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Los Angeles 1975 - Soundboard 9.5 Offenburg 1977 Audience 8.9 - A very strong tape for sure. Clear, and pretty dynamic with great bass, and deep drums with guitars very tuneful and nicely placed in the overall mix. Lovely. Buffalo 1977 Audience 8.6 - The recording here is pretty clear, it definitely does lean towards the upper mid and highs but there thankfully is enough bottom to keep it from being irritating. Your ears do adjust quickly, and at some point you begin to notice it is actually very decent…think of it as maybe a superb AM radio broadcast (it isn’t, but it sounds like it could have been). Boston 1978 Audience 8.8 - It is apparent that very good gear recorded this show, the sound is warm and rounded, not a jagged, raucous tape like a lot of the amateur recordings can turn out to be. The live mix sound is good too, and the live mix is spot on. I think this tape offers a lot and you’ll probably give it multiple spins…especially after you hear Schenker just RIPPING on guitar. What a badass! The Secret UFO Files Disc 1 Record Plant Studios Los Angeles, CA September 23, 1975 01 - Intro - Let It Roll 02 - Doctor Doctor 03 - Oh My 04 - Built For Comfort 05 - Out In The Street 06 - Mother Mary 07 - All Or Nothing 08 - This Kid's 09 - Shoot Shoot 10 - Rock Bottom 11 - C'Mon Everybody Lineup: Phil Mogg: Vocals Pete Way: bass Andy Parker: drums Michael Schenker: guitar Danny Peyronnel: keyboards Disc 2 Offenburg, Germany March 03, 1977 1 -Intro - Lights Out 2 -Gettin' Ready 3 -On With The Action 4 -Doctor Doctor 5 -Love To Love 6 -Too Hot To Handle 7 -Out In The Street 8 -This Kids 9 -Shoot Shoot 10 -Rock Bottom 11 -Come On Everybody 12 -Boogie For George Disc 3 New Century Theatre Buffalo, NY November 1977 1. -Lights Out 2. -Love To Love 3. -On With The Action 4. -Doctor Doctor 5. -Out In the Streets 6. -Shoot Shoot 7. -Rock Bottom 8. -Too Hot To Handle Disc 4 Orpheum Theater Boston, Mass. December 15, 1978 1. -Hot N Ready 2. -Only You Can Rock Me 3. -Cherry 4. -Love To Love 5. -Mother Mary 6. -Doctor Doctor 7. -Too Hot To Handle 8. -Rock Bottom Phil Mogg: vocals Paul Chapman: guitars Paul Raymond: keyboards and guitars Pete Way: bass Andy Parker: drums
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Audience 9.8 - This is so good, so smooth, so spacious, so warm, so amazing that not only could it be officially release…it SHOULD be officially released. HIGHLY recommended for any fan of music, period. U.K. Civic Auditorium Santa Monica, CA July 28, 1978 Recording Gear: AKG 451E Microphones (CK-1 cardioid capsules) > Nakamichi 550 Cassette Recorder 01 Alaska 02 Time To Kill 03 The Only Thing She Needs 04 Forever Until Sunday 05 Thirty Years 06 By The Light Of Day Part 2 07 Presto Vivace/In The Dead Of Night Part 1 08 Caesar's Palace Blues
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Audience 8.9 - A super clear recording with a marvelous drum sound. Recording levels are a touch low so crank it up, don’t worry it sounds MUCH better loud! ELECTRIC SUN Hammersmith Odeon London, England May 23, 1983 THE BAND Uli Jon Roth Guitar vocals Ule Ritgen Bass Backing Vocals Clive Bunker Drums Simon Fox Drums percussion David Lennox keyboards Jenni Evans Vocals Dorothy Patterson Vocals Disc 1 1 -Intro 2 -Icebreaker 3 -Firewind 4 -What Is Love 5 -Why? 6 -Enola Gay - Hiroshima Today 7 -Angel of Peace 8 -Return (Chant Of Angel) 9 -Cast Away Your Chains Disc 2 10 -Virgin Killer 11 -Drum & Percussion Solo 12 -Electric Sun 13 -The Night The Master Comes 14 -Polar Nights 15 -Beethoven 16 -Hell Cat 17 -Dark Lady 18 -Midnight Sun
