The Band/Live Compilation 1969 Upgrade

The audience album “LENOX 1976″, which recorded the precious stages of The Band’s final stage in the best sound quality, recorded sales that exceeded our expectations. Of course, this is a natural result considering that it is a valuable recording of the great group of the 1970s, but if that happens, the next thing that enthusiasts will want is the records from the band’s early days, when they were creating their most distinctive sound. . Their first album, “MUSIC FROM BIG PINK”, which became an eternal masterpiece, suddenly came into the limelight by sparking another revolution in the rock world of the late 1960s, which emphasized the importance of returning to the roots, but the same album After it was released, they did not perform any live activities. It is a surprising fact that it took The Band, who had been honed on stage every day during their time as backup for Ronnie Hawkins and Bob Dylan, to start their own live performance. Sho. Their long-awaited live performance took place in 1969, and the masterpiece “LIVE 1969” is a collection of valuable live recordings from that year. It was a set of three discs that could be called a 1969 live anthology, starting with the stage at the legendary Woodstock, the Isle of Wight, and even the stage after the release of the second album. Up until then, the band’s live recordings had concentrated on items from 1973 to 1976, and live recordings from the period that best represented them were not easily released. “LIVE 1969” made a difference in this situation, and its volume, which is equivalent to three CDs, is highly praised by enthusiasts. As a result, it was naturally sold out. Maniacs are asking for the reissue of “LIVE 1969,” which became an old masterpiece with the release and hit of “LENOX 1976.” So this time, the same title will be making a reappearance for the first time in a long time, but it is actually more than just a reappearance. This is because the release of the complete version of their stage was finally announced in the official 38-disc set “BACK TO THE GARDEN: THE DEFINITIVE 50TH ANNIVERSARY ARCHIVE” released to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Woodstock (ending The decision was made to record a different live sound source on the first disc. At one point, we considered a toned-down version of the album that would omit the first disc and make it a two-disc set, but fortunately, an enthusiast provided us with a sound source suitable for its replacement. It was Winterland in April 1969, which was The Band’s debut gig. More than half a year had passed since the release and huge success of the first album, and at that time, the production of the second album was underway, and it was on this stage that the band finally performed live. The debut gig at Winterland, which everyone had been waiting for, was held over three days from April 17th, but on the first day Robbie Robertson, who had a fever due to stress, was hypnotized. It is also famous for the legend that the gig was held over the course of the day. It is also famous that Robbie composed “Stage Fright” based on this experience. Although it is such a legendary gig, there is an audience recording that captures the third day, the 19th. It is miraculous that the sound source of the last day of the gig where The Band made its stage debut remains, but this sound source has been around for over 10 years now. It is now a long time ago that some of the items were sold because they were so valuable. Nowadays, it has become a valuable sound source that cannot be found even if you search on the internet. It is a big topic just that such a sound source is recorded again, but the sound quality is typical of a vintage audience. It has a lot of analog feel, and the hiss noise that floats around is not unpleasant at all. Of course, it must be a sound source for enthusiasts, but it is surprisingly easy to listen to. First of all, from the sound image, it has a surprisingly good balance, especially the balance of each vocalist. However, it was a vintage audience, and it had low pitch instability from the beginning, and this time we thoroughly adjusted this problem, which was completely neglected with conventional items. And what is most moving is how the world of “MUSIC FROM BIG PINK” unfolds on stage. For the reasons mentioned above, the vocals are well-balanced, so I can’t help but be moved by the way Richard Manuel sings “Tears of Rage” and the gentleness of “In a Station.” In moderation. This is a scene that can only be experienced in early bands. Also, Robbie, who was in a bad mood on the first day due to a fever, is playing the guitar in good condition and speaks to the audience at the end. The best song is the country traditional song “Little Birds.” The band was proud to have performed such a pastoral song live in 1969, and it is an extremely valuable cover that can only be heard as the band’s performance on this sound source. As mentioned earlier, it has been difficult to obtain in recent years, so there may be many enthusiasts who are hearing this release for the first time. Furthermore, since April’s Winterland was recorded instead of Woodstock, the entire album was made up of audience recordings, and the live sound sources from 1969 were beautifully summarized on