Elton John
Sports Arena
San Diego, CA
September 29, 1975
Disc 1
First Set
01 Your Song
02 I Need You To Turn To
03 Border Song
04 Take Me To The Pilot
05 Dan Dare (Pilot Of The Future)
06 Country Comfort
07 Levon
08 Rocket Man
09 Hercules
10 Have Mercy On The Criminal
11 Empty Sky
Disc 2
First Set Cont'd
12 Street Kids
13 Intermission
Second Set and Encore
14 Funeral For A Friend - Love Lies Bleeding
15 Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
16 Bennie And The Jets
17 Harmony
18 Dixie Lily
19 Captain Fantastic And The Brown Dirt Cowboy
20 Bitter Fingers
21 Someone Saved My Life Tonight
22 The Bitch is Back
Disc 3
23 Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me
24 (Gotta Get A) Meal Ticket
25 Better Off Dead
26 Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds
27 I Saw Her Standing There
28 Island Girl
29 Philadelphia Freedom
30 We All Fall In Love Sometimes
31 Curtains
32 Pinball Wizard
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Audience 9.3 - As good as it could be for a large stadium concert. Despite the soundmen fighting mic feedback issues during the first few songs, it certainly gets dialed in and becomes quite nice with the feeling of this being an event, the atmosphere, the way the sound sort of envelopes your ears and you get a sense of size and space. Really sweet! -
Audience 9.2 - Amazing atmosphere that the band completely catches and performs up to. The crowd is very responsive but does not intrude on the recording – even during clap-alongs which I normally hate but here is actually enhances the song! Fantastic all the way around, and there’s plenty of headroom left in the recording so if you increase frequency (if you have an EQ) or volume you won’t destroy the integrity of the sound. So blast away! Elton John Seattle Center Coliseum Seattle, WA October 12, 1974 Disc 1 01 Funeral For A Friend - Love Lies Bleeding 02 Candle In The Wind 03 Grimsby 04 Rocket Man 05 Take Me To The Pilot 06 Bennie And The Jets 07 Daniel 08 Grey Seal 09 Goodbye Yellow Brick Road 10 Burn Down The Mission Disc 2 11 You're So Static 12 Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds 13 Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me 14 Honky Cat 15 All The Girls Love Alice 16 Saturday Night's All Right For Fighting 17 Crocodile Rock 18 The Bitch Is Back 19 Your Song Band Members: Elton John - vocals, piano Dee Murray - bass Davey Johnstone - guitar, mandolin, banjo Nigel Olsson - drums Muscle Schoals Horns: Harvey Thompson - saxophone Ronnie Eades - baritone saxophone Harrison Calloway - trumpet Charlie Rose - trombone -
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The set features outstanding quality audience recordings made between 1972 and 1975 at the Seattle Coliseum. The quality encompasses not just the audio fidelity but the completeness and smoothness. All in all this is surely one of the best collections of live Elton John I've ever heard. The price has risen slightly to accommodate the upgrades that have been applied to not only this but the entire line of canisters. I think you will totally be blown away when you see the difference, and the previous ones were pretty impressive so this is going to really be something special. Elton John "The Seattle Tapes" Disc 1 Seattle Center Coliseum Seattle, WA 1972-10-20 01. Tiny Dancer 02. Daniel 03. Band Introduction 04. Susie (Dramas) 05. Your Song 06. Rocket Man (I Think It's Going To Be A Long, Long Time) 07. I Think I'm Going To Kill Myself 08. Can I Put You On 09. Mona Lisas And The Mad Hatters 10. Honky Cat Disc 2 11. Singing In The Rain 12. Have Mercy On The Criminal 13. Crocodile Rock 14. Madman Across The Water 15. Take Me To The Pilot 16. Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On 17. Hercules Band Members: Elton John - vocals, piano Dee Murray - bass Davey Johnstone - guitar, mandolin, banjo Nigel Olsson - drums Disc 3 Seattle Center Coliseum 1973-08-31 01. Intro 02. Elderberry Wine 03. Your Song 04. High Flying Bird 05. Honky Cat 06. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road 07. Hercules 08. Rocket Man (I Think It's Going To Be A Long, Long Time) 09. Madman Across The Water Disc 4 10. Teacher I Need You 11. Have Mercy On The Criminal 12. All The Young Girls Love Alice 13. Daniel 14. Funeral For A Friend (Love Lies Bleeding) 15. Band Introduction 16. Crocodile Rock 17. Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting 18. Honkey Tonk Women Band Members: Elton John - vocals, piano Dee Murray - bass Davey Johnstone - guitar, mandolin, banjo Nigel Olsson - drums Clive Franks - organ (Crocodile Rock) Disc 5 Seattle Center Coliseum 1975-10-16 (First Set) 01. Set I Intro 02. Your Song 03. I Need You To Turn To 04. Border Song 05. Take Me To The Pilot 06. Dan Dare (Pilot Of The Future) 07. Country Comfort 08. Levon 09. Rocket Man (I Think It's Going To Be A Long, Long Time) 10. Hercules 11. Empty Sky Disc 6 (Second Set) 12. Set II Intro 13. Funeral For A Friend (Love Lies Bleeding) 14. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road 15. Bennie And The Jets 16. Harmony 17. Dixie Lily 18. Captain Fantastic And The Brown Dirt Cowboy 19. Bitter Fingers 20. Someone Saved My Life Tonight Disc 7 21. The Bitch Is Back 22. Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me 23. (Gotta Get A) Meal Ticket 24. Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds 25. I saw Her Standing There 26. Island Girl 27. Philadelphia Freedom 28. We All Fall In Love Sometimes Band Members: Elton John - vocals, piano Davey Johnstone - guitar Caleb Quaye - guitar James Newton-Howard - keyboards Kenny Passerelli - bass Roger Pope - drums Ray Cooper - percussion Cindy Bullens - backing vocals Jon Joyce - backing vocals Jim Haas - backing vocals Disc 8 Seattle Center Coliseum 10-17-1975 (First Set) 01. Your Song 02. I Need You To Turn To 03. Border Song 04. Take Me To The Pilot 05. Dan Dare (Pilot Of The Future) 06. Country Comfort 07. Levon 08. Rocket Man (I Think It's Going To Be A Long, Long Time) 09. Hercules 10. Empty Sky Disc 9 (Second Set) 11. Set II Intro 12. Funeral For A Friend (Love Lies Bleeding) 13. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road 14. Bennie And The Jets 15. Harmony 16. Dixie Lily 17. Captain Fantastic And The Brown Dirt Cowboy 18. Bitter Fingers 19. Someone Saved My Life Tonight 20. The Bitch Is Back Disc 10 21. Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me 22. (Gotta Get A) Meal Ticket 23. Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds 24. I Saw Her Standing There 25. Island Girl 26. Philadelphia Freedom 27. We All Fall In Love Sometimes 28. Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting -
Soundboard 9.8 - Sonically this sounds like it was recorded yesterday. Musically it sounds like it was recorded in 1971…which is a very good thing. The guitar tone is infectiously boogie blasted if that makes any sense. The whole thing is like an overamplified revival meeting…in a cool way. Elvin Bishop Group Fillmore West Closing Week July 1, 1971 Disc 1 1. -Stomp 2. -So Fine 3. -Get It 4. -Old Time Feeling 5. -Easy To Find 6. -Higher And Higher Disc 2 1. -The Sky Is Crying 2. -Crazy 'Bout You Baby 3. -Part 'Til The Cows Come Home 4. -Part 'Til The Cows Come Home (reprise) 5. -KSAN DJ's 6. -I'm Going Fishin' 7. -Let It Flow 8. -KSAN DJ -
Audience 9.0 - The only thing keeping this from attaining legendary status is the slight distortion present in a very specific middle to upper band in the frequency range. It's not a deal-breaker, it's in a place where you still get all the richness of the low end and the detail in the high end. The taper obviously used very good gear, so maybe the microphone he used and the location in the venue perhaps limited the recording in a way, because this is still a damn good tape but could have been a bona-fide must have. Emerson, Lake & Palmer Charleston Civic Center Charleston, WV November 23, 1973 Disc 1 01 Introduction 02 Hoedown 03 Jerusalem 04 Toccata 05 Tarkus 06 Benny the Bouncer 07 Take A Pebble Disc 2 08 Lucky Man 09 Piano Improvisation 10 Take A Pebble (Reprise) 11 Karn Evil 9 1st - 3rd Impression 12 Pictures At An Exhibition -
FM Broadcast 9.3 - Powerful, exciting, this is the way in which to listen to ELP! In a funny way it is sad, because I can clearly hear what I missed out on. EMERSON LAKE and PALMER Anaheim Convention Center Anaheim, CA February 2nd 1974 WBCN Broadcast Aired March 7th 1976 THE BAND Keith Emerson keyboards Greg Lake bass guitar acoustic and electric guitar harmonica vocals Carl Palmer drums percussion SETLIST 1 -K.B.F.H. Intro 2 -Hoedown 3 -Still You Turn Me On 4 -Lucky Man 5 -Piano Improvisations 6 -Karn Evil #9 First Impression 7 -Drum Solo 8 -Karn Evil # 9 First Impression (reprise) 9 -Karn Evil # 9 Second Impression 10 -Karn Evil # 9 Third Impression -