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Audience 8.7 - Even though this recording does not feature a full and rounded spectrum of lows to high, it is very clear and resides mostly in the middle range EQ-wise. So, it’s most welcome to lovers of VDGG because there’s just not a whole lot of high quality recordings out there. This one is one of those that grows on you and sounds better and better the more you listen…get it! Van der Graaf Generator Marquee Club London, England 1976-08-12 Disc 1 01. -The Undercover Man - Peter talks 02. -Masks 03. -Arrow 04. -Still Life 05. -Wondering 06. -Peter talks - La Rossa Disc 2 07. -Childlike Faith In Childhood's End 08. -When She Comes 09. -Meurglys III - The Songwriter's Guild 10. -The Sleepwalkers 11. -A Place To Survive Peter Hammill: vocals, guitar, piano. keyboards Hugh Banton: organ, bass Guy Evans: drums David Jackson: sax, flute
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Audience 8.6/Pro 9.1 - This recording was not done on great equipment but it’s not a load of crap. The high frequency range is well represented but at times when the horns hit higher notes it gets a little screechy. The atmosphere is a touch bouncy and live, mid and low frequencies are present but not powerful. Overall it’s not bad, but it isn’t going to set the world on fire. The BBC material is a vast improvement from the ’77 stuff as it is a pro recording and broadcast. VAN DER GRAAF Chateau Neuf Oslo 9 March 1977 Disc 1 1. -Crying Wolf 2. -Lost And Found 3. -Rock And Role 4. -Arrow 5. -My Room Disc 2 6. -The Siren Song 7. -Time Heals 8. -When She Comes 9. -Urban 10. -Last Frame Bonus Tracks BBC In Concert 23 September 1971 11. -Man-Erg 12. -W 13. -Killer 14. -Theme One 15. -Dambusters March
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Studio 8.8 - This is a band recorded project obviously. Like it was done on a boom box, but a good boom box because you can just tell it was loud in the room and it’s not ideal but it gets the job done. So, it’s a tad overdriven in a good way – raw, and loud, and VAN HALEN in about as real a way as it could be. Very fun to listen to and classic fly on the wall stuff. VAN HALEN 1979 Tour Rehearsals 1 -Running with the devil 2 -On Fire 3 -Bass 4 -Your No Good 5 -Talking 6 -Bass - Drums 7 -Bright lights Big City 8 -Somebody get Me a Doctor 9 -Light up the Sky 10 -Dave Talks 11 -Dance the Night Away 12 -Beautiful Girls 13 -Eddie Guitar Solo Jam - Sound Check 14 -Eddie Acoustic Jam Home Demo 15 -Bass and Drums 1 16 -Bass And Drums 2 17 -Bass And Drums 3 18 -Bass And Drums 4 19 -Bass And Drums 5
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Audience 8.8 - Quite the find! This is a strong and clear tape, although I sense the taper is quite new at it because for starters he manages only part of the show (although it’s most of the show) and second he says things (he’s clear on the recording, but thankfully not too chatty) that indicate he’s a noob. The audience around him gets into the show but are not overly intrusive in the recording. I found the guitar solo portion of the show to be the most electric as it sounds so close and clear…very cool! I like the I’m So Glad/Somebody Get Me A Doctor combo because it is one of those rare improvisational moments that you don’t know where it will go. Taper loves to stop and start too close to the songs sometimes cutting off endings it’s infuriating (and again indicates he’s a beginner) but thanks go to him for doing this one regardless. Van Halen Riverside Centroplex Baton Rouge, Louisiana November 26, 1982 1. Hang 'Em High 2. Cathedral - Secrets 3. Everybody Wants Some! 4. Dance The Night Away 5. Somebody Get Me a Doctor 6. Ice Cream Man 7. Intruder - Pretty Woman 8. Eruption 9. Ain't Talkin 'Bout Love 10. Bottom's Up 11. You Really Got Me
