Iron Maiden / Seattle 1988 / 2CDR

Iron Maiden / Seattle 1988 / 2CDR / Shades
Center Coliseuim, Seattle, WA, USA 1st June 1988

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IRON MAIDEN in 1988, who sent the concept album “Seventh Son of a Seventh Prophecy” to No. 1 in the UK and embarked on a national strategy with GUNS N’ROSES, who had just made his debut. Introducing a masterpiece live album that conveys the scene.
It was “June 1, 1988 Seattle performance” that was imbued with this work. It is the thick Odins recording. Speaking of “Seventh Tour Of A Seventh Tour”, the official video “MAIDEN ENGLAND” and our press masterpiece “MONSTERS OF ROCK 1988: 25TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION (Zodiac 033/034)” “SEVENTH SON OF STOCKHOLM (Zodiac 022)” Is typical. First, let’s look back on the schedule at that time and check the positional relationship of each.

<< April 11th, “Seventh Prophecy” released >>
・ April 28 + 29: West Germany (2 performances)
・ May 8th-August 10th: North America (60 performances) ← ★ Coco ★
・ August 17 + 20: UK # 1 (2 performances) ← * MONSTERS OF ROCK
・ August 27-October 5: Europe (20 performances) ← * SEVENTH SON OF STOCKHOLM
・ November 18th-December 12th: UK # 2 (16 performances) ← * MAIDEN ENGLAND

This is IRON MAIDEN in 1988. All of the three famous works mentioned above were records of the latter half of the tour, but the Seattle performance of this work was on the contrary early. It was the 13th performance of the “North America” ​​leg. By the way, the first two performances in West Germany are Secret Gig under the name of CHARLOTTE AND THE HARLOTS. You can get a bird’s-eye view of the entire tour with “the above 3 works + this work”.
It is a valuable work just because it is a record in North America, but the sound is also special. This show has long been known for its incomplete versions and poorly sounded recordings, but this work is a different new excavation master. It is a collection of the famous “Rush-Fan” in the collector world, and it is the latest transfer released only recently. In fact, the sound is very thick and neat. The “Seventh Tour of a Seventh Tour” is basically known as a tour that is not blessed with audience recording, and in terms of quality (although there are a number of recordings), the image that it is only recorded at the moment is firmly established. Of course, if you carefully follow the recording differences and gene differences, there are also extremely advanced recordings, and this work is a good example.
Anyway, the core is very thick and the sense of distance is not perfect. It’s not mistaken for a soundboard because it sucks in a little hall noise, but it also gives the core a luster and dynamism without hiding the details. Especially Steve Harris’s base is amazing. Baki Baki Baki Baki … and that characteristic edge sharply stands out, breaks through the sound and pulls the song. Moreover, because there is a sound, it does not become a squishy sound only at the edge, and the solid response is also strong.
If it was so powerful, it would be worrisome about chattering and cracking, but this work does not have to worry about it. Anyway, the sound is delicate and beautiful as if it were a famous recording of Kinney. While being as clear and dynamic as FM broadcasting, a slightly realistic “witness” oozes out there. That’s the type of great recording.
The real and gorgeous sound is the full show of the blissful “Seventh Tour Of A Seventh Tour”. Here, let’s organize the set while comparing it with the symbol “MAIDEN ENGLAND”.

● Seventh Son of a Seventh Prophecy (6 songs)
・ Moonchild ／ The Evil That Men Do ／ Infinite Dreams (*) ／ Can I Play With Madness ／ The Clarivoyant ／ Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son
● Classics (10 songs)
・ The Number of the Beast / Hallowed Be Thy Name (*) / Run To The Hills
・ Others: Iron Maiden / Running Free / The Trooper (★) / 2 Minutes To Midnight (★) / Heaven Can Wait (*) / Wasted Years
* Note: “★” marks are songs that could not be heard in the official “MAIDEN ENGLAND”. The “*” mark is a song that was not played on the 2012-2014 reprint tour.