three discs. . The second and subsequent discs basically follow the previous release, but we have also carried out a thorough restoration of the sound source that goes beyond mere reissues. To tell you the truth, the previous release did not have any modifications other than pitch adjustment, so this time it is also a dignified upper version release in which the problems that were found in each sound source have been wiped out. Of course, the fact that these sound sources were originally in excellent condition is a big factor, but as I wrote in a separate section this time, detailed modifications have been made to each sound source. Isle of Wight has been an incredible level of sound since its last release as an audience recording in 1969, and its impact has not faded yet. Is it like a radio broadcast at the time? The sound image is so great that you almost get the illusion that it is. After all, in “Chest Fever”, Garth Hudson’s organ and Richard’s piano keys can be clearly heard with amazing clarity. Furthermore, Robbie’s roaring “To Kingdom Come” (not the guitar, lol), which was a hot topic in specialty magazines at the time of its release, is powerful. When Rick and Levon are singing in the same song, it’s nothing, but when Robbie starts singing with Richard, the vocals become distorted all at once and it’s strange. It’s funny because even though he was able to write such great songs and was a good guitar player, his singing voice was hoarse and useless. That’s why the band was able to have other members sing his songs. At Felt Forum in December, which was included as a bonus after Isle of Wight, Robbie is still singing “To Kingdom Come,” but it’s a complete change from the way he modestly sang the same song at Winterland in April. , you will be surprised by how proudly he growls (lol). This has a rough vintage sound quality, but the sound image is very strong, so I think you can enjoy it enough. And the October Philadelphia performance recorded on the last disc was discovered nearly 10 years ago and delighted enthusiasts around the world as the band’s oldest full-size live recording. In terms of sound image, it is the recording state that makes you feel the sense of distance the most among the audience recordings included in this title, but instead it has a different charm and ease of listening with wonderful freshness and realism. The band had only a small repertoire at Winterland in April, and could barely manage a 40-minute gig, but with the release of their second album, their repertoire suddenly increased. Above all, not only was the album a huge hit, but the single “Up on Cripple Creek” was also a hit, and it captures the reaction and realism of the audience, who listened politely but still got excited. That’s good. Therefore, the reaction to the recording of the second album was also enthusiastic. What’s more, the climax of Garth’s organ improvisation (which was still short at this time) into “Chest Fever”, or the excitement of Robbie’s guitar and Richard’s piano during “Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever”. It’s great that it clearly captures how the audience is “listening to the music”, such as the applause for the battle. The soundboard of Woodstock will be handed over to the official, but this time it is a 1969 live anthology compiled only with audience recordings. You can fully enjoy the more maniacally fulfilling content and the sincere performance unique to the early band throughout the entire story. They have been reborn as the ultimate rare live sound source set that highlights their original appearance even more than the previous version! Winterland Ballroom, San Francisco, CA, USA 19th April 1969 Isle Of Wight Festival, UK 31st August 1969 Felt Forum, New York, NY, USA December 1969 Academy Of Music, Philadelphia, PA, USA 26th October 1969 Disc 1 (40:44 ) Winterland Ballroom, San Francisco, CA, USA 19th April 1969 1. This Wheel’s On Fire 2. Tears Of Rage 3. Long Black Veil 4. Chest Fever 5. In A Station 6. Little Birds 7. To Kingdom Come 8. The Weight Disc 2 (61:10) Isle Of Wight Festival Woodside Bay, Wootton, Isle of Wight, UK 31st August 1969 1. We Can Talk 2. Long Black Veil 3. To Kingdom Come 4. Ain’t No More Cane 5. Don’t Ya Tell Henry 6. Chest Fever 7. I Shall Be Released 8. The Weight 9. Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever Felt Forum, New York, NY, USA December 1969 10. The Unfaithful Servant 11. To Kingdom Come 12 The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down 13. Across The Great Divide 14. We Can Talk 15. Up On Cripple Creek 16. Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever Disc 3 (63:25) Academy Of Music, Philadelphia, PA, USA 26th October 1969 1. Introduction 2. This Wheel’s On Fire 3. We Can Talk 4. Don’t Ya Tell Henry 5. Caledonia Mission 6. Chest Fever 7. I Shall Be Released 8. Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever 9. The Weight 10. Long Black Veil 11. Tears Of Rage 12. Don’t Do It 13. The Unfaithful Servant 14. Up On Cripple Creek 15. Slippin’ And Slidin’ 16. Look Out Cleveland 17. The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down Robbie Robertson – guitars, vocals Rick Danko – bass, vocals Levon Helm – drums, mandolin, vocals Garth Hudson – organ, saxophone Richard Manuel – piano, drums, vocals