Kansas / Springfield 1979 Soundboard / 2CD

Kansas / Springfield 1979 Soundboard / 2CD / Virtuoso

Springfield Civic Center, Springfield, MA, USA 2nd September 1979

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『LEFTOVERTURE』『POINT OF KNOW RETURN』『MONOLITH』と連続で全米トップ10に送り込み、３作ともプラチナ・アルバムを獲得。まさに全盛時代の真っ直中にいた1979年のKANSAS。その絶頂の生演奏を脳みそに流し込んでくれる衝撃のサウンドボード・アルバムが登場です。
そんな本作に刻まれているのは「1979年９月２日スプリングフィールド公演」。その関係者流出サウンドボード録音です。“MONOLITH Tour”と言えば、私たちにとっては伝説の初来日が実現した事でも歴史的。まずは、その歩みを俯瞰し、本作のポジションを探ってみましょう。

●1979年
・５月３日：ヒューストン公演
《５月『MONOLITH』発売》
・６月28日ー９月２日：北米#1（37公演）←★ココ★
・10月２日ー７日：北米#2（４公演）
・10月18日ー11月11日：北米#3（17公演）
・11月21日ー12月13日：北米#4（17公演）
●1980年
・１月11日ー16日：初来日（５公演）

これが“MONOLITH Tour”の全体像。ツアーは基本的に北米のみで、日本公演は年の改まった1980年１月に追加されたスタイルでした（上記では省略しましたが、1980年10月以降は次なる“AUDIO-VISIONS Tour”です）。本作のスプリングフィールド公演は、そんな初来日の約４ヶ月前。ツアー序盤「北米#1」の最終日にあたるコンサートでした。
そんなショウで記録された本作は、今まさに全世界のコレクターを震撼させている初登場サウンドボード。結成50周年を記念して公開されたもので、何と創始者ケリー・リブグレンが所有していた大元マスターから直接ダビングされた1stジェネ・マスターなのです。その音世界は、まさに衝撃。モノラルなヴィンテージ・サウンドボードなので「完全オフィシャル級」と呼ぶには迷いますが、逆に無修正・無加工の録って出し感が鮮烈。現場ＰＡ用と思われるミックスは家庭用オーディオでの再生などまったく無関係で、大歓声もなくただひたすら生演奏だけがムキ出しです。
もちろん擦れっ枯らしのサウンドボード・マニアにとって、それは美点ではあっても欠点ではない。ライヴ会場の体験感など度外視したド密着感は全身と生演奏が完全シンクロ。演者の間にいるようなセパレート感はスタジオ作品と同等でありつつ、ステージだからこその苛烈なアンサンブルとエネルギーが全身を包み込む。まさしく頭の中にKANSASがいるような異次元体験をたっぷりと味わえるのです。
しかも、本作はそんな衝撃サウンドボードの最高峰版でもある。あまりの話題ゆえに某大手動画サイトにもアップされていたりするのですが、そちらはピッチが大幅に狂っている上に音圧を上げすぎたのか、歪みまで発生しています。その点、本作はナチュラルなマスター・サウンドであり、ピッチも精密。音楽作品としての完成度が段違いです。
そんなベスト・マスターで描かれるのは、大ヒット三部作を濃縮還元し、ステージ・テンションで爆上げしたショウ。ここでその濃厚ぶりを実感していただくためにもセットを整理しておきましょう。

●モノリスの謎（７曲＋α）
・On The Other Side／People Of The South Wind／Away From You（★）／Reason To Be／Angels Have Fallen（★：不完全）／Stay Out Of Trouble（★）／A Glimpse of Home／How My Soul Cries Out For You（★）
●その他（７曲＋α）
・永遠の序曲：The Wall／Opus Insert（不完全）／Carry On Wayward Son
・暗黒への曳航：Point of Know Return／Closet Chronicles／Dust In The Wind／The Spider／Portrait (He Knew)
※注：「★」印は“MONOLITH Tour”だけの限定曲。

……と、このようになっています。テープ・チェンジの関係か「Angels Have Fallen」の終盤と次曲「Opus Insert」の頭が録音漏れ。惜しいところで完全収録ではありませんが、他は淀みなくフルで楽しめます。そして、そのセットは三大名盤のレパートリーだけをギュッと濃縮。軸となるのは『MONOLITH』で、アルバムの全曲を披露している。特に「Away From You」「Angels Have Fallen」「Stay Out Of Trouble」「How My Soul Cries Out For You」はツアー限定のレア曲。それを脳みそド直結サウンドボードで楽しめるのです（それだけに「Angels Have Fallen」が不完全なのは惜しい！）
『TWO FOR THE SHOW』の続編的ライヴアルバムであり、レア曲も黄金時代の濃縮感も格別。50周年に相応しい流出サウンドボード・アルバムです。その最高峰バージョンを永久保存したプレス２CD。どうぞ、存分にご堪能区ださい。

★「1979年９月２日スプリングフィールド公演」のサウンドボード録音。創始者ケリー・リブグレンが所有していた大元マスターから直接ダビングされた1stジェネ・マスターで、結成50周年を記念して公開されたもの。モノラルながら無修正・無加工の録って出し感が鮮烈で、ただひたすら生演奏だけがムキ出しのド迫力。『MONOLITH』全曲を軸に三大ヒット作を濃縮した全盛時代のショウを楽しめます。

“LEFTOVERTURE”, “POINT OF KNOW RETURN”, and “MONOLITH” reached the US Top 10 consecutively, and all three albums received platinum albums. KANSAS in 1979 was right in the middle of its heyday. Introducing a shocking soundboard album that will fill your brain with the climax of the live performance.
What is engraved on this work is “Springfield performance on September 2, 1979.” This is a soundboard recording leaked by those involved. Speaking of “MONOLITH Tour”, it is historic for us as it was our legendary first visit to Japan. First, let’s take a look at its history and explore the position of this work.

