Styx/MA, USA 1977

STYX made a breakthrough in 1977 with their famous album “THE GRAND ILLUSION”. The legendary recording that captured the scene has been decided to be reprinted. What is infused into this work is “Boston performance on November 4, 1977”. This is a superb audience recording made by Dan Lumpinski, a legendary master who has carved his name in the history of recording. Speaking of “THE GRAND ILLUSION Tour,” Mike Millard’s “LONG BEACH ARENA 1978” will be preserved forever, but if that is a new masterpiece, this is a classic masterpiece. It is Twin Peaks by two of the best rock masters of the 70’s. However, the mirrored recording and this work are different performances even if they are on the same tour. Let’s take a look back at the entire tour and check the positional relationship between each part. 1977 / May 6th – July 5th: North America #1a (15 performances)《“THE GRAND ILLUSION” released on July 7th》 / July 14th – December 30th: North America #1b (60 performances) ←★Coco★ 1978, January 11-29: North America #1c (13 performances) ← *LONG BEACH ARENA 1978 ・March 2-April 29: North America #2 (26 performances), May 11 Sunday – 24th: Europe (6 performances), May 31st: Seattle performance [“PIECES OF EIGHT” released on September 1st] This is the whole picture of “THE GRAND ILLUSION Tour”. They conducted a long US tour from two months before the album’s release until the end of January 1978. Millard’s work “LONG BEACH ARENA 1978” was in 1978 at the beginning of the year, but this work was the 41st concert of “North America #1b” about two and a half months before that. This work recorded at such a show is a super-excellent recording that further enhances the reputation of “Master Lumpinski”. Those who have experienced Lumpinski’s works will be familiar with it, but the strong core and fine details are soundboard-quality, and the faint hall sound imbues elegance and luster. In fact, its quality is on par with Millard’s “LONG BEACH ARENA 1978.” Speaking of the difference, mirrored recording has a stronger core attack feeling and is more like a soundboard. On the other hand, Lampinski’s work is superior in its sparkling clarity. As a matter of fact, “Man In The Wilderness” was not played in the Boston performance of this work, and it was slightly shorter than the Long Beach performance recorded by Millard. No amount of recording genius can do anything about this. However, even though there is one song less, “THE GRAND ILLUSION Tour” is in the middle of its big break. Its luxuriousness and concentration are unparalleled. Let’s organize the set here. John Kurlewski Era (6 songs), Styx II: Lady, Turning Point: Lorelei/Suite Madame Blue/Light Up/Midnight Ride/Born For Adventure Tommy Shaw Era (6 songs), Crystal Ball: Mademoiselle/Crystal Ball The Grand Illusion/Fooling Yourself (The Angry Young Man)/Come Sail Away/Miss America…and so on. It has a strong Greatest Hits feel from the era when neither “PIECES OF EIGHT” nor “CORNERSTONE” were released, and the full version of “Mademoiselle” which is not a medley, “Midnight Ride”, “Miss America” ​​and “Born For Adventure” all at once. There is plenty of flavor that can only be found on this tour, such as the highlights that are about to be folded. Of course, the performance that weaves the set is filled with the confidence and exhilaration that comes from being in the midst of a breakthrough, and even the familiar masterpieces sound completely different with the liveliness of the beat and the tension of the proud singing voice. It is a live album where you can clearly feel the full show that overflows and overflows with the flavor of the heyday with Lumpinski sound in every corner. I think Mike Millard’s new album “LONG BEACH ARENA 1978” will be a hot topic, but this work is also a masterpiece. Competing works by two geniuses that can be enjoyed in the depths of audience recording history by enjoying them together. Superb audience recording of “November 4, 1977 Boston Performance”. This is a signature product of legendary master Dan Lumpinski, and the powerful core and fine details are soundboard-quality, and the subtle hall sound exudes elegance and luster. Live at Orpheum Theatre, Boston, MA. USA 4th November 1977 PERFECT SOUND Disc 1(68:28) 1. The Grand Illusion 2. Lorelei 3. Mademoiselle 4. Fooling Yourself 5. Suite Madame Blue 6. Crystal Ball Disc 2(43 :57) 1. Light Up 2. Come Sail Away 3. Lady 4. Midnight Ride 5. Miss America 6. Born For Adventure Dennis DeYoung – Keyboards, Vocals James Young – Guitars, Keyboards, Vocals Tommy Shaw – Guitars, Vocals Chuck Panozzo – Bass, Vocals John Panozzo – Drums, Percussion, Vocals Dan Lampinski Master Collection