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Soundboard 9.2 and Audience 9.0 -
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! -
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 7.7 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 7.1 - This tape cannot contain the power of the Rainbow! It sounds overloaded, but there’s music here, if you can get past the sort of mid band rumble. -
Audience 7.3 -
Audience 9.0 -
Audience 7.7–8.1 - Ranges in quality mainly because it gets off to a rough start but gets progressively better. -
Audience 9.5 - Why such a high rating? Because this sounds as if you are standing right in front of the stage, on Brian May’s side, and there’s no distortion. Amazing. You are there, it’s a feast for the ears…it’s ear candy…have some! -
Audience 9.3 - Wow! Simply incredible, an audience tape with more dynamics than most professional recordings, and a fantastic performance and set list! -
Audience 7.6 -
Audience 7.4 - Roughly the same quality for each show. Both present complete 1974 shows, certainly must have’s for any dedicated fan, and even though they are only slightly above average, they are both good listens. -
Audience 7.7 - Nice for a large stadium bootleg! Interesting recording, because it sounds like the guitar solo pans to one side, while rhythm guitar is center channel – but it’s an audience bootleg, so my guess is maybe two mics were used to get that to happen. -
Audience 9.6 - Very atmospheric and warm, presents a very realistic impression of the sound you would have heard had you been there. -
Liverpool 1973 - Audience 7.3 - Something funky about the mix, and there is tape noise present, but it has an almost small club feel to it, just sort of far back in the club maybe. London, 1973 - Pro Radio 9.7 -
Audience 7.4 - Very enthusiastic audience, they are loud, music is there somewhere. -
Audience 7.2 - Can hear everything, but it’s lo-fi sounding at best. Add Equalizer and season to taste. -
Berlin 1971 - Audience 7.6 and Pro 8.7 - Material originates from an average audience tape but two songs come from a pro TV recording (most likely). Stockholm 1970 - Soundboard 8.9 - Material is most definitely from a TV source (thus explains the short interview). The second disc contains BBC tracks from 1970 and some rare color 16MM pro shot film from Berlin 1971. The disc is formatted as a data disc so you can only play it on a computer, opening the audio files and video file with the player of your choice. Quatermass Berlin 1970-1971 Berlin 1971, Stockholm 1970 and BBC 1970 Bonus Video from Berlin 1971 Disc 1 Berlin 1971 1. Monster In Paradise 2. Up On The Ground 3. Monster In Paradise (reprise) 4. One Blind Mice 5. Make Up Your Mind 6. Laughin' Tackle - Keyboard Solo 7. Unknown Track Stockholm 1970 8. Black Sheep Of The Family 9. Interview 10. One Blind Mice Disc 2 John Peel Session 1970-07-28 1. Black Sheep of the Family 2. Laughing Tackle 3. Make up your Mind Now 4. One Blind Mice Rare 16MM color pro shot film from Berlin 1971 (this disc is not formatted as a playable CD. It is a DATA disc and must be opened on your computer in order to play the files). -
Fillmore East 1969 - Soundboard 8.8 / Atlantic City 1969 - Audience 7.2 -
Audience 8.9 - Not as crystal clear as the others, but still slammin’ good stuff. (Third show) -
Audience 9.2 - Very clean sound and fun show! (Second show) -
Audience 8.8 - Crisp, well defined sound. -
Audience 7.9 - A little remastering helped this old recording immensely! Now it is worth a listen, even if it is not the brightest of hi-fi jobs…but it’s a document and a good one. -
Pro Radio Broadcast 9.1 -
Soundboard 9.6 (both shows) -
Audience 8.4 -
Audience 7.7 - A rain shortened show, recorded from what sounds like around the middle of the stadium. So, it’s a little distant, a little muddled, not that great but you do get to hear everything on the stage. When I say muddled I do not mean it is muddy or murky necessarily, just that the sound is not that clear. I think collectors will want this because it is unusual, that the show was stopped for rain – although they did play more, just did not play for as long as they usually did. -
Audience 8.9 - Clear and plenty of detail here with a few problems showing up only very occasionally. One thing I noticed is there is a bit of what sounds like the music is moving around overhead, what this could be is the quad system and the mic is picking up the sound as it rotates around the venue. Otherwise it’s some kind of phasing but it’s not too annoying, just wish I knew exactly what it was. -
Audience 8.6 - A nice warm sound with loads of atmosphere, but no annoying echo or boominess! Great for 1972, although there is some underlying hiss (not too much). -
Audience 8.8 - A very clear recording that lacks a lot of depth, but delivers in other areas that make for a very decent listen.