Billy Joel
Nassau Coliseum
Uniondale, NY
12.11.77

Source: Pre-FM SBD feed > Nak 550 > Maxell UDXL2 (no NR) via Peter Hedeman
Transfer: MC > Nak CR7-A (azimith adjust) > SBM-1 (s/pdif) > Lynx Studio Technology One (soundcard) > SoundForge 4.5 > CD Architect 4.0f > Red Book CDR
Re-Master: CDR > WAV > Wavelab 4.0c (BBE Sonic Maximizer: +2dB lo, +4dB process, -1dB output > Waves L1-Ultramaximizer: input -4dB L; -7.2dB R, threshold -5 db) > FLAC

Disc1

1. The Mexican Connection (stage setup; opening tape)
2. The Stranger
3. Somewhere Along The Line
4. Summer, Highland Falls
5. Piano Man
6. Scenes From An Italian Restaurant
7. Travelin' Prayer
8. Movin' Out
9. Still Crazy After All These Years
10. Just The Way You Are
11. Prelude / Angry Young Man
12. New York State Of Mind


Disc 2

1. The Entertainer
2. Vienna
3. Root Beer Rag
4. She's Always A Woman
5. I've Loved These Days >
6. Miami 2017 (Seen The Lights Go Out On Broadway)
7. The Ballad of Billy The Kid
8. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas >
Captain Jack
9. Say Goodbye to Hollywood
10. Only The Good Die Young
11. Get It Right The First Time
12. Souvenir

In my opinion, this is an upgrade over prior circulating sources, all of which are post-FM recordings. Those broadcast recordings have too much crowd noice, a layer of cassette hiss and/or too much high end, probably as a result of the broadcast. They suffer from a number of recording flaws, too, including the wrong pitch (e.g., Bennett's WNEW transfer was pitched at 2278/3428 kHz (L/R); this transfer is pitched at 1599/1808 kHz, which is better balanced and more accurate -- listen to BJ's voice on Summer Highland Falls to hear the difference). Post transfer processing to increase volume on these recordings overemphasized the high end which was already too high. The result is a loud, but harsh, playback.

This transfer used a different approach. I increased the high end slightly with the BBE Sonic Maximizer, to make up for the relative lack of treble on the master cassette, and reducing the input level using the Waves Ultramazimer to balance the left and right channels and add headroom. It's not as loud as it could be, but it's got better dynanmics, better sound balance, and, IMHO, sounds better. You be the judge. Enjoy!

--mhg :: mgoldey-at-rcn@com :: 10.09.04 :: Seeded Nov. 27, 2004