David Bowie/CA,USA 9.11.1974

1974 Bowie released at the same time as San Diego on September 11th. If you’re thinking, “Yeah…are you going to release it in San Diego?”, you must be quite the “DIAMOND DOGS” tour freak. Audience recordings of this day have been circulating for some time, and can now be easily heard on YouTube. If you listen closely, you’ll understand, but the sound is bad. The rough texture of the tape, combined with the distant sound image, made this a sound source that would have been avoided unless you were a freak. The sound quality fits perfectly with the description “rough sound source”, and you would even want to call it a stepping stone for fans. However, since this release is from The David Bowie Archive Series, we have released a sound source that is incomparably easier to listen to. “Has another master been discovered?” No, that’s not true. This was also provided by a British Bowie researcher and is only available among core traders. In fact, this is the same sound source that has been around for a long time. However, unlike that, this is a digitized version from the master cassette. What’s more, it was recorded by John Wizard. It is a recording from the master that he shared only with core traders. No wonder the sound quality levels are so different. However, there is no evidence that he released this sound source through Wizardo or his subsequent activities, and it was shelved as it was recorded. It happened to be copied, and the original version was recirculated through countless dubbings. It is true that this master also has a sound image with a sense of distance at the beginning of the concert, but the difference is that the unstable elements that made it even more difficult to hear have been eliminated. The original sound source that you can hear well even at this early stage was so easy to listen to. Moreover, the sound image becomes closer to the top, and by the end of the first part, it is finally easier to hear. I think there were many enthusiasts who couldn’t get to that point because the previous version was too difficult to listen to. Even with such problems, the original version was called “a very fine concert” among freaks who patiently listened to it, and the performance was of the highest quality. You will be reminded that it was a masterpiece that was overwhelmed by this significantly higher version. After completing a week-long schedule at the Universal Amphitheater in LA, the next performance was in San Diego, but after experiencing the tough schedule in LA, Greg, who was only on the rhythm section in September, Eriko and Doug Roach have become familiar with the band and are playing freely. “Sweet Thing” is a performance that makes use of their unique characteristics. The tone is looser and more powerful than in LA. Supported by this performance, Bowie sings to his heart’s content. Even if you take this one song, it is vividly captured that Bowie was in an exceptionally good condition in September. Furthermore, the slow ballad “It’s Gonna Be Me”, which has been played as a repertoire since September, has evolved compared to the time in LA, and Bowie sings the ending with a lot of extension. And in “Time”, Mike Garson’s piano handling escalates, and it is also interesting to hear that the band has begun to incorporate quite free play. I guess this is also the result of the reassembled band being trained through continuous performances in LA. Above all, Bowie’s passionate singing stands out throughout the show. After all, they probably parted ways with the “DIAMOND DOGS” set after the LA series of performances. Last year, a video shot by the CBS San Diego bureau of this day’s stage for news appeared, surprising enthusiasts, but it was true that there was no “DIAMOND DOGS” set. The fact that they were able to sing to their heart’s content without having to worry about the large set that was holding them back was proof of how well they were doing that day. If this sound source had been released by Wizardo at the time, it would definitely have become a representative piece of the 1974 tour. However, Wizardo rarely releases double albums due to cost issues, and as a result, it is assumed that their albums were shelved. It is true that the quality may not be for everyone, and in that respect, “ANAHEIM 1974 MIKE MILLARD ORIGINAL MASTER TAPES”, which was released a week after Mike Millard’s early recording in San Diego, is suitable. However, from the perspective of enthusiasts, the texture of this time, which is typical of vintage audiences, should be attractive. The monaural, solid texture and naturalness unique to the master cassette clearly convey the great performance of the day. Generally speaking, September is the time for performances in LA, but I think the peak of the “DIAMOND DOGS” tour this month was on this day or in Anaheim. Please enjoy to your heart’s content the thrilling performance of John Wizard’s treasured master! San Diego Sports Arena, San Diego, CA, USA 11th September 1974 TRULY AMAZING SOUND Jon Wizardo Master Cassettes / Previously Uncirculated Disc 1 (56:27) 1. 1984 2. Rebel Rebel 3. Moonage Daydream 4. Sweet Thing / Candidate / Sweet Thing (Reprise) 5. Changes 6. Suffragette City 7. Aladdin Sane (1913-1938-197?) 8. All The Young Dudes * 9. Cracked Actor 10. Rock ‘n’ Roll With Me 11. Knock on Wood 12. It’s Gonna Be Me Disc 2 (41:31) 1. Space Oddity 2. Future Legend 3. Diamond Dogs 4. Big Brother / Chant Of The Ever Circling Skeletal Family 5. Time 6. The Jean Genie 7. Rock ‘n’ Roll Suicide 8. band introductions 9. John, I’m Only Dancing (Again)