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CD 1 - Audience 7.7 - A very rare tape that only recently surfaced. Hard to complain when presented with something as rare, so just be aware that the tape was recorded in the middle of the venue and features a boomy, echoey sound. CD 2 - A very good recording, clear and immersive, you can really get into this one. CD 3 Surprisingly clear, a welcome addition to the not so well documented 1977 period where the band starts to really fray around the edges (and in the middle!) but that is not evident here – this is the band in fine form. -
Soundboard and Audience 8.7 – 8.6 – 8.4 - The first two discs are soundboard but show signs of age and lack brightness although both are clear. Disc 1 sounds like it was broadcast over the air, and is slightly better than disc 2. Disc 3 is an audience recording that sometimes peaks in volume causing some high end distortion (mainly present in the cymbal crashes) but is not bad overall.
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Audience 8.5 - This recording has a lot working in its favor by mainly allowing the listener to hear each instrument clearly. The tape does have sonic limitations in that it sounds like the taper wisely dialed down the levels so as not to overload the signal, especially as JP was probably quite loud. This means that you will want to turn the volume up a little even though it may mean that you also bring up some background noise, which is present but not invasive. It’s a very good tape, I believe that this has been re-mastered too, so I consider it an upgrade to other versions that may be out there, although I was unfamiliar with this show until recently. -
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Soundboard 9.6 (March 19th) - This is, of course, a must have. In my opinion, John Paul Jones emerges as the star of the show. Robert’s voice takes a little bit before it smooths out, he was having some problems around this time. Overall, this is as enjoyable as it gets. -
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ALL Soundboard 9.7 - Dive right into this amazing collection of sonically superb live offerings and get a totally new appreciation for Eddie Money and his super-tight band. -
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Audience 8.7 - This is from the Royal Albert Hall, so be prepared for a lot of atmospherics as the sound dances around almost right above your head. The music is very present though, so there’s no harm in having some ‘verb which is probably exactly how you would have received the sound at the venue anyway. -
Audience 8.5 - A recording that leans towards brassy but presents the concert in a way that you get a pretty clear representation of the evening, in a slightly better than average way. The band, at times, seems to be feeling the songs out rather than be fully committed to them but that gives the show an edginess that some might find more interesting. For instance, Stairway to Heaven, the band must have played this a thousand times yet here Jimmy can’t figure out the solo! -
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Audience 8.8 - This recording was made with obviously good gear, the sound on occasion will lead you to believe it is a pro-job but it really isn’t. What may give it away is the slightly buried guitars, and I mean slightly. The vocals are soaring and direct at the same time – just lovely. Good band, good recording, the magical 1970’s. -
Audience 8.9 - A very bright and lively recording with plenty of electric atmosphere. The band is “tight but loose” and quite frankly I don’t hear the weariness in Steven Tyler at all, in fact the whole band seems very comfortable here. A really really good one! -
Audience 8.1 - A tape new to circulation and it is decent sounding. It has some force behind it, although lacks some definition but with only a very few ’73 era Barnstorm tapes out there, this is a most welcome find. -
Audience 8.5 - Slightly low recording levels meaning go ahead and turn up the volume on this one, and thankfully there’s no distortion. Recording is clear, not overly dynamic (it is metal after all) but you’ll probably enjoy this immensely if you understand that it’s really about the lyrics and the stage banter. Always fun, and it’s two discs so you get a lot of songs! -
Soundboard 9.5 - The evening before this show in Kansas City, the band had just played a stadium with a stacked line-up, so they were probably pretty amped up for this show. They got to showcase some of the Marathon LP material in front of an appreciative, but much smaller crowd than the night before. A great one! -
CD 1 - Audience 8.8 - Direct into face, a driving and persistent intensity, very clean, very clear. CD 2 - Audience 8.3 - A more open spaced recording where you lose some of the dynamics, and vocals tend to get muffled and placed further back but guitar and drums are prominent and clear…bass is present but not as articulate or deep. A good tape and collectors will be happy to hear it since it is not widely circulated. -
FM Broadcast 9.2 - A professionally recorded and mixed production that does not seem to have much in the way of compression so it has a good spaciousness to it, it is crankable. -
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Audience 9.5 - When you listen to this, just keep in mind it is taped by someone in the audience…you won’t believe it. Great balance, superb low end, sweet middle band tone, lush and warm with the perfect amount of high end (no sizzle or annoying squeal or cymbal wash). Just terrific, and the band sounds great! -
