Aretha Franklin
Westbury Music Fair
Westbury, NY
June 24, 1991
(Two Of Us Master Series Volume 302)

Recording: Shure Mic > Sony WM-D6C

Transfer: Master Cassettes > Nakamichi DR-01 (azimuth adjusted) > USB Sound Devices > Audacity > iZotope RX 10 / ozone 9 (mastered) > xACT 2.50 > FLAC

01 Shine The Light
02 I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)
03 Think
04 Spanish Harlem
05 Angel
06 Rock Steady
07 (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman
08 I Never Loved A Man (The Way I Love You)
09 Respect
10 Transition Instrumental
11 A Brand New Me
12 Mary Goes Round
13 Everyday People
14 Freeway Of Love
15 Once Before I Go

Known Faults:
-Shine The Light: joined in progress
-Transition Instrumental: end cut
-Once Before I Go: start cut and splice

Between 1983 and 2002, few tapers were as active as the "Two Of Us." Not only did they capture live performances in their local area, but they also traveled the world to record their favorite artists. Over nearly two decades, they taped over 250 artists, many of whom were recorded multiple times.

Springsteen collectors will already be familiar with some of their work�thanks to "fmcleanboots," who shared a half dozen or so shows from the "Tunnel Of Love" tour before passing the baton. Yet, what may be lesser-known is the depth of their passion�not just for Springsteen, but for music itself. Their dedication resulted in an astonishing catalog of artists and performances.

The "Two Of Us" followed tours relentlessly, recording club shows, theater performances, arena concerts, and everything in between�capturing the sounds of big-name acts, mid-level artists, and local talents alike. On nights when a tour had a break, they sought out other artists performing nearby, ensuring no opportunity to tape went to waste. While their priority was always to enjoy the show, they often acquired tickets outside venues, working tirelessly to secure the best possible seats�sometimes trading up until they achieved the perfect vantage point.

Their recordings are uniformly excellent, though occasionally the start of a show was sacrificed in exchange for securing prime seating. Before adopting DAT technology in later years, they relied on the Sony WM-D6C paired with an external Shure microphone for much of their work. Remarkably, their master tapes�kept in pristine condition within a climate-controlled environment�remain uncirculated, preserving their captures in perfect shape.

This series promises to be an exhilarating journey. While releases won�t always follow chronological order due to the sheer volume of material, mini-series featuring consecutive dates within a tour may be shared. Along the way, we aim to upgrade existing circulating audio and introduce recordings of performances that lack any circulating source. Enjoy the ride�this is not a dark ride.

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Aretha Franklin @ Westbury Music Fair - Westbury, NY June 24, 1991

Our third Aretha Franklin release in our series, if a legend graced the stage, there is a great chance Two Of Us were there to document it. Now, thirty-four years later, we have the privilege of hearing this remarkable performance for the first time.

Special thanks go to Goody for his steadfast guidance on pitch corrections, ensuring that our historical releases remain true to the magic of the moment.

Our deepest gratitude goes to the "Two Of Us" for their dedication to capturing these legendary performers and preserving shows that many are hearing for the first time. The countless hours spent waiting in line, traveling, purchasing tickets, and trusting me to safeguard their life's work do not go unnoticed. Our community owes you both an immense debt of thanks.

A big thank you as well to my friend "fmcleanboots" for making the connection and laying the foundation for what has become an extraordinary series of releases. We�ve only begun to scratch the surface. The sheer number of uncirculated shows the "Two Of Us" taped and continue to provide for release is truly staggering.

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A NOTE ABOUT ARTWORK

Artwork will be included in this download and the next few releases. However, I am seriously considering discontinuing artwork creation for most future releases�except for those featuring artwork from the specific show and a few select limited editions. Eliminating artwork would allow for the release of many more shows, which is the most important thing the older we all get, as the process currently takes an immense amount of time.

Collectors may not think about creating artwork for 5-10 shows every week being a significant commitment, and with countless masters still awaiting release across multiple series, this workload has become too time-consuming. Additionally, I no longer find the process enjoyable.

I believe that only a small percentage of collectors�perhaps 1% or fewer�value the artwork, and most no longer burn CDs for these releases. Despite this possible change, historical artifacts such as newspaper articles, ads, ticket stubs, and other memorabilia will continue to be included...thanks!

mjk5510 & Two Of Us

Images for all shows as well as full size images for this show.

Images for this show: