Description

Description

Vorst Nationaal, Brussels, Belgium 10 February 1984

　In 1984, the SCORPIONS were on the verge of reaching their peak with their masterpiece, ‘LOVE AT FIRST STING’. Now, a soundboard album has arrived that will pour that live performance into your brain.

　This recording captures the “Brussels concert on February 10, 1984,” and is an FM soundboard recording. The “LOVE AT FIRST STING” era was the largest world tour in the Scorpions’ history, and it was a fiercely competitive period with many excellent soundboard and pro-shot recordings, both official and unofficial. This album is one that will enrich your soundboard collection. Let’s check the important works in the schedule of that time and explore the position of this album.

●1983
(Summer: Production of ‘LOVE AT FIRST STING’ begins)
– December 8-17: Europe #1 (4 shows) ← *ROCKPOP 1983
●1984
– January 23 – February 29: Europe #2 (27 shows) ← ★Here★
(February 13: ‘LOVE AT FIRST STING’ released)
– March 17 – July 18: North America #1 (86 shows) ← *COSTA MESA 1984
– July 30 – August 12: Asia/Japan #1 (9 shows) ← *SUPER ROCK ’84
– August 14 – September 2: North America #2 (13 shows)
– October 26 – December 3: Europe #3 (26 shows)
●1985
– January 15 + 19: ROCK IN RIO (2 shows) ← *ROCK IN RIO 1985
– January 28th – February 7th: Japan #2 (8 shows)
《June 20th: ‘WORLD WIDE LIVE’ released》
– June 22nd: Knebworth show
– August 24th – September 2nd: North America #3 (4 shows) ←※DAY ON THE GREEN 1985
●1986
– August 16th – September 5th: Europe #4 (7 shows)

[The best FM soundboard master capturing the very beginning of the tour]
　This is SCORPIONS from 1984-1986. This Brussels performance was the 14th show of “Europe #2,” just as ‘LOVE AT FIRST STING’ was about to be unleashed. The concert took place three days before the release of the new album.

　This show is also known for being broadcast on FM radio and has become a classic. This release is a CD version made from the best master recording. Although the specific generation is not mentioned, the sound suggests it is a fairly young generation. It is a vintage soundboard recording, not what you would call official quality, but that is characteristic of the broadcast itself. There are almost no signs of overdubbing such as distortion, warping, or roughness, and the more you listen, the more you notice that fine details have been preserved. The lively applause that erupts between songs was added later as an overdub, but the performance and vocals themselves are clearly from the soundboard.

[A soundboard album featuring a rare set from an in-between period]
　This FM sound captures the passionate performance at the start of their peak tour. Speaking of 1984 soundboards, the classic pressed album ‘DEFINITIVE COSTA MESA 1984 SOUNDBOARD (Zodiac 629)’ is also a well-known classic, but the setlist was different at this point. Let’s compare and organize them here.

●Lovedrive (6 songs)
– Loving You Sunday Morning / Lovedrive (★) / Coast To Coast / Holiday / Another Piece Of Meat / Can’t Get Enough
●Others (3 songs + 3 songs)
– Animal Magnetism: Don’t Make No Promises (★) / Make It Real / The Zoo
– Others: Bad Boys Running Wild / Still Loving You / Blackout
*Note: Songs marked with “★” were not included on the classic pressing album ‘DEFINITIVE COSTA MESA 1984 SOUNDBOARD’.

…And that’s how it is. Because it’s limited to about an hour’s broadcast time, it’s far from a full show, but it’s packed with the essence. With all of the repertoire from the Uli Jon Roth era gone, the set is entirely composed of numbers from after Matthias Jabs joined, and it really brings out the “sharp and metallic 80s SCORPIONS”.

　Looking at each song, new tracks like “Bad Boys Running Wild” and “Still Loving You” were performed, but since the album hasn’t been released yet, it was limited to just two songs. On the other hand, “Don’t Make No Promises” and “Lovedrive,” which are usually quickly dropped from the setlist, were still included. This sense of balance in the transitions between songs is deeply imprinted with the spirit of the era.

　This FM album captures the moment when the Scorpions’ biggest whirlwind began, just three days before the release of “LOVE AT FIRST STING.” The atmosphere of February 1984, marked by the interplay of old and new repertoire, flows into your brain with this best-master recording free of any dubbing marks. It offers a fresh breeze of an early set, different from the classic “DEFINITIVE COSTA MESA 1984 SOUNDBOARD.” Please enjoy it to the fullest.

★This is an FM soundboard recording of the Brussels concert on February 10, 1984, three days before the release of “LOVE AT FIRST STING”. This is the best master capturing the early part of the tour, and while it includes “Don’t Make No Promises” and “Lovedrive,” which are not found on the classic pressed album “DEFINITIVE COSTA MESA 1984 SOUNDBOARD,” you can enjoy a stage performance from a transitional period when new songs were also being added.

(56:22)
01 Radio intro
02 Don’t Make No Promises
03 Bad Boys Running Wild
04 Loving You Sunday Morning
05 Make It Real
06 Lovedrive
07 Coast To Coast
08 Holiday
09 Still Loving You
10 Black Out
11 Another Piece Of Meat
12 The Zoo
13 Can’t Get Enough

SOUNDBOARD RECORDING