GiGinJapan Artwork of Japanese CDs (mostly) Paul McCartney & Wings / Dress Rehearsal 1989 / 2CD / Non Label
The Lyceum Theatre, New York City, NY, USA 24th August 1989 (Evening Dress Rehearsal) TRULY PERFECT SOUND
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Ten years after the last tour of Wings, Paul resumed his long-awaited live performance with the release of the album “FLOWERS IN THE DIRT”. It’s been 10 years since then, but if a big name like Paul is going to perform live, it’s natural that it will be expanded to a world tour. Paul has been doing public rehearsals many times since July, including the meaning of regaining his sense of the stage when starting a large-scale tour. In July, it was held with a press conference announcing the start of the tour in London, but in August, the tour will be announced and a public rehearsal will be held in the United States.
On August 24th, we will hold a press conference at the Lyceum Theater in New York (similar to the venue name but different from the Lyceum Ballroom in London) to start the US tour. On the spot, we first played a few songs such as “Matchbox” and then held a press conference. The pattern was reported all over the world including Japan at that time, and it will be attached to this release as a bonus CD-R “SOUND CHECK AT LYCEUM THEATER 1989” for the first delivery. On the other hand, since the public rehearsal held after the press conference was a real secret gig only for invited guests, it was veiled only by the existence of fragmentary sound sources except that the fact was known. ..
However, this year, 30 years after this public rehearsal, suddenly a complete version of the audience recording containing this gig was unearthed. That alone surprised enthusiasts around the world, but the sound quality was also amazing. However, due to the nature of the gig, it is not difficult to imagine that it was strictly forbidden to bring in recording equipment. There was only one thing that was done in such a situation, and the sound of the opening “Figure Of Eight” was not calm, but after that, the view improved at once. It is strange that the intervals between songs are cut finely, but fortunately there is no place to cut into the performance. I was surprised at the comfort of listening with a sense of distance and the freshness that I couldn’t believe I had slept for 30 years.
It will be a tremendous excitement to be surprised in a different sense from those. Unlike a normal concert, it doesn’t have a crowded presence, but enthusiastic cheers fly from the left and right. On the contrary, sing well. If this is a Beetle Classic, you can still understand it, but to my surprise, he even sings the new song “FLOWERS IN THE DIRT” at that time. “We Got Married” is sung with Paul from the beginning. After all, we sang together to “Twenty Flight Rock”. Even in the tour after this, there should be no audience who sings so enthusiastically (laughs).
Fortunately, I was in a secret gig state, and no matter how much enthusiastic singing I got, I wouldn’t fall into a situation that would block the performance. The only thing that is really jarring is “Can’t Buy Me Love” (the lyrics are wrong). Rather, I was impressed that there were people who really liked Paul.
The performance of a relaxed band unique to public rehearsals captures the sound image that is more wonderful and clear than such excitement. The atmosphere is completely different from the performance in front of a large crowd at the large venue during the tour after this. What’s more, I was surprised that Paul’s bass was captured with an exquisite balance and contour. For example, in “My Brave Face”, you can clearly feel the lively singing while playing the riffing baseline without any disturbance. He picks up the bass he plays at a level that does not upset the balance of the performance even in other songs, and once again I am impressed with the outstanding play of Paul’s bass.
And since it was a public rehearsal before the tour started, there was no large-scale stage set that was in the actual concert. Thanks to that, the climax of the repertoire such as “Hey Jude” and “Abbey Road Medley” was spared in a good way, and it was done in a relaxed atmosphere as a compact rehearsal gig. Instead, Paul The feature of the rehearsals in July and August is that his favorite old cover “Summertime” is shown, and it is not to be missed that he is playing lead guitar to his heart’s content.
In the final stage, Paul sang while playing the piano, “Ain’t That A Shame”, but in the next “Let It Be”, he made a fool of himself to remember the song, and there were a series of smiley scenes unique to rehearsals. Regarding the US tour after this, it is a new memory that Mike Millard sound source of LA Forum was released as “LA FORUM 1989 FINAL NIGHT MIKE MILLARD MASTER TAPES” a few months ago, but it is a companion to it. A super rare public rehearsal before the tour starts. Please enjoy the precious sound source that enthusiasts wanted to hear with wonderfully clear sound quality and a pleasant sense of presence (laughs)!