●1979
・May 3rd: Houston performance
《“MONOLITH” released in May》
・June 28th – September 2nd: North America #1 (37 performances) ←★Here★
・October 2nd-7th: North America #2 (4 performances)
・October 18th – November 11th: North America #3 (17 performances)
・November 21st – December 13th: North America #4 (17 performances)
●1980
・January 11th-16th: First visit to Japan (5 performances)

This is the overall picture of “MONOLITH Tour”. The tour was basically limited to North America, and the Japan performance was in a style that was added in January 1980 (I omitted it above, but after October 1980 it was the next “AUDIO-VISIONS Tour”) ). The Springfield performance of this work took place about four months before the first visit to Japan. It was a concert on the last day of the early part of the tour, “North America #1.”
This work recorded at such a show is the first soundboard that is currently shaking collectors all over the world. It was released to commemorate the 50th anniversary of its formation, and it is the 1st Gene Master that was dubbed directly from the original master owned by founder Kelly Livgren. The sound world is truly shocking. Since it is a monaural vintage soundboard, I hesitate to call it “completely official grade”, but on the contrary, it has a vivid feeling of being recorded uncensored and unprocessed. The mix, which seems to be for on-site PA, has nothing to do with playback on home audio, and is just a live performance without loud cheers.
Of course, for seasoned soundboard enthusiasts, this is a good point, but not a drawback. The close-up feeling that goes beyond the experience of a live venue is that the whole body and the live performance are completely synchronized. The sense of separation that makes you feel like you are between the performers is the same as in a studio work, but the intense ensemble and energy that only a stage performance can provide envelops your entire body. You can enjoy a completely different-dimensional experience that will make you feel like you have KANSAS in your head.
Moreover, this work is also the highest version of such a shocking sound board. It’s become such a hot topic that it’s even been uploaded to a major video site, but on that site, the pitch is significantly off, and perhaps the sound pressure was raised too much, causing distortion. In that respect, this work has a natural master sound and the pitch is precise. The level of perfection as a musical work is on a whole other level.
What is depicted in such a best master is a show that concentrates and reduces the blockbuster trilogy and explodes with stage tension. Let’s organize the set so that you can experience its richness.

●Mystery of the Monolith (7 songs + α)
・On The Other Side／People Of The South Wind／Away From You（★）／Reason To Be／Angels Have Fallen（★：Incomplete）／Stay Out Of Trouble（★）／A Glimpse of Home／How My Soul Cries Out For You (★)
●Others (7 songs + α)
・Eternal Overture: The Wall/Opus Insert (Incomplete)/Carry On Wayward Son
・Towed into the Dark: Point of Know Return/Closet Chronicles/Dust In The Wind/The Spider/Portrait (He Knew)
*Note: Songs marked with “★” are limited to “MONOLITH Tour” only.

…and it looks like this. Perhaps due to a tape change, the end of “Angels Have Fallen” and the beginning of the next song “Opus Insert” were not recorded. Unfortunately, it is not a complete recording, but you can enjoy the rest without hesitation. And, the set concentrates only the repertoire of the three great masterpieces. The centerpiece is “MONOLITH”, which performs all songs from the album. In particular, “Away From You,” “Angels Have Fallen,” “Stay Out Of Trouble,” and “How My Soul Cries Out For You” are rare songs exclusive to the tour. You can enjoy it with a sound board directly connected to your brain (it’s a shame that “Angels Have Fallen” is incomplete!)
It is a live album that is a sequel to “TWO FOR THE SHOW”, and the rare songs and golden era concentration are exceptional. This is a leaked soundboard album suitable for the 50th anniversary. A press 2CD that permanently preserves the highest version. Please enjoy it to your heart’s content.

★Soundboard recording of “September 2, 1979 Springfield Performance”. This is the 1st Gene Master, which was dubbed directly from the original master owned by founder Kelly Livgren, and was released to commemorate the band’s 50th anniversary. Although it is monaural, it has a vivid uncensored and unprocessed recording feel, and the live performance is truly powerful. You can enjoy a show from the heyday that concentrates the three major hits centered on all the songs of “MONOLITH”.

Disc:1 (46:34)
1. Intro
2. On the Other Side
3. People of the Southwind
4. Away From You
5. Point of Know Return
6. Closet Chronicles
7. The Wall
8. Reason To Be
9. Dust in the Wind
10. Angels Have Fallen

Disc:2 (41:48)
1. Opus Insert
2. Stay Out of Trouble
3. The Spider
4. Portrait (He Knew)
5. Band Introductions
6. Glimpse of Home
7. How My Soul Cries Out For You
8. Carry On Wayward Son

Steve Walsh – keyboards, lead and backing vocals
Kerry Livgren – guitars, keyboards
Rich Williams – guitars
Robby Steinhardt – violin, vocals
Dave Hope – bass
Phil Ehart – drums

SOUNDBOARD RECORDING

Virtuoso 504/505