YES / Madison Square Garden 1979 Final Night / 2CD

YES / Madison Square Garden 1979 Final Night / 2CD / Virtuoso

Madison Square Garden, New York, NY, USA 15th June 1979

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A new upgrade master has unearthed the best recording of “TEN TRUE SUMMERS Tour” to commemorate the 10th anniversary of his debut. The ultimate commentary board, in which the champion himself has updated the height of the throne, is now available on the Permanent Preservation Press 2CD.
The recording of the champion is “Performance in New York on June 15, 1979”. It is a transcendental audience recording recorded on the last day of the iconic large venue “Madison Square Garden (hereinafter MSG)” 3DAYS. If you know the existing group, it is a super-name recording that you probably decided just by looking at the date, but for those who do not, let’s start from the beginning. First of all, the position of the show. Let’s look back at the big picture of the world tour that ended the gorgeous 70’s.

● 1978; “TORMATO Tour”
・ August 28-October 8: North America # 1 (37 performances)
<< September 26, “TORMATO” released >>
・ October 24-28: UK (6 performances)
● 1979: “TEN TRUE SUMMERS Tour”
・ April 9th-May 8th: North America # 2 (27 performances)
・ May 24-June 30: North America # 3 (32 performances) ← ★ Coco ★

[Legendary recording of a solitary world where even rivals do not exist] This is YES in 1978/1979. Since the set is a series of schedules that are very similar, it may be grouped together as “TORMATO Tour”, but if you subdivide it, the 1979 edition is “TEN TRUE SUMMERS Tour”. The MSG performance of this work was the 19th performance of “North America # 3”, the final stage of the concert.
By the way, this work was recorded at such a show, but it is an upgraded version of the super-name recording that has become a legend in the collector world. It is not a processing system that has been refined, but the master freshness itself has been improved. It is the 1st Gene Master of new excavation. In the first place, the reason why this recording is “legendary” is its quality. This is because it was known as a masterpiece recording that was outstanding in “TORMATO / TEN TRUE SUMMERS Tour”. This is a little different from the usual “tour masterpiece”. In a normal case, a couple of the finest recordings are lined up, and each collector fights for opinions such as “This is the best” and “No, it’s Kochi”, and somehow a consensus is formed. However, this is not the case with “TORMATO / TEN TRUE SUMMERS Tour”. There was no recording in line with “MSG Day 3”, and he reigned on the throne as the sole leader.
In fact, the sound is amazing. The core is super direct, there is no sense of distance and fine dust, and even the fine parts are super vivid. The so-called “sound board” itself. As a typical example, it is a famous recording that I want to put in the Japanese dictionary (?). Moreover, I was surprised that the site was MSG. As collectors would agree, MSG is a famous venue that makes its name known to the world, but it is not a famous production area for recording. Rather, it can be said that it is a “difficult place” where it is difficult for the sound to wrap around the Tokyo Dome. Despite this, it’s so tight that you can’t hear the hall ringing even if you listen with headphones. What kind of position can make such a sound? At that time, it was a miracle recording that I wanted the modern tapers to teach the secrets of mochi theory.

[The highest peak update in the champion’s own 1st Gene Master] Alright. I praised it for a long time, but so far it’s just the story of the conventional version. This work is a further upgrade of such a miracle legendary recording. What’s more, the ups are “just like a different thing”, so you’ll be amazed. It’s clear that the show / recording is the same, even from the bubbling cheers, the lively cheers, and the firecrackers that explode in the distance. However, the clearness is several steps higher. The density of the core has become even denser, and the deep bass vibe that shakes the floor of the venue is also delicate. The silent part without performance is also very different, and the deeper gap between each note makes the feeling of air more transparent, which makes the edge of the playing sound even sharper.
Such an effect is not impossible even with remastering, but in that case, crushing of fine parts and a feeling of processing are inevitable. In that respect, this work is realized only by master freshness, so every corner is fresh and natural. A long synth that stretches beautifully to the edge of the treble, and even a single grain of a messy bass is super real. At the time of the conventional edition, it was like a “sound board”, but this work is a super high quality sound world that even reminds us of the masterpiece “YESSONGS” of the century. Moreover, this work is the highest peak of such a new excavation master. The original sound that appeared on the net was also the ultimate sound quality that could not be improved, but the finish such as pitch was sweet. In this new excavation master, “The Clap” was cut off in the middle, and it was patched with Gene in the past, but even though it was originally connected with the same recording, it was so crazy that it became a chig hug. In this work, such pitch is adjusted in units of moments. Including the connection part of “The Clap”, the whole story is carried through with a sense of stability.
What is drawn with such a miracle sound is a full show that concentrates the evolution of 10 years in about 2 hours and 20 minutes. Speaking of “TEN TRUE SUMMERS Tour”, the official video “LIVE IN PHILADELPHIA” is famous, but I’m glad that it’s a long time that can’t be compared with the official video that I haven’t seen even from a bird’s-eye view. Let’s organize the set here so that you can feel the volume of the number of songs.

