-
Soundboard 9.7 - One of the most interesting concerts by Prince I have heard. It’s an after show gig, and Prince is cutting loose with some amazing guitar solos, to the point where it is hard to believe it is actually him playing. Certainly one to add to your collection, and one that will get frequent plays.
-
Soundboard 9.6 - A professionally recorded and mixed affair that was actually broadcast on the radio and it’s obvious as nobody would take the time and care to produce such a convincing live tape unless they had a good reason. The performance is marvelous, and the recording shimmers. A must have for Spirit fans!
-
Soundboard 9.6 - This guy literally can play Happy Birthday and make it sound sexy and groovy (proof is available). Too bad I was so hard-headed and never went and saw him live. I could have on many occasions, but I just never saw myself as one of the “beautiful people” I guess. What a shame I would have loved it. (Soundchecks, Rehearsals and Jams)
-
Audience 8.6 - A “crisp” sounding tape, emphasis on drummer and vocals in the mix but you also can really hear the background keys which is nice. Not saying Joe is buried, just that this house mix seems very democratic in allowing all players to have a presence. I appreciate hearing how much the piano and keys helped shape this material. The audience is very respectful, and they love their Joe, that’s for sure.
-
CD 1 - Audience 8.4 - A lively, jumping tape that is a fun listen but the limitations include some minor over-saturation which surprisingly does not ruin anything, but keeps the rating in the mid 80’s technically speaking. I like this recording personally, I find it exhilarating! CD CD 2 - Audience 8.8 - A very well made recording with a great balance to it, a warmth and tone that is pleasing to the ears. Lovely! CD 3 - Audience 8.2 - A tape with a preponderance of low end, to the point where you can’t ignore it, not that it is particularly muddy, just that it is bass heavy. I do get the other instruments thankfully, but like I said…bass. CD 4 - Same as disc 3, but I will say this much, on songs where the bass work is minimized, it sounds excellent.
-
Sale!Audience 8.7 - This is a radio broadcast that sounds very good with some minor signs of age and occasionally a dodgy mix in spots that get corrected quickly, at least. The band play pretty much every song that you remember most by them, the set list is thrilling.
-
Sale!Audience 8.6 - This recording straddles the fence a little. On the one hand, it’s got very defined highs and good overall acoustics but also a pretty rowdy audience that whoops and hollers (this is Texas after all). I can’t really blame them though, this is actually THE best Presto gig I have ever heard as far as the performance. Not all Rush shows are homogenous by the way. Listen to Alex rip on La Villa Strangiato for example. They are firing on all eight (with the lone exception being a marginal effort on the beginning of Xanadu).
-
Sale!Soundboard 9.1 - Technically super clean and tidy recording but it lacks that electric atmosphere you get when you allow some “room” and crowd noise in the mix. That is my personal preference, the actual recording quality is excellent with maybe a bit of FM radio compression that takes the edge off a little.
-
Sale!Soundboard 9.8 - Hard to find any fault in this recording, and the mix is a matter of preference so I leave .02 open to interpretation on the rating. It actually may be a 10 it is that friggin’ amazing.
-
Sale!Soundboard 8.7 - The interesting thing about this particular board tape is that the bass is the “lead” instrument in the mix and thus allows you to hear the sometimes overlooked intricacies and interplay in that regard. I would say that even though I enjoy and appreciate this aspect of the recording, the average fan may lament the somewhat overshadowed guitar and vocals, but these are not issues that nullify a superb performance and decent recording.
-
Sale!Soundboard 9.5 - Of course it is immaculate. The way that Prince orchestrates his bands, the sound is so dialed in, I could not imagine a bad sounding Prince show. This is also a show with an amazing setlist, pretty much most of his more well known tunes.
-
Sale!Soundboard 9.2 - Taken from a television broadcast, but to my ears does not sound all compressed and one dimensional, so my guess it is a source not derived from the broadcast but tape possibly made of the gig separate from the TV production. Who knows for sure, but it sounds pretty good.
-
Sale!Audience 8.4 - Let’s face it, ever since the movie came out, recordings like these take on new significance. I just find it fascinating to hear, knowing the back story a little more. This is a very decent recording with primary focus on vocals and drums, with guitar and bass a little behind them but present enough to be able to enjoy this. You can turn the volume up, levels are good - the taper was careful!
-
Sale!Audience 8.9 - A really cool recording in that keys, drums and bass sound right next to you but guitar swirls above them, and over your head, and around your ears… VERY nice atmosphere and picked up extremely well by the taper.
-
Sale!
Audience 8.5 - This tape sounds very low generation if not direct from a master, very articulate high end but missing a good solid low end – that does not kill it though. It’s got a good amount of hall atmosphere without actual reverb effect which is fine. Listening to this, I realize that the Turbo tour was really damn good, a lot of good songs and great playing.
-
Sale!FM Broadcast 9.4 - Excellent atmosphere (better than a pure, dry soundboard) and the band, what can I say, just great as always.
-
Sale!Soundboard 8.8 - This recording, while being very clear and obviously recorded for a broadcast, is somewhat dated sounding…in a really good way. It sounds like a relic lost in time, but the band is good and tight. It’s the beginning of the 80’s, and their sound would soon get more FM friendly, here it’s still got that “proto metal” edge to it.
-
Sale!Soundboard 9.3 - Takes a minute to get a mix, but then it’s off to the races. Interesting to hear this very early period of the band. Very much a good o’l fashioned American hard rock band.
-
Sale!Audience 9.4 - Soundboard that manages to include enough audience to make me think this was a total pro recording meant for something else besides being shelved.
-
Sale!Audience 8.8 - A surprising tape! Never knew of this one, it’s quite good and clear!
-
Sale!Audience 8.8 - A solid and punchy recording that delivers bass and vocals in super detail. Drums come through real nice too, guitars and keys, while not as up front in this mix are still present in a stereo pan where they sit nicely because it gives the recording a balance. It’s easy on the ears and maybe more accurately replicates what you would have been hearing had you been sitting in the tapers seats.
-
Sale!Audience 7.7 - Most of the unauthorized recordings of Uriah Heep with John Lawton as lead vocalist are only of fair audio quality. John's vocals are clear through most of the recording. The recording is a bit cut-up in places but the big upside is an unusual setlist featuring some tunes from Heep's Firefly album. Also John's bluesy vocals shine throughout.
-
Sale!Audience 8.4 - Decent, maybe a little bit thin (needs more low end) but all highs are really there, so a bit of compression is not going to hurt this if someone wants to re-master it. A good one for the collection nonetheless.
-
Sale!Soundboard 9.8 - Great presence on vocals and guitars, bass is completely in the pocket and the mix is flawless. I am glad the keyboards are not buried because they add so much to the sound.