Audience 8.8 - This is better than I give it credit for, mainly because it has all the elements needed to be very enjoyable - namely: clarity, separation of instruments, and atmosphere. Where it lacks the necessary qualifications to enter into 9.0 and above rating status is more in the dynamics range (is low end low, is high end high, are mids clear and punchy?) which here are expressed mostly with the lovely, brassy and defined bass sound. This is good! But perhaps we are spoiled now with all the audio riches we have at our disposal. This is a very good old tape, with a re-mastering I assume it would rise to the 9.0 level, but the bones are here. E.L.P Odeon Theatre Birmingham, UK 1972-11-24 Disc 1 01. ABADDONS BOLERO 02. HOEDOWN 03. TARKUS 04. ALAN FREEMANS THEME 05. THE SHERIFF 06. TAKE A PEBBLE Disc 2 07. LUCKY MAN 08. PIANO IMPROVISATIONS - TAKE A PEBBLE 09. PICTURES AT AN EXHIBITION 10. NUTROCKER 11. RONDO -
Audience 8.8 - This is a real surprise, for this early vintage you do not expect anything really good especially out of the Music Hall but I have news for you – this is a good, good tape. Of course it is going to have that almost cavernous kind of quality but regardless it’s a really clear sound and one that shows off each member of the band and offers at the same time a feeling of time and place. EMERSON LAKE & PALMER Boston Music Hall, Boston, Ma. November 12, 1971 Disc One 1. -Hoedown 2. -Tarkus 3. -Take A Pebble Disc Two 1. -Knife Edge 2. -Rondo 3. -drums 4. -Rondo -
Detroit 1973 Audience 8.4 - A somewhat average but clear enough tape that has some sort of wobbling effect during at least the beginning portion but evens out thereafter. I think this may not be complete when compared to any other performance during the tour – including the one that is paired in this set. San Bernadino 1974 - Audience 8.6 Keith Emerson and vocals clearly stand out in this recording, while drums and bass seem to not be as distinct. There is a small amount of tape hiss indicating the age of this tape, but I won’t slag this one off because it isn’t that bad at all. I think some top notch remastering work would really help this one out because the sounds are there – in fact they are pretty well and truly “in your face” as it Emerson, Lake & Palmer Live 1973/74 Disc 1 Cobo Hall Detroit, MI. 1973-12-04 01. Hoedown 02. Jerusalem 03. Toccata 04. Tarkus 05. Karn Evil 9 1st Impression Disc 2 Swing Auditorium San Bernadino, Ca. U.S.A. February 9, 1974 1. -Hoedown 2. -Jerusalem 3. -Toccatta 4. -Tarkus (incl. Epitaph) 5. -Benny The Bouncer 6. -Take A Pebble 7. -Still, You Turn Me On 8. -Lucky Man Disc 3 9. -Take A Pebble - Piano Improvisation 10. -Take A Pebble (reprise) 11. -Karn Evil #9 1st Impression 12. -Karn Evil #9 2nd Impression 13. -Pictures At An Exhibition Keith Emerson: piano and many keyboards and synthesizers (including Moog) Greg Lake: lead vocals, bass and acoustic guitar Carl Palmer: drums, tympani, percussion were. -
Audience 8.4 - This is a classic example of the modern benefits of collecting music in the 21st Century: A tape that a decade ago would have been considered for completists only is now, after careful re-mastering. a worthwhile listen. In comparing the original version, I find this one raises the rating a full half point at least. Behold, there is music here! ELP Palazzo Dello Sport Genova, Italy June 15, 1972 Disc 1 1. Tarkus 2. The Endless Enigma 3. Take A Pebble 4. Lucky Man Disc 2 5. Piano Improvisations - Take A Pebble 6. Pictures At An Exhibition 7. Rondo - America -
Audience 9.1 - This is a very cool old tape, first I have to issue a disclaimer: If you don’t like deep, round, brassy bass you won’t like this recording. Bass is the star of this show, and I don’t mean it’s a low end muddy mess either – it’s a beautiful bass sound that pretty much drowns out most of the keyboards (not entirely) and at least vocals area able to hold their own in the mix. That all being said – this ROCKS! I love it, I love hearing the tone and detail of the solid bass work of Greg Lake. Put this up there with your other favorite ELP boots because this surely will become one. Emerson, Lake & Palmer The Hollywood Bowl Los Angeles, CA, USA July 19, 1971 01. Bill Graham Intro 02. The Barbarian 03. Take A Pebble - My Dog Blue 04. Tarkus - i. Eruption, ii. Stones of Years, iii. Iconoclast, iv. Mass, v. Manticore, vi. Battlefield, vii. Aquatarkus 05. Knife Edge 06. Rondo 07. Nutrocker Keith Emerson - piano, Hammond organs, Moog synthesizers, theremin Greg Lake - bass, guitars, vocals Carl Palmer - drums, percussion -
