Judas Priest / Osaka 1979 Early Show / 2CDR

Judas Priest / Osaka 1979 Early Show / 2CDR / Shades

Live At Festival Hall , Osaka , Japan 14th Febuary 1979 Early Show

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A performance in Japan in 1979 that produced the historic masterpiece “PRIEST IN THE EAST”. Introducing a new master who tells the scene.
It is “February 14, 1979: Osaka Festival Hall performance” that is imbued with such a work. It is the excellent audience recording. Speaking of coming to Japan for the second time, it tends to be a little confusing because there are many performances at the same venue. First of all, let’s unravel the schedule at that time and confirm the position of the show.

・ February 9: Shinjuku Welfare Pension Hall ← * FIRST NIGHT COMPLETE
・ February 10: Shinjuku Welfare Pension Hall (2 performances in the evening) ← * Official PRIEST IN THE EAST
・ February 13: Osaka Festival Hall
・ February 14: Osaka Festival Hall (evening section) ← ★ This work ★
・ February 14: Osaka Festival Hall (night section)
・ February 15: Nakano Sunplaza ← * Official PRIEST IN THE EAST

Above, all 7 performances. The flow is roughly “Shinjuku x 3 times-> Osaka x 3 times-> Nakano”, and the official masterpiece “PRIEST IN THE EAST” and our standard “FIRST NIGHT COMPLETE (Shades 514)” are also performed in Tokyo. On the other hand, this work was the second performance in Osaka.
This work recorded at such a show is a beautiful recording with a neat sound. As a matter of fact, the recording itself has been known for a long time and has been loved by enthusiasts as a staple of Osaka recording. This work is also a new excavation cassette master of young generation brought by its own route while recording the tradition. There are several upgrade points, but first and foremost they are different in length. That is not the dimension of “cheers are ○ seconds longer”. Previously, the master faded out with the last “Hell Bent For Leather” of the main set, but the newly excavated cassette is a complete version that also includes the encore “Take On The World” and “Tyrant” after that.
And the sound. The individuality of the recording itself is similar to that of the conventional master, but the freshness of the young gene (probably the 1st gene or the 2nd gene) is wonderful. Although it is an audience recording that also sucks in the sound of the hall, the core that penetrates the center of it is very powerful, and it is a type that “there is a sound but I do not feel the distance”. Especially strong is Rob Halford’s singing voice. Every word of the lyrics is clear and clear, and the quick response is just FM broadcasting. Although you can see the sound of the audience as the shout grows, it also feels like an aura emitted by a thick core. It is also famous that Rob’s throat was upset due to air conditioning when he came to Japan, but it is a vivid sound that makes it cruel to understand how withered it is.
The base is one more thing I want to add. It’s not a recording with a lot of bass, but the bass with a casual volume is very clear. The rugged attack sound is clearly drawn, and the groove created by the series is also mellow. After “BRITISH STEEL”, Ian Hill changes his style to play the route according to the band’s intention, but this work is just before that. It’s a great recording that you can enjoy the lines that swell and move to the fullest.
The sound is drawn with 100% of the original “PRIEST IN THE EAST”, and the volume of songs released from the LP frame is also a delicious full show. Let’s organize the set here by comparing it with the official version of the tradition.

● Sad Wings of Destiny (4 songs)
・ The Ripper / Victim Of Changes / Genocide / Tyrant
● Sin After Sin (3 songs)
・ Diamonds & Rust / Sinner / Starbreaker
● Stained class (3 songs)
・ Exciter / Beyond The Realms Of Death (★) / White Heat, Red Hot (★)
● Killing Machine (7 songs)
・ Running Wild / Rock Forever / The Green Manalishi (With the Two Prong Crown) / Delivering The Goods / Evil Fantasies (★) / Hell Bent For Leather / Take On The World (★)
* Note: The “★” mark is a song that cannot be heard on the traditional official edition “PRIEST IN THE EAST”.

