The “HIDE YOUR SHEEP Tour” is experiencing a surge in the discovery of unprecedented soundboards, unprecedented in the history of VAN HALEN…or even in the entire history of rock music. The latest release, two ultra-unique titles that set them apart from the rest, have been decided! This work is the first part of such a series. It is a superb stereo soundboard recording of the “August 21, 1982 Richfield Performance.” If you’ve read this article, you’re probably familiar with the rush of soundboards that first appeared, but this week’s two works are a bit different from previous works. This work in particular is a mysterious work that has been called a “nightmare live album.” What makes it so nightmarish? To explain, let’s first (as usual) start with an overview of the band’s activities and delve into the show’s position. 1982 (“DIVER DOWN” released April 14th) July 14th – August 21st: North America #1 (26 shows) ←★COCO★ September 1st – 25th: North America #2 (17 shows) ←※PHOENIX 1982 October 7th – December 11th: North America #3 (38 shows) ←TORONTO 1982 and others 1983 January 16th – February 12th: South America (15 shows) May 29th: US Festival appearance This is VAN HALEN from the “DIVER DOWN” era. The simultaneously released “PHOENIX 1982 SOUNDBOARD” is the first report from the previously unexplored “North America #2,” but this work is the previous “North America #1.” It was a famous leg that has produced a large number of soundboards up to now. Let’s further focus on the dates and organize your collection. Details of “North America #1” ・July 14th-23rd (7 shows) *July 24th “BILOXI 1982 SOUNDBOARD” ・July 27th + 29th (2 shows) *July 30th “LOUISVILLE 1982 SOUNDBOARD” *July 31st “FORT WAYNE 1982 SOUNDBOARD” *August 3rd “ROCKFORD 1982 SOUNDBOARD” ・August 4th: Des Moines performance *August 6th “ST. LOUIS 1982 SOUNDBOARD” ・August 7th + 8th (2 shows) *August 10th “ST. PAUL 1982 SOUNDBOARD” ・August 11th: Madison performance *August 13th “DETROIT 1982 1ST NIGHT “SOUNDBOARD” August 14-19 (5 shows) *August 21: Richfield show ←★This album★ The final day of the nightmare leg, with both Dave and Eddie in terrible shape… and so it goes. This is the eighth and final live album of “North America #1.” Like their previous works, this is a superbly powerful leaked soundboard. It’s a dignified companion piece that rivals their previous works in terms of quality. So, what exactly is the “nightmare”? It’s the live performance itself. And it’s not just one or two blunders, but mistakes lead to mistakes, resulting in a catastrophe where the performance itself falls apart. First of all, David Lee Roth is in terrible shape. His previous album, “DETROIT 1982 1ST NIGHT,” showed signs of a cold, but this one is even worse. He’s not coughing, perhaps because he’s taking cough medicine, but his voice isn’t coming out as he’d hoped, and his vocalization sounds like he’s speaking the lyrics without following the melody. Of course, his usual singing style is like an extension of his usual talk, but unlike that, this work lacks momentum and tension. And perhaps Dave’s ailments have spread to Eddie, who also lacks detail. There are some interesting moments, like the “Panama” phrase popping up during the jam of “Somebody Get Me A Doctor / I’m So Glad,” but overall, there are two things going wrong. There are occasional scenes of him getting his parts wrong or stumbles. Even the staff was worn out, bringing the show to a halt. However, this may not have been Eddie’s fault. The sound staff were also messing around that day. For example, there was a crackling noise in the bass drum early on, and each instrument suddenly distorted. For example, there was a strange fluctuation in the sound during “Unchained,” and frequent microphone feedback during the following “Unchained.” Furthermore, the guitar cut out during “Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love,” and the performance itself became unsustainable during “Secrets” (Dave tries to cover it up with various explanations, but it’s all messy). These noises and distortions are not a flaw in the master record or a mistake. It’s clearly a malfunction of the on-site sound system. Why did it end up being such a huge blunder? There were likely a number of factors at play, but one of them may have been the timing of the final day of “North America #1.” After more than a month of almost nonstop travel, both the band and the sound crew must have been exhausted. I’m not sure whether I’m recommending this album or not, but of course I’m giving it a “high” recommendation. I would recommend listening to their other albums first to discover their true potential, but even listening to them on top of that, the sloppy nature of this album is both unusual and endearing. It’s precisely because of the vast amount of soundboards unearthed that this is a truly enjoyable and mysterious work. Even within this powerful and unparalleled soundboard collection, this latest release stands out as a unique and must-listen. This is the first stereo soundboard recording of the “August 21, 1982 Richfield Performance.” As with the previous series, this is a superb product directly connected to the mix table. The show content is extremely rare, and both Dave and Eddie are in poor condition. Due to sound problems, you can enjoy a rare show where the performance itself cannot continue on “Secrets” with an extra-thick soundboard. Richfield Coliseum, Richfield, Ohio, USA 21st August 1982 STEREO SBD Disc:1 (52:29) 1. Intro 2. Romeo Delight 3. Unchained 4. Drum Solo 5. The Full Bug 6. Runnin’ With The Devil 7. Little Guitars 8. Where Have All The Good Times Gone! 9. Bass Solo 10. Hang ‘Em High 11. Cathedral 12. Secrets 13. Everybody Wants Some!! 14. Dance The Night Away Disc:2 (42:03) 1. Somebody Get Me A Doctor / I’m So Glad 2. Intruder 3. Pretty Woman 4. Guitar Solo 5. D.O.A. 6. Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love 7. Bottoms Up! 8. You Really Got Me 9. Happy Trails 10. You Really Got Me (Reprise) David Lee Roth – Lead Vocals Eddie Van Halen – Guitars, Vocals Michael Anthony – Bass, Vocals Alex Van Halen – Drums STEREO SOUNDBOARD RECORDING