Description
Randy Rhoads—a guitarist whose every performance was a treasure in rock history and whose every note shone with brilliance. Now, a new release arrives to further enrich the collection of legendary performances left behind by this genius. This title captures the concert held in Springfield on May 4, 1981, featuring a massive-sounding audience recording. While we cover Ozzy Osbourne’s entire career, we have taken special care to archive the Randy era, presenting as many masterpieces as possible. Since this was a period of frequent lineup changes, let us first—as always—survey the band’s activities at the time to understand where this release fits into the timeline. 1980 “Blizzard of Ozz Tour” [B. Daisley, L. Kerslake, L. Bridgewater] – Sept. 3–Nov. 8: UK (37 shows). 1981 [R. Sarzo, T. Aldridge, L. Bridgewater] – April 22–Sept. 13: North America #1 (93 shows + 1 UK show) ← ★Here★ “Diary of a Madman Tour” – Nov. 1–Dec. 2: Europe (11 shows) [R. Sarzo, T. Aldridge, D. Airey] – Dec. 30 & 31: North America #2a (2 shows). 1982 – Jan. 1–March 18: North America #2b (45 shows) [March 19: Randy Rhoads passes away]. This outlines the Ozzy Osbourne band during the Randy era. The Springfield concert featured here was part of the “North America #1” leg—the longest of the tours, spanning 93 shows. Naturally, a high number of performances means a wealth of recordings exists. Let’s take a closer look at the schedule and organize it alongside the “classic recording” collection: “North America #1” – April 22–28 (6 shows) *April 29: *THE CRAZY GANG* (Rochester) – April 30 & May 1 (2 shows) *May 2: *PALLADIUM 1981 1ST SHOW* & *2ND SHOW* – May 3: Poughkeepsie show *May 4: Springfield show ← ★This Release★ – May 6–10 (4 shows) *May 11: *DEFINITIVE TRIBUTE* (Cleveland) – May 13–July 27 (41 shows) *July 28: *DEFINITIVE TRIBUTE* (Montreal) – July 31–August 6 (6 shows) *August 7: *PROVIDENCE 1981* *August 8: *SOUTH FALLSBURG 1981* – August 9–12 (3 shows) *August 14: *NASSAU COLISEUM 1981* – August 15–September 13 (23 shows) *Note: “*” indicates a classic recording. It is a rare recording that preserves both a solid, powerful core and intricate details. As you can see, this release captures a night sandwiched between two legends: it took place just two days after the famous Palladium show (May 2)—which caused a stir with its stunning upgraded master—and seven days before the Cleveland show (May 11), also renowned for its excellent recording quality. The recording documenting this show is an upgraded master of a vintage audience tape. To be honest, it isn’t the sort of recording one might mistake for a soundboard, nor does it compete in the same league as our shop’s top-tier audience recordings. It retains some noise and pitch instability, so it is not something I would readily recommend to someone new to audience recordings. To put it another way, this release is aimed at the true aficionado. However, “aficionado” here doesn’t simply mean a collector who wants to own everything. A true aficionado is a connoisseur—someone with deep knowledge of the music and the source material, capable of seeing past surface-level flaws like scratches or noise to grasp the essence of the performance. This release is a gem that lives up to such high expectations. Indeed, if you listen closely beyond the surface, you can hear a powerful, thick, and immediate core to the sound. The mix is transparent, with vocals and snare drums coming through clearly. Best of all, Randy’s guitar solos stand out distinctly in every track; despite a sonic texture reminiscent of AM radio, the nuances of his delicate tone and phrasing are faithfully captured. Rudy’s bass also asserts itself on tracks like “Believer” and “Flying High Again,” conveying the band’s tight, high-quality performance. While it may not have the vividness of a soundboard recording, it offers a rewarding experience for the discerning listener. Furthermore, this release represents the definitive version, maximizing the potential of this rare recording through state-of-the-art mastering. Those familiar with previous masters will recall the pitch instability—particularly noticeable between “Believer” and “Steal Away The Night”—but this edition uses the latest digital technology to significantly mitigate that tape wobble. Of course, digital processing isn’t magic, so while severe fluctuations couldn’t be completely eliminated, the sections with minor instability are now rock-steady. The crackling noise present in some areas has also been reduced. The result is a live album that is far easier to listen to, allowing the recording’s true appeal to shine through. This upgraded sound captures a regular show from early May, a time when the band was in peak form. Ozzy is in good vocal shape, and Randy’s solos are sharp and incisive. Sandwiched between two legendary performances—the Palladium and Cleveland shows—this recording perfectly captures the band at the peak of its powers and the height of its North American success. Perhaps the driving force behind this stellar form was the presence of family; in fact, Randy’s biological father and two half-brothers were in the audience that night. It turned out to be the last time Randy saw his family, making it a truly memorable evening. While Ozzy would later reign over the scene as the “Godfather of Heavy Metal,” the foundation for that status was laid during the bold North American campaign of the Randy era. This live album offers an authentic, 100% real-deal experience of that “Number One in North America” period. It is a rare vintage recording that captures Randy Rhoads—at his absolute best—with a sound that is both powerful and rich in intricate detail. A release that is essential for the die-hard fan. This is an audience recording of the May 4, 1981, Springfield show. It has been polished through mastering to set a new standard for this vintage source, with tape fluctuations and surface noise minimized as much as possible. The recording captures a thick, upfront core sound alongside fine details, allowing Randy’s guitar solos—played at the top of his game—to shine brilliantly. This is a rare live album that true connoisseurs, capable of appreciating the essence of a recording, will want to savor. Live at Springfield Civic Center, Springfield, MA, USA 4th May 1981 (61:56) 01. Carmina Burana 02. I Don’t Know 03. Crazy Train 04. Believer 05. Mr Crowley 06. Flying High Again 07. Revelation Mother Earth 08. Steal Away The Night 09. Drum Solo 10. Suicide Solution 11. Randy’s Solo 12. Iron Man 13. Children Of The Grave 14. Paranoid
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