Reviewer:
Mind Wondrin
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favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
February 18, 2021
Subject:
The invisible shield finally got 'em
This is a legendary show, long-beloved and traded. There are some classic versions herein. It sounds like a cross between a mid-'80s and a '78 more than, say, spring '77. It was a last-minute addition to the tour; not a stealth show, but suddenly announced. It was held for the students of Colgate, in the potentially 1700-seater Cotterell basketball court of the Reid Center [not the campus gymnasium, across the street]. They never played in Hamilton again, though they played just up the road in Syracuse and Utica. Maybe some of the students from nearby Barton Hall got wind and drove over to score two great shows in one year! It's the first set that earns (or at least sets up for) the rep, the second being in keeping with the rest of the tour - which is still mighty swell, Skippy.
First Set. Festivities immediately launch with a Bertha that's a bit ragged...in a perfect tension/release way. After a sweet, early Good Lovin', Brown Eyed Women just explodes. A tight Cassidy is followed by a superb Must Have Been Roses. ALL versions should be compared to this one. Though it speeds up, the song needs it! It often got so draggy. A top Sunrise precedes a wild-hot Minglewood. Crunchy and taking names, the next night's is also this crazy-good. Set low point, Dupree's is still well above average. This is a wealthy Let it Grow, Bobby and Keith adding so much capital.
Second Set. Phil makes a long funny during tech difficulties, then they begin the set with a Samson>CR&S. A nice pairing, if average '77. Playin' is the start of a continuous rest-of-set. Eyes of the World is one of the speediest and goes beyond the call of duty. Listen for Keith changing it up during this good Estimated, as well as Phil's action around 6mins. The Other One is a short one. The SBD has cuts of 58 secs (@0:26) in Drums and of 23secs (@9sec) in Iko Iko (the MTX and the official release are complete). The latter has lots of comping, then loses tempo, but it's only the 3rd full version, so, still finding its wheels. Stella is the roughest part of the show for Jer. The Playin' reprise bookends the nifty sequence. Keith is great on the Johnny B. Goode encore. All that's left is left on stage; all that's right is right with the world.
1st Set: A+
2nd Set: B-
Overall = 4½ stars
Highlights:
First Set - all great, some are all-time classics
Eyes of the World>Estimated Prophet - aces in the middle of fine sequence
Johnny B. Goode - best one in between 6/8/77 & 2/3/78
SOURCES: The 141833_sony_ecm33p is the classic Jerry Moore AUD, updated. The chappell_SB5_29091 is the MTX version. The matera_130927 is the updated SBD. The 139656_sbd is a slightly muddied copy, with song breaks moved to untenable places (142304_sbd is a copy of that source). Dave's 12 is complete and well-mastered.
Reviewer:
joker13
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December 20, 2017
Subject:
Crisp
This new and improved remaster is the nicest sounding version in my opinion. Someone mentioned on another there being a great Moore aud, but i didn't see it. This one my friends is sweeeeet. As good as that fabled "best show" from earlier that spring.