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Studio Quality 9.3 - Astounding and revelatory, this is indispensable to anyone who remotely appreciated rock and roll music…regardless of the association with band members named Van Halen…I am saying that if you like rock and roll music this stuff is essential listening. Now, if you were a fan of the Van Halen brand rock sound, well, yeah it is kinda obvious how important these demos are and this collection features them in excellent quality. Van Halen 'Before The Eruption' Studio & Rehearsal Recordings Gene Simmons Demos 1976 & Warner Bros. Demos 1977 Disc 1 01 - Intro 02 - On Fire 03 - Woman In Love 04 - House Of Pain 05 - Runnin' With The Devil 06 - She's The Woman 07 - Let's Get Rockin' 08 - Big Trouble 09 - Somebody Get Me A Doctor 10 - Babe, Don't Leave Me Alone 11 - Put Out The Lights 12 - Let's Get Rockin' 13 - We Die Bold 14 - Voodoo Queen 15 - Little Dreamer 16 - House Of Pain 17 - Runnin' With The Devil 18 - On Fire 19 - Babe, Don't Leave Me Alone 20 - Bring On The Girls 21 - Young & Wild 22 - Last Night 23 - Light In The Sky 24 - Get The Show On The Road Disc 2 01 - D.O.A. 02 - Somebody Get Me A Doctor 03 - Show Your Love 04 - She's The Woman 05 - Put Out The Lights 06 - Big Trouble 07 - I Wanna Be Your Lover 08 - Feel Your Love Tonight 09 - In A Simple Rhyme 10 - Piece Of Mind 11 - You Really Got Me 12 - Happy Trails 13 - Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love 14 - House Of Pain 15 - Runnin' With The Devil 16 - On Fire Rehearsals From Pasadena Convention Center, October 15, 1977 17 - On Fire 18 - Voodoo Queen 19 - Atomic Queen 20 - Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love 21 - On Fire Disc 1 Tracks 12-24 Disc 2 Tracks 1-12 are from the 1977 demo produced by Ted Templeman and Mo Ostin for Warner Bros. in Los Angeles late 1977. Disc 2 Tracks 13-16 are unused sessions and alternate takes. Disc 2 Tracks 17-21 are rehearsals from Pasadena, Ca. USA Convention Center October 15, 1977
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Soundboard 8.7 - The only flaw with this tape is that it features a typical video compression type sound but the mastering job mitigated a lot of that so that the sound does breathe a bit more. It’s still very good, a little rough maybe but I take it and I am happy with it especially if nothing else because all instruments are present, the bass work is surprisingly defined in this mix…I can actually hear individual notes being played and my goodness Michael Anthony was a boss! Van Halen Poliedro de Caracas Caracas, Venezuela 1983-01-16 01. Romeo Delight 02. Unchained - Drum Solo 03. The Full Bug 04. Runnin' With The Devil 05. Jamie's Cryin' 06. Little Guitars 07. Dance The Night Away 08. Somebody Get Me A Doctor (Incl. I'm So Glad) 09. Little Dreamer 10. Mean Street 11. Secrets 12. Everybody Wants Some!! 13. Ice Cream Man 14. Intruder 15. (Oh) Pretty Woman 16. Eruption 17. Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love 18. Bottoms Up! 19. You Really Got Me David Lee Roth: Vocals Edward Van Halen: Guitars, Backing Vocals Michael Anthony: Bass, Backing Vocals Alex Van Halen: Drums
