Loading...
Stuart Ferguson's Collection

U2   03/20/1981

The Old Waldorf, San Francisco, CA
Source Audience
Media CDR   1 disc
Notes DVD 2377; lineage: Audience recording. Unknown Gen Analog tape > CD-R > FLAC via xACT (Macfistofly collection)
J-Card Comment Here's another rare, early one for the collectors. As per usual, I've listed it under the same title which came to me. It may or may not be same source listed on AchtungBootlegs as "Live From San Francisco 20.03.1981".

For those who didn't live back in the cassette tape days, this is what an audience recording sounds like when made to tape with average early 1980's gear. The gear can't handle the volume so the very clear vocal and guitar at the outset of a track get pulled down into a slight muffle when the drums and bass come in. Any time the band breaks down, like just bass and guitar at end of a song, the slight muffle evaporates and it's about as clear as you could hope for.

Naturally, there is some degradation of the tape from age as well.

Thus, I think the "Fair" grade is accurate here but I find it thoroughly listenable. There is very little audience noise and Bono's speech ("…and San Francisco, this place of yours; whether you want it or not, it's gonna be a going to be a second home for us on this coast I think.") is clear as a bell. Kind of funny that the La Parra book has no detail from this show at all considering this source is out there and Bono talks plenty.

A very rare, complete bootleg of a solid early show!!

Enjoy but please do not sell or convert to MP3!

-M
Trades Allowed Yes
Reference / Generation 2377
Owned by Stuart Ferguson · Last Updated May 23, 2023