Audience 8.7 - Loud and brassy, with some distortion on the cymbals at the high end. Taper must have been in the front row on the PA side of the stage. That being said, this is what makes this recording frightening to the ears, a terrifying journey into the unrelenting power and charisma of ELP in their mid 70's prime. There is nothing sedate about this live concert experience, and because it was recorded on very good equipment, even despite the overwhelming loudness of it, it's a rather true representation. Side Note: Jerusalem is a song with more mellow passages and here this recording absolutely shines, jumping quickly to a 9.2 rating and actually remaining better even during the loud segments as it starts to even out - this could be due to taper either moving further back, or making some other minor adjustment. Something certainly is changing with the recording as tape noise increases but the distortion lessens, this could mean he lowered the gain, so the volume had to be boosted during the transfer as his recording levels were much lower. Either way, it had a net positive effect. Unfortunately not the complete show. Emerson, Lake & Palmer Long Beach Arena Long Beach, CA February 3, 1974 01 Introduction 02 Hoedown 03 Jerusalem 04 Toccata 05 Tarkus -
Audience 9.6 - Very well done, with loads of beautifully full drums and bass that do not boom and do not drown out any other instrument. Keys are nicely placed in the mix and at times seem to surround you. Excellent and highly recommended! ELP Long Beach Arena Long Beach, CA. August 11, 1977 Disc 1 1. Karn Evil 9: 1st Impression, Part 2 2. Hoedown 3. Tarkus 4. Take A Pebble 5. Piano Concerto No.1 - 1st Movement 6. Take A Pebble 7. C'est La Vie 8. Knife Edge 9. Pictures At An Exhibition Disc 2 10. Still...You Turn Me On 11. Lucky Man 12. Tank 13. Nutrocker 14. Pirates 15. Fanfare For The Common Man - Rondo -
Audience 9.7 - Incredible sound! Massive drums, tight and solid bass, spacious keys...damn this could come out officially. Emerson, Lake & Palmer Long Beach Arena Long Beach, CA August 14, 1977 Disc 1 01 Karn Evil 9: 1st Impression, Part 2 02 Hoedown 03 Tarkus 04 Take a Pebble 05 Piano Concerto No 1 1st Movement 06 Take A Pebble 07 C'est La Vie 08 Lucky Man 09 Knife-Edge Disc 2 10 Pictures At An Exhibition 11 Still…You Turn Me On 12 Tank 13 Nutrocker 14 Pirates 15 Fanfare For The Common Man - Rondo -
Audience 8.8 - A pretty decent recording which might be a touch on the thin side as the deepness of bass is lacking, but still enough meat on the bones to be worthy of the collection. Vocals come through clearly, drums do sound good too and the overall sound mix is very even. Emerson, Lake & Palmer Friedrich-Ebert-Halle Ludwigshafen, Germany 1973-04-10 Disc 1 101 Intro 102 Abaddon's Bolero 103 Karn Evil 9 104 Jeremy Bender - The Sheriff 105 Tarkus - Epitaph 106 Aquatarkus 107 Take A Pebble 108 Still You Turn Me On 109 You Can Sing My Song 110 Lucky Man 111 Piano Improvisation 112 Take A Pebble (Conclusion) Disc 2 201 Hoedown 202 Pictures At An Exhibition 203 Toccata 204 Drums & Percussion Solo 205 Rondo 206 Finale -
Audience 8.7 - Both tapes sound as if they were recorded by the same person they are very similar although the slight nod goes to London for being just a touch brighter. That being said, both tapes do an admirable job (for 1971 standards) of capturing the epic ferocity of this amazing rock band in their prime, or just before they got universal “commercial” success. It’s hard to imagine what it must have been like being there in person, the volume, the intensity, I would have been drained after the first song! Emerson, Lake & Palmer ABC Cinema Plymouth, UK March 12, 1971 Disc 1 101 The Barbarian 102 Tarkus 103 Knife Edge 104 Pictures At An Exhibition Disc 2 201 Take A Pebble 202 Rondo Disc 3 Royal Theatre, Drury Lane London, England June 20, 1971 01. -Pictures at an Exhibition 02. -Knife Edge Disc 4 01. -Take a Pebble 02. -Tarkus