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Audience 8.7 - One of those tapes that you have to force yourself past the first song which gets mauled as the taper seemingly works to find his spot and get all his shit together…but then it just opens up to a much better experience. It kind of feels like going from the mud puddle to a waterfall, but in reality the tape is still only a little above average – but muddy it is not and that is great news to Van Halen collectors who seek every DLR recording in existence. Van Halen Rosemont Horizon Chicago, IL. 1984-03-13 Disc 1 01. -Unchained 02. -Hot For Teacher 03. -Drum Solo 04. -On Fire 05. -Running With The Devil 06. -Little Guitars 07. -Cathedral 08. -House Of Pain 09. -Bass Solo 10. -Jamie's Crying 11. -I'll Wait 12. -Keyboard Solo Disc 2 13. -Everybody Wants Some 14. -Girl Gone Bad 15. -1984 16. -Jump 17. -Guitar Solo 18. -Oh, Pretty Woman 19. -Panama 20. -You Really Got Me 21. -Ain’t Talkin’ ’Bout Love
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Audience 8.7 - This recording is one of those that initially has you thinking “ok, good but not great” but seriously, let it play. It is a LOUD tape, yes, sometimes bordering on distortion in the upper mid frequencies, yes – but when you get to Unchained there are moments where you completely get on board with this one. Trust me. It has a magic element to it despite being a little overloaded. I got sucked into it big time and my ears adjusted after only one song, after that it was tons of fun and the tape is close up and bristling with unbelievable electric energy. In other words – this was a total blast! Van Halen Brendan Byrne Arena Meadowlands East Rutherford, New Jersey November 15, 1982 Disc 1 1. -Romeo Delight 2. -Unchained 3. -Drum Solo 4. -The Full Bug 5. -Runnin' With the Devil 6. -Jamie's Cryin' 7. -Little Guitars 8. -Where Have All the Good Times Gone 9. -Bass Solo 10. -Hang 'Em High 11. -Cathedral Disc 2 12. -Secrets - Everybody Wants Some!! 13. -Dance the Night Away 14. -Somebody Get Me a Doctor 15. -Ice Cream Man 16. -Intruder 17. -Oh, Pretty Woman 18. -Guitar Solo 19. -Ain't Talkin' 'bout Love 20. -Bottoms Up! 21. -You Really Got Me
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Audience 8.7 - A raucous affair this one, the music is recorded very well, on excellent gear, but the stage mix is not ideal, but I am going to be critical mainly because I don’t like where the guitars are in the sound mix. The music is hot, not only performance wise but also on the tape itself, it’s pushing the meters to the breaking point…but it doesn’t break…much. There’s some “noise” somewhere in it, it’s not bad, it’s not a deal breaker, but I can tell it is there and I think it’s just some minor breakup in one band somewhere in the mid range. All in all, this is a pretty good one to get. Van Halen Selland Arena Fresno, CA September 5, 1982 Disc 1 Total Time: 59:08 1. -Romeo Delight 4:15 2. -Unchained 4:00 3. -Drum Solo 3:00 4. -The Full Bug 3:40 5. -Runnin' With The Devil 3:20 6. -Dave Raps 4:07 7. -Jamie's Cryin' 3:30 8. -Little Guitars 4:30 9. -Where Have All The Good Times Gone 3:31 10. -Bass Solo 4:04 11. -Hang 'em High 3:20 12. -Cathedral 1:54 13. -Secrets 3:15 14. -Everybody Wants Some 12:36 Disc 2 Total Time: 56:44 1. -Dance The Night Away 3:14 2. -Somebody Get Me A Doctor - I'm So Glad 6:00 3. -Ice Cream Man 9:41 4. -Intruder 1:54 5. -(Oh) Pretty Woman 3:06 6. -Guitar Solo (Pt. I) 7:03 7. -Guitar Solo (Pt. II) 2:23 8. -D.O.A. 3:51 9. -Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love 7:00 9. -Bottoms Up 4:20 10. -You Really Got Me - Happy Trails 8:06
