Band,The The Band/CA,USA 8.25.1976 Upgrade

The last tour for The Band was in America in the summer of 1976. Speaking of this tour, Steve Hopkins’ masterpiece audience recording “LENOX 1976 STEVE HOPKINS MASTER” is a representative work, and it is a very valuable best-seller in that it captured the entire live performance with the best sound quality that cannot be heard on the radio broadcast. There is no doubt that “LENOX 1976~” is the top audience recording of this tour, but there was also the unexpected fact that valuable audience recordings recorded by Japanese people have been circulating for a long time. Since it was the first live performance by The Band in a long time, it was also featured in Japanese music magazines, and it was a tour with more Japanese people than expected. Since it was essentially their last tour, it can be said that those who witnessed it were even more lucky. Such a valuable record was at the Greek Theater on August 25th. Although it does not reach the exceptional quality of “LENOX 1976~”, the solid texture of the mono recording is really perfect for The Band, and the sound image is surprisingly close. It feels like a good audience from the 1976 tour that is worthy of a release other than “LENOX 1976~” has finally appeared. However, this is not the first appearance of this sound source. It has been circulating among traders for some time, and even a title called “TEARS OF GRIEF” was released in the 1990s. However, the version between traders was spread by repeated cassette dubbing from Japan via overseas, and it was labeled as “not good sound quality” in trader lists. Naturally, “TEARS OF GRIEF”, which was made into a CD from such a Genesis cassette, is now of quite rough quality, with a higher pitch and more hiss noise. Indeed, this is why it was called “not so good sound quality”, and it was clear that the quality had risen considerably. This is a precious Japanese recording and also a record of The Band’s last tour. The value of such a sound source has been halved. This unfortunate sound source’s master cassette was suddenly provided, so I was really surprised. Of course, it was not available at all among traders at the master level, so it was a shocking discovery without any exaggeration. Above all, the quality has improved dramatically, and it feels like it’s already 5 ranks easier to listen to. I’m sure you’ll be surprised that the original recording had such great sound quality. Therefore, it is completely incomparable to the version that was previously available among traders and the old CD “TEARS OF GRIEF”. It really makes you realize the power of the master. The scene that eloquently tells us that this sound source was recorded by a Japanese person is the scene after “Up On Cripple Creek” where a heartfelt voice says “I’m glad” and makes you feel warm and fuzzy, perhaps because of the joy of hearing the song you were looking for. However, there are cuts in the song and “Ophelia” that seem to have been made by accidentally pressing the stop recording button, but you can see that in “TEARS OF GRIEF” they boldly cut and concealed those parts. Although it is unfortunate, this time, including those parts, it is recorded completely without cutting. And compared to “LENOX 1976~”, The Band’s performance is played in a more relaxed atmosphere that is characteristic of them. In particular, “Tears Of Rage”, where Richard Manuel’s voice deterioration was at the forefront, is sung well as he tours, and the 1976 version is much more reassuring to listen to than “LENOX 1976~” or the black and white pro shot footage of Asbury Park. In addition, the flow from Garth Hudson’s familiar “Genetic Method” to “Chest Fever” features his organ approaching with tremendous force, but it is also at a level that cannot be compared to the already released boards or the gene-dropped cassettes between traders. A special bonus track is also included, which is appropriate for the limited press CD release of the Japanese recording that realized such a shocking master recording. When the movie “THE LAST WALTZ” was released in 1978, Robbie came to Japan to promote the movie. At the event held at that time, it was held at a theater, and it was not just a press conference or a preview screening, but a jam session with the band. This was widely reported in real time, but the sound source that actually captured the session was not known to exist at all. However, the taper who recorded this Greek Theater recorded this event! There, Robbie’s Q&A about the movie was also brief, and it was a very groundbreaking event that moved on to a jam where he could show his true talent. First, he played “The Weight” with the band as an instrumental. Moreover, Robbie was a brilliant response in that he supported the main guitarist without showing his ego, and yet he put in a dry phrase that was very much like him. And like the finale of “THE LAST WALTZ”, in “I Shall Be Released”, the artists who were present on the day went on stage and sang together, while the main Robbie exploded with his favorite phrases in the interlude. This precious scene was also captured in monaural form with truly amazing sound quality, making it a shocking bonus track that is not to be outdone by the master recording of the main Greek Theater. This is the ultimate release that combines the super-upper version master, which is sure to amaze enthusiasts around the world, and the phantom Robbie’s first visit to Japan! Live at Greek Theatre, Los Angeles, CA, USA 25th August 1976 PERFECT SOUND(from Original Masters)*UPGRADE Disc 1 (48:15) 1. Baby Don’t You Do It 2. The Shape I’m In 3. It Makes No Difference 4. The Weight 5. King Harvest (Has Surely Come) 6. Forbidden Fruit 7. This Wheel’s on Fire 8. The Night They Drove Old D ixie Down 9. Across the Great Divide 10. Ophelia Disc 2 (74:34) 1. Up on Cripple Creek 2. Twilight 3. Introductions of Horn Section 4. The W.S. Walcott Medicine Show 5. Tears of Rage 6. Stage Fright 7. Acadian Driftwood 8. The Genetic Method / Chest Fever 9. Life Is a Carnival 10. Ring Your Bell 11 . Rag Mama Rag Rick Danko – bass guitar, fiddle, vocals Levon Helm – drums, mandolin, vocals Garth Hudson – organ, piano, accordion, synthesizer, clavinet, saxophones Richard Manuel – piano, drums, organ, clavinet, Dobro, vocals Robbie Robertson – guitar, piano, vocals ROBBIE ROBERTSON at Ginza Miyuki-Za (movie theater) ★First appearance★Very important recording The Last Waltz Premier Show Miyuki-Za, Tokyo, Japan 14th July 1978 PERFECT SOUND (from Original Masters) 12. Interview (Q&A) ★Interpreter included 13. The Weight ★Performance with a famous Japanese band (good) 14. I Shall Be Released ★Famous Japanese musicians of the time join on stage impromptu, singing and chorus. Amazing ★ Super rare ★ A dreamlike time MC: “I believe I handed out lyric sheets to you all when you entered the venue, so please sing along.”