Live in Boston 1974-1977 Disc 1 BLACK SHEEP Music Hall Boston MA. May 16th 1974 1 -Intro 2 -Power To Heal 3 -Guitar Solo 4 -A Little Or A lot 5 -Stick Around 6 -Payin' Yer Dues 7 -Drum Solo 8 -Woman 9 -Thank You - Stage Announcements THE BAND Lou Gramm vocals Donald Mancuso guitar Larry Crozier keyboard Bruce Turgon bass Disc 2 TEN YEARS AFTER Music Hall Boston MA. May 16th, 1974 1 -Intro 2 -Rock And Roll Music To The World 3 -Nowhere To Run 4 -Good Morning Little School Girl 5 -It's Getting Harder 6 -Drum Solo 7 -Love Like A Man 8 -Slow Blues In C Disc 3 TYA cont'd 9 -Look Me Straight Into The Eyes 10 -Jam - Scat Thing 11 -I Can't Keep From Crying 12 -Going Home 13 -Sweet Little Sixteen 14 -Choo Choo Mama 15 -The Crowd THE BAND Alvin Lee guitar vocals Leo Lyons bass Chick Churchill keyboards Ric Lee drums Russ drums Disc 4 DERRINGER Boston Music Hall Boston MA. March 18th 1977 1 -Intro 2 -Still Alive and Well 3 -Let Me In 4 -Teenage Love Affair 5 -Sailor 6 -Beyond the Universe 7 -Rock and Roll Hoochie Koo - You Really Got Me 8 -Sittin' By the Pool 9 -One Eyed Jack 10 -Roll With Me THE BAND Rick Derringer vocals guitar Vinny Appice drums Kenny Aaronson bass background vocals Danny Johnson guitar vocals STARZ Boston Music Hall Boston MA. March 18th 1977 11 -Cherry Baby 12 -Night Crawler 13 -Pull the Plug 14 -Boys in Action 15 -Drum Solo 16 -Boys in Action (reprise) THE BAND Michael Lee Smith vocals Richie Ranno guitar Brendan Harkin guitar Pieter "Pete" Sweval bass Joe X. Dubé (aka Jeff Grob) drums -
Audience 9.4 - A fantastic, close, precise recording that really drives that funk right through the speakers. A crackling, red hot energy that taper captures admirably, I mean, it sounds like he is sitting right directly in front of the band with microphones up and the band is only too happy to oblige. Tower Of Power Circle Star Theatre San Carlos, CA September 24, 1976 01 Squib Cakes 02 Ain’t Nothin’ Stoppin’ Us Now 03 So Very Hard To Go 04 Oakland Stroke 05 You Ought To Be Havin’ Fun 06 What Is Hip? 07 Doin’ Alright 08 Down To The Nightclub (Bump City) 09 This Time It’s Real 10 Knock Yourself Out 11 You’re Still A Young Man -
Audience 9.6 - Brilliant! A fantastic tape no matter how it was recorded, it’s simply great and showcases the precision, dynamics, and unstoppable energy that is Tower of Power. Tower Of Power Old Waldorf San Francisco, CA February 12, 1977 01 Squib Cakes 02 Ain’t Nothin’ Stoppin’ Us Now 03 Down To The Nightclub (Bump City) 04 Can’t You See (You Doin’ Me Wrong) 05 Oakland Stroke 06 You Ought To Be Havin’ Fun 07 What Is Hip? 08 Too Good To Be True 09 Drop It In The Slot 10 Doin’ Alright 11 Knock Yourself Out 12 You’re Still A Young Man 13 (To Say The Least) You’re The Most -
Audience 8.8 - Truly a marvel, you get three blockbuster acts performing outdoors at a large German Rock Festival in 1974 and you are sitting there listening to something that was probably forgotten within days by everyone as they smoke, drank, and partied until the cows came home in preparation for the next festival that came to town. What I am really saying is that while the band members and audiences probably cannot recall what they did on September 27th, 1974, we can now relive that very day in the lives of all of those people because taper managed to capture everything while sitting in a decent spot and running decent gear. Why he/she did this I do not know but I certainly appreciate their efforts not taking it for granted one bit. The music here sounds good to my ears, very comfortable even if not very distinct in the mid band (where guitars reside) but more than made up for with a beautiful round bass sound and good vocals and