… And it looks like this. The rare repertoire unique to those days, such as “White Heat, Red Hot,” “Evil Fantasies,” and “Take On The World,” is delicious, but the performance that plays it is also a point. I wrote “Rob’s illness” earlier, but it’s certainly not in great shape, but it’s not “Zeezee rattle” either. In fact, the terrible shout stretches and the treble tension is transcendent. He is showing off his 27-year-old youthful vocalization. However, the whole story is not perfect, and it feels like I’m stumbling in a difficult place such as “Beyond The Realms Of Death”. If you think that it is tattered from the established image, it is not the case. You can experience such “truth IN THE EAST” in the field.
“PRIEST IN THE EAST” which summarizes the “magnificent hard rock era” before the heavy metal declaration by “BRITISH STEEL”. This work is the Osaka version of the Daimyo board, the 100% version of the original, and the full show version. A masterpiece of a live album that revived the legendary scene with Low Genemaster. Please enjoy it to your heart’s content.

★ Excellent audience recording of “February 14, 1979: Osaka Festival Hall Performance (Evening)”. A complete version of the encore “Take On The World” and “Tyrant”, which was a new excavation cassette master of Wakagene brought by its own route and was cut by the conventional master. The sound is also wonderfully fresh like a young gene, especially Rob’s singing voice is clear and clear to each word of the lyrics. You can fully experience the legendary scene, including “White Heat, Red Hot,” “Evil Fantasies,” and “Take On The World,” which you cannot hear in “PRIEST IN THE EAST.”

歴史的大名盤『PRIEST IN THE EAST』を生み出した1979年の来日公演。その現場を伝える新マスターが登場です。
そんな本作に吹き込まれているのは「1979年2月14日:大阪フェスティバルホール公演」。その絶品オーディエンス録音です。二度目の来日と言えば、同じ会場で何公演もあるなどやや混乱しがち。まずは、当時のスケジュールを紐解いてショウのポジションを確かめておきましょう。

・2月9日:新宿厚生年金会館 ←※FIRST NIGHT COMPLETE
・2月10日:新宿厚生年金会館(夕夜2公演) ←※公式PRIEST IN THE EAST
・2月13日:大阪フェスティバルホール
・2月14日:大阪フェスティバルホール(夕の部)←★本作★
・2月14日:大阪フェスティバルホール(夜の部)
・2月15日:中野サンプラザ ←※公式PRIEST IN THE EAST

以上、全7公演。ざっくり「新宿×3回→大阪×3回→中野」という流れであり、オフィシャル名盤『PRIEST IN THE EAST』も当店の定番『FIRST NIGHT COMPLETE(Shades 514)』も東京公演。それに対し、本作は大阪の2公演目でした。
そんなショウで記録された本作は、鳴りも端正な美録音。実のところ、録音自体は以前から知られており、マニア間では大阪録音の定番として愛されてきました。本作もその伝統録音ながら、独自ルートでもたらされた若ジェネの新発掘カセット・マスターなのです。アップグレード・ポイントは幾つかありますが、まず何より長さが違う。それも「歓声が○秒長い」といった次元ではありません。従来マスターは本編セットのラスト「Hell Bent For Leather」でフェイドアウトしていましたが、新発掘カセットはその後のアンコール「Take On The World」「Tyrant」も収録した完全版なのです。
そして、サウンド。録音の個性自体は従来マスターと通じますが、若ジェネ(恐らく1stジェネか2ndジェネくらい)の瑞々しさが素晴らしい。ホール鳴りも吸い込んだオーディエンス録音ではあるものの、そのド真ん中を貫いてくる芯がやけに力強く、「鳴りはあるけど距離は感じない」というタイプ。特に強烈なのがロブ・ハルフォードの歌声。歌詞の一語一語までクッキリ・ハッキリとしており、ビシッとした手応えはFM放送ばり。シャウトの伸びにオーディエンスらしい鳴りがうかがえはするものの、それも極太の芯が放つオーラのような感じ。この来日では空調のせいでロブの喉が不調だった事も有名ですが、その枯れ具合も残酷なまでに分かってしまう鮮やかサウンドだったりします。
もう1つ付け加えたいのがベース。別に低音が出っ張った録音ではないのですが、さり気ない音量のベースがやけに克明。ゴリゴリとしたアタック音がクッキリと描かれ、その連なりが生み出すグルーヴも芳醇。『BRITISH STEEL』以降はバンドの意向によりルート弾き主体にスタイルを変えるイアン・ヒルですが、本作はその直前。歌心いっぱいにうねって動くラインをじっくり楽しめるほどの名録音なのです。
そんなサウンドで描かれるのは、本生100%の『PRIEST IN THE EAST』であり、LPの枠からも開放された曲数ボリュームも美味しいフルショウ。ここで伝統の公式版と比較しながらセットを整理しておきましょう。

