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Audience 8.8 - This is a significant recording mainly from a historical sense, but for all the wrong reasons too. Yes it is the infamous gig where 11 people died outside the venue waiting to get in. The band were not informed until after the show, so they play their set oblivious, and it is a fine set. It’s eerie now to hear this knowing what transpired earlier, thankfully it is actually a very fine recording. This is one of those things I have to encourage everyone to check out for all the RIGHT reasons though…but yeah there’s that. -
Soundboard 8.7 -
Soundboard 8.8 - A little wobbly at the start but clears up quickly. -
Soundboard - Most collectors will know of this, and this set does include the partial live performance segment as well. A nice snippet of a good year, 1971. -
Audience 7.2 - A low rating but at least .5 points higher than the original version. Someone did a Remaster which it desperately needed because it was flawed. Mainly, it’s surface noise from the vinyl source (original tape source never located). It wasn’t great to begin with either. If you needed to upgrade this for your collection – get this one .... Bonus is the great artwork and packaging. -
Audience 7.5 - Kind of a raucous tape, I mean it is The Who after all, but the music is all present if not in the same mid band range (highs aren’t bad). I have to recommend it, being a 1971 recording of which I am fond, it holds up. -
Studio Quality Demos -
Audience 8.6 - Easily the best of the European 72 Tour. Killer! -
Audience 7.3-7.7 - At some points in the show, the tape gets better and you get a great sense of the power of this band. -
Audience 7.5 - Overloaded tape, but surprisingly isn’t distorting, it just can’t contain the power of The Who in 1970. That being said, I bet even the casual fan will find something redeeming here – a loud concert whereby at least you can hear everything – loudly! I kind of got into it, by the time Young Man Blues kicks in, you are in this for the duration. -
Audience 7.1 - Somewhat distant and an underlying cacophony but there is a reason why Who collectors go for the 1972 European tour tapes – quality be damned – because the band was really peaking at this time. So, good show, average recording. -
Audience 7.3 - A little crunchy, and some sizzle on the cymbals – guitar behind the bass, and not great separation of instruments, but with all that happening, the tape isn’t in the dismal range sonically. -
Audience 7.2 - Distant, but another recording that would benefit from more volume. For 1967 era Who, I like this tape, I mean, it is not like a Hermans Hermits gig, this would have been ear-bleeding volume! -
Soundboard 7.8 - The main problem here is the funky mix. It may be a monitor mix, because where the instruments are placed and how they are mixed overall not only changes occasionally, but seem to indicate this is probably just that, a monitor mix. -
Audience 8.7 - This tape barely contains the driving, relentless energy of the Who. It does, in fact, manage to remain somewhat stable even if Roger gets a little lost in the mix. Sheer power, loudness that probably caused some major hearing loss for a few folks. -
Audience 7.1 - Stuck in the narrow mid band, while Roger soars above the din. Not a lot of clarity with the rhythm section, but thankfully enough I can get 80% of the guitar notes. Does not suck, but does not blow you away either. Simply average. -
Audience 7.2 - I love this, for many reasons beyond sound rating. This is one of those shows to me that rises above all other shows of better quality. It is not bad, it is actually a good, fun listen with nothing that annoys or distracts. It is not overly dynamic with crystal highs and deep lows, but the space it occupies does not offend. A good one, while he’s away! -
Audience 7.1 - Another upper mid band to high range tape in a one dimensional spectrum, guitars kind of low, Roger is up front followed by The Ox, and Keith brings up the back. Not horrible, not great. If you turn up the volume and add some mid boost it would help a lot, because the instruments are all there, as is Roger. It is not a goopy mess. -
Audience 7.4 - A one dimensional recording that actually is clear enough to catch everything happening but the sound resides somewhere in the upper mids to highs, not screechy, just one dimensional. -
Audience 8.2 - A tape with some good qualities despite being technically average. For instance, I like the vocals on this tape, and Pete’s guitar is in a better spot than on most average audience recordings, it comes through ok, with great atmosphere! Roger sounds great, and the bass is a nice fat, round sound that gets a little pushy but also gives the show its darker vibe. Interesting moment in the show, during the pause in Young Man Blues (the one right before the jam) where Keith traditionally tosses the sticks and catches them, the audience really reacts so it must have been a spectacular one by Keith. Pete shines on guitar throughout this gig. -
