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Boston 1973 - Soundboard 9.7 - Professionally recorded for broadcast, as you can expect with a jazz rock combo the sound has to be extraordinary due to the nature of the musicianship and sound they each produce - in other words it is easier to manage the sound when it isn't over distorted and ear-splittingly loud. This is, as a result, a lovely sounding tape (during the quiet sections there is some minor tape noise in the background but it disappears as soon as the music starts). New York 1974 - Audience 9.0 - I had a hard time figuring out whether this was an aud or a soundboard because of the proximity of the vocals. I determined it had to be a semi-professional audience recording because of the crowd responses being pretty well picked up in the tape after songs...if it was a board tape that would not be as audible (if at all). But it could still easily pass as a board tape if you didn't take that into account - so is it a board tape? It is very good for this venue, Carnegie Hall acoustics did not lend themselves well to loud rock music, if this is indeed an audience tape they did a fantastic job! Return To Forever Jazz Workshop Boston, MA, USA May 15th, 1973 Disc 1 01. Announcer intro 0:28 02. Hymn of the Seventh Galaxy 3:39 03. Chick introduces the band 1:23 04. Spain 13:49 05. CC intro 0:50 06. Sometime Ago 31:08 Chick Corea - Fender Rhodes Stanley Clarke - bass Bill Connors - guitar Steve Gadd - drums Mingo Lewis - congas and percussion Disc 2 Carnegie Hall, New York, NY July 3, 1974 1. Applause - Ambiance 1:40 2. Beyond the Seventh Galaxy 3:18 3. Song Intro by Chick Corea 2:08 4. Song to the Pharoah Kings 15:42 5. Song Intro by Chick Corea 0:51 6. The Shadow of Lo 9:48 7. Song Intro by Stanley Cl… 0:52 8. Where Have I Known You B… 6:09 9. Stanley Clarke bass solo 5:12 10. Song Intro 0:43 11. The Vulcan Empire 10:05 12. Closing Announcements 1:47 Chick Corea - keyboards Stanley Clarke - bass Al DiMeola - guitar Lenny White - drums -
Audience 9.5 - This is what happens when professional equipment is brought in by an audience member who knows what he is doing. Could be released officially, it’s so good. -
Soundboard 9.1 - You can hear some bleed through during quiet times and when band is not playing but when they are playing it is loud and punchy, good mix. -
Soundboard 8.9 -
FM Broadcast 9.4 - This could be considered as one of the best live documents of the band I have ever heard. While there is the faintest amount of FM static in the background during quiet parts, this does not distract in any way the absolute mastery of music that this band delivered. Just stunning, and I can imagine how many young musicians must have been inspired after hearing this band live. Do yourself a favor and grab this, it’s phenomenal. My Father’s Place, Roslyn, NY 3rd April, 1974 1. -Can You Understand 2. -Let It Grow 3. -Kiev 4. -Things I Don’t Understand 5. -Ashes Are Burning 6. -Prologue -
Various sources ranging from 9.0 to 9.7 - High quality live and studio. -
FM Broadcast 9.6 - This recording is beautiful, but not without a fair share of hiccups, and I don’t mean in the recording itself, but in the happenings on stage. This was a large and complex production (featuring an orchestra) and there were bound to be some technical problems. Now, if you can appreciate that, and you understand shit happens, then I highly encourage you to dive into this one because when it is good, it is extremely powerful and intoxicating. I will say that even though sometimes the equipment fails (bad mic cable, etc.), it just reinforces the appreciation for the efforts that go into a live stage production and broadcast. Renaissance Academy of Music, NYC 1974.05.17 Disc 1 01. -WNEW-FM intro 02. -intro music 03. -Can You Understand 04. -Black Flame 05. -Carpet of the Sun 06. -Cold Is Being 07. -Things I Don't Understand 08. -Intro To Running Hard Disc 2 09. -Running Hard 10. -Ashes Are Burning 11. -Mother Russia 12. -Prologue -
Soundboard 9.2 and Audience 9.0 -
Audience 7.5 -
Audience 8.5 - Good levels, not the best separation of instruments but it is very live and active, really kind of sounds accurate to what you may have heard if you were sitting center about 20 rows back. -
Audience 7.3 - While not quite as good as the Messina show, this still presents a powerful representation of the live Il Rovescio Della Medaglia. A little of the distinction and separation of instruments not coming through as well but I found plenty to appreciate on this one as well as the other -
Audience 7.6 - Don't confuse this with anything they committed to vinyl back in the day. Not what I would call restrained Italian progressive music here - more like power prog pre-metal heavy riff bashing Italian flavored rock! Killer killer killer. While it is an aud with limited dynamic range due to tape limitations, certainly the power and glory comes across well enough. What a revelation for me to hear this band live. I certainly have a new appreciation for them! Hells yeah! -
Brand New - Sealed -
Brand New - Soundboard -Ratt Live at Monsters Of Rock, Pforzheim, Germany, on 30th August '87. A Must for any Ratt fan! This band has no other official live album from their "hey day". -
MOR 1985 Audience 8.6 - A strong recording that gets off to a funky start (at one point a mic jack unplugs and one channel drops but it lasts only a minute). I prefer this to a dry soundboard to be honest. It’s not a perfect audience recording but it sure does deliver on energy and atmosphere! I like it. Tokyo 1987 Audience 8.7 - Nice atmosphere on this tape, and the audio comes through especially vocals and bass actually has a nice round sound to it. Guitars are not super distinct, but thankfully the solos are really soaring above and captured pretty well. I like the snare drum here, whoever was mixing this show really must have had a hard-on for the drummer ha ha! Ratt Monsters of Rock 1985 Donington Park Castle Donington Derbyshire, England August 17, 1985 1. -U Got It 2. -Wanted Man 3. -You Think You're Tough 4. -You're In Love 5. -Lay It Down 6. -The Morning After - Never Use Love 7. -Round And Round 8. -Sweet Cheater Nippon Budokan Tokyo, Japan 1987-05-14 9. -Intro 10. -Looking For Love 11. -One Good Lover 12. -Wanted Man 13. -Back For More 14. -The morning After 15. -Dangerous but Worth the Risk 16. -Lack of Communication Disc 2 1. -7th Avenue 2. -Lay It Down 3. -You Should Know by Now 4. -Guitar Solo 5. -You're In Love 6. -You Think You're Tough 7. -Drive Me Crazy 8. -Slip Of The Lip 9. -Walkin' The Dog 10. -Round & Round 11. -Body Talk 12. -Dance -
Ratt Monsters Of Rock, Pforzheim, Germany 1987.08.30 Tracklist: 01. -Lay It Down 02. -You're In Love 03. -Wanted Man 04. -Sweet Cheater 05. -You Should Know By Now 06. -The Morning After 07. -Dance 08. -Drive Me Crazy 09. -Slip Of The Lip 10. -Walking The Dog 11. -Round and Round 12. -Body Talk Stephen Pearcy - Vocals Robbin Crosby - Guitar (RIP) Juan Croucier - Bass Warren DeMartini - Guitar Bobby Blotzer - DrumsSoundboard 9.3 - A great recording of a great hair metal band (I mean, they could play!) in their prime. I used to brush it off when I was a young man, but now I appreciate great musicians not matter how they dress or act. Good is good.