… And it looks like this. A reprint tour “MAIDEN ENGLAND World Tour” was also held from 2012 to 2014, but the famous song “Infinite Dreams” that was not performed there was also shown. After all “genuine 1988” is exceptional.
Also, the condition of the band is very good. There is plenty of momentum because it is the beginning of the tour, and it is not just the momentum. By completing 15 performances, I’ve been able to handle a large number of new songs, but I’m not used to it yet, so it’s really nice to play carefully. Especially Bruce Dickinson. His throat will be demodulated in earnest after the next “No Prayer on the Road”, but since he sings carefully here, the beauty of the song sounds more prominent than “MAIDEN ENGLAND” (on the contrary). Classics are already getting used to and getting rough). Also, a little interesting is the MC at the beginning of the encore. Support keyboardist Michael Kenny is still on the tour, but he was first hired for the “Seventh Tour Of A Seventh Tour.” Around this time, his name was also called firmly in the member introduction.
“Seventh Tour Of A Seventh Tour” that ended the golden 80’s. This is a new masterpiece of a live album where you can fully experience the North American edition. Please enjoy this work with the finest sound to your heart’s content in the field that you could not see with the official video and the conventional classics.
UP THE IRONS !!!

★ Extra-thick Odin recording of “June 1, 1988 Seattle performance”. The latest transfer, which was released very recently, is extremely thick and neat. The core has a strong sense of distance, and the sound of the hall gives the core a luster and dynamism without hiding the details. And the awesome feeling of the base that breaks through the sound and arrives! While being as clear and dynamic as FM broadcasting, a slightly realistic “witness feeling” exudes there. With such a sound, you can experience the full show of “Seventh Tour Of A Seventh Tour”, which was the height of the 80’s.

コンセプト・アルバム『第七の予言』を全英１位に送り込み、デビュー間もないGUNS N’ ROSESを従えて全米攻略に乗り出した1988年のIRON MAIDEN。その現場を伝える大傑作ライヴアルバムが登場です。
そんな本作に吹き込まれているのは「1988年６月１日シアトル公演」。その極太オーディンス録音です。“Seventh Tour Of A Seventh Tour”と言えば、公式映像『MAIDEN ENGLAND』や当店のプレス名盤『MONSTERS OF ROCK 1988: 25TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION（Zodiac 033/034）』『SEVENTH SON OF STOCKHOLM（Zodiac 022）』が代表的。まずは当時のスケジューを振り返り、それぞれの位置関係をチェックしてみましょう。

《４月11日『第七の予言』発売》
・４月28日＋29日：西ドイツ（２公演）
・５月８日ー８月10日：北米（60公演）　←★ココ★
・８月17日＋20日：英国#1（２公演）←※MONSTERS OF ROCK
・８月27日ー10月５日：欧州（20公演）←※SEVENTH SON OF STOCKHOLM
・11月18日ー12月12日：英国#2（16公演）←※MAIDEN ENGLAND

これが1988年のIRON MAIDEN。上記した有名３作品はいずれもツアー後期の記録でしたが、本作のシアトル公演は逆に序盤。「北米」レッグ13公演目にあたるコンサートでした。ちなみに、冒頭の西ドイツ２公演はCHARLOTTE AND THE HARLOTSを名乗ってのシークレット・ギグ。実質的に「上記３作品＋本作」でツアー全景を俯瞰できるわけです。
北米の記録というだけでも貴重な本作ですが、サウンドもスペシャル。このショウは古くから不完全版や音の良くない録音が知られてきましたが、本作はそれとは異なる新発掘マスター。コレクター界では有名な「Rush-Fan」なる人物のコレクションで、ごく最近になって公開された最新トランスファーなのです。実際、そのサウンドは極太にして端正。“Seventh Tour of a Seventh Tour”は基本的にオーディエンス録音に恵まれないツアーとして知られており、（本数はあるものの）クオリティ面で今イチ録音ばかりというイメージが定着しています。もちろん録音違いやジェネ違いを丁寧に追っていけば極上級の録音もあるわけで、本作はその好例になるものです。
とにかく芯が極太ですし、距離感もまるでない。ほんのりとホール鳴りも吸い込んでいるのでサウンドボードと間違えはしませんが、それもディテールを隠すことなく芯に艶とダイナミズムを与えている。特にスティーヴ・ハリスのベースは凄い。バキバキバキバキ……とあの特徴的なエッジが鋭く切り立ち、鳴りを食い破って楽曲を引っぱりまくる。しかも、鳴りがあるからこそエッジだけのスカスカ音にならず、どっしりとした手応えも強烈なのです。
それだけパワフルだとビビリや割れが気になりますが、本作にその心配はない。とにかく鳴りがきめ細やかで、まるでキニーの名録音かのように美しい。FM放送のようにくっきり＆ダイナミックでありつつ、そこにほんのりリアルな「立ち会い感覚」が滲み出す。そんなタイプの名録音なのです。
そのリアル＆ゴージャスなサウンドで描かれるのは、至福の“Seventh Tour Of A Seventh Tour”のフルショウ。ここでは象徴『MAIDEN ENGLAND』と比較しながらセットを整理してみましょう。