・ Time and A Word: Time And A Word
・ Third album: Perpetual Change / The Clap / Starship Trooper (*) / I’ve Seen All Good People (*)
・ Fragile: Heart Of The Sunrise / Long Distance Runaround / The Fish / Roundabout (*)
・ Crisis: Siberian Khatru (*) / And You And I
・ Relayer: Soon
・ Ultimate: Awaken
・ Tormato: Future Times / Rejoice / Circus Of Heaven (*)
・ Others: Tour Song
* Note: The “*” mark is the song that was also seen in the official video “LIVE IN PHILADELPHIA”.

At the end of this tour, not only Rick Wakeman but also founder John Anderson left. YES will move us into the “DRAMA” era. What flows out of this work is YES, which is on the verge of entering the confusion. It’s the 10-year goal of creating and progressing symphonic rock. A cultural heritage-class live rubam where you can experience such a superb show with a more evolved sound. Please fully enjoy with the permanent storage press 2CD!

★ Recording of a superb audience of “June 15, 1979 Madison Square Garden Performance”. The 1st Gene Master of the legendary recording, which has been known as the highest peak of “TORMATO / TEN TRUE SUMMERS Tour”, is newly excavated. It is a new masterpiece that has achieved the ultimate evolution. In fact, even in the conventional version, it was said to be a “sound board”, but the core of this work is even more direct, there is no sense of distance, and even the fine parts are super vivid. The clarity has also improved several steps, and the edges of the playing sound are even sharper. It is a cultural heritage album where you can experience the 10th anniversary tour that summarizes the 70’s in a sound world that even reminds you of the masterpiece “YESSONGS” of the century.

デビュー10周年を記念した“TEN TRUE SUMMERS Tour”のベスト録音に、まさかのアップグレード・マスターが新発掘。王者自身が王座の高みを更新してしまった究極の実況盤が永久保存プレス２CDで登場です。
その王者録音に封じられているのは「1979年６月15日ニューヨーク公演」。象徴的な大会場“マディソン・スクエア・ガーデン（以後、MSG）”３DAYSの最終日で記録された超絶級オーディエンス録音です。既発群をご存知の方でしたら、恐らく日付を見ただけで心を決められているであろう超名録音なわけですが、そうではない方のためにもイチから始めましょう。まずは、ショウのポジション。絢爛の70年代を締めくくったワールド・ツアーの全体像から振り返ってみましょう。

●1978年；“TORMATO Tour”
・８月28日ー10月８日：北米#1（37公演）
《９月26日『TORMATO』発売》
・10月24日ー28日：英国（６公演）
●1979年：“TEN TRUE SUMMERS Tour”
・４月９日ー５月８日：北米#2（27公演）
・５月24日ー６月30日：北米#3（32公演）←★ココ★

【ライバルさえ存在しない孤高の伝説録音】
これが1978年／1979年のYES。セットも酷似した一連の日程なために“TORMATO Tour”と一括りにされる事もありますが、細分すると1979年編は“TEN TRUE SUMMERS Tour”。本作のMSG公演は、その最終盤となる「北米#3」の19公演目にあたるコンサートでした。
さて、そんなショウで記録された本作ですが、コレクター界では伝説となっている超名録音のアップグレード盤。それも既発を磨き込んだような加工系ではなく、マスター鮮度自体のアップ。新発掘の1stジェネ・マスターなのです。そもそも、この録音がなぜ「伝説」なのかと言えば、そのクオリティ。“TORMATO / TEN TRUE SUMMERS Tour”でもズバ抜けた最高傑作録音として知られていたからです。これは通常の「ツアー最高傑作」とはちょっと違う。普通のケースでは、極上録音が２ー３本並び立ち、コレクター１人ひとりが「コレがベスト」「いやコッチだろ」と意見を戦わせつつ、何となく総意が形成されていく。しかし、“TORMATO / TEN TRUE SUMMERS Tour”はそうではない。「MSGの３日目」に並び立つ録音はなく、単独首位で王座に君臨してきたのです。
実際、そのサウンドは驚異的。芯は超ダイレクトで距離感など微塵もなく、微細部まで超ビビッド。いわゆる「まるでサウンドボード」そのもの。典型例として国語辞典に載せたい（？）くらいの名録音なのです。しかも、その現場がMSGというのが驚き。コレクター諸兄なら賛同していただけると思いますが、MSGは世界にその名を轟かせる名会場ではあるものの、極上録音の名産地とは言えない。むしろ、東京ドームばりに音の回り込みに苦心する「難所」と言っても良いでしょう。それにも関わらず、ヘッドフォンで耳を澄ませてもホール鳴りが分からないほど超タイト。一体どんなポジションならこんな音が可能なのか……。当時は餅論のこと、現代のテーパー達にも秘訣を伝授して欲しい奇跡の名録音なのです。

