Van Halen / Philadelphia 1978 / 1CDR

Another treasure live album has appeared. Introducing a new master from the “Van Halen” era that shocked the world.
Currently, the world is overwhelmed by Eddie Van Halen’s obituary, but in the collector world, excavation has begun as if to heal the pain. This work is one such new master. This is an excellent audience recording of “March 24, 1978 Upper Darby Performance”. Of course, the biggest point is the surprising sound, but first of all, the position of the show. Let’s take a look back at the big picture of the world tour that was amazing around the world with the debut.

・ January 27 + February 8: Warm up
<< February 10 “Van Halen” released >>
・ February 18-April 28: North America # 1 (46 performances) ← ★ Coco ★
・ May 4-June 10: Europe # 1 (27 performances)
・ June 17-28: Japan (9 performances)
・ July 1st-September 30th: North America # 2 (54 performances)
・ October 9-27: Europe # 2 (13 performances)
・ November 3rd-December 3rd: North America # 3 (24 performances)
《December 11th, “Legendary Bombing Machine” production started》

This is VAN HALEN in 1987. The shock of the appearance of the giant star can be seen from the fact that he has already visited Japan for the first time four months after his debut, but the Upper Darby performance of this work is even earlier. The 20th performance of “North America # 1”, one and a half months after the release of “Van Halen”. Moreover, the opening number of performances of “North America # 1” is not so tight, and the full-scale start will start in March. This work was still a time when the start dash was full of momentum.
This work recorded at such an early concert was surprised by the powerful and super direct sound! Anyway, there is no sense of distance and it is in close contact. Rather than “reaching” a thick core, it feels like “oscillating” right there. Of course, because it’s so close, the details flow into my ears without becoming cloudy, and the fine cymbal work and the rubbing condition of the guitar strings are super clear. The tone has a slightly vintage feel, but it is a super-direct sound recording that can be dignifiedly called a “sound board.”
Although it is a surprising new master, this work is also the highest peak. As a matter of fact, there were some regrettable points for this master. You can hear another music left on the tape from one channel in the second half, or the pitch is off by a semitone. In this work, such defects are thoroughly corrected. Naturally, the pitch is neat and tidy, and other music is removed cleanly (the part is monaural, but you can enjoy it seamlessly without any discomfort with the stereo part). By the way (?), I adjusted the bass balance, which was a little too powerful, and pursued the maximum potential of the new master.
The highest peak sound is drawn with a great enthusiasm that has just begun the life of a journey away from the local area. At that time, he was the opening of JOURNEY with MONTROSE, and the front seat frame was less than 40 minutes. However, because it is short, the ensemble is so rich that the whole story seems to lose its power. As a matter of fact, all 9 songs played are “Van Halen” numbers, so I will omit the set analysis, but that is why the smell of “live performance version debut work” is pungent. Of course, the tension of standing on the stage in front of the audience is not the same as that of the studio, and the version is even more intense. Do you call it a “flame fuse”? It’s a show where the time of the fuse has already passed and the bomb is exploding.