Aerosmith / VA, USA – November 16, 1987 – Soundboard Edition

Aerosmith in 1987—a band that staged a comeback nothing short of a miracle in rock history. Now, the legendary soundboard recording that defined that glorious era has been polished and remastered. We present a CD that sets a new benchmark for sound quality, capturing the raw, authentic Aerosmith experience. This legendary recording documents the November 16, 1987, show in Hampton—a classic stereo soundboard recording that epitomizes the “Permanent Vacation Tour.” While the pro-shot video of the Houston show is also famous as a highlight of this tour, let’s first take a broad look at the entire “comeback” world tour to understand where this specific show fits in. 1987: *Permanent Vacation* released (Aug 25); North America Leg 1 (44 shows, Oct 16–Dec 31) ← ★Here★. 1988: North America Leg 2 (29 shows, Jan 16–Feb 28) ← *Houston 1988*; North America Leg 3 (36 shows, Mar 21–May 22); Japan (6 shows, Jun 17–26); North America Leg 4 (40 shows, Jul 2–Sep 15). This was Aerosmith in 1987–1988; the schedule was far more massive than any tour they undertook in the 70s. The Hampton show featured here took place early on—it was the 21st show of the “North America Leg 1.” It was a pivotal moment when the *Permanent Vacation* album was climbing the charts and the tour was shifting into high gear. It was a historic, electrifying period for the band, and this particular show is famous above all for having been broadcast on the radio. That FM soundboard recording has long reigned as a definitive classic. While countless releases of this recording have appeared over the years, our shop’s previous title, *Hampton 1987*, stood as the pinnacle of them all. This release represents the ultimate generation, sourced directly from the original Westwood One broadcast masters, and includes the bonus track “Bone To Bone (Coney Island White Fish Boy),” which aired only in Japan. While it falls short of being a “complete” version due to the absence of the unaired tracks “Magic Touch” and “I’m Down,” it stood as the pinnacle of existing soundboard recordings in terms of both quality and content. This new edition further refines that definitive release, setting a new benchmark for excellence. The key highlight is the “natural feel of the live Aerosmith sound.” To be honest, the previous release already boasted “official-quality” sound—but that meant “official quality *for that era*.” The mix and finish reflected the trends of the time, featuring heavy echo and a sound engineered to boost overall volume across the entire frequency spectrum. While it didn’t quite reach the extremes of the infamous “Loudness War,” it certainly embodied that “bubble-era” sound—standing right on the threshold of that trend. In contrast, this release offers what could be described as “official quality by modern standards.” Today’s audio landscape prioritizes a natural sound, free from the obsession with sheer volume. Adopting this approach, this release faithfully reproduces Aerosmith’s authentic live sound. The balance—previously handled with a blunt, across-the-board approach—has been fine-tuned through frequency analysis, and the stereo imaging has been improved. Because the forced, aggressive loudness has been removed, it might feel understated at first listen, but the reproduction of the musical ensemble is vastly superior. You can now clearly hear and appreciate Tom Hamilton’s bass lines, which were previously buried in the mix. This vivid, natural sound breathes new life into a collection of masterpieces fueled by the band’s blazing potential. While the *Permanent Vacation* album made headlines for its bold inclusion of outside songwriters, the real highlight here is the band’s 70s classics. To illustrate why, let’s take a look at the setlist. The tracklist includes: *Permanent Vacation* (2 songs) – “Dude (Looks Like A Lady)” / “Rag Doll”; Classics (13 songs) – *Toys in the Attic* era tracks like “Toys in the Attic,” “Big Ten Inch Record,” “Sweet Emotion,” and “Walk This Way,” plus *Rocks* tracks like “Back in the Saddle,” “Last Child,” and “Rats in the Cellar”; and others such as “Dream On,” “Same Old Song And Dance,” “Train Kept A Rollin’,” “Draw The Line,” “Bone To Bone (Coney Island White Fish Boy),” and “Lightning Strikes.” As previously mentioned, this is not the full setlist from the night, but the curation clearly prioritizes the classics. They limit new material to just two songs, offering a generous serving of their legendary hits. Moreover, the performances are outstanding. While the atmosphere differs from the 1970s, the live playing—fueled by the momentum of their comeback—is incredibly cool. Steven Tyler’s vocal style was becoming more flamboyant, yet he was still in his 30s, with his vocal power and range in peak form. Above all, the entire band was imbued with the kind of “Lady Luck” energy where everything they touched turned to gold. Aerosmith had successfully returned to the forefront of the music scene thanks to carefully crafted strategies and hit singles, but the true driving force behind their comeback lay in their revitalized live performances. This release stands as sonic proof of that energy. It is the definitive version of this soundboard album, delivering classics—supercharged by their comeback momentum—straight into your brain. This is a stereo soundboard recording of the November 16, 1987, Hampton concert. It is a newly upgraded, top-tier release, mastered directly from unused Westwood One source tapes and further refined. Unlike the original audio, which featured the heavy processing typical of the era, this version prioritizes a natural sound; the basslines stand out clearly, and the stereo imaging is enhanced. It is a soundboard album that vividly delivers the raw energy of a live performance, fueled by the success of the *Permanent Vacation* album, straight to the listener. Live at Hampton Coliseum, Hampton, VA, USA 16th November 1987 STEREO SBD (78:49) 1. Toys In The Attic 2. Same Old Song And Dance 3. Bone To Bone (Coney Island White Fish Boy) 4. Dude (Looks Like A Lady) 5. Big Ten Inch Record 6. Lightning Strikes 7. Rag Doll 8. Back In The Saddle 9. Last Child 10. Guitar Intro. 11. Draw The Line 12. Rats In The Cellar 13. Dream On 14. Sweet Emotion 15. Train Kept A Rollin’ 16. Walk This Way Steven Tyler – Vocals Joe Perry – Guitar Brad Whitford – Guitar Tom Hamilton – Bass Joey Kramer – Drums STEREO SOUNDBOARD RECORDING