●第七の予言（６曲）
・Moonchild／The Evil That Men Do／Infinite Dreams（＊）／Can I Play With Madness／The Clarivoyant／Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son
●クラシックス（10曲）
・魔力の刻印：The Prisoner／The Number Of The Beast／Hallowed Be Thy Name（＊）／Run To The Hills
・その他：Iron Maiden／Running Free／The Trooper（★）／2 Minutes To Midnight（★）／Heaven Can Wait（＊）／Wasted Years
※注：「★」印は公式『MAIDEN ENGLAND』で聴けなかった曲。「＊」印は2012ー2014年の復刻ツアーで演奏しなかった曲。

……と、このようになっています。2012ー2014年には復刻ツアー“MAIDEN ENGLAND World Tour”も行われましたが、そこでは演奏されなかった名曲「Infinite Dreams」も披露。やはり「本物の1988年」は格別です。
また、バンドの調子もすこぶる良い。ツアー序盤という事もあってか勢いもたっぷりですし、勢いだけでもない。15公演をこなしたことで大量の新曲群もこなれつつ、まだ慣れが出ていないので丁寧に演奏しているのが実にイイ感じです。特にブルース・ディッキンソン。彼のノドが本格復調するのは、次の“No Prayer on the Road”以降ではありますが、ここでは丁寧に歌っているので『MAIDEN ENGLAND』よりも楽曲の美しさが際立って聞こえます（逆にクラシックスはすでに慣れが出て荒っぽくなってきていますが）。また、ちょっと面白いのがアンコール初めのMC。現在でもサポート・キーボーディストのマイケル・ケニーがツアーに帯同していますが、彼が最初に雇われたのが“Seventh Tour Of A Seventh Tour”。この頃はメンバー紹介でしっかり彼の名前もコールされています。
黄金の80年代を締めくくった“Seventh Tour Of A Seventh Tour”。その北米編をフル体験できるライヴアルバムの新名盤です。公式映像や従来の定番達では窺い知れなかった現場、どうぞ極上サウンドの本作で心ゆくまでお楽しみください。
UP THE IRONS!!!

★「1988年６月１日シアトル公演」の極太オーディンス録音。ごく最近になって公開された最新トランスファーで、極太にして端正。距離感もまるでない芯が力強く、ホール鳴りもディテールを隠すことなく芯に艶とダイナミズムを与えている。そしてその鳴りを食い破って届くベースのバキバキ感の凄い事！　FM放送のようにくっきり＆ダイナミックでありつつ、そこにほんのりリアルな「立ち会い感覚」が滲み出す。そんなサウンドで80年代の極みであった“Seventh Tour Of A Seventh Tour”のフルショウを現場体験できます。

Disc 1(59:51)
1. Moonchild
2. The Evil That men Do
3. The Prisoner
4. Infinite Dreams
5. The Trooper
6. Can I Play With Madness?
7. Heaven Can Wait
8. Wasted Years
9. The Clarivoyant
10. Seventh Son of a Seventh Son

Disc 2(36:44)
1. The Number of the Beast
2. Hallowed Be Thy Name
3. Iron Maiden
4. MC
5. Run to the Hills
6. 2 Minutes to Midnight
7. Running Free

Bruce Dickinson – vocals
Dave Murray – guitar
Adrian Smith – guitar, vocals
Steve Harris – bass, vocals
Nicko McBrain – drums

Shades 1567