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Audience 7.9 - This is the complete concert from the 23rd and NOT the officially released Dec, 24th Rainbow show. The problem with it being unofficial, or course, is that it was not recorded professionally, and in this case the audio is a little on the muddy side. I don’t think it is ruined though, because it’s not “thick” mud, it’s just missing something on the high end.
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Audience 8.6 - A very early tape featuring the bands original guitarist. For those who have not heard anything like this before, well, it does not sound like the Police as we know them, it’s still good, but different. To my ears, the guitarist does not have the polish we have come to expect from this band, but he’s got quite a lot of spit!
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Audience 8.8 - A warm and inviting recording that spreads the audio spectrum out very evenly. May be from midway back in the hall, as it is not super sharp, but likewise it is also not too echoey or bassy either. It is a pretty atmospheric sound, with guitar leads swirling above and around adding to the liveness of the recording.
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Soundboard 9.6 - This rating reflects what I feel about this recording in the way that the guitar and bass come across in the mix. So, what you get is a well rounded, brassy bass sound that is articulate and not lost in the low end wastelands or overshadowed by Pete. It sounds like two guitar players playing in perfect harmony, and a lot of Who recordings you do not get that effect so much as just a wall of power and volume. This one is just so good in that sense and deserves a special acknowledgement.
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Audience 7.8 - A recording that slowly gets a little better after the first song or two but I have to tell you – for historical purposes this recording is the first time Brian Johnson appears on tape with the band (live, not studio). I think he does a fine job filling the spot too, but that’s up to every fan to decide.
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Audience 8.3 - At first, you would have expected this to sound awful, being an awfully loud band playing in a small club with primitive gear…and it’s not exactly perfect but for what it is it is DAMN good! Guitars up front, vocals a but buried, drums reasonably clear, but you get a real sense of the action and the sound is not bad at all. Historically, this is absolutely a must for any ACDC fan.
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Audience 8.1 - Do not be dismayed by this sound rating, in fact this has been re-mastered and is vastly superior to all other versions out there. The lineage of this recording was the cause of some confusion for decades – it was believed to have been from Rotterdam but is in fact Amsterdam. Why this show has been overlooked by collectors is beyond me, it’s a marathon concert and should be in the collection. Maybe it was the marginal sound quality of previous versions? Oh well, now we have this.
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Audience 7.4 - Interesting to listen to this, it’s almost like they are performing on a soundstage, but the quality is only so-so. I do not know what to make of it, my instinct says this was a TV broadcast, maybe this was recorded off the TV volume? It’s not too bad, just not a very wide dynamic range.
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Audience 8.0 - A good reference recording, does not deliver a palette full of dynamic sound colorization or anything like that but it is a pretty clear, one-dimensional recording. One thing I can say is that collectors will want this, as any 1972 show is well worth having in my opinion and this one is very decent even if it lacks a solid low end (not necessarily thin, just not a lot of bottom).
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Soundboard 9.5 - Right here, this is the one to get from this tour. Sparkling! Note: Of all the Yes shows I have heard, and I have heard many, although there are many close seconds, for some reason this is my all time favorite. The Audio is superb and the vibe is present with both the audience and the band. Stunning!
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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.
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Soundboard 8.8 - A loud board mix, with a little crispiness in the ultra high frequency but what this actually translates to as the show plays is CRUNCH factor which helps liven up what could have been a flat, lifeless board tape. The remastering helped because the levels were kind of low, and the bass needed to be dialed back just a tick, but just that light touch really made this tape a whole point better. Fantastic prime era Halen comin’ out yer speakers like lightning bolts. MUST HAVE!!!
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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.
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Early Soundboard 8.6 - High energy; it does get a little "hot" as far as the mix but it doesn't detract from the experience of hearing Van Halen in a small club playing their asses off before they hit the big time. Dave is in fine form, as always. A great gig, a very good recording, a great band at a great time. Highly recommended.
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Audience 10 - This is the first 10 rating I have ever issued. Why? Simply put, this recording is BREATHTAKING. The detail, the precision, the mix, the dynamics, the atmosphere, the playing, the quality is nothing short of PERFECT. So, if I had the information on these tapers I would ask them for copies of anything else they recorded. It’s THAT GOOD folks.
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Audience 8.5 - If you call yourself a fan of The Who and you do not have this yet, just put down the sandwich and get this one right now. Holy guacamole Batman this friggin’ RULES! Is it perfect? Nope. Is it crystal clear? No, but it is RIGHT smack dab in your face with LOADS of electric atmosphere. Even the excited shrieks of the girls will give your spine a little tingle. This is what collecting live music is all about. Soundboard purists will be missing something amazing if they never give this rough, not so perfect audience recording a listen. This is The Who raw, live, intense, and exciting and it simply will fry your brain!