Favorite "non-soundboard" live shows?
 

I'm just wondering what all of you think about soundboard recordings of live shows vs. audience recordings, and if you think each has its own appeal. I generally much prefer soundboards, but have heard some soundboards that have terrible audio quality, yet have heard some non-soundboards which have very good clarity and interesting echo effects. What are your favorite non-soundboard live FM recordings which you think were great shows that also have good, clear audio? What do you like about each show? I have a couple of favorites, and would like to hear what the rest of you think. My favorites so far are:

*Chicago IL 1980 - Tusk Tour (I love this show... dramatic, excellent performance all the way through, and the audio is quite good)
*Oakland CA 1982 - Mirage Tour (I'm pretty sure this is not a soundboard, but it sounds great)

There is both an audience recording by a Deadhead named Jeff Samuels from the Bay Area (he used early digital recording equipment) & a soundboard of this show. The Samuels is complete but the SDBD isn't.

My favorite nonsoundboards are:
Dallas Cotton Bowl '78
Trod Nossel '75
Ultrasonic Studios '74

Does anyone have the incompele soundboard they could post?

Thanks for that information David. I did not know there was a soundboard recording of this. I'm pretty sure I have the one that isn't...the setlist is really long and I'm sure it's a complete show. Liam would know which one it is. It's the one he posted. A totally mesmerizing show. It would be interesting to compare it with the soundboard, but the audio quality is already really good on this one, and it has such a haunting sound that I'm not sure a soundboard would even be an improvement.

Trotter & blackrose, I ripped some MP3s from the Oakland soundboard so you can compare:

Oakland Coliseum
October 20, 1982

Second Hand News
www.sendspace.com/file/lza96d

The Chain
www.sendspace.com/file/r9li42

Dreams
www.sendspace.com/file/el5hr3

Rhiannon
www.sendspace.com/file/qb82f1

Landslide
www.sendspace.com/file/wn9vfb

Hold Me
www.sendspace.com/file/2a9t16

I love Trod Nossel also. I keep meaning to drive by the place, since it's still there , and see how large it is, but I have the feeling that it's about the size of a small club and that's probably partially why the recording came out so well. But some of the stuff from that I adore. That "Why"? Fabulous. "Station Man"? Addictive.

I really like Oklahoma City '77 as well, but I think there is a good chance that it's soundboard (I should start being more specific with my labeling). It has one of my favorite "Never Going Back Again" on it, with John's acoustic bass really prominent.

i really like the soundboard versions, but to the credit of the fan who taped the other version, its good either way for me. quality is better, but ill take what i cant get! :laugh:

Wow, David!!! That was so, so nice of you. Thank you! You do realize what you've done though, don't you? Now everyone will want all the tracks you have. I'm not going to ask. I'm perfectly content as things stand. ;)

Anyway, this is the first time I've ever gotten to hear a soundboard and audience recording of the exact same performance, back to back. I would say that this is a really good comparison, because it's a decent recording of each. My conclusion is mixed. I usually hate anything that is not soundboard, but I still like this non-soundboard version. The soundboard is much better in some ways, but the other recording still has a certain ambiance to me that the other does not. I like them both. :thumbsup: This certainly gives us a good representation of the differences between the two types of recordings. They each have unique characteristics. Thank you again!

What is this Trod Nossel? Is it the Wallingford CT '75 show?

Hey, you're cheating bucklind. That's a soundboard. David can correct me if I'm wrong. He'll know. He knows everything. :D Listing soundboards as favorites on this thread is forbidden. :lol: :laugh:

Yes, Trod Nossel is Wallingford '75. When I first got it, I thought it had to be from Oakdale, the small music venue that was in Wallingford until it was turned into an unattractive barn type venue, but it's actually a studio, not a concert venue.

Hey, I admitted I couldn't remember if OKC was a soundboard or not! I thought it sounded a little too clear...

Thanks for the info. I just downloaded it. It sounds pretty good.

:nod: Yes, I know you admitted it. I was just having a little fun with you. I'm guilty too. :lol: I wasn't even 100% sure that the Mirage show I have was not soundboard, even though it was obvious. I tend not to trust my own ears sometimes. :rolleyes: