GiGinJapan Artwork of Japanese CDs (mostly) Saxon / Definitive Hammersmith Odeon 1980 / 1CD+1Bonus DVDR / Zodiac
Live at Hammersmith Odeon, London, UK 19th December 1980 plus Bonus DVDR “COMPLETE BEAT-CLUB 1981”
Play sample :
2 years ago worldwide The famous recording that shook the collectors of the album has been upgraded! The ultimate inscription from the prestigious “Kinney” Omoto cassette is now available on the permanent preservation press CD!
Engraved in such a work is “London performance on December 19, 1980”. It is a transcendental audience recording recorded at the traditional venue “Hammersmith Odeon”. If you are an avid collector, you may remember the masterpiece “HAMMERSMITH ODEON 1980 (Shades 1425)”, but this work is actually the same recording. At that time, I introduced it as “sounds like Kinney”, but I thought it was unlikely, but when I searched for it on my own route … it was really a Kinney recording! Succeeded in obtaining the original cassette of the head family as usual. As promised (?) last time, “If it’s the original master, it will definitely be pressed”, it will be released as a permanent preservation press CD!
The meter suddenly went up, but if you don’t know the Shades board, it’s a question. I will explain from the beginning, so let’s first take a look at the schedule of the golden age when the three famous boards “WHEELS OF STEEL”, “STRONG ARM OF THE LAW” and “DENIM AND LEATHER” were crowded.
● 1980
・ January 5-April 2: UK # 1 (10 performances)
“April 3 “WHEELS OF STEEL” release”
・ April 21-June 22: UK # 2 (36 performances)
・ 7 26th of the month: THE OVER-THE-TOP HM BRAIN DAMAGE MAYHEM PARTY
・August 16th-24th: Europe #1 (3 performances)
《“STRONG ARM OF THE LAW” released on September 1st》
・September 11th -October 19: North America (22 performances)
, November 2-December 23: UK # 3 (32 performances) ← Coco
1981
, January 23-April 6: Europe # 2 (24 performances)
・ May 4th-7th: Japan (4 performances)
・ May 15th / June 3rd / July 17th: Europe # 3 (3 performances)
《October 5th “DENIM AND LEATHER ]
October 7-December 16: Europe # 4 (45 performances)
It was Japan’s prestigious “Kinney” that vacuum-packed such a scene. It is a long-established store famous for recording in Japan, but in the 1980s, he often visited the UK and recorded authentic shows. At our shop, IRON MAIDEN’s press masterpiece “RAINBOW THEATER 1980 FINAL (Zodiac 160)” is also a big staple, but this work is two days before that. Perhaps it is a sister work recorded continuously by the same staff. And the sound is super and superb. If you repeat the expression of the Shades version last time, “Anyway, it’s very thick, direct, and fresh. If you listen carefully with headphones, you’ll notice the proof of the audience recording, but it’s just a tone. Even though it’s not outdoors, it’s a very vivid sound.”
Moreover, this work is further upgraded by raising the original cassette. It’s about 2 minutes longer than the previous edition, but that’s just proof of the origin. The important thing is the sound itself that penetrates the whole story, it is furiously rich and natural. Apparently, the last Shades edition seems to have been gaining sound pressure by overseas collectors to their liking, but this work is overwhelmingly fresh. There is no sense of processing of the sharp attack sound, and it is even more vivid because it is clear to the subtleties of the subtleties rather than being rounded. As expected of Kinney’s original cassette … it is the best sound of the best masterpiece class in the Kinney collection that our shop has provided. [The ultimate live album that vacuum-packed the climax of NWOBHM] The full show at the top of NWOBHM is depicted with such a natural beauty Kinney sound. Speaking of the golden age live, all the criteria can not be other than “THE EAGLE HAS LANDED”. Here, let’s organize the set while comparing it with the (increased) 2006 remastered board.
Wheels of Steel (7 songs)
See The Light Shining/747 (Strangers In The Night)/Freeway Mad (★)/Stand Up and Be Counted (★)/Wheels Of Steel/Motorcycle Man/Machine Gun
Others (8 songs + α)
Saxon: Backs to the Wall (★)/Rainbow Theme/Frozen Rainbow/Stallions of the Highway (★) Strong Arm of the
Low: Heavy Metal Thunder/Hungry Years/Strong Arm Of The Law / 20,000 Ft. / Dallas 1 PM
*Note: “★” marks are songs that cannot be heard even on the famous album “THE EAGLE HAS LANDED (2006 remastered version)”.
… and it looks like this. The axis is the masterpiece “WHEELS OF STEEL”, and all songs other than “Street Fighting Gang” and “Suzie Hold On” are played on a large scale. The composition that intersperses the deadly songs of “SAXON” and “STRONG ARM OF THE LAW” there seems to be choked with the richness unique to the early days.
“Hammersmith Odeon” was a gateway to success for the NWOBHM band and a sacred place. IRON MAIDEN also stood on the stage in March 1980 (as an undercard for JUDAS PRIEST), but SAXON had already experienced it in 1979. This day was the headliner. At that time, SAXON was the cutting edge of heavy metal and the leader of NWOBHM. The original master of the prestigious “Kinney” where the scent of such a golden age blows out from the speaker. Please, inhale to your heart’s content with this work on the permanent preservation press CD!
★ Superb audience recording of “December 19, 1980 Hammersmith Odeon Performance”. It is an inscription that was raised from the newly discovered prestigious Kinney Omoto cassette, and it is very thick and direct. While pursuing the beauty of Odins like Kinney recording, it is also powerful like FM broadcasting. Moreover, the freshness of the Omoto cassette is wonderfully rich and natural. Golden Age SAXON … No, it is the ultimate live album that will be NWOBHM’s masterpiece.
２年前に世界中のコレクターを震撼させた名録音がまさかのアップグレード！ 名門“キニー”の大元カセットから起こされた究極の銘品が永久保存プレスCDで登場です！
そんな本作に刻まれているのは「1980年12月19日ロンドン公演」。伝統の名会場“ハマースミス・オデオン”で記録された超絶級オーディエンス録音です。熱心なコレクター諸兄なら名作『HAMMERSMITH ODEON 1980（Shades 1425）』をご記憶だと思いますが、実は本作も同じ録音。あの時は「まるでキニーのようなサウンド」とご紹介しましたが、まさかとは思いつつ、独自ルートで探ってみたところ……本当にキニー録音だった！ 例によって本家本元の大元カセットの入手に成功。前回「大元マスターだったら確実にプレス化」とお約束（？）した通り、永久保存プレスCDでリリース決定です！
いきなりメーターが上がってしまいましたが、Shades盤をご存じないと「？」ですね。イチからご説明しますので、まずは３大名盤『WHEELS OF STEEL』『STRONG ARM OF THE LAW』『DENIM AND LEATHER』がひしめいていた黄金時代をスケジュールで俯瞰してみましょう。
●1980年
・１月５日ー４月２日：英国#1（10公演）
《４月３日『WHEELS OF STEEL』発売》
・４月21日ー６月22日：英国#2（36公演）
・７月26日：THE OVER-THE-TOP HM BRAIN DAMAGE MAYHEM PARTY
・８月16日ー24日：欧州#1（３公演）
《９月１日『STRONG ARM OF THE LAW』発売》
・９月11日ー10月19日：北米（22公演）
・11月２日ー12月23日：英国#3（32公演） ←★ココ★
●1981年
・１月23日ー４月６日：欧州#2（24公演）
・５月４日ー７日：日本（４公演）
・５月15日／６月３日／７月17日：欧州#3（３公演）
《10月５日『DENIM AND LEATHER』発売》
・10月７日ー12月16日：欧州#4（45公演）
【新発掘された名門“キニー”の大元カセット】
これが1980年／1981年のSAXON。“STRONG ARM OF THE LAW Tour”と言えば伝説の初来日も実現しましたが、本作のハマースミス公演はその半年前にあたる「英国#3」の30公演目。“ハマースミス・オデオン”と言えばNWOBHMバンドなら誰もが目指すわけですが、SAXONにとっては三度目の聖地公演でもありました。
そんな現場を真空パックしたのは、日本の名門“キニー”。来日録音で有名な老舗ですが、80年代には度々渡英して本場のショウも記録していました。当店ではIRON MAIDENのプレス名盤『RAINBOW THEATRE 1980 FINAL（Zodiac 160）』も大定番ですが、本作はその２日前。恐らくは同じスタッフが連続で録音した姉妹作なのでしょう。そして、そのサウンドも超・極上。前回Shades盤の表現を繰り返しますと「とにかく極太でダイレクト、そして瑞々しい。ヘッドフォンで耳を澄ませばオーディエンス録音の証にも気づきますが、それもあくまで音色止まり。空間感覚の出やすいヴォーカルにしてもスネアにしても密度たっぷりで距離感もなし。野外でもないのにあまりにも鮮やかなサウンド」なのです。
しかも、本作は大元カセット起こしでさらなるアップグレード。前回盤より約２分長いのですが、それは大元の証拠にすぎない。肝心なのは全編を貫くサウンドそのもので、猛烈にリッチ＆ナチュラルなのです。どうやら前回Shades盤は海外コレクターが自分の好みで音圧稼ぎしていたようですが、本作は圧倒的に瑞々しい。トゲトゲしたアタック音の加工感がなく、それでいて丸くなるどころか機微の機微まで鮮明なために一層鮮やか。さすがキニーのオリジナル・カセット……と言いますか、当店がご提供してきたキニー・コレクションでも最高傑作級の極上サウンドなのです。
【NWOBHMの絶頂を真空パックした究極ライヴアルバム】
そんなナチュラル・ビューティなキニー・サウンドで画かれるのは、NWOBHMの頂点に立つ絶頂のフルショウ。黄金時代のライヴと言えば、すべての基準は『THE EAGLE HAS LANDED』以外にあり得ない。ここでは（増量された）2006年リマスター盤と比較しながらセットを整理してみましょう。
●ホイールズ・オブ・スティール（７曲）
・See The Light Shining／747 (Strangers In The Night)／Freeway Mad（★）／Stand Up and Be Counted（★）／Wheels Of Steel／Motorcycle Man／Machine Gun
●その他（８曲＋α）
・サクソン：Backs to the Wall（★）／Rainbow Theme/Frozen Rainbow／Stallions of the Highway（★）
・ストロング・アーム・オブ・ザ・ロウ：Heavy Metal Thunder／Hungry Years／Strong Arm Of The Law／20,000 Ft.／Dallas 1 PM
※注：「★」印は大名盤『THE EAGLE HAS LANDED（2006年リマスター盤）』でも聴けない曲。
……と、このようになっています。軸となるのは大代表作『WHEELS OF STEEL』でして「Street Fighting Gang」「Suzie Hold On」以外の全曲を大盤振る舞い。そこに『SAXON』『STRONG ARM OF THE LAW』の必殺曲を散りばめた構成は、初期ならではの濃厚ぶりにむせ返りそうです。
NWOBHMバンドの登竜門であり、聖地でもあった“ハマースミス・オデオン”。IRON MAIDENも1980年３月に（JUDAS PRIESTの前座として）その舞台に立ちましたが、SAXONは1979年にはとっくに経験済み。この日は堂々ヘッドライナーでした。当時はSAXONこそがヘヴィメタルの最先端であり、NWOBHMの盟主だった。そんな黄金時代の薫りがスピーカーから吹き出してくる名門“キニー”のオリジナル・マスター。どうぞ、永久保存プレスCDの本作で胸いっぱいに吸い込んでください！
★「1980年12月19日ハマースミス・オデオン公演」の超絶級オーディエンス録音。新発掘された名門キニーの大元カセットから起こされた銘品で、とにかく極太でダイレクト。キニー録音らしくオーディンスだからこその美を追究しつつ、FM放送のようにパワフルでもある。しかも、大元カセットだからこその瑞々しさが素晴らしくリッチ＆ナチュラル。黄金時代SAXONの……いえ、NWOBHMの最高傑作となる究極のライヴアルバムです。
(76:59)
1. Intro
2. Heavy Metal Thunder
3. See the Light Shining
4. Backs to the Wall
5. Hungry Years
6. Frozen Rainbow
7. Strong Arm of the Law
8. 20,000 Ft
9. 747 (Strangers in the Night)
10. Freeway Mad
11. Dallas 1 PM
12. Stand Up and Be Counted
13. Stallions of the Highway
14. Wheels of Steel
15. Motorcycle Man
16. Machine Gun
Biff Byford – Vocals
Graham Oliver – Guitar
Paul Quinn – Guitar
Steve Dawson – Bass
Pete Gill – Drums
ZODIAC 576
———————–
Saxon / Complete Beat-Club 1981 / 1DVDR / Non label
Beat-Club, Bremen, Germany 15th May 1981 PRO-SHOT
Click Image To Enlarge
The main press CD is a super-famous recording of the golden age SAXON recorded by the prestigious “Kinney” leaning against his arm. That is NWOBHM’s strongest and best live album. As a bonus to celebrate the birth of such a masterpiece live album, we have prepared a masterpiece of video.