highs. Very nice! The Great Music Circus Heidelberg-Eppelheim Rhein-Neckar-Halle September 27th, 1974 Disc 1 Black Oak Arkansas 1. -Announcements 2. -Fever In My Mind 3. -Lord Have Mercy On My Soul 4. -Hey Y'all 5. -Dixie 6. -Full Moon Ride 7. -Mutants Of The Monster 8. -Hot N' Nasty 9. -Hot Rod 10. -Up - Drum Solo 11. -Jim Dandy To The Rescue 12. -Movin' Electric Light Orchestra 01. -Daybreaker 02. -Showdown 03. -Daytripper 04. -Violin Solo 05. -Ma-Ma-Ma Belle 06. -In the Hall of the Mountain King 07. -Great Balls of Fire 08. -Roll Over Beethoven Humble Pie 01. -Intro 02. -Thunderbox 03. -Sweet Peace and Time 04. -The Fixer 05. -30 Days in the Hole 06. -Let Me Be Your Lovemaker 07. -C'mon Everybody 08. -I Don't Need No Doctor -
Paris 1971 Soundboard 9.6 - Excellent, well balanced mix seemingly made for some kind of professional use but if it was for broadcast than this is certainly a pre-broadcast master source. Frankfurt 1972 Audience 8.8 - A really good tape here, it seems it would have to have been on a reel to reel because it’s too good to be a portable unit with a cheap inboard mic. Ike & Tina Turner Revue Europe 1971-72 Disc 1 L'Olympia Theatre Paris, France 1971-01-30 01. -You Got Me Hummin' (The Ikettes) 02. -Everyday People (The Ikettes) 03. -Shake A Tail Feather (The Ikettes) 04. -(Intro Tina) Gimme Some Lovin' 05. -Sweet Soul Music 06. -Son Of A Preacher Man 07. -Come Together 08. -Band Intros 09. -Proud Mary 10. -A Love Like Yours (Don't Come Knockin' Everyday) 11. -I Smell Trouble 12. -Respect 13. -Honky Tonk Women 14. -I've Been Loving You Too Long 15. -I Want To Take You Higher 16. -Land Of 1,000 Dances Disc 2 Frankfurt, Jahrhunderthalle November 16th, 1972 01 -Kings of Rhythm Instrumental 02 -Everyday People 03 -My Love for You Runs Deeper 04 -There Was a Time 05 -Theme From Shaft 06 -The World's A Little Bit Out Of The Way 07 -Instrumental 08 -Introduction To Ike And Tina Turner 09 -Get Back 10 -Come Together 11 -With A Little Help From My Friends 12 -Honky Tonk Women 13 -I Smell Trouble 14 -Proud Mary 15 -I've Been Loving You For Too Long 16 -Respect -
Audience 8.7 - This is a marvel! I mean, who would of thought to bother recording the completely underground opening acts for Genesis! Come to think of it, maybe even Genesis were still considered to be "underground" around this time! The point being that because someone went to the trouble to bring gear and set up to record you don't immediately expect that person to get ready in time to record each act in its entirety.They had to have planned it, to make sure they had enough blank tape, got situated in a good spot, got it rolling and balanced and then made sure to get the whole performance...MUCH respect to taper! The sound quality is very good, it is clear the machine used is good gear but I am inclined to think either the house mix was not ideal or his position was not ideal but the recording itself you can tell is solid. The flaw? I would call it mid-band crunch, or too much information crowding the middle band but not to the extent of distortion or overload, more that it ended up not having the clarity you want. The low end is round and tight, it's a comfortable sound but the overall mix is average. The Charisma Promo Concert 1973 Disc 1 Capability Brown Heidelberg, Stadthalle January 15th 1973 01 -Introduction 02 -Beautiful Scarlet 03 -No Range 04 -Liar 05 -Redman 06 -I will Be There 07 -The Garden 08 -Keep Death Off The Road (Drive On The Pavement) Disc 2 Lindisfarne Heidelberg, Stadthalle January 15th 1973 01 -Introduction 02 -No Time To Lose 03 -Together Forever 04 -All Fall Down 05 -Unknown Title 06 -Turn A Deaf Ear 07 -Lady Eleanore 08 -Scotch Mist 09 -The Clear White Light 10 -Meet Me On The Corner 11 -Oh No, Not Again 12 -We Can Swing Together Disc 3 Genesis Heidelberg, Stadthalle January 15th 1973 01 -Introduction 02 -Watcher Of The Skies 03 -Twilight Alehouse 04 -Get 'em Out By Friday 05 -The Musical Box 06 -The Return Of The Giant Hogweed -
