Item : DAVID BOWIE - CLEVELAND 1972 1ST NIGHT: MASTER CASSETTES(2CD)
Condition : NEW
Public Hall, Cleveland, OH, USA, November 25, 1972, Truly Perfect Sound *Upgraded & Longer
Bowie's 1972, which saw him create a sensation as Ziggy and the Spiders, was a testament to his explosive popularity, as he embarked on his first US tour. From this period, Santa Monica stands out as a timeless classic, a must-have rock album even for non-Bowie fans. Its definitive edition, "LIVE SANTA MONICA '72: UK ADVANCE/PROMOTIONAL CD," has become such a best-seller that it's even been reissued.
If Santa Monica is the king of soundboards, then perhaps Cleveland is the king of audiences. While Santa Monica became a staple in the analog era thanks to its live radio broadcasts, Cleveland boasted a powerful, superb audience, made famous by the release of the CD "VA VA VA VOOM." The sound is so close that at first glance, you might mistake it for an AM radio broadcast soundboard. It's a well-known fact that many people mistakenly thought it was a soundboard.
Later, "VA VA VA VOOM" established itself as a staple of American audiences in 1972, even spawning the copy "ZIGGY'S IVASION OF AMERICA." However, "CLEVELAND 1972 1ST NIGHT" is a masterpiece from the WARDOUR label that smashed "VA VA VA VOOM"'s seemingly unshakable status and surprised enthusiasts worldwide as a new standard in the post-Bowie era. Not only did it reduce the distortion common to vintage audiences with similar sounds, improving the sound, but it also captured the opening and closing sequences of "Ode To Joy," which were cut out of the classic "VA VA VA VOOM," making it a huge bestseller.
The 1972 Cleveland album was thought to have reached its peak with the release of "CLEVELAND 1972 1ST NIGHT" (hereafter referred to as the "previously released version") in 2017, but a master cassette recorded by Joe Ray was suddenly unearthed this year, surprising enthusiasts worldwide. Since it's a master, the sound quality is naturally improved over the previously released version. While this is only natural, compared to the new master, the previously released version sounds muffled, or as if it's covered by a veil. The difference in sound quality is immediately apparent when listening to the acoustic section or "John, I'm Only Dancing."
The extremely crisp, clear, and crisp upper feel alone will surely impress you with the power of the master cassette. However, there are other important points besides sound quality.
Enthusiasts will be familiar with the fact that there are several cuts in the performance of this recording, the most noticeable of which occurs early in the opening track, "Hang on to Yourself." On the previously released version, this cuts off midway through the first chorus, jumping to the lyrics "Tigers on vaseline" midway through the second verse. However, the original "VA VA VA VOOM" includes the entire first chorus, then transitions to the middle of the second verse. In other words, the only flaw in "CLEVELAND 1972 1ST NIGHT" is that the cuts in question began early.
This point also applies to the master cassette, so this release is longer than the previously released version, essentially recording with minimal cuts, the same length as "VA VA VA VOOM." And "Ode To Joy," played after the show, is much longer than the previously released version, resulting in a running time spanning two CDs.
And what's more, it's also extremely valuable for capturing the ever-evolving Ziggy & the Spiders' stage performance, held almost a month after their Santa Monica performance, with a powerful sound image. It beautifully conveys the confidence and momentum they had after completing such a monumental radio broadcast. Perhaps that's why he chose to perform "Drive-In Saturday," a new song Bowie had just written and had performed several times since November.
The later release of this song featured a somewhat unsophisticated R&B ballad arrangement with the Spiders as backing, but the raw version heard here is a more introspective, solo acoustic version. Surprisingly, the live version performed live at the "TORONTO 1974 AFTERNOON SHOW" in 1974 actually reverted to the original arrangement. Perhaps Bowie wasn't satisfied with the final version. And the scene before the song, in which Bowie says, "I'm going to play a new song now, so if you have a tape recorder, you'd better record it!", is a masterpiece no matter how many times you hear it.
The performance of "Andy Warhol," performed before the new song, was also superb, and the Ziggy-era version performed with Mick Ronson at his side may have been the best of the day. After all, the humming Bowie muttered here gave the song the title "VA VA VA VOOM," and other witty mutters like "Jubila" are also heard throughout the performance. The closeness of the sound makes it vivid as he sings freely and from his heart.
While the famous Ziggy-era audience has long been acclaimed for both sound quality and performance, this is the ultimate upgrade from the master cassette, truly worthy of being called the definitive edition. The final version of the 1972 American tour recording, paired with the Santa Monica tour, will now be released on a limited press CD. Experience the upbeat feel that only a master cassette can offer!
Disc 1 (40:44)
1. Ode to Joy
2. Hang on to Yourself
3. Ziggy Stardust
4.Changes
5.The Supermen
6. Life On Mars?
7.Five Years
8. Space Oddity
9. Andy Warhol
10. Drive-In Saturday
Disc 2 (42:08)
1. The Width of a Circle
2. John, I'm Only Dancing
3. Moonage Daydream
4. Band Introductions
5. I'm Waiting For The Man
6. The Jean Genie
7. Suffragette City
8. Rock 'n' Roll Suicide
9. Ode to Joy
David Bowie - vocals, guitar, harmonica
Mick Ronson - guitar, vocals
Trevor Bolder - bass
Mick Woodmansey - drums
Mike Garson - keyboards