Such a work was shot “May 15, 1981 Bremen”. It is a multi-camera pro shot when appearing on the famous program “BEAT-CLUB”. This video was once said to be “July 7th”, but it was corrected to “May 15th” along with the excavation of the full version master. The first day of “Europe #3” as mentioned in the schedule of the main commentary. It was the timing of one week after the legendary first visit to Japan.
Speaking of “BEAT-CLUB”, it is a music program that represents West Germany, and is also famous for leaving a number of masterpiece videos since the 70’s. Especially in 1981, IRON MAIDEN’s super masterpiece “COMPLETE BEAT-CLUB 1981 (Zodiac 326)” is famous, but this work is one of its SAXON versions.
Of course, it has become a classic only for famous programs, but this work is a transcendental upgrade and complete version that has been discovered in recent years. First of all, it is a long point, but this is already amazing. Partly because the broadcast version was too short, it was expanded more than twice at once. Let’s organize the set here.
・Saxon: Rainbow Theme/Frozen Rainbow (*)
・Wheels of Steel: See The Light Shining (*) / 747 (Strangers In The Night) (*) / Freeway Mad / Wheels Of Steel (*) / Machine Gun (*)
・Strong Arm of the Law: Heavy Metal Thunder / Hungry Years (*) / Strong Arm Of The Law / Dallas 1 PM
・Denim and leather: And The Bands Played On (★)
* Note: “*” marks are songs that were not broadcast. The “★” marks are songs that cannot be heard in the main volume “DEFINITIVE HAMMERSMITH ODEON 1980”.
… and it looks like this. Anyway, a large amount of unaired scenes are a masterpiece. Moreover, the five golden people who created from the debut work to “DENIM AND LEATHER” play the masterpiece group. In the masterpiece “THE EAGLE HAS LANDED”, it was after Nigel Glockler changed, but this work is just before that, and Pete Gill sits on the stool. Correctly, the band potential that perfectly matches many masterpieces is fully open.
The upgrade that can draw such a show is also amazing. As a matter of fact, although it was also officialized as a video benefit of the documentary film “Heavy Metal Thunder”, this work is a master discovered by BEAT-CLUB himself at the same time as the IRON MAIDEN edition. If you have experienced the Maiden edition, I think it will come to mind, but it is an unedited master that has been taken out of the original storehouse, and if there are no dubbing marks, it has been sleeping for many years, so there is no reproduction deterioration. It is truly the highest visual beauty in history.
In the early 80’s when the NWOBHM movement exploded, SAXON was the leader of the scene ahead of even IRON MAIDEN. It is a super masterpiece that you can enjoy their heyday with an official professional shot that lasts about an hour. Not only does it make us imagine the “other side” of the main press CD, but this work itself is also a historical apex video that reminds us of the legendary first visit to Japan. The ultimate set of the masterpiece live album and the masterpiece pro shot that embodies the essence of NWOBHM. By all means, please experience plenty together!
(56:46)
1. Heavy Metal Thunder
2. See The Light Shining ★Unaired
3. Hungry Years ★Unaired
4. Rainbow Theme/Frozen Rainbow Unaired
5. And The Bands Played On
6. Strong Arm Of The Law
7. 747 (Strangers In The Night) Unaired
8. Freeway Mad
9. Dallas 1 PM
10. Wheels Of Steel ★Unaired
11. Machine Gun ★Unaired
Biff Byford – Vocals
Graham Oliver – Guitar
Paul Quinn – Guitar
Steve Dawson – Bass
Pete Gill – Drums
PRO-SHOT COLOR NTSC Approx. 57min.