Audience 8.8 - A down n’ dirty recording that is surprisingly clean! How do I mean? Well, it captures not just the sound of the Dolls on stage (which is a dirty, sleezy rock and roll) but also the perfect atmosphere of this time and place almost to the degree that you don’t ever want it to end. This is LOADS of fun and will receive multiple plays for sure. NEW YORK DOLLS THE YELLOW BALLOON SYRACUSE, NY, USA JUNE, 1974 01. -something else 02. -looking for a kiss 03. -who are the mystery girls 04. -stranded in the jungle 05. -pills 06. -personality crisis 07. -puss n boots 08. -trash (aborted) 09. -trash 10. -chatterbox 11. -ain't got no home 12. -it's too late 13. -teenage news 14. -32-20 blues 15. -back in the usa 16. -on fire [early version] 17. -human being BAND: David Johansen - vocals, harmonica Johnny Thunders - guitars Sylvain Sylvain - guitars Arthur Kane - bass Jerry Nolan - drums w/ The Fantastic Buddy Bowser - sax -
Soundboard 9.2 - These are great but Prince himself mixed them hot and put them out exactly as you hear them. These recordings are going to probably melt your speakers, the levels are really pushed all the way up just to the breaking point. Still, to my ears I like what I am hearing. Prince Rehearsals 2012/2013 1. The Dance Electric 2. Mutiny - Ice Cream Castles 3. Days Of Wild & Loose 4. Old Friends 4 Sale 5. Dark 6. I Like It There 7. Bambi 8. Let's Go Crazy (Reloaded) 9. Plectrum Electrum 10. Boom - Stratus -
Audience 8.7 - OK, so I totally understand why someone might pass this up- but I think you would be missing something special. It’s an audience recording, very very deep into the crowd, it’s noisy, it’s not fantastic but it is great – now here’s the rub: If you are reading this review, this can be considered a spoiler alert. It took me a complete song before I realized the audience was not a part of the show. The people near the mic sound like they are a part of the stage show, or at least they did to me. I felt like I was in New Orleans but its New York City. I liked this performance, and I tolerate the recording, I came away after listening to this feeling I understood Prince just a little better. After this review I think it’s only fair to warn you – on a few songs the drummer’s high hat sounds like a missile shooting through your speakers – it’s unnerving and I don’t think there’s much you can do but wait for the next song. It’s an uh-oh I ain’t gonna lie. Prince Gotta Lotta Butter To Go Butter Restaurant New York City, NY. 06-17-2006 Disc 1 1. It Ain't Over - Peach 2. Te Amo Corazon 3. Forever In My Life - Everyday People 4. The Ride 5. I Never Loved A Man (The Way I Love You) 6. Love Changes 7. The Chain - Come Together 8. When A Man Loves A Woman 9. Redhead Stepchild 10. Thank You (Faletinme Be Mice Elf Again)-Play That Funky Music Disc 2 1. Partyman 2. 3121 3. Lolita 4. Satisfied 5. Black Sweat 6. Kiss 7. All Eye Want Is You - Joy In Repetition 8. Anotherloverholeinmyhead - Rock Lobster 9. If I Was Your Girlfriend 10. Be Happy - Ecstacy - The Bird -
Studio 9.7 - More spectacular studio works by Prince who commands the proceedings in a Hendrix-like manner. Listen to the different guitar effects that he uses, how it suits the song and how different he makes it sound when he needs something. He has a bag of tricks let’s just say. Prince Purple And Gold Studio Works "Download and Streaming Collection" Disc 1 1. Purple And Gold 2. Rock N' Roll Is Alive (And It Lives In Minneapolis) 3. Free Urself 4. If Eye Could Have Your Attention 5. The Song Of The Heart 6. F.U.N.K. 7. One Song 8. Cybersingle 9. Baltimore 10. Fallinlove2nite 11. What If 12. That Girl Thang 13. Live Out Loud 14. Ain't Gonna Miss U When U Gone 15. Menstrual Cycle 16. Octopus Heart 17. Da Bourgeoise Disc 2 1. Cause And Effect 2. Hot Summer 3. Rich Friends 4. Same Page Different Book 5. Boyfriend 6. Madrid 2 Chicago 7. Breathe 8. Magnificent 9. Purple House 10. United States of Division 11. Silver Tongue 12. Glasscutter 13. S.S.T. 14. Brand New Orleans 15. The Morning After 16. Turn Me Loose 17. In A Large Room With No Light 18. Rock And Roll Love Affair -
Disc 1 Denver 1976 Soundboard 9.5 - A very bright and clear board tape with emphasis in the mix for maximum vocal clarity, but I like the way the drums sound and the horns are very clear too. Overall this is a “funk” mix. My only criticism might be the sizzle of the cymbals but they aren’t crowding the mix which might have been a deal-breaker for me. This is good funked up stuff! Disc 2 Oakland 1977 Soundboard/open mic audience 9.3 - I have to say my ears do not lie and there definitely is a professional quality to this recording but I could swear they have ambient mic’s to add atmosphere or perhaps to fill gaps? When the music is playing it’s most def soundboard, that is all I know. Detroit 1978 Soundboard 9.0 - A somewhat compressed but excellent tape, I particularly love this one because they play Maggot Brain which is my fave PFunk tune. Parliament 1976-1978 Disc 1 Unknown Venue Denver, CO 1976 1. -Mothership Connection 2. -Landing of the Mothership 3. -Dr. Funkenstein 4. -Funkin' For Fun 5. -Give Up The Funk - Jam 6. -Cosmic Slop 7. -Red Hot Mama 8. -Take Yo' Dead Ass Home - P.Funk (Wants To Get Funked Up) - Do That Stuff Disc 2 Oakland Coliseum Oakland, CA 1-21-1977 01. -Who Wants To Get Funked Up 02. -Supergroovalisticprosifunkstic ation Medley 03. -Do That Stuff 04. -The Undisco Kid 05. -Children Of Productions 06. -Mothership Connection 07. -Swing Down Sweet Chariot 08. -Dr. Funkenstein 09. -Gamin' On Ya 10. -Tear The Roof Of The Sucka Medley Disc 3 Unknown Venue Detroit, MI. 04-01-1978 1. -Funkentelechy 2. -Cosmic Slop 3. -Maggot Brain 4. -Mothership Connection 5. -Swing Low Sweet Chariot 6. -Flash Light -
Soundboard 9.0 - A surprisingly good recording considering that it attempts to capture something pretty untamed especially for the time. There are lots of unrehearsed punk moments here, but overall I remain quite impressed with this early Misfits music because it sounds like a genie being let out of the bottle. Misfits December 20, 1978 Max's Kansas City New York, NY 01) Bullet 02) Where Eagles Dare 03) Who Killed Marilyn 04) Horror Business 05) Static Age 06) TV Casualty 07) Hollywood Babylon 08) Teenagers From Mars 09) Children In Heat 10) Attitude 11) Blue Christmas 12) We Are 138 -
Audience 9.0 -A sparkling audience tape that captures a band that is firing on all cylinders in frightening precision and dexterity (all members). Good bass presence here, no rumble just nice and solid which helps give clarity to everything else. Return To Forever Jahrhunderthalle Frankfurt, Germany 1976-03-21 Disc 1 101 Medieval Overture 6:01 102 Band Intros 2:19 103 Sorceress 12:25 104 The Magician 6:41 105 The Duel Of The Jester And The Tyrant 12:59 Disc 2 201 Lenny White Acoustic Set Introduction 1:20 202 The Romantic Warrior 12:20 203 Chick Piano Solo - Trio (Stanley, Lenny) On Green Dolphin Street, La Fiesta 9:22 204 Al Acoustic Guitar improvisation - RTF 11:37 205 Stanley Acoustic Bass improvisation incl. Bass Folk Song - RTF 10:52 206 Lenny White Drum Solo 10:39 207 Space Circus - Lopsy Lu - Coda 15:47 -
