Alcatrazz/WI,USA 1984

This precious live recording from Graham Bonnet’s ALCATRAZZ tour of the US in 1984, just before Yngwie Malmsteen left the band, has been released on vinyl using the audience source of the first generation master! Since its formation in 1983, ALCATRAZZ has gained sensational popularity in the US and Japan, with Graham Bonnet’s powerful singing and Yngwie Malmsteen’s superb guitar playing, both of which are unique and appealing. However, after their performance in Japan in January 1984, Yngwie’s interest shifted to solo activities, and during their second US tour in February, the atmosphere within the band was tense. The show at Milwaukee Summerfest on July 7, 1984, included in this album, is just before Yngwie left the band. Although there are some cuts in the MC between songs, the songs and performances are recorded in their entirety, and for Graham and Yngwie fans, the approximately 73 minutes you can listen to here is a very important sound source, both historically and entertainingly. Compared to the audience recordings from the same period, it has a fresh sound and good visibility, as if several thick layers of skin had been removed, as well as a clear and natural listening experience, and in front of this sound, all the audience recordings from the past ’84 US tours will fade away! The audience’s enthusiasm was at its peak from the MC before the start of the show, and the rising Yngwie calls show the depth of the impact he made on the rock scene. The listener will be overwhelmed by the explosive excitement of the opening song, “Too Young To Die, Too Drunk To Live”. Graham and Yngwie, who have a strong presence, are of course at the center of the musical sound, but the keyboards of Jimmy Waldo and the bass of Gary Shea, who solidify the sides, are also easy to hear, and you can clearly hear the fantastic and gentle touch that they honed in NEW ENGLAND. In addition, the snappy and skilled drums of Jean Juvenat, who Yngwie also recognized, are also recorded with great attention to detail. Yngwie, who had already started preparing for his solo career, plays as he pleases on every song, exploding with his divine playing in every direction. It’s not a good thing from the perspective of a band sound, but it’s a great sample to listen to the talented guitar of Yngwie at that time. In particular, the explosive power and crazy playing like a mass of energy heard in “Kree Nakoorie” and the following “Guitar Solo” are clearly outstanding throughout Yngwie’s career. Graham, who faced this challenge, was in excellent condition throughout the day, and showed off his superhuman singing voice everywhere. From “Hiroshima Mon Amour,” which many singers who sang in Yngwie’s band struggled with, to “Jet To Jet,” which Graham himself recalls struggling with, his singing voice far surpasses the studio take, and is truly amazing! Of course, it’s not all about the power, but the familiar “Since You Been Gone” from the RAINBOW era is fun and pop, and the emotional “Suffer Me” is a crushing sadness, and you will be impressed by his skill in singing each one expressively. The live ends with “Lost In Hollywood” and “All Night Long,” which have become Graham’s signature songs since RAINBOW, and the spectacular performance makes you wonder if there are any other takes that are more worth listening to. It is said that two great men cannot stand together, but it is no wonder that Graham is dissatisfied with the fact that many people in the venue are still “Yngwie Calling” even after listening to all these songs. It is not often that you can hear such a tremendous vocal and guitar clash. We can only be grateful to the taper of this recording that has left this performance like a “Milwaukee Duel” to this day! The audience recording entitled “THE FINAL ATTRACTION” that existed in the past was also credited as a “Milwaukee Summer Fest recording”, but the date of that recording is incorrect, and this work is the genuine document of July 7, 1984. Please enjoy the best audience recording of ALCATRAZZ’s 1984 US tour at the end of the Yngwie era! All the noise and rough cuts caused by the master have been carefully corrected and corrected in this best version of the recording. The pitch is also accurate. A release worthy of a historical item has been decided! Live at Summerfest, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA 7th July 1984 TRULY AMAZING/PERFECT SOUND 1. Introduction 2. Incubus 3. Too Drunk To Live, To Young To Die 4. Jet To Jet 5. Night Games 6. Island In The Sun 7. Desert Song 8. Kree Nakoorie 9. Guitar Solo 10. Since You Been Gone 11. Suffer Me 12. Hiroshima Mon Amour 1 3. Lost In Hollywood 14. Evil Eye 15. All Night Long Graham Bonnet – Vocal Yngwie Malmsteen – Guitar Gary Shea – Bass Jan Uvena – Drums Jimmy Waldo – Keyboards