HiFi Subjectivist ¦ Audio Forum ¦ NVA User Group

Like most I suspect that for your favourite bands you've strayed into the burgeoning area of semi official boots. Now when they're from the sound desk these are usually ok. However if the recording is by 'Dave', who happened to be standing near the burger bar and spent most of the recording lamenting the lack of 'action' he's experienced during the festival, then the result is unbearably dire.

I have 2 or 3 of these, one by Nik Turner which clearly was recorded in a different county to Deeply Vale, one is by Zappa and goodness knows what or where it was 'recorded' it's truly dire.

Both of these I don't actually mind as they were quite clearly bootlegs, so caveat emptor applies.

However in the semi official area I have a truly gruesome Rainbow box set of the down to earth tour which if it was recorded from a desk, it must have been the accountants desk in the office next door.

The second one, which prompted this is the Best of the Bath Music Festival. When I looked at the set list it certainly looked interesting, all the bands you would expect from that period are there. It's just such a shame that wherever the first CD was recorded, the audience noise is somewhat more than intrusive. I could tolerate this if the sound quality was ok, this however sounds like the mike was under an overturned bath.

So anybody else got any un recommendations?

Possibly the worst album I ever bought (and I've bought some doozies) is Chris Spedding's live album, Gesundheit. The singing is awful and some of the arrangements are even worse. For three top musicians, they sound like some blokes down the pub who met about half-an-hour before the gig.

'Pretty Boy Floyd' a 1971 concert radio broadcast from The Byrds is awful. Like someone slumped on the bar at the back taping with a cheap cassette recorder.

Avoid.

One good thing about amazon is that in most cases the reviews of the truly awful ones do make it into print. That said I've found that if one of the cd's in a transmission impossible sets is ok then you're doing well, despite the often glowing reviews. If I'm being generous, maybe they don't sound so bad through ear buds on the central line.

If I'm eyeing up a live album, I stream it on Qobuz or Spotify first to check it's not a duffer. There are loads of releases that sound like they have been recorded on a £10 Walkman sat in the bottom of a metal dustbin. Just chancers taking advantage of the vinyl revival.

savvypaul wrote: ↑Fri Nov 27, 2020 12:41 pm If I'm eyeing up a live album, I stream it on Qobuz or Spotify first to check it's not a duffer. There are loads of releases that sound like they have been recorded on a £10 Walkman sat in the bottom of a metal dustbin. Just chancers taking advantage of the vinyl revival.

That is possibly the best reason for paying for a streaming service I've seen.

Does anyone know if George Harrison's concert for Bangladesh is worth a punt?

TheMadMick wrote: ↑Fri Nov 27, 2020 4:11 pm Does anyone know if George Harrison's concert for Bangladesh is worth a punt?

I have it on vinyl but haven't played it in ages. I seem to remember it being very good, and it received tons of plaudits at the time.

slinger wrote: ↑Fri Nov 27, 2020 4:21 pm

TheMadMick wrote: ↑Fri Nov 27, 2020 4:11 pm Does anyone know if George Harrison's concert for Bangladesh is worth a punt?

I have it on vinyl but haven't played it in ages. I seem to remember it being very good, and it received tons of plaudits at the time.

Thanks bro. I'll give it a punt.

They have just delivered Peter Gabriel growing up live 3 lp. I paid for it in June.

It's awesome, can't say more. Its fuckin awesome. Sorry if I ruined the thread

All 4 live lps released this year are good. But growing up is the best.