Audience 6.8 to 7.0 - You get mainly Roger and Keith crashing cymbals and his kick drum, then Pete shows up in the mix. Interesting atmosphere though, because the audience must be large but you can’t hear them much on this tape, possibly mic was elevated above the crowd. The sound changes a little as it goes and gets better to my ears. Hence the kick up to 7.0. -
Soundboard 9.4 - Superb in every way possible. You HAVE to have this if you do not have it in your collection yet. This is the new Remaster, and it SMOKES like everything else from this period. -
Audience 7.7 - Pretty decent recording, rather quiet audience this time. The sound rings out clear. My hunch is this may be a vinyl source but it’s been handled properly. Really good for the time. -
Audience 7.1 - Definitely not a hi-fi recording but I can say this, you actually hear not only Roger fine above the din, but also Pete’s backing vocals! Next up is bass and guitars, with drums in the back kind of buried. Still, I just love these 68 shows, before Tommy, and the band is just so jazzed and audiences are too. Historical document well worth hearing. -
Audience 8.9 - Clean and bright, especially nice drum sounds! -
Audience 8.8 - Once the taper settles in this show sounds fantastic! Clear, decent mix and great atmosphere. A real treat! -
Audience 7.8 (from vinyl source) - Pretty strong if a little bass heavy (good!). Vocals up front, some vinyl noise present – adds a bit of nostalgia to the bootleg! -
Audience 8.4 - Not bad but has a lack of meat to it, and though Pete's guitar sounds more evil here, it's the lack of punch in the bass and drums that detract overall. -
Audience 9.2 - Excellent! Strong if just a tad subdued as far as guitar loudness. -
Audience 6.7 - Really do wish this sounded better but it’s the only known live recording of this wonderful and amazing prog band. Keyboards are more prominent in the mix, followed by drums, then bass. So the important elements are here. When the band is quieter you get much more out of it, that being said, WOW just to even have this is quite special, really. I find more to enjoy from this than to be grumpy about. -
Soundboard 8.9 -
Soundboard 9.1 -
Audience 9.5 - Technically speaking, you could argue with my rating, but a rating must not only represent sonic clarity but also overall enjoyability of a show/recording. This one rates as high as I can allow for both excellence and all the other aspects of what makes a tape really great. -
Audience 8.5 - A steady, reliable recording that delivers a very live, natural sound but lacking just a little separation of instruments. Still a VERY good one! -
Soundboard 9.6 - Professional recording and mix…almost perfect in every way! -
CD 1 - Soundboard 8.3 / CD 2 - Soundboard 8.8 / CD 3 - Soundboard 8.8 What a difference from 1966 to 1975! I rather like the 70’s Guess Who more, but fascinating to hear their formative sound and style. -
Pro 9.0 -
Audience 8.0 - This is a very acceptable recording that occupies a midrangey place and subdued highs but since everything is clear for the most part it can be totally enjoyed. Oh, and the band really jams! -
Audience 7.7 - A little quiet but good low end presence, very narrow in the mid range though. Could easily be remastered to sound great. -
Pro Soundboard 9.3 - Sourced from a pro shot video, the audio thankfully is not too compressed but also not super atmospheric either. It is, however, very clean and well mixed. -
Soundboard 9.2 - Pleasant, airy, well balanced but it does lean toward thin sounding to me. Still, it’s not exactly a heavy band anyway, so that leaves the listener with much more stuff to hear in the high range, keys, percussion, etc. Sounds very decent. -
Audience 8.7 - What you get here is a lot of large stadium ambiance, actual recording is pretty realistic from around the middle of the venue – not overpowering and good, clear, loud enough to get a sense of the event and of actually being there. It’s good – it’s not overwhelming – just good. Not a lot of 2016 tapes out there so I like having yet another one since the band played different songs at every venue. -
Audience 9.1 - Taper had really good seats because you don’t get that cavernous sound you might expect at a venue like this. It’s a warm, articulated sound, makes for a satisfying listen. -
Audience 9.1 - Thrilling capture! Gives you excellent mid band punch, and really clear, direct to ears sonics -
Audience 8.6 - With the shortage of recordings spanning 2016 to now, anything is welcome including this rather spacious sounding capture. Bigger on atmosphere than super focused instruments, the vocals ring loud and clear but guitar chimes behind most of it all. Still, rather good, and I will take that! -
Audience 9.2 - Startling realism, bright, clear, punchy, and well positioned with some peripheral audience atmosphere to really put you in the seat in front of the band. It does sound like the taper had great seats. Really nice this one. -
Soundboard 8.9 - Very nice board with emphasis on vocals, a little less on the rhythm section but not by much. Classic period with all their hits, but missing Candy-O which is still one of my faves. -
Audience 8.6 - Very clear, but has a slightly odd balance that eventually does resolve itself somewhat. It’s as if taper is trying to find the best spot, so I can’t fault them.