David Bowie / BBC 2002 FM Master / 1CD

David Bowie / BBC 2002 FM Master / 1CD / The David Bowie Archive Series
BBC Maida Vale Studio 3, London, UK 18th September 2002
Studio TC4. BBC Television Centre, White City, London, UK 27th June 2002 STEREO SBD

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The “HEATHEN” era that announced the “Resurrection of Bowie” on a full-scale tour after a long absence. The FM soundboard album that appeared during that time is now available.
Two BBC broadcasts are engraved in this work. This is a stereo sound board recording with “LIVE AND EXCLUSIVE” recorded on “September 18, 2002” as the main, and “FRIDAY NIGHT with ROSS and BOWIE” recorded on “June 27, 2002” as a bonus. The two programs were held in the middle of the “HEATHEN Tour”. First of all, let’s organize the positions by comparing with the schedule.

《June 11th release of “HEATHEN”》
・ June 11 + 15: Warm up (NY2 performance)
・ June 27: “FRIDAY NIGHT WITH ROSS” appearance ← ★ 4 songs in the second half ★
・ June 29: MELTDOWN FESTIVAL appearance
・ July 1-18: Europe # 1 (9 performances)
・ July 28-August 16: North America # 1 (12 performances)
・ September 18: “LIVE AND EXCLUSIVE” appearance ← ★ 10 songs in the first half ★
・ September 22-October 2: Europe # 2 (6 performances)
・ October 11-23: North America # 2 (7 performances)

This is David Bowie in 2002. Both of the two programs in this work were recorded in London, but the main “LIVE AND EXCLUSIVE” was four days before returning from the United States and entering “Europe # 2”. On the other hand, the bonus “FRIDAY NIGHT WITH ROSS” was recorded two days before “MELTDOWN FESTIVAL”, which was a hot topic in all the songs “LOW” and “HEATHEN” during the very early warm-up period.
Both programs are known for their high quality sound and reign as one of the most famous sound boards in the “HEATHEN” era. It has been loved as a bonus title and a 4-disc press “THE FINAL NIGHT AT HAMMERSMITH 2002 (part)” in our shop. This work is a remastered remaster of such a large classic sound board. .. .. .. Well, there isn’t. In our shop, under the supervision of a world-famous Bowie researcher, we have permanently preserved the highest peak master of the classic sound board, but this work is the latest bullet.
Actually, this master will be the first public release. The broadcast itself is the same as before, and although it is still an Aircheck Master, it is a secret master that has been traded only among fellow researchers. In fact, its quality is the highest ever. Conventional masters can be called “completely official grade” by the usual standard, but the accuracy of this master is different. High-end equipment at the time of broadcasting was used, and it was made into a CD directly from the FM tuner. It has been digitized without going through cassettes or DATs, and has had no deterioration since its broadcast in 2002. Moreover, attention is paid to the reception condition and wiring, and the noiseless beauty and the unwavering sense of stability are tremendous. Compared to the master, which has been regarded as the “best” so far, the luster is totally different, the density that you can feel the response is sharp, but the edge that does not hit is beautiful, and the fineness of the deep bass vibe of the bass is overwhelming. Although it may be said that it is “official class” in a bite, it is actually a pinch, but the horizon on which this work stands is “official masterpiece class”. It is also a dimension that makes you feel the “sound of master tape” like the mobile fidelity board and the Nimbus super cut board.
The sound that is out of the ordinary of Aircheck is the live performance of the “HEATHEN” era, where precious numbers pop out. A total of 14 songs are broadcast on the two programs, but only “Everyone Says’Hi'” is covered. You can enjoy a truly diverse repertoire. Let’s sort out a little here.

● Heathen (6 songs, 7 takes)
・ Sunday / Cactus / 5:15 The Angels Have Gone / Everyone Says’Hi'[2 takes] / Heathen (The Rays) / Slip Away
● Others (7 songs)
・ 70’s: The Bewlay Brothers (★) / Ziggy Stardust / Rebel Rebel (★) / Look Back In Anger (★)
・ After the 1980s: Fashion / Alabama Song (★) / Survive (★)
* Note: The “★” mark is a song that cannot be heard on any of the masterpiece sound boards “OLYMPIA 2002”, “MONTREUX 2002”, and “TORONTO 2002”.