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Audience 8.9 - A really good, solid, and clear tape, showcases the considerable talent of Zappa and the always excellent cast of characters he assembles each tour. This show features a lot of solid horn work, and Zappa plays very nicely with a good tone. There were a couple songs I was unfamiliar with and enjoyed quite a bit. I rather like the song Rollo! Fun stuff. -
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Early and Late Shows - Soundboard 9.1 and Soundboard 8.6 - The late show board tape is slightly problematic in that vocals and to some extent the drums are really prominent in the mix but the rest is pushed back. Acoustic songs come through nicely, they bring up piano and acoustic guitar so you get everything more even. At times it gets a little better, it’s not bad it’s just not as good a mix as the early show. -
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Soundboard 9.7 - A pre FM master was used and it clearly magnitudes better than what you’d get recording off the radio! -
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Soundboard 8.8 - This tape does not feature the greatest mix ever, but it’s functional and is a good full show. Question: Was Lou Reed really well known in Australia? A guy from the barrio of New York City, but well known in Australia somehow?!?! I think that is strange, haha! -
Soundboard 9.3 - Wonderful guitar tone is the highlight here, the magical guitar interplay throughout. Seriously, it’s as if Lou’s delivery is just a setup for the band to do their thing. One of the best I have heard, right here. -
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Audience 9.4 - What a fantastic recording! Seriously, the louder you crank it, the better it sounds. Beautiful, full round bass, punchy and clear drums and guitar that is not washed out by P.A. and hall dynamics. Good show atmosphere, appreciative home crowd, and a band inspired and having loads of fun. Hot damn! -
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Soundboard 9.5 - Infinitely enjoyable! -
Audience 9.6 - Unbelievably clean and clear, could be released officially it’s that good! -
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FM Broadcast 9.0 - Not sure what the master source is for this one, it could either be a cassette tape or an LP, either way the sound is very good but there’s a little bit of that typical kind of compression you got off FM broadcasts. Not a problem here, just that I notice it. -
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Audience 8.6 - Very close to the mains, and it’s incredibly loud to the point that Robin can barely control his feedback. But the tape holds together, even if there’s some loss of vocal clarity, none of that even matters because after a couple of songs you are so bludgeoned by this devastating guitar/bass onslaught that vocals would be barely noticed anyway.
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Audience 8.4 - This is a very rare glimpse at a short lived incarnation of Johnny Winter’s band, mainly the addition of his brother Edgar. So it’s an interesting tape, sounds VERY close to the main P.A. system and consequently has some upper mid crowding which makes for a strange mixture of a tape that is both clear and bright, and overcrowded in the upper mid band. It’s good sounding but does not give you much separation of instruments. For collectors this has to be considered a very important tape though. -
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CD 1 - Audience 7.4 - Tape a little hissy, but since the highs are preserved we can live with that. It’s pretty clear at times, and then sometimes a touch cluttered up but overall the listener can appreciate this old tape for the explosive performance captured decently for the time. CD 2 - Audience 7.4 - A very powerful low end is the hallmark of this tape, and then there’s Robert, man this is his show! A good tape, a great performance. CD 3 Audience 7.3 - Unlike the other FE 69 recordings, this tape showcases Jimmy’s guitar, and of course Robert who probably would not even need a microphone he is so dynamic. This show he is literally just phenomenal sounding.
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Soundboard 9.5 - Cool to hear such a nice board because quite frankly the volume and mix of most of the live recordings I have heard just have little separation of instruments and I like hearing Geezer clearly. Drums sound great on this one. It also happens to be the final show. -
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Audience 7.9 - The only thing that stops this recording from shining bright is the low end. It’s a thunderous low end, a roaring train, but it’s probably what the gig sounded like too. So, it’s not that it’s ruined, but that you should roll off the bass a little if you have an EQ, and then you’ll have something much better to listen to. A good recording – with loads of bass! -
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Studio recordings 8.8 - sounds like a vinyl source, cleaned up for the most part. -
Soundboard 9.4 - Professionally mixed, and it shows. -
Audience 7.8 - A little bit rough but its incredible nonetheless…see, truth be told it took me 10 years to finally acquire this show. I have a special interest in it. I will say that, actual audio fidelity, while not hi-fi, is not lo-fi either – it has some power to it (without distortion!) and I LOVE the audience reactions throughout. A fiery gig!