●運命の翼(4曲)
・The Ripper/Victim Of Changes/Genocide/Tyrant
●背信の門(3曲)
・Diamonds & Rust/Sinner/Starbreaker
●ステンド・クラス(3曲)
・Exciter/Beyond The Realms Of Death(★)/White Heat, Red Hot(★)
●殺人機械(7曲)
・Running Wild/Rock Forever/The Green Manalishi (With the Two Prong Crown)/Delivering The Goods/Evil Fantasies(★)/Hell Bent For Leather/Take On The World(★)
※注:「★」印は伝統の公式盤『PRIEST IN THE EAST』で聴けない曲。

……と、このようになっています。「White Heat, Red Hot」や「Evil Fantasies」「Take On The World」といった当時ならではのレアなレパートリーが美味しいわけですが、それを演じるパフォーマンスもポイント。先ほど「ロブの不調ぶり」と書きましたが、確かに絶好調ではないものの、「ゼエゼエ・ガラガラ」でもない。実は凄まじいシャウトは伸びに伸び、高音の張りも超絶。27歳の若々しいヴォーカリゼーションをたっぷりと披露している。ただし全編完璧とはいかず「Beyond The Realms Of Death」などの難所でつまづく感じなのです。定説イメージからボロボロと勝手に思い込んでしまうと、決してそうではない。そんな「真実のIN THE EAST」を現場体験できるのです。
『BRITISH STEEL』によるヘヴィメタル宣言以前の「壮麗ハードロック時代」を総括した『PRIEST IN THE EAST』。本作は、かの大名盤の大阪版であり、本生100%版であり、フルショウ版です。伝説の現場をロウ・ジェネマスターで甦らせたライヴアルバムの銘品。どうぞ、思う存分ご堪能ください。

★「1979年2月14日:大阪フェスティバルホール公演(夕の部)」の絶品オーディエンス録音。独自ルートでもたらされた若ジェネの新発掘カセット・マスターで、従来マスターではカットされていたアンコール「Take On The World」「Tyrant」も収録した完全版。サウンドも若ジェネらしい瑞々しさが素晴らしく、特にロブの歌声は歌詞の一語一語までクッキリ・ハッキリ。『PRIEST IN THE EAST』では聴けない「White Heat, Red Hot」「Evil Fantasies」「Take On The World」も含め、伝説の現場をフル体験できます。

Disc 1 (49:05)
01. Introduction
02. Exciter
03. Running Wild
04. The Ripper
05. Diamonds & Rust
06. Rock Forever
07. Beyond The Realms Of Death
08. The Green Manalishi (With the Two Prong Crown)
09. Delivering The Goods
10. White Heat, Red Hot
11. Sinner

Disc 2 (48:47)
01. Evil Fantasies
02. Victim Of Changes
03. Genocide
04. Starbreaker incl. drum solo
05. Hell Bent For Leather
06. Take On The World
07. Tyrant

Rob Halford – Vocals
K.K. Downing – Guitar
Glenn Tipton – Guitar
Ian Hill – Bass
Les Binks – Drums

Shades 1334

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