… And it looks like this. The new songs of “HEATHEN” are also valuable, but the ones that are delicious are the classics. At our shop, we have permanently preserved the masterpiece soundboards of “HEATHEN Tour” such as “OLYMPIA 2002 (Wardour-227)”, “MONTREUX 2002 (Wardour-193)” and “TORONTO 2002 (Wardour-264)”, but I can’t listen to them either. Plenty of songs. Especially treasures are “Alabama Song” and “The Bewlay Brothers”. “Alabama Song” is a revival that has been realized for the first time in 12 years, and “The Bewlay Brothers” is the first live performance 31 years after its announcement. Both songs have made this broadcast a legend, overwhelming the fans since that time. A live album that you can enjoy anytime, forever with “official masterpiece grade” quality … That is this work.
Even so, it sounds great. Even if it’s the same broadcast, if it’s recorded by a discerning researcher, it’s so different … It’s a superb stereo sound board album that even makes you feel awe. One piece that permanently preserves the familiar live with unexperienced quality. Please chew it carefully.

★ Stereo sound board recording that couples two BBC programs “September 18, 2002 LIVE AND EXCLUSIVE” + “June 27 FRIDAY NIGHT with ROSS and BOWIE”. Both programs are known as big classics, but this work is the first appearance master to update the highest quality. A master who was traded only within Bowie researchers, and was made into a CD directly from the FM tuner using high-end equipment at the time of broadcasting. The quality is the splendor of the historical masterpiece even in the official work. You can also enjoy the first live performance of “The Bewlay Brothers” and the extremely rare “Alabama Song” with superb sound.

久々の本格ツアーで「ボウイ復活」を知らしめた『HEATHEN』時代。その最中に出演したFMサウンドボード・アルバムが登場です。
そんな本作に刻まれているのは2つのBBC放送。「2002年9月18日」収録の“LIVE AND EXCLUSIVE”をメインに、「2002年6月27日」収録の“FRIDAY NIGHT with ROSS and BOWIE”をボーナス追加したステレオ・サウンドボード録音です。2つの番組は“HEATHEN Tour”の真っ最中に行われたもの。まずは、そのスケジュールと照らし合わせながらポジションを整理しておきましょう。

《6月11日『HEATHEN』発売》
・6月11日+15日:ウォームアップ(NY2公演)
・6月27日:“FRIDAY NIGHT WITH ROSS”出演 ←★後半4曲★
・6月29日:MELTDOWN FESTIVAL出演
・7月1日ー18日:欧州#1(9公演)
・7月28日ー8月16日:北米#1(12公演)
・9月18日:“LIVE AND EXCLUSIVE”出演 ←★前半10曲★
・9月22日ー10月2日:欧州#2(6公演)
・10月11日ー23日:北米#2(7公演)

これが2002年のデヴィッド・ボウイ。本作の2番組はどちらもロンドンでの収録なのですが、メインの“LIVE AND EXCLUSIVE”はアメリカから帰国して「欧州#2」へ突入する4日前。一方、ボーナスの“FRIDAY NIGHT WITH ROSS”は、逆に極初期のウォームアップ期で、『LOW』『HEATHEN』全曲ライヴで話題をさらった“MELTDOWN FESTIVAL”の2日前の収録でした。
どちらの番組もハイクオリティなサウンドで知られ、『HEATHEN』時代でも屈指の有名サウンドボードとして君臨。当店でもボーナス・タイトルやプレス4枚組『THE FINAL NIGHT AT HAMMERSMITH 2002(の一部)』としても愛されてきました。本作は、そんな大定番サウンドボードのリマスター再発。。。。では、ありません。当店では、世界的なボウイ研究家の監修を受けて定番サウンドボードの最高峰マスターを永久保存してきましたが、本作はその最新弾なのです。
実際、今回のマスターは初公開となるもの。放送自体はこれまでと同じですし、やはりエアチェック・マスターなのですが、これまで研究家仲間の間でのみトレードされてきた秘匿のマスターなのです。実際、そのクオリティは過去最高峰。従来マスターもいつもの基準なら「完全オフィシャル級」と呼べるものなのですが、今回のマスターは精度が違う。放送当時のハイエンド機材が使用され、FMチューナーからダイレクトにCD化したもの。カセットもDATも介さずにデジタル化されており、2002年の放送当時から劣化ゼロ。しかも、受信状態や配線にも気を配られており、ノイズレスな美しさもビシッと揺るぎない安定感も絶大なのです。これまで「ベスト」とされてきたマスターと比較しても艶がまるで違い、手応えまで感じる密度もシャープなのにトガらないエッジも美しければ、ベースの重低音ヴァイヴの細やかさも圧倒的。ひと口に「オフィシャル級」とは言っても実はピンキリだったりするのですが、本作の立つ地平は「オフィシャル名盤級」。それもモービル・フィデリティ盤やニンバス・スーパーカット盤のように「マスターテープの音」を感じさせてくれる次元なのです。
そんなエアチェックの常識外となるサウンドで描かれるのは、貴重ナンバーも飛び出す『HEATHEN』時代の生演奏。2つの番組で合計14曲分が放送されているのですが、被っているのは「Everyone Says ‘Hi’」のみ。実に多彩なレパートリーが楽しめるのです。ここでちょっと整理しておきましょう。

