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Soundboard 9.3 - This tour of Japan has gone down in Rainbow history as being the most fiery performances. Everyone playing superbly, and as always Dio is perfect. -
Audience 7.7 and 7.5 - The Gaelic Park show is an outdoor show and the band struggles at times to tune up but it is the better of the two in terms of clarity and sonics, with maybe just a bit of extra treble boost present which puts guitar into the forefront. The Academy of Music gig is not as present and bright but it is perhaps more even, with a broader spectrum of instruments in the mix although guitar is now downplayed. I would say both recordings deliver different characteristics which help the listener get a better sense of the rare live Ramatam experience -
Audience 7.4 - Missing some dynamics but clear and strong. Maybe not from a master source, but it's not as if there are bunches of Rare Birds out there! -
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! -
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 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. -
Soundboard 9.2 and Audience 9.0 -
Audience 7.5 -
Various sources ranging from 9.0 to 9.7 - High quality live and studio. -
Soundboard 8.9 -
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. -
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. -
Audience 9.0 - Warm, inviting sound quality, with maybe my only gripe (and it’s a minor one) being that the guitar sits just behind the keyboards in this mix, still audible, but I am a guitar guy so… -
Audience 9.1 - Small club with great sound. One of those recordings that completely envelopes you with good, clearly defined sound that occasionally swirls above you giving you additional atmospherics. Killer! -
Audience 8.8 - What a great range on this tape. Solid low end meeting up to a very accurate mid range and the highs are not burnt to a crisp but there when you need them to be. Solid Solid Solid! -
Audience 8.8 - Deep, rich lows are what highlight this tape. There is the tiniest amount of distortion in the bass due to just how profound it is in this recording but not to the expense of everything else mind you – although I would say the rest of the music sits a little behind the low end. I can wholeheartedly recommend this but bear in mind if you want to blast it loud you may want to tune down the bass frequency.