Audience 8.7 - It’s difficult to express sometimes to people who maybe did not start collecting until the digital age what it is like for us old cats to be listening again to a recording we first heard on cassette…and could barely listen to they were so awful, muddy, gen’d down, etc. – and now they show up like maidens to the prom. This old recording sounds like years of mud and grime were wiped away, still not great but man what a difference! The bonus tracks from Anaheim got the same treatment but the original tape was recorded from further back so is not as good as the Detroit, but historically seems more important being that it is with Jeff Beck. I think this stuff here is like finding unpolished diamonds…maybe a little bit dirty but they are invaluable and hold beauty in and of themselves. Aerosmith Cobo Arena Detroit, MI. Dec. 2, 1976 1 -Mama Kin 2 -Write Me a Letter 3 -S.O.S. (Too Bad) 4 -Lick and a Promise 5 -Big Ten Inch Record 6 -Sweet Emotion 7 -Rats in the Cellar 8 -Last Child 9 -Lord of the Thighs 10 -Walk This Way 11 -Sick as a Dog 12 -The Train Kept A-Rollin'- Drum Solo - Batman - Peter Gunn 13 -Get the Lead Out 14 -Toys in the Attic Aerosmith w/Jeff Beck Angel Stadium Anaheim, CA September 12, 1976 16 -Train Kept A Rollin' 17 -I Ain't Got You -
Soundboard 9.9 - This nearly brought me to tears. I always knew this band could reach the highest level of quality, in performance, in tone, in showmanship, and here it is. Yeah, sure, I know what you are thinking: “it’s mid 80’s Aerosmith, it’s the doldrums of rock, it’s a washed up bunch of druggies” but I have to tell you that if this marks a “comeback” then it’s the most amazing comeback I have ever heard. I’ve heard tons of live Aerosmith and I take this show over ALL of them. Just listen to how everyone plays off each other, how well they know each other it's like the magic has returned and they know it. Aerosmith The Orpheum Theater Boston, MA. February 14, 1984 01. -Back In The Saddle 02. -Big Ten Inch Record 03. -Mama Kin 04. -Three Mile Smile - Reefer Head Woman 05. -Lord Of The Thighs 06. -No More No More 07. -Lick And A Promise 08. -Sweet Emotion 09. -Dream On 10. -Sick As A Dog 11. -Walk This Way 12. -Milk Cow Blues - Drums Solo 13. -Toys In The Attic 14. -Train Kept A Rollin' -
Audience 9.3 - The second this begins you know it’s gonna be great, and it’s better than great. I’ve heard radio broadcasts that don’t sound as nice as this. I need atmosphere, I want to feel the space around me, the venue itself is a part of the event. Audience tapes of high quality can sometimes deliver more atmosphere than the best soundboard, and sometimes it’s necessary if you want to relive an event to have that atmosphere included in the recording. Genesis Boston Music Hall Boston, MA 24 February 1977 Disc 1 01 - Squonk (07:55) 02 - One For The Vine (11:32) 03 - Robbery, Assault & Battery (07:31) 04 - Your Own Special Way (07:26) 05 - Firth Of Fifth (09:16) 06 - The Carpet Crawlers (07:07) 07 - In That Quiet Earth (04:41) 08 - Afterglow (04:35) 09 - I Know What I Like (09:00) 10 - Eleventh Earl Of Mar (09:56) Disc 2 11 - Supper's Ready (25:28) 12 - Dance On A Volcano (04:20) 13 - Drum Duet (01:05) 14 - Los Endos (06:32) 15 - The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway (04:38) 16 - The Musical Box (03:37) Phil Collins - lead vocals, drums and percussion Tony Banks - keyboards, 12 strings & backing vocals Mike Rutherford - bass guitars, guitars & backing vocals Steve Hackett - lead guitars & effects Chester Thompson - drums and percussion