The Pretenders
01 September 1984
Greek Theater
Berkeley, CA

1st generation copy

Master recorded using a Sony D-6 ---> 1st gen
cassette ---> WAV capture M-Audio ---> Adobe
Audition ---> FLAC

For years I've treasured this recording, and I'm certain that you'll
enjoy the amazing quality. My late friend Walter the K was a prolific
taper, always waxing enthusiastic about his interests, whether the
Grateful Dead or Pearl Jam. And he was a fine and steady hand on the
mic and levels, too: If you're a Springsteen fan and have heard CC's
"Oakland Night," that's Walt's master (a low-generation tape was used
without Walt's permission, and given his "share it for free, and free-
ly" ethos, it's probably good that he never found out!). So props to
the Cat for good taste in what to bootleg, in any event.

Coincidentally, we met while waiting in line for tickets for that show,
and gushed about the Pretenders gig we'd seen a few weeks before. Walt
offered to send me a copy, which he did. Before Chrissie sings a note
of "Time the Avenger," this one will knock your Aunt Connie's socks off.
It's clear, close, and exceptionally clean. I've never seen any other
shows from this leg in circulation (common, however, are the FM broadcast
from L.A.'s Universal Amphitheater; and a show from Detroit shown on MTV
--- those are from the first leg of the tour earlier that year). Walt
always used a D-6, but I haven't any idea regarding the mic (or perhaps
mics) he used.

About the show itself: the second of two nights in Berkeley, with Simple
Minds opening. The new line-up had really jelled after months on the road,
and presented a rearranged set to go with their dynamite performance. "Birds
of Paradise" appears by request (before the gig, Chrissie said she'd try,
but wasn't sure because she'd forgotten the chords at a recent gig at Red
Rocks), and the band rips through Jimi Hendrix's "Roomful of Mirrors" in the
encore. Lots of songs from that year's triumphant and dignified "Learning to
Crawl," and plenty of older favorites from the first two albums.

Walt got nearly the whole show (save for a bit of "Tattooed Love Boys"). Note
that "Brass in Pocket" did not get played, which didn't occur to me until I was
preparing the files and wondered where it was. It had been slated, but the
handwritten set list confirms that "Stop Your Sobbing" appeared in its place).
The only thing I've done to the 1st generation tape is normalize to 95 percent,
using Adobe Audition. No EQ necessary, really. To my ears, it still sounds like
a perfect recording.

Walt passed away two years ago. He was a good and generous friend, and he
broadened my musical horizons. It's an honor to share one of his recordings,
truly a great one. Roll tape, brother.

1) intro
2) Time the Avenger
3) Message of Love
4) The Adultress
5) My City Was Gone
6) Show Me
7) Talk of the Town
8) Birds of Paradise
9) Thin Line Between Love and Hate
10) Kid
11) Back on the Chain Gang
12) Bad Boys Get Spanked
13) The Wait
14) Mystery Achievement
15) Up the Neck
16) Middle of the Road
17) Thumbelina
18) Roomful of Mirrors
19) Stop Your Sobbing
20) 2000 Miles
21) Tattooed Love Boys
22) Precious