Audience

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DVD 3470; lineage: MS master via JEMS, recording gear: Nakamichi 700s > Sony D5. 2013 Transfer: Maxell UD-XLIIS master cassettes > Nakamichi CR-7A (azimuth-adjusted) > Sound Devices USBPre2 (24/96 Audacity 2.0 capture) > Peak 6.0 with iZotope Ozone > iZotope MBIT+ convert to 16/44.1 > FLAC

JEMS is pleased to inaugurate a new series of master transfer releases from our longtime comrade, MS.

MS started his taping in the late '70s, and while he was extremely active covering the Grateful Dead out west, he branched beyond as well, recording hundreds of shows over the last 35 years. His base rig was a pair of Nakamichi 700 microphones (often on a pole) and a Sony D5 recorder, and with his years of experience taping the Dead, he worked harder than many to find the sweet spot and get his mics up and away from the audience when possible. He doubled up several shows that JEMS also recorded, but often times MS had the superior location and the better gear.

The first tape in the series is a good example of where MS garnered the superior pull. This was the first of two nights for the new Who in Seattle as '80 Who shows go, I find this a pretty spirited performance.

For better or worse, there's a lot of Kenney Jones in the mix--I'm not sure I've ever heard cymbals and hi-hat ring through which such clarity on a recording from the old Seattle Center Coliseum. This is a dense and rich recording, another one where computer speakers won't do it justice. The buzz you hear on occasions is in the PA.

There are several highlights across the set, including the little-played "Dreaming From the Waist, " "I Can See For Miles" and the horn-led cover of Martha and the Vandellas' "Dancing in the Street." But the song that has always struck me from this show is an inspired reading of the instrumental "Sparks" from Tommy, which is played with real pace and purpose. I haven't heard many better 1980 Who recordings, but you can be the judge. Samples provided.

Thanks so very much to MS for opening up his archive to us. We look forward to presenting more of his fine work in the coming months. This is the first of five shows in Batch A.

BK for JEMS

3470

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