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Audience 8.2 - Not the best tape by any stretch but it’s also a scarcity…very few World Invasion Tour tapes survive and this one does have a couple of things going for it –first, it is NOT muddy! It’s not distinctive, but that is not the same as muddiness. It’s a “clear” tape that is just not from close up, and is not done on professional gear. I started listening to this thinking “oh man” but believe it or not you will find a reason to continue on through the whole show, especially when Dave rants about his little problem in Cincinnati the night before. Van Halen Lee County Arena Fort Myers, FL August 8, 1980 World Invasion Tour 1. -Romeo Delight 2. -Bottoms Up - Alex Van Halen Drum Solo 3. -Runnin' With The Devil 4. -Loss of Control 5. -Take Your Whiskey Home 6. -Dance The Night Away 7. -Women In Love 8. -Jamie's Crying 9. -Bright Lights, Big City 10. -Everybody Wants Some!! 11. -And The Cradle Will Rock... 12. -Edward Van Halen Guitar Solo 13. -Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love 14. -Ice Cream Man 15. -You Really Got Me
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Audience 8.7 A real surprise here because when I first came across this one I assumed it would be crap. Why had I not heard of it before if it was good? Well, sometimes stuff just slips through the cracks I guess. Anyway what I am saying is that this is quite good, I began listening and made it through to the end and was thinking “this is a real find”. Van Halen Market Square Arena Indianapolis, IN. July 6th, 1984 Disc 1 - 62:37 1. Unchained 4:35 2. Hot For Teacher 8:03 3. On Fire 3:09 4. Running With The Devil 6:19 5. Little Guitars 4:48 6. Cathedral - House Of Pain 12:03 7. Jamie's Cryin' 3:24 8. I'll Wait 4:44 9. Everybody Wants Some 15:32 Disc 2 - 51:37 1. Girl Gone Bad 6:15 2. 1984 0:53 3. Jump 4:33 4. Guitar Solo 16:12 5. Pretty Woman 3:02 6. Panama 5:25 7. You Really Got Me 9:16 8. Ain't Talkin''Bout Love 6:01
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Montreal Audience 8.9 - One of the very best audience recordings from this tour, and ad to that the fact that this is sourced directly from a new 24/96 transfer and has been remastered (16/44) and has never sounded better. Toronto Soundboard 9.4 - another recently discovered (and rare as hen's teeth) board tape from a tour that did not see many board tapes. So, it's not just that it has taken decades for this to be discovered, but that it is an outstanding board tape...it's just too unbelievable to fathom how suddenly there now appears three 1982 soundboards from out of nowhere.
Van Halen Montreal Forum Montreal, Quebec, Canada 27. October 1982 Disc 1 01. Intro 02. Romeo Delight 03. Unchained 04. Drum Solo 05. The Full Bug 06. Runnin' With The Devil 07. Jamie's Cryin' 09. Where Have All The Good Times Gone! 10. Bass Solo 11. Hang 'Em High 12. Cathedral 13. Secrets 14. Drum Solo II 15. Everybody Wants Some!! 16. Dave's Talking 17. Everybody Wants Some!! (Reprise) Disc 2 18. Dance The Night Away 19. Somebody Get Me A Doctor (incl. I'm So Glad) 20. Ice Cream Man 21. Intruder 22. Oh, Pretty Woman 23. Guitar Solo 24. Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love 25. Bottoms Up! 26. You Really Got Me 27. Happy Trails 28. You Really Got Me (Reprise) 29. CHOM FM Radio Advert Disc 3 Van Halen Maple Leaf Gardens Toronto, Ontario 26 October 1982 01 Intro 02 Romeo Delight 03 Unchained 04 Drum Solo 05 The Full Bug 06 Runnin' With The Devil 07 Jamie's Cryin' 08 Little Guitars 09 Where Have All The Good Times Gone! 10 Bass Solo 11 Hang 'Em High 12 Cathedral 13 Secrets 14 Drum Solo II 15 Everybody Wants Some!! 16 Everybody Wants Some!! (Reprise) Disc 4 17 Dance The Night Away 18 Somebody Get Me A Doctor - I'm So Glad 19 Dave Acoustic Solo 20 Intruder 21 Pretty Woman 22 Guitar Solo 23 Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love 24 Bottoms Up! 25 You Really Got Me 26 Happy Trails 27 You Really Got Me (Reprise)