●ヒーザン(6曲・7テイク)
・Sunday/Cactus/5:15 The Angels Have Gone/Everyone Says ‘Hi’[2テイク]/Heathen (The Rays)/Slip Away
●その他(7曲)
・70年代:The Bewlay Brothers(★)/Ziggy Stardust/Rebel Rebel(★)/Look Back In Anger(★)
・80年代以降:Fashion/Alabama Song(★)/Survive(★)
※注:「★」印は傑作サウンドボード『OLYMPIA 2002』『MONTREUX 2002』『TORONTO 2002』のどれでも聴けない曲。

……と、このようになっています。『HEATHEN』の新曲群も貴重なのですが、やはり美味しいのはクラシックス。当店では『OLYMPIA 2002(Wardour-227)』『MONTREUX 2002(Wardour-193)』『TORONTO 2002(Wardour-264)』といった“HEATHEN Tour”の名作サウンドボードを永久保存してきましたが、そこでも聴けない曲がたっぷり。特にお宝なのは「Alabama Song」と「The Bewlay Brothers」。「Alabama Song」は12年ぶりに実現したまさかの復活ですし、「The Bewlay Brothers」に至っては発表から31年を経て初めて披露された生演奏なのです。当時からファンのド肝を抜き、この放送を伝説にしてきた両曲。それを「オフィシャル名盤級」クオリティでいつでも、いつまでも楽しめるライヴアルバム……それが本作なのです。
それにしても素晴らしいサウンド。同じ放送であっても、こだわり抜いた研究家が録音するとこうまで違うのか……そんな畏怖さえ覚える超極上のステレオサウンドボード・アルバムです。お馴染みのライヴを未体験クオリティで永久保存した1枚。どうぞ、じっくりと噛みしめてください。

★2つのBBC番組「2002年9月18日LIVE AND EXCLUSIVE」+「6月27日FRIDAY NIGHT with ROSS and BOWIE」をカップリングしたステレオ・サウンドボード録音。どちらの番組も大定番で知られていますが、本作は最高峰クオリティを更新する初登場マスター。ボウイ研究家の仲間内だけでトレードされていた門外不出のマスターで、放送当時のハイエンド機材が使用され、FMチューナーからダイレクトにCD化したもの。そのクオリティはオフィシャル作品でも歴史的名盤級の素晴らしさ。初めて生演奏された「The Bewlay Brothers」や激レア「Alabama Song」も超極上サウンドで楽しめます。

(73:43)
Everything’s Hunky Dory BBC Radio 2
Live and Exclusive
BBC Maida Vale Studio 3, London, UK 18th September 2002
Broadcast: BBC Radio 2 on 5th October 2002

01. Jonathan Ross Introduction
02. Sunday
03. Look Back In Anger
04. Cactus
05. Survive
06. 5:15 The Angels Have Gone
07. Alabama Song
08. Everyone Says ‘Hi’
09. Rebel Rebel
10. The Bewlay Brothers
11. Heathen (The Rays)
12. Jonathan Ross – Closing Comments

Friday Night with Ross and Bowie
Studio TC4. BBC Television Centre, White City, London, UK 27th June 2002
Broadcast: BBC One on 5th July 2002

13. Fashion
14. Slip Away
15. Everyone Says ‘Hi’
16. Ziggy Stardust

STEREO SOUNDBOARD RECORDING

David Bowie: Vocals / 12-String Acoustic Guitar
Catherine Russell: Backing Vocals / Keyboards / Acoustic Guitar
Earl Slick: Lead Guitar
Gail Ann Dorsey: Bass / Vocals
Gerry Leonard: Lead Guitar
Mark Plati: Rhythm / Acoustic Guitar
Mike Garson: Keyboards
Sterling Campbell: Drums / Percussion

The David Bowie Archive Series / DBAS08

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