【王者自身の1stジェネ・マスターで最高峰更新】
さてさて。思わず長々と褒めちぎってしまいましたが、ここまではあくまでも従来盤の話。本作は、そんな奇跡の伝説録音が更にアップグレードしているのです。しかも、そのアップぶりは「まるで別物」級だからド肝を抜かれる。沸き立つ喝采や生々しい声援、それに遠くで炸裂する爆竹から言っても、同じショウ／同じ録音なのは明らか。しかし、そのクリアさは数段上なのです。芯の密度はさらに濃密になり、会場の床を振るわせる重低音ヴァイヴも細やか。演奏のない無音部も大きく違っており、１音１音のスキマが深くなることで空気感の透明感も一層増し、そのおかげで演奏音のエッジはさらにシャープになっている。
こうした効果はリマスタリングでも不可能ではないのですが、その場合は微細部の潰れや加工感も避けられない。その点、本作はマスター鮮度だけで実現しているため、隅々まで瑞々しくナチュラル。長く伸びるシンセ高音の端まで綺麗に伸び、ごりごりしたベースの一粒まで超リアル。従来盤の時点で「まるでサウンドボード」だったわけですが、本作はそれこそ、世紀の大名盤『YESSONGS』さえ想起させるほどの超ハイクオリティな音世界なのです。しかも、本作はそんな新発掘マスターの最高峰盤。ネットに登場した原音も改善の余地がないほど究極的な音質だったものの、ピッチなどの仕上げが甘かった。今回の新発掘マスターは「The Clap」が途中で切れており、そこを従来ジェネでパッチされているのですが、もともと同じ録音で繋いでいるにも関わらずチグハグになるほど狂っていたのです。本作ではそうしたピッチを一瞬単位で調整。「The Clap」の接続部も含め、ビシッとした安定感で全編を貫いているのです。
そんなミラクル・サウンドで描かれるのは、10年の進化を約２時間20分に濃縮したフルショウ。“TEN TRUE SUMMERS Tour”と言えば、公式映像『LIVE IN PHILADELPHIA』が有名ですが、１俯瞰にも観たない公式映像とは比べものにならない長尺ぶりが嬉しいのです。曲数ボリュームを実感していただくためにも、ここでセットを整理しておきましょう。

・時間と言葉：Time And A Word
・サード・アルバム：Perpetual Change／The Clap／Starship Trooper（＊）／I’ve Seen All Good People（＊）
・こわれもの：Heart Of The Sunrise／Long Distance Runaround／The Fish／Roundabout（＊）
・危機：Siberian Khatru（＊）／And You And I
・リレイヤー：Soon
・究極：Awaken
・トーマト：Future Times／Rejoice／Circus Of Heaven（＊）
・その他：Tour Song
※注：「＊」印は公式映像『LIVE IN PHILADELPHIA』でも観られた曲。

このツアーの終了後、リック・ウェイクマンはおろか創設者ジョン・アンダーソンも離脱。YESは『DRAMA』時代へと歩みを進める事になります。本作から流れ出るのは、その混迷に突入する寸前のYES。シンフォニック・ロックを生み出し、プログレスさせていった10年の到達点なのです。そんな極めつけのショウを、さらに進化したサウンドで超極上体験できる文化遺産級のライヴルバム。どうぞ、永久保存プレス２CDで存分にご堪能ください！

★「1979年６月15日マディソン・スクエア・ガーデン公演」の超絶級オーディエンス録音。“TORMATO / TEN TRUE SUMMERS Tour”の最高峰として知られてきた伝説録音の1stジェネ・マスターが新発掘。究極進化を遂げた新名盤です。実際、従来版でも「まるでサウンドボード」と言われたわけですが、本作の芯はさらにダイレクトで距離感など微塵もなく、微細部まで超ビビッド。クリアさも数段向上し、演奏音のエッジはさらにシャープ。それこそ世紀の大名盤『YESSONGS』さえ想起させるほどの音世界で、70年代を総括した10周年ツアーを超極上体験できる文化遺産アルバムです。

 

Disc 1 (72:55)
1. Intro
2. Siberian Khatru
3. Heart Of The Sunrise
4. Future Times
5. Rejoice
6. Circus Of Heaven
7. Time And A Word
8. Long Distance Runaround
9. The Fish
10. Perpetual Change
11. Soon
12. The Clap ★既発未収

Disc 2 (67:08)
1. And You And I
2. Starship Trooper
3. Rick Wakeman Solo
4. Awaken
5. Tour Song
6. I’ve Seen All Good People
7. Roundabout

Jon Anderson -Vocals
Steve Howe – Guitar
Chris Squire – Bass
Alan White – Drums
Rick Wakeman – Keyboards

Virtuoso 460/461