Stuart Ferguson's Collection
Bruce Springsteen 08/11/1981
Joe Louis Arena, Detroit, MI
| Source | Audience master recording by JEMS |
| Media | CDR 3 discs |
| Notes | DVD 2325; lineage: teac m-100 mic > Sony 153SD w/dolby B. TRANSFER: Master Cassettes > Nakamichi 670zx > Wavelab 24/96 capture > .wav > Converted to Stereo 24/96 in Adobe Audition > EQ in Adobe Audition > Resampled to 16/44.1. Taper/Label: JEMS Master |
| Tech Notes | Known faults: Cuts at end of Two Heart and start of The Promised Land for tape flip. Volume fluctuations during start of Whoíll Stop the Rain. Volume fluctuations during Hungry Heart and You Can Look Some ìpoppingî during Detroit Medley. |
| J-Card Comment | Show Notes: After ten months on the road, Bruce Springsteen returned to the state where he began the tour, bringing with him a significantly retooled show: it's more efficient than the 1980 marathons, and stocked with a slew of new originals and covers. With the success of The River, he and the E Street Band play two nights in a much larger venue, Joe Louis Arena. This recording is of the first night. This show sounds well-paced and even, and represents nicely the summertime victory lap. It features a strong start: you'll hear it, along with the taper's assessment, after ìSummertime Blues.î No doubt the firecrackers, which some fool sets off a couple times early, anger Springsteen: he makes a ìshort public announcementî after ìProve It All Nightî that leaves nothing to the imagination. But the music proves equally effective: I like the back-to-back readings of ìFactoryî (in its stark organ/drum/harmonica arrangement) and ìIndependence Day.î The unusual pairing of ìJackson Cageî and ìTrappedî works, too. In the second set, Springsteen hits the mark with the combination of ìBye Bye Johnnyî and ìPoint Blank,î then again with ìCandy's Roomî and ìRamrod.î This is a mono recording, the single channel now split for left and right. Still, it's very clear, Springsteen is in good voice throughout, and the band play magnificently. There are a few small flaws: a tape flip cuts the end of ìTwo Heartsî and opening notes of ìThe Promised Land.î Mic connectivity issues are audible during ìShake,î as is mic muffle in ìYou Can Look (But You Better Not Touch).î Early on you might hear the taper's shutter release going off, too. These are all extremely minor, and on the whole, we're sure you'll like it. J recorded, of course, and transferred his master tapes to digital. Flynn handled post-production and file prep. And E served again to help bring it all together. Big up to JEMS for sharing this fine master recording. Slipkid68 |
| Trades Allowed | Yes |
| Reference / Generation | 2325 |
Owned by Stuart Ferguson
· Last Updated May 23, 2023
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